Making Cheerful Faux Floral Arrangements on a Rainy Day

Blue, white, and purple faux floral arrangement in silver tin.
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It has certainly been rainy lately here in SE Texas, and I am loving it! Such a great reprieve from the heat, and a great time to do indoor crafts.

I had 4 floral arrangements in mind that I wanted to create for our dining room decor. One for the top of our grandfather clock, one for the top inside tier of our antique curio cabinet, and 2 for the second inside tier of the curio cabinet.

Places for the new floral arrangements at Royalview.
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I already had 3 of the “vases” here. Two little cute coffee cup planters that I painted several years ago, and a large glass mug that says Beer 5 cents, that was given to Willie by his younger brother, Thomas, many years ago, before we even met.

Faux floral arrangement supplies.
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The fourth vase, or planter, I found at Dollar Tree. I knew I didn’t want or need a pricey vase, as this arrangement will be going atop our grandfather clock, so it will not be well seen, plus it wouldn’t be tragic if it had an accidental fall from high up. This tin bin that says Flowers & Gardens is perfect. The perfect price point, height, and shape for this task.

Silver oval flower tin that says Flowers and Garden.
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I knew that I wanted the arrangement for atop the clock to have some downward flow.

Making a blue, white, and purple faux floral arrangement.
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I began with just blue and whites, but it needed a pop of color. How about a pop of purple?

Faux floral arrangement in white, blue and purple.
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There we go! I’m loving this!

The little cuties and beer mug had their makeovers as well. I kept these pretty simple, as they are going behind glass, in the curio cabinet. The white florals will help bring in much needed brightness.

Faux floral arrangements in various misc. vases/holders in blues and whites.
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The little mugs are just too cute! I call them Fifi and Penelope. They’ve become favorite keepsakes.

The beer mug now shines new light with it’s white wispy florals, pearls, and clear stones.

Beer mug with white floral arrangement.
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Such a beautiful way to add brightness (and lightness of mood) to this dark cabinet.

White nick-nacks in an antique curio cabinet.
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Fun note: If you spy the red Christmas light inside this cabinet, it’s there because Willie’s Father built this cabinet when he (Willie’s Dad) was in his 20’s, probably in the 1960’s. I’m guessing this was his way to bring brightness in. These lights are so fun and sentimental, I’ve opted to leave them in place, as he placed them in his beautiful creation.

And for our arrangement atop the clock, I think it ties everything in together very well.

Faux floral arrangement atop a grandfather clock.
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Everybody’s happy now in their new home. We’re making good progress with the dining room and curio cabinet decor.

Till next time, be kind, and follow your joy! God is truly good!

Johanna and Willie

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Faux Floral Arranging, Floral Arrangements, Vintage Style, Antique Furniture, French Country House, Lake House, Decor, Decor DIY, Keepsakes, Upgraded Home Decor

Vintage Mirror Makeover DIY Project: From Western Motif to French Country Home Decor

Western Motif Vintage Mirror Before Transformation.
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So, we’ve been on the look-out for mirrors for Royalview for a little while now. I, in particular, have been keeping an eye out for a full-length mirror for our bedroom, as well as a mirror for my office/make-up room.

Western Motif Vintage Mirror Before Makeover.
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The price tag that comes along with a beautiful large mirror is pretty large as well, we’ve noticed, so when I spotted this beauty at one of my favorite booth’s at Yesterday’s Treasures, I was definitely interested, and when Willie told me the price, I was sold. ($25.00)

It’s not quite the look and style as Royalview’s decor, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, but if you’ve been following our story here for a bit, you know I’m up for a challenge, armed with my can of white paint. So, yeah, after giving it a good look-over, I said, “I can paint it white!”.

It was listed as a Western Motif Mirror, and it does have some pretty designs. The frame is very large and ornate, so definitely something I can work with.

For this project I did need to get the painters tape out and fully line all sides of the mirror to make sure not to get paint on the mirror itself.

Western Motif Vintage Mirror Before Painting, with Blue Painters Tape.
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I decided not to sand this, even though it seemed to have some type of varnish over the paint, and with 2 coats of white paint, the old brown, black, and gold tones were a distant memory.

Vintage Mirror Makeover.  Painted White.
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I did allow some of the old tones to show through, to let it still have a vintage look, but this time I took things to the next level by adding blue paint to the little circle details. At first I was going to paint each one perfectly, but then I decided it would be better to give it an imperfect, distressed look.

