Before and During...

I would like to take a moment to thank my friends, old and new, for their kind sentiments and condolences after the great losses we have endured.  This year has been a difficult one, to be certain.  However, I am much comforted by the fact that so many people care.  In time I will remember Shenanigan, Frances, Duchess and Jenny without tears.  Thank you so much for your support and understanding.

I have been keeping very busy upholstering chairs (wait until you see them), painting furniture, making cushions and drapes, laying carpeting, adding to the gardens and acquiring more stuff!

I decided that the buffet deux corps I had in the Dining Room wasn't what I really wanted.  I posted it on Craigslist and sold it to a man from Transylvania (!)  He loved it so much he is actually having it shipped there when he moves at the end of the month!

 The china cabinet, purchased on Craigslist for $50. It is 5 1/2 feet long and 7 feet tall...a rather large piece.  It was damaged in transit but with a bit of wood glue, wood putty and sandpaper I was able to repair it. *Note to self*...listen to husband when he tells me the kids who respond to my "Movers Wanted" ad on Craigslist are stoners, (habitual marijuana users). He's trained in that kind of stuff. They just seemed really pleasant and calm!   I had to bail them out of jail and get their truck out of impound before I could get my china cabinet. They were driving without valid insurance. When they explained it to me, I felt sorry for them!  More later on how I hired them a second time and they started my armoire on fire. But I digress.

 Bibliotheque muse...

Another bookcase inspiration...

And another...

Tara Shaw

 Here is my beloved Jenny, trying to convince me to paint the interior "Jenny Grey".  I followed her advice.

 I had to pull her out four times!

 The interior was painted "Jenny Grey"(actually, Annie Sloan French Linen) and waxed with Annie Sloan Clear Wax.

 I carefully removed the glass panels behind the chicken wire, then painted the entire piece with Annie Sloan Old White.  The sides of the hutch were glass.  I painted them and let them dry thoroughly in between coats.  It took four coats to cover the glass. I wanted it to look like the antique bookcases I admired.

Closer view of the hutch.  It is lacking detail.  That will change with the application of Annie Sloan Dark Wax.

I took a small brush and painted all the hardware with Rub N' Buff Gold Leaf.  I sanded the cabinet until I was unable to move my limbs.  I removed too much paint so I added another coat, skipping spots here and there.

I still have to use Clear Wax over the entire piece, then Dark Wax on the details. I'm wondering if there is an Olympic Clear Wax applying event?  I'm in training.

Goodbye Dear Friend

Dear Friends,

It is with tremendous sadness that I share the passing of my darling Jenny. I cannot bear it.  She passed peacefully in my arms this morning.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with Jenny, her story is here.  She was, unequivocally, the sweetest cat I have ever known.  My husband gave her to me in December for my birthday.  Truly, the greatest gift I have ever received.  I am so sad. So very sad.
Jenny was 19 years old when we adopted her.  She had spent the past 13 years of her life in a shelter.
Even after all that, she was the most affectionate, loving friend I have ever known.  She followed me absolutely everywhere.  My shadow.
I miss you, friend.  I miss you.

 Such a sweet girl

 Eating my dinner

 Upon arrival to her new home.  Best day ever!

 Helping me decide what color to paint the china cabinet interior.  We chose grey, to match her beautiful coat!

Waiting for Santa to fill her stocking.  She fell asleep before he arrived.

Too Soon

My Dear Friends,

I come to you once again with a heavy heart.  My beloved Duchess passed away this evening.  She died peacefully in my arms.  I pray she knew how very much she was loved.  I think she did. The time we had together was far too short.  I am not ready to say goodbye.
We adopted Duchess at the end of August.  She was thirteen years old and she had been living in the shelter for eight years.   In the short time we had together, she became a loyal friend.  She was never cross, even in her final days.  I grieve for a dear, faithful,loving and affectionate friend.  I loved her the moment I saw her photograph on Petfinder and I will love her for all eternity.

Duchess' Petfinder photograph that sent my heart all aflutter!

My darling Duchess, recuperating after her surgery.

Duchess at the window in Autumn.

Duchess, in her favorite spot in the Library.

Beautiful Duchess on Gracie's bed.

Look at that beautiful face!

Duchess, in the short time we had together I was granted the bliss of being your friend.  I will never forget you. As we became familiar with each other, I found myself in constant awe of your beauty and your dignity.  You did not deserve to be abandoned in that apartment almost 9 years ago.  You deserved to be loved and cherished.  Though I know the people from the shelter loved you.  They often asked about you and I know they will be saddened to hear of your passing. My world was a better place because you were in it Duchess.  I miss you, my friend. I miss you so very much.

