The Alligator Box

A tassel's worth the hassle!

2012-01-22T15:35:00.000-06:00

I love blogland! So many beautiful homes, so many creative projects, so many great journeys to take without leaving the comfort of my living room. However... my FAVORITE thing about blogland would have to be the gracious bloggers who share their ideas and encourage the rest of us to try new things. One of those people is Lyndsey Ballard at Living with Lyndsey!

Look at her beautiful work in one of two posts she has on tassels.
Thanks Lyndsey! So... here are my first attempts. Not as professionally executed as Lyndsey's but I like them.

First up... Mary Englebreit's "Life... Get one!" I love Mary Englebreit's work and had this little figurine. I glued some wood pieces together and painted them for her base. The tassel is just a combination of random ribbon I had on hand.

Next up... Browns and Blues...

I'm working on a few more. It's addicting! Tassels are a great way to add a little color and texture to a space. I hang them on lamps, furniture knobs, bedposts.... just about anywhere I need a little extra!

A little funny...I was looking for a clever title to this post and saw an article titled "Do tassels and motherhood mix?" I'm thinking that they are referring to a different type tassel! As the mom of two burly college boys, this type tassel is probably much more likely to mix with motherhood in my world!

Have a great week ladies (and gents!) I'm glad you stopped in!
Lori

I can TUFT!!!! Ugly stool becomes a charmer!

2012-01-11T20:35:00.004-06:00

SOOO excited! I just finished my first tufting project. Isn't it cute???

Check out the before ! Can we all agree that this was an ugly little stool?? And it was a dirty little thing too!

Check out the AFTER version. Love this little thing! And you can lift up the cushioned seat for a little storage.

This picture was made in my driveway just before I loaded it up to go to Then & Again Home Marketplace. It will find a good home there! Bye bye little bench!

Thanks for stopping by. I've got lots going on and will try to share when I have a chance. Stay tuned for photos from an upcoming class I'm teaching... The ugly frame challenge. Such cute ideas for those ugly frames we have laying around or find a thrift stores and other places.

I'm linking to:

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Tuesday's Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
SYS Party and Somewhat Simple
Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage

2012 is going to be a great year! To God be the glory!

Hugs to all!

Lori

Does staging make a difference? See for yourself!

2012-01-02T22:28:00.007-06:00

I recently staged a home north of Nashville. The video is now on YouTube and I thought I'd share it. After the video, take a look at the pictures of the home before I started. Will staging help? I'd love to know your thoughts!

If you have trouble loading, try this link...
Click Here

OK... here are the before photos.

The living room... the worn carpet was making a terrible first impression. The new hardwood floors are gorgeous! We also added some furniture, removed some things but mainly tried to keep that view the focus.

The Dining area needed some life. We removed the rug, set the table and added art. Ideally, there should be a chandelier above the table rather than recessed lighting.

The kitchen was a little cluttered with rugs and things so we had the homeowner pare things down to the bare minimum. Everything is still a bit white and plain but the homeowner will be painting the walls soon and that will add a little more life.

The first bedroom was quite cluttered. We pared down the items and placed the bed in the corner with a simple night stand.

If you need shelves, adding the fabric box type containers (as in the after video) make a huge difference!

The hall bath flooring was very dated so we encouraged the owner to update with tile. Much better! We also added some color and coordinated art, shower curtain, etc.

The master bedroom didn't have a luxurious feel and the focal point should be the view from the window. We switched the bed location, removed some of the items on the wall and added a little lux!

The master bath needed flooring updates too and to have a more spa-like feel. The video shows the "after" with calming gray-blues and browns.

Of course... the dirty laundry had to go!

The basement. Plants are great. No...healthy plants are great. It's better to put them in groupings rather than spreading them out.

By the time we staged, the sofa and many other pieces had been sold or moved out. The shoe rack and the shelving units remained and we moved to the garage. We used a few pieces to create a seating group around the fireplace and the owners card table for a game vignette.

The owner did a lot of work to clean up the patio area.

Well... now that you've seen the "before" photos - maybe you should watch the video over again? I think it's much more appealing. I'd love to see the curb appeal improved and add a few more touches but I believe the home will now hold more appeal for buyers. In this market, a home like this on 10 acres in a private setting could be hard to sell but the owner has a great agent and the price is very competitive. Someone will have a wonderful property!!

Thanks for stopping by!~

Lori

Goodwill Finds

2011-12-14T11:20:00.000-06:00

I'm trying to limit my Goodwill shopping sprees. I've got more "treasures" than I can manage but I couldn't resist this little ceramic scissors holder that hangs on the wall.

This piece was $1.49 less 20% so roughly $1.20.

I'm tempted to put this in my sewing room but I'll put it on Etsy. Lots of ladies will appreciate a unique item like this.

I also found this painted rocking horse. It has a music box that plays "Toyland."

Very cute. Don't ya think?

It was $2.99 less a discount of 30% so around $2.00 for this cute little guy! I'll need to put greenery around the base since the music box cover is missing. Still plays though!

I'm gearing up for an open house next Monday. I'll try to take pics and post them!

Thanks for stopping in! Be sure to say "hi" in the comments and let me know you were here. I love to keep up with everyone!

Lori

A transformation that took me back to 3rd grade.

2011-12-10T23:06:00.000-06:00

Remember those old school desks? I spotted this one in the local Habitat Restore. It was marked $19.99. I passed it by but saw it again right after Thanksgiving and they had a 25% off sale. I asked if they'd take $10 and they said yes!

It was already naturally distressed. It was also VERY nasty and even scrubbing with TSP didn't help so I sanded and painted it with Benjamin Moore's Swiss Coffee. I removed the seat and desktop, cleaned and re-finished them.

I left some of the old paint and distressed it slightly. It's a cutie!

I've got tons of projects that I've completed and hope to post more over the holidays! Stay tuned!

Happy Holidays!
Lori

Autumn Tablescape

2011-11-07T10:07:00.000-06:00

I'm excited about having my parents and aunt visit for Thanksgiving! I don't have much time today but wanted to post my Autumn table. My son says it's his favorite one that I've done.

Have a great day!

Lori

Finally... the monster table is complete...

2011-10-22T22:45:00.000-05:00

Maybe I shouldn't say "monster" in a title this close to Halloween. Perhaps "monsterous" would be a better choice. This thing was a real booger to get done. I found it at the Habitat ReStore. I had been needing dining tables and chairs for staging and this set was a more modern set than the others I have. Here's what it looked like before...

The beast! You can see the chairs in the background. They had a tan, dirty upholstery. Pretty blah.

Great detail! Simple and bold.

The finish was much rougher than I had thought. I got a workout sanding it!

And now.... the big reveal....

I really like this graphic fabric. It goes very well with the detail on the table.

Well that is about it. After hour months we'll finally have this piece out of the garage. A good thing since frost will be on the pumpkins soon! And I can pull my car in the garage!!

