Porcelain China Mosaics

This is just a teaser for you.....I'll post a full tutorial for this project on Wednesday so check back then!

The idea for this chest actually began 10 yrs ago. We were building our dream home and I wanted to do a mosaic out of broken china.

 I had seen a concrete patio table that someone had covered with broken tile and I loved it. 

Since I'm a china fanatic...(have I told you that yet?) I immediately thought of how pretty it would look if it was made from china. 

This was well before the internet craze and blogging and even HGTV. So I was on my own as far as figuring it out. 

Also, I had no clue to WHAT exactly I could apply this treatment. Building the house created an opportunity. 

I had seen a gas "coal" burning fireplace in a magazine and we decided it would be perfect for our bedroom.

 It was small and I decided to enhance it's presence with an arched surround. 

And, I knew it was the perfect place for my broken china mosaic!

 Somewhere on a FLOPPY DISC (hahaha..remember those?) 
there is a before picture...but I have no idea where THAT is so all you'll get is after.

 Here it is:

I love blue and white china and wanted to use it heavily. The hearth is just blue and white bits interspersed with square white tile.

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Down The Rabbit Hole

Even though the title sounds like it connects to my Saturday post (here)...it doesn't.

I DO feel like Alice when I try to do computer things....which shall remain nameless now

 for fear I will begin to rant and rave should I mention those two dreaded letters! 

Instead I am going to tell you about a wonderful event that took place on Sunday at my church. 

A talented and very dedicated group of children's workers planned a Mad Hatter Tea Party for grades 1 - 5. 

There was to be a showing of the Disney version of Alice in Wonderland.....

(Johnny Depp being deemed a bit intense for the young set I imagine) 

and prizes for costumes. 

I admit, I wasn't planning to take my 10 yr old boy 

because I thought it would be girly in general (which it was, but he didn't mind) 

and he would want a costume if he went.

 I love doing costumes and did them for years for children's ministry and for Halloween. 

The thought of coming up with a costume in JANUARY however, was initially overwhelming. 

But, when I asked if he wanted to go, he said an immediate "yes".

 I was sunk. 

Honestly, my desire to give the kids normal family experiences outweighs my good sense at times! 

What to do? 

The Mad Hatter was too much to handle since the party was the next day. 

He couldn't be Alice....not in THIS house anyway. 

The White Rabbit was equally too much.

 A teapot?...too much. 

A pocket watch?...too much.

 Aha! Middle of the night inspiration! 

The Rabbit hole......

He loved it! A length of brown fabric found in my fabric stash, a large embroidery hoop I had found at the thrift, 
green construction paper and hot glue! 

1/2 hour after church and we were done!

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Oh My Goodness Gracious....

The title is a polite and Christian way to say

%$#@#$%$#

I have been trying to add a FB Like button over many hours covering not just today

 but MANY days.

I have used five different tutorials

found the right HTML code

pasted the XFMB code where I was told

and

NOTHING

I have resorted to

wine

chocolate cake

therapeutic furniture sanding

mad episodes of cooking

yelling at kids

pounding my head on my new

(really cute) 

farmhouse table desk

lambasting myself for being stupid

cursed Steve Jobs

(may he rest in peace)

decided to quit blogging

decided to keep blogging

decided to delete my FB business page

decided to keep my FB business page

and wasted COUNTLESS HOURS ON THIS!

All I have succeeded in doing is eliminating the font I was using for my title

which I can't seem to restore.

Thanks goodness that's the only damage I've done.

Good Lord have mercy and

give me a feather quill pen!

Out to the garage for more therapy!

If you have an answer

please email me

Last time I looked, the link was at the top of the page. 

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Sprucing Up The Studio

I don't know about you but I have had one busy week!

I have several projects in varying stages of completion but none ready for showing!

Over the past few weeks I have rearranged my studio to better fit my work habits.

What kind of creative spirit are you?

I have a need for order to a degree or I don't accomplish much.

But, I also am very inspired by having some visual stimulation.

So, I seem to be constantly tweaking the set up in here.

Receiving my new computer for Christmas prompted the need for a different desk space.

So a table that I had painted to use in my laundry room

came downstairs as a new desk.

It matched the walls already so I didn't need to change anything!

I originally found it at a yard sale for $5. It was a light maple color. 

I sanded it lightly and painted it black. I knew the color I wanted....that pretty bluey greeny color.

 I have lots of leftover paint and knew I didn't need too much 
so I mixed blue and green into some white until I had the shade I wanted. 

When it was all dry, I distressed it pretty heavily.

I really wanted that old farmhouse table effect.

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Thursday Shopper #2

Back again for another day with the Thursday Shopper!
(Thursday Shopper does not receive any reimbursement)

If you missed the initial (dare I say virgin) installment

see it here

Here we go dahlings....