Vintage Mirror Makeover in White and Blue.
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I’m very delighted how it turned out. It was a very easy project to do. The mirror just needed to be cleaned a bit and painted. It has a lot of character, and a new life now at Royalview.

The toughest things about this project came after completing the makeover: Deciding where and how to hang it.

The how to hang it has now being taken care of thanks to Amazon. I found a French Cleat Picture Hanger Kit that we will be trying out here very soon. This mirror weighs in at approximately 25 pounds. Yes, Willie weighed it. It feels much heavier to me. The kit(s) I found have different sizes for different weights. This is going to make hanging it so much easier and safer.

And for the where. My initial thought for this mirror was definitely for our bedroom wall.

Completed vintage mirror makeover.  
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This is large enough to use as a full-length dressing mirror, but after I painted it, I looked into the living room and thought how beautiful this would be over our main sofa (hung horizontally). The wall over our sofa has been kept blank till we find the “perfect” item, or items to adorn that focal area.

Bare living room wall awaiting decor.
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I don’t know for sure yet where it will find it’s place.

I do have two more vintage mirrors that are awaiting transformation. These two I got for free, rummaging through one of the buildings at Willie’s family’s business that’s being cleared out.

Here are the two lovelies.

Vintage mirror awaiting transformation.
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Think I have my work cut out for me?

Vintage dresser mirror awaiting transformation.
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I know there will be a lot of cleaning involved, for sure!

But, I do have some ideas, and I’ve ordered some things already for these, including the French Cleat Hangers, of course. The brown one is off of a dresser, so it definitely will need hardware to hang.

That yellow mirror is so pretty, though. That one will either be in my office (the brown one will be over my dressing table in my office/make-up room) as a full length dressing mirror, or in our bedroom if the other goes over the sofa, so stay tuned!

I’m just so happy to be able to breathe new life into these almost lost mirrors. They are all good-sized mirrors, and in good shape mostly. I’m hoping once the dirt is wiped from these last two, that the mirrors themselves are good. From what I can see, they look like they will be ok.

Okay gang, till next time, please remember to be kind, and always follow your joy!

Johanna and Willie

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Vintage Mirror DIY Paint Makeover Project, French Country House Decor, Lake House Decor, Conroe, Texas, Arts and Crafts

Finally Unpacking the Back Rooms: Making Tough Decisions and Donations

Back bedroom filled with boxes waiting to be unpacked at Royalview.
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Well gang… The time is here. No more avoiding the boxes in the back rooms…

We’ve been having so much fun getting the front part of our home all set up, that we put the 2 back bedrooms on the bottom of our to-do list. But not any longer.

One of the back rooms has been serving as an office, and it will continue to be an office.

Back office before photo at Royalview.
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Isn’t she lovely? Well, she will be, hopefully! This has been my point of operations for blogging, bill paying, etc., and I’m really looking forward to getting everything all set up and beautified.

Willie is in the beginning stages of putting my new desk together.

Desk parts ready to be put together.
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Can’t wait to show you the reveal. It’s a really cute farmhouse desk design.

While Willie was working in the garage getting the desk pieces sorted, I went to work on all those boxes in the second back room. I had to make some tough decisions. I had already gone through everything before moving from Wintergreen (our former home), but since we’ve been living here almost 6 months now (move in date was December 18, 2024), and I’ve not used items that are in the boxes waiting to be unpacked, I figure I must be able to live without them. The exception being, seasonal and holiday decor, and must-keep pictures and keepsake items. So here we go. If an item does not fit in the keepsake or holiday category, and I’ve not needed it, nor do I feel like I will need it in the near future, it either gets donated, or thrown out.

Looks like I am able to live without a lot of the stuff we brought.

Our truck loaded with items to be donated to Goodwill.
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We headed for town and donated to our favorite college student, our local vintage store, and Goodwill.

Goodwill Donation Center in Willis, Texas.
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This Goodwill Donation Center is located in Willis, Texas. It’s very nice, and really easy to pull right up to the door. The gentleman working here opened the door and helped us unload.

Now we are clutter free! (Almost!) But we’ve gone through pretty much of our belongings, and we are learning that less is definitely more, especially if you’re just storing it, thinking you may use it down the road. We’re learning to just let it go. It’s very freeing.

