I am on a Quest.....

<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For brightness, not necessarily whiteness. Let me explain.  With a house of more windows then I care to clean and more then the number of football players on a team , my core kitchen is still not very bright. Sounds crazy, but it's true. Windows are situated across the room and not in this immediate area. You can see the entire kitchen <a href="http://keswickcountry.blogspot.com/2012/05/i-have-secret.html">here.</a> </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqhwdqcYUp0GtM7OXhrJh9Wth7qqdomxg5Asx733QuNThBQv_EssRBL7dC1M-OGePuKrFLGKwEMAoQLYdv_7dP7n_VJN5AH22bf-6fTaBB1y5ePvIyI-Y4TGYMunqFtErzJpWEaiLUMAu/s1600/IMG_7115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqhwdqcYUp0GtM7OXhrJh9Wth7qqdomxg5Asx733QuNThBQv_EssRBL7dC1M-OGePuKrFLGKwEMAoQLYdv_7dP7n_VJN5AH22bf-6fTaBB1y5ePvIyI-Y4TGYMunqFtErzJpWEaiLUMAu/s640/IMG_7115.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">So my quest began......</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">About 2 years ago when I changed  my butlers pantry to a creamy distressed color.<i> FYI-  this piece use to be black.</i></span><br /><div><div class="separator" id="ssnoshadow" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvloupMJGee6OvVZV6I5Ih1bQS6QHZ1hM2TGDCO3V2rH49k7l_TNCpwr4qwA4pazdz7valRvxbQNnPpLOFN2bwp_2I6Fu1hyphenhyphenlbb6WWxylLrNTnQszqh8DG8egrM69BJvvN03xS-41lUDQ/s1600/IMG_7219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvloupMJGee6OvVZV6I5Ih1bQS6QHZ1hM2TGDCO3V2rH49k7l_TNCpwr4qwA4pazdz7valRvxbQNnPpLOFN2bwp_2I6Fu1hyphenhyphenlbb6WWxylLrNTnQszqh8DG8egrM69BJvvN03xS-41lUDQ/s640/IMG_7219.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="368" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Over the course of 10 years, four different changes to the wall color in my Breakfast and kitchen area .  <i>FYI- the previous colors have been school house red, a gold, a green color and now the current color called Polished Pearl.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWp2WWL-v9KmpUvhKAaa7XFVlfTnHpI3lBhPOBW4u_L3Kvm9mCZM_LUWPNhOQlzuK2jJPiTKtlQdMbKV1y9hYW-opwB_7tKsreYXOVoPsTD4WfCqWWwypMMeuVVj5H-Mf2ghuSsm8wHmYf/s1600/IMG_6240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWp2WWL-v9KmpUvhKAaa7XFVlfTnHpI3lBhPOBW4u_L3Kvm9mCZM_LUWPNhOQlzuK2jJPiTKtlQdMbKV1y9hYW-opwB_7tKsreYXOVoPsTD4WfCqWWwypMMeuVVj5H-Mf2ghuSsm8wHmYf/s640/IMG_6240.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Changing the mantle color to Old White</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XGFPe_WYMpUZdua7YaUqMx_mf52GjsLAGYgZYGkk7fIl3waa7SrPPNy0y4085bVdeYM33YLN8DTkQ5J8rpBzJ9PJTQqGS3EIzbiKiBuwE_k5eZtyl32CD_9sxT0LQzGk4Zh1Py3wpYlg/s1600/IMG_5777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XGFPe_WYMpUZdua7YaUqMx_mf52GjsLAGYgZYGkk7fIl3waa7SrPPNy0y4085bVdeYM33YLN8DTkQ5J8rpBzJ9PJTQqGS3EIzbiKiBuwE_k5eZtyl32CD_9sxT0LQzGk4Zh1Py3wpYlg/s640/IMG_5777.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">and the built-in cabinetry</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfyrSunrLHodOjylvILKCm5YPbbso5NaevLSKCHWYtkT4Ei2-wfoqZk3vkZzYeEeT7l5A5fUWzfMEQ6m0xAuSC90VrgpOTcZqQOa3a-p5CFCVHffDSr5HTmnYo-8u8yhKYbo_X42w7TR5/s1600/IMG_6371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfyrSunrLHodOjylvILKCm5YPbbso5NaevLSKCHWYtkT4Ei2-wfoqZk3vkZzYeEeT7l5A5fUWzfMEQ6m0xAuSC90VrgpOTcZqQOa3a-p5CFCVHffDSr5HTmnYo-8u8yhKYbo_X42w7TR5/s640/IMG_6371.JPG" width="426" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The latest in my quest for brightness was painting the mantle above the cook top so that both mantles shared the same color scheme.  I may decide to paint the entire cook top cabinet so that it gives it a more cohesive look.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1-EAkLHErh5i7RqDRZ2ytG9KKvYTrN6NtwZI-AjfaIxS3XiVc6ztTd6B6bmHUtArzJaPvI1MEozeFxa4mYkToDb6M8OARf-x4WVolT45zbysVwgFauMWXtZwlrvCNVE8XNi5AtADkmxX/s1600/IMG_6134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1-EAkLHErh5i7RqDRZ2ytG9KKvYTrN6NtwZI-AjfaIxS3XiVc6ztTd6B6bmHUtArzJaPvI1MEozeFxa4mYkToDb6M8OARf-x4WVolT45zbysVwgFauMWXtZwlrvCNVE8XNi5AtADkmxX/s640/IMG_6134.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So what else is next you ask in my master plan of changes.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Well, because I don't have any interest in painting all of the cabinets in my kitchen and I like the combination of painted and wood cabinetry, I will paint the island. At this point I have not decided exactly what color I will use, but it will be light and not white. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZXiFOUlhIP41nYo0Vl96mAJ1FCzwlTpvFoa3tyiF_rA390j2dktMtqmU1xx9JhIYWLK7vhxp_SyLYOWbSxpRX56dTSLaqyIuWLg8J86QC81JCwCOKYJr-XRLr6BXypsXnJ9_JEeet_21/s1600/IMG_6279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZXiFOUlhIP41nYo0Vl96mAJ1FCzwlTpvFoa3tyiF_rA390j2dktMtqmU1xx9JhIYWLK7vhxp_SyLYOWbSxpRX56dTSLaqyIuWLg8J86QC81JCwCOKYJr-XRLr6BXypsXnJ9_JEeet_21/s640/IMG_6279.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I am also going to replace the back splash with a creamy white subway tile.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6w9_U-PhwE3m6CPt30qawUv87SWmfsAhdYaXidCVMFWky-uodH3XO78pnKat1N8sMlFD3Hw7Zzd9CmrYGFwSJzU4MuskThPXN3S7Y4lFI192m7tbJXh5aYKTF8yBGJajIoaC-C5swiDSm/s1600/IMG_6261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6w9_U-PhwE3m6CPt30qawUv87SWmfsAhdYaXidCVMFWky-uodH3XO78pnKat1N8sMlFD3Hw7Zzd9CmrYGFwSJzU4MuskThPXN3S7Y4lFI192m7tbJXh5aYKTF8yBGJajIoaC-C5swiDSm/s640/IMG_6261.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> I think incorporating these minor changes will help to achieve the brightness that I want in the kitchen, and even after all of the changes are completed one thing will remain the same- I still don't like to cook but at least it will be brighter!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Have you been on any quest's lately?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOZ1ENCVZlZHpaU9SVnZ4gX3G6m0dXyySSC9iAdnqUPw5jebkoUJg8lCT9-w9wABjOguTYNIlPZir03CMtj1sHdBxokyZqGB7hgxaluQrtKi3xmWSIcx0YCOwDNPZ7D4pqnoA5y_m4n8D/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOZ1ENCVZlZHpaU9SVnZ4gX3G6m0dXyySSC9iAdnqUPw5jebkoUJg8lCT9-w9wABjOguTYNIlPZir03CMtj1sHdBxokyZqGB7hgxaluQrtKi3xmWSIcx0YCOwDNPZ7D4pqnoA5y_m4n8D/s1600/signature.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Grateful for~</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A husband who does!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>PS- you can follow along on my quest <a href="http://keswickcountry.blogspot.com/2012/10/painting-when-heights-are-not-option.html">here</a>, <a href="http://keswickcountry.blogspot.com/2012/10/my-lunch-hour-makeover.html">here</a>, <a href="http://keswickcountry.blogspot.com/2013/02/when-my-paint-brush-takes-me-to-new.html">here</a> and <a href="http://keswickcountry.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-rest-of-story-of-breakfast-area.html">here</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><center></center></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Want Top This Top That delivered directly to your inbox?</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6a6969; line-height: 20px; padding: 13px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It’s easy!  Just enter your e-mail address.</span></div><br /><div><form action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=TopThisTopThat', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 3px; text-align: center;" target="popupwindow">Enter your email address:<br /><input name="email" style="width: 140px;" type="text" /><br /><input name="uri" type="hidden" value="TopThisTopThat" /><input name="loc" type="hidden" value="en_US" /><input type="submit" value="Subscribe" /><br />Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></form><br /></div>

