Passionate for White

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T09:57:00.003-05:00

A Shabby Clipboard and a Winner of the Dish Towels

2012-02-12T08:19:00.009-05:00

My good friend Cheryl (who I affectionately call Coop) gave me this clipboard because she said it had "me" written all over it. Don't you just love when someone you love thinks of you like that?!

And the thing of it is....this is so far away from her decorating taste and yet she sees the beauty in it that I see.

Although Coop doesn't have a blog....she does have space at Bernat Mill Antiques (spaces #62 & 63) in Uxbridge, Mass. If you live in the area you SO need to check it out.

And now the lucky winner of the grain sack dish towels is..... Tracie from Fishtail Cottage. Congrats Tracie!!
~~please contact me with your mailing address~~

All Dressed up and Somewhere to Go!

2012-02-07T09:19:00.000-05:00

And I'm sure she'll be in good company at the Dress Form Ball over at Carol's Polka Dot Closet

This scarf, given to me by my Goddaughter at Christmas, is one of my favorite accessories.

If you haven't already....join The Ball.....it's in full swing!!

A Peek into the Corner of our Bedroom

2012-02-05T15:25:00.015-05:00

I was making the bed this morning and thought to myself that I've never posted pictures of our bedroom. Because this little corner looked "camera ready" I decided to start here. The rest of the room will take some serious staging before it's post ready :)

This seating area is in a little alcove where across from the chair sits an armoire that houses the television. I know that for some of you, a t.v. in the bedroom is a no-no but we couldn't do without!

The walls in the alcove are painted Pink Shine by ??? while the rest of walls in the bedroom are White Dove by Benjamin Moore

I have an issue.....which gives you a chance at my first giveaway...

2012-02-03T09:44:00.022-05:00

I think many of you have seen these grain sack dish towels featured on more than one blog over the past year.....I know I have.

And therein lies my "issue". These dish towels do NOT go with my home decor - they've been in the Target bag since the day I bought them. But because my fellow bloggers were scooping them up and loving them I just "had to have" them.

I bought two - although admittedly I scoured every Target in a 30 mile radius for more :)

Yes, I had some fun staging the pics to show you but alas they must go to a good home.

If you'd like to win this cute pair please be or become a follower and leave me a comment that you are. If for some reason (blogger issues....ugh) you can't comment, please send me an email to enter: dianesouza211@verizon.net

~ Giveaway winner will be announced on February 11th ~

Remember this lamp stand....

2012-01-31T19:25:00.026-05:00

I bought it at the Wrentham Country Store's At Home with White Event and showed it to you in this post almost a year ago. I said that although I just had to have it...I had no idea what to do with it.

Well that was until this weekend when I visited House at 755 and found this...

I know...I should have put a candle in the votive cup to show how pretty it looks lit - you'll have to trust me - it's looks purr-tee!

My Dear Mother passed away on the 13th of January...

2012-01-22T13:27:00.002-05:00

And so although my heartache is too raw to compose a new post... I'd be honored if you'd once again read this post I did for her on Mother's Day 2010.

~Her name is Anna and she'll be 79 years young in August~
~Middle child of 11 born to Italian immigrant parents~
~Mother of 5 daughters, 3 grand daughters and 1 great-grand daughter~
~Wife of George (he'll be 85 in September) for 55 years~
~SURVIOR of cancer!!~

- Knits and crochets with a passion
- Never one to pass up a sci-fi flick
- Pork cutlets are her signature dish
- Has a mad crush on Johnny Depp
- Owns an admirable collection of American Girl dolls
- Has a penchant for pocketbooks
- Only reads books in hardcover, John Grisham is her fav
- A whiz at crossword puzzles
- Giver of charities for underprivileged children
- Fiddler on the Roof is her favorite musical
- Prefers a nice card over an expensive gift
- Has a laptop and email address and yet won't be able to access this post until I visit with her later today! :)

First project of the New Year

2012-01-02T15:12:00.006-05:00

Will be to give my garden bench a makeover with Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint in Pure White.

I'm new at this.... should I apply the wax before or after I spot distress?

Christmas at our house....

2011-12-26T10:59:00.026-05:00

I must be in need of a new room to decorate....

2011-12-01T14:58:00.015-05:00

Because I would seriously love to do something like this to my attic.....
****sigh****

(source)

Are you looking for something in particular??

2011-11-27T07:38:00.031-05:00

"Nope, just browsing." And browsing we did....not one thing was bought - we simply enjoyed a crisp sunny day in New Hampshire visiting some favorite shops.

Thought you might like to see what caught my eye....

I need help identifying this fabric....

