Industrial Chic

I really enjoy decorating. 

 I like several styles and sometimes when you put two together you can get some really nice results.

Take for instance Industrial Chic.  

Pretty & Grunge all at once.  

Sigh...it makes for a lovely combination.

Recently I had the opportunity to decorate for a Ladies Day at my church and below are some pictures showing the happy marriage of Industrial/Junk with Vintage Chic.

The verse used  was 

1 Corinthians 16:9 |

For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries

So,  I used two old farmhouse doors that I have and surrounded the base with burlap and old books and cast off door plates & handles.

Hanging from the frame are about 104 tags that have decoupaged keys on them and they are adorned with gems, jewels & baubles of all sorts.  These are to represent "adversaries"...things that get in our way from getting through that "Great Door".

The tags were made by taking two decks of playing cards and pages from books, plus a few other interesting items...

  A little mod podge for adhesion and there you have it...

Then we took old books and used the same technique to change them into these wonderful pieces of art.

The above uptight looking lady was done by Christina...a very unique work....

The above book was done by Amanda...and it looks so lovely doesn't it?

I love the different ideas and the equal talent of these two girls.

I swear this lady looks like she has an opinion on these matters...as if she is not thrilled with being kept under glass for the day...

We set up tables and then decorated them with all the books under glass, mason jars filled with baby's breath and odds and ends scattered about the center of the table as little conversation pieces.

Also on the table are glass jars that have B&W family pictures in them...I adorned them with twine and old keys with odds and ends to add a touch of the chic to them.

I just love how the natural light is shining into the room bringing life in on the objects.

The rest are just pictures of some other areas that were decorated that day.  Take deep looks as there are layers of vintage goodies to see.  Kinda like a little treasure hunt for the eyes!

It is amazing what a little glitter & imagination can do!!

I hope you enjoyed the pictures!

Have a great day!

Shelly

Storage Dreams

Hello there,

Have you discovered Pinterest?  Seriously, if you haven't you must not be on the Internet very much or have your head in the sand because Pinterest is such a wonderful place to find all kinds
of amazing ideas for all sorts of things. 
Recipes, Decorating, DIY, Fashion, Inspiration, etc.

One day while perusing Pinterest I saw this picture:

I knew somehow, someday I would be able to replicate this gorgeous storage space.  Since we have purchased our townhouse, (yeah) we now can do whatever we like and that means that we can get started immediately!!!

There is a space that acts as a mudroom as you go out to the garage.  Really, its not used to its potential at all.  Currently there is one pathetic wire shelf that allows you to hang coats and store a few boxes above...but the wall space is completely wasted. 

That space is where we plan to build this storage wall....but take a look again...this isn't just any storage spot.

It is a custom made dream of old suitcases, boxes and crates...metal lunchboxes and tool kits.  I LOVE it.

So, keeping with my mantra this year of "use what you already have before you buy something", I started looking through my house to see what we had at hand...and here are a few of those items.

I love this old trunk..look at the details!!!

We happen to have about 5 old trunks, but I think I will only be able to use two of them in the space.

Cal said he can put castors on the bottom of them so they will slide out with ease.  He is amazing...

Comfy quilts and other snuggly items will fit in the trunks perfectly.

I am on the hunt for hard back suitcases...(hint hint) to any of my friends who may be reading this...I don't care really what color they are as I learned from one of my friends, Mrs. "N" that they can be painted.  As long as they are hard back I can use them...so far I haven't found any...but the hunt is part of the fun...

Are you wondering what I plan to put in those boxes and cases?  Well, winter hats and mitts, tapes, CD's, craft supplies, small tools, etc.  My idea is to use small shipping tags and other little trinkets to use to label each box and crate so I know what's in them.  What is the point of having organized storage if you have to look through them all to find what you need?!

I will post updates as it gets built...obviously it will be a work in progress as I find more items to use as storage.

Thanks for stopping by..

Shell

Mustaches & Men

I have always had a fascination for old pictures.  Most likely it started way back when I was around 13 years old.  My Mom lived in Gloversville, NY and one summer when I went to visit her she took me antiquing; and I bought my very first tin-type picture.  I fell in love with the colors of the picture, caramels, creams, and browns...they made the photo seem so deep.  The people in the photo seemed to look back at me with the intention to tell me their story...and since I didn't know what it was, I would imagine one up.  I would lean those pictures up against books on my shelves and use them in years to come as little decorations.  Sadly over time and many moves they were all lost....

Since I love Vintage items so much, I decided to incorporate them into my home style and even though it seems a bit odd to focus on a half bathroom, it still needs decorated, so I came up with the Mustaches & Men theme.  Here are a few images to explain...

Plans are to get 9 picture frames, paint them all black, keep a bit of the urban edge going, then put photos of men with wonderful facial hair, elaborate mutton chops, mustaches, etc.  I've been collecting old bottles and shaving items to add whimsical touches as well.  I am on the look out for just the right shelves and some other items, that is part of the fun of decorating isn't it?

It's amazing how you can look back to when you were just a young girl and see how something so random can influence you many years later.  Vintage decorating has been with me for a long time.

Hope you have a wonderul day...

Shell

Coming together...

Don't you love it when things start to "come together"?   You look around your house at the blank walls, the windows that need curtains, the spaces that need just the right touch....you've spent hours perusing magazines and blogs and library books for ideas that will inspire you.....spent countless amounts of time shopping at yard sales, thrift shops, antique shops and favorite little stores looking for those special items that you know will convey your style....

It seems like it takes forever, you want everything to look "just so" and you want it NOW!!!

Then one day you look around and exhale a little as you realize your house is starting to look like a home...not just any home...but YOUR HOME....and it's so nice....really it is.

Sure, you see things that need fine tuning, I mean those windows still have no curtains, and the living room needs some TLC and personalization and you'd like to add this and that here and there...and you've still not found a decent garbage can... but all in all, you can kinda sit back and enjoy how things are finally coming together....

And maybe, just maybe you can relax for just enough time to enjoy a little treat for all your hard work!



Creative bug bite

Hello,

Have you ever had a moment or two where your brain just amazes you and gives you some really neat ideas?

Well, this past weekend I was lucky enough to shop at Anthropologie; which is one of my all times besties...anyway, they had these napkins that looked like they had coffee cup stains on them.  Not for everyone, I know...

I have a linen table cloth that is getting kinda stained up from an adorable husband, and I really don't want to toss it just because of those little splatter marks, I like what I like...you know?  So, the creative bug bite has swollen my crafty side and this is what I am thinking...

I think you get the picture.

All I need is a couple items....I can find some at Michael's, craft book stores, and at home.

I can't wait!!!!

Promise to post a picture when it's done!!!

See ya!

Shelly

VINTAGE RINGS

Hello there friends,  

I was gifted a good deal of vintage jewelry that belonged to my Grandmother, my Great Aunt and my Aunt Angie...and I love it.  I am guessing you might love it too, so I will share some pictures
 here on this blog for us to enjoy together.

I am not too sure about the age of this ring, but I am 
guessing 1970's???  What do you think?  

This is a very "comfortable" ring to wear, and because of the variety of colors it goes with a lot of outfits!!

See ya next time....

Shelly