A Mantel, a Living Room, and Whatever's Left for Thanksgiving...

Hey Everyone,

today I'm going to share the rest of the Thanksgiving decor. Yes, there are bits and pieces left that have not yet made it here on the blog. I hate it, but November 1st to the day after Thanksgiving is hard to navigate in the blogging sphere. I think most of us are coming to the conclusion that there just isn't enough time to relax, celebrate and enjoy Christmas unless we get a jump on decorating. We rush around and make ourselves (and our families) crazy the moment we clean off the table and put the Turkey leftovers in the fridge.

Blogger's Seasonal Harvest Tour

Hi Everyone, and Welcome to the 

2016 Bloggers Seasonal Harvest Home Tour

this week, presented by Cozy Little House

My Favorite Urn...For Fall

I've had this Pottery Barn Urn for the last 5 years I think, and I have to say it's one of my favorite pieces to use in decor. It's almost always in use no matter what the season, but Fall has to be my favorite look. 

It's just the right size to plop in a big fat pumpkin, 

no matter whether it's faux or real.

Vintage Owl Vignette and an Update

First of all, I'm having a little issue with Blogger. I'm not sure why, but it's decided each time I have to edit a post that it wants to "republish" and act like I just published it. This is getting old and I've tried scheduling the old time, but it's doing it any way. Anyone else having this annoying problem? I imagine a few of you are wondering about my sanity and blogging ethics. I hope it fixes itself soon, I feel like I'm walking around with toilet paper stuck to my shoe...

I wanted to share my new-to-me vintage concrete owl that I found at The Vintage Peddler last week. Isn't he a cutie; just the right amount of white chippy-ness!

Classical Statuary in Eclectic Settings

Anyone that has "moved" can tell you that there will be certain items, that no matter how much you loved them in your old home, that just don't work well in the new abode. The architecture, furniture, setting...whatever...the personality of the new house just doesn't mesh with all your old decor.

Coffee Table ReStyle

Hi Friends, a few weeks ago I needed to finally put away all my "Spring" rabbits, bunnies, and whatever... I'd been putting it off cause I hadn't felt so great, but when everyone started talking "Summer" it was obvious that my sweet little Bunny Man Basket needed to be tucked away for next year.

French Cottage

Hi Friends, I wanted to share a new publication by Hoffman Media that I think many of you will really enjoy, but may not have heard about. It's from the company that puts out two of my favorites, Victoria Magazine and The Cottage Journal. Last Spring they released a Special Issue called French Cottage. It was in magazine form, but could have been a hardcover "coffee table" edition. This year Hoffman came out with a second edition, this time in the hard cover.

Basics for Building a Tabletop Vignette

Although I haven't been changing things up around here too much lately, boredom has set in big time, and I needed something fresh to look at here in the Living Room. Each time I think of putting together a vignette or grouping I panic. Good Grief, where do I start? Then I spend a lot of time hunting down and trying things, moving stuff around, then discarding them; generally wasting my time. Decor books and magazines help, but even then I'm sometimes left without an idea of where to start.

I LOVE doing seasonal vignettes, but no matter if I'm decorating for a specific Holiday or Season, or just something basic, I've learned some foundational "building blocks" that make it pretty simple to put together an "Easy Change" Tabletop Vignette.

The Living Room and Leopard Print Pillows

Hi Everyone, things have been quiet around here and I've been keeping my nose to the grindstone so to speak, in regards to my quest in sorting through more boxes of decor and organizing my storage room downstairs. 

Snow Owls on the Mantel

It just wouldn't be October on the Mantel without my little Snow Owls. A few years ago white owls were the latest addition to the Fall Scene, and that reminded me of what a fad owls were in the early 70's. All the poor homely little ceramic owls that had been packed away or sold at garage sales started to make a comeback on the shelves of flea markets and antique malls. They were still homely, but I had a plan...

Coffee Table ala Fall

If I'm not careful, September will be over, and I'll be behind in sharing a few of my "First Fall" vignettes and decorating. I like to spread Fall out as long as I can, so I have lots of different layers and stages. Can you believe how fast this month is going by? I'd been putting off decorating the coffee table, because I wanted to do something "different", and I just hadn't figured out what that was going to be...

Late Summer Look-back

I've been hunting for some inspiration for this transition time into Fall.

 The fading flowers are showing the wear and tear of the sun,

 the temps are still hot, the yards have started turning brown around the edges, 

and this time of year, I often find myself in a little decorating funk. 

Just a little seasonal tweaking

Pillow Change-up for a Summer Look

Sometimes, just a few small change-ups can make a space more seasonal. And since you all know that I'm a certified pillow fanatic, that's just what a pillow switch accomplished. Last week we had one of the warmest days so far, so I thought I might need to put away the furry leopard print pillows and the animal print PB throw. Instantly lighter and more "summery".

Jelly Cupboard Paint Makeover

I've long been a believer that a can of paint can be a room full of mismatched furniture's best friend. No matter where we've lived or what my current style might be, I've always had a mix of odds and ends; new pieces, antiques, hand-me-downs, and flea market finds. Each piece has a story or memory that keeps them there, but sometimes too many finishes, colors, and wear and tear can make trying to pull a room together totally a nightmare.