2011-11-19T12:01:00.011-05:00

I "think" it's Rachel Ashwell and I'm pretty sure it's discontinued but I need to know the name of the pattern so I can do a search for it... Any ideas?

These are the pictures I took of the material from a stool I just bought but for a better look at the colors....please click on this link and view the pillow sham

Thanks in advance!!!

Bistro Table and Chairs

2011-11-15T15:30:00.023-05:00

I took a drive this weekend to a "new to me" shop called Vintage Thymes Market.
They only open one weekend a month for a themed event. This weekend's theme was Farmhouse Holiday.

It's a small shop and by the time I got there the place was p-a-c-k-e-d! I did the quick once over and didn't see anything that caught my eye (except for what was already in the arms of other shoppers of course!). So I stepped out onto the porch for some air and to let the place empty out a bit so I could get a better look and there was this bistro table.

The price tag read "bistro table $75". Then I noticed another tag that read "$11 off today only"...Then I saw the four matching bistro chairs folded and stacked against the store front (sans price tags).

I calmly (right....) walked inside, stood in the doorway and while holding my breath I yelled out in a shaky voice to the woman at the counter...."ARE THE BISTRO CHAIRS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE TABLE?"

And over the din of the chattering shoppers came my answer.... Oh YES!!!

I made my way to the counter (suddenly caring less about the crowd) and happily paid $64 - even used cash!

and when I got home I couldn't wait to set it up and take some photos to share with all of you.

Yes, I'm more than likely going to paint it white but for now I'll enjoy the green.

Yes to the Basket....No to the Rooster

2011-10-07T15:12:00.023-04:00

When I spotted these baskets I knew they had potential.... and although I once feverishly decorated with Roosters....they're no longer my "thing" so they had to go.

I was going to simply remove the front plate and use them as is but then some ideas struck me.

and from my stash of stuff I created

This one got a white-wash....it was quite a messy job so "just the one"

I'm soon going to list them in my Etsy shop.

Pumpkins with Potential

2011-10-04T12:57:00.030-04:00

I wanted to show you an "after" picture prior to the "before" picture to catch your attention.

See what I mean....you may have averted your eyes and skipped right over this post had these shown up on your blog roll "snippet"

This was the orange one....

and this one was sporting the spots!

Isn't it amazing what white paint, twine, doilies and rosettes can do?

I forgot to take a before of this one. The pumpkin is made of canvas and the stem out of burlap - it was all "grunged" when I bought it so I painted it white and prettied her up.

Wanted to show you the detail on the plates I have the pumpkins sitting on. I got six of them at Home Goods. They had an entire line of dishes, wall decor, salt & pepper shakers, etc. to go with them but I didn't want to get too carried away.

They're not dishwasher safe but that's okay - I mainly use them as chargers and for decorative purposes.

Rainy Days and Etsy Always Get Me High

2011-09-29T11:56:00.018-04:00

And my search under "Periwinkle" did not disappoint!

(source)

When Stalking Pays Off.....

2011-09-19T12:10:00.001-04:00

When Rosemary from Ozma of Odds recently blogged about her Sea Lavender Pumpkins and mentioned she would soon post them in her Etsy shop I immediately clicked over. To my chagrin they weren't there yet - no problem.... with patience (ya right) I vigilantly stalked until they were.

And my persistence paid off - I got the one I wanted.

I can hardly wait to see this little pretty in person!

It's always dry in HomeGoods....

2011-09-12T07:03:00.021-04:00

Brimfield however was a different story.

Most of the fields were flooded out and the one we went their specifically to see on Thursday (May's field) didn't even open.

We talked to a few folks who said there were some great bargains because dealers were in a rush to clear their inventory before more damage was done. I don't know...we just couldn't see capitalizing on the misfortunes of others so we left.

And on the way home we stopped at HomeGoods....

We may not have got a bargain but sometimes that's not what it's all about.

Etsy Etiquette Question

2011-09-01T14:19:00.010-04:00

But before I ask.... take a look at what I bought today from a "new to me" Etsy shop called Castawayshall

She measures 28" x 11" which I'm hoping will be a perfect fit for her new home.

So my question about Etsy is this....

Am I wrong in being a little "put off" when a buyer offers me a lower price on a single item or asks if I'll combine multiple items for a lower price?

The first time it happened I politely said no and then when it happened a few more times I got to thinking.... is this the norm and should I be willing to barter?

Whether you're a buyer or a seller (or both)....what do you think?

New items listed in my etsy shop

2011-08-21T16:55:00.007-04:00

Please take a peek... link is on my side bar to the right

My Two Favorite Guys

2011-08-15T15:26:00.004-04:00

My husband Jerry and our dog Pal.....and my two favorite pics!

