Home Depot and Chandeliers

I just don't fit in Home Depot. If you're a woman and like Home Depot, bless your heart. Maybe it's just the Home Depot here. I feel like a lost puppy in that place. That could be for many reasons. The main reason being, I really have no clue. I also hate the whole "elevator eyes" thing. These men just stare at you. I thought it was because they're probably wondering "what in the world is someone like that doing in Home Depot?", but I started dressing ugly and acting like I knew what I was doing (thanks to researching what I was looking for, beforehand) and they still stare. Now, I say "ugly" because the first couple times I ventured into Home Depot, I was wearing 4 inch knee boots, the other time 4 inch stilettos (it was after church, ok?). I don't make a habit of getting fancied up and taking a trip to the local Home Depot. As entertaining, as that may seem. I have to say, I was pretty proud of myself today. I got in and out without many stares and I even impressed the paint lady with what kind of paint I wanted. You see, you just have to slip in a few key words, and you look like a pro.

I say, I was proud of myself, but truthfully speaking, I was extremely intimidated by my adventure today. I mean, c'mon! And this was just the Disney wall!

I thought I knew the exact shade I wanted. I had "tea rose" all ready to choose, but they didn't have that shade. I was very disappointed. I had my hopes on "tea rose". So, I had to go through the whole "choosing just the right shade of pink" phase again. I'm so picky about pink and alot of times (this I know, about paint) the shade on that lil' card swatch is NOT what shows up when you take a brush to it. So, I was a lil' panicky. I mean, this is my studio that I'm super excited about and I don't want the wrong shade of pink that will make people want to throw up. It took me forever. I had my phone with the "tea rose" picture, trying to match it. I looked like a complete dork. But, I found the shade. And honestly, I like it even better. It's called "bridal rose".

I also chose a green shade. Green is my favorite color. Well, I have a few favorites, but green is "IT". Blame my Irish blood, but I'm very keen to green, green pictures of Ireland (I say pictures, because I've never been) and St. Patrick's Day. Again, not any shade of green, just as pink. There are some green's that one should never wear (that's a whole different blog) or even like. Now, I chose green because I'm painting a shelf and possibly a table, green, sanding/stripping it beforehand and making it distressed. A little like this...

I just love this! I'm going to see how my projected pieces of furniture turn out and I might add another piece. I don't want it overpowering or dominating the room. I love green, but I want a good balance of pink, green, white and even a lil' blue (vintage Tiffany blue). And so, I went with this lovely shade.

It's what they call "Grape Leaves". It's definitely more olivey, but I was pleased with this choice once they mixed it and showed me a sample. It's definitely more green than the swatch. So, I am pretty happy with my paint choices. Now paint brushes, painters tape, painting pans, etc. I wanted to cry when I saw this wall. Where do you actually start? I don't have the foggiest idea of the differences between brushes, their textures or what size I should get. I just need a paint brush.

Thanks to the kind paint lady, I'm sure she has a name but "paint lady" seems appropriate, for helping me make the right choice. You don't even want to know what brushes I had picked out.

So, "Home Depot Paint Picking Process Mission" completed. Now, to actually paint. I wish it would just paint itself. I'm a DIY type of person, so of course, I'm going to paint my own walls and projects, BUT, after the adventure at Home Depot, I've kinda lost the "let's do this!" spirit. I'm sure it'll kick in. Until it does, I've been "craigslisting". Next to thrift and vintage stores, craiglist is the best!

Now, I've really been researching this "shabby chic" look out. I have my own ideas, but I also like looking at others and getting a little inspiration. So, that being said, I saw a picture of the cutest "shabby chic" room and saw, *gasp*, a chandelier. And then it hit me. I've always wanted a chandelier. Shabby chic isn't shabby chic, unless you have a chandelier. I found a couple chandelier lamps and wall sconces, but really, I wanted a real, ceiling chandelier. I don't like doing things halfway. I want the real thing! Well, after much digging, searching and search box typing, I found her...

Isn't she beautiful! I've already named her. Lady. Now, I was a little bummed that they didn't have this paired with a more vintage look. But, I'm the new owner and I'll be fixing that. I pick it up tomorrow morning.

I went a lil' happy on craigslist, or should I say, I got lucky. I also snagged these pretties...

