Front Doors and Fireplace

The front doors are back in place and I could not be more happy with the way they look! We are on the hunt for a plate to go behind the doorknob. This one is temporary - we'd like an old one with patina to match the doorbell!

OUTSIDE

INSIDE

We got the first 1/2 of our tile, unfortunately many of them were broken! Since we had to cut a lot around the opening we were able to use many of the broken ones there. When we order the rest we will need more whole tiles so we will see if we can upgrade the shipping! But, I am so excited about how it looks so far! Again my hubby has been able to surpass my vision!

Show and Tell Sunday-Studio Storage

If you live in an old house then you know that they were not big believers of closets in the early 1900's! A few have been added to our home over the years and we have added more....but there will never be enough! My "nest" is in a room without a closet. When Son#2 left home, I snatched up his room and made it mine! It has great light and a small balcony. We haven't done a redo in this room yet and now I don't want to move all my stuff out to paint- so it is mostly as it was when we moved in! It joins to the guest room so I do use those closets and the armoire for storage. I have had to be "creative" in finding places to store things!

This is my main sewing station-right next to the machine. Most of my necessary tools are hiding in the little suitcase. I can close it to cover up the clutter. But, most of the time I just leave it open.

On the other side of the room is a stack of suitcases with different notions and projects- pink suitcase is buttons

Poka-dot is Easter/Spring things

Striped suitcase is Christmas

Plain suitcase is fabric samples for pillows

The view inside the Spring Project suitcase..... Before I paint the suitcase I take out all of the old insides. Most of my cases are thrift store or estate sale finds and they are often in poor shape. A coat of primer is next - inside and out. I use fabric, old wallpaper, or even scrapbook paper to decoupage the inside. Finally I paint the outside to match!
Two more nifty storage items are here by my "Grandma" chair that I do my hand sewing in. First the lovely file cabinet! It was really rough. DH did not see my vision when we dragged it home. A few coats of bright pink spray paint cleaned it up and gave it personality! Here I keep patterns in one drawer, scrapbook supplies in one, pictures and photos for inspiration in one and school memories from the kids in the last drawer. The ottoman is great fabric storage and I kick back with my feet up to baste or rip out here. The best thing about it is how I made it! One patchwork slipcover + one foam scrap + one rubbermaid tub = my ottoman!
Pull off the top and there is a big tub to put all the fabric that you have forgotten why you bought!

Moving into my guest room are more suitcases. These are where I store painting and paper mache supplies.


This is a "new" suitcase that I will not paint because the aqua color is perfect for the guest room. I did redo the inside with old music and scrapbook paper.The fabric closet with a plastic shoe bag to hold trims. Love it because I can see everything in it easily.

Finally two vintage sewing baskets that Mom found on ebay. I have crochet thread in them.

Now that I look at the pictures- the rooms looks like they are straightened up. This is a clear illustration of how photo editing can provide misinformation! Thanks for stopping by today. Remember to check out all of the other ideas at Little Pink Studio !

Parlor Progress -Outside Edition

This three day weekend without rain was our chance to take the front doors down and strip them. I hate stripper and dislike the heat gun, so I worked on getting as much paint as I could off with the heat gun. They are big, double doors with beveled glass. The hardware is 1/2 painted over. We like the doorknob and old doorbell so we will save them. When we first moved in and started painting I wish we had stripped the door-hindsight is 20/20! I didn't know then that a white door always looks dirty, even when you scrub it. I wanted a stained front door. And soon I will have one. I had started to take the paint off on the inside first and we decided to do the outside, too. DH took out the glass and did the lion's share of the work with the stripper.

He got all of the paint off the old doorbell. It's never worked - but after playing with it for a while- he's got it ringing. I can't wait to see it back on the door. Now I have to think about the curtains. The old lacy curtains were so nasty- I should burn them. But, they did give us some privacy. The light coming in the window is so cheerful that I almost hate to put anything up there!

Wordless Wednesday

We Remember

My family genealogy project this year has impressed upon me the amount of sacrifice that my ancestors made to get me in this place. Thank you all....... I have rediscovered veterans of many wars that came before me, some I knew well and some that had been lost for generations.

Show and Tell Sunday - China

This week the topic is China, Silver and Crystal. Since I've never met a piece of china I didn't like, I'm going to stick to china! And most of the things I took pictures of are thrift store finds ....so cheap china!?!? Starting with my current favorite tea cup, it's not old -I did get it in a thrift store and I often drink my morning and 4:00 tea in this cup!

Next I went up to the guest room where I found this plate almost falling off the wall...Ooooppps.. must fix that. When I found these five little plates they became the inspiration for the colors of the room.

Just found these little plates about a month ago. Love the aqua.

And more aqua- do you think I like that color because I used it in my wedding?
My true love is blue! We eat off of Blue Willow everyday. Any blue and white piece of china is welcome to live at my house. I also am attracted to small creamers- really love white ones- why? Don't know....don't care...it's just unconditional love!

Turn of the century Upper Hanley English China- Trellis pattern. I bought my first piece at Angel's, my favorite shopping place. It was crazed, stained and chipped -did not matter- It was love at first sight.

OK -the Spode did not come from a thrift store...I can make an exception for an occasional piece of china that is more pricey (especially if it is a gift !)

More little creamers that followed me home....

This little creamer came home because it had some relatives hanging on my kitchen wall...

The middle plate was one of my first thrift store plates (it has a chip)...before I knew it there were 3 ...then 5.....and so on...

Thanks for visiting! Be sure to go by Analise at Sugar*Sugar to see more people who love china!

Mail Call

Mom called to tell me to look for a box in the mail. I was down by the door talking to a friend when the mailman pulled up, so I met him at the truck and told him that I already knew he had a box for me! It looks like Santa came! Let's take a closer look...

Spools, bobbins, tags, pin cushion(made by Betty @ She's Sew Pretty), and a Victorian looking stocking.....Some of these should look familiar because they are handmade by bloggers!

Buttons and more buttons- tiny buttons sent to my Mom from my Aunt Em - Military buttons from my Dad's Air Force Uniform..... Lace and a stack of doillies...hydrangea dish towels....crochet thread...
A better look at the doillies.. How many? 15 And tags made by Becca!

A vintage tablecloth, hot pink doily , a frog, napkins - still in their box! Books!

Pheasants- I have a "thing" about them- just wait until fall!

And finally a sweet little Santa boot! Thanks Mom! I'm going to play with my new toys now!