I got out of the house!!! We had quite the heat wave, temps roared up into the low 20s. So, of course, I had to go outside into the world and soak up some of that great weather.
And shop!
My Zero Dollar Decorating is done, I went out spending! First stop? Curious Sofa. Debbie had emailed 20% off coupons with an announcement of big sales. I had been coveting some bamboo rugs she carries, with vintage style script on them. Sadly, there weren't any in the size I needed, but I HAD to spend my coupon, right? You can't let 20% off at Curious Sofa just slip by.
So, I bought the clock in the first photo. It seemed to be just right for the new look in the kitchen. While I was in the neighborhood, I swung by Beth's booth at Mission Road Antique Mall and picked up the clock face (2nd photo). Hmm, looks like the beginning of a theme, to me.
When I saw this Cinderella's carriage, I knew that clocks were the right choice! It was found at my favorite antique mall, the Rusty Chandelier in St. Joe. My friend and I were both needing a good girlfriend day out and we made the most of it. Talking non-stop for about 10 hours, shopping, dining, and shopping some more. There was no one home at either of our houses, and no reason to get back, so we just made a day and an evening out of it.
After being cooped up for so long, it was exactly what I needed to myself back to normal. Sometimes you just need a day out, to talk to another adult who you are not related to, but just love like a sister and have a lot in common with. What would we do without our friends??? Including blogfriends- thank you all, for keeping my company while I was snowbound. If I didn't have your email conversations during this last cold snap, I'd have really gone insane.
Its nice to know that friends are only a keystroke away!
Since I had found my clock theme while out shopping, I decided to add a watch face to a piece of art I made today for the kitchen.
I started with a French ad from an old magazine, and glued a butter pat plate to it, added a millinery bloom and the watch face to the center of that. To the middle, I glued a rhinestone.
Then, I cut a tiny oval of old text and glued it to a charm, and glued a mini cameo to it, and hung it from a crystal. With a punch, I made two holes under the word "Paris" to put a ribbon through, then tied that to the crystal to dangle it.
At the bottom of the page, I pasted a German die cut rose.
It didn't quite look done, so I drew some scrolls and swirls in metallic inks. If I'd planned better, I'd have drawn it first, instead of trying to work around the things I'd already glued down.
After that, I rubbed dark brown ink along the inside of the mat, and popped it all back together. Now, I want to go buy some more shadow boxes and make more! I loved doing a 3-D collage, or is it called an assemblage?
Another purchase yesterday was this crystal ball, bubble night light. While I had the old French papers and glue out, I covered the wooden base of this, and inked the edges.
This frame was from our trip yesterday too. I wanted new accent pieces for the kitchen redo, but just couldn't find what I wanted, so decided to make something.
In this, I used more French text from an old book, that I'd embossed one day when Beth brought over her Cuttlebug.
To make the embossing stand out, I rubbed over it with a bronze ink pad.
In the center, I added a circle punched from the cover of the French magazine, which was a nice brown, then glued velvet petals and a white millinery rose to the circle.
After putting it back together, I fashioned a hanger from ribbons. I tightly tied two ribbons around the frame, then looped another one through them, and hung that one over a hook on the wall.
Here is a view from the far side of the kitchen. A great view of just how crooked the old house is…
After dropping my friend off after our day of shopping, I stopped and got a can of creamy taupe paint to change the walls behind the cabinets by the sink. The inset had been chocolate brown (like the rugs) but it seemed way too dark after my other changes. So, I was painting at midnight last night. It was a quick job though, because Behr now makes a primer/paint combo and it covers like a dream.
(that is a pot of chicken rice soup on the stove, yum, I'm hungry just thinking about it in the kitchen waiting for me!)
Here is the kitchen from the other direction. The wooden piece over the window is also from yesterday's expedition. I got it at Rusty Chandelier's sister store, Jesse James. (Or would Jesse be a brother store? They share a parking lot)
After painting the inset creamy taupe, I had to add some of that color to the faux finish around the other walls. I think I'm done. Well, maybe…. I really would love to find some non-princess chairs for Sugarwing's table.
