It Just Makes Me Smile….

…..when I see things of mine pinned by others on Pinterest.  It is kind of “pinteresting”…sorry…couldn’t resist.

What is even more fun is when a photo makes it to someone else’s “cover” for a “board”.  That is like the icing on the cake….not quite like making the cover of a famous magazine, but pretty cool nevertheless.

So without more chitty chat – it is the weekend and we need to roll with that – here are some of the pictures that are the most popular “pins” from my Pinterest boards.  Most are things that I have sewn, but a few are snaps from our home and a few foodie goodies, too.  I tried to link most of the pics to the original posts…hoping it is successful.  Not all are linked, but they are on my Pinterest  and there should be links from there back to the original blog posts.  Did that totally confuse you?  It did me…

And about these chocolate chip cookies…they are DA BOMB!  Best taken with a glass of cold milk.  (If I didn’t have 10 more pounds to lose on my diet, I’d go for making some up! I have lost 13 pounds to date and hubs has lost 22!!! He is better than me….just sayin’).

Enjoy your weekend!!!!!  Make it a good one.  Grab a cookie.  Or an iced cold beer.  Or both…but yuk, not together. 

A Few Changes To Our Dining Room

I thought I would share some of the changes made to our dining room.  The only “before” photo that I could find is the one below.  It was taken in 2010 at Christmas time.  Since then we have replaced the carpet downstairs with hardwood floors.   I love our floors and am pleased with just how they reflect light and warm up the rooms.  And besides the change out of the holiday fluff, a few items on the walls and curtains have been changed as well.  Next to the hutch is an old wood bench with a wonderful worn green paint.  On top sits a large rectangle wood dough bowl and inside some round wood bowls.  Hanging on the wall is a trio of favorites – an oil painting of yellowy white roses, a piano mirror and a Sunday Oil of pansies. 

The most recent change to the dining room is that I replaced the IKEA Swiss Dot panels with curtain panels from Cost Plus World Market.  The new curtain pattern is Whippoorwill and the link to them is HERE.  The only thing I regret is not having purchased these online.  The store carries the 84 inch length and I should have ordered them online to get the 96 inch length.  I chose the Whippoorwill pattern because it goes nicely with my collection of brown transferware.

Casually stretched on the table is an antique tablecloth that came from a private collection of beautiful linens that were offered to me to purchase.  Some I have kept, like this piece, and some I have sold in the store. There is something extra special about this tablecloth and I especially love all of the cross stitched handwork on it.  Having made several cross stitched samplers over the years, I appreciate just how much time was spent creating it.  And I love the soft blue/gray color of the stitches.

The drawn thread edging is so delicate and fanciful and shows off against the dark metal top of my table.

A simple centerpiece of stacked European dough bowls filled with dried hydrangeas and deer antler sheddings rest atop the tablecloth.

Bird motif English ironstone and transferware mingle with bird nests on a shelf of the white step-back hutch..  My husband found an abandoned Hummingbird nest in the office park he works at and brought it home to me.  It is just precious and I have it lovingly displayed under a cloche.

The feather that is sticking up in the nest was found in a Hunter’s Diary that was written in the late 1800’s.  So…. I’d say that it was well preserved all of these years.   Now it adds a delicate flair to the nest.

My Favorite Housekeeping Room

I first shared about our farmhouse laundry room remodel back in October of 2012.  Has it been almost two years since we gutted that homely and dated room?  Time sure flies!   I will never regret doing so.  This is one of my favorite rooms – and I spend A LOT of time there.

Over the past few years I have edited some collections here.  Nothing over-the-top -  just a few small changes.  I have shopped my house, but also found a few new/old things to put up on the shelves.  I have  collections that are laundry AND farming related.

One of my favorite pieces that I found many years ago is an old white metal ladder.  Before adding it to the laundry room, I had it propped up in a bedroom.  Now it casually leans against a wall with creamy white antique linens that are simply draped over the ladder rungs.  Linens and laundry rooms just go together.  These linens are some of my favorite pieces and I especially love the chunky crochet edging.  Along with the linens, I’ve added two wonderful wooden sock stretchers, a French laundry hanger, a tiny pair of crochet child’s stockings and a single tattered leather glove.

The metal corner shelf holds part of my collection of white enamelware pitchers. 

Two reclaimed wood shelves are hung over the washer and dryer.  On top of the shelves are some of my favorite collections, some of which have a farming theme to them. Old crocks, scales and vessels filled with antique wooden rulers hang out with metal signage and some new/old findings…..

like this antique Dr. Franklin’s (Benjamin Franklin) child’s cup.  I LOVE the graphics and the simple “lessons” on it.  The writing along the top says:  “Handle your tools without mittens…the cat in gloves catches no mice.”    The little cup goes nicely with the antique print of farming women….

…that I bought from my friends Andrea and Jenny.   I first saw this print at the antique shop that we sell at.  They had it hung up in their adorable space.  It was love at first sight!  What I like about it the most is how cute the ladies look after having spent a day in the field working.   I wonder what they are talking about.  And I must add, I have to wonder what the two chaps down the lane are discussing? 

I found this postcard at a flea market and thought it fit right in with the farming theme.  On it is marked:

“Harvesting in California ‘82”. 

To the right of the shelving I hung up a metal ironing board that I bought from my friend Karen.  I thought it would be perfect in the laundry room and I draped a French apron over it.

Now I better run along and finish what waits for me inside the washer and dryer.  It is laundry day at my house….in my favorite “Housekeeping Room”.

Happy New Week!

(PS: Thank you to those who have emailed me asking if we were near the earthquake that happened yesterday in Napa, California.   We live 100 miles from Napa and did not feel the earthquake, however some towns near us could feel the tremors.  We pray for those who were victims to the earthquake…..)

The Antique Gardener–A Must Visit When In Sutter Creek, California

I would bet that if I asked you what your favorite place to shop is, you could list quite a few.  We all have those stores that we shop at the most.  A grocery store, a favorite clothing boutique, a favorite space in an antique mall or a darling shop that is filled with wonderful items that tug at your heart. One of my favorite stores is in a town about an hour and a half from home.  It is The Antique Gardener in Sutter Creek, California.  Sutter Creek is a historic gold mining town and has an abundance of wonderful shops to spend a day meandering through.

The Antique Gardener is owned and operated by the creative genius, Aimee Peterson.  The historic building is the perfect setting for Aimee’s antique and vintage home and garden collections.  Out in the “back yard” are plants for sale along with other items to use outside.  As you stroll through the store you will be treated to creative vignettes, scents of fresh lavender and soaps and below your feet the old floors will give a little squeak now and then.  A charming place indeed to while away some time and to find that perfect treasure to take home.

From watering cans to old chippy green paint shutters – to linens, rusty metal tables and chairs – soaps, plants and yard stakes….French linen pillows, grain sack pillows…..well, you will see as you scroll through the photos.

The Antique Gardener is located at:

80 Main Street

Sutter Creek, California

phone:  (209) 267-5551

More fun links:

The Antique Gardener Blog

The Antique Gardener Facebook