the Southern Belle | The Weekend Country Girl

The Giant Silver Mirror Has Been Installed

March 11, 2013

Karen Dresser, Mirror, North Carolina, Ornate mirror, the Southern Belle Giant silver ornate mirror 1 Comment

The giant silver mirror that has been in my possession for almost a year now, finally has a home in The Southern Belle’s home. It was safely transported to North Carolina and Hubby got it hung. The Giant Silver Mirror It started life as a gold ornate mirror I would guess in the 50’s. I found this beauty at a garage sale for $10.00.

I loved the detail and the size. This beauty is five feet wide and three feet tall!

She got a total makeover to modernize and match The Southern Belle’s silver/brushed nickle throughout her beautiful home including a new backing and hanging hardware.

Doesn’t she look beautiful? I love the stenciled wall in the bedroom and the soft blue comforter set.

Do you ever wonder what your dog does when you are at work? This is what sweet Maeby does…pretty much nothing.

The Trials of Crossing Louisiana at Spring Break

March 10, 2013

Karen milk glass, the Southern Belle Visiting the kids 1 Comment

We loaded up the truck Saturday morning headed for North Carolina.

For those of you who watch Duck Dynasty or Swamp People, I have inserted a photograph of the Atchafalaya swamp. I got such great pictures because we were at a DEAD STOP on this 24 mile long bridge for hours Saturday.

Plenty of time to enjoy the scenery…Grrr. My family is from Louisiana, my parents still own land that was part of a land grant that has been in my family 6 generations so I feel that I can talk about this state without feeling too guilty. Louisiana truly is one of the most spectacularly beautiful, charming, quaint, incredibly frustrating places I have ever experienced. It is such a crazy quilt of old and new, rich and poor, traditional and modern, fixed and broken. The state infrastructure definitely falls in the last category; mostly broken and certainly overwhelmed at this time of the year when spring breakers are headed for Florida.. There are times when Louisiana roadways more closely resemble Texas’ southwest border neighbor more than that of the roads in a state that is part of the United States. On the other hand, the people at the rest stops and visitor’s stations are always gracious, with a smile, clean restrooms and a cup of coffee to offer. I had the opportunity to visit 4 of them in my day long crawl across the state. I never thought I would be happy to see Mississippi but man, it was great to finally turn north toward Alabama. We are spending the night in Mobile instead of our goal of Birmingham, but tomorrow we get to see The Southern Belle, Big Cat, and little Maeby! Yippee.

The Southern Belle’s Christmas Present- Refinishing a French Provincial Dresser

December 25, 2012

Karen DIY Furniture, DIY Painting and Glazing Furniture, DIY Projects, Dresser, Painted Furniture, recycled furniture, rescuing damaged furniture, the Southern Belle black furniture, Craig's List Finds, French Provincial Furniture, Reclaimed Furniture 2 Comments

Christmas presents for grown up kids were so much fun this year. The Southern Belle asked a while back for a dresser. She wanted it black with brushed nickel hardware. I started looking when we were out shopping, thrifting, and junking. Nothing really struck me until I saw a mistreated piece on Craig’s List. It was covered in layers of really ugly paint with pink showing through. Someone had put cabinet hardware on it that reminded me of a cabin.

To make matters worse, the hardware did not fit ell so the person who thought this hardware would work jammed plastic anchors into the holes.
It took some work on hubby’s part. Getting the hardware off, sanding, filling holes, more sanding before the paint went on.
Hubby got a new paint sprayer, and about the biggest compressor I have ever seen for an early Christmas present. It really made the piece look professionally painted and the Behr paint I love works in this high volume, low pressure sprayer.
Here are the results. For the present she just got a photograph of the piece. It will be getting delivered to North Carolina this spring. Another great reason to visit her.

It was fun making something that our daughter will enjoy.

Finding Frames for the Charlotte Wedding

October 30, 2012

Karen Chalkboard DIY, ornate chalkboard frames, repurposed frame, Reused frame, reusing an old frame, the Southern Belle, Thrifting, vintage style, wedding, wedding preparation, Weddings Chalkboard, wedding reception 2 Comments

The Southern Belle asked me to look for small ornate frames for her June wedding. She wants to turn them into chalkboards to write menu items and information to guests. Because the chalk boards are black, I am painting the frames white until I get instructions from the Southern Belle.

Here is how the beauties started:

Bought for $1.00 each

Bought for 25 cents each

The top two are Home Interiors specials from the 70’s. The bottom two are plastic faux wicker. They will all make great chalkboards.

I am determined to become a better spray painter, and I believe I am on the right track finally. I have discovered the spray paint handle.

This is the best thing since sliced bread. I love it.

It is amazing how they turned out. I did not take a picture of the larger one when bought. It was southwest style teal and salmon. I bought it for a dollar. Hubby already cut the chalkboard for the large one.
I am going to spray the mirrors for the narrow ones with chalkboard Sprint. I can see them as direction signs at the reception. On my way to collecting some frames for the girl. It is nice to be able to help with her wedding- even from a distance.

Wedding Dress Shopping

October 10, 2012

Karen Charlotte NC, the Southern Belle, Weddings 3 Comments

Before I start this post I wanted to show off The Southern Belle’s engagement photos. Her photographer is great and did an amazing job in spite of an injury that The Southern Belle suffered during a race the morning of the photos and a rain storm. I love that the photographer said she is as beautiful as an Ann Taylor model on her worst day. I totally agree with the photographer. Click Here to see the photos.

One of the main reasons I decided to go visit the Carolina Kids was to shop for wedding dresses with my eldest. I was so thrilled that the Southern Belle invited me that it brought me to tears. It is tough on a mom for her daughter to be planning a wedding miles and miles away.

Friday morning we set out to find the perfect dress.

First Appointment: