Lamp Re-Do for the Master

 Hi Everyone!

How is Monday working out for you?  Hope it is going well!  I am working on a little project to help move our master bedroom re-do along.

I have two absolutely gorgeous bedside lamps that I just love, love, love.  They were perfect with our bedding several re-dos ago, and I just have not been able to part with them.

They almost look a little like toile to me.

Their deep carving is just beautiful...love the textural feel.

But, the colors just aren't working any more - not in any room of my house.  So.....out comes the frog tape and the spray paint, and I am going to give them a quick transformation to work with the new color scheme in our master.

This is a pic of my color palette, along with a tiny bit of black.  Painting these lamps will bring me just a little closer to getting this room finished.  It has been a long, long process! I keep promising pictures of the finished room, and one of these days I will deliver.  Part of the room is almost camera ready - hoping to share this week some time.

Enjoy the day!

Thanks for stopping by,

Jane

Easy DIY Cord Cover

Hi everyone!

Hope you all have had an outstanding weekend!  Ours was pretty low-key, but we did go to a wonderful graduation party for my niece who recently graduated from college.

Today I woke up feeling kind of "yuck," but I hated the idea of wasting my whole day doing nothing - so I went on the search for an easy "sit in the chair" kind of project to do.  Here's what I came up with:

Earlier this year, we removed an upstairs hall closet and turned it into a little "nook," which I shared with you in this post.  We installed a wall lamp for this area, which left us with a dark brown cord sticking out like a sore thumb on our creamy white walls and wainscot.

What to do? What to do? Since Hobby Lobby is closed on Sundays, I couldn't run out and buy a cord cover.  So, I looked through my ribbon stash and found a bolt of cream colored burlap ribbon.  Perfect  - no $, no car trip, and just what the doctor ordered for a cord cover.

Now, I briefly entertained using hot glue - which would have been quick and easy.  I was worried, though, the glue would make the seam quite stiff and not allow any "scrunching" of the cover.  I also could have used fusible hem tape, but remember - I wanted to do this while lazily sitting in the living room, watching Love It or List It!  Out came the old needle and thread and away I went.  All told, it took about 20 minutes.

Here is the final result!  A little larger than those sold at Hobby Lobby, but still a big improvement over the ugly brown cord and also, it was free!!! I actually like the texture against the wall.  I just loosened the screws on the lamp, and tucked the ribbon every so slightly behind the lamp and tightened up again to hold the cover up.

Anyway, that's what I've been up to this lazy summer afternoon.  How about you?

Thanks for stopping by,
Jane

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Christmas in July

Hi everyone!  Since today is July 25th, I thought we would go back in time and take a look at my most viewed post ever - from December 2012.  Merry Christmas in July!  Jane

Greetings everyone! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas filled with love. Join me for a mini Christmas round up of decor for 2012.  Still recovering from a bout with pneumonia (which is taking for-eva!), so the decor frenzy was a little subdued this year, but to quote Dr. Suess, "Christmas came.  It came just the same." So, will be hitting up the after Xmas sales and letting the planning begin for next year!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays From Our Home to Yours!

As always, thanks for stopping by my humble little blog.

Wishing you happiness,

Jane

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Neat Vintage Find

Hi everyone!

I made a quick out and about last Friday to one of  my favorite antique malls, Waukesha Antique Mall.  I have written about this store in the past - it is the bomb!  It is housed in an old grocery store and it's huge, has good prices, and some really terrific vendors.

If you are in the southeastern Wisconsin area, it is really worth checking out!

Soooooo annnyyyyywayyyy, I had actually stopped in last Friday in hopes that an old wooden trunk I had my eye on (the day before) was still there, but sadly, it was not. I was sort of sure it was what I wanted, but I decided to sleep on it. The store has a sign that says, "The time to buy any antique is now."  Lesson learned.  What's a girl to do?

I was in search for a bench, trunk - something to use for an idea I had in my mind for our master mini re-do. Not too far into the store was this chippy beauty:

A low bench, made out of old signage.  It says Vincent.  I just love the graphic quality and the worn, shabby look of it. It is a far cry from the natural wood finished, somewhat formal appearance of the trunk I missed out on.  And, do you know? I think I like this one so much better.  Our master has a lot of dark furniture going on already, and this old vintage piece is just the perfect foil for that.

