New/Old Items In The Shop..And Published In Creating Vintage Charm Magazine

Happy Friday everyone and I hope that you enjoy the weekend ahead! 

Just a quick post, as I am off to do a bit of holiday decorating in our home. I'll be turning down the a/c, turning up the tunes and enjoying a creative morning that does not involve my business! 

Speaking of the business....I just added some new/old vintage items to the SHOP and they are going quickly! You can find these items and more HERE.

With every $50 purchase from now through the weekend you will receive a sweet petite bakery box filled with vintage Christmas goodies....

And lastly, I am always thrilled to be invited to submit to small publications and   Creating Vintage Charm is one that I've regularly worked with. Thank you Sonia Crouse for inviting me in and doing such a stellar job! The eye candy Holiday issue is just GORGEOUS and I hope that you'll purchase a copy for yourself, or perhaps as a gift. You can find the magazine HERE

I am off to decorate! Take care.....xoxo, Janet

Beach Cottage Christmas Decor...A Bit Of Shabby Chic

I hope that you had a great Thanksgiving!

In my previous post I mentioned that we were up at our beach home for the long weekend and I had the chance to go on a bit of a buying trip for the WEBSITE in addition to everything else going on. 

I don't seem to have much time to go to flea markets lately, so it was fun....and then I hit a couple of other stops that I know of along the way back to the beach place. 

I found some beautiful plates, and a huge moving size box of vintage Shiny Brite Christmas ornaments and other vintage Christmas bits.

Although we are back at home now, I thought that it would be fun to spend a little time before we left setting up some simple Beach Cottage Christmas decor, and I hope that we have a chance to get back up and enjoy it at the beach house this season!

I hope that you enjoy the photos and perhaps find some inspiration here.....

A large clam shell holds some of the old mercury glass Shiny Brite ornaments that I found at the flea market

The plates are all vintage...some English white ironstone and the little plates that I also found at the flea market mixed in

Chairs are from Restoration Hardware, but you can find these type of reproduction vintage chairs on several websites. The slipcovers are from Rachel's Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture

The weather was nippy at the beach, so I found myself often wrapped up in this throw. Mixing textures adds interest to a home setting (as well as keeping one warmed up:-)

I don't have napkin rings at the beach house, but we do like to use cloth napkins. I took some tin foil and simply fashioned a napkin ring and added vintage hearts that were in the box lot of ornaments that I found

My sweet daughter who was with us this past weekend brought me a bouquet of beautiful white roses

A vintage aqua Mason jar partially filled with beach glass that I collect on my walks holds the flatware

A vintage glass salt cellar in a stunning shade of blue, a scattering of sea shells and vintage "snowflakes"

I hope that you enjoyed the photos and have a great week ahead!

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Partying Over At French Country Cottage HERE

Morning Motography......At The Beach

I hope that you are enjoying a long weekend (like I am)....and although you may not be at the beach (like I am), I thought that I'd share a few photos with you that I shot during my morning workout walk. 

I enjoy photography so much and it's become such a huge part of what I do, however I don't always enjoy the fact that my camera and all of my lenses weigh a ton and when I'm out exercising I don't want to lug all of that around!

When the new iPhone5 came out it was really time to replace my existing first generation phone that had seen better days. I was waiting for this one to come out, and it has an awesome camera that takes HDR (high dynamic range) images. The iPhone 4 has this as well...but I waited long enough and it was time.

I've been enjoying Instagram (find me there under user name of shabbyfufu) and some of my favorite photographers there are actually"motographers"

As defined by the Urban Dictionary.......

And while I don't think that I'll be giving up my big equipment any time soon, there are definite advantages to portability and it takes a pretty nice shot! 

Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter.  ~Ansel Adams

Mercury Glass Mason Jar For Candles...Tutorial

Hello everyone & Happy Thanksgiving week to all of my American friends!

I want to thank those who shopped the WEBSITE during the Flash Sale this past weekend, which was a smashing success and almost a complete sell out. For that I am extremely grateful and working to get orders out as quickly as possible.

Last year I posted a tutorial on making a mirror out of an old window...and this year I thought I'd share my tried and true technique once again on the FAUX MERCURY GLASS look for those who might not have seen it. We all love candles, and displaying them in a Mason jar just makes them shimmer and shine all the more. Add a bit of aged silvering and you have something really special and inexpensive to put up on the mantel...or make a few and display on a sideboard or create a centerpiece on your dining table. 

 I don't really have any photos of myself doing this technique so will post a couple from last year.....but I assure you that this is VERY EASY TO DO!

Supplies:

Something glass to work on (new Mason jars from Michaels in this case)
Can of Krylon's Looking Glass Spray Paint
Black acrylic craft paint
Sponge pieces
Flat cotton puffs (like you use for your make up removal) Paper Towels
Optional:
Gold and/silver acrylic craft paint
Spray bottle with mixture of 1/2 white vinegar to 1/2 water Spray sealer
Apply the Krylon Looking Glass Paint in four to five even coats of spray to your glass piece. If it's a window you will want to work on the backside of it. For the bottles that I have shown I did the process on the outer side...as working inside the bottles

would have been impossible. You'll want to work in a well

ventilated area or outdoors if you can...it's stinky and messy! Allow to dry just for a minute or so in between thin coats of spray...the spray dries very quickly!

