Bench Before and After

Ever have one of those ideas in your head?

It's all calculated out... in your head..

What fabric you're going to use..

Exactly what it's going to look like when it's completed?

Down to the last piece of lace..

I had a vision, but, in the end,

it ended up much better

that what was.. in my head...

I had invisioned this bench:

with lots and lots of lace layers,

and lots and lost of ribbons and bows..

totally girly!

After I was done cutting and stapling

the drop cloth fabric to the bench

I realized I didn't have quite enough fabric

to cover the entire bench. Boo!!

Only the bottom section was bare.

So, I went in my craftroom to see

what lace I had that I could use

to cover this part up.

Nothing seemed to work

until I remembered

I had this burlap "ribbon"

I bought a week or so ago.

It fit perfectly!!

So, in my head,

it was going to turn out totally girly..

In the end..

It's MUCH better than what I had envisioned!!

YAY!

I added the numbered burlap around the bottom,

and up towards the arms..

And, added apholstry tacks all the way down the arms.

I just love it!!

And, SO happy it didn't turn out AS girly..

~Sherri~

Linking up at:

Link up with Marie

My Simple Home Life

Antique Dresser Makeover

Yeppers, a 2nd post in 1 day!

I'm ona roll.. LOL

I was able to finish up this really cute dresser

I bought off of another dealer at the antique mall

where I sell some of my re-dos:

Traditions Antique Mall in Wildwood, FL.

If you ever get the chance to stop in, please do,

I know you will just LOVE it!

Back to the dresser..

Here is the before:

Really cute legs and great smaller size..

But... ya know I couldn't just leave her alone!

I made some rose applique's from

the handle of a silver platter I had

and added them to the front of the dresser.

She's SOOO much prettier now!

Make sure you click on the pictures

so you can see these appliques..

I think they turned out really good.

I'm excited to put them on other projects now!

Check out these gorgeous drawer pulls!

Soooo cool, right?

 From that..                                   to this!

~ Sherri ~

Linking up at:

Elizabeth & Co. Link Party 36

My Kitchen Table Re-Do

I bought this kitchen table and chairs off of Craigslist

a few years ago. I wanted a "farmhouse" looking table,

and, I knew I had found one with this:

I had already started re-doing the chairs,

as you can see.. but, the table, to be honest

kind of antimidated me a bit.

It had a really thick coating of laquer on the top,

not to mention, I just detest paint stripping.. LOL

My dad stripped the chairs down for me.. whew!

I recovered each seat in a different antique sack

from Germany.  My brother, who lives in Germany,

has been sending them to me for my birthdays and Christmas'!

(What an AWESOME brother I have!)

Anywho.. I finally got around to repainting my table..

Of course, only after Mr. Ruffles bought me a power sander.

That baby is AWESOME!!

I was able to totally strip down the paint and varnish

from the table in just less than an hour..

And, the after is here:

I just LOVE my "new table"!!

I still have to sand (shabby up) 2 more chairs,

but, for now, I am so happy I don't have to cover

that ugly table with a table cloth anymore!

My dining room..

One of the chairs covered with an

antique German sack.

♥

From that..                               To this!!

~ Sherri ~

 

Linking up at:

Elizabeth & Co. Link Party 36

Turning 40

Is August really here already?!

My gosh, this year has just flown by.

Today is the last day of my 30's..

Boo!!

This past year, when someone would ask me,

"How old are you?"  I replied, "Almost 40."

I never even embraced my last year of my 30's

by replying, "I'm 39."  Ah.. such is life..

And.. on to fabulous 40's!

The past 2 weeks of my 30's I've spent some

quality time with my couch and bed.. My allergies

kicked it into high drive and turned into Sinusitus.

I've never had that before, but, let me tell you..

I never want it again!  I spent the last 2 weeks

weak, tired and hacking my lungs out.. or, at least

that's what it felt like!  I did go to the doctor, finally,

last week and he wrote a script for some antibiotics.

Thank goodness they worked, because I had travel

plans this past weekend.  I'm finally feeling much better,

and was able to make my trip up to Michigan to attend

our family reunion, and enjoy my grandson for the past

few days in Traverse City.

Although I wish I had worn makeup for this picture (LOL)

I wanted to share with you my grandson James and I:

And this picture below of my little nutbag

wearning a fake moustache.. haha!

We really had some gorgeous weather up north

we swam every day, played on the playground

and I just ate up every minute I could have with him.

Here he is looking for shells in Traverse City..

While visiting with my dads side

of the family, we made an extra trip

a bit further to see my grandmother.

She gave me 3 quilts..

The 1st one pictured is one she made.

Isn't it gorgeous?

I love it, and will cherish it forever!!

The next 2 you see pictured are antique quilts.

These will look fabulous in my hutch

folded with the others I've collected.

I did manage to sneek away for a bit

and venture off to an antique store.

I picked up this cute little ironstone set:

I also found these clip on Roses..

aren't they fab? Pure white with glitter.

I'm not sure where I'll put them yet,

but, when I saw them glisten in the lights

I just knew they'd be great in my home.

My brother sent me a box from Germany

(where he lives)

for my birthday.. last year, he sent me

some antique grain/coffee sacks.

I'm in the middle of redoing our dining room

table and chairs, and I used those to recover

the five chairs I have to the set.

Guess what he sent me for my birthday

this year?!

Yep! Three more antique sacks!!

Aint he just the BEST big brother?!

My favorite is the one below.

I'm thinking about framing it

and hanging it in my dining room.

Before I left on my trip, I painted this

little sign that says, "Love Never Fails"

It's pink/white background and turquoise lettering.

