Giving New Life to Something

Sometimes you find things that have really seen much better days.  At times it really is best to let the item go and other times you might come up with a way to salvage it.  Here is a little stool that managed to give me just enough inspiration to keep it.

The chipped brown paint left a lot to be desired in it's current state. 

A good sanding, coat of paint (that then had to be aged just a little), and decoupaged top of vintage sheet music and a bird image gave it some good character.  Now it is ready to be put to use.

It can be found for sale here:

Distressed Miniature Stool







If It Makes You Smile, Take It Home

Greetings!
As I've said before I love whimsical "stuff", if it's unusual, vintage handmade, newly created or just makes me smile it comes home with me. This is probably the result of my family being green before it was "cool" to do so, they all repurposed things and several were artist working in multiple media. I never knew anything differently!

I love glasses, can't explain it...but I have several vintage pairs and they pop up all over the house..

These are vintage painted lichens...yes I said lichens, you know fungus...who paints fungus....a "fun guy"!  Bad joke I know!!  They have been in our home for close to 40 years....

 I had never seen a mudman mounted like this when I came across this guy at an auction...with a lump in my throat and a shaking hand I was determined to take him home.....

The log vase with barb wire intrigued me, but just didn't work anywhere I tried to put it....so one day I saw a indian doll with a wooden base...lightbulb moment...I could transform this piece of wood.   I love American Indian art, the life philosophy, spirituality, caretakers of this earth.....

 After the kids were too big for this little roll-top desk, I couldn't hide it away....it is a perfect family room end table.....cause you can hide all kinds of junk oh so easily....

 This eagle was found at an Atlanta estate sale of a former diplomat several years ago...the story goes that only a limited number were created and were given out during the Eisenhower and Kennedy administration......it recently made a trip to the Antiques Roadshow taping....the people in line liked it more than the appraisers....

Thanks for stopping by.

Re-Arrange and Ponder

Greetings!

I am still shuffling around furniture and "stuff" as I ponder how to really change up this room.  As I said before it just feels so "dark" and out dated....now could the "dark" be AGE related...hmmmm!  Think I like the swap out of chairs, the black ones balance out the monstrosity...you know that big black box.  Am contemplating a move for it...but that might break someones heart.

 This is where the Christmas tree sat and before that my grandsons' toys, now it's just bare.

 Moved in a bench in the same colorway and some accessories, didn't like the clock....so left it with just the books, doorstop and candle. At least for now it balances the wall art, which is one of my pieces and a hay rake handmade by my great-grandfather.  Sentimental as I am the little gray cupboard was made by my grandfather for "us girls"....my children, nieces, nephews, friends children and now my grandson have played with what's in it....which includes a set of "blue willow" metal dishes from the 1950's.

 

 I love this old corner cupboard, but it needed some brightening up....see I'm right back to that "too dark" mantra again...gotta be age.  Anyway....rounded up several of my well loved brown transferware pieces and now my mudmen pop.  Didn't hurt that I added a little sticky spotlight up in the top shining down, now even at night you can see what's in the cupboard.

I confessed before to my "addiction" to wonderfully whimsical things...I think these qualify.  If I smile when finding such items I know, know, know they have got to go home with ME! 

The more I ponder the more I think about painting...but heaven help me it would be a major undertaking to paint all this woodwork...but it would lighten things up and make the whole space feel more 2012.  Oh yeh, my other issue I am sick of the blinds (also the color of the woodwork)...a simple solution would be draperies...fabric to soften that window wall would work wonders...but that brings me back to the monstrosity and the corner cupboard....they would have to move to another space, because draperies would not hang well....there would be some fighting for space for sure. 

Well back to pondering, cause today I'd rather hang out with my grandson.

Thanks for stopping by!

Returning to Things I Love!

Greetings!
It's a new year, so I figured it's time for a "change"...heaven forbid I call it a resolution, because I cannot remember the last time I stuck with a resolution. I've decided it's time to get back to doing the things I love, like changing paint colors, moving stuff around, hunting for new treasures, fixing and re-purposing things. However, I have been collecting for longer than I care to admit and very little has left this house, so it's time to rethink....which is why this blog and new Etsy shop have come about. As I cruised the 2011 Christmas Home Tours @ The Inspired Room and The Nesting Place I was so "inspired" that I have returned to several blogs over and over since. Admiring those who are doing things I have been yearning to return to. Thanks to those of you who made me realize that I'm not alone in feeling like the house is so empty after all the holiday pretties are packed away and wondering what to do next. 

Once we take down our tree and pack away the Christmas collectibles our family room always looks so bare. Thought I'd start with baby steps, dig through all those cabinets and put out only things I love, love, love and the other wonderful things are hitting the road. Which is where the Etsy shop comes in, as we go through this year I will be putting many wonderful vintage treasures up for sale so that they can find a new home......that way I can pursue new/old treasures that fit in with my changing aesthethic for my home.

 After those baby steps I may get brave and step up the makeover of this room.....think all the stained woodwork makes the room dark and dated. Any input????

I have to admit to having an affinity for wonderfully whimsical items like this little guy, he simply makes me smile.

Here is a sneak peek, some of these items will be making there way onto Etsy.

   Thanks for stopping by, hopefully you will return to follow this adventure.