Home Sweet Home

2011-08-14T10:12:00.019-04:00

Summer pics of our home and yard....

Outdoor Living to the MAX!!!

2011-08-09T15:32:00.019-04:00

Here's a glimpse of just a few of the many outdoor images I recently came across on a U.K. website called House to Home.

Talk about things that make you go Ahhhh....

Our Garden Shed

2011-07-27T06:30:00.000-04:00

Just sharing pictures as I don't have too much time to post.

The only thing I wanted to note is that these polywood adirondack chairs, which are made out of recycled milk jugs, were pricey but well worth the investment...we've had them for five years and they're still like brand new. I'd highly recommend them.

And she calls herself Messie Jessie

2011-07-20T12:12:00.019-04:00

I think NOT!

Just take a look at these beautiful dress assemblages made from paper
and fabric that I recently came across on Etsy.

I think she should change her name :)

Sharing pictures from Brimfield

2011-07-20T06:45:00.001-04:00

I only took a few pictures because it was so hot and I didn't stay very long. Long enough though to stand and drool over this sold (boo hoo) picnic table and bench. I wish I had taken more than one of this booth because their stuff was amazing!

Dressed up doorway.....

2011-07-17T10:45:00.009-04:00

We finally got around to cleaning, reshaping and painting a couple of architectural pieces we bought at the May Brimfield show into a pediment for above our doorway..

You may recall the two pieces once looked like this.

My thinking is that it could probably use a little something more - perhaps some sort of decorative piece in the middle....but for now, I'm more than content with the outcome.

If you suggest it....I WILL buy it!

2011-06-29T06:43:00.002-04:00

I ordered this ruffle duvet from Urban Outfitters and as most on-line shopping sites do once you've added something to your cart ....they show you a teaser of what you "might also like"....

.....the matching shams perhaps?

....the coordinating and oh-so-tempting laundry tote?

It's a marketing technique that's rarely lost on me....so into my cart they went as I secretly hoped for more "suggestions". But that was it, and really, that was enough!

Kitchen Reveal

2011-06-13T06:48:00.000-04:00

I'm still tweaking but, as you all well know, that could go on for a very long time... so here it is...

One coat of primer, three coats of BM's White Dove in semi-gloss and we have "new" kitchen

I'm only showing one before picture because it actually pains me now to look at how ugly it was for so long. If you want to see more check out my prior post here

For me.... the pendant lights (made by Allen & Roth ) are the crowning glory. We had to install conversion kits to go from recessed to pendant lighting but the effort and expense was worth it.

We gave the counter a more finished look by painting and installing maple corbels we bought at Lowe's. Now we're on the hunt for new stools which is proving to be quite the challenge.

When I spotted this "Catch a Wave" sign at Home Goods I knew right then it was going to set the tone for a beachy theme for our kitchen

We kept the same cabinet handles and draw pulls but had to replace the overlay-type antique brass hinges with white ones and ended up having to special order them from Hardware World as none of the big box stores carried them in white

I'm not crazy about the curtain - I think I need something "gauzy" and with a little color

Again, the lights!! And... the insides of them are a white enamel which gives off a nice bright light. We also put them on a dimmer switch so we have lighting options.

Once the cabinets were painted I suddenly liked the color of my walls again (BM Georgian Green)

And this picture I bought at TJ Maxx had almost the exact green in it - the frame was black before I painted it white and distressed it a bit

To say that my kitchen now makes me smile would be an understatement. To say that it now entices me to cook would be an outright lie :)

What I didn't buy at Brimfield....

2011-05-16T18:41:00.023-04:00

I took home in pictures....

Yeah.... I did have buyers regret over a few of the items but I'm almost over it :)

My Brimfield Buys....

2011-05-15T13:47:00.020-04:00

I had been eyeballing this exact kitchen scale on Ebay for upwards of $40 so I was thrilled to come across one at Brimfield for $12.

And the white ruffles it's sitting on....... a square dancing skirt!

I knew I could use it to cover a table I have in my garden shed....

And oh YES...after some fresh laundering with OxiClean she's a perfect fit. I draped a scarf over the top to cover the opening of the skirt's waist.

This wash stand was my first purchase of the day. I'm using it as a bird bath/flower stand. I haven't as yet bought any flowers to adorn it but I inserted a serving bowl - placed a rock in the middle, filled it with water and within a few hours I had a couple of wrens make a visit.

When I spied this pediment, which is in two pieces, I was planning to use one of the pieces as a corbel under my kitchen counter - turns out it's too long.

That's okay though because I'm going to put it back together, paint it the color of our house and use it as a pediment over the front door.

My next post will be pictures of the things I didn't buy at Brimfield but liked enough to snap a picture or two.