Don't you just love fall? Crackling fires, hot cider, crisp fall air....

Enjoy my blogland friends!

Lori

Garage Sale Winners!

2011-10-17T21:41:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you find nothing. And sometimes... sometimes ... you find something great. I always pick my best find and crown it the winner. The winner this week was a little rocker. We had stopped by an estate sale near our house and as we left, I saw the neighbor putting out some things

Small rocker with detailed painting.

It was while I was cleaning it that I noticed the markings on the back. L. Hitchcock, Hitchcock-wille, Conn. Warranted" With the "N"s backwards. I started searching!

I found this one.

This one is black and has been restored, but otherwise it's pretty much the same. This one is selling for $450 at www.usedhitchcockfurniture.com I paid $5.00 for mine!

OK... other finds....

VERY rusty patio tea cart - $5

Danish Modern Sewing Cabinet (no machine) $5
This photo is the back said. The front has a door and a cane insert. I think I'm going to girly this piece up. I'm not sure what it will look like so stay tuned.

A faux brass headboard with smashed in finials. $1

Transformed with brushed nickel spray paint and capping off with the parts that were in good shape.

Nothing fancy but I can use this in my staging work to give the appearance of a real bed when used with thick air mattresses.

I have several other goodies I've found to work on. I'll share those with you soon!

Make it a great day!

Lori

Treasure Hunting Tips

2011-10-10T22:42:00.000-05:00

Lucky? Bargain magnet? Nope! I just have learned when, where and how to find treasures. It's really easy. As with many things in life, it's a numbers game. Thrift stores, consignment shops, Craigslist, garage and estate sales are the typical places to find a bargain.

I'm always on the look-out for stained glass, old books, pottery and unusual items. I found this small stained glass lamp for $2.99.

Silverplate items are fairly easy to find. This is a tarnish free piece that I found for 99 cents at a local thrift shop.

The detail is great!

This little guy falls under the category of "fun finds." I haven't found another one like this online so far but those I've found (not as cute) are running $23 to $45+ I found this little guy for $1.49 less a 20% discount so $1.20.

I don't know that I can give him up. Precious little face!

A random chair that I found for $3.99. It's very sturdy and solidwood. I've got it primed and plan to paint it and make a cute cushion. Stay tuned for the "after" of this one.

I couldn't resist this little santa mug. It's an old one! Likely from 1920-1930. It was 99 cents.

So here are my initial tips...

Visit your local thrift shops often! You never know when the leftovers from a large estate sale will be making their appearance!
Shop on Mondays and Tuesdays when possible. Most donations are made over the weekend so the new merchandise is placed in the stores early in the week.
Look carefully! I bought what appeared to be a silverplate bread plate. It wasn't until I got home that I saw the "sterling" mark on the bottom. It's worth $170 to $250 and I paid 80 cents! I check marks more carefully these days!
If it looks interesting, go ahead and put it in your cart. It doesn't take long for other hunters to grab a good item and once it's in their cart, it can't go in yours!
If in doubt, buy it. Our Goodwill takes returns so if I decide to return an item I can.

Best wishes for successful treasure hunting!! Share your best with me!
Lori

Amazing Flower Market in Seattle

2011-10-03T08:29:00.000-05:00

My husband and I are in Washington State celebrating 11 wonderful years together and to join in the celebration of our nephew's wedding. I thought I'd share our trip with my blog friends. So day one... Pike's Place Market on the waterfront. Listed as a Seattle "must see."

We've learned that overcast skies and rain are the norm here. It doesn't stop massive crowds from making their way to the market and once you get there, you see why. The flowers, vegetables, and seafood markets are something to behold.

This is the beautiful bouquet Mike bought me. $10! What a deal! They are now beautifully displayed in our room at the bed and breakfast we're staying at. The lillies are starting to open now!

From my bouquet....

Aren't these beautiful? This is the one in my bouquet.

Imagine shopping here each day! I think I'd enjoy that!
Without the crowds, of course!

Believe it or not... there was not seafood smell! FRESH!
This is the famous market where they throw the fish but we didn't get to witness that event.

We paused for a light lunch at Athenian Inn overlooking the water. Shrimp Bisque with a hummus and pita appetizer. Everything was delicious.

We were able to watch the Bainbridge Island Ferry depart. We'll take that on Thursday as we cross Puget Sound to Port Gamble.

We are probably heading back during the week when the market is less crowded.

Stay tuned for our trip to Mt Ranier!

Lori

Decorating a Christmas Tree for Autumn

2011-09-17T21:07:00.005-05:00

A few years ago I saw a "Thanksgiving Tree" on "Rate My Space." It was beautiful and I thought it was a great idea. I love putting up our Christmas tree but it's a lot of work for such a short time. Fall is my favorite time of year so I decided to try an Autumn Tree. I thought I'd share what I did.

I started with some gold garland that I found at Hobby Lobby. It took 7 packages to do the whole tree.

Then I added autumn ribbon. It took more than I thought. I wish I had bought more!

I then added a few different autumn floral picks.

Sunflowers (Rust, Red and Yellow)

Glittery pumpkins

Bead berries

Metal acorn jingle bells!

Glittery copper leaves.

A fat little squirrel!

With the lights on! Love it.

I added a few golden leaves.

Some bead berries.

Here's how it looks at night. I'm ready for some mulled cider and pumpkin bread!

Daylight view

And a final touch...

A reminder to myself!
I have much to be thankful for this year!

Happy Fall Ya'll!!!
Lori

Linking to:

Savvy Southern Style
"Wow Us Wednesdays"

Multiple versions of one home's decor.

2011-08-31T22:45:00.000-05:00

I was blessed with the opportunity to meet a wonderful lady this week. She and her family moved to the area recently and she called me to assist her in decorating her new home. I researched the home online and found some interesting photos taken at varying points in time. It appears some were made while the former owners were in residence. Another set appears to be while the home was staged for sale.

This is the formal dining room. I would assume this to be the former owners items.

Here's the same dining room staged in a minimalistic style.

The living room vacant. Two story living rooms are always a challenge to decorate so I was eager to see what had been done in the past.

Here's the living room with the former owners furniture and accessories.

The same living room staged. Note the floors have been switched to hardwood. The upper level was not decorated.

The Sun Room off the kitchen with the former owner's items.

Another version of the sun room. Chocolate brown walls and very modern graphic draperies. AND new wood floors.

The Master Bedroom

The master bedroom staged.

I love home design! I love seeing spaces transformed into warm and welcoming spaces. Perhaps we'll be able to post an update of these rooms one day with the new homeowners style represented.

