Are you ready to link up all of your milk paint and MORE today! I was so excited to see your amazing redos last week! Please be sure to link back from your blog post to the party here on the RHI blog!

Not going to make you wait any longer...here we go! 

Loved this minty redo from This, That & Life! 

And this tray turned, well, better tray! Love the color she chose. And do you spy that awesome paint technique UNDER the tray. Yum. Head over to Shades of Amber to see more! 

And this wonderful regal redo from Weathered Pieces. 

So, just in case you're wondering...here are the not so fun but oh so necessary rules:

1. You don't have to have a milk paint project to link up, pretty much any paint or DIY project will do but we DO love to see what you all can do with your milk paint. Feel free to link up any of your projects and tutorials but NO FOOD, please. 
2. Please LINK BACK to your actual post and not just your blog addy. Please be sure to include a link back to Milk Paint and More Mondays in your post.
3. LIKE Restoration House on Facebook and share the button below. 
4. Surf through other bloggers' entries and visit them on their respective blogs to spread the love. 
5. PLEASE,PLEASE, PLEASE remember to take the button below and post in your blog post or mention Milk Paint and More Mondays in your post! 

                                    

This weekend I was afforded the opportunity to set up shop at a venue hosted by a Realtor friend of ours at a local farm called 21 Acres. 

Aside from the fact that I would get to share what I love about what I do with those attending, I was ecstatic about finally being able to tour this property. I'd passed by it a couple of times here and there and always wondered what it was and when I received the invitation from our friend, I knew that I would carve time out in our schedule to be there.

Their market sign had been hand painted by one of the employees. Isn't is great?

And the color on these was stunning. 

And these ornamental cabbages would be great in a garden bouquet. I just love the way these add so much texture, depth and style to arrangements.

After visiting the market downstairs I headed to the upper level of the building to setup my area. 

For the vignette, I decided to keep it simple and, quite honestly, I really didn't have enough space in my truck nor enough time to bring any of my larger furniture pieces. 

So, I decided to bring "Lovely" (that's what I am calling my new find) and center her as my focal point. 

I really love how it turned out. I lgrabbed a few small things as I walked out the door including my handy dandy dried hydrangeas from last season that were picked at just the right time and dried perfectly. I thought they were the perfect touch for the space. 

She really was the star of this setup. Don't you think?

During the tour, I was able to speak to attendees about Restoration House and what I do and even met a few new clients to boot! 

Through this experience I also realized that my business is evolving. (I've actually known that for a while)While there are many things that I CAN do...I CANNOT do it all. Restoration House really should reflect and encompass my strengths in creativity and design. 

There are many different avenues through which  I can share my talents, gifts and expertise...this blog is one of them. 

Over the next few months, RHI will be going through some changes. All good. Cleaning house, if you will, and really putting a "stamp" on this blog, my work and the business as a whole. 

I am so excited to have you join me on this journey.

That, however, is NOT the announcement as exciting as it is. 

Are you ready? 

Here goes...

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You see that? Yes! RHI will be hosting a party for the month of November through the first week of December so for you and all of your friends to show off all of your milk paint projects. Haven't tried milk paint? That's okay! You can link up any paint, DIY, craft or home decor project you'd like! Food posts won't be allowed this time around. 

We'll start the party next Monday, November 12 and end on the first Monday in December since we're striking this one up so late. So, go ahead and grab the button and start spreading the word, friends! 

Are you ready to post those projects? I'm ready to see them! 

More details about the party guidelines this week.

Happy Milk Paint and More Monday!

Well, at least one of them...

If you've followed along for a while you'll remember this post I did a long time ago. As a matter of fact it was years ago. I have dreamt of owning a dress form. My dream has finally come true. 

Since that orginal post in 2009, my heart has literally gone pitter patter each and every time I see these wonderful works of art. 

While surfing around on Craigslist, looking for nothing in particular as I normally do, I stumbled upon an ad that changed my life. Okay, so that may be a little bit of a stretch but it absolutely got my heart pumping as I emailed the seller to find out if either of these lovelies (she had two) were still available. 