My Small Kitchen...

2011-05-12T07:12:00.000-04:00

suddenly felt HUGE the moment I started painting!

I'm not complaining though because I love them already, even with just a coat of primer

I also plan to change the wall color and I'm leaning towards Natural Elements #1515 by Benjamin Moore (not sure if I should have done that prior to the cabinets but it's too late now!)

He said YES!

2011-05-02T06:30:00.001-04:00

"He" being my husband.... and "YES" to painting our oak cabinets white!

I had already taken down the curtains and a few decorative items before I remembered to take the before photos....but yes, sad to say, it really is that ugly

So anyway, I'm thinking that once the cabinets are painted we're going to need new counter tops

And new counter stools for sure!

I like the retro look of my existing hardware so those may be a keeper

Though I'm definitely thinking stainless steel appliances...

It's a ton of work but I'm on a mission!

Driftwood Candle Holder

2011-04-23T12:28:00.013-04:00

Just this morning my husband made this for me....took all of 10 minutes

The driftwood is a piece of memorabilia from one of our first dates... we found it during a walk on Gooseberry Island in Westport.

Speaking of which, we'll be headed there next weekend....bringing along a good, good friend who is in need of a good dose of sun, sand, sea air and laughter....we love you MB!

If you'd like to see how this was made hop on over to Restoration House where I got the inspiration - Kimberley put together a very helpful tutorial.

Nesting...

2011-04-17T08:03:00.014-04:00

Remember this hollowed out clock I purchased at TheWhite Home Event and told you I was going to paint white?

Well here it is....

The little "eggs" you see are actually candy (speckled malted eggs)

I played around with some birds that I had.....

I think I like this look the best.

The cherubs....Oh the Cherubs...BONUS!

The Tin Slipper....

2011-04-16T17:00:00.012-04:00

I bought it at Home Goods - they had a few different styles but this one caught my eye. It's made of tin and has a little hook on the back should I desire to hang it.

The bow is fashioned out of screen - looks like something's missing though. And nope, I didn't paint it....it's just how it came.

I did however, do this!

A little vintage lace, beaded trim, gray velvet ribbon and a rosette

It'll be a perfect fit with my new master bedroom decor!

Saturday was a very good day...

2011-04-12T18:42:00.047-04:00

The Wrentham Country Store held an At Home With White Event (which was a smashing hit) and I came home with these goodies!!

Yes, this bag is sweet but what's even sweeter is that a woman I'd never met came up to me with it in her hand and said that I should buy it because it went with my outfit...how nice was that!?

I loved this chair from the moment I laid eyes on it...

And isn't this carved out rectangle just calling out for a little something?

I spied this on Sandi's blog when she gave us a sneak preview and was thrilled to scoop it up!

Who could resist this little cutie....obviously not me :)

Chenille and pom poms - a perfect combo

I have a penchant for tool totes...so many uses

Tough to see but it's aqua... AQUA I tell you! :)

Because she's white and the price was right

Isn't this a neat idea....the clock face was removed and replaced with a nest

Once I paint her white, the cherub detail will pop

And lastly, an iron floor lamp stand that I don't quite know what to do with but had to have!

~~Visit these ladies to see more from the show ~~

Mary Ellen at The Wrentham Country Store
Sandi at A Cottage Muse
Karen at A Shabby Moment in Time
Susan at Evelyn and Rose
Michelle at Petite Michelle Louise

Made of wood...

2011-04-04T04:52:00.001-04:00

shade and all...I bought this lamp for its "white" potential.

Four coats of Chantilly Lace

a little spot sanding here and there

a crystal finial....and she's a keeper!

Don't you love when you're just browsing...

2011-04-03T09:59:00.012-04:00

and you end up coming home with something like this!

I wasn't looking for a new coffee table but quickly kicked my old one to the curb (the CraigsList curb that is) and made room for this cutie

Yes, that's another one of those ruffled quilts that's tucked onto my love seat (a full/queen also found on clearance)

A little tough to see in the photo but the white has been sanded over to reveal some very pretty and faded out aqua and pink!

Take a visit on over to My Whimsical Victorian Chic Cottage if you'd like to see where this beauty came from...

I was recently inspired by

2011-03-30T08:10:00.017-04:00

this picture from a recent post of Amy's at Maison Decor (if you've never visited her blog please do!)

I just HAD to have this quilted ruffle bedspread that she featured. I emailed her and she graciously told me the exact name and brand and that she bought it at Home Goods.

Over the weekend I was on a mission....

Success! I found one....half out of the bag and all balled up....but I found one!

Isn't she just beautiful adorning my kitchen table?

She's a TWIN....so naturally I'm on the hunt to find her long lost sister!!

