Easy DIY Charcuterie Board/Pizza Peel

Hello, Dear Friends!!

How are you all acclimating to a Summertime pandemic-wrought?  I hope you are faring well.  We have been trying to play it safe here, especially because Mr. Parsimonious works in the medical field.


I don't know why, but the Summer months often make me think of the Mediterranean countryside.  Perhaps it has to do with the fervent weather.  My palate also craves a lighter menu this time of year.  Two of my favorite things to eat this time of year are wood-fired pizzas and beautiful nibbles presented on a charcuterie board.

Charcuterie is the French art of preparing different types of meats that are often sold in a delicatessen.  A huge board for presenting these delightful noshes is a perfect addition any entertainer, epicurist, or chef-aspirant's paraphernalia, but the board can also be utilized as a board to slide pizzas into a fire-brick oven.

In today's post, I am sharing a simple tutorial of how I made an extra-large presentation board perfect for the dual uses of charcuterie presentation and as a pizza peel (paddle).  I hope you enjoy the post!


You will need a large plank of wood.  I chose a beautiful African Mahogany.  I really loved the gorgeous grain of the wood.  I bought my plank from the Home Depot.

I began by roughly sketching (very rough, lol!!) a drawing of my handle.  I wanted my board to be quite large, so I kept the wood at the 3-foot size as purchased and didn't cut any away, save for the handle.

I cut the template using a jigsaw, carefully following the lines.



Next, I cut out a hole that will be used for hanging the completed piece on a wall.  To cut out the hole, I drew an approximate area where I wanted it to land, and then


cut it out using a drill fitted with a Forstner wood-boring drill bit.



A closer look.



Next, I used an oscillating spindle sander to smooth out all those edges.  An oscillating sander works very well for sanding out curves.



Finally, I used a sheet (finishing) sander fitted with sandpaper of varying grits to complete the board, removing any flaws and/or remaining pencil marks.  I began with papers of coarser grits, continuing to decrease the roughness of the paper with each sanding succession until the final sanding, for which I used a very fine grit paper.  As you sand, be sure to sand in the same direction of the wood grain.

To seal the wood, I used a mineral oil I found at Ikea.  You can likely find cutting board wood oil at any hardware store, or even on Amazon.  Just be sure that it is a food-grade or food-safe oil.  You may also opt to add a layer of all-natural bees wax to the wood as well as an additional sealant.  The same rule applies; be sure it is food-safe!!

Just use a very clean, soft dry cloth and wipe the mineral oil on the board until all of the wood is covered.  The mineral oil will absorb into the wood and act as a barrier between the raw wood and your food.  It will also protect the wood.  Be sure to repeat this process after every few uses.

Completed board.

Handle Detail.

I can't wait to use it!!  Please stay tuned, I will be sharing some special treats soon!

If you have enjoyed this tutorial, you may pin it here:

Or, if you prefer, here:

Until next we meet,

-Y

If you enjoy this post, please visit the archives!  You may also visit my full profile to view my other blogs. Connect with me on my Facebook Page, Parsimonious Décor Darling.   You might like to visit my other blog hubs,

The Marvelous Maison, a lifestyle blog hub and 

Frugal Fab Fashionista, my fashion blog hub. 

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Thank you for stopping by! ❤

Mirror in the Bathroom

Hello, friends!!  I hope you are all having a fabulous Summer!

A little bit ago, while on one of my infamous jaunts through antiquity and curiosity via locality, I came upon a wonderful gilded mirror.

I was immediately attracted by its ornate detail and impressive heft.  It was definitely a statement piece.

So gorgeous!!

ALAS...

There was but one wee problem. 

I am typically not a huge fan of gilded gold.  I usually prefer the understated elegance and calm of cool silver, and when I want something exuding warmth, it is usually a beautiful oil-rubbed bronze.

Our little casita is a Spanish Colonial Revival, or at least that is how we have styled it; yet the aesthetic inside is what I like to refer to as European Hodgepodge.  There are Spanish, French, Italian, and English Country elements, all of which lend to a home that is comfortable and cozy with a sort of old world charm.

