Thank You Cote de Texas . . .

For the peek inside the Beautiful World of Amy Howard

posted on Cote de Texas today!

I could have re-posted every single image, but

I've chosen only teasing photos.

An Amy Howard Seminar has just been 

moved to the top of my bucket list, but until then,

I'm a little nervous about how much money I will spend

@ Amy Howard at Home

I think first on my list are

two antiqued mirrored bedside tables for PrettyStuff!

and surely HandyHusband can move my 

trumeau mirror up on

his to-do list.

Please go visit Cote de Texas to see the rest of Joni's post!

The photos are amazing and if you have even a thread of do-it-yourselfer

in your personality, I have no doubt you'll be filling your own

cart on Amy Howard @ Home as quickly as you can click

ADD TO CART!

WANT MORE?

Amy Howard Collection, Blog and Amy Howard Collection Facebook

Be Still My Heart . . .

Dear HandyHusband,

How do I love thee,

Let me count my bookcases!

I haven't shown y'all the bookcase HH "built for ME" in the family room,

I haven't finished my little intense paint job on it yet...

What was I thinking?!

He just asked for his next project assignment and this email

came from Cote de Texas... Upstairs hallway??

INSANE CRUSH! 

...the little pull-out shelves...

...the sconces...

THE QUANTITY!

LOVE!

Wonder if he can incorporate these from the shop?

They're from a French Hotel and I think I need 'em...

I think I need a few more jobs too...

I Need a Money Tree !

I have a little antler thing going on, so while trying to educate

myself on pricing, I stumbled onto Aspen Mountain Vintage on Etsy.
She also has an amazing online marketplace @ VandM called Alpen Antiks.

This Chamois Trophy is dated 1908.

Very handsome, and I love the pine cone carving.

...out of my price range @ $490...

The Collectible Monarch Popcorn Tin is dated 1919

and measures only 3.25" x 3"...adorable!

...out of my price range/inch @ $100...

AND THIS!

A Rare Folk Art French Country House BEE HIVE!

...not even in the discussion range @ $6,750...

BUT IT IS AMAZING!'

YES, I NEED A MONEY TREE!

Does anyone know of an online bee hive pattern

for a handyhusband and a knitting blogger who can swing a paint brush??

Mark My Page !

via ~ Swiss Miss ~

Clever!

...I want one...

If I Ever . . .

If I ever have another pup,

HandyHusband will surely have to construct one of these.

I think it will need doors on the top two rows of cubbies, and

maybe a little trim moulding, but this is such a great

way to give your dog his own space. 

image ~ casa tres chic ~

Honey - Do List !

...Now that I can see the floor in my "studio" (aka junk room)...

The husband just emailed this picture to me!

By George, I think the man is at work 

~ ON A BLOG! ~

Well blow me down! 

Of course if I tease him about it, 

he'll say it was all for me and very productive!

I do love this clever idea and I have no doubt that he's going

to say I could put a life-sized picture of him in the frame!

Cote de To-Do List . . .

via ~ Cote de Texas ~

Joni posted this picture from Southern Living today. I love the benches! Nobody feeds my to-do list like Joni Webb of ~ Cote de Texas!~ I've had a window seat ~ for my kitchen ~ on my honey-do list for forever. When Jeff doesn't like the idea, he doesn't jump right on it, so I'm thinking he hates the idea.

When I asked for beadboard in Hobbs's room and the laundry room last week, all you saw of him was a cloud of dust and two elbows. He ran to The Depot for all of his supplies. The old mini van was on two wheels turning out of the neighborhood and returned with the tailgate tied down to beadboard and molding. Within an hour, he was ripping tile off the wall so fast it blew my paint samples off the counter! Now don't go tell him I put this picture on the internet, but something tells me he'd be all puffed up proud of himself. Yes, he's 54, and can still wear his high school jeans... he swims several miles a week and spends his fare share of time in the weight room. It's enough to make a girl starve herself to death, but I'm proud of him... not proud of that stupid 20 year old stupid, stupid paint job but you didn't notice part that right?

via ~ Cote de Texas ~

Ok, back to the benches. If I did this, I could move my Hitchcock chairs into the dining room to mix with my shield back upholstered dining chairs. I think I should a-little-bit slipcover those too, but that's another idea for when I sneak my pink dining room into the house...

Suzanne Kasler via ~ Cote de Texas ~

see, I told you she rules my to-do lists in every room

I will have these pink drapes!

And I will show you Hobbs's Room and the

Laundry Room when I finish, 

but I'll warn you...

I'm slower than Christmas about decorating.

Hobbs looked like this last time I did anything

other than laundry in his room...

But it has to be put back together

by the time he comes home for Fall Break.

He IS coming home for Fall Break, RIGHT!?

Faux Real ?

