Rebirth of My Favorite Chairs

Once upon a time, my little sister went to college in Searcy, AR.  Searcy is a little town that is home to Harding University.  It is the type of town, that if you don't live there, that reminds me of Mayberry.  Small, quaint, clean & loving I would use to describe it.  As a college student, my sister complained that she could NEVER find anything there when shopping.  She often traveled to Little Rock (1 hour away) when she wanted to go "shopping."  On the other hand, when I visited there I always found plently of things I needed.  These apple green velvet chairs are my favorite thing I ever found there.  I paid $85 for the pair from a consignment store.  Thank you VV & RV for getting them to Muskogee for me.   I love the lines of them.  I even adored the fabric.  I have had them for 6 years just the way I bought them.  You can see a picture above.  They sat behind my red sectional in our great room facing the kitchen.  I bet you are wondering why on earth the chair is in the middle of the leaves outside?  Well, I love certain pieces of furniture so much I often have photography shoots with them....just kidding!!!

This is what the chair looks like all stripped.  I sanded, primed & painted both of them.  In doing so I realized that the caning was damaged in many areas.  So we decided to go ahead and have them recaned.    That was kinda hard to do because everything seemed to be original on the chairs.

I have entered the era of modern.  I love to study the design.  I have concluded that modern is so simple...it is hard!  My goal is to have a modern design, but yet keep everything warm & pretty.  I like to describe my new style as modern-cottage.  I love that modern is cleaned up.  Everything has a place.  There is not many little things to clutter, but just big objects.  This is a reflection of how I feel as I grow older.  I want to be free of so much stuff.  Transitioning to modern has been very freeing to my spirit.  My new chairs were brought home yesterday.  Thanks to my friends at Thayer Upholstery for the finishing touches.  They are recaned, painted metallic silver and padded with hot pink velvet.  I am falling in love with them all over again!

                         

 

            

                                          

   

                            

Bringing In May

I had the privilege of working in my yard several days last week.  I love to work when it is sprinkling!!! I love the smell, the feel, the temperature...the whole package.  Yes I am the crazy woman working outside in the rain.  Yesterday I got to work 11 hours non-stop.  Oh HAPPY DAY!  By 11:00 PM I was feeling it.  What kind of house doesn't have Ibuoprofen in it?  Those houses that the owners sell it to earn their living!!!  In one of my trips to greenhouses I saw this adorable basket planted with flowers.  Nearby was a sign that said "to bring in May." I bought one for myself, and almost bought several for others.  When checking out, I heard several people around me say things like, "oh look at that for May Day....Isn't that cute for May?"  I loaded my wonderful goodies up and on the way home it hit me.  Is this basket a May Day thing?  Today, May 1st, I googled and found out the answer.  Below is a very brief description describing what I inadvertently took part in (but for myself!).

Gathering flowers and branches became a tradition and "bringing in the May" became a popular activity on May 1. The giving of baskets became part of the festivities later in the evolution of May Day. Today baskets are often made by little children, filled with candy or flowers and then placed on people's doorsteps or tied to the door handle, as they ring the doorbell and dash away before they are caught. You can participate in this activity yourself by making a special May Day basket or using any small basket to fill with flowers to give to a friend.

OH MY GOSH!  This is soooo up my alley!  I love flowers, I love giving gifts, I love to surprise others & I love a kind prank!  I wish I would have become educated a little sooner than on May Day.  My boys and I are so celebrating May Day next year.  I can't wait!  

One of my favorite things is decorating my front doors.  I love to try new hanging objects and of course wreaths.  My favorite thing are these long baskets I purchased when we were almost done building our house over 7 years ago.  They remain my favorite thing.  I usually have someone else arrange flowers in them, but this year I did it myself.  Flower arranging is not the best thing I do.  I chose something very simple and I thing the perfect contrasting colors to welcome guests and my friends of my garden.  The flying friends will be disappointed this year as I am not sure what they will pick apart to build their nests with!

I made some wreaths for my wedding.  On occasion I hang them, but I am a bit protective of them as they are a memory of a very special day to me.  I helped make this W for my little sisters wedding.  I thought it was gorgeous and adorned the chimney of my parents backyard where the wedding took place beautifully.   Both the Watsons & Wallingfords had fun taking pictures in front of it.

 I also have a dear friend who is soon to get married this summer who chose lime green, white, orange & zebra for her colors.  My gift to her were these wreaths....

I love making all things pretty.  Whether it is a front door, a wedding, a house, a hat or a smile.  All things pretty make me very happy.

A Few of My Favorite Things

The Sperrys are back!  They are so comfy.  Once you put your feet in them you won't want to wear anything else.  I have the slipper ones that don't lace.  These pretty pink ones may be my next purchase.  I remember having a hard time keeping the laces tied as a kid.  Maybe I can do a better job as a grown up, but it is harder to bend down now?!

 I absolutely LOVE this mirror!  It is huge.  Four feet wide and over 7 feet tall.  Beautiful venetian styled mirrored glass.  Pretty tones of silver & gold throughout.  Look closely at the knob on the left.  When you pull it the door comes open with the whole space a hidden jewelry storage. Little pouches for earrings, hooks for necklaces, shelves and a ring tray.  AWESOME piece of furniture!  Made by Hooker Furniture Company.

And making another comeback TRETORNS!  I love these tennis shoes.  So far I am seeing mostly solids.  I hope to see the plaids, polk-a-dots, ginghams, and other preppy 80s fabrics.