Details in the Dining Room

As I mentioned last week when I shared my Green and Natural Thanksgiving Tablescape, I promised to share the details, sources, paint color, etc of the latest dining room makeover in our rental house...

Eulalie's Sky Milk Paint and a New Booth

I'm back in the saddle again!  After not painting furniture for a couple of months because of the move and closing my booth in Raleigh, it felt good to work on new project with a new color.  I'm sort of a product junkie when it comes to paint and supplies.  I love to try new colors and brands of paint, wax, etc and when Miss Mustard Seed came out with the Eulalie's Sky color for her line of milk paint, I knew I had to try it since I gravitate to blues.

Country Living Fair & Shopping in Atlanta

Whew!  I'm finally back home after a long weekend away in Atlanta attending the Country Living Fair and doing some shopping around the area.  I'm glad that I finally made the trip down to check it out!  I started out this little business selling at fairs and shows like this so I always enjoy attending them.

Atlanta Country Living Fair Ticket Giveaway!

Ever since moving to North Carolina a couple years ago, I've been wanting to travel down to Atlanta for the Country Living Fair at Stone Mountain, but the timing has never been right.  I'm excited to say that I'm making it happen this year and will be traveling down to attend.  I'm even more excited to announce that I'm giving away a pair of 3-day passes!

Recent Projects and Market Preview

It's been a while, hasn't it?!  I've been incredibly busy the last week or so... From out-of-town house hunting trips, two hour nightly swim practices for the girls, and the fact that all the kids are home all day fills up quite a bit of my time.  But...I've also been super-busy getting ready for the first Carolina Vintage (mini) Market this weekend.

Rug Shopping Tips on a Budget

One of my blogging goals this year was to get a budget decor series completed that shares some of the tips and tricks I've learned over the years that has helped me save thousands when decorating my homes.  Depending on the size, etc of my rooms, I normally spend only $500-$1,000 top-to-bottom for furniture, accessories, window treatments, etc and my kid's rooms are even less. While part of that is due to using re-furbished, secondhand furniture, there are always items that need to be purchased new and I'd thought I'd share my shopping tips with you starting with rugs.

Christmas Dough Bowl

Who doesn't love those classic antique wooden dough bowls?  I've certainly been a fan of them for a while, but didn't come across any I was willing to plunk down the cash for. Well, if you look long enough, you'll eventually find a deal... I now have a really large one (it's almost like a small canoe!) and most recently came across a perfectly-sized round one on my Greensboro shopping trip...

Getting Ready for Holiday Events

I've been painting and crafting up a storm this week in preparation for some upcoming local events that I'll be participating in...

White-Glazed Chateau Grey Cabinet and Recent Finds

I love finding these tall graceful cabinets with all their incredible details when I'm out and about.  I picked up this gem from Craig's List after seeing several unpainted (and pricier) versions in some antique shops.  The wood was dried and tired and had a bit of veneer damage so I didn't feel bad about  giving it a second life with a little paint (sorry no before pic on this one).  

Luckett's Design House Tour

As promised, this is the last of my photos that I took last weekend at Luckett's Spring Market.  Not only do they have the most fabulous "vintage hip" antique store, but they have the Luckett's Design House as well.  The Design House features high-end furniture and accessories that are so beautifully incorporated into rooms in an old house on the Luckett's property.  I'm telling you...there was so much to take in last weekend! 

Luckett's Spring Market 2012 ~ Part One

Whew, what a wonderful weekend!  Luckett's Spring Market was absolutely fabulous.  All the vendors and shoppers were so kind and welcoming, the weather was perfection, and I was walking around with a big smile on my face all weekend!  I owe a giant THANK YOU to everyone that came by to shop and visit!  I got to meet some new friends and visit with those I've met through the blog world too. 

Funky Junk Show - Spokane

Two weeks away to the first big show of the season!  Mark your calendars - you won't want to miss this!

Can't wait to see you there...

Lolo Boutique

Has anyone been to Lolo Boutique in downtown Spokane?  I think I could live in that store.  If you love Anthropologie, you'll love Lolo's.  It reminds me so much of all those great boutiques that I got to see on my recent Seattle trip.  I love seeing places like this in the area!

Needless to say, I was more than a little flattered when one of the owners of Lolo happened to notice some of my jewelry creations a few weeks back at The Funky Junk Show!  This is a first for me since I just started experimenting with jewelry, but I'm so excited to be making my bubble necklaces for Lolo's.  I just received my supplies yesterday, so besides getting the house ready to sell, I'll be burning the midnight oil and making these goodies. 

I had originally made just one of the initial necklaces, but there will be a wide range of these at Lolo's in the next few weeks!

I Heart Typography~

I can't remember a time when I didn't love typography, the art and technique of arranging type and type design.  It's been popular for a few years now, but it's so classic and clean, I can't imagine it will go out of style anytime soon. 

I tend to pick up anything and everything that has a number, letter, or symbol when I'm out shopping or junkin'. 

And I love to drink my morning coffee out my favorite mugs with my initials.

I picked up this sweet stamp set in a recent Seattle trip and you can see some creations with these stamps coming soon (April 24th - Angel's Attic).

I just pulled these keys off a typewriter and I'm all set to make some rings, pendants, and bracelets with them.

I could spend hours (if I had them) searching and downloading the hundreds of awesome fonts at dafont.com. Do you love typography too? 

Yes, I'm still alive and kickin'

After not blogging for over a MONTH, I'm finally back with a new kitchen and a Seattle trip under my belt as well as tons of Spring ideas floating through my head.  I've taken a mental break from obsessing over furniture, display ideas, project plans, etc or the past couple months and I think that I really needed it.  My brain tends to latch on something and hang on to it like a terrier.  I do way more thinking, dreaming, and planning rather than doing, which I'm still trying to figure out how to get past...  Another reason for the long break is that we've been in flux at the Dobson house as to what and where our lives takes us and we've been in a mad rush to complete the zillions of unfinished projects in our house in case we need to sell.  The last big project (kitchen) is 90% finished and HOPEFULLY I can actually post some pictures up soon. 

But the terrier is back and ever since I got back from a trip to Seattle with Jon, Mom, and Gabby this last weekend, I've been making lists, going through tons of inspirational pictures, and generally back to my old obsessive self.  As a result, my house is dirtier and the dinners a bit pathetic due to me being completely absorbed in planning for Spring!  The last time that I've been to the Seattle area was SIX years ago (insert gasp here)!  Obviously I don't get out much, but I'm thinking we need a whole lot of what I saw in Seattle here in Spokane.  I know that I'm not the only one who thinks this way, but for some reason, boutiques are few and far between here and it makes me very sad.  For me, there is nothing better than to go out with a steaming latte and browse through adorable shops for hours.  I think I need to get over to Seattle more often and for those of you who live over there, be thankful for the bountiful cafes, shops, restaurants, and diverse city that you live in!  For those of you here in Spokane, let's be as supportive as we can to those great business that do exist here and give them our patronage. 

Storefront in Fremont area

Mom in Watson Kennedy's Pike Place shop

Lucca located in the Ballard Ave area

Inside Lucca

Ballard Ave. shops

Cupcake Royale in Ballard area (love this place!)

The iconic Pike Place Market and the first time that I've been there (insert more gasps!)