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