WE JUST BOUGHT A NEW HOUSE. A 1830'S BRICK FEDERAL THAT IS WONDERFUL AND NEEDS TOTAL RESTORATION AND I AM STILL SHOOTING MY NEW BOOK AND NOW HAVE TO WRITE IT BY AUGUST 3RD. THE BOOK WILL BE AVAILABLE THIS COMING SPRING 2011. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR FOLLOWING ME. IT WILL BE SPARSE HERE FOR A BIT BUT I PROMISE I WILL BE BACK SOON WITH GREAT PHOTOS AND DECOCRATING IDEAS...HAPPY SUMMER TO ALL!
I LOVE CANDLES.THE CANDLE STICKS DURING THE DAY AND THE CANDLE LIGHT AT NIGHT. TRY ARRANGING THEM BY HEIGHT. NOTICE THE SINGLE CANDLE STICK WITH THREE CANDLE ARMS ON THE LEFT AND HOW I HAVE DUPLICATED THE SAME LOOK WITH THREE SEPERATE CANDLE STICKS ON THE RIGHT. IT WORKS WELL AND CREATES SOME WHIMSEY. LIGHT UP EVERYONE AND ENJOY THE SOFT GLOW.
TRY PAINTING OUT OLD BRASS TO SILVER, WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT CAN MAKE. I PICKED THIS COOL FLOOR LAMP UP FOR ABOUT $10 AND SPAY PAINTED IT SILVER, I RUBBED OFF SOME OF THE PAINT WITH STEEL WOOL TO ADD SOME AGE AND CREATE A PATINA AND NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THOSE $300 LAMPS YOU SEE IN UPSCALE STORES(YOU KNOW THE ONES I'M TALKING ABOUT). TRY IT WITH ANYTHING AND CHANGE IT OUT TODAY!
CROQUET BALLS, IN A BIRD BATH, INSIDE THE SUNROOM IN VERMONT. EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS SAYS OUTSIDE, THAT'S WHY THEIR INSIDE HERE. I FOUND THESE OLD WOODEN BALLS AND DRY PAINTED THEM WHITE. THE ANTIQUE BIRD BATH WAS THE PERFECT SPOT FOR THEM. I HAVE HAD THEM LINED UP ON THE GUEST BEDROOM BUREAU, ON THE MANTLE, AND OF COURSE HEAPED UP ON THE DINING ROOM TABLE. GIVE IT A SHOT, YOU MAY HIT A HOME RUN. LOOK PAST THE OBVIOUS, IT' RIGHT THERE.
I USED TO ALWAYS MAKE THE BEDS, PERFECT, PILLOWS AND LINENS IN PLACE, AND ON A GOOD DAY STILL DO, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING SAID ABOUT HAVING AN UNMADE BED. IT CREATES A MORE CASUAL FEEL AND LIFESTYLE THAT SAYS I'M NOT THAT FUSSY. DON'T THINK I'M CRAZY BUT TRY IT NOW AND THEN, YOU MIGHT JUST LIKE IT. THANKS TO KINDRA AND TIM FOR LETTNIG ME UNMAKE THE BEDS IN THEIR SUMMER HOUSE IN MAINE FOR THIS PHOTO. I'LL GO FIX IT BACK NOW, GEESH!
I AM FOND OF THINGS LINED UP IN A ROW. ON A FIREPLACE MANTLE, BOOK SHELF, OR LIKE HERE ON THE SOUTHERN MAINE DINING ROOM TABLE. IRONSTONE OF COURSE IS MY FAVORITE, BUT YOU CAN ALSO TRY URNS, OLD BOTTLES, BASKETS, THE LIST JUST GOES ON. MY MOTTO IS STACK THEM UP OR LINE THEM UP. THIS CASUAL APPROACH WILL MAKE A ROOM SETTING MORE INTERESTING AND SOMETIMES EVEN MORE ELEGANT!
WHY GO OUT AND SPEND A FORTUNE ON A KITCHEN ISLAND WHEN A DEEP DRAWERED BUREAU WORKS JUST FINE. I FOUND THIS CHIPPY WHITE AND GREEN EARLY BUREAU FOR UNDER $75. WE PAINTED THE INSIDE OF THE DRAWERS WITH A WHITE PRIMER TO FRESHEN THEM UP AND LINED THEM WITH PARCHMENT PAPER. ON MY WAY HOME TO VERMONT FROM MAINE I FOUND A PLACE WHERE THEY SELL GRANITE REMNANTS AND I GOT A PIECE OF WHITE AND TAN GRANITE FOR ONLY $200 CUT AND FINISHED TO MY MEASUREMENTS. FINAL COSTS WERE UNDER $300 FOR SOMETHING THAT WILL GIVE THE SOUTHERN MAINE SUMMER KITCHEN A LOT OF INTEREST AND CHARACTER. GO FIND ONE TODAY AND SAVE A BUNDLE.
I'M ALL ABOUT THE BED. ALWAYS HAVE BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE. IT HAS TO BE HIGH OFF THE GROUND, IT JUST SEEMS MORE IMPORTANT THEN. I LOVE BIG DOWN FILLED PILLOWS, GOOD LINENS AND DUVETS, ALL COMBINED WITH LIGHT COLORS AND PATTERNS, NOTHING TOO DISTRACTING. KEEP YOUR BED SIMPLE. USE MANY OF LAYERS OF BLANKETS, PILLOWS, AND COVERS TO CREATE THAT SPECIAL PLACE FOR YOUR GUESTS TO RELAX IN WHEN THEY COME TO VISIT. MINE NEVER WANT TO LEAVE!
IT SEEMS GOOD TO BE BACK AT THE FARM, AT LEAST FOR A SHORT TIME. WHILE AT THE SOUTHERN MAINE SUMMER HOUSE MY GOAL WAS TO HAVE THE UPSTAIRS BEDROOMS DONE WITH FRESH PAINT AND NEW ANTIQUES, I ALMOST COMPLETED IT. THE BUREAU IN THE PHOTO WAS DARK OAK WITH A STENCIL ON THE FRONT OF EACH DRAWER, OUT DATED FOR MY STYLE. I DRY BRUSHED THREE COATS OF OFF WHITE PAINT ON IT AND MADE SURE ALL THE INPERFECTIONS CAME THROUGH. THE FINISH PRODUCT CAME OUT JUST AS I HAD PLANNED, WONDERFUL. PERFECT FOR THE SUMMER HOUSE GUEST BEDROOM. DON'T BE AFRAID TO GIVE A COAT OF PAINT TO SOMETHING THAT NO LONGER WORKS IN YOUR DECORATING PLAN. HAVE FUN WITH IT. GO GRAB YOUR BRUSHES!
I REMEMBER BACK IN MID DECEMBER OF 1995, DALE CALLING ME IN TO THE BEDROOM TO WATCH SOMETHING ON TV. I LAYED ACROSS THE BED AS THE VIDEO PLAYED. THERE WAS DALE IN SOMEONES BASEMENT WITH CHILDREN RUNNING ALL AROUND, I'M THINKING WHAT IS THIS ABOUT. IN THE CENTER OF THE ROOM WAS A HUGE BOX WRAPPED IN GREEN, DALE CONTINUED ON IN THE VIDEO SAYING HE WASN'T SURE WHAT TO GET ME FOR CHRISTMAS SO HERE WERE SOME OF MY CHOICES. HE REMOVED THE LID TO THE BOX AND ALL I SAW WERE LITTLE BOBBING GOLDEN RETEIVER HEADS, ALL AS CUTE AS COULD BE. I WAS CONFUSED AS WE HAD DISCUSSED NO MORE DOGS AFTER I LOST MY 17 YEAR OLD GOLDEN PYRITE, WE HAD JUST OPENED A NEW STORE AND OUR LIVES WERE CRAZY AND DALE STILL HAD HIS TWO WOLVES. DALE WOULD PICK EACH PUPPY UP AND SAY NO YOU'RE NOT THE ONE, AND THAT CONTINUED ON FOR FIVE OR SIX PUPPIES AND THEN HE PULLED THIS LITTLE GUY WITH A NAME TAG AS BIG AS HE WAS, THE TAG SAID ROOSTER, DALE STATED THIS IS THE ONE.(I HAD WATCHED A DOG SHOW AND SAW A LITTLE PUG NAMED ROOSTER AND SAID IF I EVER GET ANOTHER DOG I WANT TO NAME HIM ROOSTER, DALE REMEMBERED)SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS WE WENT TO VISIT ROOSTER, HE WAS TO YOUNG TO BRING HOME BEFORE CHRISTMAS. WHEN I MET HIM HE WAS BY HINSELF PLAYING WITH A RIBBON TOTALLY IGNORING ME AND EVERTHING ELSE. THIS LITTLE GIRL PUPPY THERE WOULD NOT LEAVE ME ALONE, JUMPING AND TUGGING AT ME, I WAS DRAWN TO HER. DALE SAID IF YOU WANT HER INSTEAD WE CAN