With your sponge rub off areas of the paint where you want the piece of glass to look distressed.
Dab cotton puff into black acrylic craft paint and start sponging on the areas where paint was removed. If working with a window, you'll want to look at the front side of the piece to see how it's going to look! 

I have also used gold and silver craft paint in the past to achieve a more mottled look of colors behind the glass...so this is an option if you want to try.
Use a spray mister with some white vinegar or diluted white vinegar with water and spray on the glass paint while still not completely dry. This will produce little droplets and I like that look.
Allow 24 hours to dry and then spray with a clear sealer to protect your piece. 

 

I've also done this technique with French beer bottles (below) and with the cap off they are fabulous used to hold taper candles!

I have been using these with real candles and there is no issue with the paint peeling off, however whenever working with candles use with caution (or battery operated candles). Wash by hand....

Easy and beautiful, especially for the Holiday Season and to make some inexpensive gift items for family, friends and those all important teachers.

If you aren't inclined to make these, I do have them available in the shop HERE

Have a wonderful week...and once again, Happy Thanksgiving to you!
xoxo, Janet

Fleurs and Flash....Happy Weekend!

I love to have fresh flowers (fleurs) in the house for the weekend and my sweet daughter brought these home to me last night...so of course I played a bit with them this morning....

Really have such a love affair with shooting flowers. No...I did NOT shoot them with a flash, in fact my camera doesn't have a flash. Just a little play on words as there is a FLASH SALE going on right now on the WEBSITE.

After being in business on~line since 1999, things have drastically changed and so must I. Come see, as there are bargains to be found (that's what everyone is looking for these days).....lots of jewelry at 1/2 off!

I hope that you enjoy your weekend....

xoxo, Janet

Drawing A Blank....Thinking Out Loud

Hello to all! 

I've been working on a few projects around here after just finishing up a couple of very exciting photography opportunities that have come my way that I'll share with you as soon as I can.

Thanksgiving will be celebrated here in the U.S. next week and it seems that decorating for the Christmas season is in full swing worldwide! 

I plan on keeping it simple this year and have been inspired to do a theme using natural elements. This isn't the easiest thing to accomplish if you live in South Florida as I do, unless you opt for sea shells and coastal items.

I was out in the garden today and brought this vintage blueberry crate out with some roses that I have drying leftover from a shoot, and hoping to find some pieces of nature to pick up free for the taking. Unfortunately I'm drawing a blank...so I'm still thinking out loud.

Although I made the liner...the crate is from my talented friend Laura's shop....and you can visit her blog Verbena Nested Treasures by clicking HERE:

Some other things that I've been working on, painted roses....

 And adding a few new things to the SHOP, including this one of a kind pair of Mason Jar candelabra lamps. You can find them HERE:

Have a great week!

xox, Janet

Photo Shoots And Thank You....

Happy Monday everyone! 

The website relaunch was a smashing success and I'm so grateful to each and every one of our customers and friends. I never take it for granted and am here to tell you from my own experiences in life that with hard work comes great things...including hopefully inspiring you to reach for your dreams, whatever they may be. 

Just a couple of quick collages from recent shoots....and wishing you a fabulous week ahead. Lets all spread some positive vibes across bloglandia!
xox, Janet

White Christmas At Shabbyfufu...Photos To Inspire AND Giveaway Winners

What you say....has Shabbyfufu gone mad and already decorated for the Christmas season? I assure you that I'm quite sane and these photos are from last year:-).

I'm announcing my GIVEAWAY winner(s) for a copy of COTTAGE STYLE MAGAZINE. I received my copies from the publisher today and have enough of a stash that I am giving away TWO copies....winners below.....

Winner of the first copy is # 17, Shabby Chic Sandy

 Winner of the second copy is #10, Rusty Hinge

Please send me your mailing addresses and I'll get those copies out to you asap!

Before I continue....of course our hearts go out to those affected by Hurricane Sandy and as someone who had my own home destroyed by Hurricane Andrew some years ago I highly recommend if you can help in any way that you donate to the RED CROSS. I will never forget how they came to our aid when we had no water, no power and total devastation and it's a great way to help out. You can click on my link above to go to their website.....

I'm debating how much decorating to do around here for the Holiday Season this year, as I'm going to be on a trip during the holidays that I'll post about later. I can't resist though....and have to at least pull out a few bits and bobs, if not my entire stash of goods. Here are some shots to inspire, feel free to Pin and share and please credit back if you do.....

I have a huge shoot to start working on tomorrow and although I can't talk it about it yet it does have to do with the word "magazine".....

Have a great weekend and if you have a chance to stop by the WEBSITE, it's back open with some beautiful things!
Speaking of....here is a custom order teacup chandelier that I just finished.....

xoxo,
Janet