Starting My Altar.......

Antique Icon, painted on tin............

Found in Colorado by my mother in law Anna.

I have wanted to make a larger altar  for quite a while.

 My small one is always so jumbled and loaded that

to handle anything on it means moving other 

things around......not good.

With Dio De los Muertos just around the corner

this seemed like a good time to at least get a start on a larger one.

So inspired by all the beautiful ones I have been seeing on 

some of my favorite blogs, I sat down with a list of 

how I wanted to be able to use mine, what I wanted it to  

include, and where I wanted to put it. 

I bought this little cupboard 3 years ago at a citywide garage sale.

It's been sitting in my garage .....waiting.......

I decided it was the perfect size, and will just fit on my buffet

in the dining room. 

First step: Took out the shelf so I can

put in taller objects and have more light.

Second : Painted the inside........the paint is still wet here.

Since my plan is to leave this up year round

I needed to use colors that are somewhat compatible

with the rest of the house. You can see here 

that I toyed briefly with  the idea of turquoise....

Couldn't do it.

So black it is.

This paint was in the garage , left over from another project. 

I also love the two drawers, I think they will be handy to store

incense, candles, photos, etc.

A tin heart I made, surrounded by milagros.

I didn't have enough milagros, but a little visit to Ebay, and now more are on their way. 

I'll add them later.

Starting the fun part...............

At home, sitting on top the buffet.

The old test tube is for flowers.

The flower frog is to hold photos.

(Hey Steph......notice the postcard!!!!!...:)

Still more to do,

I have some religious medals I want to add,

But I like things that are an ongoing process,

(like me!)

I am happy with this first version,

and  will be decorating it next week for

Dia De los Muertos.........

So......to be continued .........:)

BTW: If you want to see some stunning

altars that will take your breath away,

visit Lauries' blog to see some of hers as well

as links to other beautiful altars.