I am on a Quest.....

For brightness, not necessarily whiteness. Let me explain.  With a house of more windows then I care to clean and more then the number of fo...

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The Rest of the Story of the Breakfast Area

<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">This poor room has been through a lot... I actually felt sorry for it.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">A lot of paint changes, color changes, rug changes, accessory changes and furniture changes.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">All for good reason though....see this poor room had a case of mistaken identity. </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tvmaDxSIupoljC0ItE_L_r6sEjcSfm16WvIx5DvIqSvhwrN-3QphuLlDoVz9rNU8qBYhDn8FGWdUNUMA4mkEH1lNcdhbDL-txl1Q6woXRsyNggH0lMacnqfluciK7OWXiur5X5B5chRu/s1600/IMG_6388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tvmaDxSIupoljC0ItE_L_r6sEjcSfm16WvIx5DvIqSvhwrN-3QphuLlDoVz9rNU8qBYhDn8FGWdUNUMA4mkEH1lNcdhbDL-txl1Q6woXRsyNggH0lMacnqfluciK7OWXiur5X5B5chRu/s640/IMG_6388.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><center><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><a data-pin-config="none" data-pin-do="buttonPin" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftopthistopthat.blogspot.com%2F2013%2F02%2Fthe-rest-of-story-of-breakfast-area.html&media=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-3Oq5VrEOuv4%2FURJAdPoYSbI%2FAAAAAAAAaLA%2FH7VBuY-NlHQ%2Fs1600%2FIMG_6388.JPG%22%20imageanchor%3D%221%22%20style%3D%22margin-left%3A%201em%3B%20margin-right%3A%201em%3B%22%3E%3Cimg%20border%3D%220%22%20height%3D%22640%22%20src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-3Oq5VrEOuv4%2FURJAdPoYSbI%2FAAAAAAAAaLA%2FH7VBuY-NlHQ%2Fs640%2FIMG_6388.JPG%22%20width%3D%22426%22&description=Breakfast%20Area%20Before%20and%20After%20at%20Top%20This%20Top%20That"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pin_it_button.png" /></a><br /></span></center><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">When we first built our home, this room was designed as our Family Room. It was right off the kitchen, central to the house and has a nice big fireplace to cozy up on the couch. It completely made sense to us and made us comfortable on that couch in front of the fire, over the course of 7 years in the house. </span><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5F7lIBfEqmtaPGxTsUOkW3BcHX7x0Olzljgp6tBwWiFEB6ic8Hn5IN9OWrV0-LVlZ5osqY8nvunDaKz0NfAdqXB1GRj_6cXbGN4MUDYT8kejD0Eq7118BjToVVqOMBLQCiICG5X7Yi5o/s1600/brendas+visit+to+georgia+066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5F7lIBfEqmtaPGxTsUOkW3BcHX7x0Olzljgp6tBwWiFEB6ic8Hn5IN9OWrV0-LVlZ5osqY8nvunDaKz0NfAdqXB1GRj_6cXbGN4MUDYT8kejD0Eq7118BjToVVqOMBLQCiICG5X7Yi5o/s640/brendas+visit+to+georgia+066.JPG" width="424" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And then something happened as we entered into our 8th year. It occurred to us that maybe the room was a design blunder, that maybe it would be better served in the room that was originally designed as our sunroom. <i>You can read about that <a href="http://keswickcountry.blogspot.com/2013/01/my-latest-family-room-episode.html"><b>here</b></a>.  </i>So we began the transition of creating what once was our family room into an extension of our kitchen, which is now our breakfast area.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCXFHuUPo0ryo1KtSmhJh53_BnWLIRJb16K_VWGM7rcOnG8nhJHvdAgsS2qeILz61d9Bh8QxrCnCQ1aFDn_zmcXN7FPBbAiG1WqbYzkWVmJKjin3lYBfoEFajX-sfICSUp1FqB92DQ4_P/s1600/IMG_6384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCXFHuUPo0ryo1KtSmhJh53_BnWLIRJb16K_VWGM7rcOnG8nhJHvdAgsS2qeILz61d9Bh8QxrCnCQ1aFDn_zmcXN7FPBbAiG1WqbYzkWVmJKjin3lYBfoEFajX-sfICSUp1FqB92DQ4_P/s640/IMG_6384.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">During the last few years I have tried to make a space that really wasn't intended to be a kitchen seem like part of the kitchen. Truthfully it wasn't easy. Color was a huge challenge and after four  changes (<a href="http://keswickcountry.blogspot.com/2012/10/painting-when-heights-are-not-option.html"><i><b>here</b></i></a>) I am confident that this color is meant to be in this space. This was the space with the previous color.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8l7N7We1Qgt394om8RPJCzMNTSKxIu8GQNDjiyzVjMD1GLKgvTL7VFxBLSPfmdjrdn6Amkv71z-8nF_a9CbNkE5KheEKS_oGANpq7HrQi4zoZj8qZnf4PzM5YcXZ6YmCYjfgE5fO7fgzk/s1600/IMG_9914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8l7N7We1Qgt394om8RPJCzMNTSKxIu8GQNDjiyzVjMD1GLKgvTL7VFxBLSPfmdjrdn6Amkv71z-8nF_a9CbNkE5KheEKS_oGANpq7HrQi4zoZj8qZnf4PzM5YcXZ6YmCYjfgE5fO7fgzk/s640/IMG_9914.JPG" width="426" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Next it was time for the mantle (</span><a href="http://keswickcountry.blogspot.com/2012/10/my-lunch-hour-makeover.html" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>here</b></i></a><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">) and built-in cabinets (</span><a href="http://keswickcountry.blogspot.com/2013/02/when-my-paint-brush-takes-me-to-new.html" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>here</b></i></a><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">) to get freshened up with a lighter color as well. The contrast between the wood floors, ceiling beams and the lighter cabinetry just works in this space.