Coastal Mantle

Wow!  Two posts for me in one day!  Well, I started looking through some of my favorite blogs and decided I just had to share this today too with Marty @ http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/  for Tabletop Tuesday.
 

Last week I went coastal on my coffee table and that led to this, my mantle vignette.

This is a closeup of my finished coastal mantle.

I started with the candlesticks which are always on the mantle, usually solo.

This candle stick is usually on my mantle with the little angel as well.

She is a Willow Tree,  a very special item that I was able to get signed by the artist, Susan Lordi, at the Atlanta Buyers Market in 2008, when I worked at my former job.

Then I pulled out this fabulous candle in glass with shells and sand.  My best friend made this for me a few years ago with shells she has collected from her many trips to the beach.

Then I added my shells that my family has collected over the years from trips to the beach.

This large conch is one of my favorites.

The shells are mixed with bits of manmade bricks that regularly wash up on the shores of Edisto Beach from a nearby Island where former slaves had moved after gaining their freedom.  It was there they made their own bricks by hand, they are often mixed w/shells.  Very unique. 

I think I also have a mix of sometype of Ironstone made in the early days of Charleston life.

I also wanted to give you a closeup pic of my sconces on either side of the mirror

And a closeup of the scroll on top of the mirror.  I painted this years ago by hand after finding the frame in a trash bin at an antique store for which they let me have it for free, then I had the mirror installed.

And another final look at the finished vignette...

It's a simple and airy look that I love for my mantle and I am really enjoying how it compliments my coffee table vignette too!  And it didn't cost a dime as I already owned everything.  Great huh?

I'm also going to try to link up again with linda @ http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/

for nifty thrifty tuesdays.  Hope it works this time.

Have a great day Everyone, thanks for stopping by!

Jesus in the Clouds???

I took these shots Saturday evening while my husband was grilling outside.  I went out to to talk with him, looked up and saw this formation in the clouds.  I was so excited when I saw the forms in the outline of the clouds I had to run back inside to get my camera.  I hope you will be glad I did!

I barely even noticed the rainbow because I was so captivated by the image on the left which at first I thought looked like the shape of an angel.

But something about the way the arms were outstretched really reminded me of Jesus.  I showed it to another friend and asked her what she saw,  she immediately said, " It's Jesus with his arms stretched out."  

So this is why I am entering this today in my first link up with;

Sweet shots @

http://www.my3boybarians.com/

 

I REALLY apologize for the spots on these photos as they were on my lens.  I don't know how to fix that but that's another reason I was very happy to find this link up.  I am hoping to learn so much more about taking great shots from all of you and enjoying yours as well!

Hope you enjoyed these.  You won't hurt my feelings if you don't see it, but leave me a comment and let me know what you see!

Tackling the Unorganized Chaos

Unorganized Chaos!  That's the story of my situation today.  I am by my very birth a person of balance.  I was born a  lucky Libra.  We Libran's must obtain balance whenever possible, it is in our gentic DNA!  LOL!   I really do feel somewhat off kilter when things become out of balance.

 Now, I bet your probably thinking, really, but can chaos be organized?  I'd argue YES!  Take for example Chucky Cheese, Black Friday shopping, and my all time favorite Christmas Morning!  Now that is organized chaos, wouldn't you agree?
In my previous post I mentioned that the pollen has wreaked havoc here.  Well, it also slowed down many projects waiting to be completed.  I have to admit I cannot blame everything on the pollen but it helps.   There are times in life when your TO DO list literally just runs into the next page, that is where I am today.

Let's start with most embarrasing, to be done.  Put up the Easter stuff!  I alluded to doing this last week but of course I started this job but obviously did not complete it.

As you can see I nicely put everything into piles, but have not yet actually put things where they go!

Then there are the ever present rotting bananas!  OMG!  Yes, I am posting these too!

 My family loves bananas but cannot eat them fast enough, before someone is buying yet another new bunch.  No problem, surely Mom will make more banana bread. Yet Again!!!

Well, I finally found some drapes for my den at a price and style I liked.  Of course I ordered 4 pairs of drapes, 1 pair of which came soiled and snagged because the packaging had gotten torn in shipping. 

No problem, it is being replaced with a new one, but I'll have to wait on it's arrival, as well as the rest of the installation.   No one else seems to mind the latter sitting in the den a few days nearly as much as I do. Urgh!

Was hoping to get these barstools painted black until I can find a new pair that I like better.  But I don't dare spray paint with all the pollen we've had outside.  So there they sit, along with the other outdoor coach light that still needs to be done!

And then there is the mulch we purchased Saturday to be spread.  Here it sits because I had to  fill in the wholes from the shrubs we removed first.

  However, I have yet to purchase the new shurbs, but I have mulch!  Yes, this wonderful mulch which has quite an odor and grime that now has to be cleaned out of the back of my cars as well.  Did I mention I still have'nt washed the pollen off my car yet?

  I hope your getting the picture now!

Finally, my most exciting chaos to organize...My Blog!  I spent some time rearranging my side bar Saturday, to get easier access to the things I want to access quickly.  However, this is still a major work in progress.  I have so many ideas on how I want to organize my blog but do not have the knowledge and time to learn all what I need to get there.  I simply want a tab bar under my header to put links to info like so many of you have.   Please help if there is an easy way for me to learn this addition.  Otherwise, I will be fine and eventually muddle my way through the chaos as I usually do, in due time.

So if you haven't guessed already, today I am linking up w/Blue Monday, at , http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/
 because I am feeling quite overwhelmed with all that is left to be done.   Along with usual loads of laundry, general housecleaning and trying to figure our a way to get in some exercise, my unfinished projects have me feeling somewhat blue this morning.

