Easter to Spring Hearth Room Mantel

Last Christmas I found a wonderful framed grainsack with a French sheep motif, and I fell in love. I knew it would be a piece I could use throughout the year, especially Christmas and Easter. As it goes, I've left it up on the mantel throughout the winter and just transitioned my mantel with changeups using topiaries, lanterns and evergreen branches.

Farm Animals in French Country Decor

Somewhere deep in my DNA I have the Farmer/Shepherd gene that has been dormant for many years. When I was growing up my dad always kept a few beef cattle at the farmhouse, but we weren't allowed to name them or pet them because well, you know why...  So, next best thing is to just collect cows and sheep to decorate with in my vintage Cottage, Farmhouse, and French Country decor.

The After-Easter French Country Mantel

Hi Friends, I hope you had a wonderful Easter. 

Were you able to be with family and friends?

We were on our own still, 

but we did have a lovely day.

A Touch of Easter in the Dining Room

I did a light touch of Easter decorating in the Dining Room this year. I wanted to bring in more "Spring" decor than all out Easter decor. My sheep and lambs were let loose to roam in here in late February after I put away all the winter elements. I've mentioned before that much of the time I don't really take it all in until after I've taken photos and I'm sitting down to edit them.

Winter Lambs in the Dining Room

Hello Everyone, 

Winter is showing up here with snow and cold temps for sure.

Not only cold temps but lots of wind that makes it chilly and shivery even indoors 

as you look out and see the little birds on the feeder trying to grab a tiny bite

before heading back to their evergreen shelters.

Spring Thing in the Hearth Room

Hello everyone, hope you're well and keeping your sanity. (I'll get back to you all on that one...)

I took a lot of pics several weeks ago when I was decorating for Spring and Easter. The Hearth Room didn't get Easter decor; no bunnies or things, but more of a Spring theme. Actually it hasn't changed too much since early March. Lambs and sheep are a favorite of mine, so the little bench in front of the sofa has one of my sheep and a twiggy basket of Paperwhites.

Olive Bucket Candleholders on the Cheap

Hi Friends... are you like me and see something you just have to have and you can't get it out of your brain? Do you obsess over an idea, thought or photo until you work it out to either make it yourself or just get it over with and buy the dang thing? I think there's a lot of that going on around blog land; it's part of out creative process, or maybe it's just some kind of Internet illness floating around. Either way, it rarely goes away on it's own...

The Power of a Print...

Do you want to change the feel of a room or space? There are several low cost ways to get a new feeling or vibe to your space, but my favorite is to consider what you have hanging on your walls: artwork and prints in this case.

A Spring Entry

...and talking sheep...

You know me, during each season I usually change things up more than once. For Easter, I like things a little more pastel. Easter is about the only time you'll see "pastel" being used around here. But for earlier in the Spring Season I've used various shades of browns and greens, mostly in the Kitchen Sitting Area, since I like to use my brown and pink floral quilt. I went with the same colors here in the Entry, using a brown and green check ribbon to hang my mossy O, and then my sheep print on canvas.

Lambs and Ivy

Every once and awhile I run across something that I haven't shared with you before.

 At the old house this wonderful old fruit crate hadn't made it past the garage

 "shop inventory".

 Now at the new house, it again migrated to the garage. 

I'm not sure why except that I've just never known what to do with it...

pretty lame excuse.

Basics for Building a Tabletop Vignette

Although I haven't been changing things up around here too much lately, boredom has set in big time, and I needed something fresh to look at here in the Living Room. Each time I think of putting together a vignette or grouping I panic. Good Grief, where do I start? Then I spend a lot of time hunting down and trying things, moving stuff around, then discarding them; generally wasting my time. Decor books and magazines help, but even then I'm sometimes left without an idea of where to start.

I LOVE doing seasonal vignettes, but no matter if I'm decorating for a specific Holiday or Season, or just something basic, I've learned some foundational "building blocks" that make it pretty simple to put together an "Easy Change" Tabletop Vignette.

Kitchen Sitting Area Dressed for Fall

When I shared the Blogger Fall Home Tour put together by Brenda last week, one room didn't make the cut... that was the Kitchen Sitting Area. I had a few things left to get done. So, I have a few of those things done, but it's still not finished. I'm sure I'll have that done by the time to decorate for Christmas.

Gettin' his Fall on...

I tried to tell Beaufort that it was a little too early for Fall decorating...

but he didn't listen.

He wanted to try on his new plaid scarf...

and then he wouldn't take it off.

so I had to humor him.

"OK, Beaufort, it's pretty close.

you can leave it on."

Do you or someone you know,

 have unreasonable feelings about Fall?

yeah, I know.

Joining in Here:

Show and Share at Coastal Charm

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

The Scoop at Worthing Court

Share Your Style at Common Ground

Inspiration Gallery at Craftberry Bush

xoxo,

Easter Mantel

I was thinking about the fact that I don't have a lot of "Easter" things out when I realized I probably haven't shared my mantel since Christmas or right after. I bought some new pussy willow stems and white blooming branches for Spring-i-fying the pottery vases, since I couldn't locate any Spring branches here at the house. I think my second tub of Easter goodies that I had from last year is buried somewhere in our basement storage room (story of my recent life).

Late Summer Reflections

I usually do a lot of complaining this time of year...I'm tired of the heat...I'm ready for Fall...my flowers are all dried up...I can go on and on. But this year I'm really missing the gradual change of season in my decorating, and I'm needing a little late Summer/early Fall inspiration. It's been a little hard for me to look back at all the photos from last year. It's not so much that I miss the house itself, but that I just miss being able to putter and play and decorate. As a friend said to me today, "It's hard being in a temporary nest". You can click on the individual photos for the "biggy" size.

Here are some highlights from Augusts past...

Yes, that's a pumpkin you see, don't tell anyone...

OK, I feel better...

just itching to get all my Fall Decor out.

gee, hope I can find it...

We just have two more weeks until we close on the house,

and I have some fun and exciting things to share once we do.

Joining in at 

Sundays at Home with Thoughts from Alice

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings

Junkin' Joe at The Cottage Market

The Scoop at Stone Gable

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Show and Share at Coastal Charm

Hope you have a great weekend.

xoxo,

A Summer Baker's Rack

Do you ever get this urge for something

 and you just don't give up until you find it?

of course you do...

I'm going to believe that's a good trait to have

and not some kind of borderline personality disorder... te he

Well, I had a bee in my bonnet for a bee skep...

I just had to have one for my summer Baker's Rack in the sitting room.

Actually, I wanted one to use in my French Garden Frame,

but the more I thought about it the more I wanted one 

just to display for the Summer Version on my baker's rack.

I haven't changed much up lately,

but having a bee skep always reminds me of a French Country Garden.

This little skep isn't very big, 

but I can just imagine it in a lavender filled garden...

maybe soon.

I always enjoy my little French Garden Girl lamp here,

I light her up every evening for a sweet warm glow.

I'm really missing my sunflower displays this year.

but I have my "sheeps" that always hang out here...

Also want to share this little bit of history...

I had to brush up on my historical knowledge of Shakespeare on this little celluloid print. It's a rendering of Anne Hathaway's cottage (Shakespeare's wife) in Stratford-Upon-Avon. It looks like it might have been a souvenir of a trip in the 20's or 30's.

We're finishing up the house business...

and will be closing on it soon.

Everything's out and clean.

Now I just want to start looking for a new home,

but we've decided to take our time and not be rushed.

oooh, that's so hard,

I'm itching to get settled!

Hope you're having a wonderful week,

joining in at these parties:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

xoxo,