Bargains,Thrifting Finds And Imperfections

A good bargain, the perfect find, and a successful Goodwill run is the lagniappe of my day, and I like lagniappe.

Thrifting, flea market, or auction finds aren’t usually free, but if the find is really good or exactly what you’ve been looking for it’s both a gift and a bonus! When we walked into Goodwill I didn’t know I was looking for a triple switch plate cover, but evidently I was. A bargain archaeologist I am not. I do not like to dig through, over, or under anything looking for something- that’s Dave the Builder’s role.

The switch plate cover was sitting between two other items- a decorative box and some item I can’t recall. The first item Dave picked up was the box. He opened it up and loudly proclaimed, “there’s a hundred dollar bill in here!”  Now I’ve known this man and his brand of humor for 35 years however, the two gentlemen standing next to us have not. Bless their hearts, they almost broke their necks looking to see if in fact a Ben Franklin was up for grabs. By the way, Dave’s comedy routine at our local Goodwill got a huge laugh.

Back to the switch plate. I consulted with Dave to get his mechanical and electrical opinion. With a thumbs up things started to get interesting. I noticed a piece of the bottom banner was chipped off.  I reasoned if I could not live with it I would simply chip off the intact piece on the other side. The persuasive pot was sweetened when I realized  the store was having a special sticker something or other additional 40% off sale bringing the total price to $2.17.  Ring- it- up, baby!

The breakfast area toggle light switch situation was updated to the new and so very improved rocker style.

I darkened the plate with a thin coat of Americana acrylic paint in raw umber. What areas a foam brush can’t get to and the initial coat won’t cover a Q-tip dipped in paint will.

The color deepens the details and camouflages the imperfection. I’m debating leaving the switch plate in its present form. Would performing decorative surgery by removing the detail on the left side in order to smooth out the imperfect edges make such a huge difference to the finished look, or would it not move the needle enough to matter?

As odd as it sounds, the story is found in the imperfection. That’s the wonderful thing about certain items and objects we use in our decor. The story, the memories, and the tales of the hunt that go along with the bargains, thrifting finds and imperfections is often what is so appealing.

Love your style!

 

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I’m Not Quite Through Enjoying Fall Decor Just Yet

Fall decor confirms what I’ve known for sometime.

I like, no, I love this fall decor time of year.

Fall excites the senses through seasonal colors on parade, thread counts of warm and cozy fabrics, tastes of pumpkin, apple, cinnamon and spices, and pitch clear sounds floating through the air of a crisp fall evening.

Those of us who live for and love the fall season savor the season, knowing fall is best enjoyed when we keep calm and harvest on.

keep-calm-fall-harvest

Fall is the gateway to the season of warm colors, cool weather fairs and festivals, and home for the holidays celebrations.

diy-fall-scentsHouse Beautiful

I wait all year for this time of year to roll around and I want to enjoy the look of fall decor for as long as I can.

I’m adopting a stop and smell the cinnamon and apples attitude.

fall decorSouthern Weddings

Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas decor ideas and decorations are in stores and magazines, but I remind myself to keep calm and harvest on.

I’m not quite through enjoying the beauty of fall decor just yet.

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Houzz

This space definitely got the natural elements works memo.

Stone masonry, white cedar logs, and birch bark veneers carry out the Adirondacks feel year round.




The spot on twig chandelier and stag horn candle holders emphasize the season and put the finishing touches on the rustic package.

rustic-chandeliers

Wildwood Branch Chandelier

You are good to go with nature inspired home decor pieces from September to spring.

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Pasillas Flared Arm Loveseat

Spanish-style-chandelier

Balsimo 30″ Wide 8-Light Spanish Traditional Chandelier 

Copper cookware and home decor accents lend an element of warmth and distinction to stove and space.

Ruffoni Historia Hammered Copper Chef’s Pan with Acorn Handle

Ruffoni Historia Hammered Copper Chef’s Pan with Acorn Handle

John Derian’s Fall Frolic fall collection of digital notecards and party invitations has a vintage vibe.

