Little Black Bowl

I've been wanting to copy an idea I've seen out in blogland at least a dozen times - the repurposing/marriage of a wooden fruit bowl and a wooden candlestick to 

create a pedestal bowl.  My need to have one of these little beauties 

led me to snap up several possible choices at thrift stores and 

yard sales over the summer.  Then I had to decide which 

pieces would look best together...

and what color to paint it.  

I'm loving the black I chose!  For that matter I love the whole combination,
especially since it cost me less than $2.  The white berry wreath and blue
Ball jar just happened to be handy so I set them in the bowl.  Perfect!
I think I need something "fallish" in the jar...maybe some mini-mini
pumpkins?  Or maybe some acorns? Ideas anyone?

Pretty sure I need to put a little more autumn into the overall decor of my 

antique buffet.  Maybe the blue and white need to go away, but I'd rather 

come up with a combination that incorporates all the colors here. OK, 

maybe not rust-red candles, but I still want 

some autumn-y touches included.

The best thing about the decor here is everything is 'old' or handmade.  The

buffet came to me by way of a trade for a furniture piece I wanted to get 

rid of.  I created the wreath, the twiggy bouquet and of course, the 

pedestal bowl.  Everything else was purchased 2nd-hand at 

either a flea market, yard sale,or thrift store. 

Even the candles!

So, I'm ready for your ideas on spiffing this little corner up for 

fall...please share!

Linking to...

 

Bedroom Progress

My daughter and I started working on her bedroom in the spring, but with one thing and another, it's taken until now to bring it all together.  Well, truthfully, there is still much on the to-do list, but it's time to share what has been accomplished so far....

Inspiration for the room's accent colors came from the painting - a gift from one of my daughter's art professors. The mirror was a $5 thrift store find.  One piece of trim had broken off, so we broke off that piece on the other side too, sanded and painted white - looks great!  Those bottles and vintage plaster cat pick up the primary colors from the artwork beautifully.  The updated dresser they sit on was the focus of an earlier post.

This sweet little side table was dull, dry, unpainted wood with framed glass doors and brass knobs.  It was a great buy at $5 from a yard sale.  Now it is fresh and gorgeous with its new white paint, silver knobs (silver metallic spray paint) and "frosted" glass doors.  A little thinned white glass paint worked the magic to give the glass a frosted look.

My daughter chose fabrics a couple days ago, then I got busy this weekend and whipped up some pillows.  The yellow, red and gray really pop on her white coverlet!  I vote for more pillows, but waiting on the daughter to decide if she wants any more.

I did the applique on the front pillow by hand.  It took me three times as long to do the one pillow as it did the other two combined!  But so worth it to tie all the fabrics together in one.

Yes, it is a trash can, but isn't it pretty in it's silver coat?!  It was a vintage piece my daughter picked up at a yard sale.  But it was gold and showing its age.  Metallic silver spray paint to the rescue!

 Last, but by far my favorite of all, is this old armoire.  It was a major project thanks to several coats of paint that had to be sanded.  But it is glorious in fresh white, with new knobs in silver.  We even removed all the old paint from the hinges and spray painted them silver too.  Gorgeous and holds a ton of stuff!

Happy Summer Chaos

Funny how I always think I can keep up with everything, but time after time I am reminded that my time and energy are not limitless.  Things have been hopping at my house, which results in my blog being ignored. Birthdays and other family gatherings have been fun and abundant, and will continue to be for the next month. The garden and flower beds are growing and gorgeous and need lots of attention. Of course that 40-hour job that pays the bills around here gets in the way of all the other things I think I need on my list.  Plus a number of projects are underway in the daughter's room that I hope can be finished in the next few weeks so I can share.  Oh, and those puppies - TEN puppies!

 

 

 

  

  

  

Meet the Terrific Ten:  5 girls: Stella, Sophia, Mercy, Duffy & Carrie Valentine.  5 boys: Shiloh, Shepley, Huey, Dewey & Louie. 4 are Poma-poos and 6 are toy Poodles.

It's impossible to get a lot done around here when 10 little fur-babies are begging for love - they just suck me in with their uber-cuteness!  Just a couple more weeks until they'll be heading for their forever homes, so I may as well enjoy them while I can. Some things can wait - puppy kisses aren't on that list!

Garden check-in

The green beans I sowed last weekend are up...

 and the crookneck squash are too...

 Pansies in their pots help fill in a flower bed before the perennials start blooming...

And my tiny "wild" strawberries produce the most delectable morsels!  I started these from seed about 4 years ago.  To my happy surprise they have survived!