A Mid-Century Modern Discovery

2011-08-25T20:50:00.000-05:00

Long, long ago in a not so far away land I started college as an interior design student. One assignment was to study designers that made an impact on a particular period of architectural and design history. I picked Mies Van der Rohe and Frank Lloyd Wright, leaders in the Mid-Century modern movement. Mid-century modernism is defined by organic form, clean lines, simplicity and an integration with nature. Beautiful woods like teak and rosewood were used in designer pieces and well crafted pieces are now collector items.

I have an appreciation for all periods of design to some extent but my home choices tend to be more traditional. When I found four Mid-Century Modern dining chairs in a local thrift shop, Samaritan Center Thrift Shop. I didn't buy them but couldn't get them off my mind! I went back to my office and tried to look them up but couldn't find the exact chairs. Nonetheless... retro is in and these are classic! My sweet husband offered to run back to pick them up. Here's what they looked like when I got them home...

I can't begin to describe how much nasty I wiped off these! The wood is beautiful!

Here's the finished product....

I started to cover them in fur for a funky look but couldn't find a high quality faux fur. Just as well... This is a fun look too.

I'm not sure where these will end up but they've been fun to work on. Depending on how much they go for... I may start liking this style a little more!! :-)

Have a great weekend friends!

Lori

New Treasures and Creations!

2011-08-10T00:57:00.009-05:00

OK friends... I have not been under a rock. Just busy with my latest adventures, projects, treasure finds and more. Ready for to an update?

A while back I found 5 crystal bobeches in an antique shop in Watertown, TN for $2 each. I bought a light fixture recently that I thought I might dress up for my dining room. Unfortunately, I dropped one of the bobeches when I was adding the crystals so I can't use them for the light fixture! (sad face...)

I decided to use them on crystal candleholders. Beautiful!

A linen table runner

Do you know what this is?

I found it in a thrift store in the mountains.

It's got little snaps that you pull together to make it stand up.

Mom told me that it would be used for serving pastries. Very cool. Of course, I'd assume that with the first use, it would be stained. Right? Unless you are serving fat free pastry? And WHY would we want that?

I found this basket in Blowing Rock, NC and fell in love with it.

I found this welcome embroidery piece in a thrift shop. I think it is probably something mass produced because I've seen several of these. I like it anyway!

This is one of my recent paintings. Something a bit different but fun.

Not an idealistic setting for a photo but I had to show you my find today! I spotted four of these chairs at a thrift shop for $3.99 a piece. I knew they were Mid Century Modern but had no idea what they may be worth until I got back to my office and looked them up. Four that are very similar are selling for over $2400. My sweet husband ran back to the store and picked them up for me. I'm not sure what they are worth but I'm betting it's more the $16. We'll see!

I think they are teak. The finish is in fair condition. The seats have been recovered.

I love vintage linens and linens with handwork. I found this sheet today. It will look great turned down on a bed.

I couldn't resist this Chaps comforter. I found two silk pillows with trim that match perfectly.

I found this stained (but not stained?) glass piece at a thrift store for half price - a whopping $14 - about 6 months ago. I wasn't sure what I'd do with it but couldn't pass it up. It's engraved with the artist's name and dated 1983.

So... what do you think? My dear friend, Lydia, shared some quilting fabric with me and I decided that it was perfect for my stained glass scene!

I love the batik fabric and the vibrant colors.

Snow on the mountain top. With the temperatures in the 100's it was a nice thought!

I found this little (2-3" tall) crystal bud vase for $1 at Goodwill.

Wilton cream and sugar... $2

My latest painting. I can't decide if it needs more or not. I have a tendency to keep going until I ruin a good painting. It's a peaceful scene I think so I guess I'm leaving it as is. It's similar to my favorite painting I've done, Autumn Fire.

Autumn Fire

And finally... a photo I shot of a butterfly that was enjoying the flowers in the backyard while I was painting. God... the master artist!

There's even more I haven't shown you. I'll catch you up with more later! If anyone knows an expert in Mid Century Modern furniture, I'd love to find out more about the chairs!

OH... My youngest heads to college this Friday. I'm going to try not to embarrass him by having a total meltdown. Prayers are appreciated!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lori

Linking to the following blog parties....

A Cute 1950's Home Gets Staged to Sell!

2011-07-17T22:46:00.077-05:00

I was excited to stage this little 1950's home that in the great Inglewood Neighborhood of Nashville. It was vacant and needed some personality to compete with other homes. I'm eager to see the Realtor's final photos because the owners was implementing some of my recommendations including painting the front door and installing a more prominent light fixture in the dining room. Want to see some before and afters?

Let's start with the exterior...

The owner left a dining table and chairs but the dining room needed some color. I also recommended changing the light fixture to a fixture designed to hang over a dining table.

I added color by creating a tablescape using bright yellow and black with sunflower print napkins. I also added art and greenery.

The living room was a blank canvas.

The bathroom is a bit dated and very white. I suggested that the homeowner paint the cabinet black and switch the hardware. The wall heater was another negative that drew attention. I suggested that they try painting it white to blend in to the wall. You won't believe the transformation!

I love this makeover!

Another view. They did an awesome job on the cabinet.

The kitchen was a bit dark due to the red wall. I suggested either adding stronger lighting or paint the wall. I actually like the red wall so I'm glad they left it. It may not be universally appealing but the kitchen is a place where you don't have furniture that has to work with wall color.

Standard staging rule... no trashcan in sight. No one wants to buy your trash! :-)

I added a white shelf above the stove to break up the red wall and tie in the white cabinets.

A few cute accessories adds a little character. This worked but if I had been able to find a wall mount iron pot rack it would have been perfect!

A kitchen vignette. Lemon pound cake should have universal appeal - right? It sounded good to me and with a few lemons and other items... we're ready to bake!

The homeowner wanted to keep the cost of staging as low as possible so I did not include the 2nd bedroom in the staging plan. I ended up adding a few items in the room in the end to add a little something that may help buyers imagine a use for this space. I just finished renovating this little sewing cabinet. I'm eager to get this one back to use in my home.

Who can resist this little face? I've learned from personal experience that when a family with a child looks at a house and the child finds a room like this, they make up their little minds right then and there. "This is MY room!"

It reminds me of a sign I saw in a store the other day..."Unsupervised children will be given candy and a puppy." When a child loves something... just try taking it away or saying no. Life can become painful. I always tried to keep the upper hand when my boys were younger but I have met parents that would do anything to please their baby. Even buying a house! So why not take advantage of that situation?

I hope you enjoyed seeing inside this charming house. If you'd like more information on it, you can contact the Realtor, Candee Potter at ReMax Choice Properties.
Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week!

Lori

Mountain air made me brave!

2011-07-10T11:35:00.000-05:00

I'm still a rookie at painting and have never really tried watercolor so on our trip to the mountain house I took along my paints. I had fun! Watercolors are pretty cool!

Let's see... what to call my first mountain watercolor??? This is the view from Mom and Dad's porch (sort of!) so how about.... "View from the Porch"

"Sunflowers" I saw this picture in a magazine and decided to try it with watercolors. I'm not thrilled with it but decided to show you anyway!

