Rest and Read

Thank you so much for the words of ease. I spent the morning catching up on much needed mail and necessities. The magical image above is a gift from a wonderful reader who has recently taken the leap to blogging. Miss Carolynn of Chenille Cottage. 

Beautiful wrapped and delivered in the most amazing penmanship. I carefully opened it to find vintage gifts.

The prints are 3D Autographs.  Aged to a wonderful tan than cannot be improvised.

Speckled with water spots and trimmed in blue and ivory frames.

Gingham smocked apron in orange to study and remake.

Thank you Carolynn...they are beautiful.

A recent swap with the Button Floozies brought me a needle book from Miss Velma at Down Our Country Road. 

Velma has put so many wonderful details in this little gift.

Even my daughter tried to sneak it...Thank you Velma...I adore it.

This morning as I finished picking up the breakfast dishes and corralling the clutter I noticed a theme going on in the house that I wasn't quite in on.

Reagan, obviously waiting patiently for a call...one of my boys forgot his phone this morning! Does anyone else see that he is giving me the stink eye? 

Murphy, laying claim to HIS real estate.

Poor Phog, he just doesn't know how big he is.

I was not invited to this morning nap party but they are aware that I will need to be at the next one or their breakfast will be delayed.

Teri...send me an email and I will help you with flickr.

Blooms and Tools

It is dangerous to let me loose in a garden center. A little bit like the book store...almost like the fabric store...way too close to the flea market.

Recipe in hand, I gathered the plants needed.

(Recipes found from the Proven Winner Website.)

Having had the house just painted last fall, I am trying to discover the right color combination.

Deep purple snapdragons, million bells in shades of yellow and violet.

Licorice plant to highlight in frosty variegated tones, all held together with wasabi coleus.

All this rusty green goodness just in time for Spring.

Never far behind me...Mr. Reagan and his favorite...Cat mint.

Just inside, a wreath and bully sign hang for unsolicited visitors.

(Sign bought from the vintage crafter extraordinaire....Magpie Ethel.)

Vintage child garden implements just beyond the door.

Dressed up garden tools and seeds to place your keys near.

Just in case the dogs and sign don't keep the solicitors away...I will not hesitate to use my vintage bug sprayers on them!

(FYI we haven't finished putting in the floor moulding yet on the tile...patience.)

Beautiful Legs

A favorite image revisited from my very first post.  I spent some time revisiting a few projects this week that were left mid project for what ever reason.  I found this butterfly jointed table a few years ago and have always had plans to refinish it once time permitted.  It had a horrible red toned stain on it that would wipe of if you rubbed up against it.

Some of you might remember the before picture.  It acts as our kitchen island.  This small kitchen table has beautiful lines and details on the legs.  Not to mention porcelain wheels.  On the opposite end I attached an old metal towel rod for hand towels. (why didn't I take pictures?)  

Earlier in the summer before the heat I refinished the top with a dark walnut and paste wax.  I was a bit disappointed that the butterfly hinges didn't stand out anymore but lesson learned.  Two coats of Annie Sloan Chalk paint in Old White gave it a nice compliment to the dark top.

This a picture to show how the table looks without being distressed.  I fully believe distressing makes the piece shine.  All of the turns and creases will be highlighted.  Just like putting blush on.

Lightly sanded.  This paint is a dream to sand.  Powder puddles filled the floor below.  I ran the sandpaper over the parts that would get the normal wear and tear as well as the ones I want to show off.

It is anchored now instead of flowing into the floor.  It really does have beautiful legs.  Nice to mark another project off the list...that means I have room to add a few more!