Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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A Potpourri Post & a Question

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I have a lot to share with you today! And at the end of the post I have a question for you.

Thank you for all the anniversary wishes! We had tea and scones in our favorite tea room and hung around MHC the rest of the day. I’m very grateful for my husband. I waited a long time to find the right guy and he was worth the wait.

Thought I’d share a photo of the kitchen island in it’s repainted, pristine state. All too soon husband will be cooking and Riley will be circling the island endlessly in search of crumbs and it will lose it’s luster.

I had to leave it untouched for 3 days while the Varathane sealer cured. Husband, yesterday: When can I use the island again? Me: Not until tomorrow morning. I love this piece – originally a very dark sideboard found at auction for $60, it has been invaluable to us in our cupboard-deprived kitchen.

My friend Debi of Life in My Studio had a giveaway recently. A friend of hers sent her a box chock full of beautiful trims and she generously chose to share some of the beauty with us. My package arrived the other day.

Isn’t it pretty? Look closer – that is a beautiful flower brooch with a lovely doily tucked behind it.

This will be adorning  my jean jacket. Immediately. Debi, by the way, is extremely talented. If you haven’t visited her, you must. I am continually in awe of her creations.

My goodness! This is just part of the beauty that was in that package. Oh my gosh. Here’s more.

Since I am a relative newcomer to the beauty of trims and lace and ribbon, my collection was rather small. Not anymore! Thank you, Debi. I see these in a pretty jar in my new cabinet in the studio.

My friend Jan of Bessie Mary wrote a post recently about Halloween candy and she mentioned some pumpkin spice malted milkballs. In my comment I wondered if I could find them around my neck of the woods and related a story from my college years: my Mom would send me cartons of malted milkballs (they actually came in milk cartons) because they were my favorite candy. Look what arrived in the mail:

My own beautiful package of pumpkin spice malted milkballs. And I’m here to tell you that they are delicious! Thank you, Jan!

(It strikes me that I really painted the table white so that I had a new staging area for blog photos…)

I have been given awards by two of my blogging friends and have been remiss in posting them. Cory of Pink Dogwood Blossom gave me the Cherry on Top Award and Julia of Julia’s Sew Sweet and Special Occasion Clothing for Children gave me a Beautiful Blogger Award. Thank you both very much. I will post them on my awards page.

Lastly, remember my new cabinet for the studio?

I would love to hear your thoughts on painting or not painting it. Right now, it is a sort of khaki/tan color with blue trim.  I’ve been back and forth on this – it’s not my usual color combination, but maybe that’s a good thing? I’ve thought of giving it a finish like the one I did for our television cabinet:

I added a few layers of paste wax after painting and got a wonderfully aged look. But that may not work with the almost deco look of the cabinet.

What do you think? Paint, no paint, a different color combination?? I’d really love to hear your ideas.

Comments

  3. …lovin` the new kitchen island!!
    In regards to the studio cupboard ~ is it possible to remove the “square hardware handles” and replace them with maybe some pretty glass ones? You could also put up some cafe curtain rods on the inside and hand some fabulous lace~ you could still see your pretties from within but now just ever so slightly. You could also use a wooden applique on the long drawer, say like this one: http://www.etsy.com/listing/39387864/shabby-chic-birch-applique-large?ref=sr_gallery_9&ga_search_query=wood+furniture+applique&ga_search_type=supplies&ga_page=&order=&includes%5B0%5D=tags&includes%5B1%5D=title
    and your handle could still go in the center.
    …many possibilities, but I love the look of the island!!
    xo, Rosemary

  4. Your kitchen island is perfect. Your gifts are wonderful and aren’t surprises really best! Congratulations on the blogger awards.
    Ahhh…for the cabinet to be painted or not to be painted…maybe leave it and use it for a while and then decide. Something is only original once. Happy Autumn…

  5. Lucky you, TWO great packages in one week! I love malted milk balls too! If you live near a grocery store that still carries Brach’s candy in bulk bins, their malted milk balls are awesome.

  6. Debi’s package is lovely. She is an amazing talent and generous soul and I am quite fortunate to have a gorgeous piece of hers from a swap.I’m so happy for your treats..have fun with them.

    the island piece looks fabulous and I vote paint the new cupboard.

    xox Rella

  7. Wow, Claudia, you are on a roll! LOVE all the furniture projects you’ve been working on – so I’m sure whatever you do or don’t do w/ your new cabinet – it will look great!
    LOVE your beautiful new trims – can’t wait to see what you create with them!
    Wishing you and yours a happy one!
    ~ Zuzu

  8. Hi Claudia,

    Okay, you asked, so here goes……personally I would get rid of the deco wood trim in favor of some vintage knobs like you have elsewhere. As far as painting it, why not paint it a light color wash, such as robin’s egg blue, or a light lime, or peach and then do the paste wax aging on it. Those are definately cottagy colors. You could even add some of those glue-on trims of scroll work that you can get at the Home Depot or Lowes. That’s my two cents worth for the day. Hey stop by my blog, as there is something for you to see.

    Hugs,
    Meri

  11. I’m on the fence about painting it.

    But, do we want everything to be matchy-matchy went it comes to furniture color?

