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Rustic repurposed cheese box storage container

After downsizing last year from a 5 bedroom, 4 1/2 bath home, into a 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, 1920’s renovated mill house in Monroe, Georgia, we found ourselves with 20 years’ worth of stuff that we had no idea what to do with. Most of it is in storage units. Yes plural. Units. Three of them. And trying to figure out what is essential and what isn’t, was and still is, a huge challenge. I’ve had to put my organizational skills to the test and decorative storage containers have saved my sanity on more than one occasion. Cute little boxes and bins are great for hiding odds and ends that otherwise would make my little home look cluttered.

I have a tiny powder room in my hallway that has very little storage space. The sink vanity is narrow and holds hand towels and not much more.

I needed somewhere to store my toilet paper and I did not want the spare toilet paper rolls visible. While shopping at my little neighborhood grocery store, I found a stack of these wooden cheese boxes in the back by the meat department.

Low and behold they sell them for $1 and I snatched them up before the rest of the town could find out about them. This cheese box is the perfect size to hold the extra rolls of toilet paper in my little powder room. It just needs to look a little more rustic and I am going to show you how I created mine.

This project is quick and easy and can be modified to fit any decor. You can use any paint color or stain and use this stencil, a different stencil or no stencil at all. I wanted a dark stained piece, and I chose this stencil because I wanted to be able to use it in any area of the house if I decided I didn’t like it in the bathroom.

I chose a Red Mahogany wood stain for the box and a Dark Granite acrylic craft paint for the stencil.

I made the stencil with my Silhouette machine, but you can buy stencils or even hand paint the top if you wish. I lined my stencil up on the top of the box and went to work with my acrylic paint.

Once I removed the stencil, I had a little bit of hand painting to do because of the way my stencil was cut.

And now I can brag about it truly being a hand painted piece.

While I waited for the top to dry, I took my chip brush and stained the inside and outside of the bottom of the box.

These boxes soak up a lot of stain. It took almost the whole 8oz can and then took forever to dry. Once the stencil was dry, I stained the inside and outside of the top of the box.

The stain is darker than I thought and next time I would either go lighter on the stain or use a black acrylic paint on the stencil. Here is my finished piece and its new home. For now.

Follow me for more inspirational ideas on creative, upcycled storage and organization.

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Selecting a place to stay in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic

December 2020

Our flights to Santo Domingo are booked for February 14, 2021. Now it’s time to check out places to stay in the Las Terrenas area.

Pool at Viva Wyndham V Samana

We considered staying at Viva Wyndham V Samana, which is an all inclusive resort in Coson Bay, and is only 5 kms from the village of Las Terrenas, but we wanted a stay that was more representative of life while living here, so we started looking for homes and villas through Airbnb. There is a lot to consider!

Las Ballenas Beach

Las Ballenas Beach has many resort style places to stay, on or within walking distance to the beach and also within walking distance to shopping and restaurants, however it is very busy with tourists. Not necessarily how we would want to “live” in the area.

Beachfront Las Terrenas

We wanted a place that was close to town and yet had a pool or a view, or preferably a pool and a view. Condominiums and apartments offered beachfront units with pools and were within walking distance to shopping and restaurants, but seemed too much like our annual spring break trips to New Smyrna Beach, which I was trying to avoid. Villas in the mountains had pools and spectacular views, but it was a drive to the beach, shopping and restaurants.

Beautiful villa with amazing sea views

This villa offers “Amazing sea views” and a pool, but the reviews say that the driveway is steep and you need a 4×4 or tall SUV to get there. I am already imagining some stress with operating a car in this area and do not want the additional stress of getting “home” every day. Generators and AC units are luxury items. Power outages are common in the area and generators can be a life saver if the power stays out for more than just a few hours. Some places have AC units only in the bedrooms and many places don’t have them at all. It is also customary for an Airbnb to charge extra for electricity usage and can get expensive if there is an AC unit running all day. We love the heat and humidity and do not have a problem being without AC. The thought of not having power for more than a few hours could be a problem though, so we chose to focus on places with backup generators. After much deliberation, we decided on “Playa Bonita Beach Houses-Truly on the Beach”.

Front view of Casa #2 Playa Bonita Beach House
Ocean view from terrace of Casa #2 Playa Bonita Beach House

Casa #2 is oceanfront, with spectacular views, within walking distance to restaurants and only a short drive into Las Terrenas. It has an optional AC unit and generator backup. Its only drawback is that it does not have a pool. However, after looking at all the gorgeous pictures of the ocean views, we decided it was worth the sacrifice.

