Furniture can be found. . .

in the most unorthodox places.  Just say that I am constantly on the "look" for small furniture items that need to be "fixed". . .while shopping at a local antique shop, I stopped by the restroom and there in a corner covered in boxes was this old "thrown away" stool waiting for me.   Yes the shop owner agreed to part with the stool and I loaded it up in the car.   The next day, the stool was painted black, the cushion was covered in osnaberg and then hand stamped "SIT".  By Tuesday, I had taken it to the antique shop and by Thursday it sold.  I wish everything was this easy!

Garden chair. . .

Vintage desk or office chair has been stripped down to the wood and white washed--and a plant stand has been born.  Chair will hold a large size fern or other potted plant--perfect for a porch or sunroom--beautiful at weddings!  May be used for a limited time in the garden


I suppose. . .

I've been in denial for many months. . . I didn't realize how much I missed not having a cat to greet me and talk to me when I stepped outside. This sweet thing appeared this morning, starving. She had a delicious tuna (yes the real people food) breakfast and then proceeded to thank me by rubbing on my legs. Now she's gone. . .maybe back to her family. . .I just hope she's safe.

Spring Picnic time. . .

the weather is still (fairly) pleasant in the South and (when it isn't raining) perfect for a picnic.  So grab you vintage dishes (melamine of course), a tablecloth (to spread on the ground), delicious food (or fried chicken from the drive thru), and your best friend. . .

Country Pair. . .

waiting for the porch swing or the next picnic.  Rustic burlap pillows ready for the rustic cabin, your beach house, or your home. . .pillow covers will fit an 18" or 20" pillow sham are available in my shop.

City gone Country. . .

a perfectly tailored pair of pillow covers ready for your city home or country cabin.  Envelope closure in back makes them an easy on and off. 

Repurpose. . .

a new word. . .a new way of thinking. . .(in reality) a way to dispose of junk/trash.
My sister in law has always been a scavenger. . .and she has uncovered some great "finds". . .but then there are those things that she's found that you want to burn or bury in the sand.   She called one day last year and told me she had found a chest of drawers. . ."a really old one". . .and she was dropping it off on the way to the beach.  I was so excited!  I knew I'd have it painted in 2 days and at the antique shop ready for sale.  Unfortunately she failed to mention that the chest of drawers was in 25 pieces and that the drawers would have to be reassembled. . .gluing furniture has never worked well for me. So the pieces sat for about a year. . .then last week I "repurposed" them. . .signs from reclaimed wood.

Primitive yellow. . .

a (sort of) matching pair of primitive end tables. . .with a yellow wash. . .ready for the porch or patio.  Available at Troy Antiques.

Spring Beach Pillows. . .

or bright Beach Pillows. . .Johnathan Adler style pillow covers. . .yellow and white wave design.  Pillow covers fit an 18" or 20" pillow form and have an envelope closure on the back.  They would be perfect on a porch or in a sun room!

moving on. . .

a 1960's tilted book shelf turned shabby chic. . .this is a custom order for Lisa. . .a new addition for her daughter's room.  Hope you both enjoy it!

See. . .

I told you so. . .those ratted primitive chair legs make a great photo prop!  Raggedy pillows ready for the beach house or cabin. . .envelope closure on the back is secured with a bright yellow vintage button; edges are left open and clipped to fray and fluff.   Quilted pillow ticking is machine wash and dry.                          

from the trash pile. . .

I am sort of a "drive by" shopper.  I will cruise slowly by yard sales to eyeball the merchandise before stopping--I tend to do the same thing to trash piles.  Last Saturday I saw a bookcase, books, and a table base--unfortunately, my vehicle was packed with 2 coffee tables, an end table, and 4 chairs.  After I unloaded at the antique shop, I made a mad dash back to the "trash" I had seen--bookcase and books were already claimed and the table base was beyond repair. 

But down another street I saw this------->

Yes, it looks rough and you wonder why I could possibly want, or need, chair legs.  To be honest, I didn't know when I picked them up but I do see possibility in them.  They would make a great primitive/rustic plant stand--just sit your potted plant in the middle and the legs will "frame" the pot; remove the horizontal spindles and the others make great architectural salvage; or use the "legs" as a great photo prop.  And this is what I did!

a name. . .

are these eggs?. . .Easter eggs?. . .or quilted eggs?

They are actually handmade Easter Eggs. . .elliptical spheres constructed from a vintage quilt.  Well now I've complicated things further. . .I've added mathematical terminology to the description. . .why can't I just call these Easter Eggs? 

To me they are handmade Easter eggs. . .ready for display in your cottage home or primitive home/cabin.  A cutter quilt (I have many) was cut and pieced together to form 7 shabby chic Easter Eggs. 

Stop by my Etsy shop to see more Easter goodies!

all day singing. . .

and dinner on the ground. . .
an old Southern saying depicting life at the turn of the century (yes 1900!) People would come from miles around to the church to hear the "singing" then go outside and open up their boxes of lunch (yes there were "box lunches")--almost always fried chicken!  Even in the 1990's when Mama saw a country church yard full of vehicles after 12 noon, she would utter this same phrase.
So when I arranged these primitive chairs for the photo, I immediately thought of Mama and her saying.  No there wasn't a singing or dinner on the ground and not even fried chicken, but Mama was in my thoughts today when I put the chairs in the yard. 