We headed back to Royalview, and got busy moving furniture and the remaining boxes, whose contents will be used in some capacity.

Getting our back room set up.  Boxes have been moved out and now setting up a couch and rug.
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We moved this love seat from the office to the second room that was once filled with boxes. We brought this love seat and area rug with us from Wintergreen. It doesn’t go with the rest of our decor here at Royalview, but we’re going to keep it for now, till we decided exactly how we want to use this room. But for now, we’re going to use it as a resting area for Willie when he comes in for a break after working outside or in the garage. We kept the TV that we used in the living room before our new TV purchase, so we’ll get that set up for him in here and get it decorated a bit more. But it already looks better, and he can take a break in here now. There is a window in here that overlooks the back yard as well, so it is pleasant.

Entry view of our back room in progress.
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For the office, we moved my current desk (table) over to the wall where we once had the love seat.

Getting the office ready for the new desk.
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This makes room for my new desk to be in front of the window.

Window area cleared and ready for our new desk.
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This is my gorgeous view.

Office window view at Royalview.
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God is so good! What a joy to be able to work indoors and still get to see this beautiful view. I’m still pinching myself everyday, and giving God praise everyday for guiding us to Royalview.

I’ll keep you updated on our progress. Willie’s installing blinds in the two back rooms today, as I’m blogging. He is so awesome, and doing a great job.

Willie installing blinds in the office at Royalview.
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Till next time, be kind, and always follow your joy! God is truly good!

Johanna and Willie

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Moving Into Our New Home, Unpacking, Unboxing, Decorating, Moving Furniture, Putting Furniture Together, Hanging Blinds, Setting up Office, Lake House with a View, Conroe, Willis, Texas

Antique Shopping: Home Decor Haul Update

Cream colored glass vintage style lamp.
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Well, the lamp made it home with us, and now has a new spot to call it’s own. I love it so much, and I’m so glad I went back to get it. It fits in perfectly with Royalview’s decor.

Beautiful vintage style cream colored glass lamp pictured lit from Mimi's on Main, Conroe, TX.
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I paired it with the dried lavender arrangement I made and put it on the shelves by one of our windows facing the back garden.

I also have a little candle warmer here, so it makes for a very cozy vignette.

Here’s the lamp and candle warmer unlit.

Beautiful vintage style cream glass lamp.
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And here’s our entire haul, minus the bicycle picture. I’ll get it unwrapped a little later. It’s safer till we get the office set up.

Antique shopping haul from Mimi's on Main and Conroe Woodlands Antique Mall.
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So we have the lamp, which is already happy by it’s window. Two pairs of vintage ladies. One pair in turquoise frames, and one pair in shadowboxes. I found a pretty white ceramic bird that is now in the base of our antique curio cabinet along with the basket of faux lavender. Last, but not least, Aunt Bunny gifted us with this beautiful 2025 Heart and Home Calendar which will be in my office as well.

Vintage style southern belle framed pictures from Mimi's on Main, Conroe, TX
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Helpful Amazon Product Links:

Dried Lavender Flower Bundles

Candle Warmer with Timer

Willie and I are now official Amazon Associates. We love to share our favorite Amazon finds with you here. If you follow one of our links and purchase, we do receive a small commission from the sale. Thank you for supporting our blog!

Johanna and Willie

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Antique Shopping Haul, Vintage Finds, Vintage Style Lamp, Vintage Pictures, Victorian Ladies, Shadowbox, Candle Warmer, Amazon Finds, Amazon Associates

Another Antiquing Adventure with Willie and Aunt Bunny! Memorial Day Weekend, 2025

Antiquing and Dining at The Cheesecake Factory at Woodlands Mall and Mimi's on Main in Conroe, TX.  acrossthelake.blog

Can you tell yet that we love a fun adventure?

We definitely do, and Willie and I love living here! There is so much to see and do in the Woodlands, Conroe, Montgomery, and Willis, Texas area. It’s so fun!

When we spoke with Aunt Bunny about where she’d like to go for our next adventure (Hobby Lobby is always her first choice, but we decided to go antiquing again), she said Mimi’s on Main in Conroe. I’ve had a pair of pictures on my mind ever since our first visit there, so I was definitely happy with that choice, as was Willie. He had already made fast friends there on our first visit, and really likes the shop too.

And of course we have to have an awesome brunch before all that shopping, right? We all decided on The Cheesecake Factory at The Woodlands Mall. Willie and I have been there twice and have loved it both times, and it had been a while for Bunny, so yay, another easy decision for us all.

