Wishing you Merriment from my Farmhouse inspired porch

A little dusting of snow, would just be the tops for my farmhouse inspired holiday porch.

With so much to be grateful for, I'll happily count my blessings this season, and just hope for snow.

This vintage radio added some great texture and height.  Not a bit sorry it didn't sell from my last post.  Everything on the porch I found at a yard sale, thrift shop, or estate sale over the years.  The galvanized bin is a favorite of mine, and has never been listed for sale.  The pine came from Home Depot, and just didn't make it in the ground this fall.  Sometimes time flies, and you make the best of the here and now.

These ice skates were a find at Goodwill.  On Black Friday.  Really.

Wishing you Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, simple pleasures, and finding joy in the moment!

-Jen

Shop Small Saturday!

The Lula Q Marketplace was so great last weekend!!   It was a great place for some early Small Shop shopping! Even so, a few things came home with me.  And a few 'new to me items I just couldn't resist from the other vendors!

After all the things we have to be grateful for this past week, I hope you take the opportunity to pay forward some of that warm feeling inside by doing some of your holiday or day to day shopping at a local business.  Whether that be today, the official Shop Small Saturday, or any day, your local community sees more bang for your buck at local stores and shops, and crafters/ furniture painters who sell from their blog!  For the fun of shopping small, I've made these prices a little smaller as well!

Classy Distressed Black Bookshelf - SOLD

Measures:  35 wide, 8 deep, 251/2 in height

Solid wood, sturdy, polyurethane protected finish 

Vintage double layer paper wreath ~available by ordering

Measures 15 inches in diameter

Vintage radio $28

A great piece to add texture to your vignette!  Sad, buttons are missing, but adds charm whether opened or closed ( see above).

Creamy ironstone $12 for 3 pieces 

(Or $4 each)

2 have identifying marks on the bottom.  Use them in your holiday decorating to corral small items together or add dimension. Tie them up with a pretty bow and give to a vintage loving lady! The tree candles are just to give you an idea~they'll be happy at my home this season.

Vintage book stack $4

Seriously, these all have holes in the center ( I wonder about the story there?!) sweetly disguised by burlap~re-gracing at its best!  

Vintage 3 ring binders $4 each

Fabulous patina!  One is filled with 'husbandry' ideas: clips of newspaper articles about ham radio and such.  The other is just waiting for your journaling, ideas, and creativity!  

They also look awesome on a shelf!

Items and musings from a local gal!

Call or text to purchase, local pick-up in Chubbuck, Idaho.  208-390-8653

~Jen

Petite Vintage Dresser & Door {I'm going to Lula Q Market}

Santa Baby, 
       put something vintage under the tree,
for me….
I've been an angel all year!

I dont' mean to rush the season, but there is snow on the ground and shopping in the air!
Lula Q Marketplace is just days away, or in my mind…. just a few late nights to finish up a few more items!
These beauties are headed to the market, but I will not be offering any pre-sales, holds, or puppy-guarding.  (Sorry, but it's the only fair and clear option I came up with.)

I do hope you join us!

-Jen

Bookshelf : before & sneak headed to Lula Q

Before:

Well, let's face it, my before shots could use improvement.

That said, I usually think about taking the before shot after the first coat of paint, so let's call this an improvement, OK?

With the cooler temperatures in the evening, I moved the painting in.  The slippers add a nice touch, but I bet the chair really caught your eye.  Can you believe that was a score from the last flea market?  I just love it and it hangs with my vintage couch sooo well! (http://lively-grace.blogspot.com/2013/07/vintage-couch-phases-12-3you.html?m=1)



 After:
Well, a sneak anyway.  

I like the strength of the black on this solid piece, with the warmth and wear of the distressing.  

I'll be taking it to the Lula Q Marketplace , in just 2 weeks, along with vintage finds, paper wreaths, and found goods.   I'll keep sharing posts from other vendors as well as giveaway info from Lula Q on Facebook & Instagram.

Make a plan to come, because I just know you'll be sad if you miss it!

-Jen

After the Wildhare Fleamarket | Vintage Windows

Prepping for a Fleamarket takes a lot of work.

This is just part of it.

But this is part of the fun of it…

My family is such a huge support to me, I couldn't do this without them.  My dad spent almost as much time at the market as I did… I hope you had the pleasure of meeting him, he is a wonderful father.

