Monday, March 31, 2014

Sneaky Peak Tweak


While I was at Texas Antique Weekend I found this great ticking fabric.
The color is much more aqua than it appears in this pic and it is going
to coordinate well with the the floral print you see.  I plan to recover a 
foot stool with it and a couple of throw pillows too.




I decided to hang these antique sconces on either side of the old door.  
Daddy brought then back from Italy years ago.  Time to call the
electrician!




I painted a set of three nesting tables in Annie Sloan's Provence.
By the way can you see the beautiful Azaleas just outside the window?
Too bad they don't bloom all year because they coordinate with the 
decor :-)




Here is the third littlest of the nesting tables.  I think it is so cute.
I am going to use it in front of the love seat.  One must always have a
cute little table for a tea cup  don't you agree?




You see what I mean ~ a tiny table for a teacup is an essential, both
for the decorating impact and for the soul.






Well that's it for today.  Lots of work to do.  I don't know about you
but when I am playing house I really get in the "zone".  I go to a
zen place and the hours just fly by!


Bentley is in his own zen place ~ the comfy chair in my studio.


Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley




Sunday, March 30, 2014

Texas Antique Weekend Spring 2014


I finally made it ~ I went to the first Saturday of the Texas Antique Weekend 
Spring 2014.  The Mecca, the holy grail of antique shows.  I was in my element.
I had my boots, my camera and a wallet full of green backs.  I was ready to 
attack the tents!

Cute, cute chair don't you think?  Where would I put it?  No idea, so I will
keep walking around.




This bed caught my eye.  Love the layers, textures and colors  ...



I think these pillows are so cute.  Pink and green and some blue.  Adorable.



I have a real weakness for bark cloth too.





Love these pink flamingos.   




Lovely armoire ~ whoops someone beat me to it.




Vintage linens.  I have drawers full, but you never know, I might just find something
that I can't live without.  




All varieties of lace trims.




Vintage metal signs.





Love this Dixie Cones tin.





Wonderful old jugs.  I have quite a few from my great grandparents farm up
in Pennsylvania so I really should just keep moving past this table so I am
not tempted.





I have a few pieces of pewter and have often thought about starting a
collection because I am so fond of primitives.





Such a sweet vignette.

I cannot begin to tell you how completely overwhelming this event is.  Miles and miles
of tents and vendors on both sides of the road between Warrenton and Round Top.  
The traffic is bumper to bumper up and down the hills, yet everyone is quite calm and
not pushy at all.  But I must say that even this antique, junk loving gal has her limits.
And when I saw this sign ...




I had a good laugh and knew it was time to call it a day!

I did buy a couple of things that will work out just great in Mom's old 
bedroom that I am in the midst of redecorating.  You will be seeing them later
this week.  And there were a couple of things I regret not buying, but I was too
tired to walk back and get them.  Believe me, there is no driving between vendors.
So maybe I will venture out here again next Saturday.




So that's it for the mini tour of Texas Antique Week.  Time to get a cold drink and jump 
back into the bumper to bumper traffic and head home.

Oh, oh ... what's this???




The Junk Gypsies.  Could be trouble for Miss Susan.




Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Throw Back Thursday



I am having one of those days when I feel very nostalgic.
I am blaming it all on Tina from Cherry Hill Cottage.  She
posted the Bee Gee's You Should Be Dancing on her 
Facebook wall and I was transported back to another place
and time.  

Does that happen to you?  I am sure I am not alone.



I think about other places and other days.  I think of friends who
have somehow slipped away from my radar because I have
always had wanderlust and have lived everywhere.  I have 
old friends who have told me that they used up whole pages of
address books because I moved around so often.



A BFF of mine just slipped off my radar.  I have tried to find
her via the internet but to no avail.  Her name was Denise
McGrath and she was from Belfast Northern Ireland.  We 
were both living in the Middle East and we were inseparable.
Denise moved to London, and I went back to the states.  We
saw each other in London when I went over for a visit one
summer and we picked our friendship right back up where
we left off.  After my trip to England was over and I went
back home we stayed in touch via long distance calls.  But
then my townhouse was hit by lightning and everything went
up in smoke including Denise's phone number and address.
I had to stay at a friend's house until I got settled once again
and by then I had a new number and address so I know she 
could not find me either.  She was engaged and planning to
be married so I know her name changed but to what???
Could not remember her fiancee's name and all I did 
remember was that he was a barrister and that Denise had
rented a charming cottage in Henley-on-Thames.  I am sure
she is long gone from that cottage.

So Denise ~ if by any chance you ever read this your old
pal Suzy would love to hear from you!



I hope I have not bored y'all too much.  When I get in one
of these nostalgic moods I can just go on and on.  I 
inherited that trait from my grandmother.  She just loved
talking about good times from the past.  

Enjoy the rest of your afternoon.  I am going back to painting
furniture in Mom's room.  I am getting really excited about the
progress and am so anxious to show you what I have been
up to.

Bentley ~ don't sniff that paint can too closely or you
will get Provence Blue on your nose!

Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley










Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Please Pray For Daisy


This is Daisy.  She belongs to a friend of mine who is an antique dealer back
in Idaho.  Daisy is a dear, sweet and very loving dog who was recently
diagnosed with cancer.  Her prognosis according to the vet is not very good.
I believe in the power of prayer and I know that many of you do as well.
Therefore, I am asking for prayers for this dear little dog.  I will be forever
grateful if you remember her.

