Time for another Lollishop Design Team Reveal ...

 

Another month and another Lollishop Design Team challenge done and under my belt ... whew !! I don't know why I do it to myself ... waiting until the night before my results are due in to work on my project ... good thing this challenge isn't the reality TV show 'The Biggest Loser" ... I'd definitely lose! But this challenge is ALL in the name of FUN and that's exactly what I had working on it ... FUN ... here's the outcome ... little Easter treat baskets for my family, that will also be used as decoration and place settings on Sunday.

 

This is the lovely little package that arrived a month ago {yup, a month ago!} from Pamela at Inspiration Cottage ... Thank you, Pamela for all of the goodies to create with, I LOVED them ... if you would like yourself some goodness to play with, you can find Pamela's Etsy shop here.

I grabbed a few of my own supplies ... paint, brushes, vintage pipe cleaners, and peat moss cups ... I scrounged around the basement and used only items I had on hand ... an additional "challenge" to the "challenge" so to speak.

I gave the cups a shear wash of paint ... I especially like the texture of this peat cups, even after paint they retain a very natural and organic feel ... lined them with old sheet music ... added some fancy trim on the inside to clean up the edges ... used my home printer to print out everyone's name and made little banners to attach to baskets ... edged each one in yummy pink glitter.

Then I added the chenille pipe cleaners for handles, thru holes I punched with a regular whole punch ~ very easy to punch thru these peat cups ... embellished with two rows of antique lace from my personal stash ... attached the name banners ... more glitter ... more glitter ... more glitter ... have I mentioned I LOVE the glitter? ... final touch, adding the flowers, bunnies, chicks, and a sequin here and there.

Finished!! Well, almost ... I'll probably stuff with shredded vintage ledger paper and fill to the brim with each person's favorite treats ... I have the paper, but need to make the 'treats' still ... that's next on the to-do list.

 

I'm pretty pleased with how my little Easter cups turned out ... and I think my family will enjoy having a little something made by Mom, with love, just for them!

Please, if you have a moment, stop by all the design team members and see what they have up their sleeves for this challenge ... all posts should be up by tomorrow.

Chelsea of Itty Bitty Birdy

Kristin of Retro Cafe Art

JoAnn of Holiday Frivolities by JoAnne

Sarah of My So Called Junky Life

And just one more thing ... do you remember what this Friday is? It's Vintage Black Friday ... I hope you have some time to join the party over at French Cupboard, EVERYONE is welcomed and I hope to see you there!

Sweet vanity Before and After ...

This past week was perfect painting weather ... outside painting weather. The thermometer finally hovered in the 60 to 70 degree range for most of the week and out came the paint cans.

This was the first piece I sunk my teeth brushes into ... an old dressing vanity that was my husband's maternal Grandmother's ... passed down thru the generations. When my in-laws retired and moved, it was one of those things that was "up for grabs" ... I waited until after nobody seemed to be interested in it before laying claim ... and I've had it tucked away in our basement since.

 

My first thought was to leave the original paint ... it was a nice creamy mellow yellow color ... chippy around the edges ... but, after closer inspection, I noticed it had some staining and the paint was flaking rather bad ... so, I decided a face-lift would be in order ... and WOW am I happy with the results!!

My daughter helped me out by giving it a light sanding and a coat of primer ... that took care of all the stains and loose paint. A few coats of antique white paint and a faux linen look applied to the drawer insets in a very pale gray ... I left the hardware original, I love the contrast between the light and dark. I heavily distressed the new paint to allow the original 'mellow yellow' paint to peek thru and the natural dark wood. This is just the sweetest vanity ... it has a cool beveled mirror tucked into the center make-up drawer, lots of little cubbies inside {for gloves,maybe?}, and even a secret hidden drawer for hiding love letters.

**This is a repost ... but one of my FAVORITE DIYs ... I wanted to share for my first link up to: Make it For Monday at Cottage Instincts ... make sure you visit ALL of the other fabulous links!!

 

Announcement ... we have WINNERS !!

 The 'Surprise Grand Prize' for the Spring giveaway is ...

 

And the winner is ... Julie at Being Ruby is the lucky girl, congratulations Julie !! Take a stroll on over to Julie's gorgeous blog and to view her photography ... you will not be disappointed ... I guarantee you're going to fall in love with Julie's talents ... both her creative photography and writing! Here's a little preview of what you're in store for ...

