Oh how I heart Fall!!!

There are no words to explain how giddy I become when we get that first "cool spell." That's what my Mom and grandfather always called what they also called the first "cold snap." For my entire life, I have been in love with September, for so many reasons. In fact, if I was the type to do such a thing, which I certainly am not, I should have named one of my daughters September.

I guess it all started when I was born in September. Every year, regardless of where we lived, a special package would come in the mail from my grandmother in Seguin. It was always something fabulous, and usually, a really cute outfit to wear in the fall. One year when I was about seven, the birthday package contained some dark purple bell bottoms -- in velvet. There was a lighter purple blouse, and a purple vest that went over the shirt. I'm telling you, I rocked that outfit as often as I could, until I wore the velvet off the knees. As you might imagine, I love fall and winter clothes much more than summer clothes. Plus, I'm modest, and prefer to leave something to the imagination, as in "clothed." I also was born to wear fall colors because of my brown hair and hazel eyes.

And then there was the start of school, which always meant school clothes! When I was growing up in Alpine, August and September were heavenly (still are!). Warm days fueled thunder storms and cooling rains. By September 25, my birthday, the temperatures would always cool down so I could wear whatever school clothes we bought at the mall in Odessa -- or at Joske's in San Antonio. This year, Mother Nature was a couple days late, but she remembered my birthday and sent some cooler temperatures all the way to Seguin.

So what does this have to do with my painted groove, interiors and design? Well, I've noticed it's not just me. Cooler temperatures signal something in us, beckoning us indoors, turning our attention to nesting and fixing up the interiors of our homes. Whether cooler weather gets us to thinking about the holidays, a fire in the fireplace, cozying up the place, I don't know, but it dependably happens.

At this very moment, I am scheming to revamp my girls' bathroom, searching for curtains for practically every room in the house, and still praying for that cream shag rug I have requested for my birthday and Christmas for at least two years. (hint, hint)

I loved this room designed by Wisteria. I generally am a color girls, so the red and black appealed to me. But the cream and gray grounds it and lends a restful quality. I have a dresser I could probably "faux" to look like that little gem being used bedside.

And I love these windows and this rolling shelf in this kitchen -- from Restoration Hardware. Why do I suddenly hate cabinets? A lack of cabinetry, definitely uppers, appears to be all the rage. Sure, upper cabinets close me in and offend my delicate sensibilities, but a kitchen like that is only practical if you have a huge butler's pantry, (which I don't). And in this particular photo and most kitchen photo shoots, you can see the faux family has no plastic Tinker Bell sandwich holders or Lisa Frank lunch boxes drying on the island.

My need for change extends to almost every room of the house. For example, I want to throw out all my furniture and get two of these chairs, in this exact color. Oh my God this would be fabulous in my house, with the cream-colored shag rug. The only problem is, I'd have to throw out my sofa and all my other furniture because they would not seamlessly mesh. Oh well.

This room below, from Restoration Hardware, is a little fancy for me and my life, but I loooove the linen-covered sofas and the warm tones coming from the fire. And four tall floor lamps at the corners of the living space? Brilliant. I love it.

Of course in my house, those lamps would fall to the tune of "timberrrrrrrr" probably in the first week. Unfortunately, or fortunately, whaterver ... we're pretty casual around here. And, there would be Littlest Pet Shop animals strategically placed all around the bases of the side tables. Now you can understand why I am somewhat insane.

So am I alone here? Is anyone else looking inward, with an eye toward spoofing up the nest?

How to find heaven while still on earth ...

Have you ever thought about what heaven will look like? We decided last week it looks like this niche. This is the kind of thing that makes me happy. It blows my skirt up and floods me with thankfulness because I am so blessed to be able to work and make money doing something that beautifies the world.

While beautification and transformation are the underlying principles in practically everything I think about, it's not that way for everyone. Sometimes we get clients who just want faux finishes because the people down the street have them, or because they saw them at the Parade of Homes. We do the amazing job and they're happy, but not in a profound way. It's more like: "Okay, I can check that off my list."

