2012 July

Fall Harvest Tablescape

July 29, 2012 By Shirley

Whisperwood Cottage is having a Fall Decor Contest….

The winner gets the tremendous honor of being published in the Cottages and Bungalows magazine….

So I sent hubby up to the attic to retrieve some fall decorations….

….and those who know my hubby….

……….he knew just where to go…Aisle 2, Shelf 3.

It was a bit funny doing a Fall Tablescape when it was 90 degrees outdoors….

However, as I was creating this tablescape, I felt cool breezes wafting through the air…

…..The table is set with Jewel Tea Autumn Leaf by Hall.

I started collecting these wonderful dishes years ago…

…..They were just perfect for a Fall Tablescape.

I bordered the “centerpiece” with chicken wire and twig garland…

I was going for an “after the harvest” look…

…..remnants of hay bales and garlands of acorns.

The scene of children playing in the harvested fields….

…..this figurine is by Department 56.

I love using unusual things such as chicken wire for the table…

…..a bit of the unexpected.

Fall is one of my very favorite times of the year…

…..I am blessed to live in an area where the leaves are brilliant during the fall.

I am expecting company in a few days…

…..I think I shall leave my table as is…

……….just to see their reaction of sitting at a Harvest Table…

……………….at the end of July!!!

In addition to joining the Whisperwood Fall Decor Contest….

I am also joining:

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays

A Stroll Thru Life Table Top Tuesday

Cuisine Kathleen Let’s Dish

Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, Share Your Cup Thursday

Kristen’s Creations, Share Your Creations

The Lettered Cottage for It’s Fall Y’all Tablescaape Party

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: acorns, Chicken Wire, Fall Harvest, fall leaves, Fall tablescape, hay bales, Jewel Tea, pumpkins, twig garland

40 Comments

“RALEIGH”…and THE FIRST ANNUAL SOUTHERN BLOGGERS CONFERENCE

July 27, 2012 By Shirley

Raleigh, North Carolina…

The site of the First Annual Southern Bloggers Conference.

We are so excited to present this wonderful conference….

…..to be held on October 12th and 13th, 2012.

(Click on this logo to purchase your ticket to this wonderful event!…
…..for room reservations call: 1-800-EMBASSY and mention The Southern Bloggers Conference….
……….or online go to: www.raleighcrabtree.embassysuites.com and mention Group Code 318)

Where you will meet and be greeted by the wonderful “RALEIGH”…

The “mascot” of the Embassy Suites, in Raleigh, North Carolina….

…..where the conference will be held.

Where you can enjoy food, drink, and the company of fellow bloggers….

…..in this beautiful atrium.

Where they also serve a full breakfast and “special order” omelettes…

Where you will enjoy these great speakers of the conference:

We are so very excited to have these magnificent ladies/bloggers presenting at the conference.

Detailed topics of their presentation will be coming soon.

Their expertise and experience are sure to leave you with an enormous wealth of information….

….that can truly enhance and grow your blog!!!

RHODA OF SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY

KARIANNE OF THISTLEWOOD FARM

HEATHER OF AT THE PICKET FENCE

You will spend the day comfortably in this beautiful conference room…

Holding on to every informative word of the speakers and DIY demonstrations.

…..meeting and enjoying the company of so many terrific fellow bloggers.

There will be DIY demonstrations to include furniture painting techniques and more.

So we hope that will you will join us in attending the FIRST ANNUAL SOUTHERN BLOGGERS CONFERENCE

WHERE CREATIVITY BLOSSOMS!!!!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Blog Conference, Home and Garden Blogging, Southern Bloggers Conference

22 Comments

"RALEIGH"…and THE FIRST ANNUAL SOUTHERN BLOGGERS CONFERENCE

July 27, 2012 By Shirley

Raleigh, North Carolina…

The site of the First Annual Southern Bloggers Conference.

We are so excited to present this wonderful conference….

…..to be held on October 12th and 13th, 2012.

Where you will meet and be greeted by the wonderful “RALEIGH”…

The “mascot” of the Embassy Suites, in Raleigh, North Carolina….

…..where the conference will be held.

Where you can enjoy food, drink, and the company of fellow bloggers….

…..in this beautiful atrium.

Where they also serve a full breakfast and “special order” omelettes…

Where you will enjoy these great speakers of the conference:

We are so very excited to have these magnificent ladies/bloggers presenting at the conference.

Detailed topics of their presentation will be coming soon.

Their expertise and experience are sure to leave you with an enormous wealth of information….

….that can truly enhance and grow your blog!!!

RHODA OF SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY

KARIANNE OF THISTLEWOOD FARM

HEATHER OF AT THE PICKET FENCE

You will spend the day comfortably in this beautiful conference room…

Holding on to every informative word of the speakers and DIY demonstrations.