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfyrSunrLHodOjylvILKCm5YPbbso5NaevLSKCHWYtkT4Ei2-wfoqZk3vkZzYeEeT7l5A5fUWzfMEQ6m0xAuSC90VrgpOTcZqQOa3a-p5CFCVHffDSr5HTmnYo-8u8yhKYbo_X42w7TR5/s1600/IMG_6371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfyrSunrLHodOjylvILKCm5YPbbso5NaevLSKCHWYtkT4Ei2-wfoqZk3vkZzYeEeT7l5A5fUWzfMEQ6m0xAuSC90VrgpOTcZqQOa3a-p5CFCVHffDSr5HTmnYo-8u8yhKYbo_X42w7TR5/s640/IMG_6371.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This is the view looking into the kitchen. I am working on a few other "minor" changes that will help to create more brightness in that area. You can read more about my "quest" for brightness not necessarily whiteness <a href="http://keswickcountry.blogspot.com/2013/02/i-am-on-quest.html">here</a>.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzO_yR_eXeFYzr05D1M9D5HC5CNjnrSWTXn_eFvRzKxIoWY8A3qsjOE41SYh3iHf9J_RK743mTGySxN7Olnm5pB1BubDraln3LwGyEPX39P1_SvEyOjN-2lKiphq3s0maRF8dnU821g-b7/s1600/IMG_5923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzO_yR_eXeFYzr05D1M9D5HC5CNjnrSWTXn_eFvRzKxIoWY8A3qsjOE41SYh3iHf9J_RK743mTGySxN7Olnm5pB1BubDraln3LwGyEPX39P1_SvEyOjN-2lKiphq3s0maRF8dnU821g-b7/s640/IMG_5923.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Looking back from where we started, I am beginning to think that this blunder wasn't so bad after all.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzB4whyFpD_XTjTu2FCJj0yhL-rtHG5FPViBpKTPL-HOb_ufKxFNwOaN895Wl45Jl1JnD2mjLTdhSCECFRlMw9nzfpVnEv6NNZBNUaVKJtRx-p24r_v42ZvhwpQoDpIjScGW9hmJKY6gW/s1600/Kitchen2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzB4whyFpD_XTjTu2FCJj0yhL-rtHG5FPViBpKTPL-HOb_ufKxFNwOaN895Wl45Jl1JnD2mjLTdhSCECFRlMw9nzfpVnEv6NNZBNUaVKJtRx-p24r_v42ZvhwpQoDpIjScGW9hmJKY6gW/s640/Kitchen2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSC5IdJc1Up3MgTwuEbjmAtZ4-LxwDxLN1Y55GkHd04Xgqivkb2C6fPkQT8viObf2Yj2zYiP35XMASAeXm_5PZ4-cKCOBDdhD46KLBvziTi1fQVRYBaNpwwWTBNdIwcenrIB-xVchYn7m6/s1600/kitchen+updates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSC5IdJc1Up3MgTwuEbjmAtZ4-LxwDxLN1Y55GkHd04Xgqivkb2C6fPkQT8viObf2Yj2zYiP35XMASAeXm_5PZ4-cKCOBDdhD46KLBvziTi1fQVRYBaNpwwWTBNdIwcenrIB-xVchYn7m6/s640/kitchen+updates.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> In fact if blunders can look and act this good, maybe we can hang out and do things more often.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOZ1ENCVZlZHpaU9SVnZ4gX3G6m0dXyySSC9iAdnqUPw5jebkoUJg8lCT9-w9wABjOguTYNIlPZir03CMtj1sHdBxokyZqGB7hgxaluQrtKi3xmWSIcx0YCOwDNPZ7D4pqnoA5y_m4n8D/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOZ1ENCVZlZHpaU9SVnZ4gX3G6m0dXyySSC9iAdnqUPw5jebkoUJg8lCT9-w9wABjOguTYNIlPZir03CMtj1sHdBxokyZqGB7hgxaluQrtKi3xmWSIcx0YCOwDNPZ7D4pqnoA5y_m4n8D/s1600/signature.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Grateful for~</span></div><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> </span> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A husband that just goes with the flow with changes like this. As long as he has a chair and a remote he doesn't care where the family room is!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Sharing at~</i> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><a href="http://www.betweennapsontheporch.net/">Between Naps on the Porch</a></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/tuesdays-treasures-124/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tuesdays-treasures-124"><i>My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia</i></a></span><br /><a href="http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/"><i>Savvy Southern Style</i></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.whisperwoodcottage.com/2013/02/2013-1st-project-of-year-party-win.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOzQc7dSvH0GsBbqJexE7SiM43Lempz58JqWr1Wsj-7yWR2VVLoNyGBpXSUZMu96D_Kfe2SOsihJ8nJNdjYBVSpyd0Ha_f_r8gZzKEPQkKLU41BBIWxrY2RAD-1uY8TbjpkyiAX4MiwpQ/s200/1st-project-party-2013.png" width="120" /></a></div><br /><center></center></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Want Top This Top That delivered directly to your inbox?</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6a6969; line-height: 20px; padding: 13px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It’s easy!  Just enter your e-mail address.</span></div><br /><div><form action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=TopThisTopThat', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 3px; text-align: center;" target="popupwindow">Enter your email address:<br /><input name="email" style="width: 140px;" type="text" /><br /><input name="uri" type="hidden" value="TopThisTopThat" /><input name="loc" type="hidden" value="en_US" /><input type="submit" value="Subscribe" /><br />Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></form></div><script src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><br />

The Rest of the Story of the Breakfast Area

This poor room has been through a lot... I actually felt sorry for it. A lot of paint changes, color changes, rug changes, accessory changes...

