Wednesday, August 17, 2011

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.


Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Design Challenge #3 Charlotte's Great Room


Hi Everyone, Time for another Design Challenge!

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
for spreading the word about Design Challenge!


xoxo,

Sunday, August 14, 2011

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, 


Friday, August 12, 2011

Vintage Inspiration Friday #50 Vintage French Ticking

I've said several times that I'm not a seamstress, or even particularly adept at sewing, but necessity and obsession play a roll in my attempts at projects. So my latest obsession...no comments here...has been with making table runners for my Dining Room. Yes, you know, "the Dining Room That Has Furniture That I'd Love to Paint, but Just Can't Quite Get There" uh huh, THAT Dining Room.



First I used some fabric left over from my chair seat recovering from last year, natural Osnaberg, and a little nubby muslin for a ruffle. Then, once I did that I realized I really wanted a little somethin' in the way of color and pattern. So when I found this roll of French Inspired Ticking at JoAnne's Fabric that was on clearance, I grabbed it quick. Hopefully, it will be my next project, and two pillows to match for my extra Dining side chairs.




Here's one of the said Dining Room Chairs painted white, I know this set would be fabulous painted. OK, enough of that. Someone slap me please... maybe a winter project...or not.



So now back to French inspired fabric and tablerunners...



I found these woven placemats with handles a few weeks ago at Relics,
and when I went back for more...
they were gone, boo hoo.


Orphan red transferware and my French monogrammed tea towels.










I really love this fabric.



I found these other pieces of the real deal on Pinterest from Ebay.







Mine's pretty close, huh?

So here are some great links from last week's party.

Mercedes from All Things Pretty
shares her recent cosmetic makeover of her screened porch




has her Nana's wonderful Crazy Quilt on display.
(I just adore crazy quilts!)



takes us along on her visit to Mary Jane Butters Bed and Breakfast
where this wonderful lamp and shade live!



has a wonderful collection of small glass displays
full of found objects.



And I want to welcome LaurieAnna
to Vintage Inspiration Friday with her new Farmhouse Friday Party



You don't have to be living in a farmhouse
to be feelin' the love.
Check out her new link party,
 if you want to share some farmhouse inspired fun.

OK!!!
Hope you'll join in on
Vintage Inspiration Friday
where it's...
"anything vintage or vintage inspired"



Please spread the party fun by displaying my button on the sidebar,
within your blogpost, or on the sidebar with link directions.
thanks sooooo much!
And don't forget the "featured on" button too!















One more thing,
Be watching for an announcement of a Give Away
to celebrate the one year Anniversary of
Vintage Inspiration Friday,
and then the winner of the "Thank you" gift
for spreading the word for Design Challenge.

Love you all!










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