Showing posts with label Craft Projects. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Craft Projects. Show all posts

8/01/2010

A Blue Cottage Veranda...

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Hello my friends...I hope you're having a fabulous day!
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I do believe that the "dog days of summer" are here!
 It's been pretty quiet this past week and I'm feeling sooo lazy!
  We have been experiencing some really hot temperatures here in
 Colorful Colorado. The great thing about Colorado climate is...that even
 though it may get into the 90's during the day...it always cools down to the
 60's in the evenings. Just perfect for sitting outside and enjoying
 the evening!
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*Which brings me to my latest project...
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Our poor little patio/veranda was in such disrepair after this
 last winter. Since we were having out of town guests coming in July,
 I decided it was time for our little veranda to get a facelift! Hehe! Now...
 I don't have any "before" photos. Shoot, I wasn't even thinking about taking
 "before and after" photos to show this sweet metamorphosis...I do apologize!
 However, if you can just imagine...dirty, worn and torn, with absolutely
 no appeal...then you get the picture!
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A Brand New Table for the Veranda...
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This table is what started the entire veranda makeover!
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Honey and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary June 4th.
 We planned a day trip to Denver and honey took me to Home Goods.
  My very first time to go! We found this sweet blue cottagey table
 and a matching end table...for just $69!
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Sooo...the planning, scheming, and decorating began...
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For those of you who follow Happy To Design...you may
 remember a post that I did June 25th. I stated that I was in the
 middle of a summer "mystery" project...shared just a couple
 of photos...and asked if you could figure out what I was doing!
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The photo mosaic above is compiled with the photos from that post.
 If you would like to see that post...you can just click HERE.
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Our Newly Remodeled...Blue Cottage Veranda
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Our veranda is fairly small. The covered area is about 10'x10'...
however we have concrete that stretches beyond the covered area so
 it feels a bit larger. It's difficult to see here but our home has a light gray
 siding with a blue metal roof...so a "blue" cottage veranda is perfect!
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I would love to add an outdoor rug...the concrete isn't very pretty,
 however it probably isn't very feasible considering our veranda is open
 on two sides to the weather. Hmmm...maybe I should paint or stain
 the concrete? Yet another project for another day! Hehe!
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*The Swing...
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I just love our "two-seater" swing! Honey and I have spent
 many a day enjoying the outdoors on this little swing!
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A New Quilt
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Believe me...the cushions and covering over the swing had seen
 its better days. Instead of taking the entire swing apart to recover the
 cushions, I decided to make a quilt that would cover the cushions. I liked this
 idea because I can bring the quilt inside when we aren't using the veranda.
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Fabric Needed...
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Ohhh boy...I was going to need quite a bit of fabric to carry out
 my plans! I wanted to sew a quilt, make a new cover for the swing, and
 recover the chairs that we would use with our new table.
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Soooo...I bought sheets!
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Yep, I did! I found the sheets at Walmart! I purchased two sheet
 sets; 1 twin set and 1 full size set. I was immediately drawn to these pretty
 sheets. Walmart has color coordinating sets. The twin set had the prettiest blue
 and sage green paisley pattern and the full set was done in the exact same
 coordinating colors but with a small floral pattern. They would be
 perfect for my veranda makeover!
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I used the paisley fabric on the front side of the quilt and the
 coordinating small floral print on the back side. The quilt is nothing
 fancy...it's just a "tie" quilt but it turned out just as I had planned!
 It covers the swing cushions perfectly!
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Swing Cover...
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Here is a photo of the swing cover. I took off the ratty, old
 exsisting cover and used it for a pattern to sew a new cover out of the
 small floral print. You can see the old swing cover on my dining room table
 in the photo mosaic above. I'm tellin' ya...the fabric from the sheets worked
 sooo well! I forgot to mention that I only paid $15 for the twin set of
 sheets and $22 for the full set! That is alot of fabric for just $37!
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New Pillows...
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Of course I had to have pillows for the swing!  I used the
 two pillowcases from the small floral set to make the pillows! I
 actually have a real pretty embroidered, blue floral trim to add to these
 pillows...that I still need to sew on! I think the pillows turned out nice
 and now I can take a little nap out on the swing! wink!
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Even the chairs got a facelift!
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These little chairs were made in 1955! How do I know...you ask?
 Because the date was stamped underneath the seats. The metal was black
 and the seats had a red vinyl material on them...they also had
 seen their better days!
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Honey spray painted the chairs white! Already such an improvement!
  I used the paisley to cover the seats of the chairs...love it!!!
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Cottagey Chair Slips...
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The backs of the chairs have metal rungs...not very dressy...or
 very cottagey! Sooo...I decided to sew chair slips! I used the paisley
 for the body of the slips and the small floral print for the ruffle!
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 I just love, love, LOVE how these turned out!
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A Cottage Veranda Vignette
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This is the matching end table to our new cottage table set!
 I really do love this beautiful shade of blue!!!
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A Cottage Veranda Vignette...
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A few potted flowers sit atop a couple of old milk cans!
 Honey spray painted the milk cans white while he was doing the
 chairs. You should have seen what they looked like before....picture
 all black with big ol' orange and yellow mushrooms painted on them!
 Honey said that his brother decorated them during the
 1970's! Go figure! Hehe!
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I love the old crock planter/pot with the faded tulips painted on
 the front. We found this old crock planter in the basement of honey's
 Dad's home when we were cleaning. It's no telling how old it may be! We
 also found the old white enamelware coffee pot in that same
 basement. I love the red trim!
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I added a pretty white oval bowl filled with a few
 green apples to the end table.
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I found this pretty retriculated bowl at TJ Maxx for just $9.99.
 I wove a green and blue floral ribbon through the cut-outs....sooo pretty!
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A View from the Veranda....
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And....this is what you see when you're sitting on the swing!
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We live in the country! There is a big open field behind our home!
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Voila...there you have it! A blue cottage veranda!!!*
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I had some fun making this mosaic! I used Photobucket's "color sketch" effect!
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Well my friends...I'm sooo glad that you came by
 today! I hope you enjoyed the little tour around our veranda!
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I am joining in with these lovely parties today...
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Table Top Tuesday...hosted by Marty over at A Stroll Thru Life.
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*A special thank you to Sally, Susan, Cielo, and Marty...for hosting
 these fabulous parties! Please go over and see what these sweet ladies
 have prepared for us today and while you are there...you can check
 out all of the other party participants!
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Well my friends....thank you soooo much for coming by and visiting!
 Please leave me a comment and let me know that you were here.
  I would love to visit back with you!!!
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Have a fabulous week!
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9/13/2009

It's Metamorphosis Monday!
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Hello my friends!
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It's time for Metamorphosis Monday! This fun filled Monday event is hosted by our very own Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch! Thank you, Susan...for hosting Met Monday for us!
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Now you won't want to miss out on Susan's fabulous metamorphosis today...please go and pay her a visit and while you're there you can visit all of the other Met Monday participants!!! * *

I am also joining in with the DIY Show Off: Fall Festival for the very first time! I really wanted to join in with this Fall event especially since I've been busy working on autumn decorating projects! I am always amazed at all the clever and creative people in blogland...I get so many great ideas from you...you inspire me, my friends!!!

DIY Show Off: Fall Festival is hosted by Roechelle over at The DIY Show Off blog! Each Monday...Roeshelle will be hosting this fall festival party...giving us a chance to share our autumn crafting and decor ideas! Thank you, Roechelle!!! Please go over and check out Roeshelle's fabulous autumn craft today and while you're there you can visit all the other participants!!!
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Crafting A New Autumn Wreath
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I have been very busy this past week with all my autumn decorating! I have had so much fun!!! Bringing out all of my Autumn's decorations...and adding a few new items! *
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Last week I decided to join Barb over at Treasures from the Heart for her "Three Projects in Three Weeks" challenge! This has been so much fun...and a great way to give me a little "push" to getting a few projects completed! Thanks Barb! If you're interested in taking on Barb's challenge just click HERE...and you can get all the information you need!

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Project #1...Crafting a New Autumn Wreath

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I just love pretty wreaths! I have several Christmas wreaths but no Autumn wreaths! After pricing a few, I decided to make one! Eeeekkks...I seen some really beautiful autumn wreaths but they cost anywhere from $50 and up...so I just decided to craft one! I really enjoy crafting as well...so I was really looking forward to this little project!
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I found this grapevine wreath at Michaels for just $3.99!
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And...here is my finished Autumn wreath! What do you think?
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Okay...I have a little story to go with this wreath! My intentions were to craft a new Autumn wreath to hang outside on my back door! Well...I have a glass storm door on our back entrance door...and the wreath was to full to fit in between the storm door and entrance door! Sheeeshh! Oh well, instead of taking it apart and starting over, I just decided that I would find another place for it! Here is where it landed...on the antique door that seperates our kitchen from the mudroom. I do like how the new wreath, with all of its autumn colors, looks against the oval glass and the rich color of the wood!
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This autumn wreath was very easy to make and it didn't take long at all to complete!

