Wednesday, January 6, 2010

A project that needs "tweaking"

T-w-e-a-k-i-n-g tweaking. (name that movie!)

It started innocently enough. I wanted a silver cup or vase to put my feather collection in. I got the idea from here - a delightful and beautiful blog. So I went to Goodwill and I have to say that place looked like it had been hit by locusts, I've never seen it so empty. I did manage to find this little silver bowl.


$3.99 was a little more than I wanted to pay for some silly little thing like this considering the purse I also bought was the same price! (photos of that later) but it called my name so it came home with me. I'm not even going to polish it, the patina gives it character. :)

What to do with a silver bowl? I'd also seen this project and completely loved it and since my beloved oak tree was felled I have moss almost literally coming out of my ears. I went out and picked up some and put the little moss bowl together quick as a wink.

Now...where to put it? Here's where the tweaking comes in. Not that kind of tweaking. Although...it may sortof look like it. Here's the top of my HUGE dresser.

The thing is like five feet long and it is going to get refinished one of these days...as soon as I figure out how to get it out of my bedroom to work on it!

This is what it usually looks like after a busy few weeks. Papers I don't want to lose, stuff I'm moving around and don't know what to do with. Presents that still need to be wrapped (how do you wrap a unicorn?). Projects I'm half finished with. Books I just finished reading. Ridiculous. It drives me crazy.

I took everything off but the radio and grabbed a bunch of different things I have sitting around. I'm not sure how you'd classify my style. Part shabby chic, part rustic, part natural history museum, part library, part whimsy, part retro, part Spanish, part Moroccan, part clutter. The problem is I love everything! In any case I have a lot of decorating items to choose from and can have a completely different look for every month of the year. This time I went a bit more girly garden shabby chic than I normally do. I think I'm craving spring.

Lavender from the garden tied up with a pretty ribbon, in a pottery vase thing I found at Hancock Fabrics clearanced at two or three dollars. I'm not sure where the book came from but I thought the title Lavender and Old Lace seemed fitting.

My mossy bowl and a pair of white birds.

I was given the rose apothecary jars for my birthday and I filled them with dried rose petals from my garden this summer. The ornate silver box was another Goodwill find from a few years back - it holds mementos like concert or movie stubs, sweet little cards and notes, the occasional photo.

The carved candleholder was also a Goodwill find. It makes a great base for my glass fishing float which could either turn into a gypsy-style crystal ball or a great place for the tiara my grandmother wore when she was on the parade float for her retirement home.
The Book of Etiquette is so pretty it has to be shown. I got these horse bookends when I worked at a gift shop. The other one is around here somewhere...


I still have a few things to add (like a silver vase with feathers!) but I'm having fun playing and moving things around. Tweaking...in other words. :)

11 comments:

cat said...

Can you come over to my house and make it look like this? Huh? Can you? If you're ever visiting Montreal I am totally kidnapping you and chaining you up in my house until it looks all chic and crafty.

Adventures in Dressmaking said...

I love those funky little accessories, they make such a difference in atmosphere! That silver bowl is actually better than the ones in the example project, too...

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Tweaking..."You've got mail"! I love that movie! And I love your treasures! Makes me want to go to the thrift store in the cold! Have a great day!

Miss Mustard Seed said...

I love how the mossy bowl turned out. And it looks great with everything else. "tweaking..." from You've Got Mail. Cute movie.

theUngourmet said...

We found a bowl like this at Goodwill. My son had to have it, he thought it looked Harry Potter-ish or something. :0) Love all of your finds!

Heather said...

Wanna come "tweak" my house?! It looks so springy in the mist of a bleak winter.

Maggi said...

I love what you did what that bowl! You find the best things at Goodwill!

Jennifer MacNeill said...

Your dresser looks lovely - you can't even see mine. You've inspired me yet again! Love the horse bookend too:)

Christine said...

"Tweaks are any small modifications intended to improve ..."
Love how you tweak.

jacque4u2c said...

I just love how it turned out! I think my fave is the shutter tho! just an adorable arrangement!

Vintage Linen Treasures said...

OOooo!! the little moss bowl turned out so cute. And I love all the other pretty accessories you added. You've given me a great idea on a glass jar I just purchased at a rummage sale. You have a new follower. I love your blog!
Patricia :o)