Ocean view from terrace of Casa #2 Playa Bonita Beach House

The hosts, Arno and Birgit responded to all of my questions and gave us invaluable advice about the area. On December 27, 2020, we booked the “Playa Bonita Beach House” on Airbnb. I used Travelocity to rent a car, since the trip from Santo Domingo to Las Terrenas was more than 2 hours away. We also wanted our freedom to see the area and come and go as we pleased. Be sure to read all the reviews on the car rental companies that are based at the airport. Some are small, locally owned operations that have bad reputations for high prices and unsuitable cars. We booked a Kia Sportage type vehicle, with unlimited mileage and extra insurance, through AVIS, for less than $500 for the week. Flights…check. Villa on the beach…check. Car rental…check. Next on the list is to find a real estate agent to show us some properties while we are there.

Everything seems to be falling into place. And then we get word that all international travelers coming into the US need a negative COVID test, effective January 26, 2021. Now that throws a wrench into all of our plans. Look for my next post on the scramble to accommodate the mandatory negative COVID test from a foreign country.

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Journey to Samana, Dominican Republic

When searching for great international retirement areas for Americans, Las Terrenas in the Dominican Republic is at the top. Our days are numbered for nearing retirement and my husband, Greg, has less than 3 years to go with AT&T. With that, we find ourselves in the beginning stages of organizing our life for the next chapter. We love the beach life and the outdoors and extensive research of the area has us concentrating on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, in an area called Samana.

The cost of living is much less than in the US and the main requirement is to provide proof of retirement benefits of no less than $1500 a month. Healthcare is affordable, or free and although the facilities and care are reported to be lacking in some areas, Las Terrenas is an exception. A brand new hospital, Centro Galeno Integral, is highly rated and is equipped with a modern ICU.

Luxury homes with breathtaking views and infinity pools are less than $500,000 USD. Here, this 3 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath home is perched on a 1 acre lot in the hills of Río San Juan. With 4,300 square feet, splendid views and a pool, it’s only downfall (in my opinion) is that it is located 6km to the beach. My perfect property would be within walking distance or direct oceanfront, however the price goes up substantially for that type of feature.

Because this area is not generally focused on tourism, the locals are friendly and most appreciate the opportunities that expats can provide to their communities. For example, this locally owned small business thrives on locals (and the occasional tourist) by teaching them how to surf in the waters off the shores of the Las Terrenas area.

Oh, and most importantly, the weather is a sunny, 80 degrees year round. Gorgeous palm trees, lush green lawns and sparkling blue waters with white capped waves are an everyday sight here.

A trip to the area is obviously our next step and on December 21, 2020 we finally purchased airline tickets to fly into Santo Domingo. My sister-in-law, Pam, is making arrangements to take a well earned winter vacation to the Caribbean and plans to join us. Flights before December were around $500 a person and could take more than 8 hours with long layovers in New York, due to the current travel restrictions. So when I found a round trip, non-stop 3 hour flight for $350 per person, I grabbed three tickets! Our trip was in motion. As long as our country remains open with a new administration in office, we are headed to the DR on February 14, 2021 and staying until February 21, 2021. Follow my next post as we search for the perfect place to stay and select a real estate agent to show us some properties for sale. Just click subscribe and add your email address for instant updates! Jayme

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Everyday life during a pandemic

I wake up everyday, like any other day, at the same time. At 5:30 a.m., I am wide awake and ready to get out of the bed. I get up, fix my pre-work out energy drink and wait for it to kick in. This part of my schedule is like the movie “Groundhog Day”. It seldom changes. Regardless of the day of the week, time of the month or season of the year. The movie for me ends there. At 6:30 a.m., a new reality hits. I open my dining room blinds and the view is the same. The same houses are there, the driveways have the same cars and there are people out walking the neighborhood. Nothing LOOKS different. But by then its time for my 16 year old son to get up and get ready for school. Only there’s no school. At least none we can get in the car and drive to. It has been replaced with a school day at home, fighting to figure out what projects are assigned, what assignments are due and how I can keep my child with ADHD focused and productive. A brand new appreciation for his school teachers emerge and I miss them.

