In the Dining Room

Hey Friends!  Nothing new here really.  Enjoying some time off and I just thought I 'd share a few photos of my dining room with you for a linky party I've been enjoying over at Cottage and Vine.

I still have not learned how to readjust my new camera settings so I hope you will forgive the quality of these photos.  I know it's a shame, but I will learn it soon.

I have quite a mix of furniture in my dining room.  It ranges from a few inherited pieces to resale store pieces and even a few Craigs list finds.  All of my pieces have been added over time.   Since it is a room we only use a few times a year it's never been a high priority for me as far as investing in furniture.  As a young mother I learned how to shift my spending quite a bit.    Even now as we are getting closer to being empty nesters I still enjoy the space I have created from mixing pieces together in this room.

I know some of you will remember me adding this china cabinet just last year.  I had to move a beautiful antique secretary out of the dining room in order to add this piece.  I think it was worth it!

I just recently moved this little cabinet in here to hold two of my silverware cabinets stacked on top of each other.

 I've kept my black sideboard (that I painted myself) in here.  I like how it is a nice size.  Not to big and not too small.

This is my most favorite piece of all.  It is a marble table that was my mother in laws.  It was made for her from her father who used to be the president of a bank downtown.  When the bank remodeled he bought all the old marble counters and had them made into tables for each of his five daughters.  

The mirror was inherited too.  I am thinking very seriously about replacing these lamps with a pair I've got my eye on at work.  They are gorgeous but a little pricey though so we will see.

I constantly say I'm going to replace these sheers but I've yet to do so.

I know they probably look a little dated but I love the whiteness of them and that they do not close in my room. I have no blinds on my dining room windows either.  We've always enjoyed being able to look out the windows during the few times we do use this room.  It's very enjoyable.

I have two of these lithograph prints I inherited from my grandmother.  They are prints from the Godey's catalog that used to come out for women to order their dresses.  I think they are pretty cool!

My chandelier is one of my most favorite pieces in this room too.  I just love it!  It came with the house and I am still trying to find a replacement glass for one that I cracked.  I've yet to find the right size bell shade with the bubble glass and so it sit's with cracked shade and all.  Please send me any info you have if you ever see these large bell shades with bubble glass!

And finally, since I'm showing you my dining room today I decided to throw out a little tablescape too.  You may remember I already had my centerpiece created as shown in previous post.

Well I couldn't very well show you a dining room without the table set now could I?

I just recently purchased these napkins.  They looks so fallish to me!

I liked how they looked with my bamboo flatware too.

 Here is my newest acquirement.  These amber colored goblets.  I've been wanting some for awhile now. I could not believe I found a set of four for only $6.00 at a resale store.  I don't know if they are worth much or what the pattern is but who cares, I love them!

Well that's my dining room as it looks today!  It's about to change up for the season very soon so I'm sure I'll be showing you this room again before too long. 

I am joining both

 Tablescape Thursday

and

Cottage and Vine

 today. 

Be sure and visit the two linky parties listed above for many more beautiful and inspirational dining rooms and settings.

Thanks for visiting with me!

Have a great day!

Handmade Fleece Throw

Whew!  I finally found a moment to share my latest project with you.  I'm pretty happy I finished it just in time to share it with your for

 Metamorphosis Monday.

Do you remember the hint I gave you about the project I was working on?  No?  Well, let me refresh your memory, here is what I said;

"Here's a hint!  It's very easy to do and you've seen them a thousand times already I'm sure!  It's warm and cozy but the combination that I am using is probably new to some of you."  

Did you guess what's warm and Cozy?

If you guessed a blanket you would be correct!  More accurately, if you guessed a fleece blanket,  you would have been dead on!

We all know how much we love our plaid here in blog land right?  So, I'm sure you can imagine how excited I was when I came across this beautiful brown plaid fleece fabric on my lunch hour at the fabric store. My head started swimming with ideas!

  I have been wanting to make one of those knotted throws for several years now.  So when, I came across this plaid fleece fabric that I absolutely loved and it was on sale for 50% off, I decided I was going to make a blanket for our den.

  To make a knotted throw you need two pieces of fabric.  I decided to make a reversible blanket instead of making it the same on both sides.  You will understand why perfectly when you see what I chose for the opposite side.

The next thing I did was to lay the two pieces on top of each other and pinned them together with the front sides of the fabric facing out.  Then after determining my size, I cut out the corners on each end of the blanket and then trimmed off my sides equally.

Then it was time to go around all the edges and cut my tassels.

