At some Point

Here is a view from living room into the kitchen. That ceiling and walls will be gone come this weekend. Behind the blanket is a 1908 piano.

At some point this will be a decorating of the home. But it is going to take a little bit of time. Here is what it looks like today. We have to rewire, add a new window and front door before any drywall will be added. Behind that cement brick wall is a hill.

What I worked on this week

This is what I have been working on this week. In the end I made 11 Red doilies. 8 of them were done this past week in my spare time.

Frugal Fridays "Doilies"

I have been crocheting doilies for years and years. Its my cheap way of decorating my tables and the things I put on them. Here is just a few. I put out green and red ones at Christmas time. I just finished these new red ones.

My Decortaing Tip

I don't have alot of money to decorate all my walls. So, my cheap way of doing them was to print out pictures that I have taken and put them in frames. The frames were 2/$5.00 on the 8x10's and 4/$5.00 on the 5x7. So for less then 20.00 I have 3 small walls with something on them.

Effusion Lamps

I have these two effusion lamps which I love, but have ran out of oil long ago. I ordered some online today and can't wait till I'm able to use them again. This is what a effusion lamp looks like if you have no idea. Its a ceramic burner that you light for 2 minutes, then blow it out and the burner keeps burning, filling your house with a wonderful fragrance. When you are done with it you snuff it out by placing the little cap on top.

Two little finds

Yesterday I found these two items in a box that I cleaned out. Washed them up and here they are. Looks like I need to buy some brass cleaner though.

Decorating Tips From HG

Create a collage for flexibility -- it's easy to change items from time to time for a new look.

Limit the number of objects in the collage and arrange them in an irregular pattern for a contemporary look. If you prefer a traditional approach that covers the wall more densely, choose objects that are all the same color; this provides impact without creating chaotic clutter.

Add dimension to the display with items that project from the wall into the space of the room. Brackets, architectural salvage, or wall sculpture add interest by keeping the collage from feeling too flat.

Layer on Style:
Step 1. Centering the largest piece over the sofa creates a balanced composition. Hang it low enough to relate to the furniture. Flanked by a chest of drawers and a low table, the sofa is the axis for the wall display. Molding divides the wall into four panels, which guide the placement of objects. To create a similar effect on unpaneled walls, use the edges of furniture to suggest imaginary vertical lines that divide the wall space into sections.

Step 2.
Add lamps on the end tables. Besides washing the wall with cones of illumination, the lamps introduce verticals that lead the eye upward toward the wall display. They can be different styles and heights and still create formal balance if the shades align at about the same level

Step 3.
Install brackets on each side of the center picture for three-dimensional interest. Place them so they're at about the height of the lampshades but not precisely aligned with them. To avoid stodgy symmetry, place objects of different sizes and shapes on the brackets for a more interesting composition.

Varying the size and shape of the items makes a more interesting composition. Fill out the left panel and carry the eye to the ceiling with an ornate, empty frame. Crown the central framed piece with a plaque to serve as punctuation.

Step 4.
Define the outside edge of the display with a vertical; otherwise it will feel too loose and open-ended.

Add a pair of paintings in matching frames above the chest, aligning the outside edges with the edge of the chest. These frames define the boundary of the grouping and add vertical emphasis, repeating the vertical lines of the molded paneling on the walls.

My Bedroom

I have kind of a strange setup to my bedroom. The bed area is wider then the dresser/closet area is. But here is the view after I added sheers to the opening going into the bed area. Kind of like a window frame...lol. My house is still in the updating mode in many rooms. I don't have a closet door yet, so I added sheers there too so I don't have to see the clothes hanging all the time..lol

My Remembered Finds

I had more stuff in my cabinet in the laundry room that I decided to pull out. I don't know much about antiques, but I do know the bottom of the vase says "McCoy" on it. If anyone knows anything about antiques, could you comment on it to let me know if it is important piece? My aunt gave me these things years and years ago. I'm not real crazy about the vase, but my dh loves it...lol

What a Find

I have been looking at some wicker baskets to put on this very long shelf that I got free last summer. I got the shelf from a video store that was going out of business. So, for the last 6 months I have had my eyes on a set of two wicker baskets from Michaels, but just didn't want to spend 10.00 on the set. Today while into Home Depot, you walked in and right in front at the door was these wicker baskets, set of 2 in 2 different sizes a set. Marked down on clearance for 2.49 each, 75% off...lol. So I grabbed 6 sets, plus 2 longer ones for 1.25 each. Man, it pays to wait on things. $17.50 total. Here is a picture of the baskets and the free shelf, (I have 2 shelves like this)