We are lucky. Greg is a network analyst for AT&T and is set up to work from home. No change in his routine or workload. He is needed in his position and at this time there is no worry that his situation will change and no worry that his paychecks will end. I am a residential real estate appraiser and I am still getting orders. The interest rates have dropped and although I haven’t seen any refinances just yet, I am still getting new assignments for purchase appraisals. Right now, Ultimate Appraisal is considered an essential business as appraisals are a cog in the wheel of the finance and banking department. I do not know how long this will last as the “Shelter-in-place” goes on longer and longer. The longer people aren’t able to work, the worse the real estate market will get and if it continues, another real estate collapse is inevitable. But this does not scare me. We’ve been through it before and have come out better than before.

I’m not afraid of getting Covid-19 and I have doubts of ever contracting the virus. If I do, I will survive and if I do and don’t survive, well then it was my time to go. I do fear a loved one getting sick and I am doing my part by washing my hands, wearing a mask when needed and trying to stay six feet apart. The uncertainty of the future and how it will change, is also scary. The things I will miss. The things I already miss. Like Jasmine Rice. And the tanning salon. Big things like planning our next vacation and little things like how to celebrate a holiday without the whole family around. What scares me is the people who are hoarding the toilet paper. Why, why, why toilet paper? It will NOT protect you from the virus. I have had toilet paper on my Alexa shopping list for 22 days and have yet to buy any. Jasmine Rice has also been on my list for 22 days. Will this insanity ever end? Even when the threat of this virus is gone, will we ever truly feel like we can be safe? What will we be doing to take precautions for the next life altering event that we have zero control over?

I do enjoy the extra time at home. Knicknaques Vintage Boutique hasn’t had a store customer in 3 weeks and I don’t see a need to spend the entire weekend at the store. My online sales have been steady, but my bread and butter is the market shows I have been doing 4 times a year. Vintage Market Days in Perry was postponed until August and it’s very possible that the one in June may also be postponed. I am using the time to work on projects that I can sell, once we are all able to get out and enjoy life again. I have been enjoying the fact that I can guiltlessly spend time painting furniture.

I love FaceTiming with my parents in Florida and the increased contact I have with friends from near and far. I try to find the humor in social media and the memes about homeschooling are my favorite. I have seriously considered trying the chloroform experiment with my son and I am totally guilty of drinking during school hours. I try to stay away from watching ANY news. I have peace of mind when I focus on controlling my own life and not worrying about the rest of the world. Saving them starts and ends with me doing my part. Period.

It’s 7:31 a.m., the sun is coming out after a night of thunderstorms and I am going to go for my run. I am thankful for the fact that everyone I know and everyone they know are safe and healthy right now. And toilet paper. I am thankful for toilet paper. I will pray for this nation and the world to get through this. And Jasmine Rice. I will pray for a damn bag of Jasmine Rice.

Stay safe and healthy out there and do your part to keep everyone else safe!

Jayme

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Chippy antique triple mirror vanity on wheels

This little beauty was already chippy when I brought her home. Her short spindle legs had holes for the wood caster wheels but all of them were missing. I have the uncanny ability to set out on a mission and find certain items and this was the case with these casters. I stopped at an estate sale one day and found an entire box of casters. They were old and all different sizes, but I just knew they would work! Sure enough, after giving them all a little tap, they fit perfectly and she now glides with grace.

Her already distressed state was enhanced with a little more sanding and sealed with a coat of wax to keep her chippiness intact.

The gorgeous triple mirror is my favorite part. The wood frame is cut to match the curve of the mirror and is separate so that it can be removed. The mirror is original and has some wear and aging however there is no broken or chipped glass.

There are two dovetail drawers and both move freely with no sticking. The original metal drop ring drawer pulls have been left to keep it true to its antique era.

She stands 29” tall to the table top, 40” long and 17” deep. The mirror is 36” tall for an overall height of 65”. The chair or stool opening is 16” wide. Her off white color ensures cohesiveness in any decor and in any room. She would be perfect in a little girls bedroom, but would also make a great entryway piece or use as a desk for additional work space. Please visit Knicknaques Vintage Boutique at 707 S. Broad St, Monroe, GA 30655 or go to my facebook page for more information. Don’t forget to like and share my page. 😊 Thanks for looking!

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Rustic vintage farmhouse buffet cabinet

This vintage buffet cabinet is actually the base of a two piece hutch. I have separated the pieces to maximize its potential and the bottom has been transformed into a beautiful rustic farmhouse buffet.

The top and two drawer fronts have been sanded to reveal the attractive wood grain and then stained with Varathane’s Briarsmoke.

