“Practice doesn't make perfect, practice reduces the imperfection.”

“Practice doesn’t make perfect.
Practice reduces the imperfection.”

by Toba Beta, Master of Stupidity. I have no idea who that is, but I love the quote.

When I was doing our Spring Mantel I was thinking how my decorating style is SO not perfect. Not magazine like, and not styled to perfection. And you know what? I love being imperfect, and think I have mastered that quite nicely…ALMOST. Remember, I’m not perfect at even being imperfect. In other words I am not a “perfectionist”. Obviously, you see that in my work. I am driven to inspire, I am passionate at what I do and share, and just in case you haven’t noticed, I have a lot of energy balled up inside me. I actually feel bad for “perfectionist” types of personalities. That’s a whole lot of pressure to deal with on a daily basis. I would however say at this point I have had a lot of practice in my work, hence, practice reduces imperfection. Moral of the story. Decorate with what you Love! make it your own and it will make you smile.

Now onto Spring decor on the mantel.

Spring is not my favorite season to decorate for. If you have been around for a while, I think I tell you this every single year. At this point, I have figured out what works in our home, and what truly does not. Pastels, DO NOT!

But I love color, and I love all color so I try to incorporate that all four season.

I made the ribbon rag banner last summer.

I thought it was a good time to bring it back and perhaps add just a touch of Spring to it.

I found the cute wood cut outs at Michaels for 99 cents a piece.

I dug out my chalky paint and picked out some colors that would compliment the ribbon in my swag.

I gave the cut outs one coat of chalky paint and a light coat of wax which is optional. The one coat of paint was fine.

Of course the little cut outs all represent Spring.

I just hot glued a piece of ribbon to the back and tied the top around my rag swag.

Not perfect at all. In fact, it truly looks raggy lol!

And speaking of more imperfections. This clock we recently purchased from a junk store in a rural little town around an hour away from our home. We stopped on the way back home from a Jazz performance our son had. We had about $40.00 in our pockets and wound up having to borrow some off our son to buy something else.

The average person would not even take a second look at this damaged and charred clock. However, both Mike and I stopped in our tracks. I wish I knew the story behind it. Assuming it once sat on a fireplace mantel and caught on fire, it was simply discarded as junk.

That is the beauty of it, once again the imperfections. And it has a story..untold.

But I like it and it makes me smile with the happy colors of Spring.

The shutters are a new addition and I will be sharing all about those real soon. I will show the full current picture with the clock as well. I have some tweaking to do. And not that I want it perfect, I just have too much stuff on here. Mike and I are officially the junk house!

Thanks for stopping over today to my imperfect little world.

If you are not a regular, I sure hope to see you back again, but only if you’re not perfect!

You can check out my

Spring gallery of ideas while you are here.

And while you are at it, you may enjoy my Home tour gallery with over 80 beautiful, some perfect, and some not so perfect homes.

Comments

Veronica Roth says
April 2 at 8:41 am

I think it looks perfectly wonderful Debbie. And, since I collect a lot of antiques, I love the char marks and the chips and the history of each piece, so your clock is perfect to me too. I really have to make more of an effort to redecorate for spring! At least go and paint a few Easter eggs…lol.

- debbiedoo's says
  April 2 at 8:43 am
  
  Thanks Veronica! Like I said it is my least favorite season to decorate for. I just don’t have a Springy home:) outdoors I do, and I can’t wait to have some green grass and flowers in bloom.
  
Denise Monville says
April 2 at 12:05 pm

I just love this Debbie. What a cute idea with the cut outs. I am on the scout for a mantel for our family room to repurpose one day, right now I make the banners up and place them on my hutch. Thanks always for the inspiration!

Kirby says
April 3 at 6:53 am

That’s exactly what I love about “stuff”–the story. I don’t want anything in my house that doesn’t have one! I love that clock!

Kelly says
April 3 at 7:54 am

I call it ‘perfectly imperfect’! Perfectly imperfect is perfect! Ha ha.

Cindy says
April 3 at 8:19 am

Sweet mantel Debbie, and I love your clock!
Blessings,
Cindy

Claire @ A Little Claireification says
April 3 at 8:34 am

Great post, Debbie. I love that clock too and I think your banner is so much fun! Pinned!

ann says
April 3 at 8:36 am

Perfection is a myth. I doesn’t exist and the sooner we all realize that the better! Love your mantel…

Donna Marie says
April 3 at 8:53 am

I had a teacher who said “Practice doesn’t make perfect, especially if you practice wrong!”

- debbiedoo's says
  April 3 at 9:56 pm
  
  I like that LOL!
  
Angie says
April 3 at 2:36 pm

Looks cute (everything you do does!) 🙂 I am so bad I did not put out my Easter Decorations this year!

martina says
April 4 at 9:49 am

You know I prefer an imperfect piece over a perfect one!! Your Spring banner is too cute and I love your new clock! Have a wonderful Easter Debbie!

laurie says
April 4 at 9:52 pm

Sorry if you’ve posted about your spectacular copper screen in the past, but can you tell me where you got it?
Thanks very much!
PS – I love the clock too.

- debbiedoo's says
  April 5 at 7:52 am
  
  Found the screen a long time ago. I think it came from Home decorators catalog, but just don’t remember.
  
Kathleen says
April 8 at 8:40 am

That clock on your mantel looks very similar to one I have passed down in my family. Mine was from my great or great great grandfather. My mother told me that it is a kitchen clock. (I’m 63 and she is 91) Mine is a little more ornate but still looks like the same type. Does yours look very old or a copy? anyway just wanted to give you a little background on the clock if it is the same type. Maybe you could email me a picture and I could send you back a picture of mine. I also have mine sitting on my mantle.

- debbiedoo's says
  April 8 at 9:31 am
  
  Hi Kathleen..yes I have since found it out mine is a kitchen clock. It is old, very old. The fellow told us it was from the early 1900’s and it looks every bit of it. We love it..burned and all.