Lamp Shade re-do Number Two....

2011-03-21T15:42:00.015-04:00

I think I like this look better than the black numbered squares...

Perhaps my Mother in Law was right... too many numbers going on in my dining area (yes...I value her opinion - and you know why...she's honest!)

I hot glued sand dollars onto the muslin squares and then hand basted them onto the shade (just in case I change my mind again)

They're so cute and beachy and WHITE! :)

Table Lamp Before and After...

2011-03-19T14:09:00.023-04:00

I bought this table lamp at Home Goods only because I liked the base... the shade...not so much

I really liked the all the detail but the color....not so much

The finial...round and ho-hum... not so much

So using what I had in my stash... I took her from this...

To this

Chantilly Lace paint and some spot sanding

A rose finial

A curtain tieback tassel

A linen-like shade embellished with stamped muslin squares (143 = I Love You) which I haven't as yet attached permanently because I'm not so sure...

What do you all think.... plain or fancied?

A Marriage of Sorts....

2011-03-10T12:30:00.003-05:00

I've had this mirror hanging in my kitchen area for quite some time

and I've never been all that crazy with the finish (gold with a white wash)

and then... while out shopping at Jo-Ann Fabrics I came across this French flower basket

so naturally I bought it.... along with some pretty faux flowers to fill it

Loved how it turned out and knew it would look great hanging on that mirror... once I painted it white of course!

So I promptly gave it my Chantilly Lace paint job

And they're living happily ever after....

I'm happy too!

To Me, From Me.... No Thank You Card Necessary

2011-03-04T18:17:00.018-05:00

I bought myself some daisies....

I bought myself some pretty blue jars....

I bought myself some tulips....

And in return....they brought me happiness and some pretty pics to share with all of you! :)

Happy "Almost" Spring!!

Stamped Muslin Squares....

2011-02-26T10:55:00.020-05:00

I hand sewed a set of 12 (spaced 3" apart) onto a Country Living white curtain valance

Using a tension rod, I hung the valance on the bottom half of my hoosier cabinet - hiding the slatted sliding doors that have never slid with ease or without cracking.

This is a before pic of the hoosier from my archives

And YEAH! I still have another set of 12 to have fun and create with!

I'm done sulking....

2011-02-23T07:19:00.001-05:00

And happy to show you what I DID buy on the way home from New Hampshire on Saturday.

These muslin squares (1 1/2" square) with stamped numbers. I especially like them because whoever made them took the time to sew the edges to prevent additional fraying.

I bought two sets of 12 at $3.00/set (sure I could have made these myself but why when they were done for me!). I've already made use of one set and will post on that soon.

Got this sweet little framed mirror for $9.00. I gave it a couple of coats of Chantilly Lace and roughed it up a bit (it was a creamy, icky yellow).

It fit perfectly underneath one of my kitchen cabinets.

I also bought a few of the little potted plants you see in the reflection... I'm not sure though what they are called.

And lastly, I got these chairs ($40 each) that I fell head over heals in love with - they're going out to my garden shed once the weather breaks.

And I don't have to do a thing to them.... love them just they way they are!

So that's it...and I guess in hindsight, it was a good thing I didn't buy anything at the White Home Market.... otherwise, I wouldn't have bought these goodies.

Isn't that always the way....

2011-02-21T16:23:00.010-05:00

There I was....boasting about how I was going to the White Home Market and I was going to buy all this awesome stuff and then come home and post about all my awesome stuff....

And it turns out...this is all we came home with and it isn't even for ME...it's my husband's awesome find. Yes, I'm jealous...not of the piece but the fact that he scored and I didn't!

It was crazy there, like the Running of The Brides sale at Filene's Basement. We got there a half hour after it opened and most of what I call "the good stuff" was already in someone's hands or marked hold or sold. I pretty much walked around in circles, mouth hanging open and a look of "What the..." on my face!

Not to worry though...we stopped at a couple of other places and I got a few small things. I'll take pics and post as soon as I'm done sulking! :)

White Home Market in New Hampshire

2011-02-18T12:41:00.026-05:00

They only open three days each month (on a Fri/Sat/Sun) and they feature fresh inventory each day. February's theme is "French at Heart"

We're taking the hour and half drive up there tomorrow and I'm like a kid a Christmas - antsy with anticipation!

All these pics are from their website so not necessarily what we'll be seeing tomorrow but I'm sure hoping for similar.

I hope to be blogging to you all about my purchases!

I come to you for advice....

2011-02-15T10:57:00.021-05:00

I'm planning on painting my entire downstairs (kitchen, living, dining, family room) which has an open floor plan.

What is your FAVORITE WHITE PAINT for walls, trim and doors?