I also decoupaged some printed tissue paper

on the corners.  I'll be bring this one up to my

booth tomorrow afternoon.

I'm pretty happy with the result, it turned out

so cute and shabby!

I hope ya'll have been enjoying

your summer so far this year..

And, if you're in your 30's..

Embrace EVERY year!!

It slips by soo fast..

~ Sherri ~



Sewing Machine Table

I found this sewing machine table

while out thrifting a few weeks ago:

Old, crusty & rusty

with some sort of pressboard

wanna be "marble" top.

My white paint was just itchin

to make my heart sing once again..

And, of course, it didn't disappoint!

Mr. R screwed a wooden tray

I had painted white to the top.

I lined the tray with some really

pretty wallpaper I have at home.

I just love it in our dining room.

Sooo much prettier!

~ Sherri ~

Pretties

Mr. Ruffles is away working this weekend,

so I took the opportunity to do some shopping.

I stopped at my favorite fabric store

and found this wonderful

Cabbage and Roses fabric..

It's SOOO pretty!!

Can't wait to get started on a project with this:

I bought this cutey patuty bear from Pop Vintage

a local store in Clermont, FL, a few months ago..

When I picked the bear up

to purchase, it had a cute lill tutu on it.

Chris, the owner, said it didn't go

with the bear.. but, I bought the bear

anyway, thinking I'd sew one up, no problem.

Well, I never got around to it..

but, guess what I found in a thrift store

the other day!!

A white tutu!

After I bought the bear and brought

it home, I took a peek at the tag

to see what it's name was.

Much to my suprize.. the bear

isn't a she.. he's a "Bradley"!!

Isn't Bradley so cute with a

new tutu and a rhinestone crown?!

At the same store I found these stunning

size 8 little girl dresses..

So pretty

The lady I bought them from asked if someone

was getting married, I said, "Nope, but, these will

look great as a backdrop in my booth"!

I'll be bringing them up to RnR

next week to hang them up.

Promise to take pictures!

(Can't wait to show ya'll  what I've been working on..

I hope to have them up in my booth by Wednesday..

It's taken awhile to complete this project,

considering it's so flippen hot outside I can't last 

more than an hour at a time without sweating to death.. LOL )

My last stop of the day was at an

antique mall here in Mt. Dora, FL.

I had a grea time looking for treasures

but, never really found anything

in my price range that sparked my interest..

until.. I was ready to get my purse out of

the locker, I looked down and there was this

old record cabinet!

SCORE!!

I just love the antique mirror on the top.

Beveled and in tact!!

All in all quite a day of shopping..

Thanks Mr. R!!

~ Sherri ~

Catching Up With You..

I apologize.. I've been MIA.

I've let my blog sit silent

for quite some time..

No excuses.  Just an apology.

I'm sorry.

Despite the heat this summer,

I have been staying quite busy

painting, sewing, creating, thrifting

traveling further south, visiting

antique shops...

And, yes, I found some time

to lounge by the pool and get

a great suntan going..

I just LOVE summertime in Florida!

Now, on to what I've been up to

the last few weeks.. yay!  I'm so

excited to share some pictures

you again...

I aquired these gorgeous chandeliers

recently..

This baby is HUGE!!

Here is the second one

a bit smaller, just a bit,

but, just as beautiful.

I spent 2 days, 11 hours each day

cleaning, buffing and putting back together

the smaller of the two.. but, WOW!

Look at her shine!

Sooo pretty!

When the lights from the bulbs

shine on the prisms, it sparkles

in rainbow colors.

She's a gasper for sure!

~

I also wanted to share some

pictures of my booth I took yesterday,

which include some of my recent projects:

I found this candlabra

in an antique shop

near Jacksonville, FL.

Yep, it's black.. so far outta my element,

so, I added some real dried roses to it.

To make it a bit more romantic.

The hangers are all vintage

wooden hangers.  I added lace,

florals, pearls and buttons.

Soo cute for your extra special

pretty dresses to hang on now.

I had an old wood bread box

I found at a thrift store.

I painted it white, and then handpainted

the words, " Konigin der Kuche"

which means: "Queen of the Kitchen"

Love it!

These glass canisters had wooden tops too.

Yep, you guessed it!

They got the white paint treatment too.. haha!

Quick shot of the chandy

I mentioned previously..

Now hanging in all her glory

in my booth.

I finally got around to making a sign

for my booth too.

I just love how it turned out!

I painted and shabbied up an old board.

Painted the words,

"Ruffles n Raspberries"

in a raspberry color, of course.

And then hot glued ruffles around the edges.

Believe it or not,

I tried my hand at painting

with a darker grey color.

It was a bit difficult, suprizingly enough,

to see to paint, but, I do love how it turned out.

3 coats of grey, shabbied up a bit,

and sealed with clear wax.

I'm not so sure I'll venture that

far out from white again,

but, it was sure fun to try!

Pillows I made.

Some frenchy.. some ruffly..

I just finished up the memo board

you see hanging in the picture below.

It's a big one too.

2 x 3 feet!

I painted the frame,

backed it with thick poster board

and cork board, then wrapped it

in drop cloth.

I embellished it with vintage doilies,

sparkly butterfly clips

and wooden push pins.

And, finally, a picture of my entire booth

at Traditions Antique Mall

in Wildwood Florida.

I hope ya'll can make it

to visit me sometime!

~ Sherri ~

PS.. I just had to share this

hilarious picture of

my granddaughter, Aubrey.

I'm leaving for a week in August

to visit with my grandkids, James and Aubrey.

I can't wait to see them both again!

I'll be sure to take lots and lots of pictures..