Where Rustic Living Meets Refined Elegance

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Wedding day


 Well we survived our first wedding! lol
Just a few pictures snapped with the Cowboys point and shoot until the photographers photos come in next week.

It rained the day before as we set up and it rained the day after, but the day of......beautiful!! 
 Caitie and the Cowboy shared several sweet moments as he walked her down the aisle.  It was nice to see them both really enjoy the moment!
Food was served on large log rounds cut by Caities Grampa from a tree on their ranch which were set on vintage damask linens.
The Brides baby sister, the Maid of Honour, and the Best Man (who is also the Grooms cousin and these two cutie patooties are dating, hmmmmm.)

It was a beautiful evening and I'll post more when the real pictures come in. But hey! In the meantime did you notice I finally figured out how to get the pictures to display in a larger size?  Finally! 


Friday, September 30, 2011

I'm seeing Red!

Working to tidy up some things around here before my daughters shower next month.
I don't know about you but I get in moods where I wake up and find I'm completely obsessed with taking on something that's been nagging at me. 
For instance, this dresser that was in a previous post....
I found this beauty sitting in a field on my way home one day.  There was a yard sale at the house but this piece was way off to the side by itself.  25 bucks and 5 minutes later it was on it's way home to the Barn.  I had intended to paint it but when I got home I ended up just wiping it down with a little stain and it looked so good I decided to leave it as is.   So anyway, this area around my dining table has been making me crazy.  There's also been a little plain pine bookcase that we've had for over 15 years, and it was just sitting along the wall next to the table but the problem was this wall is 18 feet high so it was so underscale it was so horrible to look at it was litterally hurting my eyes.
So the other day I realized that the little bookcase would fit nicely on top of that buffet.  So I painted it red to match it as closely as possible with what I had on hand. Set it on top and moved both pieces up against the big wall.

Pretty good match, I think.

I just stained the back a little darker to give it a little contrast.
A little extra detail just for fun.

Paints are handy on the bottom shelf with canvas's in the drawers below.
I piled some silver on top to give it some extra height. 

A few vintage books with a little watercolor from Paris.

And she has such pretty legs too!

I think I can live with this for a while. 


I'm linking up to:

Monday, September 12, 2011

Save the date!

The kids wanted a barn, up on  hill with a vew of a vineyard.....
Invitations designed and ordered....
CHECK!


 via  Pinterest

The perfect dress found and bought....
CHECK!


Everythings falling into place beautifully!  Friends and family have stepped in to help in ways I cannot even begin to express enough thanks for.  This is going to be a wonderful day for a very deserving couple.  November 5th is the date.  Praying for warm weather!! 

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Barncasso? I don't think so

Well I've discovered a new passion.  And it's consuming my every waking thought. Wait make that EVERY thought as I even dreamed about it last night.

Oil Painting.
Sigh.....
My mother has painted since I was little and paints beautifully, although like all true artists she is her own worst critic and says she's "not very good".  Ridiculous! Anyhoo, I have many memories of coming home from school and stopping by her little studio room and saying hi and watching her paint.  I was always fascinated by the process. The colors mixed on the pallette transfered to canvas to become something to admire. Water drops on fruit that looked real. I loved it all.  Yet I never touched a brush.  Odd.  She never invited me to sit down and try it and I never asked.  Funny when I think about it. But for some reason it's become something I've really wanted to do.

Last month the Getty Museum had a Paris exhibit that I was determined to go see. So the Cowboy, being a good sport and never having gone to an art museum before went with me.  It was beyond spectacular!!!

Oh, yeah, here's a nice little Dega next to a Van Gogh. Just hanging out. 
 Breathtaking!!


Here the Cowboy admires a painting by a Dutch artist from 1635 of the biblical story of Joseph and Potapher's wife.  1635!! It's unbelievable.  And the depth of color is truly indescribable.  And many of the frames are original to the artwork so it's truly awe inspiring to see.  We spent probably the most time looking at the Dutch artists.  The Cowboy loved Renoir's work.  Go figure.  At 8:30 in the evening I was dragging him outta there.  We covered only 2 out of the 4 buildings and we can't wait to go back. 

 But that really did me in.  While sitting still, staring at a beautiful landscape by Corot I knew I had to start painting.  Who knows where it will go. I'm sure there will be many little canvas's painted over, put in drawers, hung in odd little spots in my home for my own pleasure, but who cares.  As long as I love it.   So far I haven't had the courage to make it past  the basic layer of sky, clouds and a little base horizon.  I keep going back to rework the clouds.  I found a guy on YouTube who does on line lessons who rocks! 
Tim Gagnon.

I've really relied on his videos for my cloud work and as soon as the wedding is over I'm going to do his online landscape course.
He seems to have a very easy teaching style and I really like his work.

