As I mentioned, one of the projects I'm working on is trying to change up the living room a little. The old wall cabinet you see on the left is likely to be painted, I just haven't fully decided on the color yet. Red? Brown? Green? On the living room windows are the curtains I moved from the dining room. I'm trying to incorporate that gorgeous red in them into the room.
This is the other side of the room. (I can't believe I'm showing it in this state.) It's a verrrrry small room, so the furniture arrangement is pretty much impossible to change. I've already taken everything off the walls and everything out of there except the furniture so that I can start from scratch with new ideas.
I'm also trying to finish up sewing today for Jack's room and Amelia's room. I hit a major mental block with Amelia's window treatments, but now I'm getting excited again! This is one of my inspiration pics. I found it in a magazine and took a picture of it with my phone. (I'm sure everyone else in the waiting room who saw me taking pictures of magazine pages thought I had gone over the deep end. Haha!) This looks really similar to the treatments in the nursery.
This is part of my inspiration for Jack Jack's nursery...a vintage block and Daddy's old baseballs. I injecting some green in the room along with the existing blue and white, and I'm using the red from the baseball stitches as a tiny accent color.
The other day, I stopped into Goodwill. I got an armful of goodies, with the most I paid for a single item being $5. Yea!
The bateau-shaped basket is getting painted and going into the master bath next to the shower with towels in it. The flat round basket will also get painted, and I'll probably use it for serving food maybe (?) like breads when we have company. I got another basket but forgot to take its picture.
I got a mess of cookbooks and a couple Martha books and a Victoria book. I could read cookbooks all the live long day, from recipe to recipe and cover to cover. Do y'all do that? I already have one of these books, but I thought it would be great for a Christmas gift or even a wedding shower gift in a basket full of some other goodies.
I found some more apothecary jars for one of the bathrooms. I think the little squadgy one would look nice with a candle in it, but I've never done that. Maybe I'll get adventurous and try it.
I thought the cathedral-like pattern on this piece was pretty, but I don't know what this is supposed to be used for or what I'm going to use it for. Hmmm...
I was soooo excited about this glass ice bucket! It came with the hammered metal claw-foot tongs. I love how chunky and heavy it is.
So, I have my hand in all these projects. I'm trying to work on them in between calls to poison control and warding off a case of mastitis.
The phone picture is funny! You're nice...I actually have ripped pages out before as quietly and discreetly as I could but I couldn't help but giggle while doing so because I knew people could see what I was doing. :)
Posted by: Lindsey | June 27, 2009 at 06:05 AM
I love that ice bucket!
sandy toe
Posted by: sandy toe | June 27, 2009 at 06:52 AM
You are doing all of that WITH mastitis? Girl you are my hero! I don't have that, just clogged ducts and I am being a big baby! :) Love your finds! I went yard saling today and got some cute stuff. Hope all is well with you and your babies! :) Love your blog! Come on by my blog and see my little Audrey! I had her June 2nd. I was following your blog when you had your baby and it was fun because I was excited about having my baby too! :) Take care!
Posted by: Mommyto3andahusky | June 27, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Fun projects! I can't wait to see how they turn out. Love that you took a picture in the waiting room, I have done that too!
Best wishes,
Tammy
Posted by: Tammy | June 27, 2009 at 12:03 PM
Your Goodwill finds are fabulous (I'm pretty sure that everyone else's Goodwill has WAAAYYYY better stuff than mine!). And, I can't wait to see Amelia's room. I love that window treatment.
Posted by: Kim | June 27, 2009 at 02:04 PM
Why, oh WHY do I not find things like that at my Goodwill??? You did good! LOVE the ice bucket and books and everything else you found! :-)
Your curtains are GORGEOUS! I can't wait to see the changes you make in the living room.
Mastitis...Yikes!!! I really hope you can keep it away. NOT fun...
Posted by: my hungry boys | June 27, 2009 at 04:28 PM
Great finds at Goodwill! I have the same (or *very* similar) set of apothecary jars that I found while thrifting. Now I wonder if some mainstream store originally sold them as a set, because it is strange that we both have the same ones!
~ Sarah
Posted by: Sarah | June 27, 2009 at 05:29 PM
Oh, how I LOVE to read cookbooks!!! I hardly make half of the recipes I read, but it is one of my favorite things to do, which is why a cookbook can always be found open on our kitchen table!
Posted by: Jill | June 27, 2009 at 05:46 PM
Oh, I really hope you don't have mastitis. I have heard that is awful! I love all of your goodwill finds!! All that in one trip is great! I cannot WAIT to see the living room and the baby's nurseries. :)
Posted by: Shannon | June 27, 2009 at 06:26 PM
What about putting a dark stain on the cabinet. I've seen that on a couple of blogs and it's a nice change from white or black spray paint.
Posted by: Lucinda | June 27, 2009 at 07:46 PM
You have the best luck at Goodwill and Thrift stores. The ones around my area don't have things like that - ever! Maybe I need to venture to other towns for treasures. Love the baskets!
