Presenting - My Secretary

I've discovered that my newly acquired secretary traveled all the way to North Carolina from Staten Island, New York. After buying her and showing her off on my blog, the gals at SuzAnna's Antiques heard from a gentleman who informed them that the secretary had belonged to his wife's Uncle Neil, and that she will be pleased it found a good home down South - how sweet is that?

So far I've done nothing to change her painted finish. English brother in Southwest France, who has a new second career painting furniture in his village, thinks perhaps I need to "shabby 'er up a bit more Sis". While I ponder reaching for a sanding block, and wait for dh to heal his very painful back strain from lugging her up the stairs, she remains elegantly in place in all her loveliness.

I'm really pleased with the way the padded pin boards for the doors came out. It was an easy no sew project. I cut foamcore board to fit and covered with quilt batting using a heavy duty stapler. Then did the same with the toile fabric, using a different scene for each door to make it more interesting. Crisscrossed the grosgrain ribbon, stapling in back and used bronze upholstery tacks on the front. Attached finished panels to the doors with Velcro tape, dh's great idea as we didn't want to pound nails! I lined the three lower drawers with pretty scented paper.

This is one of my painted and decoupaged boxes utilized as a bookend. I made several on returning from Tuscany. I had lots of wonderful souvenir paper ephemera I wanted to display to remind me of my ten most fabulous days ever!

Florentine portfolio ~ French jars from Michael's, I added dried lavender ~ magnifying glass with silver handle.

The drop down desk is so sturdy - arms automatically come out to support the writing table and it is perfectly level. The little cubbies are home to my many writing papers, envelopes and blank journals, purchased usually when traveling ~ beautiful ones from Florence, Paris and England. I have always enjoyed writing and receiving handwritten letters and notes. The first 30-something years I lived in the USA I wrote home to my Mother in England at least once a week. She in turn wrote to me and I still have many of her letters packed away in a pretty box. In the '60's and '70's a 3 minute phone call across the pond cost $25! We didn't call much until the later years when international long distance became much cheaper.

This sweet piece of handpainted Japanese china with a bluebird was my maternal Grandmother's hatpin container. I have such vivid childhood memories of it standing on her dressing table. It makes a perfect pen holder.

The encre (ink), pen, sealing wax and fleur-de-lys seal came as a set in a J. Herbin box from France. This company has been producing inks and wax since 1670!

I'm sure you can tell I'm pleased with my secretary. I think she really adds a bit of pizazz to this room. The makeover is still in progress ~ more to come later.

Van Gogh Colors

No, I haven't returned to the South of France. But today I was surrounded by saturated color......and shutters!!

Arles, Provence - June 2006

Below is the shutter color/effect in the picture of the inspiration room for my guest room makeover. Although I like the neutrals it really needs a punch of color to warm it up a little. Today, despite strong gusts of wind, it was quite warm and sunny so I ventured into the side garden, my best painting spot. This time I was armed with my three cans of paint and all the other paraphenalia one needs for a project. These wooden shutters are from SuzAnna's Antiques in Raleigh - a matching pair to the ones in my master bedroom - those I left blue-grey and are perfect in that room.

Below, shutter metamorphosis, from blue-grey.......
.............to Belle Grove Brass...........
.............to La Fonda Teal.............
..................to Pine Forest dry brushed on leaving the other two colors showing through in spots.

Yes, I know what you're saying, the color doesn't look the same! Actually they are quite close when the painted shutters are moved into the shade, however I think I'll take the last color back and ask them to darken it just a bit and give one more dry brush coat in areas where the shutter would be worn. I really like working with these Valspar paints from Lowe's. A final sanding of the edges and raised areas to expose a little more gold and they should be ready to hang. The iron shutter dogs are showing their age but I like that and don't plan to change them. I painted some picture frames while outside - they'll have their debut later. I've also completed the secretary makeover - I think it looks great and will share in the next post.

Before leaving I'm sharing more daffodils from the garden as many of you are still snowed in and I think you'll enjoy these colorful blooms.

