What's new on the sideboard...

I've been guilty...

yes, guilty ...

of ignoring my sideboard!

I hadn't touched a thing on it since March,

 when I updated it just a "hare"/hair for Easter.

(sorry, couldn't resist the pun)

I like to bring out my floral Mandeville and King Seed Box

this time of year and do it up right.

My sideboard is in my main hall right off the kitchen...

next to the stairway to the lower level.

It's impossible to get a good shot of it 

without hanging like a monkey from a chandelier.

tight space.

just ask my son-in-law who reminds me each time he's here

and unloading suitcases and French Bulldogs.

(just jabbing you a little, Keith)

too bad. 

love my sideboard being here.

my husband knows NOT to complain.

(I better be sweet or there'll be no Coldwater Creek gift card this year for Mother's Day)

And since Mother's Day will be here next month

I added one of my sweet framed greetings from 1939.

and a vintage flower book from 1945 with some seed packets.

McSquirrel is residing in the metal conservatory/lantern.

so...let's see how long this new ivy lasts...

 I love this teensy woven basket...

 just perfect for a little birdie

(everything here except the lantern were flea market finds)

so much better!

I'll be hanging out at these get-togethers:

Thrifty Finds at Southern Hospitality

Met Monday with Between Naps On the Porch

Wow Us Wednesday

Share the Love Wednesday

What's It Wednesday

Primp Your Stuff

 Share Your Cup Thursday

Simple and Sweet Friday

Show and Tell Friday

xoxo,

An Easter Visit with Peter Rabbit

Hope you're having a wonderful start to the

Easter weekend.

Before it's too late, I wanted to share a few photos of these little "Easter" candy molds with you. I don't think either one is old, but I paired them up with two little vintage books that I found last year. Both Peter Rabbit titles that were published in 1921. 

When I was very young we used to visit my grandparents who had a whole closet still filled with my uncle's and daddy's children's books. I could spend hours in that large attic closet. Looking through old books and playing games. These little books are from that same era. Because of that I'm always on the lookout for this type of old children's books. The graphics are just my favorite.

Enjoy your family this weekend.

Give them extra hugs and let them know how much you love them.

Happy Easter,

Going a little "Crazy"

One of the first things that I did as soon as the kids walked out the door after Christmas was to go play in the sunporch. It doesn't have heat or air out there, but it IS such a big part of my decorating scheme, that I have to keep it changed up. Not because I'm out there lounging around, but because you see it from the kitchen. Plus the kitties love to go out and sit on their perches for bird viewing.

 I have a few old bird books that I love, and even though they may be vintage, I still use them on a regular basis. My hubbs gave me these opera glasses a few years ago for bird sleuthing out here.

I didn't make a lot of changes out here, but I did want to try something different on the wicker settee. I have a couple of crazy quilts, and this one is more "Winter-y", where the other is more "Fall-ish". I've tried using whites out here in the winter, but it doesn't work, it just looks like an "ice-box"...too cold...I have to have some color to visually warm it up.

 I also changed out the runner on the little coffee table for a burlap coffee sack from Germany, to have some added depth and texture.

 The baker's rack still has the touches of red on it, and just yesterday I planted some hyacinth bulbs. I've never tried them before. It's pretty chilly out here, but since they grow in the snow, I hope it will work.

These are just too tempting for the girls to leave alone. They want to chew on anything "green".

Finally time to open up my Cavallini Bird calendar.

love these, pure art!

This is the place for some hot cocoa and some woolly socks.

Remember last week how I couldn't believe it was so warm?

It's definitely January now!

Thanks for coming to visit!

I'm joining in for these parties this week;

Coastal Charm

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Savvy Southern Style

A Beach Cottage

Faded Charm

Very Merry Vintage Style

Primp

Ivy and Elephants

No Minimalist Here

Savvy City Farmer

Freckled Laundry

If you haven't entered the Shabby Apple Earring Give Away

be sure and click here. They're gorgeous!

xoxo,

Romantic French Style Winner

Before I announce the winner

 I want to sincerely thank each one of you who entered.

And a special thank you for the ones who went the extra mile

by blogging about it and placing my button on your sidebar.

I appreciate you all so much.

There aren't enough hours in the day

 to thank each one of you individually,

for participating in and making a success of

Vintage Inspiration Friday.

So I hope you know how grateful I am for your friendship and support!

My two go-to books for Romantic Style

and a pendant necklace from me...

Goes to Laurie from Heaven's Walk!

(Love Laurie and her wonderful style)

And you know, Fall is my favorite time of the year,

so be watching for some Fall themed

Vintage Inspiration Fridays

where we'll be linking up mantles, porches, tablescapes

and more fun than you can shake a big fat pumpkin at!

group hugs,

Still time to enter the Give Away!

The Romantic French Style Give Away

closes tonight at midnight

So you still have time to enter,

Just click HERE!

I have a big project for this weekend,

so keep your fingers crossed!

Hope to share it later!

xoxo,

French Lessons

A few years ago at a swap meet here in town one of the dealers

was selling some old books for just a few dollars a piece.

There were a handful that I was interested in

 but they were in terrible condition.

It was getting late and he didn't want to haul them home,

so he suggested I pick out several for a dollar.

One was a French Lesson Book in English from the 1850's

and another was this book published in 1905.

The Lesson book's cover and binding were falling apart

but I loved the yellowing pages and some penciled notes

from a student many years ago.

And if you've visited many flea markets or antique malls

I'm sure you've run into at least one of these glass top trays,

probably from the 30's or 40's.

So some Modge Podge and book pages,

with a little white paint,

transformed the ho hum

into a sweet little tray to brighten the ottoman in my studio.

The vintage bird graphics aren't glued down,

they're just under the glass

so it can be changed out for the seasons.

I'd been wanting to do this for awhile and finally got it done

during one of my "paint" sessions.