…..meeting and enjoying the company of so many terrific fellow bloggers.

There will be DIY demonstrations to include furniture painting techniques and more.

So we hope that will you will join us in attending the FIRST ANNUAL SOUTHERN BLOGGERS CONFERENCE

WHERE CREATIVITY BLOSSOMS!!!!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Blog Conference, Home and Garden Blogging, Southern Bloggers Conference

22 Comments

TRADER JOE’S ORCHIDS

July 21, 2012 By Shirley

Dear Trader Joe,

You certainly know what you doing….

…..you strive to make your customers happy…with happy workers…always smiling…ringing that bell!!…

But, really…you know what you are doing….

…..because when we first walk through your doors, we smile.

We smile at those beautiful flowers that greet us…saying welcome!

But lately, I have really been gravitating to your beautiful orchids….

I always have at least one blooming orchid in my house….

…..but they make me so happy, that I have to spread the “happiness” throughout the rooms.

And, at the great price of $12.99…you cannot go wrong.

This beautiful pink orchid has been blooming for at least 2 months…

…..so, you can have this beauty, that makes you smile, for a little over $1.50 a week…:)

Isn’t she lovely?….

Isn’t she wonderful…

Life is good…with flowers…

Saying good morning…it’s going to be a great day.

Hope you have a wonderful day…and don’t forget to stop and smell the roses…oh, and orchids too!

A NOTE ABOUT THE SOUTHERN BLOGGERS CONFERENCE

Yesterday…I had the great pleasure of meeting with some great fellow bloggers.

Amy with Atta Girl Says, Barb with The Everyday Home, Kristen with Sophia’s Decor, and Suzy with Worthing Court.

We met to plan the THE SOUTHERN BLOGGERS CONFERENCE…to be held in Raleigh, North Carolina

….on October 12th and 13th, 2012.

We are setting up a blog for all the information you will need to attend this wonderful conference…

So stay tuned!!…

I will be joining:

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: faux corral, Orchids, shells, Southern Bloggers Conference, Trader Joe's

31 Comments

TRADER JOE'S ORCHIDS

July 21, 2012 By Shirley

Dear Trader Joe,

You certainly know what you doing….

…..you strive to make your customers happy…with happy workers…always smiling…ringing that bell!!…

But, really…you know what you are doing….

…..because when we first walk through your doors, we smile.

We smile at those beautiful flowers that greet us…saying welcome!

But lately, I have really been gravitating to your beautiful orchids….

I always have at least one blooming orchid in my house….

…..but they make me so happy, that I have to spread the “happiness” throughout the rooms.

And, at the great price of $12.99…you cannot go wrong.

This beautiful pink orchid has been blooming for at least 2 months…

…..so, you can have this beauty, that makes you smile, for a little over $1.50 a week…:)

Isn’t she lovely?….

Isn’t she wonderful…

Life is good…with flowers…

Saying good morning…it’s going to be a great day.

Hope you have a wonderful day…and don’t forget to stop and smell the roses…oh, and orchids too!

A NOTE ABOUT THE SOUTHERN BLOGGERS CONFERENCE

Yesterday…I had the great pleasure of meeting with some great fellow bloggers.

Amy with Atta Girl Says, Barb with The Everyday Home, Kristen with Sophia’s Decor, and Suzy with Worthing Court.

We met to plan the THE SOUTHERN BLOGGERS CONFERENCE…to be held in Raleigh, North Carolina

….on October 12th and 13th, 2012.

We are setting up a blog for all the information you will need to attend this wonderful conference…

So stay tuned!!…

I will be joining:

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: faux corral, Orchids, shells, Southern Bloggers Conference, Trader Joe's

31 Comments

Freshening the Mighty Oak {Oak table facelift}

July 19, 2012 By Shirley

The “Mighty Oak” finish has seemed to take a back seat in the land of home decor…

I can remember…waaay back when….

…..when Oak was King.

Oak furniture, oak kitchen cabinetry….

So what do I do to some oak pieces that I still love?

You Sloan it!!…You get out that can of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint….

…..and you inject it with the botox of furniture.

Not quite the entire “facelift”…no surgery required!

So here we go…I applied ASCP Country Grey….

Hubby set up the trusty ole Work Mate Bench as it was hot as heck in the garage!

After applying the paint to the bottom portion of the table…

…..I decided to leave the top as it was.

The table wanting to keep part of its originality…like no “brow lift” required…..

Cute huh?…now it’s just waiting for a “pedicure”….

…..for a bit of sanding and buffing and a leg massage of ASCP clear wax…

And when you get a day at the spa…you need a new outfit, or a piece of jewelry….

So I took out this hurricane that I got years ago from a Southern Living Home Party…

…..and gave it a facelift too…

Oh…so much better..don’t you think?….

