Vintage Inspiration Friday, Birthday Give Away starting tomorrow!

This is a heads up for the fun that's starting tomorrow for

Vintage Inspiration Friday!

but you can grab the button on the sidebar today!

 Entries for the Give Away start on tomorrow's post,

but you can still say Hi, today!

xoxo,

p.s. thank you for all the great advice for Charlotte's Great Room!!

If you haven't checked in, just scroll down for her Design Challenge post.

Design Challenge #3 Charlotte's Great Room

Hi Everyone, Time for another Design Challenge!

Today, Charlotte from Butterbean Row

is hoping for some good advice on how she can achieve a softer, casual,

updated look for her Great Room.

She has great elements that are a little masculine and rustic,

and needs our help to bring in a little chic.

Take a look, and think about her ideas.

Lets' see what we can suggest!

In Charlotte's Own Words

1. Being on a budget, I need to handle this re-do in stages.

2. I love all things white due to the inspiration of decorating blogs such as "White Ironstone Cottage", "My Romantic Home", "Common Ground", "Faded Charm" and many others.

3. I love country French and that casual elegance of some lovely flowers in an old bucket.

4. Casual but elegant. Not fussy.

5. I need HELP arranging items on my mantle and built in book case. I have never figured out what to do to make it pretty and not so cluttered looking.

6. My sofa is reddish brown leather. Is there a way to accessorize to brighten it ?

7. Thanks to you all for your help!

♥charlotte

This is Charlotte's Entry.

Don't you love the lighter brighter wall color,

and that great blue console table?

I can see where this lighter color could be incorporated in to the rest of the Great Room.

Thanks so much for all your great design advice and ideas,

I know the recipients really appreciate you all taking the time to weigh in!

OK, let's share our thoughts and help Charlotte get started!

And a special "Thankyou" gift will be going out to

 Eileen at Cottage Beach House

for spreading the word about Design Challenge!

xoxo,

Bird Prints on the Cheep, Cheap

Vintage Bird and Botanical Prints

are always a staple in home decor;

they just never go out of style.

And in the catalogs you can usually find some form of them for sale.

I've found a lot of the smaller prints in flea markets,

 but the larger ones are a little more scarce.

I love these from Ballard Designs but they had a sizable price tag for the set.

I'm not the first one to blog about this,

but one of the best sources for quality prints is calendar art.

Cavallini and Co. puts out fantastic poster size art calendars

 each year in several wonderful themes.

Birds, botanicals, Paris prints, vintage maps, and butterflies

just to name a few.

I didn't buy one for this year,

and I regret it, because now there isn't a one out there,

but I did have my 2010 calendar.

I had a print that was a little outdated, but the frame was still good.

so I trimmed down a calendar page,

and now I'm using it in my kitchen.

(goodbye...little peaches!)

(hello, sweet birdie and nest!)

(better shot in the dining room)

Sorry, it's so hard to get a good shot without glare.

And this is a vintage print that I found at a garage sale for a few dollars.

I just painted the old oak frame black;

now it's similar to the pricey catalog ones.

I have it in my Dining Room above this old metal flower stand.

and this one, let's just not talk about it...

Even Miss Wrigley is skeptical...

an old print and a dry brush of paint, ta da!

(sorry for the glare again)

There are a lot of inexpensive ways to find great prints

Don't be afraid to buy a "less than" print and frame if the price is right.

A little paint and a print exchange can result in a usable piece of art

without paying break-the-bank prices.

Joining in with these great parties this week:

And Good Life Wednesday at A Beach Cottage

See you all Tuesday morning with another

Hope you had a great weekend,

love,