Today's site: Home Goods
 (aka TJ Maxx/Marshalls)

Slightly distressed botanical prints

mounted on MDF

Clearance price $5.00 ea.

Sweet oblong pillow embroidered with digitalis (foxglove)

$29.95

Oversized square pillow, linen-like fabric

printed with geneology of British Royal family

Princess Diana was a Spencer I believe

$39.95

 Remember all those great (expensive) lanterns from last week?

$19.95 & $29.95

TS is loving all the Gardener's Eden things showing up at Home Goods

$19.95 & $29.95

On clearance $29.95

missing one pane of glass

Great for 4th of July

or

rusted up for a country decor all year round

Wire cloches on a metal base

Clearance $19.95 & $29.95

Wood bins with chalkboard ends

$11.95 & $14.95

Large Italian platter printed in French

$29.95

And finally, the Kiss Kiss

award goes to

Metal planters with fleur-de-lis curvy tuteurs

$29.95

AND

Dishes that just made TS happy

Bowls just $3.99 ea

That's all for today!

Home to soak my feet!

Next week: Thrift stores

Kiss Kiss

Linking With

Between Naps On The Porch: Tablescape Thursday

French Cupboard

Savvy City Farmer

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The Best Gift Ever!!

I don't have many followers (yet....see I CAN be positive!) so just a few people may have noticed I skipped a post yesterday.

I needed to babysit my grandson yesterday, taking him to preschool class, 

taking my other grandson to a doctors appt 

and in general, being occupied with "Mom" stuff from 8am - 2pm. 

My daughter and son-in-law are trying in vitro again and I was so happy to help them

even in a small way. 

She must be flat in bed for the next few days and her husband has taken off work to be with her. 
If you have a prayer list, please remember them. 

She so wants another baby, but we know this is in God's hands.

In addition, yesterday was our 40th wedding anniversary....yes, that's 40 years! 

We decided to go to an early movie and then out to dinner. 

So, I had exactly 2hrs yesterday when I was not occupied 

and spent that short time doing a final editing on a picture to give my husband.

It seems a small gift, I know. 

But, my family can attest that I am very camera shy.

 I am not very photogenic and always feel unattractive in most pictures of myself.

 My husband loves me dearly and, of course, thinks I look wonderful. 

He has asked me for a picture for his office for YEARS....literally....YEARS. 

So, this year, I arranged with my daughter to come over and take a couple snapshots of me.
 Thanks to the WONDERFUL creation of photo editing programs, I was able to go in and make myself look presentable! 

Yay! Finally, a picture for my honey!

So, no post yesterday...but you'll get TWO today!

First, I'll tell you about the biggest and best gift EVER

 that my husband gave me for our anniversary and secondly, 

the Thursday Shopper will return so I can show you the goodies I plan to find today. 

At dinner, my first gift (which would have been PLENTY...believe me)

was a beautiful new camera. 

I think it's pretty great, don't you?.....plus he bought a nice all purpose lens.

I can't wait to learn to use it!

The second gift fulfills a lifelong dream of mine.

As a girl, I wanted to be this

And get on these 

So I could go here

And here

And here

Life took another direction for me and I never went.

 But now,

at long last,

 thanks to my wonderful husband,

 in May I'm finally going to see this

Yes, we're going to PARIS!!

The countdown starts TODAY!

Follow me along as I plan because I'll need your help!

Some of you have been there and I know you'll have GREAT advice for us.

a bientot

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The Gentle Pleasures of White

What is it about white?

 It's soothing, calming, clean and fresh. 

There is a reason hospitals used to be white....it has a calming effect on the soul.

 After the excesses of the holidays with an overabundance of everything,

 I find myself craving simplicity and ...... white.

 I love the clean surfaces in the house when the decorations are put away 

and I enjoy it for awhile as an opportunity to re-center myself. 

January and February are a time to contemplate and become quiet. 

These are the months that I may re-organize a closet,

 read more books, 

catch up on magazines,

 take unneeded items to charity, 

make pots of soup 

and do more baking. 

There are no major holidays to interrupt this slow, easy pace.

I can take the time to sit with a cup of tea and an indulgence of cinnamon toast.

Every time I dip the cinnamon sugar out of this little jar, I think of my Granny. 

This was her jar, the same one she used when making toast for me as a girl.

 And that's my curved handled baby spoon used to sprinkle the sugar 

over the hot, buttered toast.

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Books....Not Just For Reading

I am, have always been and always will be a book lover.

 I love everything about books. 

I can spend (and have) hours in a library or bookstore. 

I doubt I will ever be switching over to a Nook or a Kindle 

or whatever the latest "reader" device is.

