It seriously IS all that and a bag of chips....

So I ordered this book after about 2 weeks of going back and forth....it's hard to find and it's $$$$$++++!!!!!

But so worth it. This woman is a stylist extraordinaire~seriously. She's. Very. Good.

I was a bit worried that it would be all white, which is not me.
But it surely is very pretty.
The fact that she found an old home and filled it completely with vintage everything filled my heart with joy! There are copies of this book in foreign languages, but since I don't speak those I wanted to make sure that my copy was in English. I wanted to get some background on her technique, etc.
Maybe I can be just like Nina when I grow up! Whenever that may be.......;)

Pretty!

More pretty!

And yet more....

There is not a page that disappoints....

And the good news? She has another book due out the first of May called 'Brilliant Reuse' about repurposing old things.
Hmmmm, I may be interested in that concept. How about you?
I don't buy many magazines anymore so that's how I justified this purchase.....it's a book I will never get tired of.

Gosh I love our local library's book sale........;)

Some of the fun books found today

Others are already listed in my etsy shop

May have to go back tomorrow with more totes!!!!!!

New goods in shop..........!

Small storage drawers

Awesome old ledger

Old aluminum spoons

Gorgeous old Kodak camera

Tiny leather pocket dictionary

Unused Christmas novelty candles

Beautiful books

Pretty bride doll

All of these can be found (now or very soon) right here
www.etsy.com/shop/littlebeachdesigns

Oh, the random-ness of it all.........

I'm big on believing that we get what we're 'meant' to get, if that makes sense.....in other words, instead of wanting and wishing really hard, just put it out there in the universe that you really love something and you never know what may come your way!

I've never been a huge 'trunk' person. Don't get me wrong, I do love them and have seen many a lovely one in my day. But the reality is that often times they're simply too big for our spaces nowadays. But I've always been enamored of the ones with the gorgeous interiors, and I especially love the inserts and drawers in them, especially the old steamer trunks. I've been lucky to have found a couple and my best friend Melanie has also gifted me with a couple of them. All of mine are fabric covered drawers and they're beautiful. I love to use them in my displays around my home.

Today my dd and I went out and about to some antique stores. The prices were pretty high (as I expected them to be) so we didn't buy much.....on the way home I asked her if she would mind stopping in at one last store, St. Vinnie's, since it was right on the way.....being her sweet self she said, "Sure!"
They had moved some things around and I made a bee line for the linens department......while she headed a couple of aisles over to the toys. I looked down and in a messy corner I saw the insert below standing on end but I knew instantly what it was and I grabbed it, who wouldn't with that stunning floral wallpaper on it?

Sorry my photos aren't great but we just had a bad hail storm so there was no way of taking them outside.
Anyway, I turned around and saw the trunk itself, it was stuffed with old blankets.

I was astounded at the inside condition of this trunk, hardly any tears to this gorgeous paper.....how did that happen?

I looked at the price, it had 2 different prices on it. One said 79.99 and that was covered with one that said 49.99. And since that tag was yellow, and yellow tags were 25% off today, I got it for 37.49.......oh happy day!!!!!!

Even the paper lining the tray is pretty. It reminds me of a trunk that may have been found in a farmhouse attic filled with pretty things.......

I can't stop staring at it! I think it will go in my studio to house my Etsy items, or at least some of them.
I feel so lucky, and I wasn't even in the market for a trunk.
Funny how things work out.
I hope you all find something to treasure this weekend~~~~~

Sharing some of my favorites...........

Plants that is.....our cherry tree....pure love.

Lilac about to burst, can't wait.

A very sweet smelling viburnum that surrounds our back patio.

Rhododendron

Camellia

Bleeding Heart

Camellia

Daphne (my personal favorite)

Pansy

These are a few of my favorite, of course some others are a bit away from blooming, such as roses and peonies.
I love this time of year and seeing all the new life....and the smells!
I hope the weather is beautiful wherever you are.

Amazing beveled antique victorian calling cards

I was so smitten with these that I had to hurry and buy them before someone else scooped them up

Because I can tell you that these are very rare indeed

There are about 50 in the little box

There are about 8 different 'sentiments' such as "Friendship"
"Love and Truth" and "Constancy" among others

I haven't decided if I'm going to share or hoard, but if you keep an eye on my shop you'll find out soon.....
~~~~~~Happy Spring Break~~~~~~

Does anyone have this book?

Just wondering......her home is in the current issue of  'Romantic Homes' magazine and well.....I was quite smitten with her style. However, the price of between $60 and $70 for her book kind of put me off. Can anyone vouch for it? Is it all that and a bag of chips? I do love her style but......that's a lot of hard earned dough.
Anyway, in other news I'm trying to concoct a yummy Easter menu since we're hosting family this year....yay! I love Easter and am always looking for great, no fail recipes.
This week will prove to be very busy I'm sure. Dd has this last week and then Spring break is upon us.
She went with her Dad to see the MythBusters on tour here in Eugene and she got to go up on stage and help them with an experiment! Oh the excitement!
Hope you all have a great week......!

Charmed, I'm sure.......

Charmed, I'm sure! I love a great vintage book on charm.....what a fun read! I've been slogging on working on my studio and it's really shaping up. I vowed that I don't need to buy more items right now because I'm finding things in my studio to list in my shop.

But today I needed to go out to buy a weird shaped box for an item that I sold and so I hit the thrift on the way....it just wouldn't be right not to do that!

And I found this beauty! I love a good 1950's book on charm for women......makes me see how far we've come. Thank goodness!

How to wear a hat.....

But it is a fun read and would make a great gift for a girlfriend!

Where've I been?!!!!!!

Well now, it's been awhile!! Blogger has not been my friend lately, as some of you can attest to since you've had the same problem! But it's o.k. and certainly not the end of the world because I've been so occupied doing other things. My shop has taken a lot of my attention, as has my family and that's as it should be, right? I'm proud to say that my dd (12yo) took the first place trophy in her 6th grade science project! We're so proud of her and she worked really, really hard on this project....!
I found the super cool footstool today with I don't know how many coats of chippy paint on it....had to have it! The little steps fold up underneath the seat. So cool!

My dh took one look at it and said, "Great! Look at all that lead paint!" He skeered me so I just finished giving it 2 coats of clear sealer after wiping off the flakes that were loose....not really that much so I'm not too worried.

Found this gorgeous wool blanket as well, it's already listed in my Etsy shop.

And how about this pretty 3-tiered organizer? LOVE this! Was going to list it as well but I'm not sure I'll be able to!
I've also been up to my ears in a studio re-vamp of sorts....trust me, it's about time. I'm getting rid of some things that need to be gone and basically re-organizing so that I can actually work in there....what a concept. It's actually not so great to have a studio if you can't work in it, much less get around in there.
I'm sure I'm not alone (please tell me I'm not!)
Anyway, life is busy but good, hope yours is the same!