Bookcage and Library Table

I KNOW all of you follow my Thursday Shopper...RIGHT?

Just in case you don't, I'll remind you that a few months ago I went to Pottery Barn.
While I was there, I saw this

It's in the catalog too so I'm sure you've seen it.
It might look like a birdcage...but it's a bookcage.
One can only assume it's where you put the books 
you don't want anyone to touch...right?
This picture was important because the Copycat Challenge was looming and 

it's one of my favorite parties!

They are SO much fun! 
I spent a few hours over several days looking though magazines

SUCH a CHORE...

Finally on Wednesday (like the DAY before...sheesh)
I saw the pic in the PB catalog and thought "that's it!" 
I remembered I had seen it in the store too so I even have a picture to use!
This is going to be a piece of cake!
{wait, is that snow?}

I happened to have a birdcage in the attic.

This birdcage is OLD....not really old, just old like I bought it in the early 80's old.

It was my very first INTERESTING decorative purchase. 
I paid WAY too much for it at the time because I had NO BUSINESS buying it....
we didn't have the money. 

But, I wanted it....badly....so I did.

It's had ivy in it, nothing in it, and once for a short while, two little finch birds.

That was a bad scene...remember this is just a decorative cage. 

I don't know why they died, maybe it was suicide because of the cage thing, 
but die they did....very quickly.

I scrubbed out the cage (ick) and put it in the attic. 
It's been there for about 8 years.

I LEAPED out of my chair SO THRILLED that I finally had a project for the 
Copycat Challenge and grabbed it out of the attic.

Birdcage...CHECK
Books....CHECK
Like I said, piece of cake.

First, a coat of white paint.
 I rubbed off a bit of the paint on the wires because they are starting to rust nicely. 

Now, where to put it........
{wait, is that snow?}

Since I took the French China Cabinet and chairs up to the shop, 
there has been this big blank wall in the living room. 
I moved this Asian black chest there because 
it was in a corner of the room where it didn't belong.

 I've been working on lightening up my living room this past year 
and this chest is really not fitting in well. 
The little cage on top is pretty puny...oh boy....

Guess I'll cover the chest up with something.
{yes...that definitely IS snow}

Digging through closets and drawers to find vintage linens.......

OK...now to layer them on....attractively, if possible....

Remember that scene is Sense and Sensibility when the youngest sister, Margaret, 
hides under the library table?

The table is all draped with cloths, some of which are dragging on the floor.

 And the table is piled with books and other interesting things. 
That's my second inspiration. 
I can do this.....

OK, ready for books....oops...the opening is pretty small....

Upstairs to the cabinet in the hallway. 
I keep my ACTUAL antique books there because I don't want them handled.
OK....have a selection of them....

Back downstairs.....they're kind of dark....add a white bird.
Roaming around the house looking for more stuff.......

I added a marble lamp (thrift store find) with a document shade (of course). 
Trying to stick with a book theme.....duh 

Need more stuff........
more wandering around.....
OK...rusty wire frame with a botanical drawing...that's bookish...right?

I have this giant apothecary type bottle that I bought at Home Goods a couple years ago 
so I grab that.......too plain....
I need to fill it with something......shells? No.....
Wait...shredded book pages!

To the studio...where the heck are those books?
That's good....now the top of the cage looks a bit plain.....
 back to the studio to make a book page tassel for that.....
Thank goodness I found the books already....that saved time...

Someone needs to stop me.....

I think I'm done.....

I went to the dentist this morning
I thought I'd had all my fun for the day.....

I secretly enjoyed every minute....
{even with the snowball effect}
I'm weird that way.....


Before.....

And after.....

My 14 yr old said it looks great.....he's such a nice kid.....


I think I need something on the wall....don't you.....?
{it's still snowing}


Sharing with 
Debbiedoo
From My Front Porch to Yours
Beyond The Picket Fence
French Country Cottage
Freckled Laundry

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