The artist based them on 19th-century pieces from his own decoupage archive.

These fall frolic invitations are anything but boaring.

boar-john-derian

This time of year gives our seasonal home decor choices a permission slip signed go ahead- get cozy, relax, and stay awhile.

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Think PINK For Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Prevention- Information- Numbers- Knowledge

Think PINK for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Prevention. 

Information.

Numbers.

Knowledge. 

pink-ribbons

Cancer screening, early detection, and prevention is vital in the fight to cure this disease.

Pinterest

Pink is the official color associated with Breast Cancer Awareness.

amy berry design

Amy Berry Design 

It’s a fabulous color choice, it’s a fabulous cause to support, and won’t it be fabulous when the cure is found!

pink-fabric-swatches

For my mother, dear friends and old and new, the woman in the waiting room, the names and faces of cancer I will never know, the growing numbers of survivors and thrivers, and the walkers and runners uniting together in pink solidarity- this one’s for you.

brooke crew interiors

 Brooke Crew Interiors

Be proactive in the fight against breast cancer by scheduling a yearly mammogram.

It’s a “pressing” engagement to keep.

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Collections

Collections are an extension of memories in tangible form.

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Traditional Home

 When something makes an impression on a collector a collection is born. 

CLX100116_090Country Living

The architectural aspects of hotels and motels fascinates me.

From the Ritz-Carlton to Route 66, I marvel at the history, architecture, design, interiors of grand hotels.

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One of my favorite historical landmark hotels, Hotel Bentley, is a hometown legend.

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The Hotel Bentley is a stunning testament to opulent grand foyers, crystal chandeliers and marble staircases.

Notable guests in its 104 year old history include Major General George Patton, Lieutenant Colonel Omar Bradley, Colonel Dwight David Eisenhower, and Henry Kissinger.

bentley-lobbyBe still my heart!

bentley-chandelier

When the last owner decided to close the Hotel Bentley, I was able to acquire a few of the items to add to my collection of hotel silver and china.

Making welcomed additions to my collection is an etched seltzer bottle, a lithograph from the hotel art collection, and a charger from the dining room china pattern.  

I do love a good hotel china charger.

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Even with non-smoking laws and policies in place, matchbooks remain a highly collectible item.

Las Vegas hotels never die, they just implode.

Fortunately, the classics remain alive and well via a well guarded matchbook collection.

Power outages, fire pits, birthday candles or barbecue grills need not apply- these vintage matchbooks are for admiring purposes only.

I view antique plates and bone dishes as small pieces of art full of history, provenance and color.

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Coming in as the number one thing I like to collect is frogs.

The association with frogs goes all the way back to the mid 70’s.

Ions ago, don’t ‘cha know.

When the majority of mothers around the neighborhood discovered a great summer babysitter activity for the neighborhood kids, the word spread like softened butter.

porcelain-frog

Our local community theater was sponsoring a summer workshop culminating in a off, off, off Broadway production at workshops end.

The play was Fairy Frog Superstar, and yours truly won the part of the Fairy Frog.

A future theater star was not born, but my love of all things frog was.

It only takes one look at a frog for my thoughts to go back to the summer of frog.

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CLX100116_083Country Living

My collections are as much a part of my decor as they are my personality. Our homes should reflect our personalities, and collections touch upon that.

“I like for rooms to feel collected—not decorated.  I always say that perfect is not perfect.”

— Mark D. Sikes

Do you have a collection?

I would love to hear what it is and why it is special to you.

 

 

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That Reminds Me: Seasonal Home Decorating Ideas

Thoughts of fall have naturally brought about seasonal home decorating ideas, reminding me it is time to begin putting together ideas for a fall tablescape.

Noting a stunning pair of barley twist bar stools seen on Pinterest turned my thoughts to the pair of vintage barley twist candlesticks I know I have somewhere.

