THE ENTRY WAY IS FINALLY FINISHED!

Over a year ago, we did some remodeling on our entry way; and I've been looking for the perfect little table every since. I finally found it a couple of a weeks ago. I wanted something kind of rustic, just the right size with patina.

It needed to hold the perfect little alabaster lamp that my friend, Susan, gave me for my birthday last year. I never found the perfect shade for the lamp, so I covered one with a herringbone wool fabric.

I don't have any idea the age of the table, but it is put together with square nails.

The frame for the mirror came cheap from a garage sale several years ago.

At last, the entryway has come together!

I'm joining the following parties:

Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays

The Shabby Chic Cottage for Transformation Thursday

I'm headed out for a wonderful very long weekend with a bunch of great women. When I was a Freshman & Sophomore in high school, I went to a girl's boarding school where I met these wonderful girls. We lived together, went to school together, and raised each other during those early, trying teenage years. Even though I didn't graduate with them (I returned to my hometown high school), they have always included me in their reunions. There is just something special about friends you've known for 60 years that you became acquainted with under those circumstances. So, we are headed off to celebrate in the Land of Enchantment at a very posh hotel in Santa Fe for 5 days. Hopefully, I'll return with some great pictures of the wonderful southwest architecture and culture, plus more memories of great friends.

EASTER BLESSINGS

I've accumulated a few vintage Easter items over the years. These three glass chicken covered containers are from my childhood, and originally held candy.
A few Easter postcards!

A little metal Easter basket and celluloid sheep.

My favorite have to be these Victorian milk glass eggs. Since they were cold painted, they are hard to find with any decoration intact.

Both the white bunny and the egg-shaped container originally held candy.

However, I hope we never lose sight of the real meaning of Easter.

May you be blessed this glorious Easter week.

I'll be joining Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday this week. Everyone will be showing off their vintage Easter things, so be sure to check it out.

NEEDED A LITTLE CHANGE

I needed a little change in our bedroom. My comfy chair is in here, so I spend a lot of time here reading and watching TV. Since I also see our bed, I get bored with it fast. This is what it has looked like for the last year with the headboard covered in a multi-colored toile and a matching dust ruffle.

Time for a change of scenery. I recovered the headboard with osnaberg cloth and made a new dust ruffle.

I changed out the pillows and throw to plaid, the spread to beige matelasse, and hung a quilt behind the headboard.

The quilt is one of my all-time favorites that I made in the early 1990s called Park Lane Vista. It was a prize-winner at several exhibitions and was published in a magazine.

I'll be joining the following parties:

Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday

The Shabby Chic Cottage for Transformation Thursday

No Minimalist Here for Thursday's Open House Party

VICTORIAN CHAIR

Recently, a neighbor gave us this Victorian-era chair. He was going to throw it in the trash. It was upholstered in needlepoint, which was probably appropriate; but it was poorly done. I tried to salvage and clean the needlepoint, but it couldn't be done. I can probably make a pillow from some of the needlepoint in the future.

The back of the chair was broken apart as shown on the left. Bob did his magic in the workshop, then we upholstered it in this blue velvet.

This was my first try at a double cording. I think that in the future when working with heavy fabric like velvet, I will buy a thinner cord to cover. This welting turned out to be about 1/2 inch wide, and it probably would have looked better a little narrower.

The detail on this walnut chair is wonderful with the carving and burl insert.

We haven't decided yet if we are going to keep the chair or sell it.

I'm joining the following parties this week:

Between Naps on the Porch

for Met Monday

Savvy Southern Style

for Wow Us Wednesdays

The Shabby Chic Cottage

for Transformation Thursday

No Minimalist Here

for Open House Party on Thursday

Common Ground

for Vintage Inspiration Friday

French Country Cottage

for Feathered Nest Friday

Be sure to check out these blogs for all of the inspiration provided.

FAVORITE KITCHEN CUPBOARD

Sheila at Note Songs has invited blogland to a party to celebrate our favorite kitchen cupboard. My favorite has to be our Hoosier cabinet. For years in other houses, this cabinet served as a television cabinet in the family room. When we moved into this house 13 years ago, it finally found a home in an alcove in our kitchen.

The drawers in the bottom hold lots of stuff including place mats, napkins, camera and telephone chargers, candles, phone books, etc. The cupboard on the lower left holds three wooden boxes of sterling silver flatware.

However, its primary purpose is to keep track of my keys and to hold our supply of chocolate.

Occasionally (when I feel like dusting), I throw the doors open to enjoy some of my vintage stoneware collection.

I have quite a few bowls and pitchers in green and robin's egg blue. Sometimes, part of my collection of blue gets the starring role.

Other times, different pieces of blue get the spotlight.

Today, the twelve 5" ribbed bowls in various colors are center stage along with my mother's WWII cookbooks.

These little 5" bowls were all collected one at a time from all over the U.S.

Our cupboard retains all of its original features including the flour sifter and the sugar decanter. We use the little wire spice shelf to hold our appliance manuals. I love the original blue sponge detail on the pull-out work top. When we have parties, I pull out the sliding top to use for serving food and beverages.

I remember my grandmother had a similar cupboard in her kitchen which she used for all of its original purposes. It was practically her only workspace. Wouldn't our ancestors be amazed at the mega-kitchens we enjoy today?

In addition to Sheila's Heart of the Home party on Tuesday, I'm joining in the following links:

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Check each of these blogs out - you'll fall in love with all of the inspiration!

All of the pictures can be clicked on to enlarge and view details.