Bloggers Beware

Everyone who writes a blog has been there.  The point of decision.  Clicking the "Create a Blog" button, working through the template options and creating a header, buttons, adding gadgets, widgets, counters and rankings.  Some do it to keep in touch with their family, record their lives, record a journey, struggle or loss.  Others do it to promote a business, share a talent, inspire, encourage, maybe make some money along the way.  I'm not sure how many of us who clicked that button knew what we were in for. 

I have found this blog has developed a life of its own.  It's like my third child.  I have to nurture it, spend time on it, plan for it, sometimes plan around it, and I can't neglect it.  There are days, like this one, when I am busy and it's rainy and the light stinks and my tripod is broken and I have no idea what I'm going to write about and no pretty pictures to share.  I have an entire list of post ideas on my iPhone, but I don't feel prepared or inspired to write about any of them. 

So, while I was decorating my Christmas tree, cleaning and sorting my holiday decor, humming to myself, I realized what a wild ride my blog has taken me on.  I thought it would be a nice enhancement to my business.  I had no idea it would drive my business and become a very important part of my business.  It's provided advertising, opportunity, recognition, and community.  It's even provided friendships. 

I think I'll take all of that in exchange for an occasional day when I'm scratching my head, figuring out what to write about that would be worth reading. 

Are you thinking about clicking that "create a blog" button?  If so, beware, it just might change your life.

Home Again

Oh, it's so good to be home.  I walked in and looked at my living room and dining room (in progress) and was so excited to be home again. The trip was amazing and I always cry when I leave family, but I'm a homebody and this is where my work and hobbies are.  We were welcomed into a house that was 50 degrees, though!!  We're still warming up. 

Since I spent most of the day in the car, I don't have a lot to share, so I thought I would show off a few of my flea market finds.  Aren't these German grain sacks amazing?  I almost didn't buy them, but I've never seen them at a price that was so low, so I couldn't pass them by. 

I bought this cheese box from a British fellow who made sure I realized the bottom was "a bit dodgy", but I told him that was fine.  I really just wanted to hear him say "a bit dodgy" again.  (Do British people find our accents fun to listen to?)

I also scored some free river birch bark off my in-law's trees.  I received a quizzical look when I asked if it was OK if I pealed some bark off their trees, but my mother-in-law, being the cool lady that she is, just fetched me a bag to put it all in.  I have a great project in mind for this stuff. 

I'm going to decorate my house for Christmas this week.  I haven't had a live Christmas tree or greenery since I was in elementary school, but I'm going to get one this year.  They just look great in photographs, so I'm excited about that.  Any tips to keeping them alive and healthy? 

Decorating for Christmas will also involve changing up my mantle, which has looked the same since January.  Seriously.  My mantle looks exactly the same right now as it did in January.  I'm thinking about using a part of a red barn door I have as a backdrop. It'll be so fun to play.

Sigh.  Did I mention it's good to be home?



Speaking of home, check out this blog written by a couple who unknowingly bought a "meth house" in Philadelphia.  I've bought some Craig's List furniture from pretty sketchy places, but this is an entirely different ball of wax!

Sheet Music Dresser - Where is it now?

Remember my sheet music dresser?  Well, I thought you would all be pleased to know that she landed in a good home. 

A wonderful woman named Stephanie bought her and loved her enough to have her shipped all the way to Californina!  She is a crazy talented designer of interiors and wedding decor.  She has great taste, so I considered it a huge compliment that she loved my dresser.   

She just sent me pictures (credited to her) of where it ended up and I couldn't be more thrilled.  Isn't this room lovely?

I really like the symmetry, the pops of red, and the amazing trim work.  The dresser looks great nestled between two twin beds and I never even thought of using it that way.   

Stephanie collected thrift store finds and arranged them on the top.  Who says you can't use a kettle in a bedroom?



It was so good seeing this piece very happily situated in a new room.  Thanks so much for sending me the pictures, Stephanie! 

Check out her blog to tour her amazing home (which they built twice due to a devastating fire), view her portfolio and get inspiration from her wedding and party decor. 