So here “The Mighty Oak” back home, after a great day at the spa….

…..looking and feeling so refreshed and younger.

I filled the hurricane with mini bird nests…

Oops..forgot to run the lamp cord under the table….

I love the new look and so does hubby….

…..and that is great, as you know how men are…the ones who admire Paul Bunyan…

……….and the look of anything “wood”…

So, hope you liked my little project…

CHECK !!…One down…. and lots of furniture sitting in the waiting room…

…..anxiously waiting for their turn at the spa!

I am joining:

Metamorphosis Monday

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Country Grey, bird nests, family room, hurricane, Oak Table, Southern Living Accessories

32 Comments

OCEAN BREEZES TABLESCAPE

July 12, 2012 By Shirley

Dreaming of beautiful ocean breezes as the temps were in triple digits.

Seems as though everyone is heading to the beaches…to have some fun in the sun…to escape the heat…

Even the “Bachelorette” escaped to Curacao…that gorgeous island…

…..Did you see those spectacular beaches…the beaches where Karah leaves her footprints in the sand!

But alas, since I do not live in Curacao…I thought that I would pretend that I am there…

…..having dinner…with ocean breezes and sand and shells…and footsies in the sand.

I was heading down the highway with my co-pilot, Barb from Everyday Home….on our way to the Haven Conference….

…..On the way, is the Pottery Barn Outlet in Gaffney, South Carolina…

………and of course, my car went into auto pilot and found its way to the parking lot in front of Pottery Barn.

Barb and I were ooooing and ahhhing the gorgeous collection of shell plates and accessories…

I so loved those gorgeous shell plates…but my that little guy on my shoulder was speaking to me….

…..do I really need them?…and then I had an epiphany!!! In the middle of the day…

……….as I usually get those epiphanies in the middle of the night (love that word epiphany)….

I shall reveal my “epiphany” later in the post….In the meantime….

I purchased the shells at the dollar store….and used a staple of The South….Grits!..for the sand effect…

The shells come in a cute little basket…so I used them for coasters..filled with shells

…..talk about 2 uses out of one package!

I also used the baskets at the base of the candle holder to contain the shells…

…..thought it would add great texture.

I spy Karah’s flip flops!…

I so love this oyster shell (or is it a clamshell?) bowl…makes a wonderful centerpiece on any table…

Love the look of the daisies in the bowl..but I really think that succulents would look wonderful too…

Shells and Grits…what more can a Southern Girl ask for!!

I folded the napkins in the pinwheel design…as it looked great under the shell plate…

Love the way the pinwheel shaped napkin looks “starish” under the plate…..

So…now to my epiphany…

I knew how much my little Sister Chrissy loves all thing coastal and beachy…

…..I loved these dishes so much that I felt that someone needs to enjoy them more than I…

………..and that would be my little sister Chrissy (she will always be my little sister)….

Isn’t she pretty???…yes, she is!

SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISSY….YOU HAVE BEEN VIEWING YOUR BIRTHDAY GIFTS!!…

…..HOPE YOU LIKE THEM…and hows that for dual purposings…you got a great gift and I got a great post out of it!!!

And I hope you enjoyed my “I’m pretending I’m in Curacao Tablescape”…Curacao, the home of that lucky duck, Karah!!

I am joining the following lovely parties:

Kim from Savvy Southern Style Wow Us Wednesdays

Susan from Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday

Heather and Vanessa from At The Picket Fence Inspiration Friday

Lorraine from Miss Flibbertigibbet Hot Fun In The Summertime Blog party

Kathleen from Cuisine Kathleen Let’s Dish

Sherry from No Minimalist Here Open House Party

Marty from A Stroll Thru Life Tabletop Tuesday

Honey from 2805 Potpourri Friday

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Beach Tablescape, Coastal Tablescape, Curacao, napkin folds, Pottery Barn, shell centepiece, shells

54 Comments

ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE LAND OF {BURLAP}

July 10, 2012 By Shirley

ONCE UPON A TIME….

…..in the land of Burlap…

……….there lived a queen.

She loved to decorate her beautiful castle…

…..surrounded by a lovely pond full of beautiful turtles…

……….who love fried chicken.

Queen Kari loved waving her beautiful scepter….

…..actually it was because she just loved waving her arms with excitement…

And who cannot be excited about these:

These are in homes found in the beautiful kingdom…in the LAND OF BURLAP.

Queen Kari loved sharing her joy and excitement with her beloved loyal followers….

…..like me!!

When I saw them in the beautiful castle…

……I just had to hurry and order them for one of my guest rooms.

I fell in love with the beautiful texture and quality of the drapes…

They arrived beautifully packaged…their customer service is impeccable….

