Monday, December 16, 2013

Dashing!

The Holiday Season is afoot! We have been dashing to and fro...sometimes through the snow that has been gloriously falling for days now!

This business of dashing first began when I purchased two thousand Spring bulbs for the gardens. The weather has been wholly uncooperative here in Illinois so I had to roll with it! Toward the end, I was drilling holes into frozen earth, then covering it with garden soil purchased from Home Depot.  While everyone else left the store with Christmas decorations in hand, I was wheeling out bags and bags of soil, as well as a few more Spring bulbs!
We don't decorate for Christmas until a week before because we use fresh greenery and keep it up until Epiphany.

I leapt at the opportunity to do a few random things around the house.

As you may know, the gardens keep me fairly preoccupied during the warm months.
The inside doesn't get much attention until late Autumn.
That is also around the time homeschool lessons begin, so the house must be patient with me!


I managed to paint the cupboard in the entry.  Annie Sloan French Linen, Light and Dark Wax!
See McGillicuddy? On the right?


Detail of vignette atop cupboard.  Please note the large, antique, wooden carved polychrome monstrance that I found on ebay for $20. The seller listed it as a shaving mirror that was missing the mirror!


I have rearranged the Library for the 5,782nd time.  I think this is a winner!  

Atticus loves this spot because the daybed is right over the heating vent!
The mirror was a Craigslist find, it finally rests here, in the Library.  The drapes are new too!  I have another set to hang to give more fullness but they are on backorder.  
They are quite lovely; a faux silk taffeta in a beige and burgundy pavilion stripe!



Close-up of the mirror.  Thirty dollars on Craigslist!


This may seem like an innocent photo of an armoire in a niche, but do not allow yourself to be fooled!
On the contrary, this little endeavor took the larger part of a day and a big portion of my sanity to complete!
I decided to remove the bi-fold doors and simply place the armoire inside.  Three hours later, when I arrived at the "Dear God, what have I done?" stage of this venture, I was about to give up when I realized the bonnet came off the top of the armoire.  I would go into more detail but I really don't want to revisit that experience.  :)

How did I not see Mabel's keister in this shot until I uploaded it?

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you...Mabel the Kitty's rear-end!
No extra charge, of course.
This is an all-inclusive kinda blog.

Yes, this image is dark.  Sorry for that.  I wanted to give you an idea of the layout here.  Hopefully, I will have the chairs painted and reupholstered before Friday.
I chose robin's egg blue faux silk taffeta drapes!  They really add life to this room!

Here is the black, grey and cream toile I will be reupholstering the chairs with. I absolutely love it with the taffeta drapes!


Craigslist buffet, painted in Annie Sloan Old White and Dark Wax...you have seen this before.


We are cutting down our Christmas tree this Thursday!  I am so excited!  

Handsome Husband wears his lumberjack coat, one that he bought for such an occasion.  This is also the one time of the year he dons a plaid, flannel shirt.  I think it adds to that lumberjack-y feel  Don't you?

Then, back into the closet until next year! (The lumberjack attire, not the Handsome Husband!)

This year, it's Gracie's turn to choose the tree!
She already set her parameters: 
"Something very green, not too tall, not too short, kinda fluffy and not prickly".

Stay tuned...

xo

Andie






24 comments:

  1. everything is looking great -you HAVE been busy! Love your mirror - $30 is a great find!

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  2. Hi Andie, Everything is beautiful and I love the armoire in the niche. Have fun getting your tree and decorating for the season. Happy Holidays!
    xx,
    Sherry

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  3. You're going to post some pictures of your house all decked out for Christmas, right?

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  4. Ahhh, the joys of trying to stage one's house and photograph it with helpful kitties in residence! Makes the place look even MORE warm and homey.

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  5. great photos, lovely home and I agree with Little Miss...not too prickly!
    Merry Christmas, Andie, to you and yours.

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  6. Ah, the Craig's List Queen is still #1 in Sourcing the most Ahmaaazing Craig's List Treasures! *winks* Tickled that the Fur Babies had to get into frame... sneaking stealthfully so that you didn't even realize it until you uploaded the Image! *LOL* Everything is so classy... and I can't wait for you to Reveal the Christmas Transformation!

    Merry Christmas from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian

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  7. PS: I also Hope you Reveal the Gazillion Bulbs in Bloom when the time comes?!? I've got a mental Image of you drilling holes in the frozen earth and popping bulbs in! *LOL* The end results will be SO worth it though! One of the most magnificent Images I ever saw was an entire hillside in bloom with Daffodils that someone had spent years planting in a rather remote location... just because! Dawn... The Bohemian

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  8. Okay I can't believe the CL mirror. Are you kidding me $30. The house looks great too! Warm and cozy.
    Sharon

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  9. Love your home and all your cats, but it's your commentary that really keeps me coming back for me - it always manages to give me a lift! Wishing you a merry Christmas x Sharon

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  10. Looks so beautifully curated..you must so enjoy walking in and seeing all of your gorgeous treasures. I hope Gracie finds the perfect tree...ho ho ho!

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  11. Andie I adore your home! The Madonna painting is such a treasure amongst your precious finds!

    xoxo
    Karena
    The Arts by Karena

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  12. Can't wait to see your garden in the Spring when it is a profusion of color. The cupboard turned out stunning. I enjoy seeing your sweet cats in the photos. You will most likely see mine in my photos too once I start posting. Max and Simon aren't camera shy either.
    Vera

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  13. Your home is so beautiful, and so are your cats! They look very contented.

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  14. Your home is a masterpiece of taste and style, just magnificent. Are you serious about having all those chairs painted and reupholstered by Friday? Really? It would take me that long to just get one done! LOL I love it when your little babies photobomb your pictures, they are sooo precious. I hope Gracie finds just the perfect tree. Happy Holidays to you and yours.
    Alison

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  15. DIVINE INDEED!
    the settings, the vignette's and the kitties. such an old world vibe andie
    merry christmas!

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  16. All looks absolutely lovely! Can't wait to see the "very green, not too tall, not too short, kinda fluffy and not prickly" tree decorated in the Divine Theatre style. Happy Holidays! ~ Sarah

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  17. Andie, your painting talents and transformation skills are endless! You would be a great addition to any designing team for antiques or reproductions! Thank you so much for visiting tonight. I am enjoying the full moon out my front door, and due to the snowy night here, the moon has this misty aura around it. It's a perfect night to reflect on the light/dark of which your spoke on your comment. Yes, we live in the darkness and the light shines ever so brightly. MUCH LOVE! Anita

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  18. I just love all your cheap craigs list finds
    I love that worn leather chair in the library I would
    put that right in my home for sure, I am SICK I passed up one for $10 at a yard sale

    Merry Christmas

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  19. Happy Birthday Beautiful!!!! Love you,Iza and I will see you tommorow...Huggs TERI

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  20. Happy Birthday Beautiful!!!! Love you,Iza and I will see you tommorow...Huggs TERI

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  21. You are an amazing painter! And a talented stylist. Beautiful vignettes, Andie. Atticus has very good taste :)
    BTW, I signed up by email for your blog posts, but didn't get this?? I'll do it again.
    Merry Christmas!!
    Stay fabulous - xoxo, Loi

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  22. Ooops said I was already subscribed. Will check again to see if I missed this post update - strange.

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  23. My bad - I did get the update. So sorry for the goof. Jingle, jingle!

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