A lil' hard to see, but this happens to be an antique birdcage.

A couple other finds...

A Mint Green vintage love seat, that is not pictured
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Now, this will be stripped, painted a vintage Tiffany's blue and distressed.

I've been a lil' busy : )

Time is tickin' and Dainty Button's Grand Opening-One Year Anniversary is in 2 weeks. Let's see how quick we can pull this off. I can't wait to show you guys more progress. Hope you've enjoyed it so far and I'd love to read more of your thoughts and ideas. I love the support! It means the world! Until the next entry, g'nite!

xoxo

Charity @ Dainty Button

Dainty Button's Studio Extreme Makeover

For those that are now following or thinking about following my blog, this is blog entry #2 for the "Happy Birthday" giveaway. You can find all of the wonderful details in the first blog entry, titled "Dainty Button's Turning 1!". I'm so excited to get this series of blogs started. The extreme makeover of Dainty Button's new studio. Technically, it really doesn't need a makeover. It's quite nice. But, I don't like, well, normal. I need my own signature to it. The first thing I thought about when I looked at the studio was "how am I going to decorate?". Once I signed the contract and it was a done deal, my brain began racing on color schemes, themes, shelves, work stations, paintings, etc. I drove, and I'm still driving, my family and friends crazy with "What do you think of this?", "Ooohhh, look at this!", "Do you like this?". Yeah, annoying. I finally came to two choices. Do I go with a modern, state of the art deco or a warm, cozy, feminine look? Yeah, I know. Both are completely different, but I was very fond of both. Decisions, decisions. I knew I wanted something that was "me", that fit my personality, my likes, my character. I'm very feminine and love girly things, but with a lil' edge. Pink. I needed something with pink. I like vintage. Vintage definitely needed to be in there somewhere. And I loath the cookie cutter look. I wanted something that was different. Shabby chic. That's what I wanted. What is shabby chic? Well, here's a lil' bit of my inspiration.

Like? Once I decided this was the theme, I couldn't think of anything else. I knew it was "it". The real deal. The huge advantage of living in a city like San Francisco, it's a piece of cake finding vintage deco, antiques, etc. Thrift stores are a dime a dozen. And not these lame, sorry thrift stores. We have the best! 95% of my wardrobe is from our thrift stores. I love thrifting. So, the search has begun. I'm looking for bookshelves, cabinets, tables, picture frames, vases, pots, you name it! 

The idea is to distress everything. To sand, strip it and beat it up. I don't want anything to look the same. Everything different.

Ok, so the above picture would make a neat freak reach for the closest bottle of disinfectant, trash bags and a duster. But, I think it's great. Maybe a lil' disorganized, but awesome! 

Better? A lil' too "prissy" for me, but I like a few things about this scene. Alot of our shelving, cabinets, my desk and the shipping/packaging station will be a distressed, beat up white. It will be a dominating piece in the studio. Set against a pink wall. Ok, now I said I like pink, but it has to be a certain pink. I attended a wedding a few years ago with pink. I identified about 7 shades of pink. Gross. I love pink, but let's stick to one, maybe two shades. Remember the scene in Steel Magnolia's where Sally Fields argued with Julia Roberts about Pepto Bismol pink. Well, I can assure you, it will not look like Pepto Bismol was puked on the walls. It took me forever to choose a shade. I wanted something soft and subtle, but pink. What do you think of my choice? They call it "tea rose".

It's not gross pink that will have me begging for a bottle of Pepto Bismol after a week of staring at it. I thought it was subtle enough and would look great with the choice of deco and furnishings. 

And so now, the fun begins. We're currently scouring the many thrift stores and flea markets in San Francisco, as well as garage sales, looking for shelves, tables, cabinets, anything we can get our hands on. Fun, right? We start painting on Thursday and my desk, along with the shipping/packaging tables will be sanded and stripped, ready to paint and distress. I'm so excited about this! I'm even more excited that I can share this makeover with you and I'd love to read your thoughts, ideas or even suggestions, along the way. We have roughly, 2.5 weeks to have this completed. Ahhh! Wish us luck!

Charity @ Dainty Button

xoxo

Dainty Button is Turning 1!