Last Sunday's rosette winner is ....Rosemary from Ozma of Odds ... after you have stopped by Rosemary's blog to say "hello and congratulations!", make sure to visit her Etsy shop where she has the most creative rosettes of her own ... I fell in love with this one below, "Princess Beatrice" ... how sweet and original!

All of you sweet,talented, and kind bloggy friends have been wonderful beyond words ... leaving a boatload of heartfelt comments ... each and everyone warmed me like a little ray of sunshine ... making the long wait for Spring's arrival bearable ... big, big warm hugs to all of you!!

... and Happy Spring !!


p.s. Julie and Rosemary ... please send me your addresses ; )
gypsybrocante@gmail.com

Spring has Sprung ... FAST!

Hello Spring Peeps ... can you believe it? Spring is here and it came way faster than I expected ... good thing !! However, now I'm on the scramble ... and running a few days behind ... therefore, I am extending the giveaway for just two more short days. 

I did pick a winner last night for the usual weekly Sunday winner ... but did not pick the Grand prize winner ... what does that mean for you?  Well ...................

Any more comments, new followers, etc ... will STILL be in the running for the big prize!! 

BOTH last night's winner and the Grand prize winner will be announced tomorrow evening, Tuesday, March 23rd 

Would you like a hint at what the Grand Prize is?? okay ... just one teeny-tiny hint ... it's the perfect place to pin on a Gypsy Rosette ... and take to the market with you ...

Thanks for playing girls and don't forget to check back on Tuesday ; )

Virtual Flea Market ... TODAY ... Let's shop !!

 Would you like to get out this weekend and hit the flea markets and support a good cause?  You never have to ask me twice !! Well, lucky you ... some of your favorite vendors and bloggers have joined ranks this entire weekend over at Designing dna to participate in an amazing on-line round-up of flea market shopping! Oh, you want me to drop names, huh? ... okay... here's just a few to whet your shopping appetite ... Carol from String Me Along Jewelry Design

Tracey over at French Larkspur

Karen from Karen Sugarman Designs

Trixie of Flea Market Trixie

Cindy over at My Romantic Home

Was that enough to get you excited? well, that was just a sample ... you'll have to head on over toDesigning dnato get your hands on the whole list! WAIT!!There's more ...This gorgeous Italian chandelier is being auctioned off. 

and a cupcake walk to win prizes 

And the good cause? All vendors are generously
donating a portion their sale proceeds to
Samaritan's Purse U.S. Disaster Relief Rebuild Program
to help rebuild the homes of families that were destroyed in natural disasters. 

please
MENTION
YOU ARE SHOPPING
"FLEA MARKET ROUND-UP"
AT THE SHOPS

 My shops Gypsy Brocante will be donating as well as Vintageology What are you waiting for?Everyone knows you have to start early at the flea  ... The early bird catches the worm best treasures!

And Rosette No.02 goes to ....

Theresa over at '612 Riverside'  ... stop by her blog for a visit and say congratulations or "hey, that flower should be mine!" ... kidding ; ) ... I'm loving this give~away, but to be down right honest, it is at the same time frustrating me ... I have lost count how many entries there are at this point ... I sincerely wish I had a zillion rosettes ... each and everyone of you would have one for Spring! Please, please know how much your comments and sweet words mean to me ... I am still in the process of visiting each and everyone of you, it has been a little slow going and I apologize for that.

 

Next week there will be one more rosette winner AND the "Surprise" grand prize winner will be announced ... there is still plenty of time to enter and spread the word. All previous entries will remain in the flower pot!

Have a lovely week girls ... only one left until we can officially say "Hooray, it's Spring!!"

Silver Sunday and Mosaic Monday silver brushes at the flea ...

Silver brushes waiting for a new owner to make them theirs and take them home ... sitting on an old flea market bench ... also weathered to the perfect shade of silvery gray.

Mosaic Monday

Head on over to our hostess Beth's blog, Gypsy Fish Journal, for all of the Silver Sunday fun and maybe even a magical fairy or two ...

Make sure you visit 'Little Red House' to see all of the wonderful mosaics out there ... very creative and inspirational!

Hope everyone is having a shining weekend !!