I love you, Paper Doll, my beautiful, delicate girl...

Spring Cleaning With Meaning!

Many of my blog friends love animals as much as I do.  Seriously love. My house would be an empty shell without the love and affection I have been blessed with.  My pets are as much a part of my family as my child and my husband!
Shelters all over the world are at full capacity.  There are ways to help if, like me, you simply cannot take in another pet.
Spring is around the corner and with it, the opportunity to clear out the clutter that may have accumulated in the past year.  Shelters are in dire need of many of the items that may be headed for the trash heap.

 FIVE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP A SHELTER PET:

IF YOU HAVE 1 MINUTE – Share at least one post of a pet in need of help.


IF YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES – Open your linen closet and remove the sheets,  towels, placemats you


 no longer use. Throw them into a bag and leave them by your front door to drop off at the shelter the


next time you go out. Get in the habit of stacking newspapers in the trunk of your car.  If you find 


yourself near a shelter, merely drop them off!  Thrift stores are the perfect place to find the gift of towels


 and blankets for our furry friends!

IF YOU HAVE 20 MINUTES – Create a flier to post in local pet shops listing all free/low-cost spay 


and neuter programs in your area. Create posters to remind people to spay and neuter their pets and to


Adopt, Not Shop!



IF YOU HAVE AN ENTIRE DAY – Visit your local shelter and ask how you can help. Inquire about


 their volunteer program and meet some of the staff. Then, get to work!

IF YOU HAVE THE GIFT OF TIME THAT KEEPS ON GIVING – Volunteer regularly at your local


 shelter. Run donation drives in your area. Volunteer to transport


 cats and dogs to their new homes (transport is always needed!) 

Who's saving whom?

Other Items Shelters Need:

1. 
   

   Food and Treats

   • Every creature needs to eat. Dog food and cat food in bags or cans are usually welcome donations to animal shelters. Dog treats, catnip and cat treats are also thoughtful items that help give the animals a little extra boost between bowls.

   Household Goods

   • Animals get dirty and shelters need daily cleaning. Old towels, rags, brooms, mops, cleaning soaps, buckets, disinfectants and natural cleaners are always appreciated. Sponges and scrub brushes are also needed, as well as newspapers and trash bags.

   Toys

   • A pet that is played with is a happy pet. Balls, chew toys, Frisbees, squeaky toys, pull ropes and stuffed animals ensure that shelter residents get some healthy play breaks during long days inside a crate or cage. Toys can help young animals through painful teething and they provide exercise the young and old.

   Gear

   • Few animals arrive at a shelter with a collar and leash. Many shelters provide these items to adoptive parents. Collars, harnesses and leashes are in constant demand. Bedding and blankets also make the animals' temporary home a cozier place to live.

   Litter Boxes and Litter

   • Shelters run through cat litter quickly. Bags are always welcome.

   Flea and Tick Treatment

   • Animals often arrive infested with fleas and ticks. Medication is needed to keep a shelter from crawling with bugs.
     
     
     

     

     
     

Contact your local shelter to see what they may need.  Click on this link to Petfinders

to find a shelter near you!

Many shelters take "Memorial Donations" in honor of a beloved pet who has passed on. It is a meaningful way to remember your friend while helping others!

If you simply cannot help rescue this little guy, you can make his life in the shelter more bearable!

Beautiful Dreamer came to Pet Savers on February 24, 2012. His owner is 7 months pregnant and could no longer care for him. Unfortunately, we’re not even sure if this sweet, precious angel will survive, but we are doing everything we can to give him a chance. Beautiful Dreamer is currently at our vet in critical condition. What they’ve determined so far, is that he has a prostate infection, is severely emaciated, heavily matted, and literally on death’s door. He’s on IV fluids and being monitored around the clock, thanks to a caring vet tech who is taking him home at night.

Beautiful Dreamer is only a year and half old… but looks so much older! We see cases like him on occasion, but typically they are found as strays or come in from kill-shelters. This sweet baby came from a home!!

We, at Pet Savers, want to give this baby a fighting chance and request your assistance with his vet bills. While we don’t know the extent of his vet bills at this point, we do know that it will not be cheap. We’re starting his Chipin at $800, which will help us continue his care. 

Beautiful Dreamer - one and half year old Shih Tzu/Japanese Chin mix... on death's door! Donate now: http://pippy.chipin.com/beautiful-dreamer

I normally do not ask for this type of help but I saw this little man and my heart wedged in my throat.  It doesn't hurt to ask!  One dollar at a time adds up!

xoxo

Andie

Melt With You

via

"How did it happen that their lips came together? How does it happen that birds sing, that snow melts, that the rose unfolds, that the dawn whitens behind the stark shapes of trees on the quivering summit of the hill? A kiss, and all was said."
~Victor Hugo

Too Much?