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Found the little darlings.

barley-twist-by-box

Isn’t it funny how an image or an item in that image can initiate the decorative snowball effect?

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One Kings Lane

Textures, finishes, and color palettes evoke thoughts of warmth, coziness, and hominess- qualities so closely associated with cold weather days and nights

Decorative throws and pillows infuse a space with the look and feel of warmth.

fall-throw

Candles in scents of the season treat the senses.

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Seasonal home decorating ideas often are inspired by the senses.

Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles

The versatility and style is year-round, but there’s just something about a basket that is woven into the fabric of fall and winter.

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Forget the pie, this is my idea of a slice of pumpkin love!

Pumpkin, ginger, and cinnamon- from kitchen to table to home decor accessories to color palettes.

KB showhouse 2011

Dering Hall

Traditional Home

In a few months from now I’ll be writing about how I can’t wait for spring flowers to bloom, summer colors, and there’s nothing better than the taste of barbecue.

For now, I’m looking forward to the first really cool night and the feel of a down comforter.

oranges-cloves

Also on the fall treats list is the delicious scent of cloves and oranges throughout the kitchen and dining room, and the highly anticipated first taste of a pumpkin spice latte.  

Okay, now it’s your turn.

What is it that you hear, see, feel, smell or taste that reminds you of fall?

Love your style!

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Three for All: Planning A Fall, Harvest and Thanksgiving Tablescape

Planning a fall tablescape is both a labor of love and one of the best parts of the fall home decorating season.

Blending the best of the season can carry the theme through to a harvest and a Thanksgiving tablescape.

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Natural elements provide a canvas easy to work with, color that only nature can produce, and the opportunity to treasure hunt close to home outdoors as well as indoors.

tablescape2012That which nature doesn’t provide, Hobby Lobby, Tractor Supply, eBay, and my brother the avid goose hunter does!

A savvy tablescaper keeps an eye out for future holiday table setting ideas and clearance sales from holidays past.

Patience and an additional 40% off clearance sale at Dillard’s secured the six new dinner plates, dinner napkins, and hammered copper napkin rings for my fall tablescape.

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Burlap sandbags from Tractor Supply make casually chic, virtually indestructible and very affordable placemats.

creamer-2012

To know me is to know I love the opportunity to show and display items from my antique plate and creamer collection.

The Prussia Royal Rudolstadt bread and butter plate is a find from our last antiques inventory shopping trip.

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It’s odd how decorative accessories that normally would not be paired together do, in fact, create the perfect look.

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When Dave the Builder brought the Wedgwood candlesticks home from the antique shop I was not feeling it.

But wait.

After careful reconsideration it dawned on me that the steel gray goose feathers in the centerpiece cast an elegant shade of Wedgwood blue all their own.

“A September to remember.  An October full of splendor.  

A November to treasure.”   

-La Prevenchere

My thoughts exactly!

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Deliciously Easy Cheesy Corn Cornbread

Cheesy corn cornbread perfectly tops off a hot bowl of homemade soup, chili or gumbo.

carrot-cilantro-soup

Country Living

I have friends and family who refuse to eat gumbo unless there’s been a frost on the ground, won’t go near chili unless it is well, chilly, and insist soup served with a couple of pieces of cheesy corn cornbread  is a must have accompaniment to the fall into winter soup season.

Cooking up a big pot of soup, chili or gumbo sounds like a tasty activity to undertake on this late summer into fall afternoon.

gumbo-for-fall1

And while I’m at it I believe I’ll whip up this super easy, satisfying and delicious recipe for cheesy corn cornbread as a culinary complement.

Cheesy Corn Cornbread

Ingredients

2 packs corn muffin mix

2 eggs

¼ cup milk

1 can cream style corn

2 cups shredded cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 425°F.  Lightly grease baking pan.

Stir muffin mix and eggs together in medium bowl to blend. Add milk and stir to combine.

Fold in cream style corn.  Add shredded cheese and stir until blended. Pour batter into prepared baking pan.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

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enjoy

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