Thursday, April 23, 2015

FRESH FORSYTHIA CLIPPINGS!!

Spring is FINALLY showing a bit here in the Hudson Valley as evidenced by these beautiful forsythia blooms!!  
Nothing says welcome like some fresh cut flowers from your garden!!!...

So head on out and clip some Spring blossoms to enjoy inside your home...
Go quickly, because sadly those bright colors don't stay around very long...

xo, Mariaelena

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

SCREEN PORCH INSPIRATION...

Now that it's finally warming up here in the "burbs", I'm getting ready to make a few small changes in my favorite room in our house,
 THE SCREEN PORCH!!   
Here's a sneak peek at what's to come...

A new fabric, a little chalk paint and I'm on my way....
Today I'm working on an ottoman for the porch...
(kindly given to me by my friend who was done with it)
I'll be posting the before & after of that soon!
Thanks for stopping by...
come back soon to see the outcome!!

Xo, Mariaelena 

Saturday, April 18, 2015

TAG SALE GLEE!!!!

Oh happy day...
My first tag sale scores of 2015!!!...
take a peek...
I'm sure you'll be seeing these pieces soon in new posts!!

Loving these frames...the taller one is already screened and the smaller one came complete with wires for hanging!!
I'm thinking I'll spray paint this jewelry stand with 
"Catalina Mist" for my youngest daughter's room...
I may paint this tiered table...
hmmmm...not sure...
but definitely using it on my screen porch!
Now on to mulching the front gardens & then enjoying this
GORGEOUS Spring day!!


xo, Mariaelena

Thursday, April 9, 2015

French Linen accent table redo...

Hi friends....
   I recently purchased some Annie Sloan paint down the shore at Artifacts and Company, one of my favorite shops on Long Beach Island. 
You can check out their FB page here: https://www.facebook.com/artifactsconsignmentboutique
I'm so happy that I can finally walk into a store and purchase some.  Here's a little accent table that I just finished up today for my friend using 
AS French Linen...
I'm really pleased with the end result...
take a look...
I decided to add a white glaze on top of the French Linen that I mixed up to add some texture.
Before:  painted silver with some gold...
pretty but my friend is going with a new look in her home...
I painted 2 coats of AS French Linen...
LOVE the color...
I then covered the entire table with the white glaze, let it dry a bit and then came back and wiped  it until I got it exactly how we wanted it...
see below...
Here you can see how the glaze adds texture...
How cute is this table???...It folds flat...
BEFORE & AFTER
Picture perfect & ready to be returned to my friend....
still loving my angel vine (also purchased at Artifacts and Company)
You can see how I painted my terra cotta pot here:
http://cottagelivingfrombeachtoburbs.blogspot.com/2015/04/clay-pot-projects.html

Thank you for stopping by...
xo, Mariaelena

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Terra-cotta pot projects!!

Hi friends...
I needed to find a spring accessory for a table that I recently finished that I am donating for an upcoming charity auction...
while browsing through Pinterest, I came across this idea...
PERFECT!!   
Here is my version...


This is for me...lol...
my new Angel vine needed a proper container...
This is the vignette for the top of the accent table...
The process was quite simple...
2 coats of some chalk paint & a bit of distressing with a sanding block...
LOVE them....
I will definitely be making more for the beach house and our screen porch in the "burbs"


I'm crazy for angel vine & these painted terra-cotta pots...
This is the complete auction donation:
you can see the post of the before and after of this table here:
http://cottagelivingfrombeachtoburbs.blogspot.com/2014/10/table-transformation-in-the.html
Hope the lucky bidder is as happy as I am with the results!!
Thank you for stopping by!!!

Friday, April 3, 2015

A MUST SEE SHOP: in the Flatiron District, NYC

Hi friends...
My daughter and I spent a lovely spring day yesterday strolling through downtown NYC & look at what we were lucky enough to find, FISHS EDDY on Browdway in the Flatiron District: a must see if you are in the area...just take a peek at this small sampling of what they've got inside!!

No words needed for these pics...
the place is FABULOUS!!!
Check them out online too.  

Happy Spring!!
xo, Mariaelena