Posted by: Paige | June 27, 2009 at 08:26 PM
I love those cookbooks... I have a couple of them myself. In fact, I have a whole bookshelf of cookbooks... love to read them. That little white dish remind me of the bottom half of a "butter boat" that I have. For mine, you were to put cool water or even ice chips in and then there was another dish that set inside. It was to keep the butter cool enough to spread but not runny... just a thought.
Posted by: Ketha | June 27, 2009 at 10:23 PM
Great treasures! My Grandma had an ice bucket just like that and I know it was in my possession but do you think I could find it now? Your picture just reminded me that I had one of those too! Oops! You sound so much like me, I am always knee deep in projects around the house, always rearranging! Can't wait to see it when you are done!
Posted by: Leslie | June 28, 2009 at 06:43 AM
Can't wait to see what you come up with! I love your style!
Posted by: Leigh Ann | June 28, 2009 at 07:48 AM
which goodwill did you get all these wonderful finds? I can NEVER find goodies like this!
Posted by: Kelli | June 28, 2009 at 09:43 AM
I can't wait to see the finished kiddos bedrooms ,o) I love the apothercary jars you found, I'm on the hunt for some myself. I bought on from tjmaxx and came home and washed it out and dropped it in the sink!! )
Posted by: sharae bryant | June 28, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Wow! You had quite a day at Goodwill. You found so many little treasures! Lucky you! I'm amazed you found them all in one place!
Posted by: Amber | June 28, 2009 at 03:45 PM
Wow, girl, you found some fabulous stuff! I love your ideas for Jack's room, can't wait to see it! I'm always so glad to hear from another person that likes to "read" cookbooks! :)
Have a great week, take care of yourself.
Posted by: Kimm at Reinvented | June 28, 2009 at 06:01 PM
hey! i've been reading your blog for a few months now, and thought i'd introduce myself. love your blog!
jen
Posted by: jennifer | June 28, 2009 at 07:50 PM
First of all... I want to REBUKE THE MASTITIS!!! Stay away you nasty mastitis!!! *I hope that helped.* ;)
Your house is sooooooooo super cute. I just love getting little glimpses. And can I come down to your Goodwill and shop because you always find the coolest stuff! You really have an eye for transforming something and making it homey.
Those window treatments are going to be out of this world!!! I couldn't even attempt something as complicated as that. How long have you been sewing? Can't wait to see them!
Oh and I lovvvvvvve the ideas for Jack Jack's room decor!
Posted by: Bri | June 29, 2009 at 10:01 AM
Katie,
Thanks for your sweet comment and for praying for me a lot! Shannon did a wonderful job of keeping everyone updated. I feel very blessed to be feeling back to normal.
I love that you tried to be productive and get both of you kids out to run errands Good effort! Next time just go alone. Ha! I have my hands full just with my son when I run errands. ; )
Posted by: Katie | June 29, 2009 at 11:07 AM
What wonderful treasures you picked up at the thrift stores! Most thrift stores in Australia have NOTHING like this- over here you have to hit the garage sales for beautiful glassware etc- especially in our neck of the woods.
Can't wait to see more of your decorating projects- you are truly inspiring as a homemaker!
Claire
Posted by: Heart Reflections Live | June 30, 2009 at 02:50 AM
I think your living room will look great! I love the floors! :) I hope you will share a pic with us when you get it just how you want it! :)
What wonderful things you found at Goodwill! I don't usually have a ton of luck at ours! :) Have a great rest of the week Katie! :)
Posted by: Katy | June 30, 2009 at 06:06 AM
Can't wait to see what you do in the living room and I love all your GW finds!
Posted by: stephanie | June 30, 2009 at 10:14 AM
I love the pleated skirt on your sofa! Your curtains are great too.
But please, please, please(on knees pleading dramatically) don't paint that adorable wall cabinet! It is just perfect the way it is! I think you will regret painting it down the line. But if it needs a lift just get some fiddes wax to polish it up. I use it on all my antique wood pieces and it make them look great.
I love following your blog, thanks.
Posted by: Jill | July 01, 2009 at 11:55 AM
My mom and I have made candles. It's not hard, and they turned out great. Just get a kit and it's smooth sailing. You have to stir the paraffin a little, but it's not bad.
Go for it!
Posted by: Madison | July 01, 2009 at 02:35 PM
That little bitty jar - I have that! Except it comes with different layers that stack. Derrick broke one so now it only has two layers. But it is perfect for cutting up lemons for your sweet tea (when you eat outside). I put crushed ice in the bottom layer to keep the lemons chilled. I saw one the other day at junk store I am at regularly. If you want me to grab it for you I can - let me know! Love the bigger ones. I don't have any like that...but I would like some if you see more.
Posted by: Kelly Jo | July 06, 2009 at 07:14 PM