Thank You From,
Susan and Bentley

Monday, March 24, 2014

Redecorating an Alcove



I have been working on Mom's old room.  I had the perfect day for it
today.  Rain with a minor thunderstorm.  A pot of hot tea and classical
music playing in the background.  Delightful decorating day.





I finished painting the occasional marble top table with Annie
Sloan's Old White.  I used it to paint the bust too.  I distressed the
table a bit but have yet to wax it.  I am painting so many items in
this room that I decided to wax everything at one time.




I want to find some French lace curtains to hang on the French doors.
I am looking for real statement panels.  I saw some panels at Soft
Surroundings that might be perfect.   I believe they have a pretty scalloped
edge and I do want them to puddle on the floor.  I also want to find
some antique books for the shelf at the bottom of the table.  These will
have to do for now.  

I can hardly wait to show you some of the other things I have painted.
As I teaser I will say that I am using Annie's chalk paint in
Provence.  I want this room to look like it could be in the south
of France.  That's it for today.  Have a good one!



Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley


Saturday, March 22, 2014

Azalea Time



Spring has finally arrived in south Texas.  Here are some of my azaleas.  There are still lots
of buds that have not opened yet.  This side of the house has a northern exposure so
that's why the buds are slower to open, but we are still enjoying the color.





Here is the house across the street from mine.  This is actually the side yard.  When I look 
out the front windows of my house I see the vivid pink of these beautiful azaleas.  They
are very striking against the deep green of the siding.  Notice our lawns have yet to
green up, but the gardeners have been busy cutting and prepping the lawns for the
days of green ahead.




This house is also across the street.  They have a southern exposure so their azaleas
have really opened up.  I am sorry my Mom missed this because she would have
really enjoyed all the beauty.






And lastly, here is my camellia bush.  I am so excited about having one.  So
delicate and pretty.


Bentley and I hope y'all are having a wonderful weekend!

Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

Friday, March 21, 2014

The Week in Review


It's Friday already.  Wow this has been a speedy week.  It seems like just
yesterday that I was in Houston with David for a fun shopping trip, but
that was last Saturday.  So what have I been doing?  Well to start with I
have been painting.  No, not craft painting, but rather this kind of painting ...






I painted this little chest for the re-do of Mom's room.  It's not quite finished yet
and I have a few more touches to make, but I like it better than the way it
looked before which was this version below ...




I painted over the gold and all that vintage antiquing.  I think the lines of 
the piece show up better now.




I spent some time with my miniatures.  I have become completely obsessed 
with them.  Notice I have no pies or cakes yet.  I must do something about
that!  What's a cake plate without a cake???




My plate addiction has now carried over into the miniature realm.  That's
a good thing because I have absolutely no more room in any full size
cupboard or hutch or sideboard in this house for any more dishes! 
And this set is what arrived this week ... 




Look at this adorable rose covered tureen, platter, gravy boat, dishes and bowls.
I tell you what ~ I am smitten!





And finally, there is the new set of fireplace tools for the mini fireplace.
No logs yet.  Maybe after I get some pie and cake I can get some logs
too so the fairies can have dessert and tea by the fire ;-)


Happy Friday and Happy Spring Everyone!

Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley




Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Crafts From Scraps


Since I leave my sewing machine out on the worktable in my studio
all of the time, I decided that it needed a cover.  Not wanting to spend
any money on it, I just went through old bits of fabrics, trims and buttons
until I found enough to make a cover.  I didn't have a pattern, I just
made it up as I went along.





I decided to add a pocket to the front because I need to be better organized.
I am forever misplacing things like reading glasses, rulers, rippers, etc.





I found some ribbon to use as closures at each end.






Well, there you have it.  Any ideas how long I will stay organized?
Your guess is as good as mine.



Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

Monday, March 17, 2014

On Top and Inside Cabinets



I changed the top of a vintage cabinet in my studio.  I have a passion for miniature
chairs.  They are not dollhouse miniatures, but rather play scale.  I am not
sure how all of this came about, but whenever I see a cute tiny chair I am just
drawn to it.  



I love to be surrounded by things that inspire me.  Drawings of historical homes,
bits of favorite fabric and other little things that just make my heart happy.




When I get started on a sewing project there are two things that I never can
find ~ the pin cushion and the scissors.  I have the unfortunate knack of 
setting them down somewhere and walking away and then forgetting where
I put them.  I must have ADD.







I changed things up a bit in the mini hutch on my work table.  I love this
little hutch so much.  As you may recall, David bought it for me a couple
of Christmas's ago.  It is one of my favorite things because it is little and cute
and filled with bits of things I love.




Maybe if I hang pincushions from drawer knobs I will never be without.




The last time David and I went to a local antique mall, David slipped away and 
bought me this cute little glass Scottie.  He knew I would love it and of course
I do!  It is now filled with little buttons I have collected.




Of all the Beatrix Potter books, this one has always been a favorite of mine.
I suppose it's because I enjoy sewing.  I have not sewn clothing for myself 
since I was in college, but now I love to quilt and make curtains and little
things for around the cottage.





Well that's it for today.  It's lovely outside.  I can actually go out and do
some gardening which I have been longing to do.  Have a safe and a
Happy St Patrick's Day!




Y'all know where Bentley is don't you?  If you guessed
in that big comfy chair in my studio you guessed correctly!

Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...