Over the past week, we have been finishing up projects in our home.  This week, Jeff used the power washer on the deck, my mom and I cleaned the basement and we had a handyman come out to fix a few things that were beyond our DIY abilities.  It feels amazing to have things done!  There are other projects on our wish list and I will always rearrange furniture and change paint colors, but things that were unfinished are finished.  Things that needed to be fixed are fixed.  I’m not staring at things that need some kind of action everywhere I look.  I can wander into a room and enjoy the glorious doneness of it, which I have been doing.  Soaking in organized spaces and simple details like thresholds and quarter round. With so much “doneness” around me, I feel so free to work on other things like the milk

Today I started working on my Christmas freelance projects.  I know it’s April, but this is a pretty normal time of year for me to be working on Christmas stuff, actually.  These projects are for Christmas 2014 and are launched in July for “Christmas in July” and will then be promoted again when everyone else is ramping up for the holidays.  So, I have to get them turned in early enough, so they can be edited, formatted, etc.  It is a little strange making Christmas decorations in April, but that’s just a part of this business. Today I made tutorials showing how to turn a cutter quilt into a tree skirt and stockings.  I love how these turned out… It was a little sad cutting up this circa 1870 quilt with amazing hand stitching, but it was shredded in some places and wasn’t very useful as a quilt anymore. I

I usually focus on bigger projects and overlook little things…small details that would make a big difference if I just took the time to do them!  We’ve lived in our home for almost eight years and I hardly ever notice this sad light that hangs out by the side door.  It looks faded, dirty, tired.  The finish has worn away and it is almost the color of the siding.  I finally decided to get it over with, order a new fixture and get it done. The current light had a slightly nautical feel to it and I decided to go with something a bit more traditional.  I selected the Westinghouse Wall Light Fixture from True Value. I have wired lights myself before, but I asked my dad if he would come help.  He’s become my go-to guy when it comes to stuff like this.  Here’s how we tackled the project…

A few years ago, I found a vintage wire laundry basket in an antique store when out shopping with my friend.  I loved that piece and held onto it for a long time.  Then, one year at Lucketts, I sold out of almost everything the first day, so I raided my house and took the laundry basket to sell.  I don’t regret selling it, but I do think about it now and then.  So, when the girls at Decor Steals showed me a reproduction they had sourced, I was excited to check them out.  They look almost exactly like the other one I had AND they even come with liners! AND they are the deal of the day today! The liners come with an option to have a monogram added.  Of course, I chose blue and white with an M monogram. Th big basket is really big, which would be

If you’ve spent any amount of time on my blog, you know I love furniture.  I’m pretty sure it started with the $10 antique dresser I bought at a yard sale about 12 years ago.  I shoved it in the backseat of my car, carried it up to our balcony apartment and refinished it.  I was hooked.  I picked up pieces of furniture I loved, even if I didn’t know where it would go.  I just knew it needed a good home and I could provide that.  Years later, hunting for great pieces turned into a part of my business and furniture easily became my speciality. So, I’ve curated a collection on eBay of some of the pieces that caught my attention as I browsed through thousands of listings.  You can check out my “Furniture Fanatic” collection HERE. If you like my style, you can view and follow all of