2012 in Review

Hello Friends!

After seeing a segment on Good Morning America recapping 2012, I thought it might be fun to do the same here.  It's been a year of transformation and discovering new *old* things.

January saw the installation of an antique mantel our living room, putting up our monogram in the foyer, and my term as a card designer for A Day For Daisies ended.  Lessons learned:  Craigslist rules, I love the character something old brings to bland beige rooms, and when one chapter ends, another begins.  (oh, and  Dan and I work great together as long as our tasks are different :)

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

February and March were busy, happy, and exciting months thanks to Rhonda's wedding.  We also added a new fur baby to our family, Sushi the cat.  Lessons learned:  Friends are a treasure and being asked to share in their life's events is truly a blessing and honor.  Two cats are just as much work as one.  

From left:  Rhonda, me, Savannah (Groom's granddaughter) & Allison (Rhonda's Niece)
Bride, Matron of Honor, Flower girl, Bridesmaid

Here's the spread!  Allison and Jenna (far right) are busy discussing the pros and cons of  whether or not to add the feta dip and by unanimous decision, YES, we added it :)   The banner just says "Congratulations".

The bride's mom (in the brown chair), sister-in-law, and family friend.  We are awaiting the arrival of the other guests.

Vanilla butter cream cake with handmade cherry blossoms (Thank you Sweet Edibles from Etsy! )

Such a beautiful ceremony!  From left - Allison, me, Rhonda, Steve, Peter (Rhonda's oldest brother and Steve's best friend) and Steven (Rhonda's youngest brother)

And last but not least, our new fur baby:

April and May were full of thrifting!  Lessons learned:  People discard some AWESOME stuff!  Richmond is full of great thrifts and milk glass soothes the disappointment of NOT winning Mega Millions (ha ha!).

Burberry cashmere scarf

Federal Glass Moon Glow dinnerware and paneled sherbets

lovely milky goodness

By June, I had begun coaxing Rhonda into thrifting and she totally had my back, just like a bff would, when she spied these for me:

I thrifted my first piece of antique glassware:

We painted and decorated the home office/study (= Stoffice?):

and darling Savannah turned 3!!:

Lessons learned:  Thrifting is fun and it's double the fun with your bff --as long as your tastes are different or it could get ugly - LOL!  Antique glass is the bee's knees.  Dan should pick more of the house paint colors because the color in the Stoffice is lovely (Glidden Dusty Miller) and nothing is better than seeing the face of a soon-to-be 3 yr. old light up at the sight of Minnie Mouse.

July, August and September led me to some awesome finds and DIYs for our Master Bedroom makeover.  There's nothing posted for September but that's the crazy busy month at work AND the month I got food poisoning.  Lessons learned:  DIYs are totally gratifying, vintage vinyl tufted chairs rock --umm, literally, mine rocks plus it's totally cool and TRUST NO ONE (well, except yourself or your mom) when it comes to preparing food.  I still have no idea where or from what I got sick but it was remarkably horrible.  By the grace of God I didn't end up in the hospital and for that I am grateful, and that which doesn't kill us, or even turn us inside out, makes us stronger...and uber-paranoid about eating stuff.  If I were to find another positive of being that sick it would be that I spent so much time in the bathroom that it gave me a new perspective of our master bathroom layout and thus, aided me in kicking off a much-needed makeover of that space as well!  *giggle*.  Let's hope that makeover will be something I can share with you in early 2013.

BEFORE

AFTER

October brought improved health (but I still came down with an upper respiratory infection 1 week after returning to work after the food poisoning episode - gahh!) so I was able to get pictures of the bedroom posted.  I made over another one of my thrifty finds and found another treasured piece of antique glass.  And last but not least, I found a Swedish Mora (repro) clock.  Lessons learned:  A chandelier in the bedroom is wayyy romantic, cool thrift finds make super-cool OOAK decorations, finding antique glass in the wild is a total rush and there's a time to thrift and a time to pay retail ;)