White Wednesday ... simple whites

A few shots from around the house and studio today of some of my favorite whites ...

White button collection ... chippy white Italian tole sconce...old white jointed rulers...and endless strands of forgotten pearls.

Thanks for stopping by for a quick visit ...don't miss our hostess Kathleen's post today at Faded Charm ... she has some great white architectural finds this week.

xo

Jill

Two winners on the first Spring Giveaway drawing !!

 

The Spring giveaway has been way more fun than I anticipated ... seems like I'm not the only one ready for the next season to arrive ... from all of the comments everyone sounds ready to watch the flowers bloom and welcome in Spring!!

The first name plucked from the flower pot this week was ...

Robelyn from red.neck chic ... stop by and say congrats to this chick ... you'll love your visit to her fun blog!!

And a surprise is going out to Ramona from Create with Joy for becoming the 400th gypsy girl to jump on the Gypsy Brocante caravan ... hooray and welcome  Ramona !!

I want to thank all of my Spring peeps who have left the sweetest comments, hooked me up, spread the word,jumped on the band wagon and have just been all around terrific ... thank you!!

All chances earned from this past week will remain in the flower pot ... we will keep adding additional comments, posts, and new followers to it ... everybody still has time left to win ; )

Wishing you all a great week ... we are one week closer .....

p.s. Robelyn and Ramona... please e-mail me your mailing address ; )

Tick-tock...tick-tock...tomorrow is Vinatge Black Friday

 

Just a friendly reminder ... there's still time left ... gather your Vintage Black treasures and join the VBF party over at French Cupboard ... and for you early birds, the link is already up and running!! See you there ; )

White Wednesday and Clapboard Houses on the bay ...

During this past year, as I have made my monthly trip down to the beach, I have been drawn to these white clapboard houses ... that sit off the back bays ... for the most part they appear to be abandoned ... obviously in a bit of disrepair ... peeling paint ... worn roofs ... and shattered windows ... all but forgotten. But still they stand .. a life well lived ... not falling down around themselves ... putting their best face forward ... they've weathered the storms of salt, ice, wind ... Still standing and still proud, simple, but full of dignity and grace ... like the true ladies they are. I can imagine how they have housed and cared for their families ... providing unconditional love and support ... quietly nurturing and guiding ...

Maybe they still stand in order to whisper a subtle reminder in my ear ... keep it simple, keep your family close to your heart, keep your head high and be strong ... storms always pass ... and you've been built to endure life.

Happy White Wednesday girls !! ... I'm off for some fun and a little belated Birthday celebration today ... I hope to snap tons of photos to share with you next WW ...

...oh, and don't forget this Friday is "Vintage Black Friday" over at French Cupboard ... it only happens once a month now ... don't miss out and gather up your VBF goodies!

 

March 1st ... A Gypsy Countown 'till Spring Giveaway ...

The days are a tiny bit longer  ... my hyacinths are beginning to push through the earth ... and I can see a few fresh buds on the trees ... Today is the first of March and we will soon welcome Spring in only 21 days ... and I for one, am ready ... and anxious to celebrate Spring's arrival !!

To jump start the season and count down to the official first day of Spring on March 21st ... I thought a Gypsy Brocante flower giveaway would be oh-so-apropos ... 

So, for the next three Sundays I will be giving away a Gypsy rosette each week, beginning with this coming Sunday, March 7th.

The "Grand prize Surprise" winner will also be drawn on that Sunday as well. What's the "Grand Prize Surprise"?  Well ... it just wouldn't be a surprise if I told ya, now would it? Here's a hint, the theme is "Spring"  : )

Here's how we will play, do the following for chances to be entered in each weeks drawing:

Leave a comment on this post earns 1 chance.

Become a follower earns 2 chances.

Already a follower? Let me know, earns 2 chances for you .

Mention and link to my give-away on your blog, earns you 3 more chances.

 

 All entries will be added to one flower pot and plucked from each week ... and announced that Sunday evening.

Would you like some more chances to win a rosette and celebrate March? Then put a Spring in your step and get on over to my friend Debra's blog for her "Celebration Giveback" ... she's giving away three rosettes this week! A girl can't have enough flowers ... and very soon Mother Nature will be delivering the real thing ... I can feel it already!