But other times, we suggest color changes and make improvements that change the way our clients actually "feel" when they are in their homes. In this house with the heavenly niche, our client was absolutely ecstatic about the glorious changes we were making in her home. She thanked us profusely, and meant it. She was the most joyful person: funny, genuine, thankful. She was a blessing to us!

Back to the heavenly niche: You must know it was a collaborative effort. My very talented angel painter friend Mary Hulin started it by skimming out the monterrey drag texture (blek!). Monterrey is just hell on fine faux finishes, but Mary made this niche as smooth as a baby's bottom. Then, a day or so later, with my neck in a permanent right-cranked cramp from the dining room ceiling, I begged to do the plaster. A straight-ahead niche was a welcome break.

It has become our new favorite finish.

Across the way, this is the dining room ceiling that right-cranked my neck and later wiped Mary out. Here's the before:

Poor little boring thing is just begging for something to be done so it can stand out and shine! You know this upgrade feature wasn't cheap and so far wasn't living up to its potential!

And after! So pretty and elegant. And worth all the paint, plaster and aggravation.

If there's a moral to the story here (and isn't there always a moral to my stories?) it has to be this: Please go find your special purpose. Whatever blows your skirt up. It may take you the rest of your life, and it isn't going to be easy, filled with nothing but peace and love and puppies. But I promise that if you look and listen you will find it.

Next up: a dreary little bathroom that has become an embarrassment.

A jig, a job, an online garage sale ...

Let's just say my painted groove has taken a jig and a jog, and a long break from blogging. An obsession with simplicity has emerged. My taste in faux finishes has changed. I want less stuff, no clutter, manageable spaces, and using our monetary resources in other ways than we have been. It's a new day and it's exciting.

In the interest of time, here's the short version: I indulged my long-time passion for painted furniture last year and began selling vintage and antique pieces at Back Alley Antiques in San Antonio. Then I met a new faux finisher friend and started collaborating on jobs with her. This made me too busy to paint furniture on a speculative basis. So earlier this week I brought all my leftover treasures home.

Now the old me would have kept them all and incorporated them into my home. New me wants to sell everything at a huge discount. That's why I'm telling y'all. If you like it, it's yours. If you need measurements, just let me know. If you like the piece but it's the wrong color or you have a better idea, you have come to the right place. I can fix it for you.

After this, it's going up for sale on craigslist, up for grabs to those "other people."

An estate auction find. Alphabet Jumble Table in metallic silver, antiqued finish $98

I am still a huge fan of Back Alley Antiques. In fact, I think it's critical to respect and incorporate older furniture and accessories in our lives because they add character and a rich energy into our homes. Nothing makes me crazier than new houses full of nothing but new furniture. But then that's another subject for another post.

"Half a Table" console with faux dark chocolate leather top $125

When my new friend Mary asked me to consider painting with her, I was a little leary. Most of the time, at least in my world, art is not a collaborative process. And, other people can get on your nerves. That's why I do what I do. I like to think, create, pray and transform -- on the job. For me the work is regenerative. I didn't want to mess that up. But as it turned out, Mary has been the best blessing. She works so hard, and is very talented. And, we laugh a lot. I have seen the error of my ways.

I really don't want anybody to buy this. $150

Petite pink, gold & chocolate antiqued side table with leopard spots $89

As a freaky perfectionist who wants to do everything, and do it perfectly, my painted furniture and antiques endeavor was nagging at me, and making me feel like a loser because I wasn't giving it my best. If there's one thing I have learned it's this: If something is bugging you, get to the bottom of it and change it! Prune it and free yourself to grow in new areas. And read Secrets of the Vine by Bruce Wilkinson.

Cool mirror from an estate auction $50

3-tier spooly table. This is just way too cute. $80

Martha Washington sewing cabinet, $40. The legs are a little "off" but it stands straight.

Princess Pilar's Naughty Chair, $50

Of course this isn't everything. I'll charge my battery and take some more pics. Leave a comment if you're interested!