From some of the blogs I follow (Dreamy Whites, Cozy Cottage Cute, Air Kiss, Sissie's Shabby Cottage, Centsational Girl) I've noted the following but not sure if they're primarily for small painting projects.

Simply White / Benjamin Moore
Chantilly Lace / Benjamin Moore
Decorator's White / Benjamin Moore
Cotton Balls / Benjamin Moore
Cream Delight / Valspar

And while we're at it....eggshell for walls and semigloss for trim and doors - is that the rule of thumb?

I have such confidence in my blogger friends - I look forward to your ideas and recommendations!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

2011-02-14T10:03:00.008-05:00

I've never been much for decorating on Valentine's Day but found this cute little banner yesterday and new it would look great strewn across my hutch.

Love of my life and I have been husband and wife for four years (sweethearts for 18...and counting)!

I Heart Old Barns....

2011-02-11T12:39:00.025-05:00

{Wm P Steele}

I came across a picture of an old barn while surfing for architectural salvage so naturally I had to delve further. Thought you might enjoy my top five top picks.....

{Junque Rethunque}

{unknown}

{James Howard Kunstler}

Have a great weekend!!

I "Sissie-fied" a Mirror....

2011-02-05T12:39:00.012-05:00

I bought this sweet cherub mirror at the Brimfield Antique Fair last Spring and it sat in my basement waiting patiently for its turn for a paint job worthy of making it up the stairs... :)

And then the other day, I was catching up on blogs that I follow when Sissie (as I'm sure most of you already know) from Sissie's Shabby Cottage did a post on some doors that she refinished with Benjamin Moore's Chantilly Lace. Bingo!! And out the door I went for a quart!

Love the color! Yes...I know it's white but it's such a pretty white! :)

Thanks to Sissy for turning me on to my new favorite paint!

Dining Room Seat Cover Saga....

2011-01-23T13:55:00.030-05:00

I fell out of love with the burlap seat covers that I once adored.... (too itchy, too dark)

So out of curiosity, I removed one and found a pretty white matelasse fabric underneath. Cool, I thought.....until I decide on something else this will do. Then as I removed the burlap from the remaining seats, 3 out of the 6 had some stains that I couldn't live with (even for a little while)

So I took that fabric off to find this 80's ish style fabric that was in great shape but not at all to my taste. Headed out to the fabric store where I spent nearly two hours before deciding on something I liked....only to find there wasn't enough material to cover all six seats....ugh!

So off to the department stores I went - looking at tablecloths, drapes, shower curtains, slipcovers.... ANYTHING with a pattern I liked that I could cut up and fashion seat covers out of.

And I scored.... at KMart of all places! Oatmeal Sweet Rose Damask curtain panels by Country Living. I'm officially back in love with my dining room chairs!

This is the picture from the packaging....so pretty against the pale blue walls....it's got me thinking.... :)

My Most Favorite Piece.....

2011-01-22T13:33:00.036-05:00

This cabinet won my heart at the Brimfield Antique Fair many years ago....

Such precious detail....

The only thing I wasn't crazy about were the drawer pulls so I replaced them with a wired ribbon.... so easy, so cheap!

I thoroughly enjoy decorating and re-decorating the upper cabinet while the lower cabinet houses craft supplies and various sundries

It was covered with a yellowish/brown film and smelled of smoke. So we put it out in the yard, washed and hosed it down and left it in the sun all day. The result.... CLEAN and white! And the best part.... the paint crackled...YUP... all on its own from drying in the sun!!

I put the cabinet at the end of my upstairs hallway (which is a balcony so I'm able to enjoy it from the first floor as well)

I know.... SO many pictures... but I couldn't resist sharing them ALL with you!

Garden Sheds Galore!

2011-01-20T13:34:00.015-05:00

I was browsing the web....looking for some landscaping ideas (yeah....thinking Spring!) when this amazing shed popped up and I was easily sidetracked.

I thought you might like to take a winter break and ride the track as well.....

I'm curious..... which one(s) do YOU like best??

Happy New Year From Our Home to Yours!!

2011-01-02T15:30:00.016-05:00

The day after Christmas brought us nearly a foot of snow which made for a great photo opportunity

This is our garden shed which, once Spring gets here, is going to get an inside overhaul.

Music to my eyes....

2010-12-31T09:10:00.013-05:00

My ever thoughtful Mother in-law, who lives in Daytona Beach, sent me this beautifully wrapped Christmas gift which was SO lovely that I had to take a picture! And then...when I opened the box.... was I ever thrilled!!

Oh YES, six of the sweet little music note song birds that I so coveted and blogged about in my post of November 23rd!!