Ice Follies
King Alfred

Spring Blooms & Gifts

Today was full of pretty surprises. Walking into the back garden I was able to pick daffodils to bring into the house. They were hiding around bends and in corners by the fence, bright yellow King Alfred and creamy Ice Follies. I planted more daffodils than tulips in late Autumn. Usually I do the reverse, planting up huge pots of tulips, my favorite flower. Knowing that we would be on strict water restrictions all Winter, there was concern that, without rain, we wouldn't be able to water quick drying pots. So I planted daffodils in the ground wherever I could find soft earth..................and here they are, brightening up this wind chilled February day. We are now under a complete outdoor watering ban. This means garden centers and landscape companies are letting employees go, some will have to close down their businesses, Spring planting will be negligible in our area. Nature is beautiful but cruel at times.

No, not late with my Valentine post. In fact, lucky me is celebrating another day of love and kindness! Several weeks ago I was so fortunate to win a wonderful Valentine giveaway from Lynda at Hedgerow Hollow. Do visit Lynda at her lovely blog. The deep snows of Ontario, Canada prevented Lynda from blazing a trail to her post office early on, and then the mail delivery was very slow. No matter, the anticipation was part of the fun and here today, waiting in the mailbox, were these lovely gifts. A delightful book, VICTORIAN SWEETS introduced as follows ~

The last dish of a good dinner should be light and elegant, and convey the greatest amount of pleasure to the taste, with the least possible nourishment.

The illustrations are adorable and the delicious recipes include such offerings as ~ Citron Heart Cakes ~ Deliciose (Victorian Brownies) ~ Transparent Pie (Lemony Custard) ~ and many of my personal favorites which include ginger, such as ~Soft Ginger Cake ~ Fairy Gingerbread ~ Hard Gingerbread.

Lynda - I'll be busy in the kitchen trying out these!

Lynda made me a sweet floral heart trimmed with lace and ribbon ~ this will make a great pincushion. I can see she's 'tag gal' just like me ~ hers are gorgeous! The heart and cameo buttons are lovely, I know I'll use them in an art project, along with the pretty Susan Branch 'love' stickers. All these gifts were accompanied by Lynda's handmade card. Thank you so much for these generous presents ~ I'm thrilled with everything.

Anniversary Giveaway!

Today, while stopping to look for Spring..................it's out there, hiding under dry oak leaves, small bulbs pushing slowly and gently, readying themselves to shoot through the earth............I suddenly remembered that February 27 is not far off!

Where has the time gone? Almost an entire year has passed by while I've been busy blogging! I've made so many new and wonderful friends around the world. I'm grateful for all the comments left, personal stories shared, decorating and art tutorials generously given...........and the pleasure of just getting to know you, wherever you may live.

**** Time for a Giveaway ****

To celebrate this past year and the start of another, I am sharing some gifts with you.

A copy of Rachel Ashwell's beautiful book Shabby Chic. Full of wonderful photos of her home in California, flea market hunting, her decorating projects, and the story of how she built her successful business, anyone who loves to decorate their home using flea market finds and turning them into elegant painted treasures will love this book.

The cover of a lovely journal will inspire you to dream of Tuscany and perhaps plan a trip to Italy ~ you will love it there. Along with these books will be a folder crammed with Italian writing papers, scrapbooking odds and ends, elegant cards of John William Waterhouse romantic paintings.......and perhaps some extra surprises if I can squeeze them into the mailing box!

To enter the drawing for the gift package please leave a comment on this post only. I will draw the winner the evening of February 27, my anniversary date.

Again, thank you for stopping by ~ it really is such a pleasure knowing you, and Good Luck, anyone can be the winner here!

Dreaming around the Color Wheel

Remember my great love for old shutters since visiting my family's fabulous home in the South of France? This love, which really started when in Tuscany several years before, filled my dreams and caused me to hang shutters in my master bedroom when redecorating a year or so ago. When I wake in the morning and see those shutters through my sleepy, squinty eyes, the day takes on a new meaning as I first have memories of village life, roosters crowing; vignerons starting up their noisy tractors as they head to their vineyards; my family far away bustling around the house, their footsteps echoing on the tiled floors; mouthwatering cappucino and croissant smells wafting up the stairs. Yesterday, after cleaning off the pair of shutters hanging out patiently all Winter in my potting shed, I called French (well of course he's really English) brother to wish him a happy Valentine's Day. Talk about serendipity - HE was actually in the middle of painting his well over 100 year old exterior shutters also! So, my next painting project will begin any day now - I'm ready, willing and armed!

My brother's ancient shutters in France.

I love this room, sophisticated European with rustic touches ~ it has become the inspiration for my current decorating project as many of you know. In the first picture I showed you a few weeks back, I didn't let you get a peek at the shutter! This is how I plan to paint a pair of old exterior slatted wood shutters ~ rescued from SuzAnna's Antiques of course ~ to hang inside at the one window in the room!

