Sharing Shadymont, My Mountain Cottage

Do you like lazy afternoons?  I do, and today has been just that. I've visited blogs, vacuumed a couple areas in the house where I made a mess, and a did a couple of very quick makeovers. I've had this flower arrangement for probably 6 or 7 years, found in a consignment shop for $20.00.  It's been all over my house.  But I never liked the large arrangement in the tiny vase.  So on one of my whims, they got separated.  The vase holds potpourri, and has been painted aqua! This is the vase below.  See how top heavy the arrangement was? I had been thinking I would make another arrangement using the flowers from this old one, since it has such nice roses, and the colors look so good.  I recently remembered a metal container that I bought a long time ago, too, and today was able to find it in my craft place in the basement.  So from that one arrangement, I crafted several "pretties". This is the arrangement I remade in the metal containe...

When I recently painted the trug blue, I knew I wanted to use it as a centerpiece in the dining room. That meant I needed to change the china on the table.  I put away the gray and pink, and set the table with blue and white American Limoges Bridal Bouquet.   Shown below.  It is a more formal china, and the silver chargers work well with it. Since I knew the trug with dried hydrangeas was going to be the centerpiece,  I kept the tablecloth I made from a drop cloth. I used a runner that repeats the colors of the hydrangeas, blue, green, and rust colored. The formal china and the rustic trug makes for an unusual combination, but it is pleasing to me. Do you use a mixture of textures in your decor?  It creates a unique look.  Maybe you will try it sometimes. Everything shown was either gifted, bought at consignment, or made by me. Sharing here: Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch Anything Blue Friday ...

This chair was bought as part of a dining room set when my first house was built, in 1976.   Early American furniture was all the rage.  Remember?? I have two of these chairs that I kept when I sold the table.   The lady who wanted them only wanted the table and 4 chairs. These chairs were very inexpensive, but have lasted 38 years!!!! Y'all know how I love Valspar samples. I had a jar of Redwood Blue Spruce that I got free with one of those coupons that are in some magazines, so I painted one of the chairs.  I mixed some with Plaster of Paris for chalk paint, but did not like how it went on the chair once it dried.  I put a second coat on of the paint only.  Here is the chair after it was painted. I like the change, and am using it in the guest room which has these colors.  I already had the cushion. Hang on to those old chairs and furniture, you can give them a new color, and use them!!  I still have one chair tha...

I love little chapels.  They are so charming.  I decided I would try to paint one in acrylics.  I looked through pictures of chapels, and decided to paint one that bears a slight resemblance to one near my home. I found a picture of it taken during the Spring when the Azaelias were in full bloom, and the trees behind it still had the new leaves with their yellowish hues. First, I applied gesso to my canvas to prime it.  After that dried, I started dabbing the green leaves onto the canvas.  I used that method rather than painting individual leaves.  The chapel is surrounded by trees.  Next I penciled on a drawing of the chapel.  Next I painted the tree trunks, then the chapel was painted white, with green accents.  Last the blue sky was added, and the Azaelias were also dabbed on. My first attempt looked alright to me until I saw it in photos. (Needs Changes) This is the photo that showed me all that was wrong with my painting. ...

My husband and I went to one of my favorite consignment shops the other day, and I found a couple of items that I really did not  need(ed).  One was a runner!  Surprise, surprise!  Y'all know I hoard runners!  I bet I have 20 or 30!!  Maybe I should do a post on all of them.  (idea). I switched out the aqua runner I had been using in the sun room, and replaced it with the new one.  Love the design and colors. I like the romantic design.  I have lots of pink and green in this room, so I'll use this in here for a while. (reverse) The runner below is the one I swapped out.  It is now in the dining room.  The two runners are somewhat similar in design with both having scalloped edges. (My other treasure) I was on the lookout for a clock like some I've been seeing on the blogs.  I don't know yet if it works, nor do I care.  I wanted it to paint and display on my bookcase, so if it does work, ...

I've had this small crackled lamp for several years, and the shade had gotten so dirty. See how dirty it is?? I carried this to my craft area in the basement for a makeover.  I wasn't sure what I would find to give it an update, but I had plenty of things in my "bag of stuff". In fact, this burlap ribbon was the exact width I needed. All I had to do was use the glue gun and glue it around the shade. I had to gather it at the top of the shade in a couple of places. The base of the lamp was a beige crackle finish, so I painted it a light aqua with acrylic craft paint. I think it makes a cute addition to this tabletop vignette.  It repeats the aqua of these vintage jars. I've had these sweet cupids for a very long time, and still love them. We all love old canning jars, don't we?? I like the lamp so much better with its new color base, and spiffy chevron shade. This project took just a few mi...

It's always fun to decorate the entry for the various holidays. After all, it's the first place a guest sees upon entering the house. The table I have in the entry is very old, and is one of my first chalk paint projects.  Since then I have added grain sack stripes to it.  It's just the right size for the spot where it sits. Everything in this vignette is old.  I added a red/white tinsel wreath to a candle stand and set the lamp on top to give it height like the tall candle stick. I made the runner last year. I added a wedding picture of my husband and me to the vignette. In this photo, you can see how narrow the wall is where I have the table.  Total spent for this vignette:  $0 Have you decorated for Valentine's? Please join me at these great parties: Frugal Friday @ Shabby Nest Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage Show and Tell Saturday @ Be Different, Act Normal   Serenity Saturday @  Sere...