Pretty flowers! I do the same thing with beads but I strip old jewelry. Although I have been known to do belts too. Be sure to post pictures of your finished projects. I bet the flowers would make cool solar lights. I love those little vases too. Bob and I went to a thrift store today. Well we went there yesterday too. I just bought some books yesterday and Bob got some hardware for cabinets (knobs and hinges). I saw a dresser I liked and couldn't decide if I wanted it or not. When we were checking out, we found out that all furniture, books, glassware, etc. would be half off today! So we had to go back. So now you know what I do on my vacation days! lol!

I love how the posters on the bed look so much more graceful in white than they did in the mahogany. I understand the dedication to your project because I, too, would fly to the moon for my little granddaughter! I also like the American Girl line-up. Great job. Dee

Lilym there was a set of black dishes up on freecycle here. I emailed and asked for them, but haven't heard back. I didn't tell them I wanted to break them!!LOL I doubt they'd understand!! Maria

Carol.. thanks SO much! I had forgotten all about the idea of an Armoire to store the homeschool stuff in. I actually Had considered that but then I have Totally forgot about that LOL. Plus I was in a panic to get organized for our next school quarter. I may have to revisit that idea. I mean then I could have Function and still have the FC look I want. As far as hubby's workstation. You know it is not even HIS workstation. He has a whole other room with his desk/office in it. This one is an extra computer with printer. I do use it for our schooling but it could be moved. If I put seating on one side of fireplace I could put the school armoire on the other. I was thinking shabby wood, with wood shelves. perhaps with the curtains showing behind the chicken wire. along those lines. One concern I had about having a large tall armoire flanking the fireplace is that it would compete in size with the fireplace but eh.. gotta do what you gotta do. I am thinking if I went that way put it on the Left side? the seating on the right? I NEED an overstuffed chair big enough for Both my son and I to sit in side by side to Read. we read together a lot during the day. If I chose a chair that large, then there wouldn't be room for two. However I could still go with 2 smaller chairs on one of the sides and put the Overstuffed chair in the Living room, Or a loveseat. The ones I have now (sofa , love) are what we read together on now, but they are SO Uncomfortable! I love the idea of doing the legs in white. I LOVE white anyways. I love the colors WHITE, Yellow, and Blue, Ochre, and Yellow (provence colors) and touch of Red LOL. I also love white ruffles, white skirtings, thus the cottage shabby flair. But overall I want French Country, not shabby LOL. My new countertops are white 4X4 tiles on the diagonal so the white will tie in. The chandelier has to stay at least for a long while. I HAD to choose something ONLY from home depot because we were purchasing on my husbands home depot card that his boss opened that account for us. It's not my fault sigh. I don't know if I even have the leftover chain for it anymore. My handman said "It's too late it can't go any lower now" Okay not thinking about that now, I will get mad grr So LITERALLY there was like One choice that had the dark finish (I wanted dark finish to match existing hardware) and that would remotely work. I measured exactly the height from the table when hanging that thing but I agree it could be lower. It *measures* what they say it should be in distance though. At least it has curvy lines LOL. It's possible I could investigate new globes but after everything else and after I have either A. Liquored up my husband OR B. Used my feminine wiles on him (i.e. Oldest Trick in the Book that makes him forget how many chandeliers have been bought) C. Both of the above I have some wonderful fabric I could sew for a tablecloth (I will take your suggestion and only cover Part of the table) Hadn't thought of that. It wouldn't be enough fabric to make pads. But it doesn't have to match. Maybe ticking stripe for the pads. Never mind on second thought. It would be a nightmare lining up the stripes. I LOVE LOVE the idea of a long basket under the hutch. Ooooh I could put linens or whatever! Any idea that gives function and storage I am all for! Even copper pots and pans (usually hung) but it could work! I have no real hanging space so that is one idea. thanks again for taking the time to respond. You have set my creative juices flowing with the basket idea LOL loretta