Garage Shopping

No, I didn't mean garage sale shopping...I mean shopping my own garage! Pictures cannot lie, it's a fact I have a garage full of "stuff" as I affectionately (or not) call it. Last week I was wounded in the pursuit of good "stuff", but it didn't slow me down too much!
Sunday night and Monday most of the day my "BLOGGER" wasn't "blogging" so I couldn't "blog". Anyone else out there suffer that same frustration? Eeeeck! Forced withdrawal is a bummer. But hey, I made the most of it and got a few little things accomplished around here.

I've seen this idea around lately...taking old windows and using them as a frame. (Hey, even retail stores are jumping on to this) I found several of these one paned windows at a barn sale recently and then added a large bird print I found last week.

I'm really lovin' the look of it. LOVE birdie prints of all kinds. Currently this is in my office/studio so I can enjoy it.

Now, don't ask me why, but this little corner etergere all white and chippy and rusty has been in my garage for the last year. Let's see, when I rescued it yesterday it was holding a cat pooper scooper, sandpaper, some paint brushes and misc. hardware and an old broken tray. Good Grief, Charley Brown, what was I thinking? Well, in defense of my "duh" attitude, I had wanted to use it, but once the dining room was painted it seemed to fit right in!

It may not look like it, but it DID get a good cleaning.

Poor Charlotte, she seems to have found herself

jailed in my wire cloche.

At least she has some "iffy" reading material.

And I finally got around to finding some brown transferware

dinner plates to replace the green that had been in here before.

These are part of my favorite set of vintage Johnson Bros.

Old Britain Castles

Sorry I'm so smitten with my new Dining Room,

I'm sure you all are over it by now,

but I'm thinking that I'll try to do chair slips
on the backs of my dining chairs,

and reupholster the seats in linen.

Not sure yet...hmmm, I'm formulating the plan.

Today I'm linking up with some fun parties:

Coastal Charm

All Thingz Related

New Nostalgia

 White Wednesday

at Faded Charm

My Romanitic Home

and

Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week!

love,

Debra

Rachel Ashwell: the journey continues.

Rachel Ashwell has become an icon for our time.

Her name is a "household" one.

Her face and design, her books and stores,

and yes, even her journey,

 are all things we each are familiar with.

Rachel is embarking on a new chapter in her life and business

and has asked our sweet friend in the blogging world

Lu from Dustylu Interiors,

to handle the photography and styling of this new venture.

Lu has an amazing blog where her photography captures not only

our hearts, but our senses.

Lu has asked a few of us to help her get the word out

for Rachel's new line by posting a wonderful Give Away

and sharing how Rachel Ashwell and her Shabby Chic

design have influenced us over the years.

Below are photos Lulu has taken to announce the

Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture line

 of furniture and accessories.

You can see in these photos that Lu has captured the trademark

pastels, elegance, and understated glamour

that is Rachel Ashwell, Shabby Chic Couture.

Please go and visit

Rachel's Blog

for her personal look at life and style.

Rachel Ashwell has affected each of us

who are followers of interior decor and design.

I have always admired her effortless grace and beauty;

The simplicity and elegance of her homes and life.

I have long been captivated by her style,

 but only within the last few years

since I myself have been a part of the vintage and antique design resurgence,

have I taken the plunge to incorporate her "look" into my home and life.

Choosing a more neutral color scheme,

if not all white, but shades and hues of it,

mixing pastels and chipped white vintage pieces,

and looking for ways to "declutter"

to see the natural elegance of her serene style.

I'm inviting you to visit Lulu at Dusty Lu

to see for yourself what she is doing with Rachel Ashwell.

Lulu is having a wonderful Give Away to announce the new line,

Shabby Chic Couture

So be sure and visit Dustylu

and enter the Give Away!

Two of Rachel's wonderful books to choose from:

or

Here are the guidelines for entering:

1. Visit Lu and become a follower of her blog.

2.Visit Rachel's new blog and follow.

3.Visit Rachel Ashwell's new website, Shabby Chic Couture.

4. Post about the Give Away or add it on your sidebar.

Let's all welcome this new line for Rachel.