I love the smocked detailing at the top the the drapes…

And now, SOFT SURROUNDINGS is a sponsor of the Queen Kari’s castle.

The castle called THISTLEWOOD FARM.

Where Queen Kari is having a giveaway for these royal SMOCKED BURLAP CURTAINS.

So pop on over and get in on the great giveaway…and you can also place your order…

…..for the royal Smocked Burlap Curtains…that is located on her castle sidebar…

And GOOD LUCK ON THE GIVEAWAY!!!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Burlap, smocked burlap drapes

18 Comments

A Wasp Catcher

July 9, 2012 By Shirley

While having a great lunch and strolling through the beautiful Fearrington Village…

….. of course I had to stop in and stroll through one of the shops.

My eye immediately caught these beauties:

The sales associate said that they were wasp catchers….

…..you place something sweet in the bottle and hang it from the handle…

………the wasps fly in and can’t get out.

However, I thought it was way too cute to hang out on the porch…..

Thought it looked cuter on the table in the sunroom….where I could enjoy it more often.

A visit was paid by the dragonfly (silk of course)….but no wasps!

I had my granddaughter over this afternoon while her mom was at school….

……She never misses a thing…

“Grandma….What’s this????”…

…..”Well, it is a wasp catcher”….

“But there are no wasps in the house….

……why is it on the table”?

“Because it is cute!!!”…

…..”Oh, but will the wasps come in the house?”…..”no, only pretty little silk dragonflies”…..

So for now…the wasps will continue to buzz away on the porches….

Because, this wasp catcher has found a great home inside the house…..

Rather than outside…..

Catching wasps!!!….

So, would you hang the “catcher” outside?… Or leave it indoors, so you can enjoy it so much more!

I am joining the following fantastic parties:

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: glass fishing net balls, hurricane, starfish, sunroom, vintage fishnet glass floats, vintage glass floats, wasp catcher, wicker

24 Comments

The Bucolic Fearrington Village {Fearrington House}

July 9, 2012 By Shirley

Just a 15 minute drive from my home and you will encounter this:

Welcome to Fearrington Village..

A most bucolic setting for a community of homes that make you feel like you are in the New England countryside…

Where there are elegant shops, a spa, 4 restaurants which includes a 5 star restaurant…

……inside the Fearrington House Bed and Breakfast.

Fearrington Village…. where you are greeted right away by these wonderful creatures:

A Belted Galloway Cow…What we locals here call, “The Oreo Cow”….

As you know, Chapel Hill is the birthplace of the OREO cookie……

A very thirsty cow….temps got up to 103 today!

Today, hubby and I braved the heat and had a nice lunch at the Belted Goat Cafe…

…..located in the bucolic Fearrington Village…home of the famous Fearrington House B&B and 5 star restaurant…

They also have the Belted Goats there…but they must have been inside…staying out of this awful heat!

We sit at tables that are hand painted by local artists…

And even their trash cans are hand painted with adorable scenes of Fearrington….

A portion of the cafe….

And here is Melina…the first coffee roaster in the Southeast…

No wonder I love this cafe…

Adjacent to the cafe is a beautiful shop of fine things…as Juliska, Dash and Albert..

…..and I came across these cuties:

……….Wasp catchers!!…Bought one!!

Even though the temps have been brutal…they maintain the flowers there beautifully…

……….the front facade of the shop.

The side facade of the shop….

And now the entrance to the Inn….The Fearrington House

Gorgeous pathways wind along gardens throughout….

An area where many weddings are held…

Adirondack chairs in front of the Inn with the beautiful views….

More views of the inn….

….and then a path will lead you to the barn….

………Where they hold many functions…and workshops.

THE BARN……

Then you walk across the street, you will find the wonderful McIntyre’s Book Store

Where they hold many wonderful events….

My Granddaughter loves this book store…..

Next door is another restaurant where we love to dine….

…..wonderful food, wonderful ambience.

Lots of outdoor dining there….

And here is a very patient hubby…..

He is sitting in front of the coffee shop….where the outdoor dining is wonderful on a cooler day!!

Say Hello!….

You can find birdhouses like this one all throughout the village….

And pretty houses dotting the streets….

The bank and ATM blend gently into the landscape….

Just love all the picket fences!!

Across the street, you will find more shops and the spa…

You will also see these beautiful local works of art throughout the village square…like this whimsical whirligig..

Such a beautiful place…just 15 minutes from a bustling city…

…..I guess this is why I love this area so much!

Hope you enjoyed this place as much as I do….

And the hot and thirsty “Oreo Cows” bid you a fond farewell…until the next time….

I am Joining the following…..

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Barn, Belted Galloway Cows, bird house, Fearrington House, Fearrington Village, folk art, McIntyre Book Store, picket fences, wasp catcher, Whirligig

26 Comments

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