 I like turning the pages and quickly peeking to see how many pages are left in the chapter....

can I finish before I have to pick someone up? 

before I have to get dinner on? 

before they call me for my appointment? 

I don't mind the weight of a book in my bag....it's comforting to me.

 In a moment I can be transported somewhere else no matter where I am physically.

I love to see books in a house. 

To me, it means there is thinking going on there and not just TV watching 

and that I might have something in common with that person. 

I never say it aloud because it would be rude but I have gone into some homes and thought "where are your books?" 

Looking at someone's bookshelf can tell you about the person. 

Do they like decorating, history, detective novels, romance, biographies?

I find it difficult.....no let me be honest....impossible, to throw a book in the trash can.

 Therefore I have lots of books that I love and have kept. 

I donate the others to the library, missions or the thrift store. 

I especially love old books and people that know me often give me their books that they were thinking of dumping. I find it hard to say no to a leather bound book...even if it's tattered!

I even decorate with books and I'm not alone.....

There are ideas for plumbers who read...

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My World Is Spinning

Good morning! I was unexpectedly flat on my back yesterday when I woke in the middle of the night to an attack of vertigo. 

I couldn't lift my head off the pillow without the room tilting and being overcome with nausea! I managed to get the boys off to school from my position lying on the couch

but then went right back to bed for the whole day.

 I am able to sit in the chair today so managed to reply to all of you 

who were so nice to leave comments! Thanks!

Tonight we are having a 60th anniversary party for my in-laws 

so my husband is doing much of the cooking while I direct from the chair. 

Luckily the menu was just assorted salads, crusty baguettes and store bought cake....

someone up there knew what was coming when I planned THAT menu!

Thanks Lord!

So, just a short post today to say thanks for stopping by.

Don't know why this is happening....since I haven't even  had a cold 

but hopefully it will keep improving!

See you next time!

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Thursday Shopping

Just a short note this morning to say "hello". I am needed for sitting service this morning and get to spend time with my adorable grandson!
It's Thursday, so that means shopping with my daughter too. Last week I showed you the little turquoise stools we found at Home Goods!
Who knows what we'll see today! I'm taking my camera and you can shop along with me!
See you back in a few hours.......dahlings...

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Decorating With Milk Glass

Good morning all! 

Hope you enjoyed the small series on inspiring movie houses.

If you missed it, you can find the first one here

Today I want to show you how I display my milk glass.

I can't remember when I saw the article in Martha Stewart Living, but it was about how beautiful milk glass containers are when lit from within by candles.

I immediately pulled out all my milk glass....a pitifully small collection....and tried it. 

I fell in love and have done it many times since then.

In case you missed the article, I thought I'd show you my display.

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Movies That Inspire Me: Life As We Know It

Good morning all! Today is the last installment of movie houses that have inspired me.

 I have enjoyed posting it and hope you have enjoyed seeing some great movie houses.

The list of great houses is Looooooong..... 

and I could post every day for a year and still probably have something to show!

Life As We Know It is a movie I haven't seen yet. I came across the pictures

when I was on Hooked on Houses (I hope you've had a chance to visit there)

and thought it was a very current look so I included it.

I have heard it called the Pottery Barn house, so if you like that eclectic look

you'll like this!

The original house is in Atlanta and I'm going to show you a couple shots of the

original first. This is the back of the house which was really nice...

 Here is the real family room.

coffered ceiling with beadboard

tall windows with high transom

checked drapes

good molding around the doors

a little too brown for me and I'd have to transform the fireplace

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Movies That Inspire me: The Stepmom

Good morning all. Hope you had a wonderful Sunday. 

True to my commitment, I am not posting on Sundays 

in an effort to keep one day a week with reduced work. 

We often go out for pizza after church and there are enough leftovers

 (and everyone has gorged enough!) 

that I don't have to make another dinner on Sunday. 

So, with a couple things lessened, I can relax a bit. 

Yesterday was the day we went to feed the homeless so I needed to run the kids there 

but that is somewhere I am happy to take them.

 It has touched my heart that they have told me how they remember 

standing in the same kinds of lines many times. 

All of us have so much to be grateful for and a bit of reminding never hurts. 

On to today's movie The StepMom.

Starring Julia  Roberts, Ed Harris (I love him) and Susan Sarandon, it is a bittersweet movie. 

Susan Sarandon plays the mother, Jackie, who is dying. 

Julia plays the stepmom whom  Jackie does not like one bit. 

However, she knows her kids will need to get to know Julia 

and so sets about "vetting" her for the role of their Mom. 

Eventually their relationship changes and , as I said earlier,

 the ending is bittersweet. 

I really cried. 

Thank goodness I saw it AFTER my kids were older.

But, in the midst of all this drama is a fantastic house. 