Spring Cleaning. . .

Hand stamped flour sack towels--ready for spring cleaning or kitchen duty.  French Country kitchen decor or use as an extra large napkin for picnics.  Available in 3 styles: 
Cook & Clean, Cook, Clean & Dry, and Basil, Sage & Thyme.

Burlap Market Tote for Spring

Reversible burlap  market bag. . floral drapery fabric interior. . .perfect for those quick trips to the market. . .eco friendly natural burlap.  Tote bag is available in my etsy shop.

too cute to hide. . .

handmade Easter eggs hand pieced from a vintage quilt. . .perfect in an Easter basket or in a silver bowl. . .great centerpiece for the farmhouse or cottage.  A collection of seven handmade eggs are available in my etsy shop. 

Country White. . .

"old school" study desk. . .perfect for the farmhouse or in a collage apartment.  Originally the drawers were painted a bright yellow.  I sanded the desk and then dry brushed a creamy white over the entire desk leaving the yellow to peak through ever so slightly.

Sweet Spring Pillow. . .

cottage chic Spring pillow for the bedroom, sun room, or porch.  A wallpaper print fabric is accented with a sage green ruffle.  Pink roses add to the cottage appeal.  Pillow is stuffed and ready to grace your home.  If you have a particular color or style you are searching for please contact me; custom order are welcome.

I never said. . .

cooking in the South was low calorie!  The Purefoy Hotel, founded in the 1920's, sold in 1944, and razed in 1961, was touted as being one of the best restaurants in America!  True Southen Cooking at its best, served family style and on any day the menu would include at least 20  items.

This wonderful cookbook was offered on etsy, but sold before I could finish this article!

So for now, my readers will only get a "taste" of the Purefoy Hotel's wonderful (yet ever so calorie ladden) cusine!

Mrs. Purefoy's Appetizers

1/2 pound bacon

1/2 cup chopped green onions and tops

1/4 cup mayonnaise

24 buttered 2" toast rounds*

Fry bacon until crisp; drain and crumble.  Combine crumbled bacon, chopped green onions, and mayonnaise; blkend.  Spread a teaspoonful of mixture on each toast round.  Heat in a 300 degree oven until hot and bubbly.  Serve immediately.  Yield:  about 2 dozen appetizers.

*For those of you who don't know--a buttered toast round is made by taking a slice of white (yes white) bread and, using a round cookie cutter or biscuit cutter, cutting a 2" round from the center of the bread slice.  Butter may be applied now and then the rounds toasted in the oven or you may toast the rounds plain and then spread lightly with butter.

Like I said. . .Southern cooking is definitely not Low Calorie!

Initially yours. . .

monogrammed napkins are available with your choice of initial.  A 20" square of osnaberg has been hand stamped with one initial.  The osnaberg lends a rustic appeal to your dining table. . .a French Farmhouse style for your home.  Different quantities and sizes are available; please contact me with your special request.

It's Official

I have successfully completed my first drapery order!  The burlap drapes have been made and are ready to ship!  Three long panels and two shorter curtains are traveling to New York. . .I hope you love them Diana!   Custom orders are available please feel free to contact me with your request.

Surprise me. . .

Ok I admit it. . .I love gifts, especially surprises!  So I suppose (deep down) I wish someone would fill an Easter Basket  with goodies for me.  Since this is not going to happen (unless the Easter Bunny is "real"), I suppose this basket is waiting for someone else. 

 Small size tote bag/basket is ready for gift giving--just add Easter Straw and wonderful gifts!

Here's the hippie again. . .

One day a dear friend handed me these "shreds" of fabric and said "I'm certain you will put this to good use."  Immediately I thought "garbage can" but when I examined the shreds further I realized they were the remains of an old hippie vest from the 1960's.  The vest originally had 2 crewl owl appliques and I could see "pillow" using the owls.

The first pillow sold immediately at the antique shop to a Chi Omega Sorority girl--owls are the mascot of the Chi O's and those girls are crazy over owls!  I decided to offer the last pillow on etsy.  The owl applique was carefully cut from the old vest and then stitch on a vintage style toile fabric.  The pillow is ready now to decorate your loft apartment, rustic cabin or your home.

Spring trio. . .

Johnathan Adler style throw pillows. . .yellow, brown, black, gray and white. . .perfect for the sofa or use on a covered porch or balcony. . .modern beach colors.  Pillow covers fit an 18" or 20" pillow form and have a deep envelope closure on the back.

the hippie in me. . .

is coming out. . .This vintage afghan looked way too inviting  (and funky) when I discovered it.   My family just shakes their heads (collectively) when I bring home something random.  But you see I knew it would make the perfect photo. . .a photo to catch the buyer's eye. . .maybe an Anthro stylist (I can dream can't I?).  Regardless, the "granny square" afghan (or throw as we label then now) is ready to go home with a lucky person. . .sorry I can't supply the fence, field and trees to make a purchase complete.