During the week following the Wildhare Fleamarket, I had the opoortunity to help out at this

And this is the selfie I took while on top of the fire truck to get some photos of Break for Breakfast at Portneuf with a big girl camera.  Ok, maybe I'm a little dorky,  but how many times in your life are you on top of a fire truck? 

And this is my call to all of you to do your self exams and schedule a mammogram (40 comes quick gals!)

Add in cheering during a chilly soccer game last week and you'll know why one night this is all I could muster!

So thanks for hanging with me!  Each market I have high hopes of getting before photos and then prettily staged afters along with interesting blog posts, and well organized posts of items available after the Fleamarket.  And then I realize those goals may be more than this gal can bite off at one time.  

Would you be willing to settle for quick backyard photos of some farm fresh windows?!

Here's what I've got:

Two double pane windows ~ SOLD

Two single pane windows ~ SOLD

Vintage, worn window frames (no glass) ~ SOLD

Contact me via phone/text, 208-390-8653 to purchase.  I sell on the local scene in Chubbuck ( Pocatello) Idaho.  

Thank you all so much!

Jen 

Not my usual Monday | Lula Q Marketplace

Some of my blog readers don't know I have a 'day job'.  I do in fact have a rewarding career in healthcare.  So most of my Monday's don't look like this.

With the sun out, old jeans on, and Eric Hutchinsin jammin thru my earbuds, I knew this was the start of a bomb-diggety week.

Between being a mom and work, I haven't blogged much lately, sorry.  What I have been doing on the Lively Grace side of things is picking, sanding, cleaning, painting, pricing, and crafting for my next event!

The Lula Q Marketplace will be taking place, November 21 & 22 at the recently remodeled Liberty Hall, 325 W. Benton, Pocatello. The remodel of Liberty Hall deserves its own blogpost, as does my connection with both of these ladies and their passions.  

For now, mark your calendar and follow me either on FB~ www.facebook.com/livelygrace or Instagram~ #livelygracehome... I'll be posting there to keep you in the loop, reminding you of Lula Q Marketplace, providing sneak peeks, and keeping you aware of any giveaways happening!

As for today...

The real greatness is a little more mom time with this kiddo!!

Wishing us all a bomb-diggety week!

-Jen

Tomorrow, take scissors with you

Tomorrow, take scissors with you.

Put them in the drink holder of your car, then you'll be ready.

Because I know you are busy.  And if you live in Idaho like I do, you've driven by sunflowers wildly growing on the side of the road this week...

On your way to work, or by the horses, or near the soccer field, or down the road from your home…

And maybe like me, you've wanted a few to put on your porch.

But you didn't have any scissors.

Today, I had them, those scissors. 

The kiddo and I spotted a good bunch and I clipped a few… on the way home from soccer, in a field near our home.

And tomorrow as I back out of the driveway I'll see those sunflowers, and smile.

-Jen

 _____________________________

When I'm not clipping sunflowers I've been prepping for the upcoming flea market!  Hope to see you soon!

Wildhare Vintage Fleamarket - plan to attend!!

Fall is in the air...

which means the Wildhare Vintage Fleamarket is right around the corner!

This is one of those times you carve out some time for you.  You know, a little treat to chat and shop with a friend, be inspired, and find a treasure that adds to the HOME of your house.  Plan now, to take a little time out of the busy-ness since the Wildhare comes around usually twice a year...

I'll see you there!

-Jen

Items available | Vintage trunk, vintage bench and more

Hello all!
I have a few great items available!
To purchase an item, please call or text 208-390-8653.  I am located in Chubbuck, Idaho and offer my items locally.
Oh, and don't forget to mark you calendar and tell your girlfriends, the fall Wildhare Flea Market is coming soon, September 26 and 27th.  Lively Grace will be there!  
It will be held again at the Pine Ridge Mall.  Stay in touch, I'll be sure to share all the details!
Thanks for visiting!!
-Jen

Large Ball Jar $8 ~sold

Vintage Seltzer bottle with faint lettering $8

Bird clock ~sold

Heavy, metal toolbox with lots of patina! ~sold

Vintage Trunk ~reduced! $45

Leather handles on front and one side, metal clasps, and painted partial addresses.  I'm sure this piece has stories to tell!

Measures approximately:   31inches deep X 17 wide X 13 tall

This piece could be great for storage, a coffee table, side table tipped on end, or a sweet spot for blankets!

Vintage Red Stool ~sold

I wish I could have picked up the color on top better (still learning those camera settings!), the top is a little darker in person.  Sturdy, with great character for your porch, home, or photo shoot!