SWITCH, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW ROOSTER PICKED US, I DID NOT PICK HIM. WITH THOSE WORDS WE WENT BACK A WEEK LATER AND BROUGHT ROOSTER HOME TO THE FARMHOUSE. HE WAS A BUNDLE OF JOY, VERY INDEPENDENT, BUT STILL LOVING. HE GREW TO BE A EXCELLENT CATCH OF THE TENNIS BALL,AND SNOWBALLS IN THE WINTER TIME, HARDLY EVER MISSING ANY, HE ADORED HIS STUFFED ANIMALS AND ALWAYS HAD ONE IN HIS MOUTH AT ALL TIMES. THEN HE GOT INTERESTED IN ROCKS, THERE WERE ROCKS EVERYWHERE, IN THE HOUSE, ON THE LAWN(SOME THAT WENT THROUGH THE LAWN MOWER AND BROKE WINDOWS). I REMEMBER HIM PUTTING ROCKS ON ANYONES SHOES WHO STOOD STILL LONG ENOUGH, AS HE KNEW THE ROCK WAS GOING TO MOVE WHEN THAT PERSON STEPPED . WHILE RESTORING THE HOUSE HERE HE WOULD PUT ROCKS ON THE BOARDS AS THE CARPENTERS WERE SAWING BECAUSE HE KNEW THEY WOULD MOVE OR FALL SO HE COULD RUSH AND GET THEM. IT WAS HIS LITTLE GAME THAT HE PLAYED BY HIMSELF. HE LOVE A GOOD PARTY AND WAS QUITE THE HOST. EVERY YEAR WE WOULD THROW A SUMMER PARTY WITH A HUNDRED OR SO GUESTS. WE WOULD LET ROOSTER OUT(WITH A HAND WRITTEN NOTE STAPLED TO THE TOP OF HIS COLLAR "I'M NOT ALLOWED TO PLAY WITH ROCKS"). HE WOULD GREET THEM ALL AND HE WOULD COME TO FIND US "OCCASIONALL" TO SEE WHAT WE WERE DOING. WE WOULD GIVE ALL OUR GUEST GLOW NECKLACES TO WEAR AFTER THE SUN SET, BY THE END OF THE EVENING ROOSTER WOULD BE WEARING THIRTY OR SO AROUND HIS NECK AN ALL YOU COULD SEE WAS THIS RAINBOW OF COLOR SWIMMING IN THE POND. I REMEMBER HIM COMING UP TO OUR NEIGHBOR NETTY AT ONE PARTY AND RESTING BESIDE HER WHERE HE JUST FELL ASLEEP IN THE SITTING POSITION NEXT TO HER. HE WAS A LOVER OF ITALIAN FOOD, ANYTHING WITH TOMATOE SAUCE HE ADORED. IF WE LEFT A PIZZA BOX ON THE COUNTER HE WOULD NOT COME TO BED UNTIL WE THREW IT AWAY AND IT WAS OUT OF SITE. HE CHASED THE NEIGHBORS DOG CRICKET HOME EVERY CHANCE HE HAD FOR YEARS. YOU JUST HAD TO SAY THE CRICKET AND HE WOULD START LOOKING FOR HER, I THINK IT REALLY WAS A SILENT CRUSH HE HAD ON HER. AS HE GOT OLDER HIS PERSONALITY WAS GREW EVEN MORE, HE GOT VERY VERBAL IN LETTING US KNOW WHEN HE WAS HUNGRY OR WANTED SOMETHING. I KNOW WHEN WE BOUGHT THE NEW HOUSE IN MAINE I THOUGHT THE TRIPS WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR THE OLD MAN, BUT WE TOOK HIM AND HE FIT RIGHT IN, EVERY TIME HE WENT BACK HE HAD HIS OWN AJENDA, JUST AS LONG AS WE WERE THERE HE WAS FINE.I LOVE TELLING THESE STORIES OF ROOSTER BECAUSE I WANT TO KEEP ROOSTERS MEMORY ALIVE.HE WAS SPECIAL AND I THANK HIM FOR GIVING FOR FIFTEEN YEARS AND MOST OF ALL CHOOSING US. ROOSTER I LOVE YOU.
