Farmhouse Wedding

Rustic "Farmhouse" style weddings is a trend that doesn't seem to be fading. My good friend Leslie was asked to help with the wedding reception of a dear friend of hers and I got called to pitch in too. Leslie had a vision - it started with pallets. Lots and lots of pallets...

We stacked the pallets to make an entrance in an old car body shop turned reception venue. 

This stack of pallets and galvanized bucket will feature the wedding cake.

Of course we added in chalkboard signs and mason jar votives. Plus lots of fragrant roses and hydrangeas.

Rustic ladders added some height and showcased photos, flowers and votives.

We (and by "we" I mean our husbands) hung large gilt frames and bouquets of baby's breath from the ceiling. 

We created a greeting area for the bride and groom under a long garland with a rustic bench for them to rest on.

The dinner was a simple buffet of main dish salads, rustic breads and homemade jams, fresh fruit and a pie buffet with 7 different kinds of pie! 

Long eucalyptus garlands adorned the farmhouse style tables which we arranged in chevrons.  

I adore this old feeding trough used to hold gifts! 

The guests were sent home with praline candies.

It was a fun celebration to put together!

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Published!

Just showing off a little here :)

I was contacted by Woman's World magazine recently. You know, you see it at the grocery store every week. You probably buy it too!  One of the editors asked if I'd like to be their featured blogger in August. Um...yes!

They wanted to highlight my vintage handkerchief sachets which is my all time most popular post. The magazine came out this week and you have to look hard to see my name but it's there! 

It's a pretty spread with ways to add country charm to your home. I'm so thrilled to be included!

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Show and Share @ Coastal Charm

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Be Inspired @ Common Ground

Share Your Style @ No Minimalist Here

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Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch

Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life

Simply Sweet Home

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the porch

What the Dickens!

My parents are collectors.  My siblings and I joke that when they are gone someday, we will just open an antique store right in their house! I think my dad's favorite collection is his assortment of Charles Dickens memorabilia.

You see, my dad is an actor and  his favorite role is 

Ebenezer Scrooge. He has been performing a one man show of A Christmas Carol for over 40 years. So naturally he started collecting Charles Dickens memorabilia too. Many English companies make figurines, plates, mugs, prints, and plaques of all of the wonderful characters Charles Dickens created. Plus of course, there are hundreds and hundreds of  beautifully bound vintage  books to be found.

Here is a photo of my dad as Ebenezer Scrooge.

These tiny figurines are made by Sebastian Miniatures. According to their website,  Sebastian Miniatures have been in production continuously since 1938 and are still being designed and made today making them the longest continuous running American made collectible. They made over 20 figurines in the Dickens series including a cottage.

The older pieces have a hexagonal base and are marked patent pending. You can learn more about these charming collectibles Here.

 The Royal Doulton company also made 25 charming figurines from 1922-1983 featuring Dickens characters. You can learn more about them on the Royal Doulton website. 

Here are Tiny Tim and Scrooge.

 The Doulton pieces are all marked on the bottom. The marks vary depending on what year they were made.

My dad also played the role of Fagin from Oliver Twist.

Another popular Dickens collectible are the Royal Doulton character or Toby Jugs. They were first introduced in 1934 in the Burslem Pottery at Stoke-on Trent. The jugs were made in several different sizes from miniature to large.  

Charles Dickens is one of the most beloved authors in the world which is reflected in the extensive variety of collectibles out there!  

 

This portrait is of Dad as Charles Dickens.

And to repeat one of the most quoted phrases of Dickens, 

"God bless us , every one!"

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Tips for Decorating a New Home

What turns a house into a home? I have been through many a house that clearly was decorated completely from a chain furniture store and that is just what the house looked like – a showroom. In other words,  no personality, nothing to reflect the owner’s individuality and taste.

So how do you make a new house look unique? Especially a first time house or apartment? 

I was a young newlywed, all of 21 when my husband and I bought our first home. He was still finishing grad school and we planned on starting our family so needless to say money was tight. This was in the 1970’s way before “shabby chic” became a thing. But I had always loved antiques and aside from a new sofa,  I furnished my new home with antique and vintage treasures. 

Our first home!

Here are just a few tips on how to make your new (or old!) home reflect your style.

Personalize with:

mementos – collections from travels, family heirlooms or other favorite collectibles  like sports memorabilia or vintage quilts.

photo from Southern Accents

photo from http://alittlebitbiased.blogspot.com

art – art is a very personal choice and reflects ones personality. Do you prefer landscapes or still life done in oil, or black and white photographs or electronic picture frames? Watercolor impressions or vintage advertising posters? The choices are endless but should be something you care about. Don’t just stick something on the wall from a generic chain decor store. Shop at local galleries, art shows, flea markets, or arts and crafts fairs. You don’t have to spend a fortune to find something unique.

photo from art.com

photo from Country Living

family photos- Most newlyweds like to decorate their home with photographs. I recommend choosing one area to feature photos in like a staircase, occasional table, or bookcase. Try to frame them in matching or coordinating frames such as all black or all silver. Otherwise your photo collection looks very hodge podge.

My daughter put together this photo display in her family room.

photos from BHG

vintage furniture or accessories – instead of buying cookie cutter furnishings consider adding one or two antiques. They give a room a sense of history and depth. Plus, if you know how to hunt they can be a real bargain! I found this little side table for about $17 and painted it with chalk paint and added a French graphic.

Gracie Blue

photo from For Creative Juice

Furnishing a new home can seem a bit daunting but can also be such a fun journey! Take your time and surround your self with things you truly love.

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Show and Share @ Coastal Charm

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Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Be Inspired @ Common Ground

Share Your Style @ No Minimalist Here

Vintage Charm@Our Hopeful Home

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch

Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life

Simply Sweet Home

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the porch

My Favorite Tapestry

The online decorating website Havenly challenged me to  answer an interesting question – do I have a favorite piece of furniture or décor that I have highlighted in my home over the years? Haha, yes! Several! It was hard to narrow it down but I thought I’d share the story of my favorite piece of artwork in my home – my antique tapestry.

Twenty five years ago my friend Becky started a home décor business specializing in European tapestries. I thought they were beautiful and was in the process of renovating a 100 year old Victorian house. We had a large front parlor with deep red walls and 10 foot ceilings. I had the perfect spot for an Old World tapestry but they were kind of pricey. One autumn afternoon while antiquing in the New Jersey countryside I spied a large hunting themed tapestry nailed to a back wall in the shop. 

I paid $100 for it and gleefully brought it home. I hoped my friend wouldn’t be too annoyed with me for not buying one of hers. When I invited her over to take a look and get her opinion her jaw dropped. She said this particular piece was made in Belgium on antique looms and was worth close to $1000. Score!

The tapestry looked great in my old house for many years but then we moved across the country to Arizona. We built a new home and I wondered how my traditional furniture would work there. I did have vaulted ceilings in the new front entry and took my color scheme for the living room from the colors in my beloved tapestry – reds, browns, and warm neutrals.

Fast forward 18 years and we have moved again, this time to mountains of Utah. My home is a bit more casual this time with leather and some mission style furnishings. Will my antique tapestry fit in?

Of course! I firmly believe in adding in vintage pieces to almost any style of décor. An antique piece of furniture, accessory or artwork gives a room some personality and uniqueness that you can’t get from an IKEA showroom.

So now my tapestry hangs in my new mountain home. It fills in a large wall very nicely and once again provides some warmth and color to my mostly neutral furnishings.

If you have a special piece that you love how do you feature it in your home?

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Show and Share @ Coastal Charm

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Be Inspired @ Common Ground

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Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch

Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life

Simply Sweet Home

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the porch