A note on knobs

As part of the dresser update I had fantasies about all the beautiful knob options that are out there. The fact that I needed to purchase 16 of those babies brought me and my budget back to reality. Then I went on a pinning spree about all the cute ways you could paint the plain wooden knobs that the dressers came with.

Never one to be daunted by a craft project, I had my husband help me screw the knobs into a box top for stability and got painting. I went with yellow to match the room's walls. The dresser with pink drawers had knob designs in blue. The dresser with blue drawers had knob designs in pink.

Now that it is over with I am going to say it was not as easy as I had expected. I think I may have been hindered by my lack of artist quality brushes as well. So if you like the look of hand-painted knobs but have any doubt about your ability to paint fine details, I would strongly suggest you support one of the lovely etsy artists who sell these!

Dual dresser updates

Part of the pre-baby plan is to move little sister in with big sister. Since big sister's current bed is also her dresser we needed a new dresser for her and then also for little sister. I got obsessed last fall with cruising Craig's List and visiting the Allegan Antique Market. I found two vintage dressers in need of a little love. Then the weather got colder and I got to feeling sicker and all progress stopped. So there the poor dressers sat in the garage all winter long.

Fast forward to spring and here we go!

This is as close as you're going to get to an official "before" photo. The one on the left was from Craig's List and had been painted at least twelve times previous. It did end up being the better functioning piece of furniture in terms of the drawers sliding. 

The one on the right was from the Antique Market and upon closer examination by my husband we've decided it is likely homemade. I did fall in love with its sweet details: the picket fence sides and the sweet little curves along the top and bottom. However, the drawers definitely don't glide as nicely. Ah, well.

My first design idea was white dressers with drawers done ombre style. So the top drawer would be pink at 100%, the next at 80% of the original shade, 60% and 40%. Of course, I was going to do this on the cheap so that meant I would be adding white to the original shade and trying to invent my own lighter shades. This looks very cool but in the end the idea kind of tired me out.

So the modification was to do all the drawers the same shade. The room is already done in pink, yellow, and green and I had in my head I wanted to add some blue to the mix. So one dresser has pink drawers (a wall color choice of the previous owners; yay for leftovers). The other dresser has my beloved blue from painting my kitchen.

The lovely "after" photos:

Adventures at the Allegan Antiques Market!

I went to the Allegan Antiques Market on the last Sunday in September for the very first time and – wow! If you have any love of vintage or antique anything this is the place to be. Absolutely astounding in its size. I went with a dear friend who happens to be old hat at this sale. Thank goodness because otherwise I would have gotten myself turned around for sure. I tend to be directionally challenged!

I bought a dresser (future project & future post on this one) and a few other treasures I will be sharing with you tomorrow. And some others I will share in the far future when they get revealed in my home as surprises related to future decorating adventures.

Isn't this a fun idea? The tabletop was finished with yardsticks. I liked it.

Renegade Craft Fair – I loved it!

More from Renegade Craft Fair! I didn't buy from any of these vendors (yet) but I would of... so many lovely and interesting things!

Earrings by Foxglove Accessories

Foxglove Accessories
Each of these teeny tiny little treasures was created using vintage postage stamps. The back of the card would tell you what era and what country the stamps were from. Fascinating.

Sword Fern Cuff by Wonderlust Jewelry

Wonderlust Jewelry
Breathtakingly gorgeous stainless steel jewelry. The designs are made using actual bits of nature so every piece is unique. I overhead the artist explaining her process – it has to do with chemistry and reminded me of how photographs are developed. At the point I came across her booth I had just bought myself some other jewelry so I was trying to slow up my self spending for a bit. Otherwise, I could have easily made a purchase here!

FoundRe: Furnishings
I love and adore the texture and the mystery history of layers of peeling paint. There were some gorgeous tables whose tops were pieced together with different colored narrow pieces of wood salvaged from New Orleans (trim maybe?). They were lovely and reminded me a bit of quilts. Sorry I don't have a photo!

Bat mobile kit from Owly Shadow Puppets

Owly Shadow Puppets
I think these cutouts would work equally well as creative playthings and home decor items!

love this loveseat

I think this one might be it. But first I need a sit, which might require a road trip! West Elm's Henry loveseat in "Lagoon."