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!

Tweak It Tuesday

Inspire Me

Wow Us Wednesday

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

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

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.

Seasonal Sundays

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

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

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

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!

Tweak It Tuesday

Inspire Me

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

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.

Seasonal Sundays

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

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

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

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.

Wow Us Wednesday

What's It Wednesday
Crafts

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

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!

Amaze Me Monday

Metamorphosis Monday

Make It Pretty Monday

Mod Mix Monday

Tweak It Tuesday

Inspire Me

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