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Sunday, October 21, 2012

Always Creating

I can't imagine a life without creating. Something. ANYTHING! It is breath and it is joy! For me, creating isn't optional, creating is life. I've been working on a few little creative projects lately, and I'd love to share some of them with you.
 A friend of mine gifted me with a TON of vintage sheet music! I love it so much, I might just spend the next several months covering everything under the sun with it! This little chest started out as a plain pine box I picked up years ago at a thrift store. I always knew I'd do something with it, and the sheet music was the inspiration I needed. I covered the box with it, decoupaged a vintage bird image on the lid, added some ball feet (.50cents at the thrift store) and some charming handles I've had around for several years also. Hmmm...I kind of wish I had made the bird image bigger. Oh well, maybe next time. I'm sharing this at Knick of Time Tuesday!
http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/ 
 
I used my favorite little bird stamp on a piece of cotton canvas, placed it on a piece of natural linen and framed it in a black distressed frame which (of course) I've had around forever.
Ok, so the recent theme is vintage sheet music AND stuff I've had around the house forever-ha! : )
Cute little step stool embellished with music and a photocopy of a vintage style journal cover. 
Wait, the theme is really birds, vintage sheet music and stuff I've had around forever. I adore this sweet vintage bird graphic from The Graphics Fairy ( www.graphicsfairy.blogspot.com)  and have used it many times. I had this vintage Spiegel's tape measure, which I inherited from my grandmother. It was falling apart, so I decided to embellish this little bottle/vase with some of the pieces. My grandma was a very "crafty" lady, and it makes me happy when I can incorporate something of hers into a project.


Music (duh), an ancient scrap book cover (picked up the entire scrapbook at a thrift store for pennies), decoupaged the music and an old cover from Victorian Trading Co onto the cover, added cotton fabric ribbon stamped with music notes for hanging~voila! Cute, shabby-vintage inspired romantic fall-ish wall hanging! Whew, that was a mouthful!
 I found this sad looking little spice cabinet for a couple of dollars at-you guessed it-a thrift store. I painted it white and distressed it a bit, then added this sweet little iron bird drawer pull. Charming!


Several years back I found two of these crib end panels laying on the side of the road. Some of you are saying, "Eeeww! What is wrong with you, lady??" : )
Others, like me, are saying, "Jackpot! It's my lucky day!!" haha. I finally decided to turn one of them into a chalkboard. I like the way it turned out, but if I had it to do over, I think I would use the brush-on chalkboard paint instead of spray paint. I did several coats, but the surface still just doesn't seem as "hefty" as I would like, but it was a really fun project! What should I do with the other one??
I made this hanging candle holder awhile back, but I thought I'd throw it in here because the fall colors off my deck look so pretty! It was an old planter with a metal container inside the wire basket part. The wire was kind of rusty looking, and all I had was black chain so I painted the chain with some rusty-ish looking craft paint, and it matched perfectly. The chandelier crystals were left over from a light fixture at a previous home, and the vintage jar? Yep, had it around for years. I have white beans inside the jar to hold the candle (don't leave it out in the weather!) but it looks pretty without them also.


I was inspired to put together this quick little Fall mini-banner by Angie at Knick of Time Interiors here: http://knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/2012/10/itty-bitty-banners_5.html  
You should try one!
I hope it's been fun to take a look at a few of the things I've been working on, and that maybe you feel inspired to take a new look at some things in your home that could be re-designed, re-purposed or re-imagined for a new life. Creating is such a joy for me and I'd love to hear about the things you're working on too!
Wishing you a beautiful week~
Jeanette

9 comments:

  1. What gorgeous projects, Jeanette--I loved them all! I really like the step stool that you covered in pretty sheet music, and the little banner in the last photo. You have been one busy lady! I just made a chalkboard, too, and I didn't like the spray chalkboard paint either. I will definitely use a brush-on chalkpaint next time.

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    1. Athena, I guess we learn by experience with lots of things, including chalkboard spray paint :) Thank you so much for your kind words!
      Jeanette

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  2. I love your music sheet projects!! I just finished a project where I had to ask my daughter for one of her school music sheet pieces b/c I didn't have a vintage sheet to work with! I also used one free printable from the knick of time, what a coincidence! Your covered box looks awesome!

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    1. I felt very blessed to receive all that music from my friend, it's so fun to work with.We are so fortunate to have such wonderful free printable graphics available at Knick of Time, Graphics Fairy, etc!

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  3. I'm loving your beautiful creations, thank you for sharing them!

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  4. This is one of the most inspiring posts I've seen in ages! I love every one of your wonderful projects. I'm your newest follower.

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