HAPPY NEW YEAR

SOON IT WILL BE A NEW YEAR, FULL OF "JUNQUE IDEAS". I HOPE ALL GOOD THINGS COME YOUR WAY FOR THE NEW YEAR "2013" OH-OH, I HOPE YOU'RE NOT SUPERSTITIOUS :)
I'M STILL HIBERNATING & TEARING UP THE HOUSE

 A MERRY JUNKIN’ CHRISTMAS

 

             ‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

AND ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE      

 THE JUNK WAS ALL PILED

 EVEN MY MOUSE

                               


THE FRENCH STOCKINGS WERE HUNG BY THE CHEMINÉE WITH CARE
IN HOPES THAT BÉBÉ de SANTA SOON WOULD BE THERE
AND I WAS NESTLED ALL SNUG IN MY BED
WITH THOUGHTS OF “JUNK” DANCING IN MY HEAD
THE CATS WERE CURLED ALL UP IN A BALL
WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN
I HEARD NOISE IN THE HALL
I SPIED SANTA WITH BAGS OF WIRE & RUST
AND SOMETHING FRENCH WITH WHITE & CRUST
COULD IT BE A SANTO, OR EVEN A “TOWER”
OR A LOVELY BUNCH
OF LAVENDER FLOWERS.
OR MAYBE A TICKET TO PROVENCE OR FRANCE
I’D SNEAK A PEEK, TO TAKE THAT CHANCE!
WHEN WHAT TO MY WANDERING EYES SHOULD APPEAR
BUT A CUTE LITTLE FRENCHMAN
WITH PERFECTLY SHAPED EARS

AND FOLLOWING BEHIND HIM WERE EIGHT REINDEER
WHEN HE LOUDLY EXCLAIMED
GET THE H*** OUTTA HERE!
NOW DASHER , NOW DANSEUR, NOW PRANCER AND RENARDE
ON COMETE, ON CUPIDON, ON DONNER AND BLITZEN


FROM THE EAVES OF THE ATTIC
TO THE BASEMENT STAIR
BRING ME SOME “JUNK”
THAT I CAN SHARE.
HE RAN TO HIS TRAINEAU &
AND I HEARD HIM EXCLAIM
AS HE DROVE OUT OF SIGHT
HAPPY JUNKIN’ TO ALL AND
TO ALL A” GOOD (JUNK) NIGHT”


　

"THE CHRISTMAS STORY LADY"

THE CHRISTMAS STORY LADY STARRING JESSICA TANDY & STEPHANIE ZIMBALIST IS ON TONIGHT ON THE "CW" FROM 8-10. IT'S A 1991 MOVIE THAT I SOLD PROPS TO. A GREAT MOVIE.

STUFF, MUSINGS & THE NEW YEAR!!

PLANNING FOR THE NEW & COMING YEAR, I'LL POST MY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS SOON.

AM PLANNING A NEW BIG BUILDING, TRAVEL PLANS & TEARING OUT WALLS, REDOING FLOORS & EXPANDING THE BATHROOM....CLEANING OUT THE BASEMENT A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME, IT'S A TREASURE TROVE OF PIECES PARTS, SOME OF WHICH WILL BE ON THE CURB SOON. WHEN I FEEL LIKE IT'S ALL OVERWHELMING, IT'S TIME TO PURGE & I REALLY DO.

 

PAINTED THIS THE OTHER DAY....YEP, STILL PAINTING OUTSIDE :)

I COBBLED THESE TWO PIECES TOGETHER & FOUND A PLACE FOR IT.

A LITTLE CHRISTMAS

SWEET LITTLE TABLE I FOUND HIDDEN WHEN I REDID MY WORK ROOM

FOUND 8 OF THESE WHEN CLEANING

A VIEW THROUGH THE SMALL SUNROOOM WHICH IS PACKED WITH GOODS...DRESS FORMS, 1800'S WICKER TABLE, RAILINGS & "STUFF"

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

MY CONNECTICUT

I HAVE BEEN TRAVELLING TO CONNECTICUT SINCE 1977, BUYING ANTIQUES. I HAVE BEEN TO EVERY NOOK & CRANNY THE STATE HAS. TRAVELLING BACKROADS MOSTLY TO TAKE IN THE BEAUTY EACH SEASON HAS TO OFFER. THERE IS NO CITY THAT I’D BE AFRAID TO DRIVE THROUGH AT NIGHT. EACH TOWN IS A PICTURE POSTCARD, AS IF IT WAS PAINTED BY NORMAN ROCKWELL.....UNTIL NOW.

 

YOU WOULD NEVER THINK THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE, ESPECIALLY THE SMALL TOWNS OF CONNECTICUT……BUT IT DID. TRAVELLING THERE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME FOR ME; I’LL LOOK AT THE SCENERY & PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY. IT’S NOT GUNS THAT KILL PEOPLE, IT’S THE MORON BEHIND IT.