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When My Paint Brush Takes Me To A New Level

<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Ever since my latest paint project<a href="http://keswickcountry.blogspot.com/http://keswickcountry.blogspot.com/2013/01/taking-risk-and-painting-my-console.html2013/01/taking-risk-and-painting-my-console.html"> here </a> my confidence with my paint brush is soaring to try new things, to be bold, to be daring, to go places I have never been before.</span><br /><div class="separator" id="ssnoshadow" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfyrSunrLHodOjylvILKCm5YPbbso5NaevLSKCHWYtkT4Ei2-wfoqZk3vkZzYeEeT7l5A5fUWzfMEQ6m0xAuSC90VrgpOTcZqQOa3a-p5CFCVHffDSr5HTmnYo-8u8yhKYbo_X42w7TR5/s1600/IMG_6371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfyrSunrLHodOjylvILKCm5YPbbso5NaevLSKCHWYtkT4Ei2-wfoqZk3vkZzYeEeT7l5A5fUWzfMEQ6m0xAuSC90VrgpOTcZqQOa3a-p5CFCVHffDSr5HTmnYo-8u8yhKYbo_X42w7TR5/s640/IMG_6371.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div><center><a class="pin-it-button" count-layout="none" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftopthistopthat.blogspot.com%2F2013%2F02%2Fwhen-my-paint-brush-takes-me-to-new.html&media=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-rYnlpOiqJb8%2FURIt5o80DLI%2FAAAAAAAAaKQ%2F2zJkn7aYyDo%2Fs1600%2FIMG_6371.JPG%22%20imageanchor%3D%221%22%20style%3D%22margin-left%3A%201em%3B%20margin-right%3A%201em%3B%22%3E%3Cimg%20border%3D%220%22%20height%3D%22640%22%20src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-rYnlpOiqJb8%2FURIt5o80DLI%2FAAAAAAAAaKQ%2F2zJkn7aYyDo%2Fs640%2FIMG_6371.JPG%22%20width%3D%22426%22%20&description=Painted%20built%20in%20shelving-%20Top%20This%20Top%20That"><img border="0" src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/PinExt.png" title="Pin It" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">So I took a chance with my built in shelves in my breakfast area and painted them to "lighten" up the space. This was a fairly daunting project for me, because unlike a piece of furniture that you paint and don't like the way it turns out, I couldn't just put a blanket over it and stick it in storage. </span></div></center></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hED3rTkH5-K6WhDMdY_f_3TObGWUmT7-Eae8zQcDYxueOUyscJY-HTuTyXTi_M2IoBPXUhFAxpHWJ047EwFLfo0ZdMtzHJ58rznxVU-DZk0N54Ifb1EteWEjLjHa-Id6kjkKElknYiTT/s1600/IMG_6374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hED3rTkH5-K6WhDMdY_f_3TObGWUmT7-Eae8zQcDYxueOUyscJY-HTuTyXTi_M2IoBPXUhFAxpHWJ047EwFLfo0ZdMtzHJ58rznxVU-DZk0N54Ifb1EteWEjLjHa-Id6kjkKElknYiTT/s640/IMG_6374.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">This was a 'no turning back now' event and I was making my move during the course of several long days, sweaty palms, contingency planning and the occasional raised eyebrow from my husband . </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQBFYhvsKucFr2q7QS-shPtk6kVd2yxX3NBvMDdEp6_y_ZsEpo6rYhyphenhyphenz5r_QDNSzGCBSqxsWYB3t0xZV6XZRLINojqeIPpLE9hSiOp0tb01-VxYgjsgrjMBwD_nQT2rwV0UsrDD3nIhx3/s1600/IMG_6088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQBFYhvsKucFr2q7QS-shPtk6kVd2yxX3NBvMDdEp6_y_ZsEpo6rYhyphenhyphenz5r_QDNSzGCBSqxsWYB3t0xZV6XZRLINojqeIPpLE9hSiOp0tb01-VxYgjsgrjMBwD_nQT2rwV0UsrDD3nIhx3/s640/IMG_6088.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And what a move it turned out to be. It turned out better then I expected and created just the look that I had envisioned for this space.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4UGNTRP089mZxTWZjPpOMwCaNDm29WIqxeisgm9KyYEImyNiQrjg-U7kbqqTvsAxRx7OWgQif_rLxZ8MOefFF0jmKs6eMVTN2xQ_T4D0qqRKhm56kwiUrRtjaPFueYhi1oFiD6uPSU09/s1600/IMG_6378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4UGNTRP089mZxTWZjPpOMwCaNDm29WIqxeisgm9KyYEImyNiQrjg-U7kbqqTvsAxRx7OWgQif_rLxZ8MOefFF0jmKs6eMVTN2xQ_T4D0qqRKhm56kwiUrRtjaPFueYhi1oFiD6uPSU09/s640/IMG_6378.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">A move I have no regrets making, and would make again if presented with the same situation.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFURQF7kdRx2qOdTIirVoAlFuuwE1g9f4NXXQqhncEp6vI5GZa4SH-qhQiAfGHsmEz5SwLvg-75v3q9Pdg2XXgOykNuItjMt8R127k9yUdUxshCTz4Z6WMeX5JhbqsledSPXYuLgzNF-Zf/s1600/IMG_9876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFURQF7kdRx2qOdTIirVoAlFuuwE1g9f4NXXQqhncEp6vI5GZa4SH-qhQiAfGHsmEz5SwLvg-75v3q9Pdg2XXgOykNuItjMt8R127k9yUdUxshCTz4Z6WMeX5JhbqsledSPXYuLgzNF-Zf/s640/IMG_9876.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">and to hopefully have the same outcome.