Monday, July 24, 2017

My Etsy shop




I haven't really talked about my Etsy shop, because I don't want you to think you have to buy anything.


 But since I added some items today, I thought you might want to take a look.


If you see something you like, great!



If not, that's okay too!



Anyway, things are still busy around here, so I've been a little neglectful.

I'm sorry about that.

I'll be around more as soon as I can though :)

The first picture?

Part of why I'm busy ;)

xo,
rue


Monday, July 17, 2017

Summer road trips

This is a bit of a catch up post, but here's a little look at what I've been up to.

At least the fun part ;)


We visited the Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch...























Dug for bottles and artifacts...


Hit the backroads to see abandoned buildings...








sad old houses...


cute cows...




and a big ol' bull along the way.



More from my Summer coming soon!

xo
rue


PS

I'm really behind in my blog visiting and replies, but I'm trying really hard to catch up.

Forgive me!


Monday, July 10, 2017

My Irish bookcase


Recently (or not so recently), I was inspired by the sweet (and patient) members of Havenly, a wonderful online interior design company, to write about a beloved decor piece and how I highlight it to fit into my home decor.

Well, as most of you can guess, it was a very hard decision.

I'm a sentimental fool and it would be easier to pick a favorite of just about anything else.

Walking around my home for days, I tried to think of a piece that I've had to style differently in order to make it work and I finally decided that my 1800s Irish pine hutch would fit the bill.

"Why did you move my toy basket, mom?!"

Sidenote: 
I thought it was English all these years until I went to take a picture of the receipt that I've kept all this time and nope, it's Irish!



Until recently, it was used as a dining room china cabinet, since my mom purchased it for me about 25 years ago, for my second home.

It was found at a place in Santa Barbara called the Pine Trader, where it was sitting there sadly without any glass in the top doors. 

I fell in love.

They told me it was originally a library bookcase, but I wanted it for my dining room at the time, so I had them put dividers in the two drawers for my silver. 

For the missing glass in the top doors, I also asked them to mimic the diamond design that was carved in the corners.





I found pictures of it in a few different homes, but it's been in a total of 7 and traveled with me from California, to Virginia, then Ohio, and now it's with me in Arizona.

Sadly, all I have is a glimpse of it, to the far right, in the first house it resided in, circa 1991:



This is me decorating it for Christmas, two houses after that:


Both of those were taken pre- blogging.

Also, can you believe I had white walls?

In two different homes, no less!

But I digress....


Here it is in the my last home:



Today, in this home, it is used as originally intended...

A book case.





A very messy bookcase that has become a catchall, which reminds me that I need to reorganize it.



With a bit of china underneath...




and silver in the drawers ;)


Also messy.

Tsk... tsk...

Anywho...

How do I fit it in to my home decor?

Simply by only loving the things I have and making it work.





I suppose I could have put it in my office with all the other bookshelves, but I wanted it to be the first thing you see when you walk in my front door.



It deserves that kind of honor after traveling here from Ireland and back and forth across the United States, don't you think?

Toy basket replaced, Bubba.

It's seen a lot over the years and I'm sure it could tell quite a few of my secrets.

Thank goodness, the old girl can't talk.

Well, at least about me ;)

xo
rue


PS 
I was not compensated for this post.






Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Curtains and Happy 4th!


I know it's been awhile since I shared anything about my cottage, but I'm sure most of you remember my kitchen, right?

Right?

Well, anyway...

As you know, it's been a tad hot here and in the morning the sun shines directly in the window over my kitchen sink. 


So, since I'm a "use it up" kind of girl, I decided to take an old vintage tablecloth, that had a hole in it, and make some curtains.


No, you won't get a tutorial, since I'm no expert, but you get photos of the finished project ;)

Open...


and closed to keep the dreaded sun out.


Not bad for my first set of curtains, huh?

I'm hoping I made all my sewing friends proud :)


And lastly, since it's Independence Day, I wanted to give you some clothing inspiration.

You might cause your own fireworks with this little number ;)


Happy 4th!

xo
rue