Vintage White Suitcases Make a Comeback...

January is the month for a fresh start and a clean slate. I always look forward to a new calendar and the possibilities that the New Year brings. No matter what the previous year has held, good or bad, I thank God for His good plans for the future, and I'm grateful that we are moving forward with a positive attitude. 

Christmas in the Cupboard

Just a quick "Hello" from the Lower Level Sitting Room,

 home of the Holiday Cupboard to wish you all a very

 Merry Christmas!!

I couldn't let Christmas come and go 

without sharing this special spot with you.

Have a wonderful Christmas Eve,

and a Happy Christmas Day.

(to see last years cupboard, click here.)

We thank you Father, for your Son

who came and died for our sins

that we might find peace and salvation in your loving arms.

joining in at Come As You Are Christmas Linky

The Autumn Holiday Cupboard

Since Fall is my favorite time to decorate the house, 

I also love gathering my odds and ends for decorating The Holiday Cupboard.

 I've tried to make it "The Ironstone Cupboard", 

or "The Transfer ware Cupboard" 

or "The White Only Cupboard",

 but I just can't make those stick.

It always becomes "The Holiday Cupboard".

It's the odd kitchen cupboard and the little chippy dresser that got married.

I always enjoy a good love story, don't you?

It's downstairs in my little sitting area that I showed you yesterday.

This time of year I like to bring in the oranges to compliment the white.

And there are always a few stray squirrels, owls and pumpkins

that need a place to live.

...so they end up here.

There usually is a gardening and nature theme going on

along with whatever "Holiday" might be coming up.

These open books are two old nature encyclopedias from the early 1900's.

My new little "Be-Owled" frames found a spot here, too.

Each time I show the Holiday Cupboard I'm asked about the white suitcases on top. I just used several coats of white interior latex and a lot of time. A small roller on the larger parts and an artist's brush for painting around the hardware. I have several more ratty suitcases that need this paint treatment. I'm a sucker for an old suitcase, if the price is right.

For previous Fall Holiday Cupboard renditions,

look HERE and HERE.

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend,

it turned cool after a day of rain.

Almost time for boots.

yay!

 Joining in on these great parties:

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

The Scoop at Cedar Hill Ranch

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Knick of Time Tuesday

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Blissful Whites at Timewashed

DIY by Design

Inspiration Exchange at Ella Claire

TTT at StoneGable

From My Front Porch to Yours

French Country Cottage

Craftberry Bush

The Cottage Market

Today's Sponsor

Sweet Magnolias Farm

"Fairytale" Inspiration for Easter continued...

Last weekend I shared with you a beautiful new book

by the people that bring us Jeanne d'arc Living magazine,

 entitled "Fairytale Easter". 

I fell in love with all the wonderful 

Easter and Spring inspired creations that grace each page.

Little did I know when I visited Leola's Vintage Home and Garden Spring Open House last week, that someone else had been inspired to create these same lovely decoupaged eggs. My friend Pam, who always has some of the most amazing creations and displays around, had crafted her own version of these Easter lovelies.

So a few came home with me 

for my own Easter display in an old cardboard suitcase.

They joined other bits and pieces of vintage ephemera,

 baskets with moss, and a nest or two for a little vintage Easter vignette.

Aren't these embellished vintage Easter postcards 

just precious with bits of twine, tulle, and feathers?

 One of my collection of old church fans in the background.

Jesus with the lambs are my favorites.

A hyacinth bulb and old book wrapped in stamped cotton ribbon.

It's times like this that I remember that my true love is 

"all things vintage".

Joining in on these great parties this week:

French Country Cottage Spring Thing

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Knick of Time

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

From My Front Porch to Yours

Shabby Art Boutique

Hope you have a wonderful week,

Vintage Inspiration Friday: #53 Stacked Suitcases

Who could imagine that stacking vintage suitcases

could be such a difficult endeavor.

I've had a hard time finding just the right combination,

and I'm sure I'm not finished yet.

I've been collecting vintage suitcases for quite awhile,

but recently while working on the Master Bedroom

I needed some storage for books,

so my brilliant little mind found it's way to the basement

where I loaded up some of my collection

and toted it upstairs.

These two specimens are my latest,

as I'm really being drawn to the linen-y masculine look.

I have several of these train cases in my studio for holding art supplies,

but I knew any stack needed to be topped off

 with just the right little number.

Lovin' this 30's brass plate.

So here they are in the bedroom...

someday I'll do a post on the whole space,

until then just bits and pieces.

Wonderin' why one is backwards...?

well, there are a couple of slanted ones,

that otherwise won't set level.

Who's bright idea in the luggage industry came up with that one?

and one is missing it's leather handle.



Short story here:

Last Thanksgiving we were "babysitting" the grandpuppy (french bulldog)

We were watching TV and I couldn't find Vinnie.

Hubbs said, "Oh, he's right here chewing on one of his bones."

know where I'm going?

Well, it wasn't a bone!

Heck, it was my suitcase handle!

Well, I couldn't be too mad

cause if you think of it,

it was on the floor and smelled like stinky old leather.

Pictures are never good in here because of the low light.

and here are a few other images for inspiration,

all from Pinterest.

the perfect bedside table

And one of my favorite photos from my friends,

Meloney and Brian, from The Seed Box

And speaking of inspiration, here's some from last week:

 Anita from Cedar Hill Ranch 

has a hammock that I could just crawl right into and spend an afternoon.

Daune from Cottage In the Oaks

shows us her book page walls in her Great Room re-do.

I'm a sucker for anything "book page"!!

Melanie from The Frosted Gardener has me all excited about

painting metal chandeliers!

And Faye from Wild Rose Vintage,

just took my breath away with this image.

Doesn't it look like something out of a Ralph Lauren ad?

(fab photography!)

Oh my gosh that scenery!!

If you've ever been featured on VIF

just grab a "Featured on VIF" button on the sidebar.

Linking up with these great parties.

(Links on sidebar buttons)

and a new Potpourri Party

with Honey at 2805.

If you haven't entered the

Romantic French Style Give Away,

you can still enter HERE

Hope you'll link up to the party,

"anything vintage or vintage inspired"

Please link up to

 Vintage Inspiration Friday

within your post or a photo button.

Thanks so much!

Hope you have a fun and safe weekend!

love ya bunches,