My favorite painting is one I left with Mom and Dad as a thank you for our week. and I forgot to shoot a photo! Oh well... maybe some day I'll get a photo and post that one!

God. The master artist!

2011-07-05T08:14:00.001-05:00

We're enjoying a week at our family mountain home in Little Switzerland, NC this week. We're here with my parents, my older brother and his family from Harrisonburg, VA, and my nephew and his wife, Nicole, who is a perfect addition to the family! God planned that union for sure!

The view from the porch.

Our Golden, Chance. This is his first visit to the mountain house. Three deer crossed the property last night. A pretty exciting moment for Chance!

One of Dad's day lilies with a guest!

A double bloom day lily. Dad's favaorite.

A Queen Anne's Lace about to bloom. Cool!

A beautiful spruce bough. This is Christmas tree country!

We'll be going on plenty of adventures this week. I'll try to keep you posted! Thanks for stopping by~
Lori

Linking to Savvy Southern Style Wow Us Wednesday

Bathroom transformation progress!

2011-06-29T19:38:00.001-05:00

You've seen lots of photos of other people's homes on my blog. I don't always time to work on my own home but I have spent a little time on our bathroom. Wanna see??? Let's start with the "before" photo. I took this picture when we were looking at the house.

Not bad. Right? The problem was that I'm not exactly a "brown" person. Getting up each morning and showering and getting ready for the day in a sea of brown was kind of a downer for me.

Very simple changes. I love this color. It's Sherwin Williams "Silvermist." It's relaxing and bright, and it looks great with the black counter and the wood floor and cabinets.

I found this mirror in a thrift shop over two years ago. In fact, it's probably one of my first thrift store purchases! I think I paid $12 for it. I loved the shape and architectural detail. I was not crazy about the gold finish so it's been sitting in storage waiting for it's moment in the sun. I painted it with brushed nickel spray paint to match the light fixtures and hardware and I LOVE it! It's the dramatic piece I needed.

I found this Champagne bucket at Goodwill a couple weeks ago for $3.50. I cleaned it up a bit but it's still a bit tarnished. I've decided I like it that way! It adds character! It's handy for our washcloth supply! I also considered putting a houseplant in it. Maybe one day!

I love the smell of this lotion. It's the aromatherapy "icing" on the cake !

Now on to another room! Thanks for stopping by!!

Linking to "Wow Us Wednesdays!" at Savvy Southern Style. Check it out!

Lori

Planning a weekend with my BFF!

2011-06-23T07:18:00.000-05:00

The boys have been out of town all week and my sweet hubby just left for a fishing weekend. Perfect time for a girlfriend visit with Holley. IF she can make it! She sent a text earlier asking if I had made plans. She should know... I ALWAYS have plans. When I asked her what she'd like to do she said "Shop. A little peace and quiet. Maybe a craft project of something. Let's create something inspirational!" So...

Shopping... mmm...so many choices for treasure hunting! Garage sales are looking good this weekend and I've never been to the Nashville Flea Market. It's said to be among the top ten flea

markets in the country. Dealers and vendors from 30 states and 1300+ booths with a huge variety of gifts, antiques, collectibles, jewelry, arts and crafts, tools, house wares, handmade clothing, and more.

Of course, we can always try our regular stops at

Or perhaps we'll check out the antique stores!

Maybe an estate sale???

And then.... PEACE & QUIET!

I have the perfect place for that. My porch!

We can sit in the "sky chairs" and listen to the birds. If it rains this weekend, we'll get to enjoy the sound of the stream running behind the house. The last time Holley visited, we put a twin bed on the porch to nap on. Maybe she was planning to come back for a little R&R??? She IS the planner!

A craft project...

Certainly something I am well equipped for! Choices are:

Painting

Jewelry Making

I found this bench project at Lowe's Creative Ideas.
We could make one for each of us! Maybe?
Sounds like work and neither of us likes to sweat!

Another project from the Lowes Creative Ideas website. I don't think we'd make the box but it would be fun to fill one with notes of encouragement and trinkets that celebrate our friendship. Since we live close to four hours apart now, it would be great to have something like this on those rough days when we are calling
1-800- GOD- HELP!
(a personal joke we share - not too hard to figure out!)

If Holley can't make it, I'm sure I'll ~~pout~~ stay busy. I have a project I thought I'd take on to surprise the guys when they get home. They know I'll do something so why disappoint??
I'll share that one later. Just in case they are reading!

Everyone have a great weekend! Give your best girlfriend a call and if you can spend some time together, take advantage of the moment and find something fun to do!

Have a great weekend!
Lori

Ahhh... a little treasure hunting catch up!

2011-06-19T22:32:00.000-05:00

My staging work has really taken off so I haven't been able to post regularly. Even worse I haven't had time to treasure hunt or play with all my finds! I finally got a chance to do a bit today. Want to see the latest? It will be quite a hodge podge but here goes!

My little rooster lamp. A Goodwill find for $5.00. I had her on the porch but brought her into the kitchen this weekend.

A close up. Isn't she a beauty?

I've been seeing silver gilded shells and think they are gorgeous. I thought I'd give it a try.

I think they turned out great!

What do you think? I can hardley wait to find some other bigs ones to work on!

I've seen other bloggers Champagne buckets and finally found one! It's a little rough but I like it! I'm still trying to figure out what I'm going to do with it! Suggestions?

I love to find original works of art like this. Someone wrote "Katy" on the back but it's not signed. Pretty nice. Don't you think??

Well friends... I wish I could spend a little more time catching up! Especially studying all you blogs and latest! Perhaps this will be my week to slow down a bit???

A special hello to my son, Robert, who told me this week that he had been reading my blog. I love you Robert!

Lori (Mom... for Robert!)

Countertop Makeover... Pretty cool idea!

2011-06-08T09:53:00.000-05:00

I came across this video on Lowes website. I stage many houses that really need counters updated to compete with similar homes but there is often no budget for replacing countertops. This may be aone solution. I can't find the price for the kit but I think it's around $250 to do up to 50 square feet. No bad! I haven't tried this but I watched the video series. If you are a DIYer, you may want to try it! Here's the first video in the series.

Be sure to let me know if you try it!

Thanks for stopping by. I've got lots of updates for you once I slow down!

Stay tuned!

Lori

Tables to stage and treasures to find

2011-05-25T20:07:00.000-05:00

I recently decided to focus more time on building my staging business, Lori Bishop Designs. I already have several Realtors that call me on a regular basis but it's time to take this a little more seriously and make my dream a reality. Thanks to loyal clients who pass the word along, I'm busier than I could imagine and I love it! Today I spent some time developing tablescapes for several properties I have pending. I needed color in several homes so I bought the napkins above and started dragging out my dish collection. It's like painting with tableware!

