Ottomans and Tea pots

In search for the perfect birthday present for The boyfriend's Mom, I came across a really cute idea on pinterest to add some details to a plain white tea pot. (Jim, if you are reading this, don't share with your wife just yet, I want it to be a surprise) I headed to a local shopping center with both a Tuesday Morning store AND a Target. I swung by Tuesday Morning first, thinking that they might have a wider variety of tea pot options. Sadly, I was mistaken.

However, on my way out, I passed through the furniture section and to my surprise happened upon the most lovely ottoman!  I have been searching and searching for everything from fabric ,to upholster my own hand made ottoman, to finding one already perfect but with no luck.  I have found quite a few that were very nice but who knew that ottomans ranged from the $160-$800 range?? For a place to put your feet? Who knew? I was almost afraid to look at the price tag on the ottoman I had stumbled upon, but was so excited when I did! It was cheaper than any of the others I had seen and was so wonderfully set to my current decor. In a place like Tuesday Morning, I knew I had to get it then or it would be gone! So I quickly brought it to the register and was out the door and on to Target.

I could not wait to get my new purchase home and see how it looked with all of my decor!  I think you will agree that it fits right in!

 

 

I just LOVE the finished look it brings to my living room! I had hoped to build my own ottoman, with some assistance from The Boyfriend, but when I was having SUCH a hard time finding the perfect decorator fabric and with our crazy schedules, I had no idea when that might actually happen. But I am so pleased with my little bargain furniture piece! Take a look at the close-up of the fabric, I just love it!

 



And with that, my living room re-do is complete! :) I may re-finish some nice old fashioned wine crates or something for storage underneath my ottoman, but I am VERY happy with my new room.

With that done, it was time to move on to The Boyfriend's Mom's birthday present. I selected a plain white tea pot and two matching teacups from Target. I grabbed 3 coordinating bottles of blue paints from Martha Stewart's paint collection. (from left, "beach glass", "surf", "pond")

 

I rubbed down the tea pot and cups with a cotton ball and rubbing alcohol to prepare the surface for paint. While that dried, I grabbed a paper plate and some toothpicks and poured out a bit of each color.

 



I started with the tea pot and the darkest Blue paint. I made several large dots in a varied pattern and then around each large dot, I painted on several random small dots. I repeated this with the other 2 blue colors to create a somewhat even pattern.

Once this step was done, I went back through and filled in open spaces with small dots to connect everything together. I made a few "swirlies" with dots around the outer edges of my design to make it appear more purposeful. I had no idea what shape my pattern would take when I started, but I just went along with it and I think it came out very nicely.

I repeated the same concept with the cups and I like this set so much that I am seriously considering making a set for myself!

I can't wait to give it to The Boyfriend's Mom. I hope that she loves it!  I know that I promised you all a post on my Grandparent's anniversary party, but I am waiting on some pictures from my sister. I hope to have all the juicy details for you next week. Have a great week everyone!