Bryce & Higbee teardrop pattern

I started a new job in November which was a blessing from God.  It was a very smooth transition from my former position.  It was a lateral move but it allows me to work directly with customers and help them to maneuver through required processes, etc.  It is a better fit for me and am looking forward to making the most of it.  November also marked a year that my daughter changed her life around.  She is sober, healthy, and back in college to finish her degree (which will take less than a year).  This is huge. Watching her step out in front of  that oncoming train and not listening to our warnings is one of the most frustrating and helpless experiences I have tried to endure.  I couldn't so I laid it down and asked God and He heard me.  He intervened.  This deserves a post all in its own.   For now, I want to acknowledge and testify to it.  I believe and it changes everything.  So, November was all about family.  Lessons learned:  God is in, and has, complete control over everything.  Amen.

Which brings me to December.  Dan spent a good portion of it in California with his parents as his dad had surgery (colon cancer); thank God the surgery was a success.  I stayed home (new job and all) and took care of things here.  Prior to Dan's trip, we did get a local thrift trip in and I found a prize (to me) piece of antique glass and enjoyed decorating the house for Christmas.   Lessons learned:  I still have a lot to learn.  

WHEW!  So that's 2012.  Thank you to all of you who've hung in there with me and to those of you who joined me this year.  Here's to the New Year and I wish you love, happiness, health and wealth --all in generous amounts!

Welcome 2013!

O Holy Night

Hello Everyone.  I just wanted to pop in with a mini-share of something I found that I think is so great!

A few weeks ago, Dan and I had gone to Richmond for a Christmas shopping trip (which of course included hitting our favorite thrifts :) and I was elated to find this:

It is an Indiana Glass compote in the Bethlehem Star pattern #152 (1910-1920) at SALVO for $1.25.  I have been wanting a piece of this pattern and I couldn't be happier!   It's not very tall, and kinda small, and it has a tiny crack *but* it is simply perfect for hosting a flameless tea light so that a star in the sky can shine brightly over a tiny baby in a manger:

Merry Christmas Everyone!

In Memoriam

Matthew 19:14

¹⁴ but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

My heart goes out to the families and victims of the shooting in Connecticut.  Sending up prayers... 

Christmas Mantel 2012

Hello Everyone! Oh boy, have I seen some gorgeous Christmas decorations this season.  Totally inspiring and I have been trying to get things done so I could join in some of the share parties :). Our family room is finally done but am still tweaking the decorations on the antique mantel in the living room.  But since I want to get in on the party fun, I can at least share the decorations that are finished :)  I incorporated some thrift finds too!  So, here is the family room:

Thrifted decorations are as follows:  beautiful Ponderosa pinecone garland on the mantel (complete with pine cones!), mirror, metal snowflake, birch logs and claw-foot holder, and the set of clear glass candle holders in the middle of the mantel holding the green ornaments.  The tall "bubble" candlesticks came from Ross and the glass ones on each end of the mantel came from Kohl's a couple years ago.  Hobby Lobby had a kick butt sale on Christmas stuff too so I bought the three silver ornament holders and snowflake ornaments.

The slim 9ft prelit Christmas tree came from WalMart -- it was the only thing we went out for on black Friday.  Good ol' Wally world came through with an awesome deal - $158.

The candles are flameless and can be turned on/off with a REMOTE --what!?  Yup, flameless remote-control candles!  TARGET has this nifty set and at an affordable price (Grandin Road has some too but they are outside my price range!).

Knit stockings!  With monograms :)  Awesome.  Pottery Barn has knit stockings this season but at $39.50 each plus $7 for monogramming, Target's version is perfect for $13.  *LOVE* them.  Look at that texture...

Here's a closer look at the thrifted mirror.  This is another one of those finds that without any idea where it would be used, I couldn't leave it behind.  It was the silver and gold frame :) It came from GW ($3) and the glittered metal snowflake came from the GW outlet:

The ceramic reindeer came from Michael's last year.  The bucket is from last year too but I added the lighted winterberry branches (Target also) this year.

The sleigh on the coffee table was a GW outlet find.  The cast iron reindeer is old and broken but I adore it.  He looks at home teamed up with the metal sleigh, which is holding a haul of the ornaments I decorated with this year.

