~Spring Mantel~

Hi friends! Happy Monday!

In honor of Springing forward this week, I thought I would celebrate Spring by bringing a little green to my mantel. I also found some great thick burlap ribbon in the floral department at Michaels and it was cheap, cheap, so I wound that in with the greens.

 I know that everyone is white washing or painting their brick, but I kind of like the earthy look of the darker brick. For the first few years that we lived here, I had planned to re-face this with marble or stone, but I'm glad I didn't. (That's not to say that it won't change eventually, though!)

 I use pinecones in my decor all year round. I think I remember reading that Delores at Vignette Design uses her pinecones all year as well. By the way, She has a fabulous blog. Click here to take a look.

Well, that's my Spring mantel so far. I still have to pull out the Easter decor, so it will change a little more in the next week or two.

Hope you all have a great day!!

xo

-Lisa

Linking to the following...




No Minimalist Here Open House Party





Coastal Charm-Nifty Thrifty Things



Fox Hollow Cottage - Spring Mantel Party
Metamorphosis Monday

Tweaky Week and Life's Blessings.

~ Happy Friday!! ~

Do you ever feel like despite your best efforts, things are just not looking the way you had intended?

I am having a few challenges with my photography in my last two posts. Very sub-standard! Blech! That being said, I have taken steps to work on that, and today is a new day! It is supposed to be sunny and 80 degrees here this afternoon! Whoo-hoo! 

I was thinking this morning about how blessed I am. I have a beautiful, happy child, and a sweet husband, who just went off to school for "Dad's" day this morning at his pre-school. They were both wearing the requested green, and they looked so happy to be spending time together. I swear, I felt like my heart was going to burst it was so full, as I stood waving them off.

I got the ALL CLEAR yesterday, from those test results I was waiting for. I always hold my breath while waiting for results, because one day almost 3 years ago, the results were bad. Very bad. The doctor called to say, "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but it's cancer. You have a fairly large tumor that's going to have to come out." 

So today, I am choosing to celebrate my blessings. I have so many! 

All right, now on to the tweaky week! I did a million little things around the house this week. I have been fiddling around in the little guy's room, and moved some things around on his wall and dresser, and now I am working on his drapes. I also had the paint out this week for my side table project that I posted about yesterday, and while I had the brush I my hand I went to town and touched up all of the trim, doors, and staircase, etc. Anything that was scuffed or chipped got a touch up. It looks fabulous! I have about 3 other projects in the works as well, and plan to post about each of those later.

After my post yesterday, I was appalled by the photography and the lack of vignette for the table. So I made a quick fix with an old vase and some burlap to hold that random manzanita branch. This is just to buy some time until I work on something a bit more Spring-like, but it will do for now.

Yes, my camera skills are still appalling, but I will be taking a workshop later this month. Hang in there with me. I promise to improve!

I went outside to water today, and snapped a couple of pics of my Jasmine. It peaked a few days ago, and soon the blooms will all fall, so I am enjoying it while it lasts!

That's it for today! I hope you all have an awesome weekend!!

xo

-Lisa

New Vignette. A Re-Do in a Strange Little Area.

Good Morning! I hope you had a fantastic Valentines Day with family and friends!
Yesterday I was puttering around working on a new vignette in my hallway between the door to the garage, and the downstairs bath. The guest room is also located directly across from this space, so when you open the guest room door, you see these cabinets. There is a fairly large surface between the upper and lower cabinets, on which to display things. Quite honestly, I've never really been sure what to put there, or what that space needs.

**Warning**Photo overload ahead!**

I had these cabinets painted last fall when Mr. W was in Afghanistan. I broke down and hired a painter back then to help me finish up the master bath painting, and a few other projects, when I realized I may have been too optimistic about finishing everything before his return. The cabs were the last ones in the house left unpainted, and they were SCREAMING for help. They are now off white, (Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee.) I will try to dig up a before pic and post later this week, but in the interest of time, I will just show you the current look.

Here's what I've got now...

The space is hard to photograph because the light is not great. My cabinets still need hardware, but that's coming.

It all started the other day when I found this while out shopping...

 It was on sale! Started out priced at $39, marked down to $7 buckaroos!! Score!

 The rest of the things I used were things I already had, except the 2 design books that I picked up at the used book store for $5each! The cool brown one is the Nate Berkus book, the light green is a book on designing Guest Room spaces. Perfect for right outside my guest room!

 The little brown textural vase was thrifted. I think it was $2.

 I love the cover of Nate's book.

 There are rocks and shells EVERYWHERE in my home. I am a beach comber, and bring a bucket full home every time I go to the beach. It is so relaxing to walk the beach, and collect things.

 I wrapped a little burlap around an old candle, and set it a top a turned over wine bottle holder. (I never used it for wine.) Always thought it was a little weird. I think it is designed to catch red wine drips, and save your counter from getting drips or rings.

 Collected beach rocks and shells on moss. Under cloche I picked up at the GW (that's the Goodwill, people!) It was $2.99. I got it several months ago.

 Old vintage books tied with a scrap of ribbon.

 I decided to hang some of my abacus collection on the wall. I like the texture and variation of color and finish they provide. 

 Thrifted white pot with moss pinecones. Driftwood was found on the beach with the rocks and shells.

 I just love the way these look. Given my aversion to math, it's hard to believe! 

 Isn't that driftwood fascinating?

 I love the texture of the old books too.

 And the vase. I am a texture girl!

 So, that's it! A whole new look for the top of these cabinets. It only cost me $17 total plus tax. Books for $5 each, mirror for $7. Everything else was shopped from the house! Not bad, for what started as just puttering. ;-)

Have a great day everyone!!
Linking up to the following...

xo

-Lisa