In search of the perfect headboard!

So my next project that I want to tackle is a headboard for my bedroom.  

I haven't had a headboard for a very, very long time and I think now its time!

I want to make a tufted headboard, now its just matter of finding 

the right fabric, which is not going to be an easy task because there are 

so many beautiful fabric out there!  My bedroom furniture is a 

contemporary style, but I may want to mix it up a bit or maybe not… 
For now I am gathering some images to compare and get ideas...

This my sister's new bed from Highland Court… It is just beautiful!

Wow! Very fancy!

Source: prettyworld.tumblr.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: sweethomestyle.tumblr.com via Kelsey on Pinterest

Source: shannonjaredwight.blogspot.com via Shannon on Pinterest

Source: catalogliving.net via Nadine on Pinterest

Source: roomservicestore.com via Jaime on Pinterest

Source: hgtv.com via Jhoana Marie on Pinterest

Source: hgtv.com via Vanessa on Pinterest

Source: hgtv.com via Vanessa on Pinterest

eclectic bedroom design by Tricia Rose

contemporary bedroom design by other metros interior designer Tobi Fairley

modern bedroom design by dallas interior designer Beth Dotolo, RID, ASID, LEED AP

So what do you think?  What do you like?

Welcome the Wounded Warriors!

After the celebration of our Independence Day in July, many of the residents of Rockaway open their hearts and homes to a number of wounded warriors.  These men and women were severely wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan while fighting for us.  It is always a heart-wrenching experience for me to see these young men of 18yrs. old or 19 yrs. old or really at any age with amputations and other severe injuries.

On July 7th, a procession of wounded warriors were escorted by the New York City Police Department and the New York City Fire Department to enjoy a wonderful feast at the Belle Harbor Yacht Club and to meet their host family.  The residents of Rockaway lined the Boulevard with home made banners, flags, cheering and clapping thanking them for their services.   For the next few days their will be celebrations in honor of the warriors and there will be other events for them to enjoy.  They will be able to take the sun on the beautiful beach, go kayaking, sailing, waterskiing, scuba diving and fishing.

 They have sacrificed so much for us, no amount of thank you will ever be enough!

Gifts from the ocean.

One of the great things about living by the sea is you can take a walk on the shore at any time of the day and find wonderful treasure left by the ocean.  This past winter while walking my puppy on the beach I came across this amazing tree trunk that had been weathered by the winds, waves and tumbled through the sandy waters.  It looks like all kinds of little sea creatures bored little holes into it and made it there home.  There are little barnacles all over it,  I love these natural elements.  It weighed about 200 pounds, of course I couldn't carry it home, so I waited for my 12 year old son Kyle "the hercules" to get home from school to help me load it up in our red flyer wagon and pull it home.  I was thinking of putting some shellac on it and turning it into a table, that will be a future project.   All the smaller driftwood we find on the shore, I display in a beautiful wicker basket til I can use it in a project.

Little barnacles and homes of little creatures

Driftwood collected while walking along the shore.

Enjoy you weekend!

Happy 4th of July!

Bench makeover

Well, I did it again! I took so long in between posts, I have to work on that!  Needless to say, I finally finished my antique bench and I love the way it turned out.  I decided to paint it heirloom white instead of sanding and staining it.  The white paint made it brighter, fresher and it looks great with the fabric.  Tell me what you think, I'd love to here from you!

This is now….

This was before...

I love this brocade fabric

So for now this beautiful bench will go in my etsy shop for sale.

I've linked this post to:

theshabbychiccottage.net

thrifty101.blogspot.com

frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com

blog.addicted2decorating.com

Sneak peak at my antique bench makeover

A few weeks ago I went to a garage sale and found this sweet dainty bench.  I was lucky the owner was desperate to get rid of it, so I got it for a song!  I finally started working on it yesterday, it was little rickety and need to be tighten with some clamps and wood glue.  Then I removed the seat and took off layers of fabric that it had been covered with over the years right down to the original fabric.  Then I realized that it was a true antique not a reproduction, because it was stuffed with hay which most of it had turned to dust.  Synthetic materials weren't used for upholstery stuffing until 1920's.  Before then upholstery were stuffed with natural material like horse hair or hay.  Being that the wood was in good condition, I am tossed between painting it in a distressed white or sanding it and staining it a dark wood tone to bring it to this century.

I chose this fabric to upholster the bench, it is a beautiful brocade.

I'll be back when I figure out the finish I am going to go with. Meantime, I would love it if  you leave   me a comment on the  finish I should choose.

Branch accessories courtesy of my puppy

Branches are appearing in all sorts of furniture and decorating accessories.  They are a great way to bring outdoors inside.  It seems there is a branch for every style of decorating from sophisticated to rustic to minimalist.  So, my puppy must know this and he brought me this fabulous branch he found, I loved its form (some of my friends thought I was a little crazy, but thats besides the point!)  To me, the branches looked like coral branches and I love coral.  My friend Kristin suggested I paint it red and that is just what I did, I painted it apple red.  I love the way it looks, it looks like red coral branches!

My sweet puppy bringing me just what I wanted! OK, so I am a little crazy over my puppy!

It looks really nice naturally, but I wanted a bit of color.

I used glossy apple red spray paint to get an even coat

My proud puppy!

Linking this post to:

Funky Junk Interiors

Handmade flowers

One of the things that makes me feel so creative is making fabric flowers.  I started making bib flower necklaces which I think are so pretty and can jazz up the most plain outfit.  Then I began to add the flowers to headbands, ponytail rings, barrettes and brooch pins.  I love the creative process and the challenge to make one just a little different from the previous one.  Here are some of my recent flower creations I add to my Etsy shop.  You can see more at sheerserendipity.etsy.com.

I've linked to the following blogs:

fabricbowsandmore.blogspot.com

Linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com

savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com

commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com

romantichome.blogspot.com

My family and I want to thank all our service men and women for their sacrifice they make for us.  Our deepest sympathy goes out to the families that have lost someone in the military service.

"Check" it out!

I love handpainted furniture, especially when they have painted details on them.  I like to use furniture as my canvas,  it can give interest to may be not such an interesting piece or revamp it to look totally different.  I purchased this cabinet at a yard sale a few weeks ago and it is well made but a bit boring.  So I figured I will start with painting it my favorite color turquoise, I never really know what it is going to look like til the end.  Here it is, I am quite happy with the new look it got!

First, I sanded the top of the cabinet so I can stain it and sanded the rest to just take off the shine so the paint can adhere to it.  Then stained the top a red mahogany.

I primed and painted it turquoise.  After I added tinted glaze to give it an aged distressed effect.

Then the fun begins with painting decorative details on it!

I love the way it turned out!  This piece is ready to go into my Etsy shop, sheerserendipity.etsy.com.

I've linked this post to:  theshabbychiccottage.net

                                      findingfabulousblog.com

                                      myrepurposedlife.net

                                      mysimplehomelife.com
                                      remodelaholic.com
                                     addicted2decorating.com
                                      linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com
                                      myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com
                                      primitiveandproper.blogspot.com
                                    homemakeronadime.com
                                    Creating a house of grace