LAVENDER & STARFISH

There's just something about lavender...

The soft sage color and delightful purple blooms dancing high above~

it's one of my favorite plants inside the house and out.

I found a trio of lavender plants yesterday at Costco for $10.00

& couldn't resist bringing them home with me...

just a little attempt at hurrying Spring along, I suppose.

Into a crusty urn atop the bedroom fireplace they went.

A large terra cotta seashell planter filled with white berry garland

and a chunky reproduction pediment salvage piece

found their way to the mantle too.

A wee little nest under a tiny glass cloche

holds a little speckled egg & brings a bit of color and charm

A simple spring vignette.

I haven't been getting much done here the past couple of days

playing a bit of hookey from projects

I've just been enjoying the warm sunshine and watching the snow melt away.

sharing at

Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie

OUTDOOR LIVING INSPIRATIONS

The sun is peeking out this morning~and dancing across the floors!

After weeks of nearly straight rain, snow, rain, snow, rain, snow...

with just glimpses of the blue sky or sunshine for a couple of hours here and there...

the golden rays have returned!! :)

I am feeling so exhilarated by the gorgeous sunshine and light that is streaming

through my windows this morning!

My backyard looks like this yet... this was taken this weekend.

A dumping of fresh snow again...

(Can you believe I am in California?

I feel like I have been living in an arctic zone not a sunshine filled state!)

Hopefully by the end of the week,

it will melt away and I can begin to really envision the rebuild of the pergola

and our outdoor space!

If you are new to my blog- about a month ago

our pergola collapsed under the weight of the crazy unusual amount of heavy

wet snow that accumulated overnight one night.

Here's the before...

*sigh*

and after...

Ugh...

So we will be rebuilding & re-imagining our outdoor living space soon.

Once the snow is gone, I will be able to map out a bit of what I am thinking.

While looking for a specific book this morning- I found a few older magazines

and grabbed them to thumb through again.

Inside one of them (Traditional Home) there was a whole section on outdoor rooms.

Ooh the beautiful spaces!!!

Thought I would share a few that I have bookmarked as inspirations...

I love outdoor fireplaces and would love to have one in our backyard area.

Brick? Rock? Stucco?

Love them all but really LOVE the rock fireplace...we have a somewhat similar

(but not near as fabulous ) rock fireplace in our front yard

I would love to move it to the backyard! Wonder if it could be done easily?

Another.

Gorgeous pergola with pillars much like ours had.

(Look at all that sunshine!)

I don't know yet if we will rebuild using the columns or use them somewhere else.

I just adore this beautiful little covered gazebo area...

with vines and sweetness- so storybook and charming.

How about a darling little bench to sit on made out of branches?

This looks like a most amazing spot for a glass of wine or little afternoon nap...

Dreamy!

Okay, back to the book search and some projects.

Happy Monday Everyone!

WELCOME TO FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY No. 24

This week, I was been busy creating an English Cottage look

in the little 'who knows what to call it' room.

Red, delightful toile, some ticking and florals...and a shabby antique bed footboard

On a vintage suitcase next to the bench, there is a set of tiny antique books.

I found them at a thrift store years ago and just loved their petite size

and how sweet they were all stacked together.

All 4 of them are by Rudyard Kipling and they are old and worn and so lovely!

I also have a tiny old picture atop them.

This is my Grandmother & my great Aunt Janet when they were little.

I love this old tiny picture of them together-

as tattered as it is, it is so charming.

If you missed the post- you can click on

ENGLISH COTTAGE CHARM to check it out

or just scroll on down to the next post.

Would you believe we are snowing again right now?

The wintery weather just doesn't want to let up this year!

I am starting up the party a little early-

just in case the weather disrupts things again.

I can't believe it is already the 24th FNF party! Already? Wow! Last week-

we had an amazing amount of fantastic link ups~

Thank you so much for taking the time to come on over and share at this party or just visit the links!

It is so hard to pick just a few each week to highlight~ here are just a few that stood out for me.

Carolina Country Living shared this fantastic little settee re-do.

Can you say charming? Wow!

Southern Comfort in a Northern Life shared this gorgeous

black dining room!! I love how elegant and glamorous it feels!

Magazine your Home shared this darling curbside bookcase transformation.

Love the color and finish.

My Belle Epoque shared sweet little grainsack love for her bench-

that flirty little skirt is darling!

Pam over at White Ironstone Cottage shared a charming wall sink

turned planter~ I would love that sink in a bathroom holding towels & soaps too!

If you were featured please feel free to grab the

I was Featured button from my sidebar.

Trying something new...IF I can figure it out..(its a bit if!! lol)

I am going to start highlighting links at my Facebook page

Funky Junk highlighted a post of mine a couple weeks ago and it worked out great!!