This is an update to Kinwood, an earlier post. the Realtor wasn't crazy about the tablecloth and had hoped for something more dramatic since the ceiling was so high. I'm not thrilled with this but it's minus the tablecloth and the tall candlesticks add some height and drama. I just can't seem to get this one to a point that I can say I love it. Frustrating!

I did find this great coffee table and the matching side table at a garage sale last weekend. $40 for both!

Did I ever show you my front door "after" shot? I really like it!

I found these pewter bowls and the mug at Goodwill for $1.49 each. I've always liked pewter. These are great to use for salad. I place them in the freezer first, then set them out for salads. Everything stays crispy and cold.

House to Home - Staging Kinwood Court

2011-05-07T22:31:00.004-05:00

I've spent the majority of the last 3 days staging homes. The good news? I MUST go treasure hunting soon to prepare for additional homes that are on the schedule. The bad news? I am exhausted! Nonetheless... I'm pleased with the results. Here's one for your viewing pleasure.

The dining room before.

The dining room after. My sons suggested placing the table at an angle. Good idea guys!

So... how do I offer staging at affordable prices? Well... those treasure hunts pay off well. The centerpiece is a Goodwill find.

This beautiful dishes are from Goodwill. $1.60 each for the dinner plates and $1.20 each for the salad plates. The tablecloth is actually a single panel Shabby Chic drapery panel from Goodwill. The glassware, chargers and flatware came from Big Lots.

The master bedroom is quite large and just a bare and lifeless!

I was able to use a recent find. I made the upholstered headboard and it goes perfectly with the toile duvet cover, shams and accent pillows. The toile set and the houndstooth bedskirt and two shams were found at Southern Thrift in Nashville for a total of $18.

Here's a close-up of the pillows.

I added a cute black wicker chair (found in front of a neighbors house and spray painted!)

The master bath was interesting. We had to add bulbs to the lights and try to add interest without clutter,

I carried the black from the bedroom into the bathroom. It was tricky adding accessories without adding clutter.

A great garden tub - although a bit boring....

That's better. Don't you think?

I added a few items at the vanity table.

The hall bathroom.

A few little additions and it's a little more appealing.

A HUGE rec room... Always a challenge.

A simple black futon.

A game of scrabble.

I staged the middle bedroom as a children's room.

This front bedroom has a great window.

We added a simple desk and some art. Much better.

The back bedroom. It's a bit larger than the prior two. I considered placing a bed in this room but decided that most people would see and appreciate the size. The goal became adding something "cozy" to give the room some warmth and appeal.

A reading chair, afghan, lamp, etc. works welll without the time and expenses of adding a bed.

The reading set-up.

This beautiful home is in Island Brook subdivision in Hendersonville, Tennessee and is listed by Lindy Gaughn of ReMax Choice Properties.

Thanks for stopping by!

Lori

Treasure hunting, swinging on the porch and sharing heart to heart - - - A girlfriend weekend!

2011-05-01T21:33:00.000-05:00

Is there anything more comforting than having a friend you can share everything with? My friend Holley visited this weekend and we had the best time! We laughed. We cried. We shopped. I haven't taken pictures of all the treasures we found but thought I'd share a few things I found.

The cushions were custom made for these chairs in a beautiful blue rooster toile print.

I bought 6 solid oak chairs like this at $25 each. I plan to paint these a cream color and distress them.

Cute bows to tie the cushion to the chair.

Stay tuned! More to come!

Lori

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Treasure Hunting Jackpot!

2011-04-18T17:32:00.000-05:00

I needed a thrill today! I grabbed a few small silver trays today at Goodwill. Two were $1.49 and one was .99. I got 20% off because Monday is "Buy $25 get $5 off" day. So, here's the 99 80 cent bread plate I found.

As I was cleaning it up, I read the back... Wallace Sterling 4640-9 Rose Point. I quickly checked online and here's what I found...

Pretty cool- eh? Replacements has this pattern but do not have the bread plate so they don't list the price.

OK... Find number two. A Vera Bradley Chanticleer Rooster Backpack. It was retired in 2002 but I found a few selling online for over $40.

I paid $1 at a local thrift store.

Lots' more but I needed to share my excitement with someone and the guys in my house don't get as jazzed as my online friends! More to come!
Lori

A Daily Choice - A reminder to myself

2011-04-15T07:43:00.000-05:00

I wrote this and posted it in January but needed a reminder today. I challenge each of you to write your own! Please share with me! Together, with God's mercy.... we got this!!

I will LIVE life.

I will look to the future
unafraid of failure; unafraid of falling.

I will view each day as an OPPORTUNITY
to fully experience life. MY life.

I choose to be open to what God has planned for me,
knowing that it may not be what I had envisioned
but with the calm assurance
that it is His plan for my special journey.

I will welcome and rejoice in trials
because I know that past trials
have made me a very strong, resilient, and wise woman.

I will accept challenges and limitations
that sometimes seem hopeless
because though I may feel weak and broken,
I know the truth. I am MORE than this pitiful vessel.
I am as I SHOULD be at THIS moment in time.

I am blessed to be loved by my husband and sons
for WHO I am... not HOW I am
and I thank God for them and for unconditional love.

I will live with the understanding
that my time here is short...tomorrow is not promised.
For that reason, I will cherish each moment
and make it as beautiful as possible.
I commit to living in the present and will let go of the past.

I will invest in the lives of others,support
and encourage them becuase I know that I am here
to make a difference in the lives of others.
I choose to relinquish control of my life
and the control of the lives of those I love
for it only serves to fulfill MY will
and I desire the Masters will. It is perfect.

Crazy or brilliant? The test chair.

2011-04-13T19:57:00.002-05:00

In an earlier post, Delicious Dining Rooms, I showed some dining room chairs that had been painted white. I just love the look. My Mom gasped when I mentioned painting my chairs. It's one of those decisions that seems huge but really... they ARE just chairs. Not antique, priceless chairs... just nice cherry chairs that came with the set. They are not irreplaceable. So... I found two similar chairs at Goodwill. (Got to LOVE Goodwill - right?)

Here's the test chair....

BEFORE

AFTER

So... what do you think? I did learn something very important. Painting these by hand is NOT going to be a good idea. With that many little crooks and crannies, it's hard to get good coverage without drips and runs.
Fortunately I have one more test chair to work on before I take on my chairs. The arm chair that matches the first one is waiting to be refreshed.

I'm debating purchasing a professional sprayer. I've been looking at a HVLP paint sprayer. It's going to cost $400-500 but will allow me to transform my 6 dining room chairs (and the test chair!) and as many as other pieces of furniture as I can get my hands on! Stay tuned!

Test chair #2... coming soon!

