Inspiration And Simplicity

"Click on photo to detail art"
Created by Dore Callaway (Me)
I never know what's next, I tend to wrap myself around the smallest details of creating, and wait for the outcome to surprise me. The best part of creating a piece really has no boundaries for me, I will use almost anything of interest. Things of old, used, and less valued speak to me, pieces flaking with plenty of distressing battling to find its soul is a favorite find of mine. I love collecting old house moldings, and always find something to do with it, here is one of the many frames I have created from reclaimed wood. By adding just the right amount of aged white paint to them, and distressing it to my likeness it leads me to my next love.

The candlestick from Anthropologie that inspired this piece.

I took a piece of 12" x 12" paneling and used the ruff side so it would mimic a canvas grain to it, then painting a piece that would capture a less than perfect scale to it something that evokes a feeling of French flea market artful romance. This is where Anthropologie comes in, I had purchased two vintage candlesticks both being different, and unique. After a year I had tired of them, and decided maybe I would like them better painted into a piece of art for my shop where I have sold many in similar likeness to this one. Finished size 22" x 22"



When this piece was completed my daughter Hannah was so taken with it she made a request that she would like to buy it from me, please don't let this one go, she pleaded. I rarely design around my own work in our home, and this piece was sold to my daughter for a kiss and a hug. Now hanging over her chest of drawers, this piece places attention to the unnoticed pieces with added simplicity to her French countryside bedroom.




French countryside bedrooms should always be characterized by simplicity. Simple might mean less then important, yet a French country bedroom is anything but less then. Don't mistake less then with uncomfortable, French countryside should mean simply warm, simply pretty, simplicity in comfort-and wonderful, regardless whether the room is large or small.

"Click on photo" details paint technique
This small side table chest went from dark tiger oak to me painting and distressing it with natural aged feel. It is a French white with a hint of gray,(Dutch Boy paint) eggshell finish, paint color "Spectacular" DB356-1

Inspiring simplicity and grace that carries your heart.
"What ever you paint, paint with all your heart."

Quiet, Calm & Soulfully French

"click photos to enlarge detail"
Artist Dore Callaway (Me)
A gracious European flea market find, these serving trays inspired the French feel and look of a hand painted Fresco panel. There were four trays with beautifully aged brass handles that held the trays on there stand. These handles added a perfect piece of history enabling them to hang artfully. My next step was to give them a new old paint finish to each of them painted to look inherited with lasting romance, while adding centuries-old European character to any euro chic room.


Vintage serving trays that I have painted restyling them with paint like plaster tones of whites and grays, French guilt touches of gold undertones peek through here, and there. The plan for these trays were to turn them into French fresco panels, giving a home a collected and gathered feel rather than one that's forced with design style.


I love when home decor is understated, its not boastful or aw-inspiring its just rich with European flea market finds and oh so peaceful. This serving tray is painted and distressed with water stained techniques, adding to the gracefulness of the floral vines and wild bird perched upon its twig. I don't always' feel you need to use dramatic color's to define your space, I just love creating with color and piece's that don't compete with other elements to much like this fresco art panel painted with heirloom quality.


"Inspiring French flea market style" You will find this piece listed in my peaceful "etsy" SOLD!! To Jill In Canada 1-4-11 One more left to be listed.

Rescue, Re-Think And Reuse

Recycled found objects make for beautiful holiday gifting.

Every recycled piece has a class of its own. Giving these teacup candles and old saucers a new place in our hearts and homes by filling them with candle wax and wicks. Breathing new life into them, while scattering kindness when gifted to a special someone. I collected 38 of them from yard sales, thrift stores and where ever I could pick up an odd one here and there. I was room Mom one Christmas for my daughter Hannah's 4th grade class many years ago, where we made them for a class Christmas gift project for there Mom's. What a great gifting idea for those mismatched sets, making for beautiful candle light moments.

When thinking about recycling for gift giving, it is important to stay far away from memories of using garish crocheted object from craft fairs as possible. Stay away from mass produced pieces, items we have all had enough of seen over and over in one home to another. Choose items that fit each ones personality with simple aged beauty like these Italian flint, and wine bottles. You can cut off the bottoms with a bottle glass cutter then sanding the edges smooth turning them into vintage hurricanes for there garden, or home dinning. These hurricanes in a set of 3 wrapped up with candles would be a gift that shows how much you gave them great thought.


They’re gathered from estate sales, vintage markets and antique stores all over and European flea market chic in style. So what if the pieces don’t match? That’s half the fun! It’s a true celebration of life in gifting beautiful thoughtful collections of mismatched silver and plated flatware. You can find these charming pieces everywhere these days. Just take and polish them up, wrapping them with a sweet holiday note to as why you felt they were the perfect gift for there cottage home entertaining. You can never have to much silver, and silver plate with the charm of the history behind the settings. When they see that you did your part in recyling they too will be charmed and will wish they had thought of it first.