And I am still planning on bringing in some metal garden chairs for the breakfast nook
if the snow ever melts.
I've got some old alarm clocks that I might take apart to get the faces from, and add some of those to the china cabinet, too.
And I really, really, really want those rugs from Curious Sofa! Either this one, or this one?
Well, maybe I am not done, after all.
Are we ever done? That is what makes it fun!
Here are my totals for what I spent, after I escaped from the house and the Zero Dollar Decorating:
paint- $36
trim over window- $19
frame for flower collage- $2
clock faces- $6
Cinderella's carriage- $29 (big splurge, but SO cool!!)
Clock from Curious Sofa- $48
bubble night light- $15
Fleur de Lis hook for flower collage- $6
Karla, I am so happy you got out of the house! And you found some amazing things too! The second I saw that first photo, the clock jumped out at me! I LOVE it! I adore the pieces you made too, oh my are they ever perfect! Your kitchen is so pretty Karla, you have done an amazing job with your home 🙂
Hugs,
Amy
You’ve inspired me yet again! But this one I can do. LOL I’m loving what you’ve done with your kitchen and our counter tops and colors are so similar. I’ve been wondering which way to go with mine. Now I know. Thanks for sharing that!
Karla you blow me away all the time! Painting at midnight??? LOL!!! WOW! YOu got some fab goodies and I am DYING over the Cinderella carriage clock. SWOON! If you ever…..(hee!hee!) Your kitchen is GORGEOUS!!!! Im glad you’ve filled your cold days with great bargain shopping! 😉 XOXO,Jenn
I LOVE what you’ve done in your kitchen. I especially like the neutral colors and all the collages you’ve made and embellishments you’ve added.
~elaine~
Love all the clock finds- the carriage one especially- so very sweet!!
I love the metal tile backsplash – is that a wallpaper?
blessings
mary
thank you for the pictures I loved seeing the “all” of your kitchen!
It looks so pretty, I love the clocks! Can you come over to my house??
You sure sound SUPER charged after your day out!! I guess we need to get out, spend money and be with friends to keep a bit of sanity. I really like the 3 clocks you purchased, especially the one hanging in the kitchen. It all looks great. I vote for the rug with the writing.
Wow you kitchen is looking so beautiful,, love all the changes you have done… So happy that you finally escaped from your house… sounds like a really fun day…. love all the beautiful pretties you found… and made,,you talent is never ending…. have a great week.
Hugs;
Alaura
That’s my kind of day!! Love all your fun things, especially the clocks. 🙂
Great stuff Karla! I love your shopping adventure!!!!
The Cinderella clock is a totally awesome piece- not a splurge at all for something so one of a kind. Love love love it.
How come there’s only ONE cookie on the cake plate?
What a fun tour, Karla. I just love all of your inspirations and creations! You have a wonderful eye!
Such a cute kitchen…I like things a little crooked anyway…. hmmmm little chairs…that’s next!
Stay Cozy, Carrie
I know exactly which rugs you’re talking about and I COVET them too. Unfortunately, they’re not practical with a 140=lb dog. A girl can dream, however……
Dare I tell you that a tiny town just a little higher up in elevation than me in the “Black Mountain Hills of Dakota” hit 71 degrees today?!?
And that we were up to almost 60….
We may get tons of snow, but we also get some warm winter weather once in awhile!
Love your new clock faces….so cool!
Oh I just love it all. Can I please move in to your house? My mother-in-law introduced me to your blog and I’m totally hooked. Your home is so beautiful and romantic but at the same time totally homey and warm. I love it!
Love it!…the clocks are a wonderful edition to anything, how fun to find such a special Cinderella Carriage! I can’t wait to see what rug you choose…What a spectacular way to spend a day! thanks for “taking us along” 🙂
love, love, love it! love the new look kitchen, love the kitchen clock collection, love your new picture with the clock face (but think you need to paint the frame!!) and love that you got out shopping!
