Happy New Year and My Favorite Projects from 2011

I hope you all had a wonderful New Year!  I love the beginning of a new year because I feel so fresh, like I can accomplish anything.  I have taken a long holiday vacation in sunny San Diego and I am sure that helps too.  I know 2012 will be a busy year starting right when I return home, but for now I am still enjoying the last day or two of my escape from real life.

When I look at all the projects I finished last year, it gives me motivation for the coming year, especially when I feel like I can't possibly squeeze everything I need to get done into one year.  I enjoy looking back at everything I accomplished last year and picking out my favorite projects, starting with this old world chandelier that I finished last March.

My next favorite project from 2011 is the full set of cane back dining chairs. I am starting to see a pattern here...both the chandelier and these chairs were extremely labor intensive.  I guess they were labors of love!  When I put so much elbow grease into a piece, I can't help but love it when it is done.  I used a lot of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint last year and this set of chairs was one of my first Chalk Paint projects.

If the amount of energy I put in influences my choices for my favorites, then these parson chair slipcovers are no exception.  I had never made slipcovers for chairs before, so these were quite the feat for me. 

My next favorite is this Country Gray and Old White Chalk Paint armoire.  I loved this piece at first sight and it was not hard to make it beautiful.  I also really like the complex, yet neutral, shade of Chalk Paint.

My last, favorite of 2011 is this two-toned, vintage hutch. I painted it with Pure White and Duck Egg Blue Chalk Paint and it made quite a transformation for this, once outdated, dining hutch.

Thanks for joining me for my highlights of 2011.  I hope that I can accomplish this much and more in 2012. I wish you all the best for a happy, fulfilled and productive new year!