Beautiful Things

Beautiful ceramic objects are such a weakness for me. I am perfectly fine at resisting them when they are in a typical retail environment (though I do admire them for long periods of time) but set them out at a yard sale or thrift store and I my senses take leave of me and I find myself proudly parading them home. The 12 days of Christmas plates are no exception. Found them at a fancy thrift store, the kind where things are hand-selected, and I went weak in the knees.

I did rationalize it by saying they would make a great gift for my mother-in-law but, as my husband said with a knowing smirk, "she would never really have occasion to use them." At which point I started taking them out of their box saying, "Oop. Guess we will have to keep them." Now I just need an equally playful but elegant dessert so I have an excuse to pull them out. Well, there are 12. Come to think of it...I may need to plan a holiday party.

Cigar, anyone?

Every fall our town has a city-wide yard sale, and right around this time I start considering renting a storage space so I can take advantage of the amazing things that people sell for NOTHING. But, I consistently manage to control myself. This year we picked up lots of toy trucks and a kid-sized workbench and rocking chair. I grabbed a few 'project friendly' pieces of clothing (including a great cherry printed dress to turn into an apron!) and then stumbled across these cigar boxes. It took everything I had to walk away with only six of them...one has become my new jewelry box and the rest, well...we will have to see. For now, I am just satisfied with admiring them.

Yard Sale Bust Up

Our city-wide yard sale was very nearly a bust. First it was rained out and then the rain date was pretty rainy. (It is awfully wet here.) There seemed to be a bit of city-wide confusion about when it was all happening so it was just a trickle of slow sales and I was getting nervous I wasn't going to find anything. But, sigh, just around the corner from us was a good sale with these two fabric shower curtains. They have stains but I'm using them for the fabric so I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw them. Oh, I've got plans for these guys! Then, I found this book. How fantasticly kitch is that? And, for 10 cents! Plus, it has some great kid-friendly projects including how to make "kooky clay", I can't wait. I mean who wouldn't trust this guy below? Ah, that is right pointdexter.
I didn't find a toddler bed and bedroom dresser but that might have been a little much to expect anyway.

Surrender

Then

Now

Rarely do I highlight when I've made something look worse (that it not to say that it doesn't happen all the time). But, had to laugh at the evolution of our porch. We originally thought we would go all DIY on this porch and had exciting plans...tear up the carpet and paint the floor, cover the porch furniture, etc. This was when we had just one child, who was still a baby. Now, with a two year old and a baby we had to adjust those plans and our expectations regarding decoration. So, in the end, we decided to surrender the porch to the kids. And, why not? I just find it easier to chill out if I'm not worried about keeping things looking nice. Bring on the markers and paints! And, even, dare I say--underpants!

The mobile hanging in the back is of historic maps of the world and was a gift, but I believe it came from Restoration Hardware and the train table and child table were from a yard sale. And speaking of, next weekend is our town's city-wide yard sale. I have high hopes my friends, very high hopes!

So Many Good Things Coming This Way

It really is true, there are a million good things landing on our doorstep these days. One of the more exciting is this collage, made by my friend Erin of Erin Jane Designs. She had made a collage for our first born so we commissioned this one for the baby.

Look at that sleepy little head surrounded by such happy goodness. Makes me glow every time I see it. Thanks Erin!

And, of course, the season isn't complete without some good, good yard sale finds. Got 8 of these pasta dishes and 4 tea plates. I'm crazy about how delicately the flowers bend around the side of the plate. The same yard sale was selling the strawberry embrodiered curtains below. I immediately thought "apron!" when I saw them and now I have more than enough for the perfect, sweet apron. And, I know exactly who it is for!

And, a few good things are heading out as well. Dear, dear friends of ours are getting married in a few weeks and they really just wanted money so they could have a gorgeous honeymoon in Barcelona. Now, I can't argue with that but really wanted to give them something. So, I made some fun mixy-match napkins and coasters for all of the mixy-matchy dinners that are sure to come.

There is something I really love about giving table linens as wedding gifts. I would guess it's about feeling like I'm at the table with them for all of the great things that happen over a nice meal. But, I also really like the idea of how worn napkins and coasters get and how they get softer and softer in the wash until they are telling their own stories.