 

MAKE IT COUNTRY

COUNTRY STYLE EMBRACES THE WORN AND WEATHERED LOOK. THINK "FARMHOUSE" AND YOU'VE BASICALLY SUMMED UP THE COUNTRY LOOK. THERE ARE NUMEROUS WAYS TO COUNTRIFY YOUR HOME. YOU CAN CREATE ARCHITECTURAL DETAILING WITH MOLDINGS MADE OF WOOD OR LOOK ALIKE POLYMERS; ALSO HANGING OLD PIECES OF ARCHITECTURE SALVAGED FROM DRESSERS, MANTELS, AND THE EXTERIOR OF OLD HOUSES.
FADED FABRICS AND PEELING PAINT ARE THE SECRET TO COUNTRY LOOKS APPEAL; IT ONLY ENHANCES THE PATINA OF TIME THAT LETS US UNWIND AND ENJOY LIVING WITH OUR TREASURES.
CEILINGS OF A COUNTRY HOME ARE ALSO PART OF THE DECOR A TING DESIGN. WHETHER YOU CHOOSE BEADBOARD OR BEAMS OR WALLPAPER(JUST DON'T CHOOSE STUCCO)! IF YOU ALREADY HAVE STUCCO AND YOU'RE STUCK (PARDON THE PUN!) WITH IT, YOU CAN WORK AROUND IT. IF YOU CHOOSE BEAMS, HANGING DRIED HERBS OR BASKETS CREATES COUNTRY IMMEDIATELY.
NOTHING WARMS A COUNTRY ROOM LIKE A WOOD FLOOR, BUT BRICK AND SLATE ARE ALSO A GOOD
CHOICE. DON'T FORGET WOOD FLOORS CAN BE PAINTED, STENCILED, SPATTERED AND CHECKERBOARDED; SO IF YOU GET BORED JUST DO ONE OR ALL OF THE ABOVE OVER TIME.
FABRICS BRING A COUNTRY HOME TO LIFE WHEN YOU USE CALICOS, HOMESPUNS, LINENS, GINGHAMS, AND THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THERE IS REPRODUCTION FABRIC AT AFFORDABLE PRICES.
EVERY COUNTRY HOME NEEDS A COLLECTION BUT NOT CLUTTER. AN OPEN CUPBOARD OR SHELVING IS PERFECT FOR THIS.
PAINTED FURNITURE IS CONSIDERED LESS FORMAL AND IS PERFECT FOR THE COUNTRY LOOK.
THERE ARE MANY FACETS TO COUNTRY; IT CAN BE AMERICAN COUNTRY, SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRY, ENGLISH OR FRENCH COUNTRY ... IT CAN BE ELEGANT, BUT IT MUST BE RELAXED AND COMFORTABLE.
I KNOW I ALWAYS WRITE ABOUT VINTAGE THIS AND VINTAGE THAT WHEN DECORATING, BUT IT'S JUST AS EASY TO TAKE SOMETHING NEW AND MAKE IT LOOK OLD WITH A LITTLE BEATING UP! I HAVE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AGED NEW FURNITURE. SO, USE YOUR IMAGINATION AND START CREATING!
LASTLY, COUNTRY IS ABOUT COMFORT;, YOU WANT IT TO APPEAR THAT IT DIDN'T TAKE MUCH WORK TO ACHIEVE YOUR LOOK. SO RELAX AND TAKE YOUR TIME;
AFTER ALL, ROME WASN'T BUlLT IN A DAY, ALTHOUGH IF I WAS THERE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN!

 
 

~HOLIDAY COOKING ITALIAN STYLE~

FIRST I STARTED WITH BAPTISM SOUP/WEDDING SOUP/FUNERAL SOUP (DEPENDS WHAT MOOD YOU'RE IN)

 

YOU CAN'T HAVE THE SOUP WITHOUT THE HOMEMADE OYSTER CRACKERS WITH A TWIST

THEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE CENCI ALLA FIORENTINA (BOW TIES/FRITTES)

ROLL THEM OUT

TIE THEM IN KNOTS

THEN KILL THEM WITH POWDERED SUGAR

THEN I MADE PIZZELLES. IT'S NOT CHRISTMAS WITHOUT THESE :)

WHAT I DID TODAY

TODAY I WENT OUTSIDE & "SHOPPED THE SHEDS" & GATHERED PIECES PARTS OF STUFF & MADE THIS. I HAD AN IDEA AS I WAS TRYING TO SLEEP & IT TURNED OUT JUST AS I THOUGHT :) & I'M SURE EVENTUALLY IT WILL BE FOR SALE :)

I FOUND THESE IN THE IVY

I FOUND THIS NEAR THE IVY

I PUT THEM TOGETHER

I PUT IT HERE IN THE DINING ROOM

I DECORATED IT!

I ADDED A RUSTY LIGHT

I PAINTED THE FIREPLACE WHITE

I MADE THE MANTEL WITH PIECES PARTS OF MORE CHACH

ADDED SKINNY TREE FROM ATTIC, THE CHALK PICTURE ON THE LEFT LOOKS LIKE ME IN A FORMER LIFE.

