I Don't Need Your Rocking Chair

So this little rocking chair has been in our family since the time of the dinosaurs. Ok, well maybe not that long but it came to me by way of my Aunt Jan and Uncle Gene. And it was lovingly shuffled from room to room until it finally managed to go reside in the basement. Unfortunately it just wasn't all that pretty and didn't match a dag-gum thing. Well, it's day has come and new life has been given to it with a little Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Duck Egg Blue with clear and heavy dark wax. And the covering, well it's just some painters drop cloth that was bleached and is super cheap soft! Now, of course my patience got the best of me and I didn't take during pics but really, do you need to see me painting. I will add this though, if you decide to paint and reupholster a piece, do the painting first, before you remove the old fabric. If not, you spend an inordinate amount of time picking chair guts from your paint brush. Now if you're the sadistic type, well disregard the warning and carry on.

So, now here's another little story. I'm over at my girlfriend Paula's house and as I'm leaving, we are walking out through her garage, cause we're that kind of friends that don't need to use the front door and don't care if each other sees our garage crap. As we are walking out I spy this little ottoman. Me, "What's the story on this?" Well, I won't go into details but let's just say it belonged to an ex boyfriend and she couldn't put it in my car fast enough. Now, make sure you scroll down and see what it looked like before I got my hands on it. Now, for the sake of picture taking, they are together, the rocker and the ottoman but in real life, they wont be hanging out together.

YIKES!

Wowzers! And you now know why it was lovingly moved to the basement.  

Well I hope you enjoyed this little Monday morning makeover. Hope y'all had a great weekend and a fantastic Thanksgiving!

Enjoy,

ginger

Linking up to:

At Home With K, Terrific Under $10

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Happy Thanksgiving!

In honor of Thanksgiving, and the Native Americans that saved the lives of the Pilgrims all those years ago, here's a little post about a project we did as a family a few months ago. Now before y'all get all politically correct on me, yes I realize that not all Native Americans lived in tee pees and in fact it was only the Plains tribes that used them. But listen, Miss Priss has taken an intense interest in all things Native American and requested that we build a wigwam. Well that was a bit more than my mind could process so I gently encouraged her that we build a tee pee instead.

Well Big Daddy was all over this idea, being able to put to use those important Boy Scout knots he learned all those years ago. And here's how we go about family projects. He researches them to the inth degree and I just jump blind. This is why we work. However, his research told him that this little weekend activity was gonna cost on the upwards of $100+! That's when this whole little gig almost came to a screeching stop. Psha! $100, please! We shall hunt and gather in true Native American style.

Well free bamboo poles scored after chatting up a man at a garage sale ( he had a whole forest of this stuff and apparently it grows like wildfire) and was eager for us to chop as much down as we like. A quick stop at Big Lots for a couple extra canvas drop cloths. Throw in some rope and a staple gun. Bing-bang-boom! We have a tee pee!

Now the moment it's done, Miss Priss squeals, "Now we have to decorate it!" Hum, guess that apples didn't fall far from the tree. She invited all the kids on our street over to help "paint it with Indian designs" and started gathering 'furniture' for the interior!

So here's to you and yours! May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." Psalm 107:1

Enjoy,

ginger

PS. Update: you can order one of these from Restoration Hardware for $229.
Click here to see an overpriced tent!

PS. all pics were snapped with my phone. I aplogize for the poor quality.

With a Little Help from My Friends

So it's no secret that we home school. The benefits are unimaginable, for our children and for us. The feeling of knowing exactly what is being poured into my child's brain and soul each day is an amazing gift. And the support that we give each other is really something that gives all of us strength. There are three of us strong, opinionated, alpha females that pull this gig off each week. So you ask, what does this have anything to do with a pic of a bed? Well, here's how it played out.

I arrive to pick up Miss Priss (it wasn't my week to teach) at my partner in crime educating our little birds. Well one of the tiniest birds wasn't in the best mood exorcist, was tired and was testing even the most patient woman's nerves. This calls for help! In the form of a Cupcake! STAT! Why, do you ask is Cupcake capitalized? Because this is no ordinary cupcake, it is the one that comes with a pretty blue and yellow label and a cork. Me: "You wrangle the birds and throw food at them! I'll be right back! Quick! Break!" A quick zip up the road, food thrown at the tiny birds, sounds of laughter and playing in the background, we sit down and eat linguine with shrimp and cupcake in a glass. (Don't worry, husbands were occupied with war shows and such) Well, insert into the background a half completed headboard that has been lingering around for a month or so. Me, "We are gonna finish this tonight. Top us off and grab the staple and gun and let's go!" D, "And lets have dessert, another cupcake!" Well, some staples, some screws, a little hot glue, Houston, we have a headboard! Take that HGTV! That's how you make a headboard in an evening. And tufted at that! Booyah!

Now, in fantasy land, I'd of taken a bunch of pics and done a tutorial but alas I only had my phone handy. And to be frank, we were having to much fun to worry with those silly pics. And besides, if there is one tutorial on tufting a headboard, there are a thousand. The only thing that is different about this one, is that thick, pink insulation board was used as the base rather than MDF. This was the homedepot guy's idea. Makes it light and easy to hang. Hopefully it will hold up to the magic!