Ahhh. Where do I begin with this blog entry? Wow!

A year ago, I decided to make headbands as a hobby and a means to make a lil' extra cash for a trip to London with a girlfriend. I was teaching elementary at the time. And teaching, alone, would never get me to London anytime soon. I never thought it would take off like it has and be such a wonderful success. Not that I didn't believe in myself, but really. Who do you know that makes a living from making headbands? Ha! By the end of the school year, after many boutique contracts, orders on etsy that seriously made me want to cry because honestly, there was no way I could get to them, on my own, I realized a decision had to be made. Do I cut back on this and continue teaching or do I take a leap of faith and do something that I absolutely love and be my own boss? I chose the latter. And it has been the most adventurous, fun and risky decision of my life. I love it! And so, almost a year later, I'm preparing to celebrate my lil' business' first birthday on January 11th. So exciting! And I want to share this special, memorable occasion with all of you wonderful supporters! 

If you're not following my blog, I'd love for you to. This will be very helpful if you're wanting to participate in my fun lil' giveaway : ) 

I have done several giveaways with my business and it's such a great way of promoting a business, while sharing with others. If you're a business owner, I suggest something like this. It's been great! And so, what better time to have another fun giveaway, than a birthday celebration? 

Ok, ok...I'm getting to the giveaway. 

I began this business in my home and quite frankly, it has been such a headache. When you're living with your family and have company over all the time, NOTHING gets done. I would make myself pull all nighters because that's when everybody was sleeping and I could actually get something done. My family has been so supportive of this decision, but they were really annoyed with their living room, kitchen table, garage, closets, and every nook and cranny cluttered with some sort of Dainty Button in it. It was a disaster! I knew a decision had to be made, but I also knew the expense of getting a studio and I didn't know if I wanted to take another big leap of faith so quickly. Especially in San Francisco. My dad asked me what my budget was and said to give him a couple days and he'd find something for me. He wasn't kidding! Two hours later he had me a studio! And so, the beginning of this month, in the midst of the holiday rush (I'm crazy!), my assistants and myself packed up my business from home and moved it into the cutest, lil' studio. This has been such a god send! And so, the fun begins. Extreme makeover!

And this is where the giveaway comes into play. I decided a grand opening, anniversary type fete was in order. You always do first birthdays BIG, right? So, my team and I have begun the fun transformation of Dainty Button Studio. And I'm sharing the entire progress with all of you followers, by blogging. Here's the details of this fun giveaway.

1. Each day or every other day, I will be blogging/posting pictures of the extreme makeover progress. On each entry, a comment is in order to participate. You can comment ANYTHING (appropriately, of course). Each comment, gets your name entered into a HUGE giveaway. You are only allowed to make a comment once, on each entry.

2. If you become a follower of this blog, it gets your name entered twice for each comment. Double the stakes! 

3. On January, 10th, I will close the entries and choose a winner. What does the winner get?

Giveaway Prize: a $50 Monthly credit to my etsy shop for ONE YEAR. 

So, hopefully this all makes sense. Whew! The contest giveaway begins right now! Share this with others and have fun! 

Old Fashioned Christmas Sugar Cookies

I normally hate sugar cookies. Blah! But, chocolate chip cookies? Now, we're talking. As a kid, I never liked any other cookie, except, yep, chocolate chip cookies. Actually, I didn't like many foods as a kid, but that's another blog, altogether. Until one Valentines Day. Ok, I said they're Christmas sugar cookies, but I lied. They're good all year long. My parents pastored in Oklahoma for 10 years, before moving to the west coast and it seemed like all we ever did at that church was fundraise. Those of you that are involved in church, go to church or know about the extent of fundraisers in a church, will understand and relate to this. I have to say, this church was great at fundraising! And so, this brings me back to the sugar cookies. There was a point in saying the above. Well, sorta kinda. Anyways, the sugar cookies. One Valentine's Day, our church at the time, did a "Message Heart" fundraiser with this recipe. They made giant, and when I say giant, it was like the size of a large sheet cake, heart cookies, iced with the most incredible homemade cream cheese frosting and these cute lil' messages iced on them. They were wrapped in pretty packaging and delivered to the recipient of the scrumptious, giant, heart cookie with a sweet lil' message. They were awesome! My love for sugar cookies began here. Actually, it began with the cookie dough...

