Spring Tweaking around the house Cont'd

I had this tray on the dining table through Easter.  I decided to give it a try on the cabinetry top area that divides the two rooms.

 Instead of using candles I decided to try books inside the lantern.  The brass candlesticks are from many years ago when Macy's took over our Hudson's store.   They had a neat little area with decorating stuff.  They seem to work well with so much I'm glad I picked them up.  Until recently they were on the fireplace mantel which is still quite plain after Easter and I can't decide what I want to do with it.

 I dropped in a boxwood ball for added interest.

 I found the books at a little decorator store in the Grand Rapids area.  I could've gone nuts in there if my wallet was big enough.  

 I also found this sphere there.  She had three sizes but I couldn't make my mind up which one to choose so I went with the smallest one.

 I love elephants and this one made it over here too.  Trying for a whole new look on this cabinet top area.  The candle is few years old too and came from Pottery Barn.

I wanted something to fill the end up and spotted my little cachepot in the closet so I loaded it up with some of my little spheres.  That covered dish came from Ethan Allen a while back when I got that big portrait picture that's above the mantel.  Same with the lamp next to it.  Best deals I ever got from them because our store was closing.  I heard another one may be coming back- that would be awesome!

This is the cabinetry that was created for the room when we added on in 1996.  That's why I created Dan's spot with the chair when I redid the room layout as shown "here".  The lamp and the book stack are the only things that were on top before.

 This is my favorite thing to do- mix up what I already have and get a whole new look from it!

Joining:
Dishing It & Digging It
Tuesday's At Our Home
Inspire Me Tuesday
Share Your Cup Thursday
Thoughts of Home on Thursday

Visions Of Pink Tulips Dancing In My Head

T'was the promise of Spring when all through my mind I had visions of Pink Tulips dancing in my head….

Not many creatures are stirring, not even a mouse since once again
we are blanketed with snow!  

Say what???  Yes and more coming… 

Ignoring the outside I kept the vision going and dressed the table.  Building from the pink tulips I added pink napkins.  Pulling from the green in the flower pot I added the green napkin rings along with the cabbage leaf placemats.  I layered blue placemats in to repeat the blue in the dishes.  The creamy white flatware copies the dinner plate and pedestal holding the flower pot.

 Sweet tea would be wonderful in these delicate goblets...

Egg salad sandwiches cut into wedges on crustless bread would be lovely too along with an assortment of fresh fruit in little crystal bowls…

I nearly forgot the cute little piggy salt and pepper shakers from my sister…they make me smile :-)

With the sun casting it's beauty an ethereal glow is created…

The vision continues and I'm imagining a few of us gathered for this luncheon….

Sharing good conversations and laughs….

The vision of pink tulips have danced in my head….

Now let's hope the weather will get the spring message or I'm going back to bed!

The players:

Salad plate- Adelaide Blue by 222 Fifth

Dinner Plate- Lacy by Pier 1 Imports

Flatware from Horchow-  Sam Remo by Hampton Forge

Crystal stemware- Vintage by Williams Sonoma

Pink Napkins- Pier 1

Green Cabbage placemats- Pier 1

Blue placemats- Williams Sonoma

Joining:

Thoughts of Home on Thursday 

Tablescape Thursday 

Digging It & Digging It 

Spring Tweaking All Day-Getting Things Done

It was a long weekend with more snow which made me just want to close the drapes and not look outside.  The sun came out all day today and it sure lightened up my spirits!

This is my back yard as of this morning.  

I've been thinking about trying these three big candle holders from Pottery Barn on the dining table.  I decided to bring the metal wreath the kids gave me back to the table and I was going to try a grouping of two candle holders on one end and a single at the other but then i decided to place one in the middle of the candle ring and just go with a step down look.

I had one candle ring with little forsythia flowers on it and I added some little grape vine wreaths around each candle on the wreath.  I'm going to see if that store still has those little forsythia rings- although I bought it at least 1 or 2 years back.

I think I'm good with this although I might try to find a different candle color or style on the wreath.  I like to play with things like this so you just never know!  We have a neat store called The Candle Factory that carries a really nice variety of candles.  It's always fun to see what they have.

I got the door basket back into service.  I added some hydrangeas and dogwood branches.  I had them in my storage area.  I think those hydrangeas have been with me since the 90's!

