Frugal Friday- Wall Hanging

I love wall-hangings. They're a great way to add color to a room, to centralize the room's focus or the blend the varying hues used in decorating. There's something so French Country/Meditteranean about them, and perhaps because these are the two decorating styles I enjoy most, it just speaks to me. Isn't this stunning?



http://www.tapestrytapestries.com/

Hmmmm, at a cost of nearly 200 beans (and thats without the rod, finials and tassels), I think I'll pass.....

Another beauty. But even the sale price of $160 (again, that's for the tapestry alone) is more than I'd like to pay....

I was certain my friends at Kirkland's would have a tapestry that wouldn't break the bank, but I didn't see one on their website. Their closest store is a city away and I didn't feel like making that drive. Besides, by that time, I was kinda thinking I could make one myself....

http://www.googleimages.com/

 I was thrift-store shopping sometime later and came across a reversable cloth wall hanging. (Has that ever happened to you?  You're looking for something and it shows up..:) She was a beaut. Price? $3.99. One of the two tabs for the rod was missing, but I wasn't put-off at all by that. I brought a $5.00 rod from Big Lots, a package of cafe curtain rings from Wal-Mart, and threw her on the wall that leads to the second floor.  Here's how she looks when you step through the front door.

The view from the top of the stairs....

The sign over the hanging displays Homer's assertion: "The journey is its own reward". 

Read more about that here

A close-up of the rod and rings:

Cost breakdown:

Wall-hanging    $ 4.00

Rod                    5.00

Clips  (approx)    3.50

          Total:      $12.50

A walk thru Olde Towne

My work as a freelance reporter for our local newspaper occassionally takes me into the Olde Towne  section of Portsmouth, VA.  It's beautiful, people. Dating back to the 1600's, the neighborhood has original homes and churches from the era- several listed on the National Historic Registry, ecletic shops, and great restaurants, all framed by the Elizabeth River. {heavy, happy sigh}.  Join me for an (online) walking tour.

I was there to cover a tree-planting honoring the memory of Adelaide Eberly, known throughout our city as 'The Tree Lady' for her work in planting 3000+ trees in Portsmouth over a 38 year span. It was a ftting tribute to a remarkable woman. Here, garden club members join our vice mayor at the ceremony.

See that arch in the background? That's The Lafayette Arch, built during our country's bicentnnial to honor the Marquis de Lafayette's service during the Revolutionary War and his trip to the city in 1824.  Spoiler alert: I am obsessed with enjoy history and P-town is chock full of history from the Revolutionary War to WWII and all points between.  That's Olde Towne in the background. Let's begin our tour....

How beautiful is this? This house was built circa 1880 and sits at the end of a beautiful, tree lined street. Steps away from a park (meaning there are kids in the neighborhood). Is it just me or does it look both regal and inviting?

Shut.up.  Can you imagine a nap on that top porch? Heaven.

Filming a commercial or documentary. The gentleman in the period costume is explaining that the building behind him was converted from a hotel into a jail during the war. Interesting....

If  I ask nicely, do you think they'd let me live here?

This picture really doesn't do this justice. The colors (including the plants) were amazing. While I prefer something different architecturally, I'm tellin' ya, I stood in the street for a few seconds with my mouth hanging open. Bea.u.ti.ful.

Love that cottage look, and it faces the water. Cool beans....

Isn't that house with the awning just about perfect?!  I was so preoccupied with getting this shot that I didn't see the older gentleman sitting on the porch. I'm sure he was thinking, "Now, what goes on here? And why is that young filly fighting with her camera?"  He didn't say anything though. Hey, he lives in an historic district; he's probably used to folks snapping pics of his house.

Really?  Must you be beautiful, well landscaped AND patriotic?  And why tempt ye me with the rockers?

That's all I have today. I've got a few other tours in mind. Stay tuned....

Sneak Peek

Psst...come closer....


Here's a peak at my current project.

I'll share more later.....

Frugal Friday

Every Friday, I like to share my free or frugal finds (trying saying that three times fast). Here is this week's offering:

When we moved into this house 14 years ago, kitchen cabinets flanked the window. I hated them. They were old and made the already-small room dark and cave-like. When we eventually replaced the cabinets, I decided to buy only the lowers, and used open shelving instead of upper cabinets. It made the space a lot nicer.

Face-forward two summers ago. With the kitchen painted a burnt orange, a french country/cottage theme started evolving and the shelves seemed out of place. I believe that rooms will tell you what they want if you listen closely. That's what happened here: before long artwork, mirrors and items not typically found in kitchens found their way into mine. The walls beside the window screamed for something different.

I found these shutters on the side of the road. At the time, I'd intended them for the front of the house but they were too small. Surprisingly, they fit the kitchen windows perfectly. After a good cleaning and a coat of paint from my teen-ager, we were good to go.


Did I say perfect fit? As you can see, they're off by a touch, but I can live with it. Free is free (happy face). I can't tell you how easy they were to put up. Honestly, it took me longer to snap the pics and upload to this blog than to hang the shutters. (another happy face).

What is your home saying?

 It happened quite innocently.....


SUCCESS is measured not so much by the position that one has reached as by the obstacles that have been overcome



I was pondering what should be my first post when I looked up and read the frame over my laptop.  Then I read the frame above and to the left of that one.....

GOALS...Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals

......and the frame above and to the right of that one....

Believe that Love is forever and forever you will be in Love

Hmmm. Let's peak at the rest of my office, shall we?

Mom of many hats

Dream about tomorrow but live for today

Wall hanging: Follow your heart. Embrace your dreams. Cherish your life

Tile: A mother gives her child two things- roots and wings
Pillow: Peace.Wisdom.Joy

I'm a big believer that our homes say alot about who we are, how we view the world and what we believe. I know you feel the same or you wouldn't spend hours  time drooling over  reviewing decorating blogs. I can see we're alot alike (wink,wink).

 When I realized that my office spoke volumes about how I feel about love and the people I love, I took a lil tour of the house and lookie what else I found (disclaimer: yes, I'm aware that I sound as if I didn't in fact purchase said items, but work with me- I'll be arriving at a point shortly....)







Here's my aforementioned point: I didn't wake up one day and decide to purchase sayings for (nearly) all of the walls in my home. As I've been out and about these (and other) signs called out to me because they reflect the things that are so very near and dear to me. I couldn't walk away from them; I had to bring them home.

For example, I found that "Love Begins at Home" sign above my dining room window at Cato's. It cost a whopping $5.00, marked down from $7.99, and was $3 bucks that day only. I had two dollars to my name,  and I literally sat my purse on the floor so I could comb the bottom for loose change. I thought I was going to have to resort to hiding it until I could run home and hit my 10 year up for a loan, but the change fairies were moving that day. Plus, my teen-ager hates when I hide loot so I try not to do that anymore (when she's around...) 

 Anyhoo, I'm usually a calm, cool and collected shopping machine, but I about lost it that day becuz that frame said EXACTLY  what I would say if I were a picture. I know you understand.

I've been stalking reading AMAZING decorating blogs for a while now and I'm excited to finally jump into the DIY pool. Thanks for your patience with some of the technical glitches in this post. Blogger and I are off to a good start and I expect it will only get better.