Engagement Photos : Joshua & Elizabeth

Last weekend I took some engagement photos for my dear friend, Elizabeth and her new fiancee, Joshua.  

It was such a fun shoot to plan and especially to take.

 It was so much fun. 

*******

Frames Are Really Quite Useful

This pictures is from our Library.  It's really just the front room of the house right off the Entry, but it houses most of our books and is more formal than the family room, so it's the Library.   

Someday I will give a little tour, but presently it's going through some uncomfortable growing pains.  However, today I thought I'd show how I changed-up the wall above this little china cabinet.

It used to look like this this.

I admit I spent quite a bit of time on this arrangement when we first moved in, and I don't not like it. But it was getting a bit stale on me and then, I robbed it of the Netting prints for the collage wall in our Master Bedroom.

So here it is today {later in the day, making for a darker photo} 

 I know, I know.  How many open frames do I really intend to decorate my house with? 

{you might well be wondering}

 Well, I rather doubt this is permanent and my arrangement above the fall mantel won't last too long, and the thing is, I seem to have quite a lot of frames. ;)  These large ones came from that Hobby Lobby clearance sale and for $7 a piece - I knew I could use them somehow.

They've sat about the house very unorderly-like until I decided to prop them up here on the newly blank wall, because well, it was Blank and our company for dinner was due to arrive any moment.  

And large frames do have a convenient way of filling up a blank space just in time for company.

Morals of this post: 

Don't let the wall arrangement get stale on you, change it up.  

And always consider big, beautiful, cheap frames at Hobby Lobby.

Hope you're having a lovely Thursday!

{Linking to Bowl Full of Lemons,  Beyond the Picket Fence
& Feathered Nest Friday}

Vintage Party for Baby Ben

Thought I'd share a couple photos from the charming party Sister put together for her sweet Baby Ben's 1st birthday.  So thankful to live close by and share in the joy of family celebrations.
 

 The party had a fun vintage vibe without being so themey.

She used a thrifted atlas to make the bunting and the little flags in the cupcakes.

The adorable bow ties she made for everyone to pin on were a big hit.

My kiddos still clamor to wear them!

Here's the sweet little cake, complete with mini-bunting.

Oh Baby Ben, we think you're the most wonderful one-year-old ever.

And you're mommy throws lovely parties.

Wish I got more of the details - like all the bow-ties and the cute-cute map notebook favors Sister sewed together.

I really just got too caught up in the fun of it all. :) 

Flea Market Fun

I've never experienced anything like the flea market bounty that seems to exist in the South. 

But I keep seeing the many pictures of treasures found that those lovely Southern ladies tease us Westerners with!

However on Saturday nearby Ft. Collins held a humble but lovely little flea market/craft fair - "The French Nest" and I got to go {with my mom even!} 

Here's a little of what I saw.

A collection of these key holes could make such an interesting arrangement near an entryway or in a little nook.

Loved all of these door knobs, but couldn't think what I needed one for.

 A few of these could've been really fun in my back entry - 

but maybe a little too chippy, so I passed...

These pictures are from the 142 Bis booth which also has a little shop in Downtown Ft. Collins. 

They put so much work into their displays.

 Love the ribbon on big wooden spools.

 And this hot air balloon paper. 

 And my find of the day - this lovely bed came home with me! 

At Last! So thrilled to find an iron twin bed for my little boy's room.  

And just for $40 - hurray. hurrah.   

Can't wait to share my plan for his room  {and get to work!}

So thankful for a day out in the gorgeous fall weather, hunting for good finds.
Is there much flea marketing and craft fair fun
to be had in your corner of the world?

{Linking to Life Made Lovely Monday}

Pinterest Love & Giveaway Winner

Another cold {yes I'm a weakling} is keeping me from all the projects so sweetly calling my name.

In the meantime I'll share some inspiration I found on Pinterest this week.

{Lollia lotion winner announced at the end!}

I love this.  The turquoise table with the dark brown stand next to it.  

The round mirror.  

The stacks of old baskets and boxes 

and the thoughtful pictures and postcard.
Just an altogether lovely vignette.




I'm probably kidding myself but I feel like making these pillows isn't too far out the realm of my humble possibilities.  I've seen the red strip trim at Hobby Lobby.

 One of my very favorite inspiration pictures ever.  Saw it first in the BHG magazine last year.  My favorite is the green and brown Union Jack pillows made out of thick, cozy wool.

Also love the flower prints.

And the ornately framed chalkboard.

And the antique telephone.

And everything.

 And such a warm, lovely collection of prints. 
So much pleasant personality.

Alright and now the winner of one of my very favorite things.

Used random.org to generate a number at random and got the #4.

Which makes Kimberly the winner!

Please contact me, so we can get your lotion to you quick-quick.

Thank you all for entering and for your lovely comments always.

Hope you have a beautiful weekend!

Little Mirror Makeover

Today I thought I'd share about this mirror redo I did for our back entry.   Since I stole the cream one for my master bedroom collage wall.

Here's a rather inadequate "Before Picture".

Here the mirror was after I brought her home from the thrift store for $7.

She had that black speckled elm wood? look that I wasn't to fond of.

So I first painted on a coat of cheap acrylic paint I had lying around - mixed a little brown in with some black to tone down the black a little bit.

Then, with a piece of old t-shirt I rubbed on some of this fun stuff: Rub-n-Buff.

Have you used this before?  So easy!

As you can see I let some of the black show through 
to give it some depth and show off the lines.  

 

And here she is, looking quite fancy-shmancy.

I also replaced the table lamp with this floor lamp that grew up with me in my parent's home.

The chest of drawers felt too crowded on top with the lamp there...I might add a shade to the lamp. 

{And yes I need to do a better job hiding my tape holding the ribbon, and yes, I need to either get some Fallish pictures clipped up or do away with it altogether}

The pail serves to catch and hide all our phones and keys.




So as I've mentioned before this back entry is my problem area...
we'll just say it's a work in progress. 

And remember today is the Last Day to enter the giveaway for the Lollia lotion.

Click {HERE} to enter!

{Linking to Tatertots & Jello
Thrifty Decorating , Funky Junk Interiors, & Addicted to Decorating}