Mirror, Mirror

It has been quite a while since I shared one of our transformation

projects—months, as a matter of fact!

So...

since I'm a bit overdue, I'll show you one of the last things we transformed...

before the garden and our "destash" efforts

consumed our lives.   ; )

Have you ever wondered why we use vintage windows in our projects

so often?  Well, it could have something to do with the fact that we

 have a barn full of them.

That's the same reason we use vintage beadboard so frequently—

well, that and the fact that we love making things from

salvaged materials.

And old window frames, coupled with vintage beadboard, make such wonderful

mirrors, we never grow weary of creating them.

The pair of vintage windows that you see above were two of a group of six

that we discovered in a barn

near our farm.

When the old farmer who had been storing the windows

decided it was time to get rid of them, he knew right

where to unload them.

Since two of them had broken panes of glass and missing muntins, they became

 prime candidates for a makeover.

By eliminating what glass remained in the windows, we opened up space at the

top for beadboard embellishment.

Cutting the windows down and removing the broken muntins

created the perfect openings for mirrors

to be installed.

The Yankee and I both love cottage style, so the theme for this

 particular transformation project was a given.

Several thick coats of cottage-white paint were rolled onto

 the frames—to keep all the old chippy paint

 where it belonged.

We really like how our mirror duo turned out.  And I think

even our farmer friend would approve.

I guess being known by the neighbors as "the folks who

like junk" has its advantages.   ; )

FOOTNOTE:  The mirrors were displayed on the barn just long enough to take pictures.  No birds or other wildlife were injured during this project.  Although...I think I DID chip a nail or two in the process.

Joining Kathleen's White Wednesday, Mary's Share the Love Wednesday,

Leigh's Thrifty Thursday, Becky's 100 Ideas Under $100.00,

Stephanie's Strut Your Stuff, Debra's Vintage Inspiration Friday,

Cindy's Show & Tell Friday, Courtney's Feathered Nest Friday, 

Wendy's Frugal Friday, Donna's Saturday Nite Special,

Sommer's VIP Party, SJ's Creative Bloggers' Party, 

Susan's Metamorphosis Monday.

Time Travel Thursday #43 - The Brambles of Brambleberry Cottage

Welcome to the 43rd Time Travel Thursday linky party at the Brambleberry Cottage!

Are you ready to do some traveling?  Great; 'cause time never stands still!

It's that time of year, when the Brambleberry Cottage becomes enveloped by the beautiful blossoms of the blackberry brambles.

Their pretty shades of pink and white present a lovely contrast to the other natural elements in the fields surrounding the cottage—

like the spiky green needles...

of the young pine trees...

and the muted tan blades of the field grasses.

Each unique location offers its own interesting study in contrasts.

But of the numerous spots where the brambles grow—all around our tiny farmstead—my favorite places to observe this simple beauty...

happen to be around the rustic barns and outbuildings.

Their showy blooms—set against a massive sea of flashy green leaves—seem even more delicate...

splashed upon the timeworn grays of the old barnwood.

Yet, the one location where I most enjoy their lovely display...

is the one location where their existence will be short-lived.

For while their beauty is undeniable...

and their "seemingly delicate" appearance believable...

there is really quite a thorny issue at their very core! 

So rather than risk an encounter of the most unpleasant kind, the beautiful brambles around the barns will have to be banished.

But there are plenty to spare—hence the name...

the Brambleberry Cottage!    ; )

Linking to Susan's for Outdoor Wednesday, Mary's for Share the Love Wednesday, Kathleen's for White Wednesday, Tracie's for Cottage Flora Thursdays, and Cindy's for Show and Tell Friday.

IF YOU LINK TO THE PARTY, PLEASE BE SURE TO LINK BACK TO THE BRAMBLEBERRY COTTAGE ON YOUR BLOG.

Time Travel Thursday #36 - Signs of the Season

CHECK OUT ALL THE DETAILS FOR THE PARTY HERE!

And be sure to enter my newest giveaway here.

Welcome to the 36th Time Travel Thursday linky party at the Brambleberry Cottage.

Are you ready for our next trip back in time and into the future?

Then let's get started!

I so look forward to the many delightful sights, sounds, and scents around the cottage, during this very special time of year.

The plum trees—by the log barn and silo—have literally exploded into a profusion of gloriously perfumed blossoms.

If only you could join me beneath their generous floral canopy and experience the intoxicatingly sweet scent of their blooms, wafting through the air.

Enveloped by this shroud of white, we could lazily gaze at the tufts of billowy clouds, as they effortlessly float by.

Their beauty matched only by the backdrop of the crisp blue Carolina sky.

Then with a casual stroll to the cottage porch, a mere hop, skip and jump away, we could...

watch as the rays of sunlight dance through the camellia bushes...

and coax the cottony buds of the pear tree to unfurl.

We could listen, with earnestly eager ears, as our feathered guests perform their early spring recitals. 

And before the day was through, we could rest within the tranquil sanctuary of the pines—where my little garden guardian resides—and bask in the marvelous multisensory signs of the season.

Joining Susan for Outdoor Wednesday, Kathleen for White Wednesday, Tracie for Cottage Flora Thursday, and Cindy for Show and Tell Friday.

IF YOU LINK TO THE PARTY, PLEASE BE SURE TO LINK BACK TO THE BRAMBLEBERRY COTTAGE ON YOUR BLOG.

Time Travel Thursday #24 - Christmas Whites

CHECK OUT ALL THE DETAILS FOR THE PARTY HERE!

