To the Beach!

I have been really busy so I haven't had any time to create and blog and I miss it.  Last year I had the opportunity to go 3 different areas in the US and 3 different beaches.  I used to live on Kodiak island in Alaska and grew to love the ocean.  Now I live hours from an ocean.  Visiting so many last year has made me long for the coast.  I'm going to Florida in October, but until then I thought I would do a little decorating to hold me over until then. I was inspired by a boardwalk.  When I went to Florida I walked down this long warm, sandy boardwalk and I knew I wanted something with that feel for my art piece.  I went to Lowe's and purchased a 3' x 4' beadboard.  They come precut and cost about $10.00. 

Notice it has a little lip on it, so that you can panel a wall with them.  I didn't need that so my sweet hubby cut it off while I took the picture.

To be sure that the board wouldn't warp I cut simple strips of wood and nailed them to the back. No one is going to see this part so it doesn't have to be perfect.

Then I whitewashed the entire board and came up with a beachy saying I wanted to use.  I measured, (not my thing!) and stenciled on the words.

Here comes the hard part.... am I happy with this just like it is? Hmmm, not sure.  I visioned an old boardwalk and this doesn't look old, so I decide to put a brown wash on it. I didn't take a picture of it like that but I lived with it for about 2 weeks and decided that I was not happy with it still.  So I took it back off of the wall and sanded it and whitewashed it again.

Here is the final product.  I think I am happy with it.  It looks like a real old boardwalk and that is what I wanted.  It looks great with my other beachy decor.

Here is a closeup.  Sorry about the lighting, I can't figure out how to fix that.

I love this little house.  It's a paper mache' house I bought at Hob Lob and painted it white and green.It reminds me of all the pretty pastel houses on the beach.

I glued crushed seashells that I bought at Michael's (I think) to the roof.  I just love this little house but I think I need to put an address or something else on the front. Any ideas?

Look at these little seashell balls.  I LOVE them. I have had them forever and love that I can use them on this table.The little bottle with the jute on it, heaven!  Clearance!!!

Here is the other side of the table. That large vase I bought several years ago. It was the beginning inspiration for this room when I decided to redo it.  I love it on this table because it looks like fossils. There is a tiny little jar of seaglass.  That is glass from Kodiak.  As a teenager I remember seeing it on my best friends kitchen  window seal.  When I went back for my reunion a few years ago her mom gave it to me.  It sits on my window now. I love that I can use it on my beachy table.

Isn't this cool, I just love it!

Looking at this makes me smile and makes October not seem so far away.  How about you are you going to the beach this year?