These Silver, and silver plated butler tray's are the new hot item in our cottage and euoropean flea market decor. We short list a beautiful cast off, not recognizing the buy and hunt for recycling a claim on a salvage piece. A rustic Christmas holiday shopping trip to a local thrift or a great salvage junk shop is not only fun, but rewarding knowing your doing your part in recycling and sharing your love of history in these beautiful treasures. To buy for a recycled holiday can be idyllic that proves recycled is beauty for your home and earth. Despite its piece or where it came from a treasured find of any kind is one that cannot be passed up. Best of all the savings are worth the creative effort. I love using these trays on a night stand with a lamp placed on top of it with beauitfully framed photographs placed just so. The tray will beckon you in to take a closer look at your bedside vintage charm.

A real bakers gift with these vintage rolling pins. They can be found at most all thrift stores, and make for farmhouse cottage charm to any country bakers kitchen. How about these recyled rolling pins wrapped up with your favorite pastry recipe book for a holiday gift. You can taged the rolling pin with your favorite pie crust recipe card, and a beautiful pie baking dish. This gift will let a love one know you remember, and miss her beautiful tasting pies.

These vintage silver flatware forks turned into cheese markers inspire all those odd mismatched forks, turning them into art. What a great way to recycle vintage found forks! and a perfect holiday gift for anyone who loves to entertain home parties with an assortment of cheese's and wines. I just know "Rita" at http://beachhouseliving.blogspot.com will love creating these. If you have not been over to see Rita lately, please do. Check out Rita's vintage flatware on her site, along with etsy shop. Rita will amaze you with her recycled silver flatware markers, a perfect recycled holiday gift buy.
INSPIRING RECYCLED HOLIDAY'S

Retreat To Your Sanctuary

"Click photo's to enlarge"

Sanctuary Sign is offered on my sites "Peaceful Etsy"
Hand painted on reclaimed salvaged mahogany by myself. Aged wood has never felt so peacefully tranquil. A sign that is not only soul soothing but one that is coaxing you to relax, as well as reflect.

Retreat to your sanctuary refuge, be it a nostalgic place in your home filled with flea market piece's, or an art studio transformed from a rustic garden shed creating a sanctuary hideaway in a quiet corner of your quintessential country life. With coats of whites, washed with gray's, and some reclaimed salvaged wood inspiring you to create your own sanctuary.

I would love to thank "Rita" a beautiful blogger Beachhouseliving.blogspot.com for the purchase of her 2 signs, "Sanctuary" and "Nest" from my hand painted peaceful etsy. Along with "Marlene" jujubescoastal.blogspot.com for your custom ordered sign "Seaside Cottage" thanking "Jo" Secretgardencottage.blogspot.com for another of my signs, thanking "Laura" Verbenanestedtreasures.blogspot.com for your art orders for your beautiful shop. Thanks ladies for supporting my passion and art. Don't forget to go visit these ladies beautiful blogs they will inspire a Sanctuary place.

Inspiring you to create one, or this sign offered on my peaceful "Etsy"

Bohemian Spirit

"Click on photo's to enlarge"
To find such brocante gems as the little vintage bottles contained in this glass lid canister. You must travel your flea markets, second hand stores, tag and estate sales with a bohemian spirit.

Bohemian is a radical outlook on a collective flea market style in art and life. A bohemian steps over the rules of all things above and beyond conventional treasure seeking the next European flea market find. Designing around an easy, graceful, joyous unconsciousness guided by the principles of a feeling. Bohemian style is not narrow minded on a mix in designs to create your own environment, developing originality is a big part of your finds. A person of bohemian has a "devotion to one or more of the seven arts... and once known to live in poverty." I would guess the reasoning would be the gypsy like passion for old world flea market style with art, and designs in a poetic life.


French European imported cabinet in boho chic style, our perfect place to contain extra china pieces and entertaining needs. As you notice my latest sign i've painted..."Brocante" French for flea market gems, is temporarily placed waiting for a perfect place to rest.

The French are known for there baskets, in addition to there use and storage style. The square rusty one is from Anthropologie there found objects, and the round egg basket was a great ebay find, both baskets adding charm and function.

Designing around bohemian French flea market style, is irresistible to the eye of one who seeks it. I love things to surprise me with its neutral palette, and how the simplist piece adds to its presentation; resulting in a magical setting.

This slipcovered man tailored white button down old dress shirt is so bohemian chic, gypsy in style. I took and fitted the chairs with old white dress shirts for bohemain entertaining. You can see the face of the shirt up to the table ( back a few pictures) where it was buttoned down the front, the arms are wrapped to the backside tied and tagged with a special greeting or name place.

I hope this inspires, and brings the European boho chic out in all of you.