Saturday, April 26, 2014

Shelves of White



Hi, everyone!

I don't know if it's the rare glimpse of sunshine that we finally got, the long-awaited warm temps or what, but I've been bitten by the 'white bug'!




I've been lightening up the slightly darker, more rustic areas of my home with whiter pieces of furniture and lighter looking vignettes.

I just brought up this little bookcase that I've had stored in the basement...




...and put it in the living room.
There's a little sliver of wall space where I've had my barn wood shelf (here) hanging for a long time.  I was ready for a change, and this bookcase fit the bill! It's small and narrow and fits perfectly.

I started with hanging a white frame with a small clock face in it...




 then added a little vintage lamp and my collection of glass bottles that was on the mantel (here.)




I was so excited to win a TJ Maxx gift card (my favorite non-vintage store!) in a giveaway from Roxie at Sweet Vintage of Mine and I used part of it on this sweet little chippy guy...isn't he cute?




On the first shelf I added another old clock face and 3 numbered 'thingies' (that's the technical term :)
I've had these a very long time and I've never seen anything else like them.  They look like some kind of buoy or something to do with the sea. They're just cool to me!
(Does anyone know what they are?)




My mom just got this old cherub vase at a tag sale for our shop but I promptly stole it!  It's ornate and not something I would normally have, but for some reason I'm just really drawn to it.




Last week it was finally warm enough to go to my beloved flea market (insert fist pump!) and I found this little ironstone sugar bowl.  I've waited through a looong winter to finally be reunited with my flea, and I was rewarded with a few good finds!




For the bottom 2 shelves I just collected some treasures from around the house.







I wanted a new look, and I think I got it!




  What do you think?




Here's a sneak peek into the hallway where I've changed up some more things...but that's for another post!




I always appreciate you stopping by!




Have a wonderful day :)

I'm sharing at these great blogs:  thoughts from alice
                                                 Ivy and Elephants

Friday, April 25, 2014

Saturday Spotlight: Pam from House of Hawthornes

Hi, everyone!   Kris from Junk Chic Cottage and I wanted to do a regular feature on our blogs, something unique that hasn't been done before.   So we came up with an idea to 'spotlight the real life behind the blogger' in a more personal way.
There is so much talent and inspiration in blogland, and we thought it would be fun to bring you a closer look at the person behind the blog.

Every week on Saturday we will spotlight a blogger and have them tell us a little bit about themselves and their blogs.  You will be able to see and read about each of the bloggers on both Kris's and my blog. 

      

Today I'm happy to introduce you to Pam of House of Hawthornes.  I love Pam's fun vintage style, which is infused with bold hits of color here and there.  But what I really love is Pam's sense of humor-her posts always leave me laughing!
Please sit back, relax, and enjoy getting to know Pam better!

Hi, I'm Pam and I blog at House of Hawthornes.

House Of Hawthornes blog @ houseofhawthornes.com

I am so excited, and just a tad nervous, that Susan and Kris invited me to talk about myself a little bit in their Saturday Spotlight - Life Behind The Blogger Series.

House Of Hawthornes blog @ houseofhawthornes.com

That's me on the left.
I'm one of those Moms that is always behind the camera and never in front of it, so this is the most recent photo I could find of me. From something like 9 months ago.
I could have had a baby in that time. Could have. But didn't :)
Where to start . . . where to start? OK, let's go back to the beginning.
One day almost four years ago, on a whim, I decided to start a blog.
Everything else in my life has been very calculated and thought out. I'm an Accountant in my former work life after all. But for some reason my entry into blogging was not over-analyzed.
I just closed my eyes and jumped.
Luckily there was a world of great people out there to catch me in their arms. And open my eyes up to all types of decorating, writing and photography.

Vintage Kodak Brownie cameras @ houseofhawthornes.com

Now, I can't imagine a day without blogging.
Or reading a blog. I still read just as many blogs as I did before I started my own. I love to get immersed into someone else's story.
As for my story, I was born and bred in Ohio. I grew up not too far from where Susan lives in Northeastern Ohio.
It was a very, very, very small town and I always dreamed of the day when I could go off on my own and experience more of the world.
So I moved to Columbus for college.