Today, I read my ~ Cote de Texas ~ mail and

Joni had posted pictures of a wonderful cottage

for sale in San Antonio. Go see the rest of the

post, but the Master Bedroom was my favorite!

I loved how the bed was made with a simple linen bedspread. I think I'll do that when my coverlet needs replacing. I also loved the pair of linen smooshy club chairs. Don't you love the seat cushions... They make you just want to climb in. Now, let's talk about those antiqued mirrored doors... I think they are the best "reminder" I've scrolled across in a long time. Jeff keeps asking for honey-do projects since we're going to have an empty nest. I've always wanted a gianormous mirror leaning (to make me look skinny like in the dressing room at Anthropologie... but that's another rant... I mean post.) against my bedroom wall. Jeff's gotten pretty handy with his saw that I got for my birthday so I'm going to show him these pictures and I'll let you know if he takes the bait...

~ Horchow Arched Mirrors ~

~ Horchow Mirror with Candle Sconces ~

~ Horchow's Imperial Mirror ~

~ Jensen Maass ~

~ Antique Attic ~

~ J.Covington Designs ~

~ The Bella Cottage ~

To antique a new mirror, you'll need to remove the paint that usually covers the back of mirrors with paint stripper. Being careful not to scratch the silver coating.  With a spray bottle of Muriatic Acid, lightly spray any area on the back of the mirror anywhere that you want distressed antique spots. Let the acid sit for a minute or two and then remove it by wiping with a clean rag. Once you've removed enough of the mirrored surface, Paint the back of your mirror black. This is what gives you the black distressed spotting on the mirror.

If you have a favorite old mirror

or even just one on your wish list,

send me a pic or a link. 

I'd love to see it. 

I also LOVE this mirrored nightstand,

@ ~ Anthropologie ~

which could also be a DIY project!

I think I've Posted this Pic Before . . .

via i can't remember!

With the Family Room Re-Do lurking

in my near empty nest future,

I'm gathering all my ideas.

Jeff's going to build a bookcase. 

I think I want a low one, 

but I also think I need it to have doors!

...old ones...

Summer Projects !

via ~ FrenchKnot ~

I'm so excited! Jeff's building more beach chairs

like ~ these ~ for our vacation this year!

We've had 2 forever and it is always 

a coin toss as to who has to sit in the sand...

Surely I will show you pictures of the final results! 

He's my handy man!

Now This is a Fountain I Could Live With !

via ~ Trouvais ~
And this table...I think I can make it!
I'm putting this on the Honey-Help-Me List!

Jeff's Making us Some More . . .

via ~ PrettyStuff ~

I can't wait to pick the fabrics!

Have a seat!

 

...source unknown...

This is a picture I saved long ago in the "in my next house" file. I love everything about this kitchen! Can't remember where I found it, but would love to have a big picture to drool over. Let me know if you've seen this somewhere bigger or know where I found it.  

But, if I've got to work with what I've got...

...I have a bay window in my kitchen...

...a table with 4 great, but old, mix of chairs...

I need a sturdy seat, but don't want to 

add or take away any chairs...

I'm putting this on my honey-do list!

via ~ Zhush ~ 

It would increase my seating options at the table, and add a comfy place to sit, knit and watch my birds! Recently though, I've got this momma blue bird throwing herself against the window. She's been doing this for over a week. Surely she has a headache! The blue bird box is on a river birch facing this bay window, so maybe she's protecting her little family in there. The dad, sits perched on a nearby limb just watching. Probably thinking..."What was I thinking?" Jeff probably does the same thing as he watches me throw myself at the stuff in my "studio." 

picture by ~ Shelley Atkins ~

yeah, that's me unsuccessfully trying to figure out

Shelley's prehistoric sewing machine.

I think a part was missing.

Here's last year's baby birds

that I could not get enough of!

...photo by Hobbs Maker...

...I think they are Carolina Wrens...

And then there are the other backyard critters

that I think are beautiful, but would

rather have Jeff's roses!

(they cleaned them naked of every blossom)

Ok, I hate to leave the porch today,

but it's off to work!

We're tagging a new shipment at

~ Rooney Robison Antiques ~

There will be pictures of the loot soon!

The ol' Honey-Do List!

via ~ Beautiful things to Share ~

Jeff, build me two of these please!

Fat Free Half 'n Half

Joni Webb of the Cote de Texas blog has a great post today if you're hunting a striped rug, but that's not what I'm drawn to in this picture. I love the small half-wall bookcase separating this space. It's going on my honey-do list! As for striped rugs, Dash & Albert are my absolute favorites as well as other products.  They make great bags from the striped rugs!! Great prices too!

Have Cocktail....Will Travel!

Now this is a Weekend 

Honey-Do Project!

I want a swing in my pear trees

.. but I want it to start out old like this ..