A while ago Ben went on a trip with his mom and brother for about a week. While he was away I took advantage of having one less distraction (Ben) and went to work ripping out the flooring and painting and building in the tiny guest room that started out quite shabby and depressing.
Shabby and dull before shot.
Pretty and welcoming after shot!
It's a very tiny room, and therefore very hard to photograph. Winnie was looking cute for a second...but dashed off right as I snapped the photo, lol.
Last year Ben and I waited for hours for this dresser to come up for bid at the auction down the road. We were both so nervous that someone else would bid it up real fast! But alas, we brought it home for $2 and it's worth every penny. Ben glossed the top, I added a $3 mirror that I bought ages ago and I still need to work on the handles. The reason we got it so cheap? When it sat up on the stage for bid, it was extremely lopsided. Two of the casters were missing. But I knew where they were...inside one of the drawers! I opened them during the preview time and found them there. It took literally 30 seconds to put them back on once we got home! Score!
The little midcentury stool off to the side was Ben's great uncle's and the two frames hold tiny Diane Arbus photos of mentally disabled people in Halloween costumes (Ben used to work with them, so it fit!).
Ben and I got the full size bed from a garage sale last year for 10 bucks. The old man we bought it from said it was his boyhood bed. It's been in the basement waiting for it's time to shine. The stretching wall lamp was from Brimfield...and I painted the running dog when we first moved to Boston and needed to fill the large wall space in the dining room.
I have more typer's drawers than I care to admit...but they are finding homes around the house...including bedside here in the guest room. It houses my most precious miniatures including a bisque circus and wooden animals my friend from Germany sent me. The blue pillow on the bed was $2 from the thrift store down the street and features birds that were embroidered using all french knots...it's very pretty! I may re-edge it in the future as that type of ruffle is very 90's...but we'll see.
Two tiny vintage alarm clocks add some insurance if a guest need to wake up early. I constructed very simple end table shelves from scrap wood and brackets I found at an antique store (I was looking for them that day just for this project and actually found them for $6!) The hardest part was hanging them up...I swear there are no wall studs in my house!! Seriously, none! Argh!
If you look close you can see a ghostly Winnie. She was looking adorable with her head popped up behind the bed...but alas, she's too quick. But this photo does give me the opportunity to show you the floor a little. I ripped up the carpet that I hate so much, the foam, and the luan to reveal some so so pine plank floors. The section underneath the bed is very patched up and not so pretty...but luckily the bed covers it! I painted the whole thing white just like I did in our bedroom and it brightens up the room and looks lovely. The little black rug was 50 cents at a yard sale.
The ugly closet got a transformation too. Before: A rod and shelf that was poorly anchored (again, no studs).
And after! No longer a closet, but a reading nook! Extra blanket stored underneath.
Ben was looking online one day and saw that someone else had done something similar to their closet and wanted to do the same in this room.
His wish has come true! Except I added shelves to both sides...we always need room to keep things! I added the paneling and little ledge shelf too (that was part of the original idea).
There is still room for more goodies, but here's what I put there in a hurry...lots of childrens books (why I have so many...I don't know!) and some fun colorful toys and things. I love it! I do still need to make a cushion for the bench and add some pillows...but that might be a winter time project...
You can see how tiny the room is! I painted the walls a very faint blue.
And lastly, I switched out the ugly pillow light fixture for a small chandelier I found at a church thrift store for $10. I spray painted the brass a dark green and polished the crystals a bit...doesn't it look lovely!
Ben had quite the surprise when he came home and was very happy with the result...as I'm sure all of our guests now are (we've got some coming this weekend in fact!) :)
It's truly time to start getting into the Fall and Halloween mood! Start thinking about how to decorate your mantel and doorsteps. Plan your costume for the big night. And pick the last of the pumpkins and squash from the garden. I've been whipping up some fantastical new Halloween and harvest pieces...some scary, some charming, all very festive! I hope you'll come and check out what I've got! :)
Freshly plucked from the vine! My mom brought these over the other day and I must say...they are super swell and full of expression! They are made of needle felted wool (solid wool and very light and sturdy) and have amazing detail. The babe has a tiny tooth inside that cavernous mouth and I get the feeling that the big fella just finished a big lunch...maybe an innocent gourd that was in the wrong place at the wrong time?
Meet Winifred! Or Winnie for short. This super sweet little girl has come to live with us and we couldn't be happier to expand our family! 
She's been hanging out with me in my studio today, sitting on my lap most of the time. She's a real lover and LOVES people... She especially loves Ben and was so excited when he came home from work today! It was nice to see. Ben is in love too. He's been wanting a dog for quite a long time and finally on Saturday he said "let's go to some shelters!" He didn't think he would bring home a dog that day, but knew the possibility was there. We went to three shelters altogether. The first two had adult dogs (mostly Pit Bulls) that were more interested in sniffing around than in us. Plus the ones we were interested in had masters that still might come to claim them. The third place we went to had millions and millions of puppies! It was a place called Adirondack Save-a-Stray. It was a converted house and was so cozy and comfy with throw rugs and dog and cat chotkes everywhere. None of the cats were in cages, but in a huge cat paradise play room. I don't think I'd want to be adopted if I were one of those cats! The puppies all came from down south (Winnie is from Georgia), where they said that there are a lot of people who try to make new breeds and have a lot of cull puppies that are unwanted by the breeders. We aren't sure exactly what breeds she is, but she's considered a terrier mix (I think she has some schnauzer too). Little Winnie is very well socialized and was never abused or neglected, but she didn't have a forever home down south...and I must say I'm quite glad because we feel very lucky to have this adorable and very loyal pup (she comes when you call her excitedly and follows us everywhere). The cats even don't seem to mind her too much and Sophie has been side by side with her competing for attention (don't worry, the kitties are getting no less love!). 
We just love our new little one! :)
As usual, I've had a busy week! And I can't believe it's already Friday...and already past noon...where does the time go?! I've been really good with prepping for the holidays so far and with all the wholesale orders I'm working on at the same time...the studio is looking plump with creation. I snapped a few photos to show you...