Enjoy,

ginger

Linking Up To:

New Nostalgia: Anti Procrastination Tuesday

Which One of These is Not Like the Other

 Here's a quick pic from the GIANT Holiday Open House at The Savvy Shanty and The Queen of Hearts this past Thursday. This was snapped a few minutes before the party started. These were snapped via my phone so you get what you get. And no time to do detailed photos. So, let's play the game, which one of these is not like the other. You know, like in the Highlights magazine we poured over as kids. On you mark, get set, gooooooooo!

So, there are at least five things missing. Did you find them all? And the food and champagne, don't count!
The evening was fantastic and we had a great turn out! Most important though, thank you so much for coming out to support me! There are still some really great goodies out there just waiting to breath new life into your home! And check back soon, the Savvy Shanty will be fluffed with new and wonderful pieces in the next few days!

Enjoy,

ginger



An Old Christmas Card

As far as I'm concerned, Christmas is the belle of the ball. It is by far my favorite time of year, favorite holiday and would be happy listening to Christmas music far more often that the one month a year that is socially acceptable. So yes, I know that Thanksgiving hasn't even graced us yet, but as a crafter, DIYer, whatever our fancy name is, things happen a bit early around here. Here's what I did with a garage sale frame. 

We started with this beauty. And the price on the back was $149! Are you floppin' kidding me? Who would pay this for that?

I removed the awful lovely picture and painted the front of the frame, no pics of painting, but surely you can visualize it. But it's painted in ASCP Olive with clear and dark wax. Moving on...   When removing the picture, all the metal tabs that held the cardboard in were bent up, perfect for lacing the hemp twine around. Here you can see the lacing beginning.

 

















And here is a visual of the completed lacing, tied off at each end. And for you OCDers, the lacing will not be in exactly equal places. Relax. It will be covered with cards soon!

And here we have the finished version. I think I'll pick up the little clothes pins on my next trip to the craft store. Whatcha think? Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

Enjoy,

ginger

PS. you know this would be cute for Valentine's as well. 

Linking up to:

Terrific Under Ten Tuesday @ At Home with K

A Wee Meenit 

Miscellany Monday

Here's some pickin's I found this past weekend. They made my heart go pitter patter! Take a quick peek to see what's comin' round at The Savvy Shanty.

How 'bout this giant cheese wheel! Can't you just see that serving up some artisan cheese during the holidays. And that block and tackle, I have big plans for that in Big Daddy's office. And when can a girl turn down some silver?

Look at the these HUMONGO lamp bases! And they are SOLID!!! Could be used outdoors they are so heavy. Killer frame in the back. And a really cool vintage painting with a cork frame.

These clam baskets make me giddy. Especially when I think about all the scrumptious goodness that they have held in the days gone by.

This little 2 tiered diddy will get a makeover that will make her cute as a button!

And these were just too fun to pass up. Love the vintage state plates.

So there's a little peak into the goodies headin' up to The Savvy Shanty.

Enjoy,

ginger

Ground Control to Major Tom, We have Lift Off

You remember that feeling as a kid the night before Christmas when you couldn't sleep 'cause you were crazy excited. And then as a parent, you get to experience that again when you have kiddos and you are so crazy excited for them 'cause you love 'em so and you know that they are crazy excited. Well, that's kinda been our house the past few days. I'm the little kid that can't sleep and Big Daddy is...well he's the one that is excited for me. And after ALOT of hard work.....Major Tom, we have lift off. Welcome to The Savvy Shanty live. Take a little tour. Enjoy! And hopefully it won't look like this long. Come on people, let's shop! 

Check out those leather vintage suitcases! Yummy! Had a hard time letting them go.

Look at that Plantation Chair! Honey Hush!

The detail on this dresser is delicious. And the hardware is all original and just scrumptious! The wooden pedestal bowl was another goody that I really wanted to keep. It might need to come home and visit for a bit. Oh wait, I'm suppose to be making some money here. Oh rats!  And those lamps are solid wood and weigh a ton!

Well, I sure wish I had those photography skills that captured the beauty that is really on the other side of the lens but alas, I do not. And as I look a these pics, I remember that I was exhausted and should probably have waited to try and take pictures. Oh well. What  I really wanted to do what pop a bottle of champagne and toast the new and exciting "venture" as Miss Priss use to call such things.

Hope you'll stop in to the The Queen of Hearts in Buford, Ga and come see me on aisle "church".

Enjoy,

ginger

Quiet Riot

So, it's been a little quiet around here in blogland for the The Savvy Shanty. But never fear, it's been busy as Santa's workshop around here.

I have been busy, busy, busy getting furniture ready for my booth at Queen of Hearts Antiques. And pile on that I take over Nov 1 and there is a giant three day Christmas Open House the weekend of Nov 17-20! Eeeeks!! Finish furniture, stage it and decorate it for Christmas. Holy busy Batman! I need a pack of elves!

However, here are a few peeks at the goodies I've been working on. I'm super excited and can't wait to see the response they get. Let me know what you think.

If you are a local in the area, I would love to see you at the Open House. Come on by. Thursday night will have refreshments !

Enjoy,

ginger

Linking up to:

No Minimalist Here

Miss Mustard Seed

Savvy Sothern Style 

2805

A Wee Meenit