One year blogniversary

Exactly a year ago today I pressed the publish button and officially joined this blogging world.  I can honestly say it was the best decision.  I have to say, blogging saved me.  For a while, I found myself uninspired and slowly losing this creative part of myself.  I mean I was still doing projects non-stop but I missed having these creative conversations with like-minded people.  I wanted to be apart of something that was going to challenge me creatively and intellectually.  As much as I love being a mom, I wanted to have a space to be me and establish myself as an individual.  Now after one year of blogging, I can honestly say I feel more fulfilled.  To celebrate this blogniversary, I decided to bake a cake.  Why not?  Today was another snowy and gloomy day and Aurora and I spent all day baking while Bella was in school.

Thank you...really from the bottom of my heart for taking this journey with me...with us and helping me find myself.  I would love to know what you, my friends, would like to see more on this blog.  In the mean time, stay warm and cake is ALWAYS a good idea.

Love,
Victoria

Floral Dreams: Photo Series

Can you believe we are almost half way done with January?  The snow is still on the ground.  Matter of fact, it is all ice.  I, like a fool that I am, refused to wear ugly winter and snow boots.  I find myself sliding and crawling on icy walk ways in my rather good looking boots.  One day I will learn.  Also I finally got back to my upholstery class and I am filled with so much inspirations and project ideas.  I think I told you before that I have an amazing instructor named Gary and the man is brilliant.  I come up with these crazy ideas and after laughing me for a bit, he would always come up with ways to turn my ideas into doable projects.  The only "problem" with upholstery is of course how time consuming it is.  I am so used to starting a project and staying up until wee hours to get it done.  With upholstery, I am learning that doing things the right way will take time.  In the mean time, I want to share with a little photography series I did with the girls called Floral Dreams.  If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you probably already seen these.

These twos are from the last blog post but she looks so adorable and I couldn't resist.

Yesterday Aurora asked what's next.  She loves to get dress up and the girl knows how to pose.  Bella is all about the backstage action.  She loves to help me create flower crowns and set up the photo shoot.  I think next is going to be a mythical creatures series.  Stay tuned! : )

Romance me

Do you romance yourself?  I do.  When days are cold and dark, sometimes all I can dream of is falling asleep under rose arbors and breathing in the sense of wild flowers.  We are a romantic bunch here.  I buy myself flowers all the time.  Back in the days, I used to send monthly flowers to myself.  I really did!  It sounds silly but there is nothing like getting flowers from yourself....I mean who knows you better than you?

Because lets face it, is there any thing better than being surrounded by roses?

 

 To be able to wake up in the morning and the first thing you see is flowers peeking out around the pillow. 

 

It simply wouldn't be a feminine bed room without stately mirrors.

Somehow getting ready is so much more fun when there is no one rushing you around.

Valentine day isn't just for lovers or just for the month of February.  It simply is a way of life.

 

Love,
Victoria


Linking up with:
http://www.findingsilverpennies.com/
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/
http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/
http://www.cedarhillfarmhouse.com/
http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/
http://www.frenchcountrycottage.net/
http://shabbyartboutique.com/

Photography and Project I am working on

One of the greatest things about having a blog is that it allows me to explore different mediums of art I wasn't familiar with before.  I knew just from reading other blogs the importance of photography.  I find myself gravitating toward blogs that have gorgeous pictures and photo props.  I guess I am just a very visual person.  Before blogging, I have never own a camera.  Right now I am using Canon Rebel T3 which is an amazing camera but I know there is so much more I need to learn.  It truly is a form of art.  I am taking a five weeks photography class in April and I can't wait to share all that I will learn with you.  Here are a few of the photos I have taken...my two passions in life.  Food and my children.

I love this picture.  Photoshop is the most amazing thing.  I am learning as I go but the possibilities are as endless as your creativity.  The girls really love this picture and now they keep asking if I could turn them into mermaids and fairies.  If you know me, then you will know it will turn into a huge production.

 I share a lot of my photos on instagram.  It usually pictures from our everyday life but sometimes it is fun to get to know the person behind the blog.  Right now I am working on a pair of Hollywood Regency cane wing back chairs for my shop but a friend of mine wants to buy them before I even get a chance to put them up for sale. I already started stripping them and forgot to take pictures but here is a picture I found on pinterest of the same type of chair.

 source

The cushions on mine have been chewed away by the previous owner's dogs.  I am stripping everything including the cane on the sides.  Here are my inspirations for what I want the chairs to look like.

 source

source
 I want to upholster the sides then use the wooden trims to add more delicate details.  I am going to have to come up something creative to add more curves to the legs.  It will be a fun project.  I hope everyone is staying warm.  It sure is freezing out.  I guess it is the perfect day to take out thousands of staples.  Oh fun.


Love,
Victoria

My favorite projects from 2014

Here we are.  2015.  So much to look forward to.  2014 felt like a blur yet I have learned so much.  I am so glad I decided to start a blog on a whim.  This truly has been the most rewarding experience.  I guess even if I didn't have a blog, I would still be doing my projects and my friends would still be telling me how crazy I am.  At least now I get to share my crazy with all you fellow decor crazy ladies.  : ) Here are some of my favorites from this year.

I think this is the project that really started everything for me.  I know as a newbie blogger how hard it is to get people to notice a new blog.  This project made me "the fridge lady."  It is the most pinned project of mine on pinterest.

Oh how I love this couch.  I found it on craigslist for $75.  It truly was the best deal ever.  I decided to paint the upholstery because of my two kids and three dogs.  It still holding up pretty well so far.  I am going to do another coat of paint on it soon to freshen it up a bit.

This pretty vanity is such a favorite of mine and the girls.  We probably spend more time on it than any other furniture in the house. : ) I think this post was the first time I really shared a bit more about myself too.

To this day, this gorgeous oil painting is the best and most favorite find ever.  You can read more about the story here.

Here she is.  I am so grateful for Amy of Maison Decor to introducing me to Efex appliques.  It truly was a game changer for me.  Furniture transformation is truly a form of art and expression for me and this is the first time I really got to express myself as an artist. My dream bed.

One of the best things I did for myself in 2014 was taking an upholstery class.  It is the most labor intensive and the most time consuming yet the most rewarding experience.  I have so much more to learn and I can't wait to share more upholstery projects with you.  This project was a pretty ballsy project for a beginner like me to do but with the help of my amazing instructor, I did it!  Thank you so much for all the comments and encouragement you have given me.  I am ready to rock 2015.


Love,
Victoria