Sharing Shadymont, My Mountain Cottage

I decorated the sun room table for Valentine's last week, but was trying to wait a while to show it.  I guess it's close enough now that I can share it with you.  Nothing fancy at all.  It's done on the CHEAP.  Nothing is new accept the 2 tapers.  I already had everything else.  So here it is!  The "LOVE" sign is a Kirkland's find a couple of years ago.  It was brown and not very attractive at all.  So...... know what I did?  I got out the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and gave it a quick once over, waxed it with dark wax, and distressed it a little and now, I "Love" it!!!  It's sitting on my little shabby stool on top of the table.   I purchased the shabby stool and the pink cherub at the same time from Chic or Shabby, a nearby shop.  The arrangement is made from the same flowers I used last year, purchased at the Dollar Tree.    Love the little red box, a consignment find.  The centerpiece sits on a piece of mesh ribbon I had left over from Chris

Here are a few ways I have incorporated burlap into my decor.  I like using regular burlap that you buy by the yard, as well as the burlap "ribbon".  I know many of you use it in your decor as well.  Hope you enjoy seeing the various ways it can be used.   Here I have used it as a table cover. Here it was used as a runner. It can be used to create lampshade covers.  Use burlap ribbon to tie around candles, etc.   You can trim drop cloth runners with burlap ribbon.  It can be intertwined into a wreath with lovely results.  I used the ribbon as garland on the Christmas tree.   How have you used burlap in your home? I am attending some great parties this week and hope you will come along.  Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Night Special 52 Mantels for Thursdays are your days   House in the Roses for Show Off Your Cottage Mondays

Yesterday I awoke in the mood to do some "deep" cleaning.  First on my list was to dust inside the china cabinet in the dining room.  Can you believe how much dust can get into a closed cabinet.  Really, how does that happen?  My cabinet has glass shelves and they were hazy with dust.  This is a rather tedious job because I not only have china inside, I have all kinds of little "pretties" stored there too.  It's one of the first things you see upon entry into our home, so I really should do this more often.  I want show you the before, sufficeth to say, it had been a while since I had tackled this chore.  Here are some photos showing the "after". Here is a collection of vases and crystal pitchers .   These were all gifts except the smallest one in the front and the one to the right of it. China and a consignment shop cake plate.  The china was formerly my MILs. More china . This little fairy lives here with her 2 sisters. They can all be seen

Today I am sharing some of my winter whites. White in the dining room. White in the breakfast nook. White in the sun room.  See the shadows the sunbeams cast on the table. This is a new addition to my snowman collection.  I found at Walgreens for $3.99 (after Christmas sale).  Michaels had their medium sized wreaths for $1.49, so I bought three. I added some burlap garland and have a winter scene in the hallway. The little chalet to the left of the wreath belonged to my Mother.  It's a weather predictor. It was a gift from her only sibling (her sister). If the weather is going to be rainy, the little man on the right comes out of the house.  He carries an umbrella.  If the weather is fair, the little girl comes out on the left side. My Mother passed away 39 years ago, and I remember this from when I was about 15 or 16.  Oddly enough, it is still a pretty good predictor. My daughter gave me a Kirkland's Gift Card for Christmas.  I paid only $3.99 for this tray, and the