We all really enjoyed our brunch. The restaurant itself is quite beautiful. They have the paddleboat swans out front, the trolley passing by, it’s just a really fun and pleasant setting.

The Cheesecake Factory at Woodlands Mall.
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And we did good. We resisted the cheesecake! Maybe next time!

Next stop, old downtown Conroe to visit Mimi’s on Main.

Farmers Market window display at Mimi's on Main in Conroe, TX.
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They have such a cute little Farmer’s Market display up right now right as you walk in. The entire store is a joy to see and walk through. So much to see, but my first intention was to look for that pair of pictures I was hoping was still there.

Guess what?

They were waiting for me.

Vintage pair of pictures of old fashioned Southern Belles found at Mimi's on Main, Conroe, TX.
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They are so pretty. These are going to be such a fun addition to my office at Royalview.

A moment later I heard Willie prompting me to come and take a look at what he had found.

Blue bicycle picture found at Mimi's on Main, Conroe, TX.
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So cute! I’m loving bicycles right now for some reason. These had to come home with me as well. For my office? Yeah! These pictures will all go wonderfully with the vintage Victorian lady Shadowboxes I found at the Conroe-Woodlands Antique Mall just a while back. I don’t think I’ve shown those to you yet.

Here they are. I found these the same day I acquired the miniature tea set for our antique curio cabinet.

Vintage Victorian lady shadowboxes from the Conroe-Woodlands Antique Mall on 336.
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I’m really loving how these finds are going to make my office such a beautiful setting for me to enjoy, and I cannot wait to get started putting it all together!

But anyway, back to Mimi’s, and where’s Bunny? I always know where to find her. In the book section.

Aunt Bunny reading a Cherry Ames, Boarding House Nurse book at Mimi's on Main, Conroe, TX
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She remembered reading the Cherry Ames Nurse Books when she was younger. We always find treasures from our past here at Mimi’s.

And speaking of treasures. Look what else I found.

Beautiful vintage cream colored glass lamp found at Mimi's on Main, Conroe, Texas.
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A vintage-style cream-colored glass lamp, with a raised velvet cream-on-cream botanical-style shade. Isn’t that gorgeous? Can you believe I walked away from it? I did, but I came back later and got it! I couldn’t go home without it.

Mimi’s was just as great a treat on this visit as on our first. There are all types of styles in these individual booths. I love seeing how each vendor curates their space.

We did stop in at three other shops while we were in downtown Conroe. Willie and I really love the old downtown area. In our search for a new hometown, that was one of our main criteria. We wanted to live in or near a historic old town where the stores have been turned into cute shops and boutiques, and there are eateries and such. Conroe definitely fills that bill. While walking to Mimi’s we came across an old theatre, called Crighton Theatre.

Crighton Theatre in downtown Conroe, Texas.
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We cannot wait to explore even more.

Till next time, be kind, and follow your joy! God is truly good!

Johanna and Willie

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Downtown Conroe, Texas, Antique Shopping, Vintage Goods, Vintage Finds, Vintage Shops, The Woodlands Mall, The Cheesecake Factory, Woodlands, Texas

Revitalizing a Charming Little Vintage Church Birdhouse into Shabby Chic Home Decor

Vintage Church Birdhouse Before Pic.
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So, I found this!

I actually saw it just a little while back while visiting Yesterday’s Treasures in Willis, TX. I first saw a historical church that this little birdhouse resembles, in New Waverly, TX. It is so beautiful. It’s named St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church, New Waverly, TX
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Soon after that I saw another historic church like this in Willis, Texas. I really love the style of architecture, so when I spied this little church birdhouse, I was immediately intrigued.

I came across a similar church birdhouse elsewhere, but the price was quite a bit, and when I saw the one I eventually purchased, the price was very good, but I wasn’t sure where I could use it in my decor.

Well, I woke up Saturday morning with the little church birdhouse on my mind, and we were headed out on a shopping adventure with Aunt Bunny that day anyway, so I decided to see if it was even still available, and, thankfully, it was.

When we went to pick it up, I didn’t realize the actual condition that the house was in, as I hadn’t fully examined it the first time. I decided to go ahead and purchase it as the price was good, and I knew I would have fun fixing it up.