Thank you Dot for bringing me joy!!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T08:32:00.021-05:00

I hope all my friends and family have a wonderful day filled with love and laughter with those you hold near and dear to your hearts!!

Sharing more of my holiday decor...

Angel ornaments repurposed...

2010-12-24T09:15:00.007-05:00

I saw these angel ornaments at Targ-jay ($1 each!!!) and knew immediately they'd be perfect as place seating cards for my Christmas dinner table

I simply used rub-on letters for each guests initials and then replaced the ribbon with a tinsel-like wire for a halo

So easy and guests can take them home as a keepsake!

2010-12-23T09:24:00.001-05:00

When I spotted this birdhouse barn at HomeGoods I knew it would be the perfect backdrop for a nativity-like scene

Isn't baby Jesus just the sweetest...

Snow Birds....

2010-12-22T06:30:00.021-05:00

I transformed this little birdbath (which usually resides outdoors in my rock garden) to a welcoming winter home for some sweet little snow birds

A Touch of Red....

2010-12-20T20:18:00.022-05:00

and I'll bet you all thought I had an aversion to color! :)

Nope... at least not when it comes to winterberry - even if it is fake

I'm loving my new burlap stocking that I bought at the Wrentham Country Store

and how about this sweet little jingle bell strand.... I have them all over the house

The peace sign and star.....why Tar-jay of course!

White Christmas....

2010-12-20T06:49:00.039-05:00

I'm loving the sprinkles of faux snow..... I can't seem to get enough of it!

It made my little vignette so much more festive...

and it helps give the pictures such dimension and definition. The only downfall is that each time I breeze by I inevitably end up with flakes all over the floor.

I bought this candle lantern at HomeGoods because of it's large size (nearly 2' tall) but mainly because it was on clearance and WHITE!

A perfect fit for the Angel finial my husband gave me for Christmas last year...

These dreamy angel wings that I bought at Kohl's were meant to finish off the look. And... true to form - when I went back for more.... gone baby gone!

Scandinavian Blogs Inspire me....

2010-12-14T06:49:00.026-05:00

I follow a number of Scandinavian blogs and I'm pretty sure that it's mainly due in part to the fact that white plays a big role in their decor. Religious statues also take center stage and to that end I was inspired to put together this Christmas vignette.

If you have the time take a peek at the blogs from these lovely ladies that have so inspired me

Lilla Blanka
Inspiration i vitt
Romantiska Hem

Tis the Season...

2010-12-09T19:20:00.021-05:00

We took a drive to New Hampshire last Sunday to hit a few of my favorite shops. As we turned down the street towards the White Home Collections this is what I saw on the front porch. Needless to say I was giddy....

Don't you just love anything filled with greenery? I do!

Just look at this A-dorable baby buggy complete with seasonal greens, berries and burlap ribbon for you'll never guess...... $34!!! My heart was pounding but alas I passed on it because I just don't have the space for it. There's always a first!! :)

I did come home with this little cutie (I find it real hard to pass up nesting birds) and a few other items that I'll share in a later post.

White Wednesday

2010-12-08T13:11:00.008-05:00

I've been busy decorating for the season and haven't as yet had the chance to take many pics so until then....I'm sharing just this one simple mercury tree. It's last years model from HomeGoods but I'm seeing them again this year along with tons of other yummy mercury decor.

White Wednesday....

2010-12-01T09:55:00.012-05:00

Took me a bit but after an extensive search through my photo archives and a little photo editing by way of my new favorite toy... **Picnik**.... I came up with this little cutie to share in Faded Charm's White Wednesday ritual.

This little stool has hosted a number of items perched upon its sturdy top. She's a fav of mine and the more I move it around from room to room, the more paint chips fall off and the more I love her! This photo is from a time when it briefly nested in my dining room. Right now it's on my hearth as part of my Christmas decor (pictures to be shared soon).

Whenever I'm in a dry spell....

2010-11-29T20:22:00.037-05:00

and by "dry spell" I mean I haven't bought anything new lately :) - I can always count on finding something great for my garden shed on etsy and ebay!

I bought the stack of antique books, complete with vintage doily, photo tag and a handmade fabric flower clip from Destash Pearl.

Aren't these sola roses beautiful (they're handmade flowers that are made from tapioca wood peel)! I bought them from from Your Angil

I bought these tags wrapped in fawn and ivory vintage fiber, seam binding and a millinery flower from Wildheart515

(can't for the life of me recall where I got these - went through my on-line purchases to no avail.... hmmmm..... )

This darling string of eyelet blossoms on vintage paper was also purchased at Wildheart515

The gloves, basket and post card I had.... it's the wire light bulb guard that I found on ebay that helped to pull it all together.