Did I mention I love cookie dough? I think I like it more than the actual cookie. When I think of baking, I think of how good the dough will be, not how cute or scrumptious they'll actually turn out. And so, as a young girl in the church kitchen, helping make these cookies, I fell in love with sugar cookies. Well, the dough.

I made myself sick on this dough. Trust me, if you decide to make them, you'll do the same. I promise! 

I thought it was just the dough, but when the cookies were actually done, it was almost as good as the dough. The most incredible cookie. Soft, cakey and moist. The awesome thing about these cookies is that you can eat them iced or plain. They're good both ways. Less in calories, un-iced, but what fun is that? So, I'm sure by now you're wanting to know how to make them. At least, I would be if I was looking at these yummy, doughy pictures. I told you I like the dough. This recipe makes about 9 dozen. Yea, that's alot. They call it the Christmas Sugar Cookie recipe, because the entire batch is supposed to last you throughout the Christmas season, by freezing the dough. I've never actually done this, because 1. I either eat half the dough before it bakes or 2. Bake them for large events and use the dough (what I don't eat) at once. This is an old fashioned, from scratch recipe that a wonderful lady in the Oklahoma church handed down. I promise, these will be the best sugar cookies you ever eat! Here ya go...

The Goods:

3 cups of sugar

2 cups of shortening (don't even think about the calories)

4 eggs

2.5 teaspons of vanilla

8 cups of flour

1 teaspoon of salt

4 teaspoons of baking powder

1 teaspoon of baking soda

2 cups of buttermilk

How to use the good:

1. Cream sugar and shortening together.

2. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat well.

3. In a separate bowl, sift flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda.

4. Mix the dry and cream ingredients together.

5. Slowly, alternate the buttermilk in with the two mixtures.

DO NOT MIX WITH A MIXER! Just trust me. 

6. Cover and chill.

When baking:

Bake at 375, 12-15 minutes or until the bottom is very light golden brown. Watch closely! They bake very fast.

Good tips for rolling dough, cutting out and baking:

1. Use a lot of flour when rolling out the dough. It's a mess if it's real doughy. They stick like crazy. The flour is also what makes them bake quickly, therefore it's important to keep a close eye on them, as they're baking.

2. This dough can actually be baked as a cake or if you're like me, I use the cookie cutters. I have never just plopped these cookies on a sheet, but there's always a first for everything, I suppose.

3. Enjoy!

The Yummy, Scrumptious, Sugar Coma Icing:

12 oz. cream cheese

1/2 cup butter

Powdered sugar

Mix until thick. 

Note: Use however much powdered sugar you need. It's your icing : )

I hope this recipe is just as fun and yummy for you, as it is for me! Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any weight gain.

Holiday Breakfast Tradition

Our family moved to San Francisco 14 years ago. We have created so many fun, unique memories in this beautiful city and I want to share this special one with you. A few years ago, we began a tradition of going downtown and eating breakfast/brunch at Sear's Fine Foods. No, this has nothing to do with the department store. Sear's Fine Foods is located in San Francisco's very popular Union Square and is so festive during the holidays. This is such a special treat. If you're every in San Francisco, you MUST put this on the "to do" list, while you're here.

We usually go on Thanksgiving morning, but with our family's hectic schedules this year, we decided to go on Christmas Eve morning. We bart downtown. San Francisco's "subway", so to speak. Bundled up, joining the festive crowds, we trudge to this quaint, unique restaurant that has become a staple for San Francisco's list of top eateries. The breakfast is out of this world! Make sure you get pancakes if you go. They're the best! The food is not the only thing that makes this restaurant such a lovely place to eat. While dining, you can see San Francisco's famous cable cars pass by and ring their bells. The Sir Francis Drake hotel is right across the street, among other historical, landmark hotels of San Francisco. Like, I said, it's really a must.

So, every year our family looks forward to this festive occasion and makes new memories every year. A new memory this year. The newest addition to our family, Zoe Belle. My first niece, my parents first grandbaby. Many firsts this year! I wanted to share this fun, tradition with you and hope it makes you start traditions of your own. And hopefully you'll have a wonderful opportunity to visit sometime. Merry Christmas Eve everyone! 