I GOT GREAT NEWS TODAY. MY BOOK NEW FARMHOUSE STYLE IS GOING TO BE CARRIED AT ALL THE POTTERY BARN RETAIL STORES. THE BOOK WILL BE A GREAT ADDITION TO THEIR ALREADY SIMILAR STYLE OF MINE. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A COPY PICK ONE UP.
HAVING A BOOTH AT THE ANTIQUE SHOP HAS BEEN ALOT OF FUN FOR ME. I'M ALWAYS SEARCHING OUT THAT SPECIAL THING TO BRING IN AND ADD TO IT. I ALSO HAVE AREA INSPIRED OIL PAINTNGDS, MY HAND MADE SANTAS, AND ONE OF A KIND TEDDY BEARS, ALL DONE BY ME AND ONLY AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE THERE. I ALSO SELL PROPS FROM MY BOOKS THAT HAVE SERVED THEIR PURPOSE AND NOW NEED TO FIND A NEW LOVING HOME. PLEASE STOP BY IF YOU ARE IN SOUTHERN MAINE ON ROUTE ONE IN CAPE NEDDICK. MAKE SURE TO SAY HELLO TO DONALD AND JACK. 1.207.363.3436
IN THE BATHROOM IN SOUTHERN MAINE I HAVE A GREAT PLAIN WHITE WALL CUPBOARD FROM BELGIUM. I LOVE THE LOOK, BUT BY ADDING A FEW SHELLS ALONG THE TIPPY TOP IN A ROW GIVES A VERY SWEET DETAIL THAT CAN BE CHANGED OUT AT ANY TIME. NEVER LOOK AT YOUR PIECES IN THE SAME WAY DAY AFTER DAY, BE CREATIVE WITH THEM AND "SPECIAL THEM UP" WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE. NEVER BE ACCUSED OF BEING BORING, WITH YOUR PERSON OR YOUR HOME.
I RACED BACK FROM MAINE TO JUST BEAT THIS CRAZY SNOW STORM VERMONT IS GETTING, OVER THIRTY INCHES AND STILL COMING DOWN. I HAD A GREAT TIME IN MAINE, ANTIQUING, GETTING TOGETHER WITH GOOD FRIENDS, AND WORKING ON THE MASTER BEDROOM AT THE HOUSE. THE BEROOM STILL HAS A WAYS TO GO BUT IS GOING TO BE VERY SWEET WHEN DONE, JUST IN TIME FOR THOSE SUMMER NIGHTS. I FOUND A GREAT OLD WICKER TEA CART, ALL CHIPPY AND WILL MAKE A GREAT BEDSIDE STAND. NOW TO FIND SOME BUREAUS. STAY TUNED.
I HAVE BEEN MAKING BEARS LIKE CRAZY THIS WEEK AND NOW I AM DONE, WITH JUST THE SHIPPING LEFT TO DO. THANKS TO ALL MY LOYAL BEAR CUSTOMERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND GIVING MY BEARS A GREAT NEW HOME. I AM OFF TO SOUTHERN MAINE FOR TWO WEEKS ON TUESDAY (SOME R & R, HENCE THE BEDROOM SHOT) AND TO WORK ON MY NEW BOOK IN BOSTON. OH YES AND TO CELEBRATE DALES BIRTHDAY ON THE 13TH, GET TOGETHER WITH DONALD AND JACK FROM COLUMBARY HOUSE ANTIQUES AND MY FRIEND MAGGIE FROM THE NORTH SHORE OF BOSTON. WE CAN ALL SIT AROUND THE FIREPLACE AND CATCH UP. MY FRIEND MAGGIE'S BRINGING SOMETHING SPECIAL, HER AND DALE ARE GREAT COOKS AND ARE SECRETLY PLANNING A MENU, SO THE DINNER WILL BE FABULOUS. SO CHECK BACK OFTEN AND I WILL UPDATE SOON. HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT COUPLE WEEKS AND KEEP DECORATING. I'M ALSO EXCITED TO BE PICKING OUT NEW PAINT COLORS FOR THE HOUSE THIS TRIP. SOME COLOR, NOT MUCH, YOU KNOW ME! TERRY
SURROUNDING OUR SUMMER HOUSE IN DOWNEAST MAINE ARE THESE WONDERFUL WILD ROSES. WE PICK THEM AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND BRING THEM INTO THE CAPE. AFTER YESTERDAYS POST I AM REFUSING TO POST ANYMORE WINTER SHOTS ON MY BLOG. THE WINTER IS LONG ENOUGH IN THE EAST AND I DON'T WANT TO ENCOURAGE IT ANYMORE. HAVE A WARM AND SUNNY DAY.
