Painting the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® Way

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post on behalf of ReStyled and the opinions are 100% my own. I received a complimentary painting class in exchange for this blog post.

After writing about ReStyled Vintage and French Decor in this post, I was invited to take an Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® class at their Carmel, Indiana location. ReStyled is the Central Indiana area Stockist for Annie Sloan Chalk Paint®. They have had great success and now have four locations: this one in the heart of downtown Carmel's Arts and Design District, Franklin, Noblesville and in Zionsville.

Cars, Crowns & Cupcakes

While I was in Charlotte, North Carolina, my friend Anita took me to her Father's home for a visit. I was very impressed with how he refurbishes vintage cars. He does an impeccable job and his red 1937 Packard is gorgeous.

Before and after photos of the Packard

10 Ways to Make the Guest Room Great!

I am always searching for ways to make my guest room more comfortable. When I recently stayed at my friend Anita's home in North Carolina, I got all kinds of good tips that will help me with that. Anita is a great entertainer and makes her guests feel right at home. Here are some ideas I learned from staying in Anita's Biltmore Room that make a guest room a top notch place to stay:

1. Have local books for your guests to peruse and good lighting next to the bed. I read the book about the Biltmore estate in Ashville, North Carolina that was sitting on the nightstand. Anita also had a Bible in the top drawer and some Better Homes & Gardens magazines available.

Tea at the Elliott House

I attended another Downton Abbey tea but this time with my friend Anita. It was hosted by the Kokomo library and held at the Elliott House. I didn't have too far to travel this time! 

Anita and me at an Affair at the Elliott House

Bridal Shower Invitations & Banner

I love crafting with my daughter Ashleigh. She's very creative too so it's fun for us to bounce ideas off of each other. She needed to make bridal shower invitations for a wedding she will be witnessing soon. Since the wedding will be held at a library, she wanted an open book cut out for the top of the card to announce the bridal shower. It was no problem with the Silhouette Cameo. We found a book and font that we liked and we cut out 32 of them.

Vintage Button Bouquet

Since I have collected so many wonderful buttons by now, I've been trying to figure out how to make a button bouquet so I could enjoy seeing them more in my creative space.

My Happy List: A Happy Home

My friend Becky sent me some accessories for my doll house. The dog resting on the rug resembles her dog that I met when I visited her in January. Becky understands how I have had difficulty relating to dogs after suffering a traumatic childhood bite to my face by a German Shepherd. With her help, I was able to see that her dog is sweet and gentle and he and I quickly became friends. The magazines reminded Becky of my recent trip out west to attend An Affair at Downton. Becky's thoughtfulness means so much to me. What a sweet token of friendship from her.

My Courtyard Poem

What do you do when you have checked out of a hotel two thousand miles away from home and you have a couple hours to fill before the start of an exciting day? Your husband has taken the rental car to make business calls so you must rely on a taxi to take you to your next destination...in a few hours. 

I was sitting in the courtyard while on vacation at the Ayres Hotel in Manhattan Beach, in Southern California. I didn't want to go back to my room because our bags were all packed and in the car. I was ready to go but it wasn't time to call the cab just yet. I wanted to sit in the courtyard but I needed to find a way to relax and occupy my time. I decided to write a poem!

The table all metal with filagree

Holds my hat, my purse, and my hot tea.

Welcome to the Hotels California

Welcome to the hotels California
Such a lovely place
Such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the hotels California
Any time of year, you can find it here...The Eagles, 1977.

During our recent stay in Southern California, we stayed at three different hotels. They were all so nice. For six of the nights we stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn, Carlsbad Beach; two nights at the Ayres Hotel Manhattan Beach/Hawthorne; and two at the Millenium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles.

The special thing about the Hilton Garden Inn is location, location, location because it is across the street from the Pacific Ocean! Here is a picture looking out of our room window at the courtyard and ocean.

May's Featured Artist at the Art Bank: Ashleigh Antle

I enjoy having a daughter who is an artist.

An Affair at Downton

I just returned from attending An Affair at Downton hosted by Kim Caldwell of Artistic Bliss Designs at the Millenium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles. After several months of anticipation, I found it to be as spectacular as I had hoped it would be. Here are some pretty things that were on our table when we arrived to our first class on Friday morning.

Paris in a Cup

What is Paris in a Cup? It's a place you need to go to if you are ever in Orange, California! It's a place where you can drink a soothing cup of tea

California Here We Came!

Dan and I have just spent 10 glorious days in Southern California. We went to help celebrate our first grandchild's first birthday and also so that I could attend Kim Caldwell's An Artistic Affair at Downton. On top of all that excitement, I got to meet a special blogging friend in person and spend an afternoon with her! Every time I go out there, I tell Dan that I want to move there. Anyway...I have several posts planned to share with you about my vacation. But until then, here is a little glimpse...

Art sculpture at the San Diego airport; our first glimpse of the ocean; we spent two nights at the Ayres Hotel; and pretty flowers we don't see back home in Indiana