Nautical Love

Is it summertime yet? After a long winter I'm more than ready to head to the ocean for some smooth sailing. I typically stick to home furnishings and accessories, but couldn't resist including some fun nautical-inspired fashion. I'm in a nautical state of mind today. Enjoy!  

Crate&Barrel Driftwood Side Table

Anthropologie Striped Captain Blazer

Shades of Light Nautical Rope Mirror

Keds for Kate Spade New York Pointer Sneaker

Anthropologie Level 99 Sailor Wide-Legs


 West Elm Small Round Capiz Pendant


Sakura Pink Red Sailor Knot Necklace
 
Sailor Rope Lamp


Vineyard Vines Anchor Clutch

Puppy Love

So my current dog statue/figurine obsession all started a couple of weeks ago when I went over to my neighbor's house and noticed her antique Hubley cast iron Boston Terrier doorstop sitting in a corner. It was love at first sight and now I am on the hunt for my very own. Well, perhaps someday when I'm wealthy and all I will indulge and purchase one!

Anyways, the Hubley doorstop opened my eyes to all different types of puppies - large, small, cast iron, porcelain...all vintage, of course! I was so inspired that I had to create a Pinterest board just to keep track - enjoy!



P.S. Don't get me wrong - I adore collections. However, I do feel that one dog figurine or statue makes for an amazing conversation piece in your home. I say this with caution - one dust collector dog, not 100!

Owl Love You Forever...

Valentine's Day. Yeah, I said it, the V-Day word. If you give a hoot about love, show it by forgoing the ordinary red roses and give your loved one an adorable vintage owl.

Affix a tag that says "Owl love you forever." Cute, I know.

Here are a few owls (with more to come) for sale in my Etsy shop.

Owl Creamer Pitcher and Sugar Bowl Set

Owl Creamer Pitcher

Ode to the Ornament

A couple of weeks ago, I unwrapped all of my vintage Christmas ornaments (I'm addicted to all things vintage) and hung them on my freshly cut tree. I have a pretty good mental inventory of them so when my favorite ornament from the previous year was nowhere to be found, this silly poem came to me. I bet you all have a few great holiday ornaments that have sadly "departed" over the years.

Ode to the Ornament

Vintage glass ball of beauty…

Where did you go?

I’m sure I stowed you away last year

Wrapped you up

Tight and snug in colorful tissue paper...

Yet you are nowhere to be found

Think, think, recall…

That’s right…darn…

I forgot about last year...

When I plucked you off of the Balsalm Fir

Clumsily dropped you onto the hardwood...

You shattered into tons of slivers and chunks

Piercing shards of glass everywhere...

I mourned your broken state for a moment

Swept you from the crevices in the floor

Even contemplated how I might glue you back together again…

No…impossible…

I dumped you into the garbage

and watched your pieces disappear into the hilly refuse…

Oh how I will miss you glass ball of beauty

I hope to find another just as vintage and dazzling as you…

My Thrifty Entryway...

In my opinion, an entryway is very important - it's just like a first impression. When I walk into someone's home it's the first thing I notice. If it's nice and organized, it automatically makes me feel comfortable and at home.

If you don't have a dedicated entryway in your home, try to make one. If you walk straight into the living room when you open your front door, no big deal! Add a small side table, a lamp/candle and some flowers right next to your door and you have an instant entryway! I promise that it will make you feel good every time you walk through the door! 

Here's what my entry looks like at the moment. I say "at the moment" because anyone who visits my home will tell you that something looks different everytime they stop by. I have to say...I'm pretty happy with it for now. (I wish I had taken a better picture of it as the colors aren't quite accurate,but I'm sure you get the gist!)

Wanna know how much I spent? It was dirt cheap and here's the rundown:

• Oval wall mirror: $5 at a garage sale
• Armchair: $10 at a yard sale (includes the cost of paint and new fabric for the seat)
• Footstool: $2 at Goodwill
• Dutch clogs: $2 at Goodwill
• Table: $40 at Volunteers of America
• Green pitcher: free - a gift from my mother-in-law
• Flowers: Free and straight from my backyard
• Coffee table books, Oriental vase, etc.: Free and from my attic

GRAND ENTRYWAY TOTAL: $59
(Actually, the Le Creuset pitcher ($30 at Williams-Sonoma) is probably the second most expensive item in the entrance after the table!)

What does your entryway look like "at the moment?" I'd love to see it! Comment and share links to pictures of yours! 

Thanks for the Quick Fix Condé Nast!

Domino Quick Fixes - what a great surprise!
I had no idea that Condé Nast released this special edition of Domino back in April until just this morning! I guess I have been living under a rock! I read it today (yes, every single page) and studied every single picture. I feel so inspired and can't wait for the next Domino Quick Fixes to be released in the Fall.


More importantly, Happy Memorial Day.
Peace to each manly soul that sleepeth;
Rest to each faithful eye that weepeth...
~Thomas Moore

A Dresser's Revival

I really love furniture - especially pieces that have been left curbside for me to pickup and restore.I have no problem pulling over and picking up another man's trash that I know I can turn into treasure. But, for the record, I have my limits. When I saw this dresser across the street, I thought, seriously, why does this have to be right across the street? I can't be seen by my neighbors lugging this thing home! So I waited until dusk (peeking out every now and then to make sure that no one else had already stopped to pick it up) and convinced my father-in-law and husband to pick it up for me. Of course they gave me a hard time about it, but finally agreed once I promised them an amazing home cooked meal. It was actually pretty comical watching them try to discreetly carry this massive dresser across the street.

I've had this dresser for about two years now and finally took some time last week to work on it. The great thing about this one is that it is actually solid wood - who makes dressers like that anymore? Also, it was FREE - it just needed a little love. After a ton of sanding, wood filler, more sanding, paint, stencils and wax, here are the results:

BEFORE

AFTER

  

Thanks to this project, I discovered that I am intrigued by stencils. I didn't realize that they are such a big deal now and also how many amazing ones there are. I actually want to paint over the damask stencils on this dresser and replace them with this Casablanca Allover Stencil (it's very Moroccan, which I LOVE) from Cutting Edge Stencil.

Well, next time perhaps. Another dresser, another day. In the meantime, keep creating!

xoxo,

Jamie