And one more really fun thrift find at the outlet --the "Mr. Christmas" carousel under the tree:

It's so cute!  There is one little light out above the black stallion (I think it can be fixed); other than that, it works great!  It plays over 20 Christmas songs and each little carousel animal moves up and down and the lights flash to the music.  It's from the early 90s.  At 59 cents a pound, this didn't cost more than $2.
 Here, you can watch it work:

I'm linking up!

Cap Creations, Thrifty Love
The Lettered Cottage, Christmas Mantel Decorations
Kathe With An E, Your Gonna Love it Tuesday
From My Front Porch to Yours, Second Annual Holiday Mantel Party
Elizabeth & Co, Be Inspired Features and Linky Party

Have a great week!

Thankful Indeed

Hello Everyone!  I hope your Thanksgiving was lovely and if you were out shopping on Black Friday Shopping, I hope you got some awesome deals.  Our holiday was really nice.  Jenna and I cooked together and had such a good time.   She is dating a really sweet guy, Beau, and he joined us for our traditional T-day breakfast and to watch the Macy's Parade.  We ate dinner together as well and everything went well except for the Sweet Potato Souffle.  It didn't set like it should have :(  It still tasted good, it just wasn't pretty - LOL.  Then, on Friday, Dan and I went out to get one special thing:  a 9ft Christmas tree (for $158!).  Once we got it home, I was a bit antsy to get started on the Christmas decorating.  Yes, the Christmas season has commenced in the Jackson household but, as usual, the time zone is quite behind in the Land of Encraftment so there's still time to share my Thanksgiving decorations.  (yup, my own little world....)

I used a lot of thrifted items and it is thrilling to see things come together and for such a small amount of money.  I started with the foyer:

The small pumpkin, beaded grapes and porcelain quail came from GW outlet.  I bought the painting ($3) at the retail GW and the vintage amber glass lamp ($12) came from Two Times New.  I bought the silk leaves at Michael's after Halloween for 80% off so it feels like it was thrifted :).  The "32" is our house number and I bought them at Hobby Lobby last season.  If you look in the mirror (bottom square) you can see the wreath on the front door - cool! :)

Next, I decorated the family room mantel:

There are a number of thrifted things here too -- two cut glass hurricanes, Murano vintage amber glass candle holders, vintage green Napco vase, silver mercury glass candlestick, the two large birch logs, firewood holder, and the basket with the fall arrangement.  The galvanized bucket is hosting a string of lighted fall leaves --also thrifted--and LED branches from Target also.  I bought the birch branches from Michaels last year.  My favorite thing here is the metal "FAMILY" from Hobby Lobby.  It was the cherry on the top of a lovely Thanksgiving :)

I set the dining table with vintage glass:

The centerpiece, vintage Indiana Glass diamond point green and amber goblets were thrifted as were the amber glass butter dish (which served cranberries for the big meal) and the large amber compote.  I bought the tablecloth at Kohl's last year.  My plates came from antique stores --with the exception of the Myott turkey plates which came ebay.  Here is a closer look at the plates:

I used candlewick salad plates (*love*), Queen's Myott Thanksgiving Turkey plates, and Federal Glass Patrician  (1933-1937) which I used as a charger.

The silverware is International Silver Rogers Bros., "Louvain" pattern (1918 silverplate).  I thrifted my first few pieces (from Class and Trash) and have added to it by finding pieces on ebay and antique stores.  The napkin rings are clear glass (Pyrex).  The pretty little metal leaf picks came from Hobby Lobby - 80% off :)  Here is the table all decked out:

Here is a closer look at the buffet:

The buffet was a Craigslist find for $125.  The picture frames, little shelf, candles, and tiny plate were thrift finds.  I framed an International Silver ad from 1920 advertising the pattern I collect.  I don't know what to put in the other

and just because I'm sappy and sentimental, here is my dining room last year:

And here it is now:

I'm linking up!

From My Porch To Yours, Treasure Hunt Thursday
Kathy with an E, You're Gonna Love it Tuesday

Have a great week!