So my mom donated a bunch of her old oils and I set up shop on a buffet in the dining room so that it's all easily accessible when I have a few minutes to do a little work.  I just move the tray and easel to the table and go to work and put it back when I'm done.
Distracting during the day when I'm supposed be doing other things.
But a distraction I can live with.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

The Gilded Barn Celebrates!

Yes, exciting news here at The Barn.
Our middle daughter Caitlin got engaged this Friday!
We are very excited as we love, love, LOVE her fiance.  He is a wonderful guy. Kind, hardworking, fun, a great cook (private chef), apprecaites a good bottle of wine, and has a dry yet razor sharp sense of humor. Did I mention we love him?

Her morning started with him stopping by with these flowers at 7:00 am.  He told her he had a nice day planned for them and asked her to be ready by 9:00 and then he left.

A quick stop at the bike shop to pick up a few things.  He had bikes loaded, (they love to bike, hike all things outdoors and fun) and then off to the market....

The picked up a few things for a little gourmet picnic lunch
and headed off to San Simeon for the day....
The weather was beautiful!

A little bike riding, and then off to Hearst Castle for a tour.  Caitie said they got there and saw a sign that said "All Tours SOLD OUT".  She said she looked at Tyler and said "Oh no, they're all sold out!" and he just calmly walked up to a representive and said "Excuse me, where do we go for the pre bought tickets?"  Yep he had everything under control, lol.

They toured the grounds and loved every minute.  She said from here they could see where they had parked on the coast and eaten their picnic lunch. 
What an adorable couple!  I'm not even Jewish but when I look at them I hear myself say "Oy, what beautiful grandchildren I'll have!"

One of my favorite pictures.  A beautiful couple in front of a beautiful building!
After Hearst Castle he took her to a beautiful spot that they love to hike to.  It was starting to get dark.  At one spot he turned to her and said "wait 2 minutes and then walk straight ahead".  When she got to a certain spot that she loves in the hike, she could hear the song "Lucky" by Jason Miraz and Coly Calliet playing and then she could see candle lights,  (his mom and dad had gone earlier in the day and lined the path with jars with candles, I KNOW!! SWEET!) She said as she walked further she could see him at the end of the path waiting for her.
She obviously said yes!

Bliss


Shhhhh! Do you hear that?  "Oy! Such beautiful grandchildren!"

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Little Girl All Grown Up

I had a nightstand when I was a little girl. Simple, clean lines with one little drawer.

 As far back as I can remember it was by my bed.  After I moved away from home (too grown up for such a simple piece) it was left in the care of my mom and dad to be used wherever needed.  At some point it became the nightstand for my daughters and now that they have all gone and moved out they left it behind (once again abandoned by girls too grown up for such a simple piece).

It's been hanging around my studio (aka kitchen) for some time now patiently waiting it's next assignment.  I kept looking at it, wondering what it wanted to be now that it's all grown up. But it just sat there quietly saying nothing.

Yesterday I was working on a piece to be sold which was inspired by Red Hen Home, (do you not just love her style?!) Anyhoo, as I was working away, painting, lettering, waxing.....I heard it.  Not too loud at first sort of like a mosquito, "I'd look good in that".

What? I looked up and there in my line of sight was the little nightstand.  Oh, so she had made up her mind after all this time.  Ok.  Her wish was granted.

 One part Duck Egg Blue to eight parts Old white.  You know the drill by now, Paint, clear wax, dark wax, buff, buff and more buff.

et voilia!
 A sweet little french chocolat advertisment from the Graphics Fairy.  Merci beau coup!

And another adorable french handle from the bucket of bits and pieces laying around Jamesy's shop
Il est parfait! No? Oui!


I think it looks like something out of a french pastry shop.  I love it and now it's new home is in my entry next to the antique headboard bench.  (but that's another post)

I'm linking up to

Sunday, July 17, 2011

What a difference a day makes

So last weekend my dad Jamesy and I were out doing a little yard sale-ing and I found a great piece!

It was sitting behind a bunch of stuff and covered entirely with pez dispensers.  I saw this little cutie and even though it was in some serious need of a bath and a little love it was in great shape.  I asked how much and she said 25.00.  I offered 15 thinking she'd come back with 20 but instead she smiled and said "Sure". 
15 Bucks?! Really?  I couldn't get the truck backed up quick enough to get it loaded!

So today when I was drinking my morning coffee I decided today was the day to get it done.  So  I filled the old drawer handle holes and the Cowboy drilled me some new ones.  Jamesy, Antique Hunter Extraordinare, had these beautiful little knobs in a bucket in his shop which he so generously donated. 
 A little paint, a little wax,  a little gold leaf, a little blue/gray in the trim and 4 hours later.........

VOILA!




Nice "old patina" on the top.

A little gold trim that's been worn off after years of use  (wink!)

 A little extra storage space.

15 bucks and a Sunday well spent! 

I'm linking up to....
No Minimalist Here
Between Naps on the Porch
 & Faded Charm

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails