Anytime I come home from a shopping trip, I have to see if I can work any of my new goodies into my home. See, I look for a few different things when I shop…things to sell, things for photo shoots and things that are just for me. Sometimes a piece can fit in all of those categories or maybe only one. Sometimes I know I just love it and I’m not sure how I’m going to use it. So, I play with it in my home to rule out keeping it.
My living room accessories have remained the same for a few months (yawn, I know), so that’s where I started playing. The picture above is how it looks today and below is how it looked before.
I took down the birdcage and hung some small mirrors on the window trim. A stack of books sits on a wood box and my latest antique fan balances out the enamel pitcher filled with boxwood branches.
I love the shape of this fan grate. Love.
I also bought some book bundles that I scattered around the room. It’s hard for me to resist old books…
These book bundles found their way to the end tables along with a live boxwood arrangement from Target.
I have no idea why I was decorating in a very “summery” way, especially when I’m about to work on Thanksgiving and Christmas freelance jobs, but it’s just how I was feeling today.
I have piles of new things to take to Lucketts and I am going to be a busy girl this week…working on new things for my space and some articles.
All of this work is taking over my house. Sigh…my office.
I really need an assistant or personal organizer…
…or miracle worker.
39 Responses
I wish we lived closer. I'd be over in a heartbeat to help you organize. One thing I've found over the years is that very creative minds really do tend to let things pile up. The creativity cells just seem to take over the organizing cells.
sign me up for the assistant job! i LOVE the mirror/frame idea on the window trim–that looks so GREAT!
Oh…I would be your assistant for free if I lived close enough. Dream job to be sure!
What you need (also what I need) is one of those cute little bldgs. they have set up in front of Home Depot with the little front porches. I think they'd make the greatest work shop/storage bldg. My friend actually bought one off Craig's List. Good luck! Jan
I love the vintage books and fan!! I know what you mean about finds from different shopping trips/garage sales taking over 🙂 I just had to clean my office today for that exact reason!
I love, love, LOVE seeing your office because it makes me feel so much better about my piles of projects….thanks for sharing!
Peggy
I really like the new look, best. Books always win my heart and eye. The office, I feel your pain, I just told my husband I have got to cut back on all the to do things I buy and buy a few ready to go items for my booths. Things are stacking up.
Good luck,
Lisa
Thank you for showing us your office ~ It makes me feel so much better about myself 🙂
I love your new stuff!!
seriously? I wasn't following you before? there is no way that is right! pesky Google.
Anyway, I fixed that major mishap!
Hugs!
Love the new look… just beautiful. I love old books, new books, middle-aged books. Books. They're everywhere in my house. You can go anywhere in one, meet everyone and get away from the mundane.
Enamel pitcher… Swoon. Many uses indeed.
My kitchen is extremely organized right down to the tupperware lids. I do not like to cook so I am in and out and don't want to waste a minute.
My creation room looks like perpetual chaos even after I "clean and organize" but I love to create so I don't mind spending time there.
I don't know if I'm technically a creative person I just know where I like spending my time so it doesn't seem like chaos but rather lots of works in different stages.
I'm up for assisting but when it comes to organizing a creator's space, oh no not with a tenfoot pole!
I am so relieved to know I am not the only one who has "that" office!
love the new arrangement!
i am forever bringing things home for the shop and trying them in my house too. it makes for fun blog posts too… creating vignettes… taking photos to post. then you can tear it down, tag it and tote it off to the booth/shop. keeps it interesting!
your office looks like progress is being made to me!
xx
Alison
thanks for getting back to me today!
I love both rooms, it is like dress up and everyday!
oooooh! the update is so lovely!!
guess what!?!? I bought a horse painting at pier one the other day. its no cow, but i love it! its big- 40"x40" and its hanging on the living room wall above where my new couch will go, when it arrives in a week or so. 🙂
I do not think the piles ever really go away – just when I find the many surfaces more buying happens and the cycle starts again. This summer every day we've tried to get ahead of the stock/fixing/writing up/putting in cycle and although many, many boxes and piles have left for my booths there are boxes and piles waiting … repeat. Sigh.
