spring is in the air...

Spring is in the air around here as the temps went up this past week and the snow banks started to melt down!

I picked up a few bunches of baby's breath at the market the other day and spread them around the house...

Enjoy your weekend!

Follow along with me in Instagram and Facebook!

romantic homes...

So happy the snow today did not stop the mailman from delivering the latest issue of

Romantic Homes Magazine...

I am included in their "Yours Truly" section...

Thank you so much Romantic Homes and Meryl Schoenbaum for sharing my letter and photos with your readers, I am very honored!

I just wish I had included my blog name in my letter!  Silly me!

Thank you for stopping by!

there's no place like home...

There really is no place like home...

...and I am so happy to be home!!

Thank you so much for sending all your love, support and prayers...

I have been home since Monday and I am feeling good ~ better every day!

Happily joining Kathleen for White Wednesday!!

I can't wait to see what you all have been up to...I'll be by soon to catch up!

happy valentine's day...

Happy Valentine's Day!

I want to say a big Thank You for all the kind words of support and thoughtful wishes and prayers you have all been sending me!  I am feeling very blessed!  I will bring all this blog love with me this week to help keep me thinking positively and put my mind in a happier place!

Remember when I shared my little kitchen makeover and the few spots I still needed to fill in...

Well, a few Saturdays ago after I went into the shop I came home and found this up...

The day before I had Jim hold them up for me so I could see if I liked it or not...

I had just finished painting the frame white and I picked up the "F" at Anthropologie around the holidays.  I think I like it! 

My kitchen makeover has been coupled with a little den makeover too.  I started it off with this chippy old chair...

As well as my Mom's old table...

I shared the beginning of the makeover here and how the table may get a coat of white...

Well of course it did...

I love the way the table came out but was not sure at first how to dress her up...

But everything fell into place...

I kept it simple...

Jim brought me home a bunch of big burlap bags.  I washed them, trimmed the cut ends (great scraps for projects) and am having fun using them around my  nest.  I even tucked one in the basket...

While the room is well on it's way it still needs a few things.  I want to get a new slipcover for the love seat (I am eyeing a piped cotton twill one, in natural, in the LL Bean catalog)...

And I would like a chandelier...

And while I love my cork board over the computer...

The wall needs something to detract from all the not so pretty yet necessary stuff (keeping it real photo alert)...

My vision is to mix old mirrors, architectural salvage and a little je ne sais quoi.  I am hoping to be inspired and find something wonderful while doing a lot of blog surfing and internet shopping while I recuperate!

I am so glad I decided to keep the old fan...

I am hoping to link this up before I go with Kathleen for White Wednesday over at Faded Charm.  I can't believe I am going to miss out on a few!

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope your Valentine's Day is a sweet one!

...you'll be in my heart ~ be back soon!

love of vintage...

For as long as I can remember I have always loved "old things" (as I called it in my youth), "vintage treasures" (as I refer to them now) or, as my Dad used to joke, just "stuff". My love of vintage came from my parents. A little part came from my Dad, who could appreciate the "stuff" my Mom brought home ~ he just loved to see her happy. I am lucky to have a guy like that now. However it was my Mom who has always been the biggest inspiration in my life. She was passionate about hunting, collecting and preserving certain pieces from the past that spoke to her. I am thankful every day for falling in love with this way of life. The wonderful vintage treasures that my Mom cherished as I grew up are now being cherished in my home. They each hold special memories ~ whether it was of my Mom telling me not to touch it or using it as a "house" for my dolls ~ each memory is precious. I have taken these treasures along with the once or twice loved pieces I find and, can happily say, have made this house a home. Let's take a peek... One of my weaknesses is vintage mirrors. I imagine romantic tales and secrets hidden away in past reflections, and look forward to what changes are in their future... I usually use mirrors or empty frames as art for my walls. I feel they are smart purchases as they would work in any room. That is not to say I do not appreciate paintings, especially when they add a touch of vintage romance and are in my favorite colors...

This beauty hangs over the desk in my craft room for inspiration. See the gorgeous one in the corner here... I remember staring at that print when I was a little girl thinking the two beautiful ladies were sisters and they reminded me of my Mom and her sister. They now keep watch over Vivienne, my vintage pin cushion doll. Now this simple little chair comes with a story ~ you see my Mom insisted it was hers and I insisted it was mine. The mix up being a result of treasure hunting together. So it was shared through the years and has worn many different colors... I used to use this old crock as an elevator for my dolls...This antique oil lamp was one of those "don't touch" items ~ I just admired it from a distance... My Mom taught me how to repurpose when in a decorating dilemma, like hanging an old cupboard door on a wall... I also adore sweet vintage books and started my collection with this one from my Mom. She bought it because it is beautiful and her maiden name was Perkins...I recently used this book in my fall ledge makeover.

Now, in my bedroom, or Paris Hotel Suite, is where you will find some of my favorite vignettes like this one on my bureau... I added this little shoe to my Mom's engagement photo, her old perfume bottle and match book that was on her dresser. I also added the pearl collar for a classic touch. The next vignette holds my mother of pearl opera glasses that my husband bought for me at a flea market before we were married... I put one of my little dress forms with it as well as a little clock assemblage I picked up at the shop. I love to create these little ladies for my booth space too...My Mom and I would have had so much fun treasure hunting together for my space! I know she is with me at every yard sale, flea market or thrift store in spirit. They both are. Thanks Mom and Dad for making me an old soul, a kindred spirit ~ one who prefers antique malls to the mega malls. They taught me to hold tight to my dreams and never give up. So, that is what brings me here today. To the blog launch party for the new magazine Creating Vintage Charm. I remember there always being stacks of my Mom's favorite magazines around the house and you will pretty much find the same around mine. Keeping those special issues where an article or photo hit home and spoke to me. I would love to be able to share with their readers a peek into my home where I show my love of vintage.

perfectly shabby chic...

I know, I know ~ I promised to show you all what I purchased from Salvage Chic on Friday. I had every intention to! Knowing that I was heading to my campground I emailed photos to myself so I could just open them up and save the photos on my laptop then I would be ready to blog away! I did it before when I shared my little reminder but this time when I went to save the photos to the laptop it would not let me!! Tell me dear friends, if you create a post but do not publish it right away will it show the date created or date published? I know you will help me out!

Here is what I picked at Salvage Chic ~ wonderful circle star flag on old wood... Pretty rose adorned coasters which could be used as trinket dishes too... Great covered candy dish with an "M" monogram... Nice pair of milk glass shakers... Lovely embroidered table cloth... I really liked it on the back of my little ladder back chair ~ the colors are so shabby and summery...However, all those treasures went to the shop. I did keep these though... I have never been interested in Fiesta ware before but I just love the colors! I thought that if I could talk Jim into putting glass into a couple of cabinet doors in the kitchen they would look so pretty! Or maybe he might reconsider his decision about open shelving ~ how cute would that be?! Oh well I will just have to keep looking at all the pretty kitchen pages in my idea book for now. Well ~ are you ready? Take a peek at my most favorite, gorgeous find in a long time... Isn't it just so beautiful! Christine worked with me on the price since it had a little accident in her shop... In it's travels to my nest it has also lost some more pieces off the wonderful old frame but I am hoping to glue the pieces back on. There is also a tear in the middle of the bouquet that isn't that noticeable at all. It is just perfectly shabby chic to me... So where did I put it ~ right when you walk up the stairs as you enter my home... I think it compliments the chair and the whole vignette perfectly ~ don't you? As you can see I hung it a bit low... Leaving space for my other rose prints I hope to find ~ some day. I also love the subtle pop of color against my mostly white living room and den...Hmmm...I am noticing that my carpet needs to be cleaned and the floors need refinishing. You know what ~ that's ok! My home is not perfect and neither am I ~ but I am happy with my little nest and (most days) myself! Thanks for the reminder Anne! Hope this post finds you all happy too!!