THESE BIKES WERE LEFT ON THE PATH AS A REMINDER OF SUMMER. HARD TO IMAGE RIGHT NOW WITH AL THE SNOW HERE. I'LL GUESS I WILL JUST HAVE TO GO MAKE BEARS. HUH!
COZY UP ON THE COUCH, START A SMALL FIRE, DREAM ABOUT THE NEXT GARDENING PROJECT AT THE NEW HOUSE, AND A GLASS OF WINE WOULD BE JUST FINE. YES WE HAVE COLOR IN SOUTHERN MAINE. CALL ME CRAZY.
I HAVE ADMIRED AND COLLECTED FINIALS FOR YEARS. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE THEY WERE USUALLY MADE OF WOOD (I DO HAVE SOME METAL ONES TO) AND THEY WERE USE TO DECORATE RAILINGS, TOPS OF GARDEN POSTS, AND EVEN SOMETIMES ROOF LINES OF HOUSES. THEY ARE GREAT INTEREST TO HAVE AROUND THE HOUSE AND A GREAT DECORATING TOOL. I LOVE THE WHITE CHIPPY PAINT THAT CREATES ALL THAT TEXTURE AND THEIR CURVEY SHAPES. THEY CAN BE PRICEY SO IF YOU SEE ONE UNDER $50 SNATCH IT UP.
SHEEP IN ROW. I SALVAGED AN OLD SHELF FROM MY GRAND MOTHERS KITCHEN THAT WAS HERE AT THE FARM YEARS AGO. IT HUNG OVER HER WHITE CAST IRON SINK WHEN I WAS A CHILD HERE. AFTER YEARS OF STORAGE I ADDED IT TO THE CARRIAGE HOUSE STAIRWELL WALL, A PERFECT TINY SPACE FOR A MINI COLLECTION.
YET ANOTHER WAY TO ORGANIZE A COLLECTION. SIMPLE AND VERY EFFECTIVE. TRY IT!
HARDLY BEFORE THE PAINT ON THE MANTLE WAS DRY, BEFORE WE MOVED ANYTHING IN THE HOUSE, I PLACED THESE SMOOTH BEACH ROCKS, COLLECTED JUST DOWN THE ROAD, ON THE MANTLE, AND THEY ARE STILL THERE. HOUSE GUEST ADD TO THE COLLECTION WITH EVERY VISIT. DON'T DRIVE YOURSELF CRAZY BY CONSTANTLY CHANGING MANTLES OUT, SOMETIMES WHEN IT'S RIGHT, IT'S RIGHT
I FOUND A BUSHEL BASKET OF THESE SHELLS IN AN ANTIQUE STORE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. ALL WORN WITH GREAT PATINA. WHERE MOST PEOPLE WOULD HAVE PASSED THEM UP, I "HAD" TO HAVE THEM. RESTING ON THE MANTLE THEY ARE SIMPLE AND ELEGANT!
IF YOU DON'T KNOW BY NOW BY READING MY BOOK, VISITING OUR HOMES, OR READING THIS BLOG, OK, I'M GONNA SAY IT, I AM AN IRONSTONE ADDICT.I HAVE HUNDREDS OF PIECES. WHAT A BETTER PLACE FOR SOME CHIPPY STAINED PLATES AND BUTTER PATS THAN THE KITCHEN MANTLE. I LOVE THE SOFT SHAPES THAT CONTRAST THE HARD ANGLES OF THE KITCHEN. TRY IT, UNDERSTATED YES, MEMORABLE OF COURSE.
I LOVE "SIMPLE" MANTELS. IN OUR SUMMER HOUSE IN DOWNEAST MAINE WE ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE FOUR FIREPLACES, HENCE MANTLES. I KEEP THEM SIMPLE, EACH WITH ONLY A COLLECTION OF THE SAME THINGS. TRY IT, LET YOUR COLLECTIONS SPEAK OUT AND BE NOTICED! HERE A COLLECTION OF EARLY CHILDERNS SHOES HIGHLIGHT THE DENS MANTLE. (AND YES THERE ARE COWS IN MAINE, AT LEAST IN THE DEN.)
