Hello? House Beautiful?

My most favourite magazine has to be House Beautiful.  They get me.  Or maybe I get them. Either way, I’m hooked but good.

So when I came upon this juicy page, I had to copy it.  But where? you ask.

About 15 years ago, I stumbled onto this table at an architectural salvage place. I’m quite sure it was used as display somewhere, it is mega heavy yet somewhat narrow.  I’m not even sure how I got it into the van we owned at the time, it was that heavy.  I liken it to a mom with adrenalin raging through her veins, lifts the car that is pinning her beloved child under it.  I had fallen in love.  I mean, check out the Alice in Wonderland-esque legs!  It was painted pretty much the colours in this magazine, royal blue body, red edge on the legs – only it didn’t look near as good.  Over the years and three houses later (amazingly it fit in every house even though they were very different in layout) it’s seen probably every colour or combination of colours you can imagine.

I actually love it in white, but with husband reading the paper at it every morning, it couldn’t take the newsprint abuse…ever heard of an iPad, honey?  But never mind.

Then I settled on this….kind of felt like an Audrey Hepburn hat to me.  No explaining that.  It just does.

Then here’s what I did.  Using the inspiration picture, I drew in chalk, a rough plan.

  

Wiped away my mistakes or changes….I love chalk.

And started painting in the pattern with craft paint. I mixed white and antique white for the main parts and swiped a little navy for shadow and contour.

And the finished product!

Daughter Number 3 says I’ll tire of this look quickly – we’ll see if she’s right…okay she probably is.  But no matter, I can always paint it again!

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