This new bench and it's new "home" will involve this picture I picked up at Home Goods. It tugs at my heart strings - Mr. Bluebird used to sing that to me when we were first married.  (Awwww....) What a sweet addition to our master bedroom. I think the graphic quality of the picture will be the perfect partner to the bench.

And, my little, faux woodburner that I have had in our master for years will also be featured with these other items.  (You can see my newly finished drapery panels to the right - made from PB tablecloths! *reveal coming soon*) It really adds a coziness in the fall, and you can use it with or without heat - so sometimes during cold mornings, I will turn the heat on to take the chill out while I am getting ready for the day. I will be oiling up my bench - at least where the natural wood is exposed with my Parker's Furniture Oil, which you can also see in the lower right of this picture.  Great stuff!

I am busy today working on this area of our master and hope to reveal soon.  I am pretty excited about it!


Have a wonderful day - and remember, to grab those one of kind items when you see them!

Thanks for stopping by,
Jane

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Help! Carpeting Decisions

Hi everyone!

I have been wanting new carpeting for our stairs and second floor hallway for some time now and I have narrowed it down to six contenders.

If you remember, we took out a closet in our second floor last winter and made it into a cute little sitting nook. (You can see the details here)  The carpeting is original to the house and is just a basic beige-y oatmeal color - you can see a glimpse of it here. It runs the entire hallway, plus the stairs. It is still in fairly good condition, but I have had my heart set on a colorful, patterned carpet for several years now.  I've squirreled away some $ and I am ready to pull the trigger on this purchase.

So, here's where you come in:  I sure would love your input on which one of these you like the most.  Obviously, if you are not a color or pattern person, you will be asking what the x$yz I am thinking! Buuuutttttt......I am a color lover, a color craver, and away we go!!!

Anyway, with that being said, I would love your input.  When you come through the front door, the stairs are the first thing you see, making the carpet an important decorating element.

I really like them all, so it is a tough decision. I am leaning towards one - I will share that with you in another post.

What do you think friends?

Thanks for stopping by,
Jane

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Hey Grandpa, What's For Supper?

Hi Everyone!

Some of you may remember the old TV show, "Hee Haw" from 60's & 70's.  One of the running gags on the show was with Grandpa Jones, and he would be asked, "Hey Grandpa, what's for supper?" One of his responses was, "Some large mouth bass as long as your arm, an' roasting ears and 'maters brought fresh from the farm. Fried apple pies, good and brown, and plenty of iced tea to go around." And the  audience with howl with laughter! 

Ah........it was a simpler time!  Mr. Bluebird still uses that line with me occasionally - and well, truthfully, it still makes me laugh.

It has been crazy busy around the Bluebird household lately, so it sometimes is a chore to get a meal on the table that doesn't come frozen on a cardboard circle (Tombstone pizza)!  Now, we do love an occasional Tombstone around here, but most days, something home-cooked is what we go for.  The family is still asking, "Hey Grandpa, what's for supper?!" So during the busiest times or when the thermometer outside is sweltering, I turn to the slow cooker.  It is so nice to just throw some ingredients in, let it "percolate" all day, and then voila! "Grandpa says" come n' get it!

                        

One of our family faves is super easy, and never disappoints!  Most of the ingredients I usually  have on hand.  The first thing I do is pour in a bag of frozen, chopped celery/onion/carrots and a large can of sliced mushrooms into the slow cooker.  Next, I melt a quarter cup of butter and pour it over the veggies.  DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!  It adds tremendous flavor to the veggies.  

Next, I place a turkey tenderloin (it also works with pork tenderloin) into the cooker, atop the veggies.  Lastly, I use 1/2 cup of beef broth mixed with 1 tablespoon of flour and pour over all.  I also will give a shake or two of salt and pepper over the turkey for a little extra flavor.  Put the top on the cooker, set it on low and let 'er go for the next 6 - 8 hours.

Oooh......you had me at celery, onion & carrots! Yum!

