Guest Post: Victoria's Dresser

Hi,

I am Jennifer of The Creviston Nest.

I have been lucky enough to be able to meet some of the best people in the world doing what I love; faux finishing furniture!

I was able to meet Victoria though her wonderful Mom, Sallie. I have faux finished several pieces for Sallie. Recently while she was dropping off a dresser, I was able to meet Victoria!

Victoria is just one of the most amazing people I have ever met. It has really been a blessing getting to know her and her wonderful family.

Victoria asked me some advice on refinishing a dresser she had purchased. While giving her advice on what seemed may be a difficult refinish, we came up with a plan. Victoria would do some sewing I needed done (yes, I can sew but not much more then a line it may not even be straight) in exchange for me faux finishing her dresser!

Before

This is the dresser Victoria brought over, a very CUTE solid wood antique dresser. It had a lot of potential, hiding under that terrible, TERRIBLE paint job. White, with a dry brush of green... and the infamous red knobs.

Victoria sent me several inspiration pictures of what she was looking for. After my process of sanding, primer, paint (Benjamin Moore), glaze and sealing it... here is the finished product.

Before and After

Thank you for reading my blog post and thank you Victoria for allowing me to do my very first guest post!

-- Jennifer Creviston

What do you think??

My pretty headband from my Best Friend Sophia <3

(Forever21)

My new haircut!! Holiday season 2011

Another pretty headband from Sophia <3

(Charlotte Russe)

This one I've had for about a year (or two by now) but never really worn too often, even though I LOVE it. I THINK I got it at Rue21??? lol.

What would a girl be...

Without a pair of fabulous looking shoes?!

Perfect for those going to a ball, or who just like the style in general. Hop on over to American Duchess' shop, and buy yourself a lovely new pair!

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

For my first set of stays; My true love gave to me...

2 yards of muslin, and a new, working sewing machine ;)

When I was in Colorado visiting my fathers parents, my parents went to visit my mothers father for Thanksgiving and he sent two of my granny's sewing machines and a Serger home to me! Thank you Papaw!!!

 I really want to try and make a Georgian dress but need stays for that, even more than I do for my Regency dresses. I looked through my stash of patterns and found this one from McCall's. I am making it out of a plain white muslin, and eyelet's instead of grommets for lacing (since I am HORRIBLE at putting in grommets). I am almost done (but for attaching lining to corset once the boning is in). While waiting on the chance to get my boning, I  have decided that I will add a little decorative touch to one or two of the front panels. I started earlier today on the embroidery and will post a pic as soon as I have one. Though I fear my stitches are always very poor I think it will be all the more lovely knowing that I did it with my own hand, and hopefully one of my children can enjoy my toils many years from now when it gets passed down from myself to some dear little girl... 

If you have any tips for corsetry (yes, it's a "new" word :P), please share them if you can spare a moment here. I am very new to this, and though I am using a modern pattern for my stays this time, I hope to learn from it and make a set of 18th Century stays somewhere in the near future. (Hopefully with the help of your tips, and also a little guidance from the quick hands of my dear friend Laura at Tryon Palace...)

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

My Christmas Present from Sophia :)

I am leaving Colorado in a few days to return home to NC and be back with my family. So my friend, Sophia, and I decided to give presents early :) I decided to get her a present from her favorite store, Charlotte Russe... and apparently so did she for mine... lol. Unfortunately I can only find the link for the necklace I got her: http://www.charlotterusse.com .

I had gotten her a pair of earrings too, but I can't find them :'(

And here is my present from her:

Isn't it lovely?!?!

 Here's a close-up :D

Have you gotten any special presents yet this year?? Do you think you will?? :) 

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Thank you .. Graphics Fairy?!?!

LOL... but seriously... Thank you Karen!! :D I found this silhouette on your blog and saved, shrunk, and played with it via picnik. I had a lot of fun, even if I didn't do much to change it.

