A Truly 'High' Chair ~ Fit for a Birthday Girl

Sometimes a plain ole highchair just doesn't do the trick for a special ocassion like a 1st birthday. Especially for a princess!

My SIL had been searching everywhere for a second hand wooden highchair so we could transform it into the perfect birthday seat for her little girl's 1st birthday party like I did for our sweet boy at his Carnival 1st Birthday Party.

Tell to you the truth, we had both envisioned her finding one similar to this one with the spindle back but after weeks and weeks of searching and nothing. We were beginning to think she'd never find. Then a friend who's neighbor was having a yardsale came to the rescue. When I first saw it I thought, what am I going to do with that?

Because the back was solid I was stumped. I knew I couldn't just leave it plain and because, in my mind, I had pictured the spindles. I was totally unprepared.

I started out by painting all of it turquoise and decided I'd add some kind of decoration to the back. And of course just the turqoise was a fun improvement but it made me realize I needed more color. Once I decided the tray needed pink, the rest just feel into place.

From there I added the white polka dots to the tray and I was sold! And knowing the love my SIL has for personalization, I knew just what to do to the back. The chair needed some straps to hold our sweet princess in, so I added those. In hot pink, naturally.

Add to that a fun I <3 Cake banner, some balloons and the awesome party hat her Mommy made and you have the perfect party chair for the perfect little princess!

Stay tuned for party deets from Sophie's Sweet Celebration.
In addition to my art blog, you will also find this post on my DIY/Home Decor blog, SouthernRevivals.BlogSpot.com. Please visit me there for even more projects!

"Momma Likes Pretty Things" - Dresser Turned Lego Storage

Do you have a love, hate relationship with legos? Because I do. I am tired of stepping on them, worrying the baby will swallow them and seeing them slowly take over every room in my house. But, they're educational and my baby is sure to be a famous engineer as a result of playing with them.

My oldest has his own room. We also have a playroom. Still, somehow, those darn things still wind up migrating to the office and living room, too. They needed a place to go and they needed it fast. And it had to be pretty, 'cause Momma likes pretty things!

I found this beauty in the middle of nowhere. Literally. Like this store was on the corner of a cornfield and another cornfield. Kid you not. I paid $35, which was too much, especially since she didn't even have a back. But she had perfect lines and I really liked her faux-four top drawers.

Pretend I am skinny and have a nice tan, Mkay?

I definitely think she was worth it, don't you?

I took out the bottom four drawers and replaced them with water hyacinth baskets, you know, for legos. Because that just makes sense....right??

I do not understand furniture varnish. Why do they put that awful stuff on top of beautiful wood? Look what was hiding under there!

These are the greatest baskets. $19.99 each at the Hobby Lobby but I used my 40% off coupon on each of them.

A little distressing to keep things interesting....

And she's ready for work!

Would you ever guess there were a billion legos in there?



P.S. You will notice SouthernRevivals.com in each of my dresser pictures. I will soon be moving my DIY/Home Decor stuff over to this new blog and returning this one to my artwork. I hope you'll head on over there and 'follow' if you've been enjoying this series here because you won't see it here much longer!

Linking up to....

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Living Room Reveal ~ What now?

A reveal of any part of my house would not be complete without toys.
Just keeping it real folks.

Ready for the real thing?

Green. Green. And more green. You can see pics of the during here.

You don't miss the green, do you? I know I don't!

A peek of our painted wallpaper hallway - you can find more on that here.

Made a subway art sign for my wall above the couch out of part of a dresser top. Not sure if I want to leave it that high or put it just above the couch on the paneling. I love the paneling so much I hate to cover any of it up but now I'm hard pressed as to what else to put on the wall. And it needs something else. Currently thrifting for some fun end tables and chunky lamps. Maybe that'll fill things in over there a bit.

Christmas art my oldest made years ago. Daddy drew the pics, he painted them. Love those but they come down after Christmas. I'm pretty sure I know what I want to do here. It involves more wood, lighting and a nice chunky picture frame. We'll see.

See. This area really needs....something.

Ever noticed how much nicer everything looks with Christmas decorations. I hate taking them down.

One of these days I am going to tackle that mantle. It needs to be chunkier and a lot less black. Can you paint those metal inserts? We're about to find out!

Definitely going to redo the tile around the fireplace one of these days, too. It's so boring especially now that we jazzed up the walls. I'm thinking some little glass tiles? Also, going to get around to putting in new flooring throughout the whole house. Seeing as the crazy people who built the house put it in all willy, nilly in every direction but the right one. Either way, that tile on the floor...has. to. go.

One of my most favorite things we've ever done, our Pallet Coffee Table

Of course, I would love it even more if I could decorate the lovely wooden tray that graces it but as far as the baby's concerned it is only fit to hold his "Crucks".

And the biggest dilemma of all...what I am going to do with that big empty corner once that amazing tree is gone. I wanted to cry just thinking about it and now, as I sit here typing this and staring into the abyss that once housed that very tree, I am more stumped than ever.

Well, like I said, everything looks nicer with Christmas decorations. But really, there has to be a way to make it all holly, jolly in the meantime. Right?

I'm not sure. But if I ever get it figured out, I'll be sure to let you know. I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas!



Linking up to....

New Year - Time to Organize

I am not a clean freak. I love a clean house but I hate to clean one. I am, however, a neat freak. If these people I live with would just put their crap back where it came from I'd be a much happier person!

I already hate cleaning. Is having to tidy up before I can clean up going to make me any more likely to do it? Um, no. But it's hard, especially after Christmas, to find a place for everything and if it doesn't have a place to go, chances are, it'll stay where it's at. And I can't have that. I can't.

Here are some ways I plan to organize in the new year to help us put things back where they belong.

contemporary kitchen design by detroit kitchen and bath Al Williams

I would give a million dollars to be able to put my Kitchen Aid in a cabinet and save my already minuscule counter space.

traditional kitchen design by san francisco interior designer Alisa Hofmann

Yes. Yes. Yes. Why didn't I think of that!

Family Handyman.com

This year, somebody really must do something about the Hell-Hole (aka - The Garage)

VIA

Another one of those, Why didn't I think of that?, moments. A tension rod to hold your stuff. Genius.

The Container Store

FEET - n. Objects used for finding Legos in the dark

Can you identify? Here's the solution. Of course, you have to get those little Lego loving fiends to pick them up for it to work. Good luck with that.

Do your linen closets look like this? Yep. Mine neither.


Let the organizing begin!