30 minutes or so before serving, I add 1 cup of uncooked Minute Rice, stirring it into the liquid and veggies.

We added a little mixed veggie on the side, but a green salad is wonderful as is a loaf of crusty bread.

So there you have it, a quick, easy, and delicious meal with plenty of leftovers for the next day.  Tell me, do you have easy meal ideas for the busy and hot days of summer?

Thanks for stopping by,

Jane

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Simple Summer Pleasure

Hi Everyone!

Don't you just love crawling into bed after you have put on fresh, clean linens? It is something soothing to the soul as far as I'm concerned!  I love the old fashioned notion of it, too.  I have happy memories of helping my mom put up and take down many a load of wash from our clothesline as a kid. (Although I am pretty sure I complained about it back in the day - "why can't we just put the clothes in the dryer, mom?!")

We have been in our current home for thirteen years and have never had a clothesline.  We had a fabulous one at our old house, but nothing here.  Occasionally I would  MaGyver something together with lawn furniture and tables, etc. to dry a blanket, quilt, or comforter, but it was not the same as an honest to goodness clothesline. I have been secretly lusting after one for years.  Now, I am not talking about giving up my dryer - not happening! - just a little line to hang linens, quilts, towels, and such.

One magical day in June (out of the blue), Mr. Bluebird decided we needed a clothesline and he hooked me up with one between a tree and our pavilion.  Today was it's maiden voyage and our sheets are a-blowin' in the summer breeze! I added a healthy scoop of fragrance crystals (right now I have Gain Fireworks, but there are other brands - this was just what I picked up on sale) to my wash water for some extra "oomph!"  Have you tried scent crystals?  I am a scent-a-holic and when these came out I was all in!  They really make your clothes and linens smell awesome-sauce - they really do!  Have you tried them?

So today I share with you my little scrapbook of laundry line love - truly a simple summer pleasure!

Do you have any simple summer pleasures to share?

Thanks for stopping by,

Jane

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Happy Fourth of July!

Hi everyone,

Just popping to wish you all a safe, fun, and festive fourth of July.  God bless America!

Jane

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TBT: Living Room Summer 2012

Hi everyone,

I decided to do a little Turn Back Thursday and take a look at our living room a few years back.  Interestingly, many things have stayed the same.

I still have most of the accessories, although they have been moved here, there, and everywhere many times over.  I still have the curtains panels - still love them every single day!

The sofa and settee have stayed the same - they were brand spankin' new in these pictures.  I still love them every day also!  I was pretty scared about going from a neutral, solid color sofa and loveseat to a very colorful and multi patterned grouping.  But I don't for one minute regret it - it makes me happy every time I walk into the room!

The seagrass baskets have moved off into storage land, along with the chair.  We also replaced the berber carpet with gorgeous laminate (yes, laminate can be gorgeous!) shortly after this picture was taken.  Another change that has occurred, our sweet, little Barker - shown lounging above - passed in April of this year.  We miss him terribly, but are grateful for his years of faithful friendship!

Anyway, in a house where things seem to change a lot, I am actually shocked at how much has stayed the same in this room. Of course, the pillows and accessories revolve and evolve constantly, but I am so happy that the key pieces -the pieces that can't easily be changed - are still making my heart go pitty pat.  For many years prior to this, I was not decorating true to my taste - I had a purple phase, a sage phase, a turquoise flirtation - trying to convince my self that this was more "in," more the latest and the greatest.  But those looks weren't me. Not. At. All.  In fact, for awhile I was in a decorating drought.  A slump.  Decorating my home, being in my home was no longer fun.  That's when I had an epiphany and told myself to be honest in my decorating and in my style. I chose the colors and things that I was attracted to. For me and for my family.  Not someone else.  And suddenly, it was fun to decorate again! My house was energized and had personality again.  The creativity was kick started  and the thing I loved to do - decorating my home - had fallen back into my lap.

So lesson learned: be true to your style, your color palette, etc.  Be open to new additions, but only if YOU like them - not because it is what every one else is doing or what is being shown in the magazines.  If you stay true to what you love, you will have no problem infusing a vitality and current sensibility to your style.
Trust me!!!

Thanks for stopping by,
Jane