Feature Friday: The Teal Sideboard

Happy belated Halloween!

We had a great day.  Took my little one trick-or-treating for the first time.  Here in our part of Oregon, most kids trick or treat at shops because our neighborhoods have some really steep hills.  So I took him downtown and indulged him in some candy.  Kids love tootsie rolls, who knew?

He was a pilot!   I cheated, he already had the bomber jacket, but between working on stencils, traveling so much, and having a little one on the way, I really let my costume planning slide this year.  Next year, I'll make something awesome I swear.

In other news, I have a stunning feature for you today.

Juniper Hills Antiques in Connecticut is a terrific client of ours and they've transformed some gorgeous pieces with their chalk paint skills and our stencils.  I wanted to show you guys this teal sideboard they did.

Completely beautiful.  I love how understated the Hotel De L'Avenir stencil is.  Any darker and I think the graphic would overpower the piece, but it has the perfect degree of aging. 

I also really like that the top was left natural wood.  Great contrast. 

Here's a pic with the door open.  Some generous storage there!  As the owner of an old home (West Coast old anyway!) I often wonder, did people in Astoria not own stuff in 1919?  Where did they put it all?  We have a Craftsman, but no cool built-ins sadly and our closets were built for hobbits so storage is an eternal struggle.  Storage pieces like this that are utilitarian and beautiful are terrific.

You've got to check out Juniper Hill Antiques.  They've got a great blog, website, and facebook. 

Here's a link to the original post about this item.

That's all we have for this week.  We'll be back on Wednesday for a sweet Etspiration!

Etspiration Wednesday: Halloween In August?

It's totally a thing right?  Well, if Halloween in August isn't a tradition just yet, I'm making it so.  We just started feeling so sorry for Halloween after all this focus on Christmas the past few weeks.  It really is one of our favorite holidays. 

Around these parts, kids don't trick or treat to houses.  (Our neighborhoods are very, very hilly).  They go trick or treat in our downtown area and all the shops decorate and pass out candy.  It's quite fun. 


It's a great tradition, but a little of the emphasis on sprucing up the home for Halloween is lost here because no one is coming around to see it.  This year, I'm just going to decorate anyway.  :)  I'm sure my toddler and two lovely cats won't do anything to disturb the decorations.

In any case, Etsy is a goldmine for Halloween.  Whether you're looking to tap into the primitive tradition or Victorian style Halloween art, there are tricks and treats for everyone.  Check it out!

1A:  Candy Corn Halloween Tote Image Courtesy CreativeJenV
1B:  Boo Halloween Cupcake Toppers Image Courtesy SongbirdGreetings
1C:  Black Hat Society Witch Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
1D:  Spiderweb Pillow Cover Image Courtesy BubbleGumDish

This spiderweb pillow cover is just the coolest.  I've developed a different relationship with spiders since moving to Oregon.  I don't love them, but I don't flee in terror anymore when I see them.  (Though my husband may disagree).  The fall brings them out in droves, it's bananas.  You'll drive down the street and there will be webs spun between power lines like fine netting.  That's a little much, I don't need my house enveloped in spiderweb, I think this fabulous pillow is just enough!

2A:  Victorian Inspired Haunted Banner Image Courtesy FavorMeDesigns
2B:  Vintage Samantha Good Luck Kitchen Witch Image Courtesy Bittersweets13
2C:  Grey Ghost Cushion Image Courtesy Needleandi
2D:  Le Chat Noir 5.5x11.5 Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

You've got to take a look at Samantha, the Kitchen Witch in 2B.  I learn something every week when I compile these Etspirations.  This week it was the felicitous kitchen witch who caught my eye.  They are a sort of good luck figure for your kitchen, to ward off bad spirits and the like.  She also doubles as a utensil holder!  Hooray for multitasking.

3A:  Vintage Halloween Cooky Cutters Image Courtesy LexisMonkey
3B:  Vintage Halloween Sign with Black Cat Image Courtesy SweetMeas
3C:  Matroyshka Nesting Doll Pumpkin Tote Image Courtesy dozydoatstotes
3D:  Autumn Blessings 5.5x11.5 Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

Okay you may be thinking that strictly speaking, the matroyshka tote is not Halloween related, but it came up in an Etsy search for pumpkin.  I happen to absolutely love it, so I'm including it! 

4A:  Chat Noir Ceramic Pendant Image Courtesy JasminBlancBoutique
4B:  Boo Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
4C:  Primitive Witch Ouija Board Image Courtesy TheHomespunRaven
4D:  Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Cards Image Courtesy BonneyhillShop

This little ceramic chat noir is just darling.  JasminBlancBoutique has it in several different color options, but I like black the best. 

Thanks to all our spooky Etsy sellers for letting us feature their images.  We'll be back on Friday!

Special Tuesday Post: Christmas In July Sale!

To celebrate Christmas in July, we're running a 20% off sale in the Maisondestencils store.  Get stocked up on stencils for all your holiday projects at a discounted rate!  Use promo code: july2012 when checking out in our store to receive the discount!

This sale will run until July 30th, so pop on over to the store while the getting's good!

 

We've added all kinds of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas stencils to our Holiday and Halloween categories.

 And we'll be adding even more over the next few days!  So be sure to check back often!

Thanks and Happy (early) Holidays!