A Vote for Kate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please stop by Kate's blog, see her stuff, fall in love, and vote here for her :D It's so worth the trip!! She will definitely appreciate the votes I'm sure....

(photo courtesy of Kate's blog)

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Silly boy....

This... is Jesse. It looks like he was having fun over the July 4th holidays. Heck, We all were :D

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Casey's 50's Tutorial in practice

So, I said I tried the style out the next morning, and here is how it looked! (These pics were taken about the middle of the day when I finally got around to it)

Left side twist

(And, a sweet little over-the-shoulder pose.. very Vogue)


Rear-view


Right side twist

Front view

My general silliness.. such a poser :P

It turned out very nicely as you can see. And, I'm sure by now you've noticed I decided to go with a chic bun as opposed to the ponytail.. love it!!

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

50s style faux bang and ponytail tutorial

Thank you SOO much Casey for having such a wonderful blog!! I found this video VERY helpful, and I tried it the next morning. I also have been applying my make-up w/ a 50's style look (it only added one more step surprisingly.. eye-liner .. go figure it's the one thing I never could get right, until I had a reason to practice daily) and have loved it ever since. Your tutorial on applying it was extremely helpful for a few extra tips as well.

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Put a little Ooh la la..

In YOUR life...

This is for Mimi :D

(since none of your blog buttons seem to work on my blog)

LOL

- A Victorian Cowgirl

The Photo of a Lifetime..

I love this Photographic Panorama taken by one of my friends with his iPhone. Can you say WOW to fantastic technology?! (And this coming from the woman who is not in the slightest technologically inclined...)

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Oh dear goodness!!

Oh wow it has been a whole month EXACTLY since I posted. In the words of Americas sweetheart, Miss Shirley Temple, "Oh my goodness!!". I have had guests to stay, and I am now on vacation in MD with some family friends. I thought I would share a few photos so here goes...

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

A walk with you, 337 miles away...

We find ourselves missing people as we go throughout our days.. So, why not come up with a fun way to spend time together no matter what the distance that separates you is?

Today Justin and I took a "walk" around DC. He took photo's with his phone, and sent them to me, so I could see what he was seeing!! It was very fun to receive the photo's and to know that this was a new experience, and a fun one... that we were doing together.

Some of the detailing on the window and it's grates...
 

Some very pretty architectural detailing as well!

Lovely photo here :D

One of my favorite sorts of photo's are something called "Dutch Angles". Isn't it Fabulous?!

More in the way of beautiful architecture..

Love the pillars, and the little rosette ceiling pieces that join the corners of the squares together :D

Lovely Garden view...

Isn't the little spiral topiary adorable? I love sculptural things like that in a garden, they add so much visual interest, besides there just being pretty flowers.

 

A close-up of the Sun dial

Full Sun dial.. isn't the silvery hedge beautiful?

I bet it would be a breath taking site to see on a moonlit walk..

Outside of the Smithsonian Castle

National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden

The Silver Tree
Now, if only there was a money tree...

National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden

The Fountain



A view of the Fountain through the Gates




More of the lovely Fountain!



I have been to all of these places before with Justin, on my last visit to the DC/Maryland/Virginia area. So seeing them through pictures, and knowing we had walked there before was an extra special treat full of many fond memories.. 


So, when you find yourself missing that special someone, or your dear, dear friends..
Take a walk down memory lane, or see what interesting ways you can find to see each other!

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

I like...

walking on the beach....

BUT

walking on the beach with a friend is so much better!!!

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

My Recent Trip to Maryland and Washington DC

Inside the Smithsonian Castle

Outside the National Gallery of Art


A shot of Justin and I reflected in the mirrored artwork outside the National Gallery of Art, while touring the museums in DC.

The inner garden at The National Gallery of Art

I had a GREAT time on my recent trip to the DC area, and I can't wait to do it again...

-- A Victorian Cowgirl