I used autumn floral picks...three of them to be exact...and just hot glued them onto the wreath! I also used a few brown flowers to fill in! I found the pretty autumn ribbon at Michaels as well...made a big bow and hot glued it on the top of the wreath...
and...Voila!!!
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Photobucket



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Ahhh...just look at the pretty autumn colors! I love the bright orange mums...autumn leaves...pinecones and the little buckeyes!!!

This was as easy as one-two-three...and I have a total of $12.00 in the entire project!

Plus, I have completed the second project of my "Three Projects in Three Weeks" challenge!!!

Yeah for me!!! Hehe!

Well my friends...I'm so happy that you came by today! I hope that your autumn is getting off to a great start! Do you have any autumn projects in the works? I wish you the best with them and lots of fun with all your autumn decorating!!!

*Please leave me a comment and let me know that you were here...I always love our visits!

*Love ya'll,
Chari
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9/10/2009

The Challenge!
"Three Projects in Three Weeks"

Hello my friends! I'm so happy that you came by today!
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I have accepted a challenge! A challenge for what?...you say!
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Barb over at Treasures from the Heart has issued a challenge called "Three Projects in Three Weeks"....and I have decided to join in!
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Basically the challenge consists of...completing three projects within three weeks! I always have so many ideas and projects that I'm wanting to do...but I must admit...I'm such a procrastinator! Oh yes...me...a big ol' procrastinator! Hehe! So I thought that by accepting this challenge...and actually having to be accountable...that it might just help me complete a few projects that I've been wanting to do!
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Okay...stay with me and I'll show you the three projects that I have committed to completing!

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Autumn Decorating
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This is what I've been doing this week...getting out all of my autumn decor! Ohhhh boy...do I have a mess! I have stuff everywhere! Hehe! This is my dining room table...really it is...the table is under there somewhere! Hehe!
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There are silk florals...vases...candleholders...pumpkins...and more pumpkins! Hehe!
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Hmmm...the pretty red wall/door pocket that I bought on sale awhile back...maybe I can do something for autumn with it. Oh look...there are olive green leaf placemats....and strands of autumn berries...lots of candles....well, I think you get the picture! Hehe!
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I found these pretty red sunflowers on sale a few weeks ago...they're the right color! What colors do you think of when you think of autumn?
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Just playing with the camera! Love these close-up shots!!!
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A few days ago, honey was going through some of his families "old stuff" and found these pretty candleholders just thrown in a box with a bunch of junk! They were so dirty I could hardly make out the color. After a little TLC...look what appeared! Roseville pottery...this pattern is called "Clematis" in autumn brown. Wow...what a treasure...they are highly collectible! I now have a pair of these pretty candleholders and they're the perfect color for autumn decor!!!
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Ohhh my...I have bunches and bunches of autumn leaves!
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How about a few ceramic pumpkins? I have orange, white, orangy-red, brown and gold! Hehe! I love these berry garlands...look at those deep, rich autumn colors!
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Well...what do ya'll think? Do you think I can whip out a few autumn projects with some of this stuff?
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"Three Projects in Three Weeks"
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Okay...so happy that you stayed with me because this is where the challenge comes in! I chose three projects that I would definitely like to do for my autumn decor.
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Project #1
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My first project has to do with this old grapevine wreath. I need a new autumn wreath for my door!
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Project #2
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Project #2 is bit of a surprise! I'm making something to share for Marty's "Cloche Party"!
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Cloche Party
September 11, 2009
Hosted by Marty over at A Stroll Thru Life
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I'm so excited about the "Cloche Party"! This will be the second party this year...the first party was back in June. It was fabulous...so you won't want to miss out on the cloche party....eeeekss...that's tomorrow! I better get a "move on" with Project #2! Hehe!
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For more information about the Cloche Party just click HERE.
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Project #3
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Photobucket


And last but not least...Project #3...an Autumn tablescape!
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I just got a new set of autumn dishes and I can hardly wait to do a tablescape with them!!! If you would like to see my new autumn dishes you can just click HERE. I'll be hooking up with Susan from over at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday...hmmm, maybe next week???
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Okay...no procrastination...next week it is!!! Hehe!!!
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So there you have it, my friends! A little (or alot) of autumn decor. I have a big ol' mess right now but hopefully the "Three Projects in Three Weeks Challenge" will help me to get some of these projects completed and my home decorated for the autumn season!!!
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Ohhh yes...I feel the "creative juices" startin' to flow!!!
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What about you, my friend....are you up for a challenge?
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Love ya'll,
Chari

6/08/2009

It's Metamorphosis Monday!