Vintage pink McCoy mixing bowl with fish scale petal feather pattern @ houseofhawthornes.com

OK, not exactly Paris, France, but still quite a big city for this small town girl.
It took me forever to learn how to drive on the busy downtown streets. They had four lane roads with cars parked on the sides of the streets. What the heck?
Did I mention it was not unusual to see horse and buggies driving around my hometown?
Even had hitching posts at the post office and grocery store. So anyhow, the traffic in Columbus just about killed me.

Eclectic vintage vignette with Kodak Duaflex camera, plaid Aladdin lunch box and rusty scale @ houseofhawthornes.com

After college, I did a stint in Cincinnati for a while before moving back to the central Ohio area. Cincinnati is nice (they actually have traffic there too), but I've always preferred the Columbus area.
So now I live just a little outside of Columbus with my husband of 20 years and my 15 year old son who just happens to have Cerebral Palsy.

Vintage spring front porch decor @ houseofhawthornes.com

I rarely talk about my son on my blog, since my blog is my creative outlet for all things non-mommy and non-disability related. But in reality, I try to fit blogging into my free time when not dealing with school issues, doctor's appointments and advocating for my son.
That's why you might see me on Pinterest at really weird hours :)
Some of the things I blog about are:
Thrift store finds.

Vintage Buddy L Zoo Truck @ houseofhawthornes.com

And how I incorporate them into my home decor.
Truth be told, I'm running out of space here at the house and will probably have to start reselling some of this stuff soon. Before one of the hoarders programs comes a calling.
Gardening.

Monarch butterfly on a Purple Coneflower @ houseofhawthornes.com

I was hooked on gardening once I planted my first petunia in 1984. And it actually lived. And grew larger.
Miraculous, I tell you!

Crabapple blossoms @ houseofhawthornes.com

And my third area, which is really my first love, is vintage.
I'm a sucker for all things vintage. Not fine antiques (who can afford them anyhow), but chippy, worn and well loved items.

Vintage green portable Royal typewriter @houseofhawthornes.com

I remember being about seven years old when a neighbor of mine came home with a pickup truck full of stuff he had cleaned out of someone's attic.
He was just stopping at home for lunch on the way to the dump, but he let us neighborhood kids dig in the back of it and pick out stuff. And take it home!!!
I'm sure he had no idea what he was starting. No idea at all.

Collection of vintage thermoses used as kitchen decor @ houseofhawthornes.com

But it was the start of my love of junk.
Now, I cannot pass up a yard sale without stopping. An estate sale is my playground. And the great stuff that people donate to the thrift stores still amazes me.
I'd love for you to stop by my blog, House of Hawthornes, and have a Coke Zero with me.
I don't do coffee. I hear that is for grownups and, as you'll soon find out, I'm nowhere near grown up yet:)
You can also follow along with me on social media at:
Find Me On Facebook My Pinterest Boards My Instagrams Follow Me On Bloglovin

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Pam House of Hawthornes www.houseofhawthornes.com Facebook page Pinterest boards Google+ Twitter Instagram

Pam, thanks so much for sharing your fun self with us!  Please visit her at House of Hawthornes then head to Kris's blog to read about Judy from 20 North Ora.
Have a great day! :)

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Oops, I've Done It Again!



Hi, everyone!  We've finally been getting some gorgeous spring weather and I've been thoroughly enjoying it!

I'm always changing out the top of this little cabinet, and I've gone and done it again!

I started by taking this pitcher of pussy willows from my mantel and relocating it here...




Then I added this little cardboard canister...




I just got this silver pedestal dish and I topped it with a cloche that I already had-it fit perfectly!




Inside is a tall nest that I just got. (You can never have too many nests! :)




They're all grouped together on a silver tray.




I kept the old chicken wire window frame here, but hung a small clock face on it...




...then above it I hung a little barn wood sign that my friend Carol made...




'You are the love of my life.'  Isn't it cute?




I kept my little glittery 'dream' hanging on a knob...




...and that completes my new look!




Thank you so much for stopping by!




I hope that you're getting some good weather in your neck of the woods!  It's actually supposed to get pretty cold here again :(




So I'll enjoy this while I can!  Have a great day :)




I'm sharing at these wonderful blogs:   thoughts from alice
                                                          Ivy and Elephants
                                                         Common Ground
                                                         Revisionary Life

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Happy Easter!!



Hi, everyone!




My wish to you all...




...is a very happy and blessed Easter!




Enjoy your day! :)