Shelf Update & Window Upcycling

When I made the shutter shelves, I had really wanted to add decorative brackets but couldn't find them anywhere! As I had them on the wall I was becoming increasingly nervous about the shelves not holding up and my Willow Tree collection crashing to the floor.

I searched around on eBay for a week or so and found the perfect black wrought iron brackets. Great size, nice design... They came today and of course I attached them immediately. I am so much happier with the shelves now, and no longer worried that they will fall!

This next project is incomplete, but I figured I would post it in-progress. In the beginning of June I picked up this great old window. Two guys were redoing windows at their house, and were nice enough to even put it in the car for me. I cleaned up the window, scraped off the loose, chipping paint with a wire brush, and then sanded down the rest of the wood to smooth it out. I also found these great metal and ceramic fleur de lis hooks that I attached on each side. 

I have a thing for old black and white photos, and I thought this window would be a perfect way to display some pictures of my family. I am not totally satisfied yet with the pictures because I know my parents have more somewhere.  There are no photos of anyone on my dad's side of the family, so this is still developing. 

I also intend to add a narrow shelf along the bottom like a windowsill, and I'm thinking about a light wreath to hang in the center from a ribbon, and position the photos around it. It's a work in progress, but I'm a lot happier with it hanging on my wall than leaning against it! 

Last but not least, I finished one pair of flip flops! 

Hope you guys are enjoying reading about my projects! I know I'm enjoying writing about them. 

WIP Flip Flops

Wanted to share my current WIP's (works in progress) today since I don't have anything newly completed. These have been in progress for quite some time, but got overlooked in my painting frenzy.

I picked up some inexpensive flip flops sometime in May with the intent of crocheting embellishments on them. I didn't anticipate how time consuming it would be... Or that I wouldn't find any patterns I liked. After some trial and error (and frustration) I figured out how to crochet around the straps as my foundation row. I've finished one of each so far:

The reddish orange is made with a Lion Brand bamboo cotton yarn. I only crocheted one row of single crochet in addition to the foundation, because any more was looking bulky. Then I found an easy pattern online for a rose and made that to sew on the top. 

For the dark teal flip flop, I used a yarn I picked up a long time ago at a garage sale! I don't know what type of fiber it is, but it's significantly thinner than the bamboo cotton. this meant a lot more stitches in the foundation row, which is why it's taken me so long to just finish one of each. I stitched three double crochets into each foundation stitch to create the ruffle effect. I think they came out so cute!  

As I'm looking at them now, I'm thinking of attaching some kind of heel strap to lessen the flip-floppiness and hold them on. I'll probably try it and see if I like it. But first I need to finish the pairs. 

I have another WIP going that I can't wait to share. I've been working very hard on creating crocheted edgings for the bedroom curtains my mom sewed for me. I'm going to wait and write a whole post about them when they are finished, but here is a preview of the work I'm so proud of: 

I've been thinking long and hard about how I want to make over my telephone table. And while I'm at it, I'll probably makeover this little guy as well:

This little table is a dough box table. I found an article online which explains that these were used for mixing bread ingredients together and letting the dough rise. Read up - it's pretty interesting! http://www.homethingspast.com/dough-box-kneading-trough/

For this piece I think I've decided to try the Annie Sloan chalk paint I've been hearing about. I found this image on Pinterest of the graphite color after being distressed and coated in wax, and I think this finish would look really nice on the dough box. 

Credit: http://gypsy-couture.com/2011/10/22/be-still-my-heart/

Thoughts?

Now for the telephone table I can't do the same finish, mainly because I just got my black vintage rotary phone, and it wouldn't stand out on a black surface! I'm just not sure what direction to go in. I want the piece to stand out but still coordinate with the room. Olive walls, neutral couch, medium-dark wood furniture, and off white bookshelves... Plus my accessories and decor incorporate beige, burgundy, green, and brown mostly. What would go with this color scheme?? Help! Suggestions most welcome! I'm more concerned about what color to paint the wood than about the upholstery fabric. That will be easy enough to find. 

Seriously, suggestions please. I have a long weekend coming and could get to work if I know what I want to do!