Finally Friday! {framed brooch}

My wedding day had a bit of vintage flair. From the invitations to the decor, I used soft subtle colors, elegant fonts, and touches of heirlooms. I incorporated two gorgeous antique brooches, one that belonged to my great-grandmother on my dress and a purchased shiny blue number on the wedding cake.

I have been brainstorming a way to display the blue brooch for some time now and while looking at crafty blogs on different pincushion projects I had the perfect idea! Create a pincushion frame for displaying this treasure! I originally wanted to find a large barnwood frame with a small opening, but then I saw this frame, sitting on the back of a dresser in my guestroom and I thought it was just as perfect (and free making it even better!)

this photo doesn't begin to show how icky the poorly distressed cream is

First, I gave it a nice coat of pale gray paint and as that dried started to work on the burlap pincushion.

After I glued the stuffed fabric to the backing, I spent several miserable minutes squishing the life out of quickly returned it to its home in the newly painted frame.

Now for the finishing touch...

And its new home across the shelf from our wedding photo.

Have a fabulous weekend!

xx Sarah

I'm linking up with....

My 1st project reveal! {Lovely Wooden Bench}

Last night it began snowing again in Birmingham. 

As you can see it's a bit of a dusting (rustled up by the pups) and you northern peeps probably think we are silly for calling this snow...buuuuuut it is. So I spent naptime of this lovely snow day finishing a project! If you knew me, you'd know how proud I am......but before you give me a virtual pat on the back it is not really finished as I need to make a seat cushion and pillow(s) to complete the look.....none-the-less, TADA!

The before, yellow can be lovely, but not for this lady that I picked up at auction.

(it was a bit brighter than the photo shows)

And here she is now!

A little white, a little gray, a little glaze and a whole lotta loving this!

This is my front room. In it's hayday (1930s) it was more of the greeting room and serves a bunch of random purposes for our little fam.  As you see in this image, a bit of eclectic wonder still resides. I do love that giant dough bowl, I haven't found the perfect home for it yet.
BACK on subject...here are two photos I've found some inspiration for the finishing touches on this beaut!

 

www.decorpad.com

www.passingopenwindows.com

Enjoy your day!

xx Sarah

I'm a mess! {Mora clock love}

So before I began this slow transformation to the soft paletted french cottage style I long for....I was an eclectic mess (and by was I mean still...kinda....a mess)
There was a phase in my life a few years ago when I obsessed over black and white with colorful splashes. I love the Global Bazaar series that Target carried, very World Market-esque, quite chic. However I was all over the place, bulbous black and white vases, faux bone inlay coasters, Moroccan inspired lanterns with stained glass inserts, animal print....Need I go on. My front room still has some of this theme and I am slowly revising a plan on what can be incorporated (as is or painted) and what will simply have to get the boot.

Though my severely eclectic days are over, I do still desire a to incorporate cultural pieces in a more cohesive manner. Last post I drooled over turned/carved wooden chandeliers, well known both in France and Italy.  Today I turn my lust to Sweden's curvaceous Mora clock. This is not your mother's grandfather clock! This.is.fabulous!

Tara Shaw, lover and collector of cultural pieces has a reproduction line. (her repro chandy was the first one of this post)

and ooooh lala is this not a delish Mora clock!

tarashaw.com


I loooove the scrolled feet and softly distressed finish.

oliveaux.blogspot.com

::Ahhhhhhh:: (<----that would be the sound of angels)
This finish is masterful!

 www.thingsthatinspire.net

One of each, thanks.

 lindacrispell.blogspot.com

I'm a bit obsessed with this cane back sette....and that clock...words, I need words!

brookegiannetti.typepad.com

Now a touch of color...

Gold and seafoam? Yes, please! The adjoining dining room has a gorg chandy, turned wood of course.

www.thingsthatinspire.net

Though I would love the robin's egg on the left and tall and creamy one on the right, I cannot get over how stunning and rich the green and gold is! oh and what is that hanging out with the Mora's? That's right, a softly finished wooden chandelier, an awe-inspiring picture of perfection, I adore those scallops and the loops in the wired arms!!!

mysweetsavannah.blogspot.com

::sigh::

cotedetexas.blogspot.com

You can also check out, Lone Ranger Antiques and the motherload of Mora....I mean ::gasp:: take your breath away!

Sneak Peek {my upcoming projects}

Here are teaser photos of some of my upcoming projects....I will not say when they will be done because that is a dangerous realm for me...however, two are in the works. I'll blog about the first project in a day or so and try to link up to my fab inspiration blogger (I'm new at this so keyword is try)

Me, my home, and I {chandy love!}

I don't always know how to explain my aesthetic, but sitting at an antique auction last night, looking at the pieces that I heard softly calling "take me home, lady!" I decided it's a little something like this...

French country and softly worn...slightly primitive.....dainty and distressed.....southern charm in cool neutrals....

Still not very exact but I'm sure you have painted a lovely picture in your mind.

I am really concentrating on minimizing my home's palette to whites, creams and grays with subtle accents of blue and perhaps yellow. So now my conundrum.....

when she was done...it was like a saltine war zone.

 first thing in the morning...apparently where they spent the night...

Excuse the horrible phone pics....but you get my drift, 2 dogs with no furniture respect and a adorably crummy 1 year old (excuse her ridiculously mis-matched getup....she's usually quite polished :) ) So another challenge of making my house a home is making it also indestructible whilst keeping with my palette of lovely stain attracting colors.

But to the REAL reason for this post....I want, I need, I absolutely-cannot-live-without this chandelier in my life! The epitome of my french country, slightly primitive inspired style. I really can't find anything bad to say about these....except that I can't find one on the thrift.

I hope you are preparing yourself for this eye candy.

This 12 arm Italian beauty is the epitome of rustic elegance. I adore the almost weightless arms, each with a different shape. This is simply perfection.

www.tarashaw.com

French Gothic Chandelier

I can see this in my bathroom....I NEED this in my bathroom!

(.....but not at $2k)

www.belleescape.com

 Primitive/Americana, less ornate, but still charming.

www.countrylivingprimitives.com

 I can't explain my love for this,  those dainty wooden charms and the leaves!!

I think I die a little each time I look at this image. How can one chandelier be so elegant and whimsical and softly distressed and SERIOUSLY pull it all off?!

www.pariscoutureantiques.blogspot.com

 I would definitely want to lighten up the wooden body of these two primitive numbers, but the shape is so fantastic, and the sweet primitive "wax drip cuppy things" (<--my words) are presh!

katieslighthouse.com

Late 19th century Italian 6 light chandelier.

Scroll work is stunning!

www.1stdibs.com

Now just to find one budget-friendly beauty (or five), paired with a ceiling medallion, maybe a burlap chain cover, and my life...as we know it...will be complete.