Rachaelxo
Karla, how fun that you got out and did some shopping…i love the little carriage clock that you found…and your assemblage piece looks so pretty, you have a cute mix of interesting things in there…i have a crooked house too…
you did good…….your kitchen is SO inviting……..oh, to be talented….:D deb from Maine 😀
Wow, you got alot for not alot of money and you did so many creative things with it all! Looks fantastic!
Oh my – I love it all!! You’re collages are gorgeous! Sigh,,,I’ve been to Curios Sofa. It was one of my top things to do when I visited KC a few years ago – love it all!! LOL about old crooked houses – I have one too. 🙂
SusanG

You got so much done in such a short time. And it looks finished – not a half-baked project to be found. I am so impressed!
Thanks for visiting our blog and leaving a nice comment.
Beth of Salvage Studio
Just Beautiful! I enjoyed the tour! And that Cinderella carriage is so worth it.
Nerissa
Karla, I am so jealous, an entire day out shopping,even in midst of great midwest cold spell. I am getting cabin fever. your house looks great!!keep up the decorating on a budget. As for painting at midnight, yikes!!
Wow!!! Your kitchen looks great…a beautiful AND frugal makeover…I love it! And your collage/assemblage is so gorgeous!
So glad that you were able to get out of the house…hopefully the “warming” trend will continue. 🙂
I do believe that little outing was just what you needed! Look how much creative inspiration it has brought about. You are a bundle of inspiration most of the time however. So I’m not in the least surprised. I see you have a dog in one photo. Abi seems to think it is her job to make sure she gets in mine! Oh, and I love both those rugs you’re eyeing. I can’t imagine actually getting to shop at that store in person!
Brenda
WOW you found some great things…m.
it look fabulous. We just got one wal dry-walled, but need to sand. Then I can paint!
I LOVE the way you tied that little frame! It makes it so unique!
Karla that is some great shopping you did
Alison
Karla, Fantastic makeover, I love the new look of your kitchen. This whole process has been so inspiring.
Hugs Karen
I love new look, Karla! The clock faces are wonderful & I love your kitchen cabinets. For more Zero Dollar decorating you could paint Sugar Wings’ chairs & cover the seats or make some slipcovers with pillow cases & trim them in some ecru lace or other pretty trim…just a thought!
hugs, Sherry
Love that carriage clock! I was watching one much like that on ebay last year, it kept dropping in price every 30 days and I thought I’d wait to see how low it would go, I think it was down around $28 when the seller just stopped listing it. I was sorry I hadn’t bought it {hate when I do that}. Yours has a beautiful face and lovely patina – well done girl!
Hey Karla…love the new look..think it is kind of pared down & clean looking…I still love the roses though…I swear that clock belonged to my Mom..in Canada!! Thats the neet thing ..were does our stuff come from….the mystery of it all..right…Lorraine
Hehehe, knew it had to happen sooner than later. Actually I think you did remarkably well taking your Zero-Dollar Decorating to the limit before switching back to out-and-about Decorating.
Friends really are the timeless treasure, aren’t they?
Look forward to hearing which rug you decide on!
hey karla,
love the new look. I’ve been eyeing a carriage clock at a antique mall here, in Michigan. They want over 100$ for it. So, I’m extremely envious of that buy 🙂 lol.
Karla, your kitchen is soooo doin’ it for me!! Is that anagalyptic wallpaper on your backsplash and ceiling? I have been looking at the paintable plastic faux tin ceiling tiles at Lowe’s but yours are even prettier!!
Big TX Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents
Oh what a delightful look you have created….just beautiful… and so very cozy.
I am fastenated with your DARLING curtains in the breakfast nook…are they antique..?? If not, can you tell me WHERE you got them…they are exquisite.
Rose
http://delightfulclutter.blogspot.com/
Handicrafts , Todays its become a passion of everybody. People think that they are best in handicrafts they wants to show their ability to people that they are best so they uses own art and crafts to decorate their house.
sympathy flowers
Thats SHOPPING!! Haha! Hmm, you do deserve to go on a shopping spree since you’ve just finished your zero-dollar decorating. The clock in the first photo looks vintage and elegant! But I did wonder why it’s placed there. Is it used for hiding with the condiments? 😀