The next step was to to knot both of the pieces of fabric together.  This is what finishes the blanket.

I made this blanket using the knotting method called the "half hitch" knot.  It's where you just take the two tassel pieces that are stacked on top of each other, wrap them around your finger, loop them both through the hole and slide the knot up towards the blanket.   I've made the knotted fleece scarves before using this method but with only one piece of fabric.

  Now you get a peek at the fabric I chose for the reverse side.

How do you like my choices?  Who doesn't love houndstooth and plaid?  

I know I sure do!  

And...OMG!!!  I think the two of them together is just so comforting and gorgeous!  

My family obviously feels the same way because both my husband and son have been enjoying using our new blanket already.  The best part of it is, I love how beautifully it looks in our den!

We're getting some cooler temperatures here now and it's prime snuggling time!

This is a very easy project for those of you who have never made one yet.  I highly recommend it!  The fleece fabric choices seem to get better every year too.

Thanks for visiting today!

I hope you enjoyed your visit!

Have a great week everyone!

Hoping you all stay warm and cozy!

Juggling work and Thanksgiving

Hi Friends!  Are you ready for Thanksgiving?  I am, well, sorta!  Since I am not hosting our Thanksgiving dinner at my house this year it's a bit easier.  Quite a bit actually! 

 Not hosting means I'll only be responsible for bringing a few dishes, which I have yet to officially decide upon what I plan to bring.  I'm not sweating it though because I have several that I know will be well appreciated.  One thing about my side of the family is that we always want the same old tried and true dishes on Thanksgiving day.  My mother has tried to introduce a few new things, but they rarely ever make the return list.  I guess we are all very traditional when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner in my family.  Now Christmas dinner, that's a different story!

Since I'm not hosting Turkey day I decided to create a Thanksgiving vignette on my dining table this year that can sit here untouched for a few weeks.

One of the advantages of working at Stein Mart in the gifts department is that I get to do lots of vignettes. 

 The large tables in the middle of each gift section is a conglomeration of several items from the shelves for display.  I've been enjoying creating vignettes on these and have to tweak them daily as products sell.  I have been learning to focus on bringing more height into vignettes.

I also get to do this on the shelves because we try to create attractive displays of products on the top shelves as well as arranging the products below.

  We receive shipments weekly so I am constantly resetting to allow for new merchandise.  I have to say so far, it's a fluffer's dream!  I really wish I could photograph my work for you but company policy will not allow it.  So you'll just have to see some of my things at home which are not nearly as interesting because I just don't have the stuff to work with here.  Oh well!  

The focus of this vignette is my newest piece.  I purchased this turkey dish several months ago from a local consignment/antique store.  It was quite a deal too!

Then I added my candlesticks and cloche for more height.  They also added quite a bit of weight or thickness if you will, to this vignette.

I then added a few floral's and pumpkins for just a touch of color and to fill in space around the bottom.  My goal was to keep this somewhat neutral looking with the whites. 

So what do you think?

Now on to my fireplace mantle, which leaves a bit more to be desired!

  Most of you may already know I do not like to add much to this mantle because of the location of it in my room.  When I decorate this mantle heavily is just overwhelms the room to me.  I have also been thinking that perhaps my sconces are not placed well on the wall.  I am considering lowering them and bringing them in closer to the mirror. This would allow for more space to put larger floral arrangements on the ends of the mantle, if I choose too.  So maybe that's what is throwing off the whole thing.  IDK!  Anyway, this is how I started out with my fall mantle.

I pulled out my Turkey platter that I inherited from my in laws to use as the centerpiece. Then I added the willow candle holders and the fall leaves.  I thought I was done, until....

..I unpacked my old crows.  I just adore these tacky little candle holders! 

 They really are very cutesy looking and just do not go with this setting at all to me.  I have to put them out though!  I just cannot find another spot I'd rather have them.  Heaven help me!

So here they rest for this year!

  I have so little to time fret for long over these things here at home now, which is a good thing. Working has had it's advantages for me for sure.  I really am getting much better with managing things during my time off now too.  Because I am on the go none stop at work, I am starting to be more "on the go" when I am off as well.

  For example, today I have to go in from 1:00pm to 9:30pm because I have to help with closing.  So this morning I am blogging and crafting.   Most of the time I work mornings and afternoons but it's always changing, that's retail.  My lunch hours are spent eating and shopping for crafts, groceries and now Christmas.  Days off are for family, cleaning and if time allows whatever else I want to do.  It's a juggling act for sure, but I have been so busy I am starting to drop some weight even though I am eating terribly.  My energy is returning too.  It's funny how when you don't have much time to do things you seem to be more inspired to do them.  Weird!

