Wednesday, December 23, 2009

A Vintage Christmas Memory


I held my breath as Dad said, "Alright girls, here goes!" He reached around to the back of the tree and plugged in the string of lights. They flickered for an instant-causing me to shut my eyes tightly. If they didn't light, it would take hours for him to go through each bulb trying to identify the burned out culprit. When I opened my eyes, the tree was a dazzling display of light and color. The tinsel we had thrown on the tree moments before (even though Mom complained she would still be picking it up at Easter) sparkled brightly among the large multi-colored bulbs. I let out my breath while Julia clapped and Teresa shouted in delight. Christmas Eve had finally arrived.

The three of us sat in front of the fire on our fluffy comforters as the logs crackled and popped. We snacked on cheddar cheese ball with Ritz crackers and drank Mom's special 7-UP punch that fizzed in our mouths like exploding cherries. I reached into the box of chocolates and pulled out a dark square I hoped was an orange creme. There was a small hole poked in the bottom. "Dad," I yelled, "Julia is poking the chocolates again to find the good ones!"

Mom yelled from the kitchen, "Quit squabbling girls! I think it's time to open your present." We scrambled off our comforters and fought for the best spot under the tree. We already knew which present we would open.

I pulled on the ends of the slick silver ribbon and watched it slide to the floor. As I turned the package over and slid my finger under the tape to open the package, the aroma of perfume and memories of my grandmother spilled out along with the pretty pink flannel pajamas. Memories of visits with my Mamma B in Kentucky: playing hide-and-seek in the tall corn, trying to catch fireflies in Mason jars, and hiding out from tornados in the cellar.

I grabbed the pajamas and ran down the hall to my bedroom to quickly change. As I sat back down under the tree, I pulled my legs up to my chest and hugged my knees as I melted into the soft thick flannel. I could almost feel Mamma B's arms around me and hear her whisper, "I love you child."

Outside, the snow fell softly while reports on the radio said Santa was getting closer to Spokane. As I gazed out the window on this magical night, I almost believed it was true.

Merry Christmas!

Di

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Dreaming of a White Christmas

Hello,

White is soothing and serene. It cleanses and refreshes. For example, one dusting of white powder on a cold winter day turns the drab, brown landscape of fall into a sparkling winter wonderland. Who wouldn't dream of a white Christmas?

An all-white decorating scheme for your home will instantly relax jangled nerves as you walk through the door at the end of a hectic day. The beauty in monochrome decorating is the ease in which pieces from different styles and periods look perfectly pulled together. And if something doesn't match-you're only a can of white spray paint away! Just remember to add in texture such as a fluffy white rug or fabulous faux fur pillow.

I hope you enjoy the following pics I shot recently at the Antique World Mall. I don't know about you, but I feel calmer already.









Take care,
Di

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Ooh La La Decorating!

I strolled lazily through the Puces de Vanves sipping my café latte while munching on a flaky buttery croissant. “Bonjour,” I called out to the old weathered man at the back of the booth. He smiled slightly as I spied a set of battered blue and white kitchen canisters with the words, “Farine”, “Café”, “Sucre” and “Pates” in faded black letters on the front. Trying to contain my excitement I asked nonchalantly, “Combien ça?” (How much is that?). But he was seasoned and saw the tiny twinkle in my eye. He replied back in broken English with a price equal to a week’s salary. I sighed as I bid him and the canisters farewell and moved on to the next booth. I’ve been to this Paris flea market so many times-IN MY DREAMS!

Alas, I’ve only been to Paris in my dreams! I love to collect Eiffel Towers and hope someday to see it in person-especially at night when its 20,000 lights sparkle and illuminate the sky for as far as you can see. The following pics I took of romantic decorating at the Antique World Mall and The Shabby House (in Boise) remind me of what I might find at a Paris flea market. Hope you enjoy your little bit of Paris today!

Your Paris apartment wouldn't be complete without a sparkly chandelier. This one sits inside a gold frame.

The entrance to your tiny Paris apartment would be through an ancient wood door like this one.

A turquoise and gold shelf could hold all your pretty collections.

This chandelier hangs cleverly from the middle of a fabulous white weathered door.

Before going to a play or the opera, you could primp at your faded blue dressing table.

This chandelier hangs from a tent outside giving instant glamour to the ordinary.

Tea with your best girlfriends would only be served with your good silver!

Black adds drama and flare to your French decorating scheme!
This worn window may have come from a church or old farmhouse in the country.

A wardrobe would be a necessity in your Paris apartment as closets and space are nonexistant.


This French chest would hold all of your special treasures.

au revoir!

Di

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

No-Fail Fall Decorating

Hello,

Fall decorating is the no-brainer of all the decorating months. Think of it as that easy class you took in high school-art, gym, home economics-definitely not algebra or chemistry! It doesn’t take much to decorate for fall. Just scatter a few brilliant leaves here-and-there to create a cozy feel in your home and make you want to put on a warm sweater and sip cocoa in front of a roaring fire. Fall is also the cheapest season to decorate for (thank goodness with Christmas right around the corner). Grab a pile of leaves from the front yard, a weathered grape vine from the garden, and a few apples and oranges from the grocery store, and you’re good to go! Like I said-gym class for sure.

Here are a few fall decorating shots I took on a recent Sat morning treasure hunt.








There's no place like home for Fall!
Take care,
Di

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Pretty in Pink

Hello,

Pink is the perfect romantic decorating color. What little girl didn't want her room painted a soft pretty pink that made her feel like a princess? I remember when my sisters and I begged our Mother to paint our room pink and the chaos that followed as the three of us tried to help her-she ended up with a pink foot after stepping in the paint! I still love pink (no, you're never too old) and have pink file folders at my desk at work, a pink jacket, and huge pink suitcase. Here's some pics of romantic pink decorating from the Antique World Mall and Shabby House I snapped recently starting with the romantic dinner table, pink hutch, pretty pink flower dishes, and sparkly chandelier above.

Pretty pink shelf, pink striped wallpaper, and pink pots and cups ready to have your best buddy over for tea. One lump or two?

Faded pink linens

Chippy mirror painted pink

A romantic little corner of my booth


Pink farm chair and pink and black Paris hatboxes. So cute!

More sparkly romantic items in my booth-vintage French soap, cherub vase, tiny milk-paint shelves, and French cigarette tin.

The Eiffel Tower is always romantic!

Vintage pink bulbs shimmer on a silver tree. No, it's not too early for Christmas!

Happy Day!

Di

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Fantastic Frightful Finds!

Hello,

As the weather gets colder, so does the yard sale trail. My bf (and partner-in-crime) and I long for those summer mornings when the bright pink and green yard sale signs stretched for miles and we ran well past noon on coffee and twenty dollars. With those days fading like daylight, we headed last Sat to The Shabby House in Boise for our vintage fix.

The Shabby House is another adorable antique shop in Boise filled to the brim with fun (and frightful) vintage treasures. So grab a cup of hot coffee (cause baby it's cold outside) and join us as we browse through the spooky shop.

My partner-in-crime and best buddy

Love the witches buried head-first in the front urns!
The Shabby House with its pink front door flanked by huge black iron chandeliers. So cute!

Lots of spooky displays await inside!


Pick your poison please!


Come sit a spell.
Pick out the perfect pumpkin in the backyard patch.

Even the tree fairies celebrate Halloween!




The mad-scientist's lab





























































Happy Haunting!

Di