Memories, Stockings and Crafty Mom's

My mom is the best at making holidays memorable and special. She always has these fabulous ideas and quite frankly, I owe my craftiness to her. I can recall many holidays, especially Christmas, where our kitchen was busy with us making cookies, candy or the kitchen table cluttered with us embossing stationary. One year she indulged my sister and I, as we were persistent on wrapping our own gifts of colored coloring pages. Ha! That was a gift wrapping challenge! It's so funny that at almost 27 years of age, those special memories are still being played out. For example, this morning.

I woke up to the incredible smell of turkey roasting and laying across the kitchen table were the most beautiful, handmade, vintage stockings. She actually found the time and made them. She had discussed this idea with my sister and I a couple weeks ago and with our busy schedules, I thought "yea, that would be awesome, but it's not going to happen". She proved us wrong. She's also persistent. Did I mention that? She made each of us our own beautiful stocking, and one extra, that she says is for my future husband. Does she know something I don't?

And again, another beautiful memory was made. I don't think I'll ever be too old for new memories or traditions. I hope that I can pass this "making memories" tradition to my own children. Whether, it's baking cookies, making Christmas cards, wrapping presents, singing Christmas carols and dancing around the house, I want my children to have the same beautiful, loving and warm childhood, I did growing up with fond memories of the holidays. So, whether you have loads of money to indulge in the finer things of life or not a penny to your name, memories can be made anywhere and at anytime. Enjoy your holidays, making memories and cherish your family. Merry Christmas Eve.

Easter

I love Easter! I love holidays in general, but Easter is one of my fav's. It holds so much meaning. Alot like Christmas. I bawl at the Easter songs, dramas and I've done the whole sign, praise dancer thing (is that term a "no no"?), but usually end up crying through the whole performance and embarrassing the whole team. I love how families come together (they come out of the woodwork!), dressed in their finest, bright spring colors, looking all spiffy! It's a cheerful time. And it should be! Jesus died and rose from the dead! It's a celebration!

About 4 years ago, I got involved with our church's kids ministry. I never knew where the journey or road would take me. I filled in for my sister one night and have been filling in ever since. I happened to find my calling. Children. I love children. They are perfect. Their innocence and faith move me to be a better Christian. And so, 4 years ago, another Sunday School teacher and myself decided to have a neighborhood Easter egg hunt the Saturday of Easter weekend. We thought it would be a good outreach for our church and kids ministry. We whipped it together in 1 month and easily raised our budget. We thought we were so prepared. Wrong! It was a HUGE, chaotic mess. A HUGE, chaotic mess that set the stage for our church's biggest yearly outreach event. Who knew anything good could come out of a circus, right? Well, it did. We hadn't even promoted it very much. Paper, pastel colored fliers was all we did. And they came...by the dozens, and the hundreds. And so "Easter in the Park" was birthed. Every year it has grown and become more of a success. We host a community wide Easter egg hunt for low income families, offering grand prizes for the "golden egg". Our kids ministry community bus route was birthed from Easter in the Park. Our spanish congregation was birthed from Easter in the Park. Jumpers, face painting, raffles, giveaways, even the Easter bunny makes appearances every year. Like I said, I love Easter!

No, it's not about egg hunts, Easter bunnies, baskets or a new outfit. It's not even about all of the dramas and reinactments of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. It's a time to focus on the real reason Jesus carried that wooden cross to Galgotha, shedding his precious blood for our sins. Our redemption. Our salvation. And what better way to celebrate than to tell others about this wonderful gift. That's why He paid the price, isn't it? And so another year, I'm excited to walk into that park, meet precious faces searching for something and share this precious message with them. My Jesus died just for you!

Happy Easter everyone! Share the message. The message of Jesus Christ!

Spring Fever

Spring. One of my favorite seasons. I'm so sick of wearing boots and stockings, bundled up in layers, I welcome it with open arms. All of the bright and pastel colors make me happy. I get excited walking by a store window, seeing all the beautiful, bright array of colors, wanting to buy that cute little cardigan in every color, except black.