I'm linking to the following blog parties. Be sure to check out these great blogs!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lori

Creative solution to a Realtor's challenge

2011-04-05T21:58:00.001-05:00

One of the Realtors that I do a lot of work for called today with a challenge. She has a house with two rooms that she needed to label so home buyers wouldn't miss them. A small half bath in a hallway and a laundry room off the kitchen. She didn't want to leave the doors open so she asked if I could come up with a cute little sign for each door. What do you think?

I made both signs on 5 x 7 canvas. I printed the text and surrounding graphics and used Matte Medium to attach it to the canvas. The border is actually the border of a napkin. I added it using the Matte Medium and wrapped in around the back.

I cut a piece of gold thick paper a little smaller than the canvas and glued the ribbon in between the two pieces. I will tie a small wire loop on the back of the bow that will allow her to hang it on the door. They are so light that they can be hung by removable hooks.

I took the photos while they were still drying. The bows should lay properly when installed on the doors.

Lots going on here! Hopefully I'll have an opportunity to post more soon! Thanks for stopping by!

Lori

Linking to:

Savvy Southern Style

Delicious Dining Rooms

2011-03-18T23:53:00.010-05:00

The dining room in our new home is very nice. I can live with it but it's not exactly our style. I asked my sweet husband what he likes most about the dining room now. The floors ... a beautiful heart pine.. are a favorite for both of us. He also likes the drapes. I asked him what he likes about them and he said the add formality to the room. Oddly enough, when I asked what feel he wanted for the room, he said "Comfortable and inviting, not formal." So we decided we like the finished feel of the room with the drapes.

So... now I'm on the hunt for the look that fits our style and will allow us to use what we have for the most part.

I've never been the frilly crystal type but I think I'd like to use a crystal chandelier - perhaps with black shades.

This dining table and chairs are very close to ours. I like this room - especially the blue walls, chandelier and rug. But I want something unique. Traditional... but different. Does that make sense?

So on the hunt to find a way to keep within our budget (little to nothing!) and create a great look....

I am LOVING these chairs!

This Davis Cabinet China Cabinet is available at one of my favorite shops. It's a GREAT piece and waiting for me to bring it home.

Here's a sad picture of our dining room right after we moved in.

SO... Here's the proposed "To Do" List.

Remove the armoire in the corner (currently holding china!)
Paint the small piece to match the China Cabinet.
Buy the china cabinet
Order the Chandelier
Have the chairs painted to match and recover the seat cushions
Paint the walls - I'm thinking about something like Sherwin Williams "Silvermist" which is a muted gray/blue/green.
Switch out the formal draperies for something less formal but still floor to ceiling.
Replace the light fixture with a chandelier that I actually like. Nothing picked out yet.
Find a light rug to go under the table.
Enjoy!
Post pictures to The Alligator Box so you can see the finished product!
Move on to the next room!

I'd love to have your input and suggestions!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lori

Sheet Music Treasures

2011-03-18T20:29:00.007-05:00

I found this primitive dresser at a shop in Little Switzerland,North Carolina. I loved it's rustic and simple look. I'm a pianist and when I found an old music book and remembered a similar dresser by Mrs. Mustard Seed, I decided this was the piece to transform. I love it! Do you?

I sprayed the hardware with rubbed antique bronze paint. I sealed the music with a polyurethane and when it soaked in on the edges, I thought I had really messed up. After it dried I decided it really added to the aged look. And it's sealed for plenty of use!

On a sheet music roll! I've had this lamp for a while and it needed to have a shade update. I decided sheet music was a good option. Now I like the shade better than the lamp!

This weekend is supposed to be beautiful and fortunately I don't have much scheduled which means a little time for me to catch up on some painting I want to do! Stay tuned!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lori

Linking to

Debbiedoos Blogging and Blabbing

Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Feature Friday

Naturally Me Creations - Who Made What Weekends

My Romantic Home - Show & Tell Frida y

French country Cottage - Feathered Nest Fridays

Iron Violet Designs - Fantastic Fridays

SOLD!

2011-03-16T20:43:00.003-05:00

My last post was a popular one and for good reason! What a beautiful home! I wasn't surprised to see it SOLD in one week!

I don't always feel that way. In fact, I just staged another house that I wasn't as confident in initially. However, after some renovation, cleaning and staging AND most importantly, a Realtor who priced it right, it too sold in one week! Here are a few before and afters of that one! Be sure to leave me a note and let me know what you think! Let's start with a before shot... and plastic flowers.

Exterior Front Porch - BEFORE

Exterior - AFTER

Living Room - BEFORE

Living Room - AFTER
I removed the curtains to let light in but the Realtor elected to leave the curtain rods for new owners.

Dining Room - BEFORE

Dining Room - AFTER

Kitchen - BEFORE (YIKES!)

Kitchen Breakfast area - BEFORE

Kitchen View into Family Room - AFTER

Kitchen - AFTER
Can I get an AMEN?
No Wallpaper, new oven, new floors, under counter lights.... aahhhhh....

Back Hall - Before and After

Rec Room - BEFORE

Rec Room - AFTER

Rec Room View 2 - BEFORE

Rec Room View 2 - AFTER

Downstairs Bedroom / Office - BEFORE

Downstairs Bedroom / Office - AFTER
Like the painting? It's one of mine called "Wandering Xander." I painted it the night my son and I picked up a stray dog that we named Xander.

Downstairs Bathroom - BEFORE

Downstairs Bathroom - AFTER

Family Room - BEFORE

Family Room - AFTER

So... on to the next one! If my activities are any indication, the real estate market is picking up!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lori

Picture perfect!

2011-03-01T21:05:00.003-06:00

As a home stager, I get requests to look at properties on a regular basis. I've learned to expect the unexpected. This week I got a call regarding a property that I knew was special as soon as I pulled in the driveway. It has some special spaces that I feel in love with. Perhaps you'll enjoy seeing them as well.

Charming Iron Gate entry

Beautiful rock landscaping with waterfall into a koi pond.

Clear water and beautiful, healthy fish. One is ESPECIALLY healthy! :-)

Pull into the driveway and you see this fabulous stone barn at the end of the drive.

Serene Master Bedroom

Lovely Girl's Room

View from Family room to the wonderful rock and slate patio.

What a charming home! I'm blessed to get to see these properties. A special thanks to Ann Buchanan for calling me to stage this property. Click Here to see this home and other's that Ann has listed in the Hendersonville, Tennessee area.

I'm linking to Debbido's Blogging and Blabbing Newbie Party

Have a blessed day!

Lori

Cranberry Pecan Salad

2011-03-01T19:29:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I rush through life and make the mistake of rushing through meals instead of stopping to enjoy them. I just came across this photo and recipe on Tasty Kitchen. Tomorrow I vow to make this salad and enjoy it. Slowly. Savoring each and every bite! Care to join me?