Be sure and head over to Dustylu to enter, now!

love,

Debra

(all images courtesy of Shabby Chic)

Vintage Watercolor Prints

As part of my Mother's Day display on the hall buffet

I showed one of my Mary Gold Mother's Day Verse Prints.

Today I thought I'd share my other three prints that are "Marygold".

They are usually hanging in my bedroom hallway where the light is poor,

so I brought them into my new favorite spot;

my dining room.

( I'm just loving the new paint and paper!!)

Below is "Love's Siesta".

Mary Gold was a painter and watercolorist from the teens and 1920's. Many of her subjects use a black background depicting nighttime. They have the same lovely ladies, dressed in crinolines in romantic settings.

Below, is "Arabian Love".

So sorry for the glare on these, the glass is so reflective.

"The Mother" was a Mother's Day gift to me from my

sweet younger daughter several years ago.

I was so surprised, and I credit her for starting my

passion for Mary Gold.

Say Hello to my really old wire plantstand.

The original yellow paint is barely visible,

but so yummy!

 

I'm linking up with Vintage Black Friday

at the French Cupboard.

My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

Favorite Things Friday

over at My Favorite Things.

And A Few of My Favorite Things Saturday

at Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie.

My head is better, but still bruising, some swelling

 and I need spackling for my "divot".

I've been in hiding for the last few days.

It felt like a broken nose,

with an all-week headache to go with it,

but hey...

what can you do for that?

I'm surviving!

Hope you all are staying "boo boo free"

love ya,

Debra

Thank You, The French Cupboard

I'm super excited and giving Polly a big

Thank You

over at the French Cupboard.

Polly and her crew put out a great magazine called

 "Porch".

And she has included my photos from

The Seed Box Shop Blog

So go check out the French Cupboard

and take a look at the Spring Issue of Porch Magazine

Linda and Ludmil's garden and shed is on the cover!

love,

Debra

Out and About for White Wednesday

Last Saturday we made an unexpected trip to Bolivar, Missouri. I always love to head up that direction, which is on the way to Kansas City about 30 miles north of us. My favorite store to visit is "Pappy's" which is an amazing place, full of their trademark gorgeous antiques and one-of-a-kind creations using salvaged furniture and architectural pieces.

Last week when I made the statement

 about changing out my dining room for something white,

this is one of the places I would definitely head to.

I love Eastlake furniture and they do it like no one else!

I have a built in island in my kitchen,

but this one makes me want to tear mine out,

and start again.

Bookshelves, cabinets, beds, dressers, tables...

just love their pieces!

There is always so much inspiration here.

Believe me, if I thought I could master their paint technique,

I'd get my paint brush out and have a go at it.

OK, maybe I could just find room for one of these.

Hope you enjoyed the trip,

I found some great flower pots,

I'll share them soon!

Oh, and just a heads up

(bad pun after last post)

I have a 1 year anniversary coming up in a week,

and I have a super special Give Away planned!

Be sure and be on the lookout,

 I think it's something you'll really love!

I'm joining in for White Wednesday!

Say Hello to Kathleen and the rest of the gang

over at Faded Charm.

Thanks for all the well wishes,

I hate to be whiny, but this blog is about my life;

The good, the bad, and the stupid...

not just the pretty, chippy, white stuff.

love,

Debra

This is what happens when you store your "stuff" vertically...

The scene of the crime:

I was looking through this stack of old mirrors and frames,

trying to find something to put together a memory board...

when this...

lovely little chippy metal flower cart

(precariously perched on top)

fell on

this...

(Above is the "before" picture.
I wouldn't dare show the "after" shot.
Trust me, it's scary!)

So now I look and feel like this...

It didn't require stitches because,

(I know this sounds horrible),

 it scraped the skin right off.

No bruising, but I do look like I had a run in

with a small truck... er, cart!

So if I'm a little more wonky than usual...

you'll know the reason.

I'm hoping I have no social engagements

that I will need to attend

in the next few days.

I'm thanking God that it wasn't worse,
that I have bangs,
and hoping some skin will grow back.
(sorry this is so yucky to talk about)

Great way to finish off a holiday weekend!

Love ya,
Debra