diy | Lace Topped Table

If you haven't see it already Country Living magazine did a feature in their current issue all about decorating with lace and doilies in unique ways. These were three of my favorites...

Well I took a little inspiration from them and did a little lace emellishment of my own.

It was so simple! I'd previously painted this little side table red so I gave the top a couple coats of a matte off white paint on the top. After it was close enough to dry completley driedI taped the corners of a square paper doily to the top with painters tape. I then dry brushed and dabbed some red gloss paint over the open spaces in the doily, let it dry then did it again.

A little touch up was necesssary but overall it came out pretty darn cute don't ya think?

great find | Map Chalkboard on Sale

Isn't this map chalkboard cool? Wouldn't it be fun to use it to plan a trip, or maybe teach your kiddies geography or just as a unique to do list! Such a great piece and on sale too for $29.99!

Get it here...



recipe | Buttercream Frosting

I'm going to let you in on a little secret...I rarely bake a cake or cupcake from scratch! Why you ask? Well when all anyone ever talks about is the fabulous frosting then I started to think it didn't matter. And quite honestly I don't think anyone even suspects, that is until  now...

Anyway, you might wonder what is this fabulous, make you want to eat way too much cake frosting I speak of? Well I'm now going to let you in on another little secret...

My Buttercream Frosting Recipe!!!

It did start off from a tradtional, simple and pretty good recipe found in a book but over time I've tweaked it to something rich, creamy and oh so great!

So go ahead whip up a boxed cake mix and then try it yourself...

you won't be disappointed...

Step 1:
Beat together until fluffy...
1/2 Cup Butter (softened)
1/3 Cup Cream Cheese

(Just 2/3 Cup butter can be used if no cream cheese is available)

Step 2:

Add each a little at a time and blend well until creamy and smooth...

4 Cups | Powdered Sugar

6-10 Tablespoons | Half & Half

Step 3:

1 Teaspoon | Vanilla

Step 4 (optional):

Tint with your favortie color...mine is a pale pink of course!

Oh and did you notice the vintage platter I had my cake on? It's one of my new favorite finds! The handles lock down the lid on either side to keep it fresh and makes it easy to take on the road for birthday parties and such. So fun!

Happy Baking!

The Classic Farmhouse at Mercantile Antiques

Well I've longed tossed around the idea of setting up some of stuff in an antique mall so when I got the opportunity recently to have a space at Mercantile Antiques I jumped at the opportunity!

I moved a bunch of stuff in but have a lot more refining to do. Knowing me though it will never stay the same for long and will probably always been in transition. Isn't that the fun of it though?!

Stop by and take a look around...

Mercantile Antiques

1118 A St SE,

Auburn, WA 98002 

My space is upstairs...make sure you don't miss it!

And if I'm there be sure to say hi! 

There's a lot of other spaces to check out full of a variety of things so make sure you browse around.

my space | Union Jack Dresser

Do you remember I was starting a redo of my bathroom?

Well I did start in on it with some paint and purging then much to my dismay I discovered a gap in my shower surround (which may have to be totally replaced) and the pipe under my sink decided to come loose causing water damage to my vanity not to mention the need to replace the pipes! Uggh! So much for a simple facelift! Sooooo....onto something a little less burdensome until my handyman father is able to assist.

#2 on the list...my Bedroom!!! I'm in the purge the old and search for inspiration stage at this point so here's hoping no serious issues pop up to deter this project. Fingers crossed...

Anyway, I have two red antique pieces (one I just scored a week ago and will share soon!) I love and want to use plus I was thinking about maybe painting my headboard a deep midnight blue.

Besides that I had no real direction so when I stumbled upon this amazing dresser over at Miss Mustard Seed I immediatley knew what my inspiration would be...

Is that beautiful or what?!? I am in love with this dresser! And the most exciting thing it that I have one almost this exact shape with a mirror on top that needs refinishing.

Now back to looking for inspiration...

via country living

via bhg

diy idea | Faux Grandfather Clock

I saw this fabulous faux 'grandmother' clock in the most recent issue of Country Living and the thought crossed my mind that it would be something you could easily recreate with some ingenuity.

Well Lindy over at Cottage Hill didn't waste time dreaming about how that could be done. She got out her creative skills and went to work designing this lovely version!

How cool is that? I'm impressed!

Head on over to her blog to see her inspiration and also more pics and a tutorial on how you can create your own.

Or stop by Pier 1 and  pick up their version for only $99.95!

have you heard | Color of the Year 2011

Well it's all a buzz in the blog world that 2011's color of the year as chosen by Pantone is...

Honeysuckle!

I think it's beautiful and would be a great pop of color in both small... 

availble at Lily Blossom

...and large doses.

via Country Living 

However, Michelle Adams of Lonnymag.com has chosen a different color as the "one"...

Rust!

Check out her reveal along with five other top interior design trends of 2011.

So which bold color would you prefer? And will you go a little or a lot of it?

newly added vintage | Valentines Day

Have added lots of new Valentine's Day inspired vintage items in the Classic Farmhouse shop!

Am adding more daily so stop by and check out what's new.

diy idea | Valentine Gift Countdown

Why not make a countdown calendar for your loved one this Valentines Day? That's what Jenn over at Red Berry Barn does for her hubby. Isn't it adorable?

So the idea doesn't quite work for a single gal (ie me) but I can substitue in friends and family just to have the excuse of making one of these boards for myself!

Anyway, head on over to the Red Berry Barn blog where you can find out how to make one of these for your home. So cute!

Organizing Your Jewelry Vintage Style

If you're like me at all you have little piles of jewelry everywhere. You can find my earrings my the bathroom sink, rings in the kitchen, bracelets on the coffee table, necklaces by my bed and a whole variety of things on my dresser. Oh how I wish I was more organized! Maybe if I had one of these I would be?

Aren't they fabulous? They are upcycled from vintage and antique printer drawers! I love it! There is an organizer for every style decor which can be found in the etsy shop of Blue Bird Heaven. Which one would you pick?

Free Printable 2011 Calendar

Looking for an adorable one of a kind calendar to grace your workspace this 2011? Well go no further then the blog of Creature Comforts where she shares a free download of her own personal design.

New Years Motivation

There's so much happening around the farmhouse these days that I totally forgot to wish you all a Happy New Year! Ok so it was a little late but I do mean it...may 2011 be filled with blessings from above!

I don't know about you but I've given up on thinking I can accomplish all the things on my "want to accomplish" list every year. I tend to pile everything on it then hope I can at least knock off one or two of the items by the time the year is over.

Of course I have all the typical to do's like...
a. get oragnized...
b. shed the uncessary weight gain from previous year(s)...
c. simplify/purge...
d. complete more projects...
e. purchae fewer projects...
f. (re)start a savings and don't blow it on a new "find"...

Well you get the idea...sound anything like your list?

All these things are great and quite needed but this year I've decided to put one item on my list to really stretch myself. A character trait. One that is more about others and less about me.

My goal?

Generosity

While I love the opportunity of working for myself I found it came with an inward focused perspective that I'm not all together fond of. So 2011 is all about reversing that...Lord willing. I want to be less selfish with my time, my money, my things...actually I want to think of it as not mine at all but just something I am a steward of to share when needed. I will try to let you in on how my little "project" goes as the year goes on.

So how about you? What is on your list this year? I encourage you to take a moment to dig a little deeper and work on more then just the physical things this year. I'm excited about a change that begins from the inside out. Join me?