With The New Year……

upon us, that means spring will soon be at our door. Glorious new rebirthing of trees, flowers and the warmth of the sun on our skin. My friend, Sandi, is adding touches of spring florals and collectibles to her beautiful shop. It makes me anxious for the new season to come. But till then, I will patiently wait until winter exits. The photos are all from The Green Pea – Sandi’s antique store here in Central California.

I hope you enjoyed the tour and were inspired to be thinking about fluffing your home for spring. Simple accents like the small milk bottle with a little deer moss inside and a petite bird nest on top will make any home feel like spring has sprung.

In my last post I shared other photos from The Green Pea. If you have a chance to visit in person, just click

HERE

for her blog and address.

Sending sweet wishes for the New Year.

xxoo

Becky

Decorating With Old Boxes and Totes

Using old tool boxes, food packing crates, berry boxes and old drawers to decorate with is so much fun! I have a passion for those old totes that have that perfectly aged look to them. My friend Sandi owns a beautiful antique store and asked me if I could do a vignette in her front side window. OH YES! and I had so much fun doing so. Her store is filled with so many wonderful OLD things so I thought I would do up a garden themed window using old boxes and totes. How easy to decorate with such FUN things to pull from within her shop!!

This old carpenter’s tote is my favorite! Just look at the metal strapping and rivets on the top.

This vignette is an old wood box that is painted white. I layered some moss, silk flowers and a little Cottage Welcome sign.

Above is an old wood tool caddy with a fabulous 40’s green color – all original with a great worn patina. It would be divine decked out with Christmas greenery and holiday doo-dads.

An old Pepsi Cola box looks good with some silk greenery sitting inside.

An antique Watkins Products sample box that is stunning. How cool to have if your last name was Watkins! My friend Karen has it for sale in her space at The Green Pea.

Use this bright yellow box for rolled up towels, magazines or even to hold toys. Turn it on its side, as shown, and hang it on a wall for shelving.

Another favorite of mine…perfectly worn and well loved at one time. Imagine a gentleman using what he had around the house to build this piece with old galvanized pipe, bits of wire and scraps of old barn wood.

This old dresser drawer is now a lovely display piece. Old green and black paint with a glass drawer pull looks perfect on top of the cottage style white dresser.

Below is the tool caddy that I found at another friend’s shop. The caddy is painted gray with red trim – perfect to hold my Christmas Santa’s and bottle brush trees.

I will share more of Sandi’s shop in the next few days. She is gearing her shop up for spring.

Here are a few links for some wonderful old wood totes that can be purchased on line. Just click on the photo to link you to the site.

A Simple Doily…

…can add just the right feminine touch to a lamp shade. I recently found this handmade doily at an estate sale. It has the sweetest pink crocheted roses all around the edges.

My friend Karen inspired me awhile back to simply drape a doily over a lampshade – it adds such an extra layer of detail.

In the evening the softness of the light casts a perfect glow that accentuates the beautiful handwork of the graceful little doily.

A soft feminine detail to the Home Goods lamp and shade that I found several years ago. I think it is a keeper!

A VERY Merry Christmas From Our House To Yours

A few weeks back our youngest son was hired to don Old St. Nick’s uniform and be Santa Claus at a darling boutique here in town. Within the boutique is a section that specializes in dog clothing, treats, food and other doggie related items – so cute! This was a big day for the dogs to come and sit on Santa’s lap, have their picture taken and whisper in his ear their Christmas wishes for dog bones, chew toys, stuffies and the like. Duhgall and Fiona got to sit with Santa and tell him all that they dreamt of having him bring for them. Little did they know, but he already knows – cause he lives with them! ha.

Wishing you all a delightful Christmas day!

Arroooooos from the dogs!

Our Home At Christmas

Hello and welcome to our Christmas home 2011! The photos take you through the downstairs rooms and then on up to the guest bedroom - one of my favorite rooms to do up for Christmas in red and white. The little feather tree holds several of our red vintage ornaments. This year I decided to have several Christmas counted cross pieces that I stitched framed. My favorite is the Woodland Santa, that is in the step-back hutch in the dining room. Come along and have a look around.....

Today I am joining up with the lovely and ever-so-talented Kim (Savvy Southern Style blog) for her fun-filled and inspirational Wow Us Wednesdays Post. There are so many wonderful links that Kim has on these posts, so do take a moment to stop by for some wonderful homes being shared.

Till next time...xo