Still, the 'finding', fixing and adding keep things going. Blogging has added so much more interest to the mix.
– Joy
ok I dont feel so bad on my stash pile(s) then, I'm new to blogging & working on opening my ETSY shop…I love that desk & the treatment on it 🙂
I came across a buffet with the same lines, I'm going to have to go get now!
Love it all!
i have been doing a lot of shows lately. they have taken their toll to be sure. the weather and all else aligned today to take a day off and hang with my youngest,,, she chose to go hang with her friends instead. so i went with the dog for the best company (my other kids were out and at work). we went to the woods to do some squirrel chasing. then when i was to get home, the universal plan was to attack a pile in some room. no matter what that pile might be. it would be progress. sadly, i twisted or broke my foot. i will find that out tomorrow. so in the mean while i will be living vicariously and drooling over that trug that may be going to lucketts, or the gorgeous starfish and ironstone set-up you have shown, i know i really need to organize(throw stuff out). you keep offering up such wonderful ideas and vignettes. how could i try to resist plans for a replication somewhere? especially if i am stuck still for a while.
xow.
You should look up those World Classics books on Amazon, I think they're quite valuable. If I remember right my mom sold the whole set on there for $600!!
Good to know I'm not the only one that is in a constant state of moving(new goodies in-goodies out to booth-goodies I can't decide if I want to keep). I have boxes packed in my office waiting for shows, boxes in garage packed….I agree a personal assistant would be awesome! Only problem is they would want to get paid! LOL
Jody
I love how the room looks (before, but especially now!). Great finds!
I would love to be your personal assistant!! In fact, I could use a personal assistant myself!!! We could help each other out? Ha!!
Your room looks fab…love the fan!!
Hugs
SueAnn
It makes me really happy to know that you shop at Target. 🙂
ImagIne running a shop too. I got my assistant a bit ago. Best thing ever. I cannot afford to have her help me as much as I would like but every little bit counts.
The pictures on the trim between the windows was a really great touch. It turned that space from pretty vintage/antique things gathered together into BAM! something very unique and stand-outish. 🙂
Old books are brilliant. I have them everywhere. They add such life to any room… can hardly ever pass up a good coloured book! 🙂 Lovely pics… as always.
It looks fab!! The birdcage is nice but I much prefer the new arrangement!!
It's a shame I don't live over the pond, I could help you sort out and make you a nice cup of tea (you know how us Brits love our tea!!)
S x
I want to apply to be your assistant — but the commute from Michigan to Penn. would be a killer. 🙂
I love all of your beautiful things. I especially love reading your posts, as I have learned so much. Thank you. Kathy
if only I lived closer… I would volunteer to be your assistant in a heartbeat!
Emily
coastaldesigner@hotmail.com
I love the new looks but I love the old one too. Everything you do look so great. Love your tutorials too! You are a big inspiration for me in the way of a successful….Godly wife/mom/business woman. Thanks!!
So happy to see that your office resembles mine. Love, love, love the blue book bundle. As always, great inspiration.
I live close and would in a heart beat come help you with anything and everything. I met Mr Mustard seed last night at the concert and he speaks so highly of you and I can tell he is your number one fan!! Also told me to write to you as you truly read every post/ email. I love organizing for fun and would love to help you in anyway you need an extra pair of hands love carrying things up flights of stairs too. 🙂 Our neighbors ( your music pastor) can tell you a little more about me/ my husband and why we are in Gettysburg. anyway love that you are using your gifts and inspiring so many more to give it a go also.. narelle@aboutezio.com
It all looks so beautiful. I also wish for a personal assistant – or coach to whip me into action so I could get as much done as you do!
I can do it all! Personal assistant-organize guru…and fellow junker. We would work well together
Gorgeous pictures! Even your "mess" has beautiful treasures in it 🙂
xoxo
You are the Miracle Worker, dear.
Noooo – I want the job! Pick me, pick me!!!
I love seeing that even Miss Mustard Seed has messes! Makes me feel like I'm not alone.