Before you feel too sorry for me though, I had considered posting on my afternoon sailing yesterday.  We had a beautiful day on the water w/clear blue skies, but I'll save that for Wednesday!

And now you know why these projects are stacking up!

Let me know how your week is looking or if you have been here too, I'd love to hear some sound and sage advice for dealing with Unorganized Chaos!

Thanks!

It's 5 O'Clock Friday

Whew!  What a week!  My projects are slow going!  We have been overwhelmed with pollen in our neck of the woods.  It has wreaked havoc with my sinus's and my porches.  After a wonderful cleansing thunderstorm last night and major clean up today I am ready to enjoy a little relaxing wine..no cheese, I'm watching my calories..

How'd you like to join me for a little vino?  I have a standard assortment on hand of nice cheapy house wines.  What can I say other then my bargain shopping extends to my everyday wines as well.

There's Merlot, Chardonney and my favorite Wine Zinfandel, what will it be?

Earlier today my porch was a mess of yellow coated pollen.  After vacuming then mopping and spraying it down it looks like this.

Oh look this is where the pollen went!

Yuck Right!  Well that's actually from my front porch, sorry already threw out the water from the screen porch earlier, but you get the picture.

Well, here's a sneak preview of my porch, still want to do so much more here

Ok, that's all for now, I'm stopping here....

Afterall, it's Friday after 5:00 and I'm beat!

Sailing promises to be good this weekend so I'll see ya next week!

Have a great weekend Everyone!

Coffee Table Vignette

Recently I posted pics of my living room on RMS and received many compliments and suggestions, which I was very grateful for.  While many suggestions were for a new coffee table for my space because of the size, a few bright observers suggested I add more decor to the table.  Typically this is the way my table usually looks..

We are often a feet on the table kind of family and the many single larger items I have used in the past on the table just seemed to stick out without any real design to me.

Getting rid of my coffee table is not something I would prefer to do.  I purchased this table about 10 or 12 yrs ago for $25.00 at an antique store. 

At the time the entire piece was stained the color inside the center of this diamond.  What you cannot see is that there is a huge water stain that would not come out after I stripped this table down.  So I settle on being creative and using 3 different shades of stain to create the look I have here, hiding the water stain in the center diamond.

I bought this table so my sons would have a place to color and store their crayons at a time when money was tight and my time was more abundant.  They have loved it over the years and we have never once worried about damaging this table.   So, I'll keep it a little longer and just trying adding more decor.

So after much hustling around this morning, here is my new coffee table vignette!  I just love it!  I decided to go with a coastal them for the summer, and had a great time pulling items from around the house.

I knew immediately I would use one of the faux ferns I had put in storage after seeing Kim @ Savvy Southern Style sisters beautiful coffee table here at ,

http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/2010/04/sisters-house-part-iii.html

Thanks again for the inspiration!

Then I started with my centerpiece, I added the pretty white platter that I bought 2yrs ago at a shop in Myrtle Beach, I just love the how it reminds me of a seashell.  

 Of course an empty platter doesn't do much for the table so I added my brass sailboats int he middle to give it some heighth.  I have nearly thrown these things out a dozen times cause I am not a brass fan.  But I am a sailboat fan so I hung on to them.  So this morning I broke out the acetone and paint and changed them to white, they look so much better now, don't cha think?

Then I added seashells and sea finds that hold so many special memories or our trips to the coast.

I really am well pleased with this finished result that holds so many memories...maybe I will add one piece this summer.

Of course for me no table seems complete without a candle, so I pulled my coastal wooden candle holder off the screen porch, washed it off, and added some height.  I used this little yard sale dish and added styrofoam and moss. 

I was going to use this beautiful live moss from my yard

until I discovered live bugs in it after breaking off a piece, so I borrowed a little green faux moss from the Easter display and here it is.

The floral shell was my mother in laws.  It is Royal Adderley bone china from England, and fits my theme just perfectly. 

 Finally, I had to have my magazines out within easy view and at arms length reach.

I'm very happy with the outcome and ready for summer, I guess I should go and put up all the Easter decor now.  LOL!  Hope you like it too!  Leave me a comment and tell me what you think?

I'm linking with the following partys today, stop by these sites as well and see many more great ideas!

It's Tabletop Tuesday with Marty @ http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

And with Nifty Thrifty @ http://coastalcharm.blogspot.com/

And with Second Time around Tuesday @

http://diane1876.blogspot.com/2010/04/2nd-time-around-auction-regrets.html

Finished the Speckled Eggs for Easter

And here they are...as promised I finally added the speckled Easter Eggs.  I just love them! 

After baking all day for the family, these eggs were a treat and a delight to do.  I want to personally thank our blogging friend who recently had this link on her blog.  I am sorry to say I do not recall who had the blog.  I was certain the moment I saw these they would be the perfect addition to my Easter table centerpiece.

 Since my family always engages in  "EGG WARS" on Easter, decorated eggs on the table are a must.  To play you must have two players, each person takes turns hitting their eggs together to see who's is the first to crack.  The winner then takes the uncracked egg and challanges another player.  And so it goes using both ends of the eggs until all are cracked.  I know it is a shame to put these beautiful eggs through such demolition but they will be eaten afterall. 

Here is the link that our blogging friend posted that inspired me so much...
How to Make Speckled Easter Eggs - SouthernLiving.com

I hope this link works out as it is my first time linking to a magazine.  Again, thank you so much to the original blogger who provided this link so that I could see it. 

Happy Easter Everyone!

May each of you recieve God's blessing!