CAN'T WAIT TILL SPRING!

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.

JUST OFF THE FENCE POST

I BOUGHT A BOX OF WORN OLD WHITE ROUND FINIALS AT AN AUCTION NOT KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO WITH THEM, BUT I KNEW SOMEDAY THEY WOULD COME AROUND. TOO SMALL TO BE ON THEIR OWN ALONE I THOUGHT LETS GROUP THEM TOGETHER. I HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL TO PUT ON THE DINING ROOM TABLE IN SOUTHERN MAINE, I THOUGHT AH HA!. SO I TOUCHED THEM UP WITH WHITE PAINT AND PUT THEM IN AN OLD IRONSTONE BOWL. I LOVE THE EFFECT AND SIMPLICITY. AS A WHOLE THEY ARE JUST PERFECT! LOOK PAST WHAT THINGS WERE REALLY USED FOR AND TRY CREATING YOUR OWN NEW AND IMPROVED COLLECTION. IT'S FUN!

GREAT FORM AND SHAPE, NO NOT ME , FINIALS!

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.

FOLLOW THE LEADER, BAAAAAA

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.

I LIKE MY DUCKS IN A ROW, AND MY COWS AND SHEEP TOO

YET ANOTHER WAY TO ORGANIZE A COLLECTION. SIMPLE AND VERY EFFECTIVE. TRY IT!

ROCKS FROM THE BEACH

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

SHELLS IN THE DINING ROOM, ALL IN A LINE

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!

OF COURSE DISHES MAKE SENSE IN THE KITCHEN

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.

CANDLESTICKS NOT ALLOWED

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.)

BLOG BLOG BLOG, BLAH BLAH BLAH!

WHAT I WAS REALLY TRYING TO SAY, I'D RATHER BE TAKING A LONG WALK WITH COOPER(1997-2009).

I APPLIED TO BE A VALET, BUT LOST MY FLIPPERS!

WHAT THE SIGN IS REALLY SAYING, SMELLY BOATS TO THE RIGHT.

PULL UP A STEP, YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO

TYLER HAVING A MOMENT IN NORTHERN MAINE, WHAT A LUCKY DOG! photo by http:/www.kindraclineff.com

ITS BEEN A BEARY BEARY LONG DAY

STILL WINTER IN VERMONT, BUT THE SUN IS SHINING. JUST FINISHED SOME OF THE BEST BEARS YET. HAND DYED COLORFUL TWELVE IN PANDAS WITH FUNKY EYES. LOVE THESE SMALL HANDFULS ALOT. NOW DOWN TO BUSINESS AND TO GET READY TO GATHER SOME ANTIQUES TO TAKE TO MY BOOTH AT COLUMBARY ANTIQUES IN CAPE NEDDICK MAINE. I WILL POST MORE INFO ON THIS GREAT SHOP SOON AND JUST AS GREAT SHOP KEEPERS, DONALD AND JACK. HOW LUCK I AM TO BE INCLUDED IS SUCH A WONDERFUL PLACE. GOTTA JET, LOTS OF ANTIQUES TO PONDER ON, TWO OR THREE FOR ME, MAYBE ONE FOR SALE?

NEW CAMERA NEW OUT LOOK AROUND AN OLD HOUSE

MY SKINNY SANTA GOT ME A GREAT SLR CAMERA FOR CHRISTMAS AND I JUST CAN'T PUT IT DOWN. TOO MUCH FUN ALL THE TIME ANYTIME. ON THESE SNOWY VERMONT DAYS WHEN I AM NOT MAKING BEARS, EDITING NEW BOOK PROJECTS, AND THINKING ABOUT MY NEXT DESIGN PROJECT, TAKING PHOTOS IS THE PERFECT RELAXATION I NEED.

FINALLY A BLOG

JUST GETTING STARTED HERE TODAY...HOPE TO BE ADDING MORE PHOTOS, INFO ON MY CURRENT BOOK "NEW FARMHOUSE STYLE" AND OTHER NEW BOOK PROJECTS...ENJOY A PEACEFUL HOME AND LET SPECIALNESS SURROUND YOU