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlx5F5c4iXCrg4Qg4hNlKXax0-HeHcwO0Fh57FiltdxTfir0c1DwlaIEGv2jbjvfhXcp64P0vh_Nw7FU4CLDzKDfEKdsqOkeJrkXqZgaropWBBCaVjimyztZxZAa3Hgo0F_Nd95njVCPh/s1600/IMG_6377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlx5F5c4iXCrg4Qg4hNlKXax0-HeHcwO0Fh57FiltdxTfir0c1DwlaIEGv2jbjvfhXcp64P0vh_Nw7FU4CLDzKDfEKdsqOkeJrkXqZgaropWBBCaVjimyztZxZAa3Hgo0F_Nd95njVCPh/s640/IMG_6377.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWp2WWL-v9KmpUvhKAaa7XFVlfTnHpI3lBhPOBW4u_L3Kvm9mCZM_LUWPNhOQlzuK2jJPiTKtlQdMbKV1y9hYW-opwB_7tKsreYXOVoPsTD4WfCqWWwypMMeuVVj5H-Mf2ghuSsm8wHmYf/s1600/IMG_6240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWp2WWL-v9KmpUvhKAaa7XFVlfTnHpI3lBhPOBW4u_L3Kvm9mCZM_LUWPNhOQlzuK2jJPiTKtlQdMbKV1y9hYW-opwB_7tKsreYXOVoPsTD4WfCqWWwypMMeuVVj5H-Mf2ghuSsm8wHmYf/s640/IMG_6240.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Hmmm....... I wonder what's next?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Click<a href="http://keswickcountry.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-rest-of-story-of-breakfast-area.html"><i> here</i> </a>for the full room reveal.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Are you a risk taker with painting movable furniture or with permanent pieces?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOZ1ENCVZlZHpaU9SVnZ4gX3G6m0dXyySSC9iAdnqUPw5jebkoUJg8lCT9-w9wABjOguTYNIlPZir03CMtj1sHdBxokyZqGB7hgxaluQrtKi3xmWSIcx0YCOwDNPZ7D4pqnoA5y_m4n8D/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOZ1ENCVZlZHpaU9SVnZ4gX3G6m0dXyySSC9iAdnqUPw5jebkoUJg8lCT9-w9wABjOguTYNIlPZir03CMtj1sHdBxokyZqGB7hgxaluQrtKi3xmWSIcx0YCOwDNPZ7D4pqnoA5y_m4n8D/s1600/signature.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>PS- Just for the record. This was the largest piece of "fixed" furniture that I have ever painted and I am sure it will not be the last!</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>PPS- for this project I used ASCP in Old White ( 2 coats)  and clear wax.</i></span></div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Grateful for~</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A good life </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Lunch with Girlfriends</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><script src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><i>Sharing with:</i><br /><i><a href="http://www.stonegableblog.com/2013/02/tutorials-tips-and-tidbits-35.html">StoneGable</a></i><br /><i><a href="http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/">Savvy Southern Style</a></i><br /><i><a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.net/">Between Naps on The Porch</a></i><br /><a href="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/uncategorized/tutorials-tips-link-party-96.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thestoriesofa2z%2FVisw+%28Home+Stories+A+to+Z%29"><i>Homestories AtoZ</i></a><br /><i><a href="http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2013/02/sns-174-its-all-about-valentines.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20blogspot/KCcu%20(Funky%20Junk%20Interiors)">Funky Junk Interiors</a></i><br /><i><a href="http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/2013/02/feathered-nest-friday.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20blogspot/QoLtm%20(FRENCH%20COUNTRY%20COTTAGE)">French Country Cottage</a></i><br /><i><a href="http://www.craftyscrappyhappy.net/2013/02/paint-it-project-link-party.html#comment-10360">Crafty Scrappy Happy</a></i><br /><a href="http://www.whisperwoodcottage.com/"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOzQc7dSvH0GsBbqJexE7SiM43Lempz58JqWr1Wsj-7yWR2VVLoNyGBpXSUZMu96D_Kfe2SOsihJ8nJNdjYBVSpyd0Ha_f_r8gZzKEPQkKLU41BBIWxrY2RAD-1uY8TbjpkyiAX4MiwpQ/s200/1st-project-party-2013.png" width="120" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><br /></div><div><center></center></div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">        Want Top This Top That delivered directly to your inbox?</span><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #6a6969; line-height: 20px; padding: 13px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It’s easy!  Just enter your e-mail address.</span></div><br /><div><form action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=TopThisTopThat', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 3px; text-align: center;" target="popupwindow">Enter your email address:<br /><input name="email" style="width: 140px;" type="text" /><br /><input name="uri" type="hidden" value="TopThisTopThat" /><input name="loc" type="hidden" value="en_US" /><input type="submit" value="Subscribe" /><br />Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></form><br /></div>