The old brown wood has been recovered in a chalky white paint, called Etched Glass. The two cabinet doors have a shiplap look and open and close with no rubbing.

I love the look of the original distressed brass hardware and it stays with the piece to maintain its vintage integrity.

The top is 48 1/2″ long and 18″ deep, the base is 47″ long and 17″ deep and it measures 31 1/2″ from the floor to the top. Versatile and beautiful this piece can be used in virtually any room. Place it in an entryway, dining room, breakfast room or kitchen. The shelf inside the cabinet, provides excellent storage for anything from quilts to dinnerware.

Please visit Knicknaques Vintage Boutique at 707 S. Broad St, Monroe, GA or my facebook page at www.facebook.com/knicknaques for more information. Please subscribe to my blog to get first hand information of all my custom furniture reveals, including the makeover of the top of this hutch! 😊

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1920’s Chest of drawers on wood casters

Almost antique, this chest of drawers has classic depression era styling such as carved scrolling on the middle drawer front and wood casters on the short spindle legs.

The top has been sanded and stained a beautiful mahogany and the base is painted in Naturalist Grey which compliments today’s rustic decor trends.

The dovetail drawers have been left in their original condition to maintain a piece of its historical integrity. Antiqued brass ring drawer pulls open the top two drawers and coordinating antiqued brass knobs open the bottom two drawers.

Drawers slide easily in and out and their misalignment at times is typical for vintage furniture of its age. The top is 38″ long and 20″ wide, the bottom is 36″ long and 19″ wide and it is 35″ tall from the floor to the top. Furniture of this size and style have a place in any room. Use it in an entryway, as a buffet in a dining room or as extra storage in a bedroom.

On sale now for only $199 which also includes the matching arched mirror. Please visit Knicknaques Vintage Boutique at 707 S. Broad St. Monroe, GA 30655 for more information or contact me on my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/knicknaques Thanks for looking! Jayme

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Glam faux fur cane back chair

This vintage cane back chair has been totally transformed into a glamorous accent chair, perfect for adding a stylish seat to any chic area. The wood frame and cane back have been painted a pure gold which coordinates well with many of today’s modern styles. The seat has been covered in a white long haired faux fur that is so soft and comfortable, you won’t ever want to get up. It’s unique vintage design can be implemented into any room, in any decor, from bohemian to farmhouse. It measures 25″ long, 32″ tall to the top of the back and the seat is a modest 25″ wide. The seat sits 15″ from the floor. Available now for only $119. Please visit Knicknaques Vintage Boutique 707 S. Broad St., Monroe GA for more information. We are open Friday-Sunday from 1-6pm. Please contact me to arrange additional days or hours. Thanks for looking! Jayme

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Abstract gold leaf french provincial triple dresser

With classic french provincial lines, a fresh coat of paint and a gold leaf design added to her chest, this beauty is sure to liven up any room.

Her exterior has been hand painted in an elegant ivory and her curvy metal hardware has been painted to match. Her center drawers have a dusting of stormy gray looming behind the abstract gold foil. The laminate top has a gold painted trim and has been left in its original condition. It is a coordinating gold and ivory that is in excellent shape and extremely durable. She has three rows of three drawers. The top three have a raised platform with single drawer knobs and the bottom three are deep for more storage. All drawers move freely with no sticking. She is 60″ long, 17″ deep and 32″ tall. Perfect measurements for a variety uses from a console, entry table, buffet or bedroom dresser. Her neutral background ensures she will fit in with any decor and her bold design makes an elegant statement. She is sure to please and priced at only $269. Her current residence is at Knicknaques Vintage Boutique at 707 S. Broad St., Monroe, GA and she can be seen Friday-Sunday from 1-6p. Please contact me for appointments outside these days and hours. Thanks for looking! Jayme

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Vintage Market Days of Charleston, from a vendor perspective

The Vintage Market Days event has been a thing for years and I have seen their advertisements for venues all over the southeast. This year I decided to try a “new” festival and get out of the Atlanta market. I felt fairly confident that I could do well in any environment that was geared totally around the vintage vibe and Knicknaques Vintage Boutique was instantly approved as a vendor for the VMD in Charleston, SC.

