Inspiration Friday

....................there was time to sleep, long lovely hours of night snuggled in a comfy bed, enveloped in a puffy duvet, lavender water scenting my pillow. However, somewhere along the way my bed time has become shorter and shorter because there is always so much to do and sleep seems at the bottom of the list! I know this is not a good thing so I plan to try to get more sleep, Now if only DH would stop snoring.............
These are some beautiful beds from French Country magazine.



So that's all for now........a little inspiration goes a long way.........I'm off to my bed right now as it's already Friday.

Inspiration Friday

I'm trying to keep up but the days are fleeting fast. For inspiration this week I'm sharing some pics of containers around the cottage - starting with this beautiful painting of a French pot. I love how this shot turned out with the writing from the background transferring to the reflection of my kitchen window blinds! Funny how a fluke can really inspire one - I now know I must work more diligently on becoming more creative in my photography efforts.

One of a pair of cast iron urns atop my pine armoire - love the rusty coloring and the shape.
A decorated wood shelf holding one of my decoupaged pots - with writing again, of course! One day I plan to get back to decorating my waiting stack of terra cotta pots.
Bought this pretty rusted iron basket and have never known what to put in it so leave it empty and just enjoy the design and color.
Found this charming beaded bowl last year on a Homegoods clearance shelf - holds different items at different times - decorative balls at Christmas, Easter eggs, fruit, mail, my car keys!! This bowl evokes that Bohemian look I like to mix with cottage items - what my decorating friends call "Elegant Shabby Cottage" - that's an oxymoron.
Hope your holiday weekend is wonderful - stay safe, especially if traveling, don't get burned at the beach and, like it or not, hot Summer weather is here - well in the South it is and we desperately need some rain.

Bringing the Garden Inside

I probably won't have time to do the usual Inspiration Friday this week as I'll be gallivanting with my friends from San Francisco. So here are a few pretty "outside in" shots for Thursday. I love doing this kind of decorating, bringing garden items into the house - mine include old iron urns, stone balls, bits of old porch posts with peeling paint, bird houses, and of course my blue shutters and lots of fresh flowers. I've recently seen some of these old vintage green glass jars - with the tin lids - think I may get a few in different sizes.

Urn with woven balls on my dining room tableA favorite bird house - too tall for a shelf so sits on the floor.These iron urns are a perfect fit on the pine armoire - dried hydrangeas from last year's garden. I wallpapered the interior of the armoire some years ago. Postcards on door are watercolors of coastal scenes in Devon, England, my home - I enjoy glancing at them several times a day!
By next Monday I will be looking for a comfy chair like this to take a little break perhaps. Not for long though as we have more friends coming to stay for Memorial Day weekend!

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Inspiration Friday ~ Sit awhile

Now the bright Morning star, day's harbinger,

Comes dancing from the East, and brings with her

The flowery May; who from her green lap throws

The yellow cowslip and the pale primrose

Hail! flowery May that dost inspire

Mirth and youth and warm desire.

Woods and groves are of thy dressing

Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing

Thus we salute thee with our early song

and welcome thee and wish thee long.

John Milton ~ MAY SONG ~

Hope these pictures will remind you to sit and relax in a favorite spot this first weekend in May. A pot of tea, or a tall glass of cool lemonade, perhaps a pretty decorated cupcake or something chocolatey - of course a good read, your current novel, a decorating book full of inspiration for that next project, or that new magazine which arrived in the mailbox this week.

ENJOY!