Birds of a Feather.....

2010-11-23T06:39:00.034-05:00

Flock Together!!

How adorable hanging from my newly purchased tinsel tree!!

But alas, it appears I'm not the only blogger that came across these music note song birds at Tar-jay......

Fly on over to a few of my faves who also included these little cuties in a recent post:

Donna at D. Reynes
Kathy at Kate's Place
Sandi at Wayside Treasures

I'm thoroughly enjoying this little guy perched atop a barn-like birdhouse that is the backdrop for my manger this year.

And this little guy nesting in a wreath that's hanging from a mirror in my family room.

They were only a $1 each so I bought ten and THAT was by going to four different stores - YES, they made that much of an impression on me!

Unfortunately, Tar-jay doesn't sell them on-line otherwise I would have ordered more. I did, however, check out ebay and the only seller I found wanted $6 for ONE.... Looks like ten is IT for ME!

This is just TOO GOOD not to pass on....

2010-11-22T15:12:00.007-05:00

To those of you who haven't already seen this great giveaway

from Sandy at My Shabby Streamside Studio

you need to get over there FAST!!!

How pleased I was....

2010-11-22T14:02:00.009-05:00

To find out that I was the winner of this lovely Winter Wishes Angel from Angie at Viva La Cottage.

Some of you may remember her from her formerly named blog "Viva La Cabin and Via LaCottage". If not, pop on over.... you won't be disappointed.

Just call me Angel in the Morning....

2010-11-14T07:27:00.016-05:00

I was awake very early this morning - partly because I went to bed so early last night but mostly because the sun was shining brightly into our bedroom window. LOVE mornings like that...especially on the weekend!

Anyway.... before going to bed last night I read Jennifer's latest post at The Old Painted Cottage and thought I, too, should get to know my camera better. So this morning I snapped a few pictures using a "new to me" feature on my camera. Out of Manual Mode I ventured to Macro Mode (looks like a little tulip *). A subtle but improved difference that I'm thinking is going to be my new standard for close ups. Yeah...... BIG morning for me! :)

* The tulip icon on a camera represents macro or close-up mode which generally allows clear focusing of objects within 2" to 1.5' of the camera lense.

Shades on Parade....

2010-10-28T09:37:00.021-04:00

I wanted to post at least something so I walked around my house snapping pictures of my favorite lamp shades. Probably not the most interesting blog post I've done but I did enjoy myself in the process!

Something to Crow about....

2010-10-24T11:40:00.016-04:00

I found these crows at the Dollar Store. And sure enough....when I went back for more the next day... GONE! Flew the coop!!

The cardboard crows are from the Martha Stewart collection - you get twelve in a pack and there are four variations. I used them all over my house.

The cling-on bats are from the Martha Stewart collection as well.

I hope you all have a Spook-tacular Halloween!!

White Wednesday...

2010-10-13T09:42:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I've participated in Faded Charm's White Wednesday. I didn't have the time to take any new pics so here are a few favorites from around my house over the past year or so....

One Potted Plant = Three Sweet Memories

2010-10-03T15:42:00.018-04:00

- The Christmas Cactus was given to me by my husband when we were dating (~10 years ago) - it blooms every year just not necessarily at Christmas time.

- The white iron/wire basket was a gift shop find while we were on a romantic weekend getaway in Ogunquit, Maine (our hotel overlooked The Marginal Way)

- The painted ceramic pot was purchased at one of our first trips to the Brimfield Fair (it's full of cracks and peeling paint which is why I love it so much)!

Spooky.....

2010-10-02T15:12:00.015-04:00

I bought this crow sitting atop a real white pumpkin just this morning at The Wrentham Country Store.

Although in and of itself, it was perfect..... I still had the urge to embellish!

So from my sticker stash (I am CrAzY!! for stickers) I added the word "Spooky"

I use this wine chiller quite often to display things I like.... And THIS I like!!

HEY Jude!!!

2010-09-27T15:24:00.009-04:00

I refer to him as my boyfriend...... A girl can dream can't she?

Every Girl Needs a Little Black Dress...

2010-09-26T10:23:00.012-04:00

I bought two (in different styles)..... and just as I would do when choosing between two dress styles.....I held them up to my husband and asked "which one?"

And how great was it that he just so happened??? to choose the one I liked best! :)

A perfect fit!!!

For the birds....

2010-09-12T08:38:00.012-04:00

I walked through the doors of a shop advertising "moving / everything must go" and had this darling wire cloche (complete with the tiny bird nest and eggs on top) in my arms within minutes.

I think these little cuties I have out in my potting shed were singing out for it...

Yup, p-e-r-f-e-c-t fit!

I'd say they look pretty happy! :)