Ingredients:

4 cups Mixed Greens
2 cups Baby Spinach
½ cups Dried Cranberries
½ cups Blue Cheese
¼ cups Pecans
High Quality Balsamic Vinegar Or Your Favorite Dressing, To Taste

Instructions: Toss all ingredients (except dressing) together in a large bowl. If desired, drizzle with your favorite high-quality balsamic vinegar in lieu of dressing.

Enjoy!

Lori

Tuesday at Goodwill

2011-02-20T21:56:00.000-06:00

Hi friends! It's been awhile since I shared my treasure hunting bounty with you. Truth is ... there hasn't been much treasure hunting time lately. However...I did escape briefly this past Tuesday to make a stop or two.

I couldn't resist picking up 4 of these little salad plates. They go beautifully with my blue and white plates.

10 handpainted goblets (I'm getting spring fever!) And notice the platter with the green gingham border. It goes with my Johnson Brother's Heritage dishes that I've had forever.

Bird's Eye view of one goblet. I love taking shots like this because it allows you to see all the details to the piece. And this is what you see when you turn up the glass to take a drink!

An addition to my pottery collection.

After a little research I discovered that the potter is Clyde Gobble, a master potter from North Carolina. His work is available in galleries and in the Bob Timberlake shop in Blowing Rock. He has some beautiful pieces. I'd love to find more. I'd say it would be hard to beat the price I paid for the plate... 80 cents! The pieces I found on line are about $85.

Another addition to the cabbage collection! Two little cabbage votive holders. They were $1 each. They are not Bordallo Pinhiero but will still look great with my collection!

I found 4 Pewter Wine Goblets in great shape.

I checked the engraved information on the bottom of each and checked for them online.

And here it is! $56.00 a piece. I like the $3.20 that I paid MUCH better!

This was a great find. I originally thought it was a vase. Once I got it home I figured it out. It's a candle holder. A cut lead crystal candle holder.

LOVE this duvet cover. It appears to have been handmade. It's currently at my Mom's having some button holes and buttons added and then It's going to be on our guest bed. And the best part... Only $2!

A cookbook for my son who speaks French and loves to cook.

More pewter. These two tankards will go with some others I have. I found them online for $68 a piece. I paid(drumroll...) 80 cents!

I've never been a pink rose bone china girly girl type. However... I keep coming across these dishes and now have a full service for four. These two teacups were 20 cents each.

I didn't really need more pillows but I loved this one so it's added to the collection!

Well... that's the latest! I'm gearing up for a day of staging a beautiful home tomorrow. Maybe I'll share photos! Come visit again soon!

Lori

The Foyer...After (at least for now!)

2011-02-12T07:58:00.000-06:00

I posted a photo of the foyer of our new home that I took when we looked at the house. If you want to see the earlier post with more windows, click here. Here's a refresher of the BEFORE...

Here's the AFTER...

My original plan was to place a small chest of drawers there but it didn't go with the piece I used on the other wall so I went the this large round table for now. A pineapple to say "welcome", a plant to add life, a light to add warmth and some framed pieces to represent family.

I love this lamp! Don't you? It has a dimmer switch so I can brighten up the area or use it almost like a night light in the hall.

The baby is me... haven't changed a bit! The next picture is my beautiful mother-in-law with my Michael as a young boy on the beach. I love that picture!

In an earlier post I showed some photos of foyers like mine with some ideas I liked. One idea was a bench for the long wall. HOWEVER... since I have no yet found the bench... I used a buffet. What do you think?'

The painting is an original done by artist Debbie Richmond (Germantown, TN). It's a painting of our family mountain home in Little Switzerland, NC. I found the buffet at a neighbors garage sale. It was missing the doors on each side and I found the baskets for those openings which adds a little casual twist. We keep scarves and mittens in those. Other than seeing my cords hanging down in the back... what do you think? Not exactly what I wanted but it will work for now I suppose.

Well, my Michael is off fly fishing this morning, my big boys are asleep, and I'm plotting my day. Lots to do. Here's the list for the day:

A couple furniture store visits to check out furniture for a client (and dear friend),
Check on a pending staging project (I can't stage until they pack and clean!),
A few errands (perhaps a little treasure hunting too??)
(and maybe) a little time to get lost in a painting or some other creative project.

Oh yeah... 2010 tax preparation, clean my closet a bit and other mundane tasks. Maybe later on those! ;-)
Have a great day!

Lori

Empty house to cozy home in four hours!

2011-01-31T20:23:00.002-06:00

I have lots of staging jobs right now so I haven't been posting as much. However, with a few minutes to spare, I thought I'd share one I did this weekend. It's a cute little house that was empty and lifeless.

This is the smallest and least expensive home I've staged so we didn't spend much time or add too much. Just enough to give it a little life and warmth.

The Living Room

Bedroom/Office

Family Room / Dining Area

Family Room

Master Bedroom

Hall Bathroom

I'll try to keep you posted on how long this one is on the market. It had been listed with another Realtor and got very little attention. I'm hoping the changes will help a buyer picture themselves in the cute little place!

I also have another house that is occupied and lots of issues.

Want a peek at what I have ahead of me?

Anyone looking for a house on 2 beautiful wooded acres with some GREAT features?

The wallpaper is peeling and the carpet on the stairs has grease on it but you can overlook that - right?

Stay tuned... I'm not sure if I'll work this one start to finish but I'm going to do my best to give the homeowner tips on how to maximize any budget they have.

Thanks for stopping by!

Lori

Linking to Metamorphosis Monday

A Daily Choice

2011-01-05T17:37:00.000-06:00

I will LIVE life.

I will look to the future
unafraid of failure; unafraid of falling.

Winter Wonderland

2010-12-30T18:13:00.000-06:00

We arrived at our family mountain house today to celebrate Christmas and ring in the new year with my parents, my brothers and their families. We entered a snow covered wonderland and were greeted by Bambi's family! The snow has melted for two days but you can tell there is still 8-10 inches still on the ground.

The view of Seven Mile Ridge from the porch of Hatcher Haven.

Wishing everyone a blessed New Year!

Lori

I'm dreaming of a dreamy master bedroom!

2010-12-25T07:26:00.002-06:00

I took the photo of the master bedroom in our new home when we were looking at the house. The furnishings are the prior owners.

There is another window near the foot of the bed on the wall to the right.

I've bought a few new pieces of furniture for our bedroom. One is the bed below.

A four poster bed which is actually a platform bed with storage. I took this picture at the shop where I purchased it and it's now in storage. I can hardly wait to see it all put together!!

So... the look I'm going for...mmmm

So many great choices!

Thanks to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for these gorgeous shots of The Southern Living Idea House in Senoia, Georgia

OK... REALLY like this! You can't see it the photos of our room but there is a brick wall opposite the bed. A seating area with great art may be nice there. And the secretary... I've been searching for one forever!

Go check out more photos of this house on Susan's blog.

I've been thinking about striped walls. Is our bedroom the place to do that? It looks nice here.