When I awakened the next morning there was a reply from the seller waiting paitiently for me on my phone. My hands literally trembled as I opened the message. Wait for it...it was AVAILABLE!!! Both of them! Oh, be still my heart.

I attempted to keep calm so as to not give away how excited I was about coming so close to owning something that I've coveted for so long. The seller and I agreed to meet in the parking lot where she worked. I was so beside myself. Literally. I felt like I had jumped outside my body and back in a few times before meeting with her. 

Before I drove out, I made sure that she was willing to wiggle on the price. She was more than willing. I normally always ask for pieces that I am serious about buying and that I am going to be meeting someone to take a look at. This  time was no different. As bad as I wanted one of these, the price STILL had to be right. 

I pulled into the parking lot and found the vehicle that she described and...waited. It felt like hours. Finally I saw her walking down through my rear view mirror and thought to myself, "Let the games begin."

She opened the trunk of her car and I swear smoke came out and angels sang. There she sat, waiting for me...her new owner. I had to have it and the seller HAD to give it to me for the price that I wanted it for. She had to. 

Before meeting her I had literally prayed, "Lord, You know I've wanted one of these things forever and while I know it's not a necessity, I know that You care about the little things so I am asking that you soften her heart and that she is willing to let this dress form go for a steal. Amen." 

She began explaining to me how she acquired the forms and that she wasn't really attached to them at all. In my head: "Thank you, Lord". Finally, it was my turn. I began to explain to her how I've wanted one of these since I was five years old and how much I would love to have it given the condition. I then proceeded to ask her{for all you Dave Ramsey fans out there} what would be the best price she could give me on it. My heart raced. Are you ready? $30 bucks,folks. I paid $30 bucks for this lovely lady. Even more crazy is that she went down from her asking price of $100 without a word from me. Now, I can tell you that because I will never sell it. I may even request to be buried with it. Yes, I am seriously considering it.

You see, I knew at that moment that God loved me the most that day. I just couldn't believe it. It was the precise number I had in my head and on my heart as I prayed prior to meeting her. 

She'd already collapsed it so I just needed to transfer it from her cat to mine. You would've thought that I stole something as I screeched out of the parking lot. I figured I had better get outta there fast before she figured out what she'd done. 

This is "Lovely" stuffed into the passenger seat of my truck. I couldn't wait to get her home. 

I couldn't wait to get some free time after the kids were down to set her up and tomorrow I get to use her at a public event where my work will be featured. More on that later! 

via RHI Instagram

I don't have a lot of vintage jewelry and I knew that would look absolutely amazing on her. I used what I had and went for some of my antique bronze jewelry since it has a vintage look. 

So, what's on your wish list? What are you dreaming of lately? 

Thankful for answered prayer, 

#1 Me & MYYYYYY House!

So, when thinking of some of my most favorite things, it's only natural that I would begin with MY work, right? Of course! And this piece screams everything Me & My House is all about. It's classy with a bit of funk. Traditional with a bit of Pacific flair. Absolutely, undeniably...FABULOUS!

This is, by far, my most favorite piece I have done yet...the coral dresser. Aaaaahhh! Lehua, I pray you are enjoying!

Absolutely yummy!

#2 All things Flea...

How I love a walk through rows and rows of wonderful junk and as fabulous as Hawaii is...there are NO TRUE FLEA MARKETS! I am dieing over here! Someone help me! Sooo, until I can make it back the mainland I load up on outrageous doses of Craigslist, antique shoppes, and friends who have junk that's just too junky for them. I also LOOOOOVVVEEE looking at everyone's flea market finds and inpspirational flea market decorating. So, here are a few finds from online...

Just look at all this goodness...these are my kind of finds!

From some of my favorite people over at Better Homes & Gardens...these ladies know how to turn someone's trash into treasure! Yuuuuum-my! I am loving the color on the wash stand...gorgeous.

#3 Farmhouse Fever

Give me the country. Give me chippy,chunky and old...I am in Heaven. Here's a find from a fellow Etsy crafty creator...solsitcehome. Check out more of her great finds at www.solsticehome.etsy.com.