Hello my friends...welcome to Metamorphosis Monday!

I just love Met Monday! I love seeing all the "before" and "after" photos of various kinds of projects! Metamorphosis Monday is hosted by our very own Susan over at Between Naps On The Porch...thank you, Susan! You'll have to go over to Susan's and see what kind of metamorphosis has taken place today and while you're there...you can check out all of the other Met Monday participants! "Change is bound to happen"! Hehe!


Part III. Metamorphosis of My Frenchy Studio/Office

For the past two Metamorphosis Monday's, I have been showing you the changes made to my new Frenchy studio/office! There are "Before", "During", and "After" photos.

To see Part I...click HERE.

To see Part II...click HERE.

The area that I'm showing you today for Met Monday is the "Gallery Wall Grouping" in my studio/office.


"Before"

In the beginning...
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In Part I of "The Metamorphosis of My Frenchy Studio/Office", you will see that this room was once my step-son's bedroom. Do you see the old antique garden gate on the wall? I used this pretty gate as the headboard for my step-son's twin bed. I just love this old garden gate and it made a fabulous headboard.

Below the garden gate is an antique hunchback trunk that my honey gave to me as a gift. I took the wall art down that was in my step-son's room...it's just propped up against the wall.
Do you see the Fleur de lis hanging on the wall above the garden gate...hmmm, will it go or stay in my new studio/office?


"During"

The Design Process

What to do with this wall?
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I have brought in all kinds of art...pieces that I have had but were in storage...old family photos that were recently acquired from my husband's family...etc. This wall where the garden gate is...is a nice sized area and it's the first area that you see when coming into the room. I would really like this wall to make a statement!!!

I decided to do a "Museum or Gallery" style wall art grouping!


Some of the art that I considered for the gallery wall grouping...



This piece of art is a portrait of Queen Mary II...by William Wissing. I ordered this piece from Global Gallery...the print is called a fine art "giclee".

Hmmm...you might be asking, "What is a giclee print"?

In giclee printing, no screen or other mechanical devices are used and therefore there is no visible dot screen pattern. The image has all the tonalities and hues of the original painting. Giclee (pronounced Gee’clay) is a French term meaning to spray or squirt, which is how an inkjet printer works. However, it is not the same as a standard desktop inkjet printer, and is much larger. Giclee prints are a little over a metre wide and are often affectionately referred to as a “knitting machine” as they look very similar.

This giclee print of Queen Mary II is printed on a very heavy textured paper...the quality is outstanding! I just love this piece!!! Queen Mary II is definitely a beautiful woman and I just adore her gorgeous gown of copper, olive, and gold! Look at the scene...in a palace garden...Ooooh!!! This piece measures 18x24 in.



This piece of art was handcrafted by little ol' me! Hehe! It measures 5x7 in...and is an old family photo! Sadly...no writing or identification was on the photo...so we don't know who this is. I was intriqued as soon as I came across this photo...such a sweet baby and look at that gown and the sweet ornate wicker chair.

I used pretty scrapbooking papers and black organza ribbon to decorate this photo!



I found these beautiful decorative plates at Hobby Lobby! Ohhh...I do love the designs on these plates...soooo frenchy!!! They were on sale...half-price for only $5 each.



Do you remember the Fleur de lis from the first photo in the post?

I needed another rectangular piece so I decided to frame it. I used a black silk fabric with embroidered fleur de lis on it for the background. Since this photo...I have taken a bit more of the white paint off of the surface of the fleur de lis...I just liked the look better...it looks more black in the new look!



I found this pretty french topper at Hobby Lobby. I wasn't sure where I would use it when I bought it...but I think that it may work well for my gallery wall!


"After"
The Gallery Wall in My Frenchy Studio/Office



The finished product...


I was pleased with how this museum/gallery art wall turned out!!! Thanks to my sweet friend
Lauralu and her expert advice!!! She gave me a few suggestions on how to improve the placement of some of these pieces!

I left my antique trunk under the gallery wall...I like it here...it "grounds" the art.

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Well my friends...I hope that you enjoyed seeing the metamorphosis of my frenchy studio/office. I'm so glad that you came by for a visit...please leave me a comment and let me know that you were here...I would love to visit with you!!!

Happy Met Monday!

Love ya'll,

Chari