I love this room. I can see crawling into this bed every night. What is the draw? Pillows? Dresser by the bed with the tassel? Canopy? Perhaps all of the above!

I love the black bed. I'm tempted to paint the one we bought. I think it would be beautiful. Of course the wood is beautiful too and will go nicely with the other pieces I have planned in the room.

Another example of black bedroom furniture. Maybe I should paint it all??? Tempting.... :-)

Enjoying Christmas Decorations in Blogland!

2010-12-24T20:41:00.001-06:00

Since we are in the midst of moving this year, we voted as a family to keep our Christmas decorating to a minimum. I'm not dreaming of a White Christmas (although we may actually have one this year!) I'm dreaming of how I'll decorate our new home next Christmas!! So here are some of my favoraite ideas I've seen on other blogs!

Let's start with Lori at My Heart With Pleasure Fills! I just love her simple ideas. Take a look!

A simple wreath, the addition of garland to make it fuller and then gluing ornaments and other sparkling goodies! Gorgeous!

She hung jingle bells from the mirror by tartan plaid ribbon and then tied live greenery with a ribbon bow and secured it atop the ribons. So cute!

A cute simple touch of whimsy!

Check out other great ideas at My Heart With Pleasure Fills!

As always I found some great ideas from Kim at

Savvy Southern Style

I just painted a frame exactly like this for the new house. I love this idea!

Another cute and simple idea!

A great idea for using a silver tray and a little more sanitary than having guests share a towel during cold season!
Great ideas Kim!

http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

I found a new blog to add to my favorites... www.warrengrovegarden.blogspot.com. What a beautiful home. With a house full of men, I don't know that it would work in my world so I'll just have to go visit Carolyn's!

www.warrengrovegarden.blogspot.com

That's all for now. I'll be dreaming (and blogging) more later but for now... more boxes to pack!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lori

Living Room Ideas

2010-12-18T19:04:00.003-06:00

We're packing to move to our new home the first of January. For someone who helps others with their home decor on a regular basis, it's tough to know where to start with my own. The following pictures were taken when we were house hunting. I'll have a clean slate to work with.

Challenge # 1 ...Where to put the television. I'd like to create a seating area around the fireplace so we're thinking about putting the television above the opening on the right and putting the components in that space.

The back of the room has a nice bay window overlooking the screened porch and a door to the porch. The door to the right of that leads to the master bedroom.

The opposite end of the room is on the front of the house. There are three windows. I plan to use the draperies that my Mom and I made for our current home. I'm short one set but purchased the fabric to make another set. Hopefully Mom will be able to help me again. I'm not sure I can remember how we made them! I have thick black curtain rods that I can on these windows and an long one to match that will work on the bay window.

The bay window is shallow so no window seat here! I think it will be a nice place for a few plants.
I think my piano will end up in front of this window because this area will be seen from the entry hall.

Now on to another room... Come along!
Lori

A little treasure update!

2010-12-17T21:42:00.001-06:00

Did you think I had stopped treasure hunting? No my friends! Still at it! Here are a few of the latest finds.

A handcrafted basket. $3.20

An original watercolor by J. Malone. $15

A stained glass piece I painted from an old barrister bookcase door. $0!

A great little lamp and 5 cut glass coffee mugs.

A (formerly) gold framed mirror I turned into a chalk board.

A lace bedskirt for a twin bed that goes on all four sides. Perhaps the perfect touch for my porch daybed swing?? $3.20

I'm looking forward to moving into our new home and finding a place for all the goodies I've found.
Thanks for stopping by!

Lori

Letting go of the old and embracing the new!

2010-12-11T14:22:00.000-06:00

We're moving to a new house soon and I'm thinking through the furniture and trying to determine what will go where. Some pieces just don't seem to fit. And today I found some I thought might!

A medium size chest of drawers seems perfect for the foyer at the bend of the stairs. On sale today 50% off! Only $39.50! (I'm strutting around like the bargain hunting champion!)

A high rise night stand to go with our new bed (See below) This was 50% off at $45.

The bed I had already purchase. Sick I didn't get it for 50% off but I love it and think it will be awesome in our new place. It's actually a platform bed with drawers underneath. Very cool!

The piece de resistance! This GORGEOUS Dresser! LOVE IT! 50% off ... only $125!

Check out the curved front!

Now to find the pieces that I'll have to let go... mmm... better think on that awhile! Happy hunting ladies!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lori

Joyful... a music video by.... me?

2010-12-02T18:21:00.000-06:00

OK... maybe not professional quality but it was fun to put together. Credit to Casting Crowns for such a beautiful version of "Joyful!" These are photos Mike and I have taken, primarily at Hatcher Haven and surrounding areas. Enjoy!

You may purchase this song at Amazon or on iTunes.

Giving thanks in the mountains.

2010-11-28T21:07:00.001-06:00

We spent Thanksgiving at my parent's mountain home in Little Switzerland, North Carolina. It's about as close to heaven as you can get! Below is a picture I took off the porch the first morning we were there. The fog looks like a lake!

We were leaving early Saturday and as we made a curve a donkey and two horses trotted out into the highway. (Note the Christmas tree farm in the background. They are everywhere in this area!)

The made their way into an open field and then up to the parking lot of a quaint stone church kicking up their heels with delight to be running free. They eventually turned up a dead-end road. We called some of the local folks to let them know we had 2 horses and a donkey on the loose! It was a treat to see!

We were traveled on to neice's wedding in Waynesville, North Carolina. The chapel of First Baptist Church is gorgeous!

The bride was even more beautiful!

Congratulations to Claire and John!

I was able to run through a couple of shops and galleries in downtown Waynesville. It's such a great town! If you have an opportunity to visit, I highly recommend a gallery/shop "Twigs and Leaves"

Twigs and Leaves specializes in remarkably fine crafts created by a host of mountain artisans - all with a theme of nature and the environment.

Back in Little Switzerland, North Carolina, home of Hatcher Haven, our family mountain home, there are other good spots to check out as well. Hearthside Homemades is a great little shop. It's owned by Keith and Darlene Fletcher ...great folks! They feature local and regional handcrafts including their own "These Blooming Dishes" they create by pressing wildflowers into clay and using a firing and glazing process that makes each piece a custom garden! I have several pieces and love them!

I also found some good thrift, junk, antique and consignment shops in Spruce Pine, NC. the closest "big" (?) city to Little Switzerland. I'll try to shoot some pictures of my treasures for you. Right now, I'm wiped out and I'm thanking God for a soft bed with an electric blanket and a pile of quilts to keep me warm.

Thanks to God for so many blessings!

My husband who tolerates my creative passions and the resulting clutter. He's the love of my life and my best friend. My sons who hold my heart. I'm so proud of them. And so, so many other people that I'm blessed to have in my life.

May you be as blessed~

Lori