When My Paint Brush Takes Me To A New Level

Ever since my latest paint project here  my confidence with my paint brush is soaring to try new things, to be bold, to be daring, to go pl...

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How I Got my Start In Blogging And In the Bloglight

<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">   </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwDhlhHVICANlb7Gs_AGn04JPv3V_Dw8E7jRZR0oLYguwLxmj2Udeb6TIj4rZXIgk49a-QmcULTnVcVVz9RJuuN2ALuRZ9eL8Kbk_zU4xpSidhBv2zhPwYQypgmZpkDYIGAU2vqFWCaqA/s1600/button-option2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwDhlhHVICANlb7Gs_AGn04JPv3V_Dw8E7jRZR0oLYguwLxmj2Udeb6TIj4rZXIgk49a-QmcULTnVcVVz9RJuuN2ALuRZ9eL8Kbk_zU4xpSidhBv2zhPwYQypgmZpkDYIGAU2vqFWCaqA/s400/button-option2.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">    I am so excited to be in the blog light today. What an awesome thrill to be able to share a bit about me and </span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">how I got my start in blogging with the Blogtalk community and my Top This Top That readers. </span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">   </span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">    Something you may not know is how I actually got started</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">    in blogging. </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px; text-indent: -0.25in;">Would you </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px; text-indent: -0.25in;">believe</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px; text-indent: -0.25in;"> a lamp shade. In fact this shade.</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px; text-indent: -0.25in;">    Yes it's true.</span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2073-7levPTX-Ib9R_WsGCrwF90NJcxzZzokCUCbIiBiXJ1nzT__3uuJBGe7fEyZebhyphenhyphenel9wl0_YuZzWuFPOxFzWZVUgtuB0KmxWlzALoP9IPyMEZa_yPJNIwsBX74b4VfutQ1-Jwwlal/s1600/IMG_8447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2073-7levPTX-Ib9R_WsGCrwF90NJcxzZzokCUCbIiBiXJ1nzT__3uuJBGe7fEyZebhyphenhyphenel9wl0_YuZzWuFPOxFzWZVUgtuB0KmxWlzALoP9IPyMEZa_yPJNIwsBX74b4VfutQ1-Jwwlal/s640/IMG_8447.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">   </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> See, I had big plans for me and my shades. We were going places, doing things, and planned on traveling the globe. For months I worked on shade samples. Months in the craft room I was creating, researching and planning my big strategy to sell my shades to Pottery Barn, </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">  Ballards, Joss & Main and Walmart, just to name a few. I also thought of what shoes I would wear, the necklace and how to style my hair when I showed up on the QVC Channel to show you my incredible creations.</span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HOoQgYsnSac/UQmYDsXPSRI/AAAAAAAAaCI/2YXi2zNqLxI/s1600/IMG_8539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HOoQgYsnSac/UQmYDsXPSRI/AAAAAAAAaCI/2YXi2zNqLxI/s640/IMG_8539.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">    And then it came time to sell. Nothing. Crickets. </span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">    Hellllooooo.... anybody need a lampshade?????</span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">   I thought to myself "Surely people had lamps in their homes and  would need a great shade, right"? </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">    Well.... wrong. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">    I guess I just </span><span style="line-height: 27px;">couldn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> compete with Hobby Lobby's 50% off coupon every week or the newly introduced Nate Berkus line at Target. Truth be told, the only shades I was moving, were the one's I was giving away... to my kids, my mom and my friends.</span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 27px;">    But that was okay, you see I had started my blog when I launched my shop to chronicle and share my projects from around the house and since lampshades were not my first true love or passion, the projects were, the blog stuck because I am was doing something that I really loved... blogging.</span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 27px;">   So, I donated the shades to a local charity and here we are a year later in the Bloglight talking about Top This Top That.</span></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLQaFg2s4t-2Ed9nsmh8krhIcb9lYzql8u91DfNqXIICWHx2E51-hmB11GghWUoQKbJzPNaBkw__zdEiwNBYmsueFpW7rhXzRiMNDGteQ3nN2Z33oUCl2FcX5pGK72_spwud1-3AKyhnS/s1600/IMG_5997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLQaFg2s4t-2Ed9nsmh8krhIcb9lYzql8u91DfNqXIICWHx2E51-hmB11GghWUoQKbJzPNaBkw__zdEiwNBYmsueFpW7rhXzRiMNDGteQ3nN2Z33oUCl2FcX5pGK72_spwud1-3AKyhnS/s640/IMG_5997.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">   <i> My  Home Office</i></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">   About 11 years ago things really transitioned for my husband and I when we took a Sunday drive. We decided to change our lifestyle and purchase some land in the middle of nowhere USA. Here we were moving from a wonderful subdivision in Atlanta with grocery stores and shops within walking distance and a 1/2 mile work commute for my husband, in exchange for dirt roads, donkeys for pets and good ole country living. </span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">    A decision that we don't regret and would not change for the world.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpt0KbHS66bBn9xuziOQ8Ve_VW2tAWzlm8Y-ybAf02ozAbNZ035-DIi6_MwkE_QnsoYIRwjtts9tk0en_Ax2X5mD5yd5y1HkO6V-6ZBfkP-eZA0u2yD1kiPjgGCnjzsxk9q5vRZkqglsyX/s1600/IMG_1151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpt0KbHS66bBn9xuziOQ8Ve_VW2tAWzlm8Y-ybAf02ozAbNZ035-DIi6_MwkE_QnsoYIRwjtts9tk0en_Ax2X5mD5yd5y1HkO6V-6ZBfkP-eZA0u2yD1kiPjgGCnjzsxk9q5vRZkqglsyX/s640/IMG_1151.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 27px;"><i>My son with Daisy Mae</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">   During the last year I continue to be amazed with the amount of attention my Burlap Wreath <a href="http://keswickcountry.blogspot.com/p/additional-instructions-for-burlap.html"><i>here</i></a> has gotten. Although completely flattered and honored, I get more traffic from the Burlap Wreath then I do from cars on my own road or any other road around here for 500 miles. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 115%;">    But that's okay, we like it that way in the country. </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 115%;"><i>   </i></span></span><span style="line-height: 27px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">( FYI- my wreath continues to be my biggest source of traffic for my blog ) </span></i></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mWH7sV3rg_lGLCzdVp9k77VjRpgKm6PMJwoc0VR60be04cuKJ7CWljbHi8hiCbdBY7hsmgZ2HgXXlOHo5pIErcVwCo44S5TtQOMkEZ6t0RZaiUxX0rtcuXNBj3esTO0CI2ATLKcKCudQ/s1600/IMG_2038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mWH7sV3rg_lGLCzdVp9k77VjRpgKm6PMJwoc0VR60be04cuKJ7CWljbHi8hiCbdBY7hsmgZ2HgXXlOHo5pIErcVwCo44S5TtQOMkEZ6t0RZaiUxX0rtcuXNBj3esTO0CI2ATLKcKCudQ/s640/IMG_2038.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="line-height: 27px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>  </i>Although I have a love for design and DIY projects, getting my hands dirty (</span></span><span style="line-height: 27px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">literally) is a passion that most may not realize. </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px; text-indent: -0.25in;">More times then not, you will find me outside gardening or landscaping around the property and it's possible on s</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px; text-indent: -0.25in;">ome weeks that I am on my tractor more then I am in my car. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px; text-indent: -0.25in;">    What can I say, I am country girl!! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px; text-indent: -0.25in;">   This Spring, I hope to find new avenues and opportunities to share more gardening and outdoor projects with you. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C1J73oC00VY/UQmPcysGMzI/AAAAAAAAaB8/fbmJBCRp1tI/s1600/outdoor+cabana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C1J73oC00VY/UQmPcysGMzI/AAAAAAAAaB8/fbmJBCRp1tI/s640/outdoor+cabana.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 27px;"><i>To see these and other  projects click<a href="http://keswickcountry.blogspot.com/p/tutorial-gallery.html"> here</a></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">    So, when I am  not feeding the donkeys, the pony, the dogs, the fish, the cats or the kids you will find me posting something new on Top This Top That at least 3 times a week.  I typically photograph and style my projects in the morning and write at night after my children have gone to bed and the house is quiet. </span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 27px;">    On the weekends I try to get some of my projects completed if it doesn't take away from time with my husband or children, which remains a priority so we can spend time<i> <a href="http://keswickcountry.blogspot.com/2012/08/and-oscar-goes-to.html">here</a></i></span></span></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0R_JxglNnZ5YAkvYo1aM8KTIpYMLbSOz5m-Nmc-s3OEMdRewNLSUZpvZNif5Adj3k2hFi54VAN7ESm0JpTzF81pHxQT5WHllLPrEecUP77K83c-rY5UHUqNEVJvc5-nYgacyFQKrQWwlk/s1600/IMG_9105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0R_JxglNnZ5YAkvYo1aM8KTIpYMLbSOz5m-Nmc-s3OEMdRewNLSUZpvZNif5Adj3k2hFi54VAN7ESm0JpTzF81pHxQT5WHllLPrEecUP77K83c-rY5UHUqNEVJvc5-nYgacyFQKrQWwlk/s640/IMG_9105.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">    or</span> <span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px; text-indent: -0.25in;">catch up on sleep <a href="http://keswickcountry.blogspot.com/2011/12/welcome-to-my-home-series.html"><i>here</i></a></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eJ_I6aGnVt4/UQiMgrP_oUI/AAAAAAAAaBo/wTBOgQmEYhE/s1600/IMG_7334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eJ_I6aGnVt4/UQiMgrP_oUI/AAAAAAAAaBo/wTBOgQmEYhE/s640/IMG_7334.JPG" width="430" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 27px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">     or relax <a href="http://keswickcountry.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-backyard-paradise.html">here</a></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKFNCEddP-vd2NLoVredhmLYTm7wyxRxCReinq5Mjo-nQ4n1n8YRfnduJbISPyqO-thxdIYmKXg9jDch-56UJHXfR6ZGtaPVPcnzKvwUjO68kMpY1IU4lQxWZ5dqd20-XdYWlmpH0YCaq/s1600/IMG_6273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKFNCEddP-vd2NLoVredhmLYTm7wyxRxCReinq5Mjo-nQ4n1n8YRfnduJbISPyqO-thxdIYmKXg9jDch-56UJHXfR6ZGtaPVPcnzKvwUjO68kMpY1IU4lQxWZ5dqd20-XdYWlmpH0YCaq/s640/IMG_6273.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">   I feel so incredibly blessed and grateful to have stumbled upon this world that we call blogging. </span><i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 27px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">Thank you Mr.Lampshade.</i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 27px;">   Blogging has been a gift. It has introduced me to a whole bunch of caring and passionate people that I have been so privileged to meet and come to call friends. I get to work on projects around the house and share them with people who have similar interests.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 27px;">    I can inspire and be inspired.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQO5PdV42Wr0yRfawi9P95I3OUuVp7t3qfpDhBSt1-XOJMxpWUYzIBk9JBLjGQ3yEmCO4FOFQZBpCeoVRcBVReQBsUFRP44_V5LkPwzKswGARO2EcQTFpC5Uy92wRdg-l2ba5h4q0kEVJW/s1600/IMG_2164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQO5PdV42Wr0yRfawi9P95I3OUuVp7t3qfpDhBSt1-XOJMxpWUYzIBk9JBLjGQ3yEmCO4FOFQZBpCeoVRcBVReQBsUFRP44_V5LkPwzKswGARO2EcQTFpC5Uy92wRdg-l2ba5h4q0kEVJW/s640/IMG_2164.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 27px;">                                                 </span></span></span><i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="http://keswickcountry.blogspot.com/2012/11/my-favorite-room.html">My favorite room</a></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 27px;">    Regardless if you are a friend that I have come face to face with or a friend whose connection is just virtual, I want to thank you for taking the time to read and support my blog and providing me an opportunity each week to share my dreams, my heart and my  projects with you</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;"> .</span><br /><span style="text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;">C        </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Curious- what project did you start that led you down a completely different path?</span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">                </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOZ1ENCVZlZHpaU9SVnZ4gX3G6m0dXyySSC9iAdnqUPw5jebkoUJg8lCT9-w9wABjOguTYNIlPZir03CMtj1sHdBxokyZqGB7hgxaluQrtKi3xmWSIcx0YCOwDNPZ7D4pqnoA5y_m4n8D/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-indent: -0.25in;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOZ1ENCVZlZHpaU9SVnZ4gX3G6m0dXyySSC9iAdnqUPw5jebkoUJg8lCT9-w9wABjOguTYNIlPZir03CMtj1sHdBxokyZqGB7hgxaluQrtKi3xmWSIcx0YCOwDNPZ7D4pqnoA5y_m4n8D/s1600/signature.png" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span></span> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 115%;">Grateful ~</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 115%;">To be able to share my heart with you today and for the honor of being in the Bloglight!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">  </span></span><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;">   </span><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;">  </span><b style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </b></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;"><i>Sharing:</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.betweennapsontheporch.net/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Between Naps on The Porch</a><br /><a href="http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/"><i>Savvy Southern Style</i></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><center></center></div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">         Want Top This Top That delivered directly to your inbox?</span><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #6a6969; line-height: 20px; padding: 13px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It’s easy!  Just enter your e-mail address.</span></div><br /><div><form action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=TopThisTopThat', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 3px; text-align: center;" target="popupwindow">Enter your email address:<br /><input name="email" style="width: 140px;" type="text" /><br /><input name="uri" type="hidden" value="TopThisTopThat" /><input name="loc" type="hidden" value="en_US" /><input type="submit" value="Subscribe" /><br />Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></form><br /></div><div class="separator" id="ssnoshadow" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>

