Thursday, December 20, 2012

While I'm away...working in LA...

I got home last night... 
from getting started on my LA project...
 and up early this morning preparing to serve breakfast
to family who are in town for the holidays. 

But first...a few photos of the fun merchandise I'm setting up 
in the CMA showroom 
in preparation for the LA Home & Gift Market


Sunday, December 9, 2012

Just a note before heading off to LA...

I know I've been MIA from blogging...
it is a bit of a juggling act actually...


and I think you've heard that from me several times before!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Handkerchief Heroes...a great resource!

Handkerchief Heroes

I came across this great blog 
written by one of my online hanky customers...
Ann Mahony offers a wealth of information on the history of hankies
Check her out here.




Ann's latest post is titled

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Furniture reveal using DYI chalk paint recipe...

Two things going on here...

#1...I finished the Ethan Allen wall unit I picked up 
for a song...cheap, cheap, cheap!
#2... I finally tried a DYI chalk paint recipe, 
and I really liked it!


Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Urban Barn update...

It's a quickie, mid week, Urban Barn, Leaping Lotus update...


I buzzed on over to Urban Barn yesterday 
to talk move in date 
for Cerro Home

Happy • Happy • Happy

Monday, November 5, 2012

Once again...Chalk Paint up to my elbows!

I'm really having a hard time...
juggling actually painting furniture and vintage finds
and then putting the brushes down and going to the computer and posting about it! 


Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Tea time, candle lighting...bringing it all together for the holidays!

You all know I love... 
 and always have my eyes open for beautiful vintage 
furniture + linens + china + silverware
the list goes on!

Several weeks back I came across a lovely idea on Pinterest using
tea cups for candles...a perfect match up!



Sunday, October 21, 2012

I love before and afters...so does Sherry!

I so enjoy a good before and after project...
I think we all do, nothing like a good makeover...
makes you feel RE-freshed!

I recently posted photos of duel color kitchen projects
on my FaceBook page
(by the way, you're invited to visit, like my page and keep up with my daily posts on all things creative, vintage...and just fun stuff to look at) 

       after       before

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Thursday,Thursday...Thursday is my favorite day...

Put that little tune to music...

Every Thursday I have several friends 
who come on over for coffee, fresh baked goods
and 
sharing tips and tricks of basic painting skills
(both oil & acrylic).


It is so much fun as we all get excited over painting!


Sunday, October 14, 2012

Sedona & Red Rock Fever

I would be remiss...
...if I didn't explain my absence from posting for the last two weeks.  Oh I was still being creative and hurriedly painting, taking care of business and tying up loose ends...and getting ready and taking a road trip to Sedona AZ.

I know some of you have seen a glimpse of our trip via email or Face Book...but here's the rest of the story...

Monday, October 1, 2012

I'm searching out two tone kitchen inspirations...I found a few!

 I really enjoy a dual color kitchen...
as a matter of fact have had a few myself,
actually...the last three!
(which I'll share later in this post)

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

A little stroll, wander, saunter, skip...down memory lane...

First of all...
I'm doing my Sunday morning blog post this morning...
 Tuesday morning!

There is no real good reason for this
except...I was tired!
It was a long week, a good week 
and taking a little nap with my best cat (Paint)
and shop dog JoJo
was a PERFECT way to spend Sunday
(and that I would post this unflattering picture of me sleeping
 just goes to show how tired I was)



Sunday, September 16, 2012

What to do with $68. worth of second hand finds ...

I really enjoy scavenging through junk stores, consignment shops, trash bins!
I know some of you do to...admit it!

The whole process is fun...
finding
painting
placing
LOVE • LOVE • LOVE
BIG LOVE

These are a few of my latest finds
before + after
my favorite being the Samsonite overnight bag!

BEFORE

Sunday, September 9, 2012

What am I doing fooling around on this beautiful Sunday morning?

When I shoulda/coulda/woulda been posting 
about my latest piece of furniture.

I'll tell ya, it's hard to keep on task when it is so darn beautiful outside,
and fall is right around the corner bringing a whole new kinda beauty with it...
along with brisker Sunday mornings.

NOTE:
If your receiving this post via email...just click on my name,
Denise Cerro, in the bottom left corner to continue reading.


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Life is still Juicy...

In my quest to treat everyday like its Sunday...
to enjoy and appreciate all that I'm doing and not race through it...
to not multi task myself into a frenzy...

I decided to give some quiet thought and attention to my 

I needed to clean it up, check all my listings, take photos of new work to be added in over the next few days...and enjoy the process.

While in Etsy I took some time to look through a few other artist shops and enjoy the beautiful work I found there.  While there...what the heck...may as well put together and share a collection of what I found. 




Thursday, August 16, 2012

Tic, tic, tic, ticking...

