Shabby to French

 I think I am slowly growing out of my "shabby" phase.  Although I'm still very much attracted to white fixtures dripping with shining crystals. But my current house doesn't seem to support that kind of thing.

 When I first found these two scones (many years ago) they were an ugly silver mat or aluminum color. I spray painted them white, but it was too white so I dry brushed and smeared brown paint into them. Added two very inexpensive shades and called them shabby.

 But they didn't work in my new house. So I found even cheaper light shades and painted them an oil bronzed brown and added  the new shades.

 At first I added the crystals back on them, but I didn't like it (Gasp!! ME not liking crystals? Weird.)

I think I should probably pain the candle sleeve an antique white, but I don't have that color in my house and never remember to get it while I'm out. So, They'll probably stay white.

They were in my bedroom on either side of my mirror. I've moved them to the window bench in my breakfast nook, but I'm not sure if they'll stay there.

Cottage Chic Guest Room

We moved into our new home just a little over three years ago. It's much bigger than our old home and it's taking a long time to decorate each room. We had to purchase some twin beds almost right away for guests, but never really got around to actually decorating.

The bed spreads are actually queen size coverlets that I draped, folded and pinned on the twin size beds. They're pink roses, white chenille and quilted pink velvet blocks on one side and teeny pink roses on a solid white background on the other. I used vintage chenille pillow shams and pretty rose pillows I bought on eBay.

I found matching twin white "Iron" headboards for only $20.00 for both at a local goodwill store. Actually, a friend found them and told me they were there. I didn't waste any time to go down there and snatch them up. I couldn't believe my good luck! 

My hubby took down the builder's dim, boring light fixture and hung up my gorgeous white chandelier. There's actually two chandeliers in this room. I have another, much smaller one hanging on a bird cage stand. (forgot to take a photo)

I moved the window mirror to the other wall and hung an amazing vintage cut-work curtain on the wall. It's hand embroidered and hand cut with sweet angels and doves.

These photos don't do this wonderful linen justice. I might do a post entry just on this piece later. It's simply stunning!

This is my work room and I listen to lots of books on Cd's in here, hence the glaring piece of electronics. I forgot to move it out for the photos.  I love the little, chippy yellow stand it's on. The front apron is hand carved with little leaves. It doesn't really match the room, but I don't care. I love it too much to change it.

There's still a lot to do in this room. I have to hang curtains and add bed skirts. And, I might even get rid of the bits of pink and go in a more "French" direction.  But for now, I'm enjoying it. Hope you did, too.

Patricia :o)

Thrifty HALLOWEEN!!!

Isn't it amazing how one little purchase can influence your whole decorating vignette?  I don't usually decorate a whole lot for Halloween, but I made a great find at a Goodwill store that got the ball rolling.

I found this Woof and Poof doll for only $2.99!! At first I thought she was kind of ugly and couldn't really figure out what she was. But I figured she was good enough for Halloween.

Then I got her home and noticed all the great detailing on her. She's wearing an orange, fuzzy jacket with a high taffeta-like collar, a black bow and big white rhinestone on her hat, a feathered purse, silver buckled belt, and a tulle skirt dotted with little bits of glitter. And, of course, the woof & poof button on her behind.

Then I bought a little witch picture at Marshal's and some black and brown burlap at the fabric store.

The picture is a reproduction of an old Halloween card and some embellishments.

I wrapped the black burlap around a pretty shade which made it instantly "spooky" and tied it off with a strip of natural burlap. Then I pinned it with a brooch I picked up at an estate sale.

It's really pretty and elegant in person, but works great here!

Then I looked around my house for more orange things. The only thing I came up with is this faux book, but after adding it to the vignette, I found that the only other thing I needed was a candle. I used a little ivory candle that I already had, found a free image of a crow on the internet, printed it, cut it out, and stuck it on the candle. I think it turned out pretty well!!

So far, I'd only spend about $11.00.....but then I needed the mirror....and I splurged.  I got it at a fair price, but not great. Still, I DO need a mirror on that wall. AND I did need a place to hang my hairy spider (see it in the upper right corner?)

Ta-Da!! My Halloween

Happy Halloween!!
Patricia :o)

Keep the Embroidery

I can't resist beautiful embroidered pieces. I can't stand to let a great work of art go to waste just because there is a hole or stain on the linen. This adorable hand embroidered heart used to be part of a vintage pillowcase. There was major damage right smack in the middle and no way to hide or repair it, so I cut off the embroidered part and made it into a Christmas stocking.

I used a mixture of vintage items and new fabric. I know that these stocking are found all over the place, but since I hadn't made one before, I was pretty proud (I made this one two or three years ago)

The inside is lined with pink and white cotton gingham and trimmed with a white cotton ruffle.

The back is an older, though not quite vintage machine embroidered fabric.

Check out the tiny embroidered roses. Aren't they cute!

My favorite part of this whole stocking is the rhinestone button sphere on the very end. I've made several stockings since this one and all of them had vintage embroidery on them. I even made a pair using "his" and "hers" pillowcases. If I ever find the pictures, I'll post them.

Patricia :o)

M'Lady the Vintage Dress Form

Last summer my hubby and I were visiting our favorite little town just North of San Antonio, Boerne (sounds like brun-e). We stopped in a little antique shop and found this great dress form. It had been marked down, and marked down again to $175.00. I'd been looking for a dress form for years and could never find anything in a reasonable price range. Although the $175 seemed fair, I asked for more. I was thrilled when the dealer let me have her for $125!!!! (I know some of you have gotten way better deals, but I'm rarely that lucky LOL)

Unfortunately, my dress form was so stained and dirty, that she wasn't even invited into the home (except to take these photos). I removed her outer cover and found...

shredded paper!! I have to tell you I was shocked and disappointed. But I had to get her clean if she wanted to stay inside the house.