 I "SHOPPED THE SHEDS" BECAUSE I REARRANGED MY WORKROOM

I FOUND THIS WIRE BASKET THINGY

I FOUND 2 OLD WOOLWORTHS MARKET BASKETS

SPONGEWARE

THIS WAS A CHAIR BACK IN THE CATS ROOM (YES HE HAS HIS OWN BEDROOM, COMPLETE WITH JENNY LIND BED) THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE TOO MANY ROOMS :) SO I TURNED IT INTO A CHALKBOARD

ANOTHER CHIPPY WIRE BIRDCAGE. I EVEN FIND THINGS THAT I DIDN'T KNOW I HAD. I HAVE FUN SHOPPING MY OWN SHEDS LOL

COMING SOON: MAYBE TOMORROW, WHAT I DID IN MY WORKROOM.

ALTHOUGH I WAS OUTSIDE & COLD IT'S STILL TIME TO HIBERNATE

                                                                       

ALMOST TIME TO HIBERNATE......

BEDROOMS.....A TIME TO HIBERNATE

BEAMS GIVE A ROOM AN EARTHY FEEL &TAKE YOU AWAY TO THE SOUTH OF FRANCE

THIS QUICK LITTLE CANOPY CAN BE HAD WITH A BASKETBALL HOOP, SO EASY IT'S A SIN :)

.....FOR THE JUNGLE LOOK, HANG BUNCHES OF HERBS, SWEET ANNIE AROUND THE BED, BUT HIGH ENOUGH AWAY FROM THE KIDS &PETS

THIS IS WHAT I CALL THE VINTAGE TREASURE ROOM. HOW NICE TO WAKE UP SURROUNDED BY THE THINGS YOU LOVE. BARKCLOTH SPREAD, SUITCASES, SYRUP BUCKETS, VINTAGE ROSE PICS, TOLE TRAYS, HATBOXES & A BIT OF WIRE.

ANOTHER WHITE ROOM. I LOVE THE TIN CEILING BLANKET CHEST AT THE FOOT OF THE BED, CHIPPY WHITE SHUTTERS & SINGLE COLUMN

GREAT SLEIGH BED.....SIMPLE

ANOTHER 4 POSTER UNCLUTTERED WITH A TIN CEILING STATEMENT

WHITE LINEN BEDROOM WITH DIFFERENT TEXTURES OF MATERIALS

GREAT DARK BED CONTRASTING WITH THE WHITE COVERS

FRENCH TOILE ON A WHITEWASH BED

LITTLE BED ALCOVE, DRAW THE DRAPES & HIDE AWAY FOR THE DAY.....OR WEEKEND

WHO WANTS A ROOM WITH A VIEW OVERLOOKING THE SEINE?? I DO, IDO :)

WOULDN'T YOU FEEL LIKE ROYALTY IN THIS BED?

THIS GREAT BEDROOM WITH THE RUFFLED BEDSPREAD IS SO F*R*E*N*C*H, LUV THE MANTEL HEADBOARD. THIS IS A VERY POPULAR DECORATING FEATURE (MANTEL) FOR ME TO DO IN CLIENTS HOMES, EACHMANTEL IS UNIQUE & GIVES A DIFFERENT EFFECT TO THE ROOM.

THIS BEDROOM REALLY SUITS THE TWO GIRLS THAT RESIDE IN IT. A LITTLE BIT OF VINTAGE ARCHITECTURE ADDS CHARM.

WHO SAYS A BUNKBED HAS TO LOOK SOOOOOOO 60'S? NOT ME. I SLEPT IN ONE AS A CHILD & HAD SO MUCH FUN MAKING A FORT & MY OWN LITTLE GETAWAY. EVEN THOUGH I'M AFRAID OF HEIGHTS.....I ONLY FELL OUT ONCE LOL THAT EXPLAINS IT!
THE VINTAGE LAMP IS SO SWEET (MAKE SURE WHEN USING OLD LAMPS, TO CHECK OUT THE WIRING). POINT IN CASE. ON MY "BUNK" I HAD AN OLD LIGHT THAT IF I JUMPED ON THE BED IT WOULD BLINK.......I WAS ALWAYS SCARED BECAUSE I THOUGH THE HOUSE WAS HAUNTED.......I STILL THINK IT WAS :)

THE CHECKS ON THE SIDES OF THIS BED MAKES IT SO COZY & CHARMING. I ONCE MADE MY OWN CANOPY BED, VERY EASY WITH 2 X2 'S & A CROCHET TABLECLOTH AS SEEN IN BOTTOM PIC.

NOTHING SAYS FRENCH LIKE OPEN WORK

VINTAGE ARCHITECTURAL PIECES CAN REALLY PUT A SPARK IN A ROOM WITH NOTHING ELSE GOING FOR IT, A POP THAT SAYS IT ALL. NOTHING MORE IS NEEDED.

THIS BILLOWY WHITE ROOM IS SUCH A "GETAWAY FROM IT ALL" LOCK THE DOOR & READ.