This guest room makeover is coming along slowly. I'm not rushing because I'm having so much fun digging and delving for treasure to complete the look and feel I want. The background is bright and clean with new ceiling and walls, and less stained woodwork, but a little cold looking, so I'm now bringing in some colors to make it cozy and comfortable.

Below is the color palette I'm working with. The three chips bottom right are the paint colors I've bought to use on the shutters - Belle Grove Brass for the base, La Fonda Teal and Pine Forest (med. and dark shades next to each other on the chip card on the left) all Valspar. Is this brave or what? I'm hoping it will work - using these colors in a rustic way and sanding down to expose the brass shade in places to give an aged feeling. As no direct sunlight will shine on the shutters I'm thinking this bold color will not be too overpowering. If it's not the way to go I'll be back at Lowe's choosing again - that's the glory of paint, you can always paint over!

My secretary is still on vacation! I'm just gathering bits and bobs to leave on her desk and shelves until the right look comes together, then I'll put her to work. The gold/cream toile fabric is going to line the inside of the doors ~ I plan to make padded inserts, perhaps crisscrossed with grosgrain ribbon and vintage nailheads to display special photos, postcards, notes, inspiration pictures etc.

This is the little chair I bought last year at Karen's gorgeous shop FETCH in Hillsborough, NC shown at the bottom of my sidebar. This will be perfect to use at the desk when writing my memoirs, ha! ha! The floral painting on the back has just a touch of the blue-green shutter color. The complementary color is 'geranium red' (looks darker on this color card) which is that old red of French tickings and kitchens linens. This is a piece of red/cream ticking I found to make a seat pad. Just a touch of this color will bring in more warmth. This linen pillowcase was packaging for a European sham from Anthropologie ~ sewn on embroidered labels, and the pearl buttons, made it too precious to discard and with a pillow insert added it's now recycled ~ way to go!

........and lastly, pretty storage boxes found at Homegoods ~ for the top of the armoire ~ the right old red color.
Wishing you a fabulous weekend. For those of you able to fling open your shutters and windows to let the almost Spring breezes in while painting, enjoy! The rest of you who will snuggle up while snowflakes still fall, your time will come!

~~~ St. Valentine's Day ~~~

May all the love you give away be returned to you today.

Wishing each of you a lovely day.......with roses, chocolate, and loving hearts surrounding you.

A Personal Secretary

Last Thursday I took a break and popped over to see my favorite gals at SuzAnna's Antiques - you can see owners Susie and Anna at the bottom of my sidebar. One of superwoman Anna's talents is the weekly newsletter which is informative regarding new merchandise, and hilarious as she writes so well. The big news........other than the new 'secretary'.........was that the shop is expanding in size and will be even more fabulous in a couple of months with space for much more wonderful stuff, yeah!!

.........................well back to the secretary, not a modern adminstrative assistant, a good old fashioned secretary which somebody shabbied up a bit and left at SuzAnna's in hopes she would be given a job...........I mean home!

Can you believe many decorating ladies came from near and far to look and perhaps buy this piece over the weekend - they read Anna's glowing description in the newsletter ~ "one of the prettiest pieces we've ever had in the shop". But guess what..................as I was there Thursday I got to buy it and on Sunday afternoon Susie's fabulous dh brought it to my house and helped my great dh get it up the stairs into the newly painted guest room.

Here she is in the shop.

This is the lovely Linda showing me the attributes of the secretary. I've always wanted a pretty desk to sit at, and cubbies like these to store my writing papers, journals etc. Three drawers and three shelves for lots of display and storage.

I must also tell you that Linda, who works diligently setting up displays, organizing and tempting us to buy SuzAnna's treasures, is also a designer and organizer who goes to homes and helps anyone who is challenged when it comes to those difficult choices such as picking paint colors, placing their furniture, and getting rid of all that unwanted stuff.

......................and am I lucky.........in the Valentine game at SuzAnna's I was picked as one of the winners...............and my prize is one hour of the lovely Linda's precious time. She will come to my house and help me with anything I want..............what a great gift ~ I know we'll have fun together.

Just a quick peek below at the secretary now in her new position......at my house. I'll show you more later when she has had time to get used to her new surroundings ~ I plan a busy and decorated life for her.