And so I thought, it was a great time to introduce Dainty Button's "Spring Fever" pendants. This isn't something new. It happens to be one of my very first designs, but just doesn't seem to get old and those that are new faces always seem to find delight in this cute accessory piece. I wear them quite often and I do believe every lady, excluding a few, in my church has a collection of these and occassionally we'll all show up wearing them. They really are alot of fun. They go with everything! A t-shirt, sweater, blazer, even on a denim jacket. One girl I know put them on her purse. I personally wear them clustered together and every time I do, someone asks me, "where did you get your flowers?". They think it comes together. Amazing things happen when you grab a handful of cute little felt flower pendants and cluster them together : ) And so, I'd like to share with everyone! Enjoy! And yes, Dainty Button does provide them in every color!

Late

My life story. I'm always late. I think I can only count on one hand, the number of times I've been early. On time? Yes, I've managed that. Early? The earth shook and angels sang the handful of times I actually was EARLY. Late should've been my middle name. I've tried numerous things to cure this problem. Setting my alarm 3 hours before I'm scheduled to be up, getting ready two hours before an event. I even tried sleeping in my clothes one time. Something always tends to pop up, resulting in me being late. I think it's hereditary. I was always a late student. Class, field trips, High School graduation. Yes, that too. I remember frantically rushing inside the door in cap and gown, almost killing myself in 5 inch heels, as my friends were waving me on to get in line. I still fight bitter feelings of not being the student with "perfect attendance". Shoot! If I got "punctuality" student of the year, I'd think I'd won the Nobel prize.

Once again, late today. I even set my alarm early and succeeded in actually getting up when it went off, instead of hitting "snooze" 5.5 times before I drug my body out of bed. I got my workout in. Ate my nutritious, healthy breakfast. A little devotion. And still late. Frantically pulling out of my driveway, my car squealing like a little mouse that's dying a horrible death. (Someday I will listen to my dad and get the belt changed.) And I am welcomed to rain. No, mist. Wonderful, California rain. The mi-, I mean rain, that results in drivers losing all sanity and risking killing everybody that takes the chance in taking to the roads. Rushing into work, I sit down and breathe. I might look like a halfway drowned rat, my socks don't match, actually, I think they're my brother's? I think I brushed my teeth this morning. Yes, I did. Whew! But, hey! I'm here! Better late, than never, right?

But is God really pleased with my tardiness? Is it being a good example and reflection of a good Christian? He's never late. Right on time and even early, but never late. So, if He can do it, running the entire universe, healing the sick, raising the dead, helping those in need, and the list goes on, why can't I be on time? My little morning ritual and busy schedule really dim in comparison to the Man upstairs. I think if He can do it, I sure can!

My First Blog

Well, I did it. I started a blog. I have no idea why I did this. Maybe because everybody else is doing it and I wanted to be cool. Or it could be because I love every opportunity to promote my new baby. Dainty Button (daintybutton.etsy.com). And it could be because I love to talk. I call it diarhea of the mouth. Either way, I'm blogging. Did I say that right? I need to research "cool" blog lingo. I have now added the 117th hobby, responsibility, task, whatever you want to call it, to my life. My crazy life. I barely have time to feed my two dogs. At least, I'm blogging about them. That's my display of affection for them today. And my family says I don't have time for them. I'm blogging about them! In my first blog, at that!

And now I will drag my poor aching body to bed, after sitting with children, who's parent's do not take time off during their Spring Break, oh wait, I was corrected today, Easter break, all day. All boys, but for one girl, might I add, that played with "My Littlest Pet" all day, even asking the one girl where they could get it. Hmmm.... I wonder if their dad's know about their fondness of those little pets? Spending my evening filling 2,000 plastic Easter eggs, yes 2,000, has me nursing a tummy ache after eating a whole bag full of Starburst that has probably caused 5 cavities. Tomorrow is a brand new, crazy day that I will take on with a cheery disposition, announcing the winner of Dainty Button's "Refer a Friend, Score Some Swag" contest, hoping I don't get mauled, maimed or receive hate mail with anthrax from angry ladies that do not win the swag I have offered as a grand prize. I should've known ladies get mean. Very mean, especially when shoes are being offered as a grand prize.
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If you're reading this blog and find it strange or even airing on the side of retardation, please excuse me. They may or may not get better. G'nite all you blog followers!