Vintage Church Birdhouse, Before Pic.
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This picture is after Willie cleaned it up a bit outside and removed the dirt dobber nest that was on the front facade. This birdhouse was evidently used outdoors as an actual birdhouse, and not for home decor, so it is the real deal. But this real deal needed a little TLC to get it to where we would want to display it indoors at Royalview. I do like the rustic, whitewashed look, but this was a little intense, even for me.

So, after giving it a good wiping down with damp paper towels, I got my water based white paint out once again to see if I could improve on the looks.

Vintage White Church Birdhouse After Repainting.
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The paint went on easily, and while it still has a worn look, it is much fresher now.

I added a little faux floral to give it even more charm.

Vintage white church birdhouse with fresh paint and faux florals.
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I’m very happy with the outcome. It’s amazing what a little bit of paint can do.

After completing the little birdhouse’s transformation, I thought it would be perfect as the focal point of our entertainment center’s vignette. So, yet another swap-out of decor! But that’s the fun of it!

Vintage white church birdhouse with fresh paint and faux florals displayed as home decor.
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So cute! And adds so much charm. I’m really loving it. It still has a rustic look, but not quite as shabby as before. Now I suppose it is shabby chic!

Vintage style white church birdhouse repainted with faux floral and displayed as home decor.
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I hope you’ll stay tuned for our next blog post. We enjoyed another fun dining and shopping adventure with Aunt Bunny.

Till next time, and I usually say stay safe, and I always will hope so for you, but this time I am going to sign off with a message that a little kindness can go a lot further than you can even imagine. God is truly good.

Johanna and Willie,

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Vintage Church Birdhouse, Bird House, White Church, Shabby Chic Home Decor, DIY Decor Transformation

Living Room Decor Update

Vintage style blue and white washable area rug great for French country decor from Amazon.
https://amzn.to/4k7SrUN
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Everything is still a work in progress here at Royalview, but it’s getting cozier and definitely feeling like home, more and more every day. I’m getting to where I do not want to leave. I want to stay home. Royalview is now definitely in my heart as home.

It’s been so much fun shopping for home decor, as well as doing my little crafts for things around the house. Royalview’s decor has been a “from scratch” project. Our decor theme and color scheme is completely different from our former home of 31 years. It’s been a great adventure for me to start from scratch. All new feel, all new memories.

Our entertainment center decor has been in constant evolvement. As we find new goodies, we’re always moving things around to see where they look best. The top of our entertainment center has now inherited the floral arrangement that I made to go in the dining room atop our antique curio cabinet.

Home entertainment center decor focal point.
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I put this floral arrangement together in a pedestaled white milk glass bowl I acquired at Yesterday’s Treasures Antique Mall in Willis, TX, as I did the cute black two-faced clock pictured here. Not sure yet if this will be where it (the floral arrangement) stays, but it’s here for now. Still deciding…

Above entertainment center focal point decor.  Vintage style French country home decor.
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I found the white rose garland at Michaels, and I love how it ties everything together. I intertwined the garland with a strand of battery powered little ball lights. You can see them better in the closeup photo.

And, I’ve not yet introduced you to our wall clock, Cinderella. I found her at Yesterday’s Treasures Antique Mall upon our very first visit there, and knew immediately that she had to come home with us.

Mora style wall clock. Antique Mall find.
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Cinderella is a Mora style wall clock painted in white and gray. I did not give her a makeover. This is the way I found her and loved the look. She was actually the inspiration for the color that I painted Beauty (the tall candlestick holder). We have very high walls, so she goes perfectly, with her very tall stature.

I found a similar clock in style and color on Amazon for any who may be loving this style as much as I do. It’s a Howard Miller Lebanon II Wall Clock in Antique Gray. (I will be linking more similar Amazon finds here for all of you, for items I have acquired elsewhere that may be 1 of a kind as far as where I’ve found them, as I do receive requests from folks wanting to find similar items for themselves.)

And, for the promised look at the little house clock that I found at Hobby Lobby and repainted, Here it is:

Entertainment center decor.  French country home style.  After photo of house style clock.
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Willie also installed new clock works and hands. Here’s the before picture:

Before picture of house style clock.
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Such a fun and easy little makeover project, but it did make a big difference. I really like this little clock. It gives me birdhouse vibes.

And we cannot forget Willie’s favorite living room decor item, our Samsung 55-Inch Smart TV.