There's nothing like a clean crisp stripe...
 even better when it's got a timeless vintage touch...and ticking fabric offers both.  
I see many items with this little beauty added in, 
whether it be one stripe or a continuing pattern with many repeats. 
It can look cottage, french country, shabby chic or sophisticated...
a classic that fits into many decor styles,
 from such humble & utilitarian beginnings!

Friday, August 10, 2012

My Obsession with Vintage Handkerchiefs...

...I can't seem to get enough of them!
I think I may be a hanky hoarder...no really... I just might be!  

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Desperatly (not really) trying to catch up...

...it's been weeks since my last blog post...

...and I feel off track, behind schedule, not following the "you must be consistent when blogging" rule and find I'm falling way behind.  I know this is in my head which doesn't necessarily make it true...just another little pressure to add to the day.  

The real story is...
I just finished a month long project in LA where I am literally on my feet ALL the live long day!  As mentioned in an earlier post, I do the CMA Gifts showroom design & set up for a 40,000 square foot permanent gift showroom at the CalMart, getting them ready for the July LA Gift Show.  I think I may have also mentioned that the showroom is a RepGroup that represents many different gift manufactures...so there's alot going on during set up!  You would think after being on your feet all day, everyday, merchandising, displaying and creating would drain your creative juices...not so!  It seems to fill my creative cup up even more!



Sunday, July 1, 2012

Discover where the heck have I been since my last post...


...seems all over the place!

Though...for the last week I've been up in Los Angeles doing a job I've been doing twice a year...for the last 20+ years!  Can you believe it...it's the best of both worlds.  I get to be independent, entrepreneurial, "I'm the boss of me" most of the year...and then I go up to LA every June & July and December & January to set up for the gift trade shows that take place every six months.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Simple Alterations...

First off...
I hope you enjoy and are inspired by my simple make over projects.
I know some are tired of hearing about Chalk Paint...
though it really has made painting furniture  pure JOY for me!
I mean...I already loved painting...but hated the prep 
and would drag my feet until I got to the good part... 
color and design.

Now I can dive right in and play!

Here are a few quick project I did this week 
in between working on the 6'x6' armoire 
I mentioned in my last post + will share the with you in the next post.

Telephone/Gossip Chair
I picked up this cute little chair at
the Vintage Marketplace Event a few weeks ago.
It needed simple frame repair and I switched out the seat for a 
floral bucket I had on hand. 

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Mid-week transformations...

As promised
in my last post
more would be revealed
regarding the pile of furniture 
I was ready to transform 
for my wonderful long time client Terri
(I so enjoy my long time clients)



Sunday, June 10, 2012

Two day turnaround...

On one of my numerous weekly stops 
at my favorite consignment store...

I came across this broken down little wash stand.
One of the sides was hanging by a thread of old glue
it was beat up pine that someone tossed out.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

In love again?

I know you hear that from me alot...
but this time it's for real...
really...


Saturday, May 26, 2012

What's new...

It's been a busy week of painting furniture
for my shop + for clients.

A couple of cool things stand out...

#1.
Right now...as I write this very post...
Royal Design Studios is featuring me as their
Throughout the day they 'll be showing work I've done using Royal Design Stencils.
Needless to say...I am so honored!

Visit the site today to take a look & shop too.


Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Back to painting...

 Done sewing 
switching it up + keeping if fun + keeping it fresh
 its back to brushes.



Tuesday, May 22, 2012

TeardropHankys...

It's no secret...
I love hankies!
Vintage hankies from the 
30's + 40's + 50's

I own so very many hankies
grouped and organized by color + style in
pizza boxes

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

And now for a break...

A little week long break  
Kona Coast on the big island of 
Hawaii 

I know this seems like a slide show of our summer vacation...
and it kinda is!
More so though...
the importance of getting away from 
paint + computers 
 refresh + reacquaint with family
and just swim with the fishes...
in a good kinda way, not a Godfather kinda way!

Rejuvenating!

view from our Lani


Monday, May 7, 2012

May Flowers

As you may already know
I switch out my theme at
Leaping Lotus
every month to keep it fresh


This month of May is
May Flowers

Break it up...

Takin a little break with my family...
Kona Coast on the big island of Hawaii...

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Feeling Tropical...

This is a fun little project 
the man of the house 
recently prompted me to do...

What started out to be..."let's paint the front walk way"...
turned into...
"how about a koi pond!"

Monday, April 23, 2012

Stencil Love...

Have I mentioned...

I love stencils

...and how much stenciling adds to my painted furniture
and sometimes inspires the design all together!

Well if I haven't... let me take a moment now and share my thoughts on stenciling.  Like I said, they inspire me!  Sometimes seeing a great stencil design will pique my imagination and I'll pair it with a piece of uninteresting furniture and...

viola / paint magic!



One of my favorite places to shop for stencils...