Our weekend in St. Louis

There really aren't words that are adequate to describe this last week. Anne and her husband James arrived last Tuesday evening and it's been a whirlwind of talking, laughter, tears...good ones..., shopping, and eating. We left Friday morning to go to St. Louis where we spent a long weekend at my daughter's and son-in-law's wonderful home in University City.

(French lavabo with lavender, right inside the door of Elizabeth's home)

But I couldn't wait to show you one of the highlights of the trip, visiting with Elizabeth Maxson and seeing her wonderful home that was just a few miles from my daughter's. I had met Elizabeth just briefly a few years ago, but we've kept in touch through comments and my blog "a day in the life..." which is my Bible Study Blog.                

Elizabeth graciously let us take photos of her home and office/studio, which were featured in the May-June-July 2010 issue of  "Where Women Create". I just took a few and let Anne have the honor of capturing these beautiful and inspiring spaces.

(chandelier in Elizabeth's office) 

(Elizabeth's desk)

(Elizabeth's wedding dress that she created)

 (front porch)

Look who else was here!

Anne will be sharing her photos soon I'm sure.

I was so blessed to be around these two amazing gals this week. For Vintage Inspiration this Thursday, I have some shots from Elizabeth's kitchen, which was featured in the premier issue of "Where Women Cook".

I'll be sharing with these great parties this week:

White Wednesday at Faded Charm

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here

Creative Things Thursday at The Vintage Farmhouse

Simple and Sweet Friday at Rooted in Thyme

Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Inspiration Friday at The Picket Fence

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home

SNS at Funky Junk

xoxo,

Monday Marketplace #17: On the Fly

Hi Everyone, What an incredible week this has been. We're heading back home to Springfield today from St. Louis, where Anne and I have spent the last few days with Elizabeth Maxson. I'll share some of the fun later this week! But this morning it's Monday Marketplace, so let's see what great items you have in your Etsy and Online Boutiques! Here are a few links that I loved from last week:

Vintage London Burlap Tote

 from TheBrownShed

Vintage Milk Carrier

from Becky at VintageGoodness1

Vintage Laundry Box full of Goodies 

from LemonVerbena1

Set of Three Vintage French Monogram Clay Tags

from Kerry at FrenchandSparrow

You can link up to three items from your shops, and remember that this link party is open all week, so come back by and check them out during the week.

Lot's of great stuff coming later this week. 

xoxo,

Vintage Inspiration #92 Painted Upholstery

Anne arrived late Tuesday evening and Wednesday we hit a few places around Springfield. Yesterday  we headed to Ozark to visit Leola's and Riverview, and then had lunch at Spring Creek. Today we're off to St. Louis. I wrote this post earlier this week, hope you're having a great one as well. How do you make up for 3 years in a week? we're trying!

How many of us have seen a fabulous bargain of an old sofa, chair or settee at a garage sale or flea market and marveled at the bones of the piece but just couldn't "get there" in making a purchase because of the amount of money/and or time it would take to see it come out as we've envisioned?

 Well, we're starting to see a trend in technique for actually painting the fabric, as in this wonderful tufted sofa from Gua at Hviter Lakkris. The tufting alone would have scared me away!!

This is how it started out...

Or take a look at this pristine beauty from Glory B's Cottage

Can someone say 1980's?

That brings me back to a post I did a couple of weeks ago 

where I shared this amazing sofa in Traditional Home Magazine.

I love trends, 

but don't want to invest a lot of money into them

 or to changing out upholstery because you're tired of it.

My rule is "don't buy pattern...buy neutrals" for the big things.

That way you can change out pillows and accessories for a fresh new look.

I broke that rule on a sofa purchase a while back,

and now it's covered in a white slipcover.

So instead of investing in upholstery for this kind of trend,

 why not just paint it?

And along the lines of the Union Jack,

 I think I'd opt for a more toned down version,

say this...

or in grays...

which brings me to this wonderful French gilt set

 that I recently saw at Relics.

Still pricey, but totally gorgeous.

The sofa is worn, but the chairs are in pretty good shape...

Personally, I think it's fabulous just like this.

Just thinking of the "idea" of painting a piece.

Right now I'm just "dreaming", but you just never know what I might do!

 So the next time you see an iffy sofa, try to imagine it painted!

So that brings me to a few of last week's features:

Lisa from Budget Design Girl shared a post about the Union Jack in design that is coinciding with the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth. THIS I could go for!

Amanda Marie from Little City Homestead, a new blogger,  posted about an adorable little watering can with the perfect "chippy" quotient!

Melissa from Daisy Mae Belle, (also a new blogger)has two things that I love (and have), a rusty fence gate and a birdhouse! Isn't this a great entry statement?

And in honor of Father's Day, I want to share this wonderful Model A Ford from Faye at Wild Rose Vintage. My daddy collected antique cars,  and I grew up having a real love for them.

brings back wonderful memories!

So let's see what kind of inspiration you've been kicking around this week. Please have a link within your post to be featured!

and please go visit these other great Friday party gals:

xoxo,

So...here's the plan

See this girl...

we've been waiting to meet for almost three years.

Anne lives in Texas, I live in Missouri.

We started talking when our blogs were babies

hanging out on Theresa's sidebar.

(thank you, dear Theresa!)

She'll be here in just a matter of hours.

Then later this week, we're headed to St. Louis 

to stay with my daughter and her husband

at the "Bed and Breakfast".

(just kidding...but they're wonderful hosts!)

Then we're going to meet up 

with one of the sweetest, most talented gals around...

Elizabeth Maxson

and we're going to let E take us to all her haunts and hang outs.

So, posts will be a little fewer this next week.

We'll still be having Vintage Inspiration and Monday Marketplace,

hope you'll join in as usual.

And I can guarantee that I'll have lots of fun to share next week!

Then, when I'm back, I'll be celebrating my 3 year Blogaversary

with a knock out Give Away of Carolyn Westbrook's new book.

"Through the French Door"

so get ready!!

(I'm thinking that this will be one of the best weeks ever!)

xoxo,