Samsung 55 Inch HDR Smart TV from Amazon.  They will deliver and set it up for you.
https://amzn.to/3FnNZCa
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We both really do enjoy it. It’s very nice to see the action on the screen so well, and we love that we can watch our DVD’s very easily without having to switch back and forth. The DVD choice is located on the menu with all the other apps. This Amazon purchase was so fabulous also because they brought it here and set it up for us. That was very helpful.

We’ll be off on another antiquing spree with Aunt Bunny, coming up very soon. We’ll see what other treasures are to be found. My sights are now focused more on decor for my office and for our bathrooms. I’m so excited my new desk has arrived (from Amazon, of course). Willie is working to get that all put together as well as a storage cabinet for our utility room. There’s always some type of project going on over here, and we’re loving it!

Till next time, stay safe, and follow your joy! God is truly good!

Johanna and Willie

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VIPBED 8×10 Vintage Style Blue and White Area Rug (Picture 1), from Amazon

Home Decor, French Country, Lake House, Decor, Amazon Finds, Amazon Associates, Antique Mall Finds, Shopping, Willis, Conroe, Texas

Making Fragrant Dried Lavender Sachets and Bouquet

Dried Lavender Floral Arrangement and Sachets.
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Can you smell the lavender in the air here at Royalview today? It’s so lovely.

And while it smells, and also looks very lovely, it is going to serve a good purpose in our home living environment.

I encountered a little scorpion hiding in a hand towel the other day. That gave Willie and I both a bit of a scare, and we also inherited spiders that live here on the property, so I began looking into natural ways to sway them away from wanting to live with us in our home. Lavender came up on both counts (for scorpions and spiders) when I did a Google search, and a knowledgeable plant specialist also told me that lavender, as well as fresh mint, and thyme, all work.

I ordered pre-made lavender sachets just a little while back, but they did not seem to be very fragrant, so I decided to search for dried lavender that may be better sealed, and attempt to make my own sachets. I searched lavender farms here in Texas, and also searched my favorite go-to, Amazon. I succeeded in finding a vacuum sealed bag of dried lavender on Amazon, as well as some really nice bundles of dried lavender flowers.

Bundles of dried lavender flowers from Amazon.  https://amzn.to/43sl7AZ
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Vacuum sealed dried lavender from Amazon. https://amzn.to/43CdMzO
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I also found some really cute burlap sachet bags with heart shapes on them which I thought were really pretty, and would be great for putting in dresser drawers, cabinets, and for display as well.

Burlap sachet bags with cute heart designs from Amazon.  https://amzn.to/4k2Clfd
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I was very excited when everything arrived. My Aunt Bunny gifted me a beautiful clear glass vase, which is perfect for my dried lavender bouquet.

Items for making dried lavender sachets and floral arrangement.
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First things first, opening the vacuum sealed bag of lavender. How would I contain all that, once it’s opened? Luckily, I remembered bringing a metal tub with us when we moved. That will be the perfect size to pour all the lavender into.

Cutting open a vacuum sealed bag of dried lavender.
https://amzn.to/4k5J87Z
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Opening a vacuum sealed bag of dried lavender flowers.
https://amzn.to/4k5J87Z
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Once the bag was opened and the lavender poured into the metal tub, it was time to start spooning it into the little sachet bags. And the aroma… So beautiful! So fragrant! I love it!

Spooning dried lavender flowers into burlap sachet bags.
https://amzn.to/4k5J87Z
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In the description of this vacuum sealed bag of dried lavender flowers, the seller suggests gently crushing the dried flowers to release even more fragrance, so as I spooned the lavender into the bags, I would then just gently smash the flowers in the bag. I could smell the fragrance even more after doing this. I spooned approximately 3-4 teaspoons into each bag.

Set of 20 burlap sachet bags with cute heart shapes from Amazon.
https://amzn.to/4koLtuj
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Aren’t these little burlap bags just the cutest? I love that the set came in 2 different tones. 10 in white, and 10 in beige, and they have the little light brown burlap hearts on each. So perfect for farmhouse decor.

Next up, a dried lavender flower bouquet.

This was so simple to do. At first I thought that I would be using both dried lavender flower bundles, but it turned out that 1 bundle was plenty.

Dried lavender flower bouquet from Amazon.
https://amzn.to/43CfNfs
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I put in a few faux florals with the dried lavender, and added blue satin ribbon (that I had purchased from Amazon previously for another project).