You will have to stop back by again soon to see something I am working on.   Here's a hint!  It's very easy to do and you've seen them a thousand times already I'm sure!  It's warm and cozy but the combination that I am using is probably new to some of you.  Can you guess what it is?  I think it's going to be one many of you will love!  I'll try to finish it up this week!

Anyway, that's what's up with me along with a few vignettes I thought I'd share with you!  I may add these to a few linky partys later on when I think of them.  LOL!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great day!   

Thanksgiving/Fall Wreath Part Three

Hi Ladies!  How are you?  I am doing great!  I am so excited to finally be able to show you part three of my fall wreath.  For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about let me fill you in.   I decided to create an interchangeable fall wreath this year.  It's quite simple really and includes a base,shown here, and two additional wreaths that simply hang over the base.  There is one for Halloween, shown here, and the one I made for Thanksgiving.

I actually created this Thanksgiving wreath long before I made the Halloween wreath.  It's been hanging around in my kitchen ever since.

It all started when I found the little checked wooden sign at Michael's earlier in August.  It was in the $1.00 bin and I just knew I had to make something with it.  Then after deciding to make 3 wreaths in one I knew this would be part of my Thanksgiving wreath. 

I already had this small straw wreath in my crafts box and the plaid fabric as well.  First I cut the fabric into long strips and wrapped it around the wreath securing them with pins.  Then I hot glued the Family sign on the wreath. 

Next, I added the fabric bow by simply wrapping it around the wreath and tying into a bow.  I did the same thing for the loop to hang it with using the plaid fabric to match and wedged in a small touch of fall greenery.

And now, I am ready to add it to my fall wreath on the door.

I love how well it fits right into the middle of the fall wreath!

There you have it!  The third and final part of my interchangeable fall wreath.  I am joining 

BNOTP for Metamorphosis Monday today

to share my project.

Thank you all so much for stopping by!

Have a great Monday and I hope each of you has a wonderful week too!

Look what the shoe elves brought me!

Hey All!  Today is Free Friday and that means I can post whateva I want.  I had yesterday off and did a little shopping and found some more great shoe bargains!  I just have to share them with somebody!

I've been on a shoe shopping kick for a few weeks now actually.  Being on your feet for 8 to 10 hours a day on a concrete surface and climbing up and down metal stairs to the stock room quickly took a toll on my poor old tooties.  My first shoe purchases were quite conservative looking but very comfortable.

I have several friends who have raved about the comfort of Dansko's.  They are worn quite a bit by those in the medical profession.  They are basically clogs!  I'm not sure how but these shoes really do keep my feet from aching at the end of the day.

I chose this style with a back on the heel mainly because of the stairs.  I didn't want to be sliding out of any shoes coming down the stairs at work.  Look how scuffed up I've already gotten them in just two weeks.  Do any of you own any Dansko's?

Next I purchased these.  They are Clarks.  I learned about these when I did substitute teaching.  All the teachers went on and on about the comfort of Clarks.  I like how the Clarks have a little bit more style.

These are Naturalizers!  I picked them up at TJ Maxx.  I've only worn them a few times because they are not nearly as comfortable as the Dansko's and the Clarks, but I like how they are lower to the ground.  I will most likely use these more for my shopping shoes then work shoes. 

Okay, now to the really fun stuff!

Here's yesterdays finds!

I bought these first yesterday.  They are Baretraps.  Belks is having a huge boot sale and I since I was off yesterday I just had to go.  I instantly fell in love with these.  They are just the style and color I was looking for.  The color is called mushroom.  It's grey with a slightly brownish tint.  It's perfect because it will go with so many things.  I'm sure you noticed there isn't much of a heel either right?  Sorry ladies, I just don't do heels much anymore.  I love, love, love how versatile these are going to be!

Then later in the day I was at Burlington Coat Factory and came across these. I have been wanting a new pair of black boots.  My old ones are too tight on the calves now and pretty worn since I've had them for years.  So when I spied these and saw the price I decided it was time to update my black boots.  I just love how classic these are!  They are from Etienne Aigner.

And here they are!  My little shoe elves!  LOL!
  Seriously though, because I just love to share a bargain, I had to show you a sneek peek at these guys!  Look what I found at Hobby Lobby.  I love elves and these guys were just so adorable!  Even better they were 50% off, so that meant two for the price of one.  What a deal!

Just look at those faces would you!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Thanks for stopping by!