Transitional Vignettes

 

An old lab beaker with thick glass that diffuses the candle light.

An old lab beaker with thick glass that diffuses the candle light.

Spring can’t get here soon enough.  This weekend, Saturday was a lovely 78 degrees and the next day, Sunday it didn’t get above freezing.  Since hunkering down and staying in was the best option,  I refreshed some of my interior vignettes.  If you look closely, you will see a number of antiques and vintage items that  used for my holiday decorations.  Change the context a bit and it looks more winter-into-spring than Home for the Holidays.

One more thing.  My followers and regulars have probably noticed I haven’t posted a lot of blogs that feature crafting projects, which tend to be my more viewed postings.  It’s because my crafting supplies have been packed away in anticipation of my renovation. Instead you’ll see a lot of features about cooking, antique finds and when my renovation gets started, I’ll copiously document the process and share it with you.

Speaking of which, I am waiting on drawings for the renovations as we speak.  If I had to guess, the renovation will get started late next month or early May.  While I am anxious to get started, it is more important when I finish.  I want the work to be complete for the holidays, so there is time.  Mostly, I want to enjoy the process and not be so anxious about it which is how I feel about most projects.  I’ll keep you posted.

In the mean time, I hope you find some inspiration with the latest pictures from my home.

Always,

Cindy

xoxo

 

Textural elements with a tarnished tin vessel and a vintage paper accordion vase cozy

Textural elements with a tarnished tin vessel and a vintage paper accordion vase cozy

a variety of neutral toned items arranged on a shelf.

a variety of neutral toned items arranged on a shelf.

Starfish on a bed of moss that is the color of driftwood.

Starfish on a bed of moss that is the color of driftwood.

An old column base, alabaster lamp and a German glass glitter starfish

An old column base, alabaster lamp and a German glass glitter starfish

Mercury glass globes in an old ironstone bowl with linen slipcovers in the background.

Mercury glass globes on a bed of packing hay in an old ironstone bowl with linen slipcovers in the background.

An old lab beaker with thick glass that diffuses the candle light.

An old lab beaker with thick glass that diffuses the candle light.

Old tin forms in the form of circus clowns in pointy hat that are treasured items passed to me by my mother.

Old tin forms in the form of circus clowns in pointy hat that are treasured items passed to me by my mother.

 

The Days Ahead…

 

Christmas Pepperberries, now dried juxtopposed against the shiny mercury glass.

Christmas Pepperberries, now dried juxtaposed against the shiny mercury glass.

 

Please forgive me, I haven’t posted in a while.  Simple explanation…I had company for about three weeks and I started a new job.  Roll both of those together and it leaves nary a moment to do any kind of blogging.  But here I am, in the first weekend when I can breath a little bit.  It is such a lovely day, all I can think about is green grass, hydrangeas getting ready to bloom and in general, looking ahead.

Last weekend I spent cleaning from top to bottom.  This weekend I can take some time to pay attention to the details like changing out my Winter vignettes for something that says Spring.  The dried pepper berries with mercury glass arrangement is just such a thing.  Pepper berries have gone by the wayside, mercury ornaments are placed in a wire bowl someplace else and both are replaced with lovely, white blooms.

Something simple makes me very happy.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Until next time,

Cindy

Pepperberries and Mercury glass...the bridge between Winter and Spring

Pepperberries and Mercury glass…the bridge between Winter and Spring

 

Replaced with simple white blooms.  An easy change with great impact that welcomes Spring.

Replaced with simple white blooms. An easy change with great impact that welcomes Spring.

 

Vintage French Monogram Linen Sofa Slipcover

 

Pieced together to showcase the lovely handwork with a decorative stitch for some flare.

Pieced together to showcase the lovely handwork with a decorative stitch for some flare.

When I go to the Round Top Antiques Show, one way I treat myself is to pick up some vintage french sheets.  The trick is figuring out a way to use them wisely and showcase the lovely hand embroidered initials.  Last year, I did a monogram headboard slipcover using my special vintage finds.

One of my other projects is a love seat slip cover, along with a side table slipcover.  In the case of the love seat, I had to cut and sew the fabric and piece it together in order to keep the embroidery front and center.  The side table is a simple IKEA side table that I slip covered with leftover fabric from the sofa project.  Some piping and antique lace helped to upgrade this unremarkable modern table.

Since this is a transitional time between Winter and Spring (spring if you go by our weather for the last couple of days) the rest of my decor is refined and edited as we look ahead to warmer weather.  In the living room with the slipcovered sofa, I styled the fireplace mantle by using vintage mercury ornaments as vase filler along with the (now) dried pepperberry branches leftover from the holidays, I feel like I am keeping a nod to winter, but looking ahead to a crisp clean spring time.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,

Cindy

Vintage all the way around.

Vintage all the way around.

White 1750's cabinet set against the contemporary IKEA table.

White 1750’s cabinet set against the contemporary IKEA table.

 

Piping detail and vintage lace make this slipcover very special.

Piping detail and vintage lace make this slipcover very special and turns a run-of-the-mill table into something with great vintage styling.

Matte White Potter, Ironstone Pitcher and candles wrapped with velvet ribbon.

Matte White Potter, Ironstone Pitcher and candles wrapped with velvet ribbon.

 

Old linen runner that is a family heirloom along with an antique alabaster lamp.

Old linen runner that is a family heirloom along with an antique alabaster lamp.

Old onion skin typewriter paper with a german glass glitter starfish for a paper weight.

Old onion skin typewriter paper with a german glass glitter starfish for a paper weight.

 

She is a big, silly sweet girl.

She is a big, silly sweet girl.

Simple and edited.  Rustic against the refined.

Simple and edited. Rustic against the refined.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discovery: Wire and Linen Lanterns from Lunabazaar

Wire and Linen Lantern

I am forever perusing the Internet for fun and interesting websites with products that inspire me.  Lunabazaar.com is just one of those sites.

Particularly this Wire and Linen lantern.  I am already thinking towards spring when there is this transitional time between spring and summer when the weather is quite glorious.  It isn’t cold like winter or hot like summer, but rather just right.  I love it when I can throw open the windows and doors and really enjoy my little old cottage in the way it was intended.

Being able to light candles and lanterns and enjoy some sitting time on the porch is one of my favorite things.

Lunabazaar.com has many things to look at like mercury glass ornaments and candle holders, paper parasols, glass vases and many different colors, cut glass small decanters and string lights.  They are a great source for accents for your home styling or items to support a color or a theme for a party or gathering.  Take a look, this website has a lot to offer and I think you will enjoy it. I have embedded some of their wonderful merchandise below.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,

Cindy

Pearl Opal Glass Vintage Candle Holder

Mercury Glass Candle Holder

Gilded Glass Candle Holder

Glass Votive Holder

Cotton Lace Parasol

Perfume Bottle

Paper Parasol