Picking up the paint brush again

I love decorating, and rearranging rooms in my home (it may sound crazy, but it is truly relaxing and therapeutic for me).  Changing things around and rearranging all the Shabby goodness always makes a room look fresh and new, even when I use something that I already have.  I absolutely love the Shabby Chic/cottage/vintage style.  Little bits of this and that.  If I love it…I use it!  No stuffing this girl in a box!  I get so inspired looking on Pinterest and from the many blogs out there that are full of sweet ideas (you can check out some of my Pinterest boards here).

Yesterday I painted a plain, wicker basket I picked up at a thrift store, using a tutorial I saw on Pinterest.  :0)  I want to add a few “pretties” to it before I’m completely done, then I’ll share the “before and after” pictures with you.

I found this sturdy little tray at a thrift store over a year ago, and I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it.

(Nice blurry “before” pic)

And now its oh so pretty and shabby…filled little goodies!  A baby picture of my hubby’s dad, my mom’s senior picture, white buttons, an old hotel key, bits of lace…its amazing what a little homemade chalk paint can do.

Whenever I was working on a project, whether big or small, I would always text my mom pictures of the progress…many times, pausing mid-brushstroke, to text her back, as she shared in my excitement.  Whether she was bragging about my project on Facebook or simply cheering me on in a text, I could always feel her happiness for me and her kinship in our love for all things shabby.

I miss that.

I miss my Momma.

Perhaps that’s why I’ve had a difficult time picking up a paint brush since she’s been gone.  Its been just over a year since she’s died and I don’t think I’ve worked on half a dozen projects.  Even in the past few weeks, my husband and I have worked on a couple sets of tables (to refinish and sell on kijiji), and I literally have to drag myself downstairs to work on them.  My heart just isn’t in it.  The tables stare at me every time I walk past them…and I just stare back.  I will finish them.  I’ve written it down on my “to do” list, so now I have to do it, right??  ;0)

A couple of days ago I found myself picking up my paint brush again,  mixing up some homemade chalk paint and painting the basket I mentioned earlier, a little cookbook shelf that I brought home from my mom’s and a little stool I’ve had kicking around.  My hubby sat at the table and chatted with me while I painted (cheering me on in his oh so sweet, quiet way).  And even though I couldn’t text my Momma and show her what I was working on, I enjoyed watching the transformation of the three little pieces turn from “blah” to sweet and shabby.  :0)  And just maybe I heard a faint shout from Heaven, cheering me on.