Please note, it appears someone sawed/broke off the back corner, but will still hold up to a teenager, or definitely some fall flowers or pumpkins!

(In case you were wondering… yes, that vintage washtub planter is a favorite of mine!  So, not for sale.)

Vintage Cabinet Project

The first coat of paint rarely looks great.

And although I love to use chalk paint and milk paint, I still use latex often.

This is how the cabinet looked when I brought it home.  The original paint on the exterior has some great chips and texture, so I kept that, hitting it with my sanding block in a few spots to help bring some of the character out further.

The cabinet doors actually sit flush with the bottom, so they didn't open and close easily.  My husband helped me, well, he did actually, reinforce the bottom because is was warped a little and not very secure, then added some vintage caster wheels I had been holding on to.  The caster wheels have lifted it off the floor a bit, so the doors open much easier, however, it makes it a little off balance if both doors are opened.  So, just in case you thought all my projects area smooth sailing, here's the skinny;  they don't.  We might have to do some tweaking there.

I'm headed out to the garage for a second coat on the interior, and the top.  I wish the top had been painted along with the doors and sides, so I'm hoping to paint and distress it enough it will blend well with the doors.  On the interior, you can see where it's going with it.  I think it will be pretty all white.  I chose to use a latex paint I have on hand.  I won't mind if the interior gets scuffed, chalk paint is expensive ($40 per quart), and once filled with some treasures, the difference in the old to new paint will be minimal.  

If you hang with me on Facebook you may have seen the initial picture a while back.  With summer, vacations, and work, sometimes my projects take a while to complete.  This one though, is staying with me.  This is actually good news for you though.  Behind this cabinet are my shelves, full of inventory and projects for the Wildhare Flea Market…

Save the date!!!  September 26 and 27

Stay tuned here and on  my Facebook page  for all the details!

-Jen

John's table | Re-Graced using chalk paint

A while ago, a friend I have known for years asked if I'd be interested in 'doing a little something' to an antique table she had.
I do love to paint furniture, but the idea of a family heirloom, antique table did give me a little heartburn at first.  The table had been built by her great-grandfather.  It is still  amazingly sturdy.

I first saw the table in Stacie's 'new to her and husband's' house. A classic craftsman; home to  well trained dogs and avid outdoor explorers.  When I saw the table with gold accents on the legs, one painted leaf, and replaced pieces of wood, my heartburn subsided.  She was right, it needed a change to be enjoyed and used in her home. We both had the same idea for easily the direction of the table re-gracing; it should still look like an old, definitely not new, with some color to blend into the feel of her home.  All those years if working night shift together, we got to know each other pretty well!

When I started prepping the table, I found this on the support apron of the table, hidden for years.  John was Stacie's grandfather.  When he passed away, she kept the table, feeling it should be saved and kept in the family, without knowing he had signed the table.  I love the stories this table tells.  I imagine young John signed his name while sitting under the table., and wonder what mother said when she found it, or maybe she just smiled, and avoided scrubbing it off.

I had high hopes that with a good sanding and dark stain, we could have a beautifully worn top and painted base. Even with holding my mouth just right, it's easy to see those different woods were not going to stain evenly.   

Stacie chose Versailles, by Annie Sloan, for the top, giving it a little color as she hoped for.  You know that spare room that your not sure what your going to do with yet when you move into a new/old home?  That's where John's table is going to live.  Versailles will blend with many colors and will be great with natural wood pieces in the room too.  The color looks very flat when dry, but warms up when it is waxed.  Some distressing and dark wax bring keep the naturally worn areas looking like this table had been used for years.  Milk & cookies after school happened here I bet.

I moved it under my large window for a proper 'after' shot.  The under side of leaves were kept the wood natural, a peek at the wood her great-grandfather had used to create the table.  Conversation started within the family when we found 'John written on it.  The story unfolds that the table was broken when a farm fresh pig was heaved into the table for butchering!  This is the most fabulous story of a piece of furniture I have been involved in, thanks Stacie, for trusting me with it, saving the table, and sharing the stories!

I kept most of the texture on the legs created by layers of paint, dings from chairs, and kids' swinging feet, sanding just the gold off, and painted on a fresh coat of Old White (also Annie Sloan).  A light distressing and some clear and dark wax finished off the table~still old and worn, and re-graced into a family piece that will be used in her home.

For those of you who were worried about John's signature… it was left untouched.

-Jen