Summer's End

I don't know about you, but it seems to me that Summer is over as soon as the kiddos head back to school.  I don't feel like waiting until September 23 to start getting geared up for Fall.  I really felt though like this latest piece needed to have that easy, breezy summer feel to it.  That mellow, melting last of the sunny yellow days feel.  I gave you a sneak peak of this sweet little 3 drawer chest that I picked up a few weeks back.  Remeber this?
I worked on this last week and finished it up to show you today.  I just have to say that I might have a really, really hard time letting this one ever leave.  See what you think.

She truly is so sweet.  She was base coated in ASCP Cream, then highlighted in Old White.  When I finished I really thought she needed something on the pretty side panels.  I found more inspiration in Country Collectibles #65 2011 Decorating Shortcuts/Quick Updates.   These techniques were tutorials taken from
Quick & Easy Paint Transformations  by Annie Sloan, CICO Books, 2010, 160pp.

I simply followed the simple directions for painting the cow parsley as Annie outlined.  The technique is simple enough for those with no fine painting training or skills to accomplish.  Your tools are a little paint (I used some decoart that I had on hand in a soft gray), torn pieces of cardboard from a cereal box, and a matchstick.  I'm telling you, I have got to get this book! 

Another shot of the other side.

New hardware and very light distressing with a clear wax finish complete this piece, which may need to live at my house for a long while!

I have to confess to being a DIY/Decorating Magazine junkie.  I pick up a lot of them along the way to oooh and ahhh over the inspiring photos.  I really do buy a lot of them, but I have never dog-eared so many pages as I have out of this Decorating Shortcuts edition.  I'm finding tons of inspiring ideas in here.  So I have to know, because so many of you out there are so UBER CREATIVE, where do you find your inspiration?  What makes your head spin with fresh ideas?  I have to say, it sometimes seems daunting to try and come up with something fresh when so many have already gone before you.  I check out tons of blogs everyday to feed my creative fires, I buy a lot (sorry Mr.) of lovely magazines, and I've even joined the Pinterest hoards and am learning all about "pinning".  Heaven help me!  Tell me what you do to stay fresh, to push yourself to try something new, to stay energized??

Have a happy week!
Deb
Linked to:
http://mollysusanstrong.blogspot.com/2011/08/market-monday-with-linky-my-real.html
http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/2011/08/piece-of-work-wednesday-furniture-link_30.html
http://shadesofamberinc.blogspot.com/2011/08/weekly-chalk-paint-link-party.html