Showing posts with label Toby wings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Toby wings. Show all posts

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Swedish Bedroom Blues


After some major closet decluttering,
a hefty donation to the local Goodwill Store,
and a garbage bag full of "Why-on-earth-did-I-keep-this?" stuff,
I focused on the master bedroom next.

I think the last time you saw this room,
it was Christmastide and it had a small pine tree filled with tiny, white lights settled in an old sap bucket,
and there was a big wreath on the bed mantel.

Now, it's dressed for a Swedish springtime.




I wanted to bring some blues in here, too,
like I have been with the rest of the house.
(I decided that the guest room would keep it's faded red grain sacks, though.
It just fits that room with the dark toned Jenny Lind bed.)

The inspiration for this room came from a painting that my Dad did many, many years ago.
Back in the day, he was a fabulous artist and loved dabbling in oil paints.
I now have a collection of them that I treasure.
I wish he had kept up with it because he was so talented.
This is my favorite picture he painted.
It hangs next to our bed.




The sky blues and deep aquas are so beautiful,
and it reminds me of the trip that Hubby and I took to Kennebunkport, Maine
many years ago.
The craggy, rocky shoreline with the crashing waves,
the statuesque lighthouses at every turn,
the beautiful historic architecture of the homes,
the multitude of antique shops,
not to mention the incredibly delicious lobster rolls,

made us both fall madly in love with that state.



(Check out Lili's blog at Fearless Nesting if you want to see some beautiful photos of Maine!)

So, the aqua linen duvet cover and shams were pulled out of the blanket chest at the foot of the bed,
and two grain sacks with Swedish blue stripes on them were added into the mix.
Nothing fancy.
Plain and simple.

We purchased the blanket chest while in Maine.  I'm seriously considering painting it because I'm tired of the green, but it's the original paint....so I'm hesitating...
Grain sacks: Grainsacks, Etsy
 
A long time ago, a friend of mine brought back a beautiful original Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic linen bag for me from her vacation in California.  
(Thank you, Pat! ♥)
I hung it next to a handmade crocheted pillowslip on the ladder in the corner of the room.



The bluebird-in-a-myrtle-tree is tucked into a 
vintage pitcher.

Floral pillow: Sassycat Creations, Etsy

In my effort to keep things clutter-free, the only thing that was placed on our bed mantel was a small candelabra, a wire heart, and a small ironstone pitcher with a hydrangea blossom.


Candelabra: ReStore, Wire heart: Faded Plains, Etsy

A big, old willow laundry basket on the blanket chest that sits at the foot of the bed 
holds a couple grain sacks amidst the creamy loveliness of some vintage crocheted coverlets I purchased at Doster Emporium last summer.



Doster Emporium is a fabulous antique/treasure shop inside an old, historic grain and lumber mill.
Georgina, the owner, is always finding special things to offer her customers in this unique building.
I'm renting a room there this season to sell Heaven's Walk painted furniture and my repurposed treasures.

(Look for Doster Emporium on Facebook! 
She just posted that she's sprucing the place up for opening day in mid-April!) 



One of the coverlets will soon get draped over our front porch swing for cool summer evenings.

 
"Toby's wings" hang lovingly on the armoire.



As soft shades of blue and gray make their way back into Heaven's Walk,
so does the warmth of the sun ~
along with the promise of springtime.


 [ Blessings ]


PS ~ Pinning Update: 
Call me a Pinterest Addict, but I'm back to pinning again...

HOWEVER

ONLY my own photos or
photos from my friends' blogs which I know were taking by them alone.
I think this is the only safe way to pin...
and still be able to get some sleep at night.





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Friday, November 11, 2011

A bit of nurturing nature...



Autumn tends to nudge our hearts to bring more of the outdoors inside.

I think for a lot of us, 
it has to do with the cold, dreary, winter days ahead.
We feel the need to capture the sweet warmth and rustic-ness of summer
and continue to hold it close and surround ourselves with it.

With that need in mind,
not to mention
the cold weather knocking at my door,
I wanted to incorporate more nature-inspired vignettes throughout this old farmhouse.

In the living room~
a simple vignette of neutrals.

French gathering basket: antique market, grapevine heart:  Michael's, nest; Save-on-Crafts, cement urn: antique market

The combination of textures are soothing
and remind me of my walks in the woods this past summer.

The urn was whitewashed in "Old White" ASCP.


In the kitchen,
sits the newest member of the family.



She was purchased at Micheal's a while ago.
There was just something about her colors
and sweet look on her face
that prompted me to take her home.




She happily sits on a piece of Florida driftwood in the vintage birdcage I bought at an antique market last summer ~
next to her nest full of eggs.




"Toby's wings" shelter her cage protectively.

{thank you again, Sandi....}




In my study/studio/office

(what am I calling it today...?)

I hung a shade-bones from a small rack I made from a piece of distressed bead board
and a vintage wire coat hook.




Not quite ready to put my lavender away for the season,
a vintage galvanized bucket holds an armful of it
on my bistro chair
that Courtney tipped us off about this summer.
I painted it white.


Pashima: antique market find, lavender: Hobby Lobby

On top of the bookcases next to the bistro chair
is a vignette that whispers of summertime memories

 that I'm still clinging to ~

with my favorite old shell
and a vintagey tin heart.

Tin heart: The Beautiful Life, seashell: Florida, hubby: mine

This sweet, new treasure is from Bilancia Designs.
Lisa Moran creates the most amazing things from paper.
Be sure to visit her shop.
You'll find yourself ooohing and aahhhing over her beautiful creations.

I used a gift certificate that I won
to purchase this sweet paper gardenia topiary in a vintage creamer.




The petals look so incredibly real, I almost expected to smell it's sweet fragrance
when I unwrapped it.



It will look so Jeanne d'Arc when it's nestled in the midst of some cedar boughs
at Christmastime.

I'm very anxious to start draping pine boughs throughout this old house.
After spending hours inside the pages of last year's JDA Christmas book,
my inspiration is overflowing 
and I'm ready to create a simple, dreamy, rustic, Nordic Christmas atmosphere 
here at Heaven's Walk.


Bringing nature into your home - whether real or faux -
 creates a warm, "alive-ness" that is both cozy and nurturing during this time of year.

Listen to your heart when decorating for the seasons.

You'll know you have it right
when you hear it sigh...




Be blessed....and be nurtured,

my friends.



[ Blessings ]






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and some wonderful holiday decor and craft ideas!