still looking for inspiration...

Happy, happy White Wednesday everyone! Kathleen is hosting this wonderful day over at Faded Charm! Can you tell I am in a good mood today?! Do you remember when I was looking for inspiration and I was feeling a bit down? Well I decided that while I am still looking for inspiration I should start planning some of the projects I want done around the house. The thoughts of something "new" in my nest makes me happy! So I decided to open up another wonderful book I have and get some ideas... "Cottage Retreats...Decorating Ideas for Every Mood" by Lisa Jill Schlang is full of wonderful photos and ideas for your cottage style home and mine. One of the first projects for the fall is to finish up my living room. You and I know we are truly never finished with a room but I did get the new white couch and added some old windows in the corners but I want a change for my coffee table... So while I was browsing through the book I saw this... I like the black and white contrast. However maybe I just need a whole new table... I also need to get some new pillows for my couch to add a pop of color. I was not even thinking about a change to my mantel. I love my little shutters as a fireplace screen... But when I saw this I fell in love! It looks like part of an old crib and you know I would definitely paint it white...I adore mirrors over fireplaces and I would love to find the perfect vintage one to change out the print especially at the holidays. Now, moving right along to my bedroom the only project on the back burner was to paint my bureaus white. However at times I think my bed looks too plain. Sometimes I wonder if I should get my Jenny Lind style head and foot board out of the attic and paint it white... Or maybe something simpler like this... I think this look will suit my Paris Hotel Suite much better. I guess I just talked myself into that project!! Now, get ready to sigh... Isn't it fabulous? I would love that in my bedroom to hide the big TV! A girl can dream can't she?! Well...summer is winding down. Next week my son has another soccer camp here in town then high school tryouts the following week with practice every day after that. We will go back to just camping on the weekends until Columbus Day. Every year at this time I think the same thing, that my house looks so plain on the outside and wish it could look something like this... It is pretty simple here at home...no outside feathering ~ I do all that at my campsite. Thank goodness I have one lovely hydrangea bush to add a bit of color out front. For now I will enjoy sitting in my favorite spot...

I will be sitting here, still looking for inspiration, making notes and lists and getting excited for all my fall projects. Hmmm...I wonder how many will actually get done? Hope you enjoyed all the beautiful photos I took from the "Cottage Retreats" book. Thank you for visiting today and I hope you have time to sit and enjoy all the other inspiring whites over at Faded Charm!

nifty thrifty tuesday...

Hello! I am joining Linda today over at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday. I am always amazed and inspired when I look at all the other creative bloggers' thrifty finds or nifty makeovers. Well today I think I have some pretty nifty, thrifty finds myself. However I must admit, I can not take credit for these treasures...once again my personal shoppers ~ Martha and Sue ~ have spoiled me AGAIN! Are you having company soon and need some new pretties to set your table? Take a look at this sweet tray... Yes, that is pink depression glass! It is the Jeannette cherry blossom pattern and in perfect condition...Will you be making a cake? How would you like to serve it on this... This beautiful cake stand is Schumann's Wild Rose pattern ~ marked Bavaria Germany! Take a closer look... And if you are serving coffee with your cake you could serve cream out of this... I thought I might just keep these for a while but when I took a look at my "keep" pile that has been accumulating over the summer I decided to bring these into the shop. I always want to be one of you beautiful tablescapers so I can use all these pretties but have to realize that it just isn't me...yet. All this from my thrifty personal shoppers for under $5...how exciting! Speaking of exciting ~ I wanted to share with you all some exciting news ~ my son Jake got his permit last Thursday! The wait at the RMV was a bit long but well worth the big smile on his face when he came out of the test room! Congrats Jake! Thank you all for stopping by! Now go browse some more nifty finds over at Coastal Charm.

a little white and a big thank you...

Good Morning ~ today I have just a few little whites from my kitchen to share for White Wednesday like this new flour canister I picked up at Pier 1 to match my oil and vinegar cruets... While I was in my kitchen I noticed the simple, wonderful white photo that August will be sharing all month... Some of the photos in this calendar have had too much color for me. This one is just perfect for this wall and ~ um ~ yes, I am still looking for a new phone... If anyone knows where I can get an old fashioned looking wall phone like the ones they used to have in Pottery Barn I would appreciate your help! Speaking of help, does anyone need help in leaving hints for your honey to bring home flowers? Having this might work... Some guys just have to be told what to do!! Now I would like to say a big, belated "Thank You" to Jo-Anne Coletti of Vintage Rose Collection. I won a giveaway that Small Town Living was having and the prize was a collection of her note cards and postcards! When it arrived I hated to open the pretty package... It was just full of beautiful cards ~ images from her inspiring artwork and photos...

I think this one is my favorite... Just look at the back ~ too pretty to write on... I am on the hunt for the perfect vintage or vintage inspired frames so I can hang a few around my nest. Some will go right up on my inspiration board (which is still in my head until Jim makes me one) along with the angel wings and sparkly 3. Thank you so much Jo-Anne! In Jo-Anne's boutique you can find all this lovely stationary as well her original artwork and vintage finds. I wonder, with everyone browsing her boutique and looking at all the treasures over at Faded Charm for White Wednesday, will anyone get anything done today?!

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!!