Blue satin ribbon from Amazon.
https://amzn.to/43jSUfs
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It’s so simple, yet elegant.

I was wondering where I may want to put my new lavender arrangement, and Willie suggested atop the curio cabinet in our dining room. I already had a floral arrangement there, but you know, he may be right. I think it looks really pretty, and the florals fit into the picture frame above the cabinet very well.

Dried lavender flower bouquet.  Dried lavender from Amazon.
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Dried lavender bouquet made with dried lavender flower bundle from Amazon. 
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I’m very happy with how everything turned out. The amount of dried lavender that I purchased (7 oz) in the vacuum sealed bag was perfect to fill all 20 (3×5) sachet bags.

20 burlap sachet bags with cute heart designs filled with dried lavender and tied with a white frayed chiffon ribbon from Amazon.
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I tied a few of the bags with a white frayed chiffon ribbon that I also purchased from Amazon. So cute!

Now I can place these cute little sachets all around, filling Royalview with their beautiful fragrance, and hopefully encouraging our little visitors to depart peacefully.

I think I’ll do another batch as well so I can put them in all the closets and cabinets in every room. So fun and easy to do.

Well, I hope you enjoyed visiting with me as I made my dried lavender crafts, and hope this inspires you to do your favorite crafts as well.

Till next time, stay safe, and follow your joy. God is truly good!

Johanna and Willie

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Amazon Home, Amazon Affiliates, Homemade Dried Lavender Flower Sachets, Burlap Lavender Sachets, Dried Lavender Bouquet Arrangement in Vase, Lavender for Spiders and Scorpions

DIY Painting Projects: Dining Room Curio Cabinet Decor

Antique hand made mahogany curio cabinet.
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It’s been a lot of fun shopping and deciding what items to put on and in our antique curio cabinet handmade by Willie’s Father. I definitely knew that we needed bright items to contrast the dark mahogany wood. I also wanted to go with fun and whimsical items.

A few of the recently added items are the cute little bicycle clock, the miniature table and chair set, and the wicker basket.

Each of these items needed a little TLC to get them ready for display.

The first to get their makeover was the little bicycle clock. We found this at Hobby Lobby on the Clearance aisle. It’s so awesome. I told Willie that I really wanted a white bicycle to go in our cabinet, so when I spotted this bicycle, I was overjoyed.

As you can see, it was originally black metal, and the clock had no hands. I saw this as a fun project for us, and I love that it is an old fashioned style bicycle. This was a happy surprise find.

Black cast iron bicycle clock before picture.
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With just a quick touch-up of white paint on the metal and wooden parts, the only thing left to do was to replace the clock-works. We found clock workings sets at Michaels for both this bicycle clock and a little house clock project. I’ll show you the little house on a later post.

Bicycle clock painted white.
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Willie made quick and easy work of replacing the clock works, and there she is, so pretty and now also working. I cannot remember exactly what we paid for this clock, but I think it was less than $5.00, because it didn’t work, so yay!

Completed bicycle clock makeover and clock replacement, after picture.
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Next up are the miniature dining room table and chairs and wicker basket, ready for their makeovers.

Paint project items:  miniature table and chair set and wicker basket.
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We got the miniature wooden table and chairs set at New Waverly Antiques and Collectibles, and the wicker basket was brought with us from our former home.

I dreamt about the wicker basket painted white with lavender flowers inside, like someone had been out picking them. So, that’s what I set out to accomplish.

Wicker basket being painted white.
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Again, very easy to transform. I used a water based paint and did not put a lot on my brush. Just a light white washing.

Wicker basket painted white.
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I did not paint the inside, since I plan to fill it with faux lavender, which I picked up at Rosey Opals, in New Waverly, TX.

Faux lavender stems with frayed white satin ribbon tied in bows.
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I also purchased some frayed white satin ribbon, and a really pretty blue silk ribbon from Amazon. Here are our Associate links for these: White Silk Satin Ribbon 1.5 inch, Dusty Blue Satin Ribbon 3 inch.

Wicker basket painted white with dusty blue satin ribbon to be tied.
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I love the color and texture of these ribbons. So beautiful.

And our finished basket with lavender project:

White washed wicker basket filled with faux lavender and tied with a dusty blue satin ribbon bow.
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I’m very happy with the way it turned out.

