A little toile magic

Here are my typical wingback chairs in the breakfast room. I'm slowly changing the decor to a french country look using fabric, antiques and ironwork.

I got 2 yards of red and light yellow toile material from JoAnns and cut up "scarfs" for the chairs. Just tuck in the material and voila'! Instant Fraincais! Amy, our darling furgirl is napping on the ottoman.

But something new has got her attention and she has to investigate.

Yes, those apothecary jars were just put there and knowing my kitties, I tied them to the mirror side with a ribbon. They love to play a game called: "Let's push this thing off and watch it hit the floor".

I had enough material left to wrap this pillow. This settee sets opposite the chairs.


I love instant decorating. Fabric really can make the mood in a room.

Bread Dipping Oil

This is too good not to try! I am honestly in love with this! AND....it's at Walmart!

The lable says "focaccia with balsamic vinegar". You'll find it in the bakery section, by the freshed baked breads. I am going to use this as a pasta sauce next. Try it and let me know what you think. Be sure to shake it up real good to get all the herbs mixed.

Fancying up a straw hat

I have to keep the sun off my face and so bought the first hat I found at Walmart that could do the job. But a plain hat like this just doesn't reach my artistic soul.

But in 10 minutes, I hotglued on some fabric and I sewed on a gorgeous turquoise pendent that sister KK gave me. Now I will be stylin'!

A little birdie told me....

Saw something like this on Ebay and thought I'd do my own. Took it outside to photograph so the flash wouldn't wash out the colors.

Tractor Seat - another craigslist find

Sister Michelle's birthday is coming up and this is my gift to her: An authentic tractor seat for her dining room. She lives in the country and this item will look so cute!

Poppies

A little 5x7 I did last night to give to my sister for a housewarming gift- Fun to do and it kept my mind occupied. She just bought a tiny, but cute cottage and I'm encouraging her to give it a sweet name. I can't wait to see it all fixed up. This poor cottage has never been loved and it shows, but sister KK will change all that!

7 Ways to Use Leftover Buns

Here's something neat from Real Simple site:

What to do with those extra hot dog and hamburger rolls? Make everything from a salami panini to pineapple upside-down cakes.

Recipes

• All-Purpose Croutons
• Bun Crumbs
• Egg, Cheese, and Sausage Bake
• Pineapple Upside-Down Cakes
• Salami Panini
• Summer Berry and Plum Pudding
• Tomato Bruschetta

Craigslist lyre table

This was only posted for 3 minutes on Craigslist before I called to claim it. I am so drawn to furniture that has this kind of interesting features, like the nice carvings. I haven't cleaned it up yet, and polish the brass feet, but when I do, I'll post again to show the antique lamp that will make its home atop this lovely little table.

Guest room baker's rack

Lori E asked me to post more of the guest room pics and I'm happy to oblige. This is the west wall and I put up the bakers rake to hold books, pictures and boxes. Nestled up to the rack, on the floor, is the lighthouse rock I painted.

Two of the picture frames contain my grandma as a little girl with her sister, and who is turning 103! And my dad, who passed from Alzheimers in 2002

Before and After - guest room bed header

Nothing coordinated and the guest room was becoming a catch-all of unrelated things. But I had on hand the ingredients to pull it together. I had fabric and I had a window thingy (what's the name of it?) Anyway - here it is. I attached a little decorative moulding to the front of the thing and added those other things on top. (Today is not a good day for correct nouns- ever had one of those days?)

Before and After - guest room shelf unit

Shopped around the house for the base to use as a blanket storage unit for the guest room. Then added the wood shelf that used to be in the laundry room, holding detergents.

Had some leftover toile wallpaper from the hall bath redo (will reveal soon in another post) that I added to the back of the shelf.

Added some decorative moulding to the front and some glossy black paint. Now I have a place to display my favorite sea related items at only the cost of the moulding ($15)

And I can finally use the cute boat wheel lamp by attaching it to the side of the shelf - it will be nice to read by. Toile fabric hides the cord prettily.

Latest painting....

"Tequila"
The colors are a little washed out from the flash, but this is my latest landscape - I like to do trees. This is 3'x3' - I also like to do large.

Springtime sprucing under the South window

What to do with a big ole ugly concrete fish? The gaudy colors are kinda scary - the poor thing came like this from Freecycle. I tried to give it away...but it came back.

But a little dark hobby paint and now it swims happily amongst the holly in my little flower garden.

I added a nice, heavy bird bath (also free from Freecycle) and a hummer feeder. The cats are gonna LOVE their view now!

This is only May, so when the flowers come up (Pink Fountain Guara) I'll take another snap for you. All of the building stones came from Freecycle and some of the plants, too! I put this garden bed together all by myself. (So don't look too closely - it's a little crooked) The shepherd's hook and the metal headboard were both found on the curb. The red bricks were also from Freecycle. Can you tell I'm a bargain hunter?

This is my DD - also enjoying the new view. Hope we attract a whole herd (!) of hummers!

Always classic toile

The wallpaper has come in and I'm pleased with it. I chose a black and white toile for the hall bath because I really like toile and I really like a neutral toned bathroom. I know wallpaper is not in vogue at the moment, but I think with this small room and with only 3 upper walls to cover, it will work just fine. This paper will be on the upper wall, as I have white beadboard along the bottom 3 feet. Will post in a few days the results.... stay tuned.

Roses and Eggs Centerpiece

Our lovely Easter centerpiece. The beautiful roses came from MamaLu and PapaLu. Thank you!! And the colored Easter eggs were a creation by DD, Shannon. She also made the Easter basket and the vase and roses fit like a glove into it!



We had a very nice Easter dinner of Pork Tenderloin, broccoli/cheese/rice casserole, Italian meatballs and roasted California blend vegetables. With sugar-free angel food cake and strawberries.









DD is wearing her colorful Easter bracelets and a pin I made about 35 years ago. (!)

A tisket, a tasket.....

Look what the Easter Bunny brought me today - a truck load of antique bricks! These babies are about 12 lbs. each and are 4x4x8". And I'm told that there are about 2 more truckloads coming later! Bricks are right up there with chocolate in my book and I thank Bunny PapaLu for this wonderful gift to us.

Tropic dreaming

An artist is a dreamer consenting to dream of the actual world.
George Santayana

Secretary in place

Got the secretary in place now and I love it. The reason I wanted this piece is because I'm making our decor classic and comfortable. You can't go wrong with heirloom pieces that can be switched around your home as your needs change. I like the antique pieces because they have the look and feel of an established, cozy home - the kind that conveys serenity (now!) and peacefulness. This vignette, I know, will change over time as interesting decor items come my way, but for now it represents "me", especially my love for elephants. Shown is a mother-of-pearl inlaid, wooden box to hold a stash of envelopes and the antique light that hubby will rewire for me. Clicking on the pic brings it up full-size, but please ignore the spots that are needing a paint daub. I'll get to that later tonight.