So make sure to follow along on Facebook too- my button is on my side bar.

Share your decorating, flea finds, designs, crafts, table settings, etc.

ANYTHING related to feathering your nest!

Please become a FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE FRIEND/FOLLOWER

if you aren't already~

Just click the little follow button on my sidebar under

'Fabulous French Cottage Friends'

PLEASE BE A GRACIOUS FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY GUEST

& make sure you post a button or a link back to the party,

GO OUT AND MINGLE~

I try to get by and visit each of the participants

but I would love help in spreading the love!

sharing with these lovely parties-

go by and say hello to these sweet gals!

ENGLISH COTTAGE CHARM

Bursts of cabbage roses...

colorful florals, ticking, checks

To me, english cottage style is enveloping-

wrapping you in comfort and prettiness...

It's a warmth that welcomes you to come in, sit down and stay awhile.

This is a quirky little room off the master bedroom

Originally one of the bedrooms, it changed when we remodeled

and made a new hallway in the house- changing the flow of the original hall

which went right through the kitchen.

So the room became a little sitting area among other things.

I wanted to create a little cottage sitting area for something I am working on-

so this room got a french cottage look with some english cottage mixed in.

Funny thing is...

I have been leaning towards lighter, less pattern, more serene lately...

so I have no idea how this turned out so bold!!

Here's how it looks today... tomorrow?

Who knows! lol!

Remember that shabby antique headboard I placed behind my bed?

Originally, I was thinking of the same bed's footboard as the

architectural piece for that spot but when I brought it into the house,

it just didn't fill the space like I wanted...

So it has been sitting in the office, just waiting to find a home.

As I was looking around for inspirations~ there was that footboard smiling at me...

so behind the bench it went.

I love the little pink flower drops painted on the sides

and the pretty little wreath in the center.

Gorgeous green hydrangeas fill a vintage silver champagne bucket.

(Some of these beauties came from the lovely Leslie over at Goodbye House Hello Home)

The champagne bucket sits atop an old yellow chippy flea find bench.

A faux grain sack pillow with red ticking stripes and red florals

warm up the bench and make for a cozy spot to sit.

I found this upholstery fabric at my favorite source a few years back-

' Savannah' by Waverly

It's a gorgeous rich red based toile... absolutely stunning!

It is just straight off the bolt and draped on the wall.

Silver trays, floral artwork and red transferware plates

fill in the spaces - warming them up in lovely

'the more the merrier'

english cottage style...

Anyone care to join me for a spot of tea?

Feathered Nest Friday linky party going on right now!!!

Click here to join in the fun!

sharing at

Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie

LA REINE ~ (THE QUEEN)

This is the

piece de resistance...

a beautiful storybook armoire

fit for a princess...

maybe even A Queen.

She has a royal air about her...

and wears a most fantastic frenchy crown...

Gracefully adorned with hand painted flowers

with gorgeous carved shell handles

She wears beautiful carved flowers accents

& has a bombe chest bottom with a slanted top drawer and sides.

Of course, every lady needs a bit of mystery about her...

Inside the top doors, there's a little surprise...

dainty shelves & three lingerie drawers decorated with a flower bouquet.

She is just as pretty from the sides as she is from the front.

She's most definitely a drama queen and loves the attention she gets.

This is my absolute favorite piece of the furniture I have been sharing recently

(shhh.. don't tell the other pieces)

here they are if you missed them~ Sideboard, mirrors, frenchy stands

I just about fell over when I saw this armoire. I literally had to stop and compose myself!

lol!

The set is all made in Italy~

around mid-century but definitely has an elegant french look to them.

Soft creamy paint (though it looks more yellow in the pictures)

gorgeous teal accents, pastel florals and

of course,

a bit of pretty gilding for a little glam & drama.

She holds court in the little sitting room/ hall area off the bedroom.

(I apologize~ The lighting in this room is not good for taking photos

and it has been snowing and raining all weekend which makes it even darker)

*sigh*

All hail the Queen!

HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE!!!

Hope my French is correct in this post! lol!

I am so excited that it is officially spring

though you wouldn't know by looking outside

snow. snow. snow...

and more rain and possibly snow on the way...

wait a minute...

I thought I was living out here in SUNNY CALIFORNIA?!?

What a strange winter...

sharing at the parties over at

Blue Creek Home

Les Chateau des Fleurs

interiorinternations

LAVENDER & STARFISH

OUTDOOR LIVING INSPIRATIONS

WELCOME TO FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY No. 24

ENGLISH COTTAGE CHARM

LA REINE ~ (THE QUEEN)

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