And now we get to the little miniature table and chairs. I found these at New Waverly Antiques and Collectibles. I posted about our fun antique shopping day in New Waverly in an earlier post. You can find it here.

My new phrase currently seems to be, “I can paint it white.”, when I find something I love that isn’t quite the right aesthetic for Royalview’s decor. I like being able to find things that we both love, and transforming them. It’s so much fun, and makes for great memory making.

Painting a miniature dining table white.
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Painting a wooden miniature table and chairs set.
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For this set, I added a touch of blue paint to give the pieces a little farmhouse charm.

Miniature wooden table and chair set finished paint project in whitewash and blue with miniature vase and flowers.
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Isn’t that little vase with flowers the sweetest? But…. I also found a miniature tea set while shopping at the Conroe Woodlands Antique Mall, and I couldn’t resist. It was a difficult choice, but I decided to go with the tea set on the table.

And here it is in it’s new spot in the curio cabinet.

Miniature wooden table and chairs set with miniature tea set on the table.
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I completed the look with a little doily that I found at New Waverly Antiques and Collectibles.

The basket found it’s new home on the very bottom of the curio cabinet.

White washed wicker basket filled with faux lavender inside an antique mahogany curio cabinet.
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We’re making great progress!

Mahogany antique hand made curio cabinet.
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We just need to find some goodies for the very top. I’m thinking remote controlled candles, to bring in some light, and a couple more items for the side (angled) shelves on the bottom.

It’s all coming together a lot quicker than I thought it may, and I’m really loving the juxtaposition of the formalness and darkness of the cabinet, with the playfulness and lightness of the curated items.

Till next time, stay safe and follow your joy. God is truly good!

Johanna and Willie

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DIY Home Decor Projects, Miniature Furniture Makeover, Whitewashing Projects, Paint Projects, French Country House Inspired Decorations, Whimsical Decor, Lakehouse Decor, Conroe, Texas

DIY Home Decor Paint Project: Tall Wooden Candlestick Holder Makeover (Beauty)

Before and after photo of repainted makeover: Tall wooden candlestick holder from burgandy to white. 
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Updated Makeover from Burgundy to White

This is a project I had both been looking forward to, as well as being a bit shy to begin. Let me introduce you to Beauty, as we affectionately call her. Beauty has been with us for 20 years now. She was hand-turned on a lathe by Willie, and hand painted by me when we were working together as Studio 3B, creating wooden candlestick holders and candles.

Now that we’ve moved to Royalview and changed our decor, her burgundy and gold colors no longer fit in aesthetically, but I knew I’d never let her go, so she was slated for a complete transformation.

Tall wooden candlestick holder before paint makeover.
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To begin, I used a soft grit sandpaper to remove the varnish. I chose not to completely sand her down (back to original wood), but rather use the deep burgundy as an undertone so she would have an aged look after completion. In other words, I was not planning a “pristine” white look.

Wooden candlestick holder being painted.  First coat of white paint.
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This was the scary part. Putting on the first coat of white, and covering up her original burgundy. I used a water based paint (same as my previous project).

Here’s her first coat of white. The burgundy still shows through, but she’ll get a second coat.

DIY Paint Project:  Tall wooden candlestick holder transformation from burgundy to white.  First coat of white.
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Now that she’d had her second coat of white paint, I knew that I wanted contrast in all her gorgeous nooks and crannies. I opted for gray. I considered silver or blue, but I wanted Beauty to have an elegant, yet understated, look this time.

DIY paint project:  Wooden candlestick holder
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Closeup pic, paint project wooden candlestick holder makeover.
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Closeup wooden candlestick holder base.  Paint project makeover.
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Beauty’s new look.

After picture, completed paint redo makeover project for tall wooden candlestick holder.
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It really just took patience and tweeking to achieve the look I wanted with the right balance of rustic, but yet still keeping her elegant.

And here she is now in her corner spot. I put a little plant on top. She’s a candleholder, but that looks really pretty! We’ll see what I end up getting for her topper, but for now, I’m liking it!

Repainted candlestick holder.  Now in white and gray.  After photo.
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These are the fun little projects that really make it feel like home here at Royalview. Our own personal touches, and items that we brought with us, that can still be incorporated into our new environment.

Till next time, stay safe, and follow your joy!

Johanna and Willie

acrossthelake.blog

DIY Home Decor Paint Project, Tall Wooden Candlestick Holder, Makeover, Before and After Transformation

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