I originally chose a 10×20 booth simply because that is the size I am used to working with at the Cotton Pickin’ Fair, but the more I started to think about it, the more intimidated I became. What if I scale back a bit for my first event here? I mean, I had no idea what kind of area I would be working with. Was there going to be a wall on any side? Was there a way to hang my lights and ladder from the ceiling? I knew nothing and honestly had a very hard time getting information about the event and even less about the space I was working with. I immediately contacted them and asked them to change my booth from a 10×20 to a 10×10. So, yes, I chickened out a bit. It was weeks before I finally got a new contract for the 10×10 booth and I found out at the same time, that this particular event had a change in management. That could be good and bad, but went ahead and signed my contract for the 10×10 booth with someone informing me that they would honor my request for a booth with a wall at the back. I breathed a “small” sigh of relief and began prepping.

I wanted a boho inspired look, using white, gold and green colors with natural rattan and wicker. I had the rattan and wicker in stock at the store and set to work painting a couple dressers and a chair. Can you tell I’m obsessed with gold leaf? So pretty, and they both tie in with the look I had in mind. This chair came as a last minute thought. She has been in my basement for years and I was ready to see her transform. I had some leftover white faux fur for recovering the seat and decided on gold spray paint for the frame and cane. She is totally glam now and ready for a new home. But, I will be honest and tell you that I will not be disappointed if she doesn’t sell and I have to bring her home!

I felt more ready for this show than any other and moving day came quick. With the help of my fabulous husband, Greg, we had the trailer packed up and ready to go Wednesday night and we left around 7:30 am on Thursday. The four hour ride left me plenty of time to plan and to worry. I still had no idea about the 10×10 space I would be working with and was told we had 30 minutes to unload, which is no where near enough time for me to figure out what was going in and what was going to have to go back in the trailer. We got in around 12:30 and found we could leave the truck and trailer right outside while we unloaded everything. My booth was so small. I had no way to hang anything from the ceiling and I had NO walls. I was going to have to “make” my own walls using the furniture I had on hand. No big deal…we got this! We managed to cram as much as we could into my little area. Maybe a little too crammed, but I was happy with the end result! We finished setting up around 7:30pm and headed for our little Airbnb Whispering Pines cottage in Summerville. Adorable! After a comfortable night’s sleep, we arrived on at our booth around 9:00 am ready to go! The first 25 people in line received a free goody bag and it was super busy until about 2pm. Sales were great and I was struggling to keep up with restocking my sold inventory. My smalls were flying out the door, but my large furniture was staying put.

After closing, we moved some things around and finished restocking in time for the vendors to be treated to a tasty BBQ dinner. We headed back to our cottage and changed clothes to visit Saltwater Cowboys on Shem Creek in Mt Pleasant. They were recommended to us by a customer and their Trash Can Nachos came in a big tin can that they empty onto a plate. So yummy! I had a Pitt Street Lemonade…or two and Greg had a local Sweet Josie beer. We were full and ready to head back to get to bed.

Saturday sales were half of what they were Friday and my furniture was still sitting which is SO very unusual. Normally my furniture is the first to go! But the vendors around me weren’t selling furniture either. I marked my dressers way down hoping for some action, but…nothing. I’ll try again tomorrow.

Sunday is always SALE DAY. Make me an offer to keep us from having to load it up and take it back home! Sunday was slower than Saturday and I couldn’t sell my dressers. I did, however, sell my giant wooden lockers and a mid century chair that I never even took out of the trailer. One of the friendly vendors we met, Maureen, saved us from having to load up those lockers and when I brought the doors out of the trailer to show her, she spied my mid century lounge chair. She, thankfully, spared us a little more space❣️ Check out her awesome instagram page at Rustic Attitude.

At 4pm when the event closed, I was feeling much better about trailer space and we set to work breaking down the booth and reloading the trailer. This process normally takes us a few hours and we were on the road to go home by 6pm.

It felt good to sleep in my own bed and I’m looking forward to getting my store back in order. We met some great people at this event, but I am not sure if I will participate in another VMD show. The contract that I signed was very specific about all the vendors at this show being vintage or at least vintage inspired. The gutter company that was highlighted twice on VMD Facebook page and the skin rejuvenation booth just didn’t align with what I thought this show was going to be about. I also feel they had every opportunity to highlight each vendor through Facebook and instagram, but there were only a select few that they chose to post and some of them were advertised more than once. I may look into the Atlanta area shows to see if they are any different.

Stay tuned, but for now only 5 more weeks until the Cotton Pickin’ Fair! Visit my Facebook page Knicknaques Vintage Boutique for more information and updates.

Jayme