Tomorrow we're driving back home and my van is stuffed with all of my flea market and antique shop finds, plus Christmas presents .  "Fitting ten pounds of flour in a five pound sack" came to mind when we were packing the van this afternoon, but we squeezed it all in.  We could even fit more if we hit a good yard sale on the way home. 

I hope my husband isn't reading this...

Raleigh Flea Market

This morning we bundled the kids in coats and hats and set out for the Raleigh Flea Market.  I came home with a lot of great things, but I did do my fair share of complaining.  "Why don't people put prices on their stuff?!"  "Are people seriously trying to sell THAT for $50?"  "That is waaaay over priced." 

I must confess, I even got a little snippy with one lady over some silver plated spoons.  Yes, I did.  She told me they started at fifty cents, but none of them were priced, so I carried all of the spoons up to her to find out which ones were fifty cents each.  Well, as it turns out, none of them were.  They were all at least $1.00 and I was irritated and fed up with that booth, so I moved on.  Don't mess with me when I'm hunting for bargains!  Despite my griping, I did have a great time. 

I fell in love with this Red Cross poster, but at $95, it was a little steep for me. 

I ended up buying a great rusty metal stool, two pairs of antlers, two windows...  (pictured below.)

...two antique German grain sacks (from the 1920's), a wooden cheese box, a folding ruler, some large wooden numbers, a carpenter's compass and more. 

I did not, however, buy any tube socks.

PS - If the spoon lady is reading this...I apologize for my snippiness.

Home plan and elevation - 6544 Sq. Ft

Architect : Praveen.M
moyacheri (ho)
kottakkal
vatakara(via)
Phone:9645457494,9388744505.04962275234
Email:praveenarchitect.m32@gmail.com





Total Area-6544 Sq.ft
Ground Floor-4262 Sq. Ft
First Floor-2282 Sq. Ft

Black Friday Antique Shopping

I am staying with my in-laws in Raleigh, NC and I can hardly resist the opportunity to hit some antique stores while in a new area, so I didn't.  I dragged my mother-in-law and mom across Raleigh to hit some spots I was told about.  I didn't come home with any super crazy amazing exciting pieces, but I had a great time and did find some good pieces for myself and to sell.  We started out the morning at Suzanna's Antiques, which is in a little collection of antique store cottages.  Brittany from Pretty Handy Girl was there to meet us and act as a tour guide. 

We also hit the Thieves Market Mall, Gresham's Antique Mall, Pier One, and Panera bread for lunch. 

There were cool pieces everywhere we stopped. 

I loved this dresser, but it just needed more work that I wanted to take on at this point and I didn't want to have to lug it home. 

The patina on this croquet set was amazing, but too expensive.

...and I absolutely loved this glass cheese box.  I almost bought it, but one of the panes was cracked and it was pretty expensive.  I really wanted to get it, but I just couldn't bring myself to buy it. 

The best part about going to antique stores on Black Friday?

No lines!

I am the bum in the bandanna who forgot to put on mascara this morning and Brittany is the cute one.  It was just like meeting an old friend.  We hunted, chatted and she even found some things she thought I would like...and I did...and I bought them.  Great shopping buddy!

Here are some things I bought...

...part of a doll buggy.  This was a strange purchase, but it just spoke to me.  I think it would look so cool in a table scape or on a mantle.  It's going to be fun to explore the possibles.

The tobacco basket was one of my favorite finds.  I've always wanted one, but they are always too expensive or in really poor condition.  This one was in good condition and was cheap!  Sold to the woman in the bandanna with no mascara!

I also bought this cast iron urn with the birds on it, some ironstone, an antique fan, two scales and more.

Thanks so much to Brittany for leading us around and to Trinity for revealing some of her favorite thrifting haunts to me.  That is very valuable information to a thrifter!

Tomorrow, we're going to the Raleigh Flea Market at the fair grounds. 

Snake Shaped House - 33 Pics

Quetzalcoatl Nest is an unconventional housing complex created by Mexican designer Javier Senosiain, and named after the Aztec snake/bird god of learning and knowledge.



































Architect, Javier Senosiain