  No husband should have to come home to a boring asphalt driveway after patrolling the city for 12 hours!  Wouldn't you agree?  There are just enough Persian rugs to cover the entire thing!

Just kidding!  We were finally able to move these from the garage.  It is difficult to tell, but the smallest of these is ten feet long!  They are so very heavy! 

I wish I could have taken a photo of my neighbor's face!  You know they are always curious as to what the heck I am up to! She drove by twice and pretended not to look when I looked up and waved!  Tee hee!

The rugs were all rolled up and stacked in the first bay of the garage.  I was going to take them directly into the house but decided, at the last minute, to bring them into the driveway and let them air out.  I'm glad I did because a little mouse had carried eight tons of birdseed into the largest carpet!  No damage, just birdseed husks. Phew!

We grew more excited with each carpet we unrolled.  It has been ages since I bought them on ebay and I had forgotten what they looked like!  Romantic arabesques, clouds and medallions cover each one.  The colors range from deep reds and turquoise, to muted greys and creams. To think, that from a humble sheep, vegetable dyes and the hands of an artisan in a far off country, 50 or more years ago, these rugs were born!

We carefully measured each carpet and I wrote the dimensions on back. Then we rolled them back up and brought them in to be vaccuumed.  

Gracie helped me measure the rooms in the house, now it's time to place them!

I bought these on ebay before we even moved into our new home.  There is  a rug for each room and they all fit perfectly!  How's that for fate?  Now we get to move all of the furniture out of each room and place each rug! 

It's my fault.  When we moved in I was so excited to get the furniture into each room that I never even thought about the rugs.  So they sat...and sat.  Then I became involved with the gardens and the details that make a house a home.  I knew the rugs were going to be a huge undertaking (Get it?  Undertaking?)

Just to give you an idea, this rug is over 14 feet long. It was the heaviest of the group!  Two days later and I am, once again, walking upright!
The rugs are stacked in our breakfast area, where six kitties and a certain puggle sit strategically, like fuzzy little chess pieces!
 Six stray cats on ten Persian rugs...

I finally feel like things are coming together.  This was the bottleneck, so to speak.

Have you had any recent turning points?

Mystery

I found this piece on my local Craigslist last night.  I thought I would create a ciel de lit, or bed canopy, for the guest room.  At a mere $50 it was a steal! Please pardon the photos.  They are from Craigslist.  I will take more tomorrow but I am so excited about this piece!

I am trying to discover its origins but I am at a loss.  

The bonnet, which is quite large,  measures approximately four feet wide, two and a half feet deep and one and one half feet tall. It is made with dovetailed joints.  The box is complete, it is enclosed all the way around.  Perhaps it was part of a cabinet or a bookshelf? Part of an entryway?  It looks like something from an old library.  Maybe the Masons or Oddfellows?

Here's the best part; The medallion is inscribed with the words Amore ed Arte, which translates to Love and Art.

I am just so curious! Where did you come from?

Have you ever seen anything like this?

More Craigslist Treasures

I am a firm believer that one can never have too many armoires, especially if they cost under $200! Sorry for the blurry image.  It is the Craigslist photograph.

I don't think I will paint this one but you never know!

Three foot tall, brass lanterns for...$15!  I will remove the lacquer and age the metal with apple cider vinegar.  These will be hung either over the island in the kitchen or from the 18 foot ceiling in the family room.

Similar lantern from Brooke Giannetti's blog, Velvet and Linen.

Antique French cane chairs for $50 each!  The cane is still intact!  These are currently flanking Narnia.

Love this!  I saved the Craigslist photo to show you how large it is compared to the gentleman holding it! It will go in the foyer or the family room.

Original Craigslist photo of a matching pair of Italianate column side tables.  I removed the tops and will be painting them in Annie Sloan Old White with Dark Wax.  I have a pair of iron urns to place atop each pedestal.

Restoration Hardware Architectural Side Table, retails for $1095.  I bought my pair for $100!

Pair of urns for pedestal tables. Purchased on ebay.

Original Craigslist photo of armoire, almost eight feet high, from the Chicago Hilton.  It was very heavy...very, very heavy!  It is over 8 feet tall!  I will tell you the story of how the delivery person started it on fire...but you will have to wait! This piece was $100!

You will be seeing more of these items as I paint, hang, arrange fuss over them!

Stay tuned!