Here is the house with snow....isn't it gorgeous?

diamond paned upper windows

large porch

adorable gabled windows

heavy support pieces under the roofline

side sitting porch (on the right)

double story walk out bay windows

wide steps

large pillars

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Movies That Inspire Me: Practical Magic

Today in this series of movies that have inspired me is Practical Magic.

It's another older movie featuring a great house, let alone a quaint New England village!

Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman are witch sisters with personal problems.

How's that for a nutshell overview!

The pictures I have for you are primarily of the fabulous kitchen.

I am a kitchen lover because I love to cook and entertain and truly believe that

the kitchen is the real heart of the home.

So, I hope you enjoy these pictures I've chosen today!

Remember to visit Hooked on Houses if you can't get your fix here.

Here is the big overview shot

I almost don't know where to begin.....

cabinets with feet so they are furniture-like

white, white, white

double sided glass fronted cabinets

plate rack over the sink

apron sink

wall mounted faucets

matching open china cases that divide the room and make serving/display areas

wood floor against the white

back stairwell into the kitchen area

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Movies That Inspire Me: Green Card

I thought I'd do a few posts on some things that inspire me in decorating. 

I'm hoping that some of you will also share about the things that inspire you as well.

The other day I mentioned magazines and I may get back to that one later

but today, I want to talk about movies.

I have been a movie buff since I was a girl. 
I can still remember some of the houses in those movies very clearly.

Set designers specialize in replicating authentic settings. 
They spend hours researching the "right" look. 
Whether it is fabric, rugs, accessories, moldings, doors, windows, bedding, dishes.....
the list goes on. 
It offers a fabulous opportunity to 'move' in a room rather than just look at a still shot 
like a magazine. 

But, the publicity still shots are only a part of the inspiration.

 At times, as a character is moving through a scene, 

I have paused the movie so I can see the detail in the background. 

Many of the features in my own home 
have been inspired by movies with great houses.

Today my first movie is Green Card

Before I get started, I wanted to tell you that these pics
 come from Hooked on Houses. 
If you haven't visited over there, you should, 
especially if you love houses and decorating, as I do.

You can find it here 
If you click on the top header of TV/Movie Houses you'll be treated to an alphabetical list of movies. 
Believe me this is house crack...it's hard to leave!

OK, back to Green Card

It starred Andie MacDowell who portrayed a gardener and 

Gerard Depardieu who is the love interest (eventually). 

There's more to it, but the part that is great is the NYC apartment she eventually gets.
 It has a full conservatory which she restores to beauty.

For me, this was the first time I had seen a vintage inspired interior

which sort of morphed into the shabby chic look that became so 

hugely popular thanks to Rachel Ashwell.

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Thursday

I had an enjoyable day today out shopping and having lunch with my daughter.
We try and go every Thursday. It's our time together.
We both love to shop and decorate.

 We first went to Michaels and I found these tin letters in the dollar aisle.

they were actually $2 each...

I think I'll mount them on some of the pallet wood I have in the garage.
They'll make a great header for a wall of pictures.

I have lots of family pictures that I keep saying I am going to put up but never do.

 I have been collecting some black and white funky shots of all the kids

 and need to format them and get them into some frames. 

Of course before I can do that, I have to paint the wall!

It never ends! 

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Inspiration

This morning, while the kids were all getting off to school,

 I decided to finally browse through the magazines 

that had been sitting in the studio for a week or two. 

Three of my very favorites...

I started with Romantic Country and I was so surprised

 when I saw a spread on Laurie Anna's Vintage Home!

 I follow her blog and, if you don't, you should. 

Full of gorgeous pictures which will inspire you. 

The spread profiled her shop....in Texas...of course....

why am I so far from all these wonderful places? Arrrgghh.....

You can find her blog here

A bit later I was reading through the posts on my blog list and there it was again! 

She had posted about it and had a string of well deserved congratulations!

Rainy and chilly here today again 
so hopefully I'll get some effective creating done in the studio.

I had to share this one....

One of the kids had to go to school early today

As I pulled back up in the driveway, I saw two lonely Christmas wreaths still on windows.

Guess I forgot them! Back to the attic again! 

Are you still finding Christmas decorations around?
Please tell me I'm not the only one!

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Latest Finds

Today I've just been bouncing between lots of tasks. 

Laundry, crafting, general tidying, etc.

I thought I'd show you some of the things I've found in the past few months. 

Some I have plans for and others I just couldn't pass up 

but have no idea what to do with them yet!

I love books and I have lots of them. 

It's always hard for me to pass up a really great book.

Especially old books

I also love birds

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New Valentine Listing

Just finished this new item for my Etsy shop

and thought you might like to see it!

I hope to have a few more things to add this week

it's rainy and cold so I am happy in my studio!

Have a great evening!


Sharing with
DeddieDoo's Newbie Party

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