How I Got my Start In Blogging And In the Bloglight

        I am so excited to be in the blog light today. What an awesome thrill to be able to share a bit about me and  how I got my start in ...

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The Easiest Burlap Heart Tutorial

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Love is patient...and not always so kind... </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">especially when you pull</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> on that darn vine.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9vv_tDA6Wd4/UQZk6Pk9PlI/AAAAAAAAZ8I/BBBvfugzpvI/s1600/IMG_6284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9vv_tDA6Wd4/UQZk6Pk9PlI/AAAAAAAAZ8I/BBBvfugzpvI/s640/IMG_6284.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><center><a class="pin-it-button" count-layout="none" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftopthistopthat.blogspot.com%2F2013%2F01%2Fthe-easiest-burlap-heart-tutorial.html&media=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-9vv_tDA6Wd4%2FUQZk6Pk9PlI%2FAAAAAAAAZ8I%2FBBBvfugzpvI%2Fs1600%2FIMG_6284.JPG%22%20imageanchor%3D%221%22%20style%3D%22margin-left%3A%201em%3B%20margin-right%3A%201em%3B%22%3E%3Cimg%20border%3D%220%22%20height%3D%22640%22%20src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-9vv_tDA6Wd4%2FUQZk6Pk9PlI%2FAAAAAAAAZ8I%2FBBBvfugzpvI%2Fs640%2FIMG_6284.JPG%22%20width%3D%22426%22&description=The%20easiest%20Burlap%20Heat%20Tutorial%20from%20Top%20This%20Top%20That"><img border="0" src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/PinExt.png" title="Pin It" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The poison vine that is... the one called Poison Oak. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Even pretty little burlap hearts with red arrows can't defend against it and all it's itchy, irritable side affects. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">If you are wondering what in the world I am talking about... I pulled off a vine on this tree while trying to capture some pictures that contained poison oak.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Supplies:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A plastic heart shape with red tinsely garland- got mine at hobby lobby</span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Ribbon garland- I used a 10 foot roll</span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Instructions:</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcOoq7tseS3Y0ppPxGg8-OzXRZtvyEuCuDcKeeCHqeY51ui9h4b0y_HEsfc3SXULqZobnLoAJaTLaYT5IsMLac1POTv-jZfxlPRJ2HIV0vlYy8frALpsrUYzbXwqsdY5tLXSJzRbeR1cN/s1600/IMG_6443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcOoq7tseS3Y0ppPxGg8-OzXRZtvyEuCuDcKeeCHqeY51ui9h4b0y_HEsfc3SXULqZobnLoAJaTLaYT5IsMLac1POTv-jZfxlPRJ2HIV0vlYy8frALpsrUYzbXwqsdY5tLXSJzRbeR1cN/s640/IMG_6443.JPG" width="426" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Step 1- Remove the red stuff from the heart and put away and save for another project that requires glitz and glamour</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55lYoctavznDXoErRi_3tcXmTG4Ncso9x9cz1aMi-X0MekYRHTmsK_hilAGvAl0gujuYNvwL1NBarHObwX2qI5Dbczy7PxFV_-DP_5z6QdF61G_1DnbBbVufP9Hj5BB77X61AwSLTFJK0/s1600/IMG_6447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55lYoctavznDXoErRi_3tcXmTG4Ncso9x9cz1aMi-X0MekYRHTmsK_hilAGvAl0gujuYNvwL1NBarHObwX2qI5Dbczy7PxFV_-DP_5z6QdF61G_1DnbBbVufP9Hj5BB77X61AwSLTFJK0/s640/IMG_6447.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Step 2 - For this project I cut my burlap garland in long strips so it was easier to work with. Take one end and begin weaving in between the the plastic frame.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiMvGzS34sXJ7Z-4j2JC_uXbq9LSJtC0BgZvPFuq6H_EIQ9P0ooWRsXlUSsge7Yw6fuYmSBdP78bDEYFCcwFE78_GAYxWtURnyxSKw6TNTEImFhSvmzQ-QbcLssug93hthM5autnugptl/s1600/IMG_6448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiMvGzS34sXJ7Z-4j2JC_uXbq9LSJtC0BgZvPFuq6H_EIQ9P0ooWRsXlUSsge7Yw6fuYmSBdP78bDEYFCcwFE78_GAYxWtURnyxSKw6TNTEImFhSvmzQ-QbcLssug93hthM5autnugptl/s640/IMG_6448.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Step 3- As you pull through your burlap leave a little at the end and don't pull tight or pull all the way through. This is how your burlap will stay in place. Although I have never secured it onto the frame with anything, you probably could use a twisty tie or a piece of wire to secure your end.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyncxfoiSvAn_z7MrlqpScHOefruXkbb3W7EDUXc5W920_sHJogldLgMmbCQnm8_vNUwIpM1zNRhd6KVjBvAtRL5aL9g3kBO9oFO96KySV4Y9cS21wdDDBp_9v476FpphYiO-R4E-24WAo/s1600/IMG_6451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyncxfoiSvAn_z7MrlqpScHOefruXkbb3W7EDUXc5W920_sHJogldLgMmbCQnm8_vNUwIpM1zNRhd6KVjBvAtRL5aL9g3kBO9oFO96KySV4Y9cS21wdDDBp_9v476FpphYiO-R4E-24WAo/s640/IMG_6451.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Step 4: Continue weaving the loops around the frame. Your pattern should be the outer edge, middle and inner edge and repeat going back and forth. Your loops should be the same size. You will fluff and move around your burlap when you are finished.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLu-apJfTsxaf2XC1MYc7wR9nhifIIOyr5Xe3h53P_-WEqPEUed2Q1tXGuNeezD_wKvuziLMowx2Ue1soiaxnAkmtAsmlv1Ecs41HiSM-DaxPhwSgWuJwQccrUGmpvJ02ZlR4RBqd5yGU8/s1600/IMG_6453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLu-apJfTsxaf2XC1MYc7wR9nhifIIOyr5Xe3h53P_-WEqPEUed2Q1tXGuNeezD_wKvuziLMowx2Ue1soiaxnAkmtAsmlv1Ecs41HiSM-DaxPhwSgWuJwQccrUGmpvJ02ZlR4RBqd5yGU8/s640/IMG_6453.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Step 5: When you are done , take your scissors and cut off and long pieces from the back and any stray strings from the front. Fluff out and move the burlap around so that the plastic heart frame is not showing. To hang, I put some jute string through the hole and tied. </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7rBWtWHE93TJF-XPbOriOqjOfu3-1YpauqILL0s0A2ZI3hS6LkhbcSzvPb8w-4aVGMF7XhyphenhyphenOaXE_W9L8OPDLM0GZrERh5pALdjMrojXhF4QFUTAZWUZaSoBivKNfd26RoNk8jA8_HodU/s1600/IMG_6358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7rBWtWHE93TJF-XPbOriOqjOfu3-1YpauqILL0s0A2ZI3hS6LkhbcSzvPb8w-4aVGMF7XhyphenhyphenOaXE_W9L8OPDLM0GZrERh5pALdjMrojXhF4QFUTAZWUZaSoBivKNfd26RoNk8jA8_HodU/s640/IMG_6358.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The things we do for love... the things we do for love.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOZ1ENCVZlZHpaU9SVnZ4gX3G6m0dXyySSC9iAdnqUPw5jebkoUJg8lCT9-w9wABjOguTYNIlPZir03CMtj1sHdBxokyZqGB7hgxaluQrtKi3xmWSIcx0YCOwDNPZ7D4pqnoA5y_m4n8D/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOZ1ENCVZlZHpaU9SVnZ4gX3G6m0dXyySSC9iAdnqUPw5jebkoUJg8lCT9-w9wABjOguTYNIlPZir03CMtj1sHdBxokyZqGB7hgxaluQrtKi3xmWSIcx0YCOwDNPZ7D4pqnoA5y_m4n8D/s1600/signature.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">PS- for more instructions on how to make the wreath, not how to get poison oak, you can click <a href="http://keswickcountry.blogspot.com/p/additional-instructions-for-burlap.html">here</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Grateful for~</span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">My little cub getting his Bobcat badge last night.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><script src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></center><center><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Want Top This Top That delivered directly to your inbox?</span><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #6a6969; line-height: 20px; padding: 13px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It’s easy!  Just enter your e-mail address.</span></div><br /><div><form action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=TopThisTopThat', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 3px; text-align: center;" target="popupwindow">Enter your email address:<br /><input name="email" style="width: 140px;" type="text" /><br /><input name="uri" type="hidden" value="TopThisTopThat" /><input name="loc" type="hidden" value="en_US" /><input type="submit" value="Subscribe" /><br />Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></form>Sharing at:<br /><a href="http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2013/02/sns-174-its-all-about-valentines.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20blogspot/KCcu%20(Funky%20Junk%20Interiors)"><i>Funky Junk Interiors</i></a><br /><a href="http://tatertotsandjello.com/2013/02/weekend-wrap-up-party-and-kiwi-crate-giveaway.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20blogspot/OivM%20(Tatertots%20and%20Jello)">Tatertots and Jello</a><br /><a href="http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/2013/01/feathered-nest-friday_31.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20blogspot/QoLtm%20(FRENCH%20COUNTRY%20COTTAGE)"><i>French Country Cottage</i></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" id="ssnoshadow" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></center>

The Easiest Burlap Heart Tutorial

Love is patient...and not always so kind...  especially when you pull  on that darn vine. The poison vine that is... the one called Poison O...

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