Welcome to the 24th Time Travel Thursday linky party at the Brambleberry Cottage.

Are you ready for our next trip back in time and into the future?

Then let's go!

My holiday decorating gets more and more simplified with each passing year.

And I'm finding I really like the look of simplicity.

This Christmas season, I used quite a few of the cones and branches from our Eastern White Pines to decorate with.

The pine cones are really very versatile decorations—with their long slender shapes and natural white tips.

And though I have quite a bounty of other natural elements to choose from, from around the farm, I still like to add several of my vintage Christmas decorations to the mix every year.

The 12" vintage bottle brush tree you see here is one of several I found tucked away at a thrift store, over ten years ago.

And the exciting part—besides the fact that there were three—was that I only paid fifty cent a piece for them!

This one is missing a few of its mercury glass ornaments—here and there—and quite a bit of the glitter, from the lower portion of its base, but I like its character, nonetheless.

Another of the vintage bottle brush trees—this one 13" tall—has a white wooden base and is embellished with the most gorgeous thick, glistening faux snow.

I love the way this flocked vintage beauty looks nestled amid the vintage buttons and tarnished silver—all atop the ironstone platter.

Pine cones, evergreen branches, vintage decorations—

"simple" certainly works for me!

Now it's your turn to take us back in time or into the future.

Just link anything you like, in any category you choose, showing us antiquity or modernity—when possible.

Publish your post, link to the Time Travel Thursday party with your specific URL (not your blog URL), and link back to the Brambleberry Cottage within your post.

Please leave a comment to let me know you visited.

Linking to Leigh's for Thrifty Thursday, Suzanne's for Vintage Thingie Thursday, Gina's for Transformation Thursday, Becky's for 100 Ideas Under $100.00, Cindy's for Show and Tell Friday, Betty Bee's Buzz for Buzz, Brag, and Bee Happy Friday, and Meg's for Everything But the Kitchen Sink.

Time Travel Thursday #22 - Mission Accomplished

CHECK OUT ALL THE DETAILS FOR THE LINKY PARTY HERE!

Welcome to the 22nd Time Travel Thursday linky party at the Brambleberry Cottage.

Are you ready for our next trip back in time and into the future?

Great; let's get to travelin'!

Recently, I came across some of my old photographs of past decorating projects from the 1980s.

During that era, I was working with a team of designers decorating model homes.

For this particular project, I was given the challenge of creating a cozy daybed from two secondhand, twin headboards—made of wicker.

If you look at the reflection in the mirror, you'll get an idea of what the headboards looked like, prior to their transformation.

As you can see, they had a nice, classic look about them.

But, the idea for the design of this tiny room was to create an environment where one would want to snuggle up with a good book or just daydream.

I needed to soften the look to establish that.

To accomplish this, I fabricated one side of each headboard—with extra-thick, cushy batting under white polished cotton—then trimmed out each piece with extra-large welt cording, covered with matching shirred cotton. 

Then each headboard was screwed to the ends of a standard, metal twin-size frame, with the fabric facing inside.

Once the mattress and box spring were in place, it was time to layer on the comfort.

The first order of business was to place a down-filled comforter atop the mattresses—followed by a handful of plump, squishy pillows.

In my opinion, there is no decorating element that speaks "coziness" more than an enticing bunch of pillows to sink into.

I created a number of them—in various sizes and complimentary fabrics—and placed them at each end of the bed.

To further develop the cocooning effect, I made a simple tented window treatment—from a pale geometric print—that added a hint of pattern and interest to the room.

The result...

 a peaceful, laid-back space to invite relaxation and daydreaming.

I would say, the challenge was met and the mission successfully accomplished. ; )

Linking to Leigh's for Thrifty Thursday, Suzanne's for Vintage Thingie Thursday, Gina's for Transformation Thursday, Becky's for 100 Ideas Under $100.00, Cindy's for Show and Tell Friday, Betty Bee's Buzz for Buzz, Brag, and Bee Happy Friday, A little Lovely's for Saturday Soiree, Bobbie's for Check Me Out Saturdays, Laura for Saturday is Crafty Day, Stephanie Lynn's for Sunday Showcase Party, and Susan's for Metamorphosis Monday.

Outdoor Whites

If I were permitted only two colors to decorate with, without hesitation, my choices would be various hues of white and soft shades of green.

Both colors have remained basic staples of my home-decorating style—for most of my adult life.

Both colors speak tranquility and restfulness to me.

Not only do I use those colors substantially indoors—throughout the cottage—but I surround myself with their beauty outdoors, as well.

For instance, my wicker settee—with its chippy, white paint and comfy, white matelasse-covered cushions—creates a wonderfully relaxing spot on the front porch.

Surrounding it with other decorative elements, like this vintage beaded-board box—one of our creations—adds to its overall charm.

You've seen this little guy before, but I can't resist introducing him to you again.

He's one of my favorite garden adornments!

I could have chosen to give the vintage windows, I used for my yard conservatory, a fresh coat of white paint, but I preferred the timeworn appearance of the existing whites.

Sometimes I use whites to soften the lines of pieces that seem too stark—

as was the case with the pieces I used for my serene tablescape in the field.

Other times, I use white as an anchor amidst a sea of color.

I find that no matter where I use them—inside or out—shades of white introduce an element of calm repose.

Joining Kathleen for White Wednesday and Susan for Outdoor Wednesday.