Brass Doesn't Stand a Chance

I've painted many brass candlesticks, some simple, some elaborate, some I painted black, some I painted turquoise, some red, it just depends on my mood or where to use them. But I really like how this one turned out. It is pretty elaborate and I painted it white but also put a glaze on it. At first, I also added some embellishments, crystals, etc...but I decided I liked it better just like this. Of course, I had to make some beeswax candles for it!

Thanks again to Kathleen at Faded Charm for hosting another White Wednesday. Stop by and check out these amazing White Wednesday posts!

Truly Toilet Tissue Trivia

I buy white toilet tissue. Honestly, I don't even know if they make toilet paper in pastel colors anymore. I have only bought white as long as I can remember. And speaking of getting old, one thing I have noticed is that there are many different different styles of toilet tissue holders. I remember years ago, I lived in a house that had an ornery toilet paper holder. Don't know why I didn't just buy a new one and change it out, but I didn't. They seem to have improved over the years, or at least the ones I have had. I won't bore you with photos of all the different kinds. I will only bore you with two.

Toilet Tissue Holder #1

I think this one is pretty. It is nickel which matches all the hardware in this house. By the way, I had my hubby take this photo and he was being cute, so he is responsible for the hotel "V". This holder works well, but you know, I said I was getting older and you do have to kind of use both hands and take out the center rod and put the roll on it and get it back in place just right.

Toilet Tissue Holder #2

I think this one is pretty, too, because it matches all the hardware in our other house. But this one is so very useful. You just slip the roll right on the rod! Easy! Even when your hands are sore from all the painting. I took this photo and of course I couldn't let my hubby outdo me, hence the hotel "V" again.

One other thing: I drew this years ago and have since kept it next to the toilet paper holder and you know, the holder is very rarely empty!

I told you it was Trivia! While you're just sitting there, pop on over to Faded Charm and say hello to Kathleen and thank her again for hosting another White Wednesday!

Homer's Not Laughin'!

There was a time when Homer WAS laughin'. Homer Laughlin, that is. He was laughing because dishes produced by the Homer Laughlin Co. in the early to mid-1900's were bringing a pretty penny, I must say. He won't be laughing this coming weekend. If you love Homer Laughlin dishes (which I really, really do) now is the time for you to pick up some up at really bargain prices! When I say bargain, I mean low prices plus 25% off to boot for Friday and Saturday Open House at Bloom and Bee Swanky, 210 S. 5th St., Waco, Texas! The shop will be closed Thursday to prepare for this event. There are always many vintage dishes at the shop, but here are some photos of brand new items...ahem...well, of course, they're not brand new, they're vintage, but they've just been taken in to the shop for this special Open House!

Brittany, including lots of dinner plates, cups and saucers and fabulous

cream soups with double handles!

One of the Marilyn patterns with pink rims and muted flowers!

Another beautiful Marilyn with brighter colored flowers!

Homer Laughlin Nautilus in the Dubarry pattern, one of my favorites!

They are all priced individually, so you can get just one or you can get a ton! Come on, dealers, you know you want to.

And, while I'm at it, just a few photos of some of my stuff at the shop:

Gorgeous antique European bed!

Antique iron settee and table (also available, matching

iron arm chairs).

Love this little revolving bookcase.

Intricately carved chest with pretty iron hardware.

Is there anything more useful than a vintage oak accountant's

desk? Small enough for an apartment,

deep enough to hold computer equip,

or for a tighter space, a little vintage typing table, painted pale yellow.

Huge vintage religious print in ornate gilded frame.

And more dishes-vintage blue willow....

and brown transferware.

How about this antique painting on reverse glass?

I love to paint abstract paintings and mix with old stuff.

Like this black cat with judgmental eyes...

....these black and white flowers and at the top

left corner you can see just a tease-lips of another

painting....

...this blackbird just sitting atop a beautiful

chest that would make a great place to

put your flatscreen! You must see!

I apologize for the quality of the photos, but please consider this was just a peek! I also have many antique lamps, a few pieces of mid-century modern furniture, vintage jewelry and glassware, my paintings along with my handpainted domino and scrabble pendants and, of course, some unusuals! I'll be taking in a few other pieces of vintage painted furniture this week. Just been hit with inventory taxes, therefore many other pieces of my furniture have been marked down. So please come take a look this Friday and Saturday!

Spring Open House!

More to come. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Before and After - Bedside Cabinet

This little bedside cabinet was plain mahogany, so I put a black wash on it and added a little gold trim, than embellished the area around the knob with gold paint to give it added interest.

Remembering Rusty

This one is for you dog lovers. Spring always reminds me of Rusty. He's been gone a long time, but don't our beloved pets always hold a special place in our hearts? To me, if ever there was a special beagle (other than Snoopy, of course) it was Rusty. What they say about beagles was true in his case--if you can get past the first year, they're great. The first year was rough. He climbed many a tree. He chewed up shoes. He had to ride with us on the motorcycle. But after that first year, what a sweet, loving soul he was! He was by my side anytime I was sick and seemed to sense the need to be extra careful with me during my pregnancy. He loved Amanda from the beginning when she first came home from the hospital and was always so protective of her. He lived until he was 16 and that's in human years. I painted this portrait of him from a photograph. He was never still enough otherwise, but fortunately I had one photograph that captured his sweet expression. I tried my best to put it on canvas.

What Billie Joe threw off the Tallahatchie....

Ok, so maybe it's not the Tallahatchie Bridge, but this was what I found on the banks of the Bosque River under a bridge not too far from my home in Crawford, Texas. It WAS a brass chandelier that had been on fire and I guess that is why someone ditched it. So my husband and I looked at each other as if to say "Somebody threw away a perfectly good chandelier?"

We stripped out all the electric wiring and light bulb sleeves and I painted it and then glazed it. Some pieces were missing, but nothing that a few pearl strands from the Christmas tree, some new crystals, some finials from a curtain rod and a few other baubles couldn't fix. And then, of course, it had to have candles. It hangs in our bathroom near our bathtub.

Clever hubby hung it on a pulley system so it can be raised and lowered to light the candles.

I apologize for not taking BEFORE photos and my good camera is on the fritz so I had to use my iphone. Hey, perhaps Billie Joe wasn't throwing something off the bridge after all....or if he did, maybe he realized its potential and was trying to retrieve it!

Thanks to Kathleen at Faded Charm for hosting White Wednesday! Be sure to visit her!