Saddle Up!

This little fellow welcomes you to Tablescape Thursday! 

He's calling you to cool off in his summer's heat!

You can grab a cool drink of your choice.

Choose your favorite spot...

...and have a seat. The place is set just for you!

Stay a while for a cup of coffee or tea...

or 

just to enjoy the view.

Thanks for stopping by...I hope you are staying cool in this warm weather!

I'm joining Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch for amazing tables. Be sure to drop by, won't you?

She said, "Help Me!"

You know when you see something that just speaks to you?

Well, this little lamp was calling for help...

as in, "...rescue me!"

Her "hat" was a little overwhelming...

...however, she had a gorgeous base.

I found her at my favorite antique shop and I knew instantly that she needed to come home with me.

You see, under her hat, it was apparent she had been through a lot...

...seen better days...

...and in need of a little tender loving care.

No problem, I thought. I could make her shine again with the help of my new friend:

Just a little bit and she was already feeling better.

I'll be placing this lamp with a frame that has hints of silver and gold.
I think it will work just fine.

And what's a girl's favorite pastime?

shopping

So that's exactly what I did...shopped for a new hat...

...and...

adding a bit of sparkle, it was the icing on the cake.
She was beautiful once again!

Perfect!

Now I need your help. As I was working on my beautiful lamp, this sticker fell out:

As luck would have it, it's torn in half!
Ugh...
Does anyone know what the label could be?
I scoured the internet and couldn't find the maker.

Where do you think she came from originally?

If you have any idea, would you please let me know?

I'm joining Susan's party, Metamorphosis Monday, over at Between Naps on the Porch.

Be sure to drop by for amazing transformations!

The Beach...

Sometimes a little sand therapy is needed.

Aw...the beach...it's such a great place to rest, relax, just enjoy life.

We visited Crystal Beach today...a sleepy little village, full of down-home good folks.

It's on the Gulf of Mexico, a stone's throw from Galveston, Texas.

We had lunch at the Tiki, the perfect beach hangout.

It was full of all kinds of things to catch your eye.

Do you see the juke box on the far right hand corner?

Yep...it was playing all the best from the 70's.

Crystal Beach is a great place to find "Mom and Pop" places that reserve the right to post whatever they want...

This sign, however, was my favorite.

Enjoy your weekend!

Feeling a little blue...

I'm feeling a little blue today, not in a sad way, but in a relaxing way. 

Add to that a few seashells, some of my favorite dishes, and I kinda feel like I'm on vacation!

It's the simple things in life, right?

I've had all of these items for a while...it was just a matter of gathering everything together.

These dishes were found at a consignment shop a few years ago. 

They were marked 50% off. Yippee!

I think the 4 place settings were $20...can you even believe?

Do you see that blue coral peeking out in the back?

It's not really coral, it's plastic and for aquariums. Really! It actually came in this color but is available in different colors too. In fact, I bought a smaller one that was pink. To see it transformed, click here.

The seashells are souvenirs from a family trip to Sanibel, Florida.

If you haven't been - you HAVE to go. It's one of the most relaxing places I've ever been!

I made the seashell bottle in the back. You can read about it here. 

Collecting special things makes for special memories, don't they?

I'm joining Bunny Jeans Decor and More for her Wednesday's Bunny Hop! 

Hop on by won't you?

Loving Coral...

I love all things sea related...expecially coral. I think it's beautiful in any color and enjoy decorating my home with a bit here and there. 

However, it can be pricey, and after doing a bit of research on coral, there are some harsh ways to bring up these beauties. So I thought I'd try something different - artificial coral for aquariums. 

They looked very good on my computer monitor...good enough to try them in decorating.

Here is my little transformation:

I found this online...

Jardin Coral Shaped Aquarium Fish Tank Decoration Ornament, Pink amazon.com

The shape was great, but not the color I had in mind...easy fix...paint!

Easy, easy fix.

Disguising it with a few other treasures, it's not so bad...what do you think?

I bought a second one...it's a beautiful blue. 

Stay tuned for that little transformation!

I'm joining Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch for her Metamorphosis Monday

Be sure to drop by for amazing transformations!

Transoms...

I love transoms that were used for ventilation.
Aren't they great architectural pieces?

source

Today, transoms are mainly used for bringing in light and just because they're pretty, right?

source

Just look at this beauty!

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In my new home, putting in transoms were on the "must have" list. Some will be on the exterior.

 

Southern Living inspiration home.

 On the interior, I wanted a vintage piece, one with a story, to add character to the home.

We searched high and low...talked to people "in the know"...
but no such luck.

We found beautiful pieces, laden with character, but the sizes were never quite right.
There was always plan "B", having someone make one for me.

There was a basic pattern I wanted:

I visted several stained glass shops, gathered a lot of information, and decided to go to with small studio in my hometown.

 His work was varied and beautiful.
We talked for a long time, sharing ideas {and stories} and during our discussion, he brought out several books with different designs. Did you know you can buy patterns with the pieces already cut? I didn't! Obviously, it's more cost effective to purchase the set than making each piece by hand.
I was looking for something similar to my drawing, but saw this instead.

The dimensions were workable...it was a packaged set (less expensive)... and beautiful.
Picture it in place of this interior transom...


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I think I love it.

A Warm and Inviting Home...

That's my goal.

I've poured over pictures, done a lot of research, and asked a ton of questions.

I'm not finished, there's more to learn, more to do.

But, progress is being made.

When I saw this post, New House, Timeless Character, I was sold. This was what I wanted:  

modern conveniences, green building, and timeless character.

perfect.

1. Front Porch

wide and comfy

light blue ceiling

white columns

hardie plank

tall windows and shutters

transoms

2. Planked Walls

warm, inviting  feeling

farmhouse look

3. Details

over sized island

white shaker style cabinets

bin pulls

farm house sink

 

4. True Family Room

hardwood floors

rugs

comfy furniture

ceiling fan

open rooms

5. Local Artwork

favorite artwork

monochromatic decorating

6. Transoms

inviting foyer

transoms

crown moulding

wrapped doorways

planked walls

through views

live plants

7. Formal Areas

touch of gold

floor to ceiling curtain panels

chandelier

china and crystal

special artwork

8. Family Keepsakes

heirloom treasures

meals with family

beautiful furniture

9. Blending Furniture

vintage pieces

upholstered pieces

repurposed pieces

new pieces

mixing with commonality

10. Repurposed Items

using what you have

repurposing what you find

Yes,

 just lovely.

* all pictures from above linked site