Keepin' it Real, Folks

In an effort to blog more "Real Time"

I had a decision to make.

Do I show you what I'm working on today

...or do I not?

I'm choosing to share a project in progress.

Now I know many of you will want to bop me 

for thinking this needs to be painted.

That's ok, I've taken a few jabs this last day or two.

We talked about "being real" and trying to be more 

in the moment on our blogs.

Not to make a "production" out of every blog post,

or strive for perfection.

But to just be ourselves.

So, I'm sharing what I'm up to today...

I've had this little jelly cabinet for about 30 years.

It's not old (in furniture years) 

and it's been moved all over creation and then some.

It has chunks of wood missing and deep scratches and gouges.

I know, you can't see them from here.

But I need something in this spot behind Hubbs' Chair.

I don't want something dark and "noticeable".

Too much of that already.

I'm thinking "blend in" has become my decor motto.

Especially in a small space

with too much furniture already.

This spot drives me crazy.

Nothing I've tried fits, or looks right.

It's one of those odd spaces, due to furniture placement.

So I need something to take up the negative space

and cover up this wall that feels lopsided.

So I'm in the process of painting it.

First coat is French Linen ASCP.

Not sure where I'll go from here.

But I'm blocking the Hallway traffic 

so I'll have to get it figured out pronto.

Thank goodness for chalk paint.

I did not want to sand this thing.

Have you entered the Canvas Pop Give Away?

Endless possibilities for your own canvas art...

See you all Wednesday Evening for 

joining in with:

Savvy Southern Style

Back to painting.

xoxo,

Styling a Sofa Table

...when you don't want a lot of clutter.

Painting Antique Frames

What a joy it was to turn over those calender pages, to see what March will bring. February was cold and snowy and brutal for so many of us. March is my Birthday Month, and it always signals the start of Spring. I feel my optimism and mood lighten with that one little flip of a calender page.

A week or so ago, Hubbs and I hung up a few oil paintings that he's given me over the years. They are my favorites, but I was just guessing at where they should be. Wall space in this house is scarce, and I'm trying to be selective about what I'm putting up. So we ended up changing things around because the space really needed something bigger.

Side Table/ Conservatory Vignette

I'm still in the process of finding spots for some of my decor pieces. I don't have near as much space to display things as I did at the other house, so I'm thinking "rotation" might be the answer. My husband bought me this little table top "conservatory" several years ago, and it's always fun to change it out for the seasons. I had it on my hearth in the living room before, now it's taking it's turn on the little "entry hall" dresser that I use for a side table.

New Rug for the Hall...cat optional

Hi Everyone, hope you've had a good week and are having some fun this weekend. I finally made a decision about Runners for the Master Bedroom and the hallway here next to my office and Hubbs'. I went back and forth, but in the end I didn't feel like I wanted a black rug for the hall; I needed something that was lighter, but on the same scale, and wool like the other's I had ordered last Fall before we moved in. I needed the colors to coordinate, and I was hoping some taupes and grays would match instead of trying to go ivory or tan.

Christmas Decor ADD...

I think most of us spent at least some time this last weekend decorating for Christmas. (Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!) Some of you hard working and industrious types have it completed so you can sit by the fire with your hot cocoa and survey the loveliness of the Season. Others of us are still in the midst of the chaos of boxes, tubs and indecision...

I'm having a hard time finding the line between "decorated" and "too much" here at the new house. The last thing I want is to clutter it all up with hodge podge themes and colors. Right now I need some neutral "natural" decorations, that are relaxing. I have red in the kitchen, but here in the living and dining areas I'm trying to keep it a little subdued.

I've just added some vintage ornaments 

and a little ribbon and greenery to my "everyday" decor items.

I'm still tweaking, adding and subtracting...

so I'll share more of the Living Room when I get the mantel "settled".

But here is a peek of the new garland I found last week. I loved the gold and black vintage font on the white background. A little silver tinsel wrapped around the individual cards gives it a festive touch.

I've realized there are a lot of my regular decor pieces that still haven't been unpacked. Pillows, cloches, urns...what boxes are you hiding in? I get started in one place, then I go back to another. I'll probably take a break from upstairs and see what kind of damage I can do in the basement. I think it's time to vacuum up the mess and call it a day.

It's cold and dreary today. We had a little snowy-frosty stuff early this morning. My boxes and Christmas stash are all in the garage, so I'm trying to rummage through boxes intermittently. Brrrrrr...  I think I must have taken 150 pics today, but my tripod is MIA from the move and the light is not cooperating for good photos. How about you...are you finished with the decorating fun, or just getting started? I'm ready for the cocoa, finished or not.

I'll be joining in with these parties:

The Scoop at Stone Gable

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings

Show and Share at Coastal Charm

Inspire Me at A Stroll Thru Life

Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Share Your Cup at Mrs. Olson's

xoxo,