Here she is naked! I vacuumed her off really,really well and them steamed her all over. It was a lot harder than I had thought it would be, but I finally got her smelling almost good.

I obviously wasn't going to put that nasty paper back in so I wrapped her in thick batting. Meanwhile, the nasty, dirty cover was being soaked for a couple of days in a big tub of powder Tide, Oxyclean and what started out as very hot water. The fabric came out very clean with only one or two little ink marks on it.

I didn't put the cover in the dryer because I was afraid it would shrink. And I think it did anyway because it looks a little tight. I hand stitched the opening all the way up the back and it looks really good. This was the part I thought would be the hardest and it turned out to be the easiest. The really hard part was filling her bust! The first go-round she looked like Dolly Parton!! After a little reductive surgery, she looks pretty normal.

I've heard that every dress form should have a name and this one is named M'lady. When we first bought her, my hubby referred to her as "your lady" meaning my lady. He carried my lady on his shoulder. It was sooooo cute and funny looking. Then my lady had to stay in the garage, and I had to work on my lady to get her cleaned up. I kept thinking of her as "my lady" so the name stuck.

Now she's in my guest room wearing the prettiest lace robe. I'll share that with you on the next post. It's beautiful and I'm sure you'll love it!

Happy New Year!!

Patricia :o)

So exciting!

I'm so honored and excited that Pearl, of A StoryBook Life, just featured my shabby linen closet. She has a wonderful blog full of beautiful living ideas. She is incredibly creative as you will see by her gorgeous posts and photos. Be sure you have a few minutes to read through her blog, because once you start you won't want to stop! Thank you, Pearl!

Vintage Shabby Bedroom

I have a wonderful friend. Teri, who lives in the most charming house in Santa Barbara, California. She has a very unique and eccentric style and loves to mix old with new. Her guest room is full of gorgeous linens and amazing finds. Teri loves to travel and has been all over the United States and the world, so she's always picking up little treasures.

The bedding is a mixture of brand new, kind-a old, vintage and antique. I don't know how she does it, but she throws it all together and it works. She has several embroidered and crocheted pillowcases that she uses as shams. Then she tossed on a couple vintage needlepoint tapestry pillows. Both comforters are fairly modern. The bed skirt is a stunning piece of dripping hand crochet. I don't know what it was in its previous life, but Teri turned it into a gorgeous dust ruffle. (I wish I thought of taking a close up photograph of it!)

It's difficult to see clearly, but Teri hung an antique open-work curtain above the bed as a sort of head board. It is snow white with a sweet cherub in the center done in cut work and white embroidery. She clipped on little rings and slid it all on a curtain rod near the ceiling. This is simply enchanting!

There is an antique glass covered book shelf full of some of her favorite linens. And at the food of the bed is a beautiful vintage cardboard box topped with a tole tray and several round boxes.

There are even more linens neatly stacked in a tall glass front book case. It is so much fun to go to her house and just look at all her linens. She has TONS! The wall hanging is of hand embroidered roses, and the little dresses are hand embroidered ethnic clothing.

She uses a simple but charming chest of drawers as a dresser and topped it with vintage Southern Belle prints, vases and accessories she's picked up in her travels. Every time I visit, I find she's added something new and exciting.

I LOVE what Teri's done with her lamp shade! She's draped a couple of old doilies over the top of the lamp shade. The quality of these doilies is amazing, but they have a couple of small "issues" (small holes or flaws). Layering them over the lamp shade is a marvelous way to disguise their imperfections.

Safety Note: Make sure that there is venting at the top of the shade if you copy this idea. Use low wattage bulbs and don't leave the light when you're not in the room (and awake). Doilies usually have built in vents, but 'ya gotta make sure that safety comes first.

The nightstand is draped with a embroidered vintage runner and has a lovely display of paper dolls and lace artwork, and a rose print peeking over the top of them.

There are so many things I love about this small but roomy retreat. But my favorite is the window. Vintage, white on white embroidered curtains are hung at the window for privacy. Teri had a friend hand paint a rose covered trellis all the way around it. The yellow roses are simply Divine! And the detail in the iron work is amazing. What a wonderful way to finish off this charming room!

Displaying pretty towels

Have you ever purchased a pretty linen, but weren't quite sure what to do with it next? One of the easiest ways to display a vintage linen is to layer it with other pieces. Using contrasting colors is a great way to add color to a room and draw attention to your special piece.

I started by using deep Burgundy modern day towels. These are thick and fluffy and have a very rich feel to them.

Then I layered a gorgeous, vintage hand crocheted towel over it. This one has beautiful work on both ends that is just magnificent. I could have left it as is or...

...put a sweet hand embroidered guest towel over it to add color and personality. This could have also been a Southern Belle, cute little animal, or other florals to add the "mood" you're looking for in your powder room.

What appear to be "His" and "Hers" towels are really pillowcases. Who says you have to use linens for their intended purposes. Everyone who came into my powder room commented on the cute towels, but no one guessed what they really were. This is a great way to display pillowcases that are too delicate to actually sleep on, or just too pretty to keep hidden.

I removed the fancy Victorian towel and just left the pillowcases for a simpler, cleaner look. Either way, they add vintage charm to modern towels. I love using linens in unique and unexpected ways.