A while ago I shared in this post how to add fabric to your walls using starch.

Well, while I was on hiatus last year, I repeated the process in another powder room, which is the guest powder room.  This time, I decided to go with a warm damask which incorporated all of the colors in the home.  Here is a look at the fabric.  Isn't it fab!?  I had 'interviewed' several, and none of them spoke to me until this one.

When the walls were barren, Mr. Parsimonious picked up a mirror.  While the color was fine, this mirror looked much more African Safari or British Colonial than Old World.  It wouldn't work with the new damask fabric.  Quel dommage!!

When I started blogging, I shared in this post how I made over another thrifted mirror.

Utilizing the same process, I stained the new mirror, but this time, I used an oil rubbed bronze antiquing glaze by Valspar sold by Lowe's.

I decided I didn't want to deplete all of the gold completely, but have it act as an accent of the piece.  Therefore, I didn't cover the mirror in an opaque fashion as I had done previously, and I used a much lighter hand. 

I made sure to apply glaze into the little crevices, and on the higher points, I wiped the glaze back off.

Here is a side-by-side comparison.  This mirror now is much more to my liking.  It doesn't shout, "HELLLLLOOOO, NOTICE ME!!! I'M GOOOOOLLLLLD!!!"  Now, it is much more elegant and less gaudy; it doesn't look like inexpensive faux plastic, and the gold is instead a fine detail of what now looks like something much older.

Doesn't this look like it has always belonged in this powder room!!?

Alongside dainty dancers,

the beautiful damask,

an antique stone toothbrush receptacle, a (DARLING!) monogrammed towel, and lavender;

it is now also much more complimentary to the stone architectural elements,

oil rubbed lighting, sink, 

and other elements of the powder room.  It becomes a perfect melding of Old World rustic charm and pretty.

What is your style aesthetic? 

Until next we meet...

If you enjoy this post, please visit the archives!  You may also visit my full profile to view my other blogs. Connect with me on my Facebook Page, Parsimonious Décor Darling.   You might like to visit my other blog hubs,  

The Marvelous Maison, a lifestyle blog hub and 

Frugal Fab Fashionista, my fashion blog hub. 

Follow me on Pinterest!!  Please be sure to kindly follow the board guidelines, as it takes time and effort to find fabulous pins across the Internet and Pinterest!  Thank you!  

Thank you for stopping by! ❤

Pretty Girlie Closet

Hello, friends!   Those of you returning, thank you so much!  If you've never been to my blog, welcome!  

Decorating a girl's room is so much fun.  There literally are options upon options to choose from.

This post is about how to create a girly-girl closet for your little princess.  

Sometimes when purchasing an older property, you will find that either

A)  The closet doors are terribly ugly, or

B)  They are completely non-existent. 

Here is my solution to the problem.  In a girls' room, it is a quick and easy fix.  You may simply hang curtains in lieu of purchasing new doors, and it actually looks much better.   

First, measure the space.  Once you have measured, choose a curtain rod with a length ample enough so that it is slightly longer than the space.  

Measure either side of the space so that you set the mounts evenly. Mount your rod. 

Once your rod is mounted, place your curtain. I have used a Cynthia Rowley fabric shower curtain here. I thought it was just adorable, and I loved the ruffled detail.  I was also fortunate enough that it matched the color scheme of the room.  Voilà!   The ruffles and scrolled rod mesh perfectly with the room, which has a French theme.  Utilizing a ruffly curtain creates a boudoir feel. 

If you enjoy this post, please visit the archives!  You may also visit my full profile to view my other blogs. Connect with me on my Facebook Page, Parsimonious Décor Darling.   You might like to visit my other blog hubs,

The Marvelous Maison, a lifestyle blog hub and 

Frugal Fab Fashionista, my fashion blog hub. 

Follow me on Pinterest!!  Please be sure to kindly follow the board guidelines, as it takes time and effort to find fabulous pins across the Internet and Pinterest!  Thank you!  

Thank you for stopping by! ❤