The long green vines are something I found at Hobby Lobby.  I purposely made them look uneven because in nature that's how things grow.  I like having the basket on the door because it still lets light in but prevents someone from looking straight in.  

 I picked up a bag of river stones at Hobby Lobby and added some more to the new lantern/conservatory.  It was one of those things I needed to do to feel it was finished so now it's done!

I found some cute little metal birds when we made the trip over to Hobby Lobby at one of my favorite little boutique type stores.

I added one to the little cage like candle holder I showed a little while ago from Pier 1.  I had a candle in it but I decided this was more fun and I already had the greens in there.  This was another little thing that was bugging me and now it's done!

 A while ago I found a frame on discount at a little store in Petoskey.  I hadn't come up with something to put in it yet and that was bugging me too!

While on our trip at Hobby Lobby I ran across these ready made matting pieces and a light went off!

This is one of the cards I sent out last Christmas and I decided to keep one with the idea that maybe I would frame it.  For some reason it hadn't dawned on me to use that frame but once I saw the little matting piece it all hit me.

 I like how it turned out.  

Now I finally finished that and I'm happy about it!

So that's what I did all day....tweak tweak tweak!

Joining:
Wow Us Wednesdays
Thoughts of Home on Thursday 

Dishing It & Digging It 

Tuesday's At Our Home 
Inspire Me Tuesday 

Feed the Birds

I decided to try these bird plates with the light aqua tone on the plate rack.  I left the yellow hydrangea flower accents and I like that there was a little yellow in the bird on the plate.  I believe I got these at Macy's about 5 years ago.  As you may notice once again I've left the french striped blue and white plates up there for my backdrop.  I'm having fun with them.

I'm still loving the placemats and keep them in use regularly.  

I popped these blue and white plates that I got from Terrain into this bread basket from Pier 1. I wanted to see if they'd look good with the french stripe plates.  I do believe it works!  I really wanted to stage some plain linen napkins with this but I don't have any so for now this will do.

 Tulips aren't real- Pottery Barn last year.  They have such a realistic look to them I couldn't resist.

I got this at a little gift shop a few years ago.  It came with a liner too so you can put a plant in it or flowers with water.

 I kept this little candle votive here and since it has birds on it- it tied right into my theme!

 As I mentioned in my Easter Luncheon post where I used this little lantern/conservatory post "here" I was planning to re-use it after Easter and lo-and behold this new little bird dropped in at my doorstep!  I had literally just put the plates on the plate rack and the mailman dropped the delivery box off.  I knew it was meant to be!

 I mean that literally too!  A few weeks back I was visiting the blog "Artsy Va Va" and admired these cute little wooden blocks that she had created with a multi layered painting and image transfer process.  I just loved them and wrote Virginia a note and next thing I know she's sending me one!!

This is the link to her post "here"  Thank you again Virginia- such a sweet gesture!

 I have a pair of these which came from Michael's 

My sister Jen gave me these too cute little pig salt and pepper shakers that are from Crate and Barrel for my birthday.  They just cracked me up when I saw them!

As some of you would say - how stinkin' cute are these!!

This is a link to a tablescape post where I introduced these placemats "here".  There is more info as to the brand etc., on them.

For about 10 minutes the sun shined and I was scrambling to take some pictures.  We've had a less than desirable change in the weather here.  Friday night we got about 4" of snow and still more is coming.  It's wet and clings to everything.  It's pretty so….

I decided to take advantage of the snow and stick my Demijohn style bottle with some forsythia branches out on the deck for a photo op!  I conned asked for Dan's help with placing it because he has much longer arms and could get it where I wanted.  I had him go off to the left, step in a ways and reach as far as he could to set it down. 

This is what should be blooming right now- but once again we've been reminded that we aren't in charge and will have to wait a bit longer to enjoy the beauty of spring!  When life gives you lemons- make lemonade!

I found the forsythia branches at Hobby Lobby last year.  They are the most realistic I've ever seen.  I first showed them in this post "here".

Speaking of feeding the birds- we always keep the feeders full and the birds are regular visitors.  They need extra help especially with crazy weather like we're having!  

Have a great week!

I will be joining the following parties:

Dishing It & Digging It
Metamorphosis Monday
Inspire Me Tuesday
Tuesday's At Our Home 
Wow Us Wednesdays
Thoughts of Home on Thursday