    Hugs & ♥♥♥s,
    Gerry

    Oh, I really like the handle and pulls.

  12. That brooch will look great on a jean jacket. Pin it on and have your hubby take a photo of you in it. She really does do nice work!

    Di

  13. I love, love your kitchen island. A friend of mine has a cabinet like that and it is an ugly gold color. As for your cabinet. I like the blue pulls but I think I might paint it white instead of the beige.

  14. Your kitchen island is g o r g e o u s !!! If I saw it and had the room it would definitely be a piece I would want to take home! As far as the cabinet I say go for it and redo it. I think you’ll be happy! I like the pretty banner that is hanging on the cabinet too!
    Have a great day.
    Holly

  15. Hi Claudia, Your kitchen island and the tv cabinet both look great painted. I think you are right that the distressed look may not work with the straight lines on that new cabinet, but I would definitely paint it so that the blue areas aren’t in such contrast to the rest of it. The great thing about paint is that you can always do it again! Good luck on the decision. Linda

  16. Hi Claudia…What pretty laces and trims! The rose will look great on a jean jacket! I have thought about putting one on my jean jacket. I think I would paint the cabinet. I am not sure what color but I noticed a lot of good ideas from the previous comments. I like putting some scroll work on it. I thnk some vintage glass knobs would look pretty on it too. I like the gray, or antique white suggestions. Hey…You have a lot to think about!..lol~Hugs, Patti

  17. Hi Claudia,
    I really like the white paint on your kitchen island. It looks wonderful.
    The rosette is going to look great on your jean jacket. That’s how I wear mine too.

    As far as your cabinet goes, I would probably go with a soft gray or white and remove the current hardware. Then replace with some vintage hardware or glass.

    I’m sure whatever you decide to do will look great.

    hugs
    Sissie

  18. I love your island and what is it you are waiting for to dry? I did an island for my daughter not long ago but it is very diffrent. I think I would paint the cupboard it is bothering you or you wouldn’t be thinking about it. Great post
    Cathy

  19. Claudia,
    Wow girl, your a painting fool. LOL I mean that in the best way possible BTW. You got an amazing deal on the island, my gosh that would have been 150 at least here in TX. So your a newbie with the lace huh? I’m such a hoarder. I went to an estate sale today, told my husband I needed to find lace. He said, how you possibly need more lace. Silly boy, there is never enough. I get all nervous & sweaty if I only have one suitcase. As for your cabinet. I say paint it. I love what you’ve been doing & I’m not crazy about the color of it now. Sorry, you asked LOL. Have a great weekend. Lisa

  20. What sweet treats you got! Those malted milk balls sound mighty yummy. I bet it’s so hard to wait for the island to completely set before using it! I wish you luck with the cabinet, I waffle forever while trying to decide what color to paint furniture!

  21. That sideboard is such a beautiful piece! Love that you use it in the kitchen as a sideboard. I love repurposing things that way.

    Okay, I have an idea for your cupboard. Are you sitting down? Sit down. Okay, here it is: http://kellyraeroberts.blogspot.com/2010/09/entryway-dresser-before-after.html
    I’m just dyin’ to do this to the vintage dresser in my entryway! I think it would be so adorable in your craft studio!

    Okay, you can stand up now. Unless you are hyperventilating over this fabulous idea. If so, stay seated. ;)

    Hugs,
    Jill

  22. I love the suggestions of painting robin’s egg blue or light grey and either replacing handles with glass ones or using decorative wood from lowes glued to the existing handles to give a older than deco look! These ideas have already been said and I agree with them but that is for my taste. You will know it will come to you what you want to do!! I love, love, love the island!
    Sherry

  24. Hello Darling! Love the fresh paint you put on your beautiful island! I love all the details in it. Loving all the fun painting you are doing on all your furniture to! I think the white cabinet with blue touches looks nice the way it is. Filled with pretties, you are all set!

    Love & miss you!
    Maryjane
    xox

  25. I am loving all your white furniture! Not sure what to suggest for the studio cabinet, though.
    Can’t wait to see what you do with it and all your beautiful lace. Enjoy the pumpkin spice malt balls!

  26. Fabulous creative kitchen decor…absolutely love all your ideas! Re: your question, “To paint, or not to paint,” I love the look of that vintage cabinet as is. I’m sure it would be attractive with new paint too but that vintage charm is right there now!
    Hugs for a great week!
    Coralie

  27. I love your island, the beautiful detail. What gorgeous lace! And Pumpkin Spice Malt Balls; I’ve never heard of them. Thank you Claudia for your comments and thoughts!! ♥

  28. i love the idea of robin’s egg blue and/or soft gray. new hardware is a good idea too.

    the table and side board look beautiful. you did a fabulous job with them.

    happy smiles to you.

  29. We were up your way over the weekend. We ate at a diner in Newburg. I think the name of it was Alexis?????? We’ve eaten there before. It has the largest, most varied menu of any place I think I’ve ever been. The homemade deserts looked yummy, but I was good. I thought of you while I was there. Is this close to you?

  30. I’m really torn on whether or not to paint. Can’t figure out what my stumbling block on this is. I do love that cabinet in your kitchen. Wish I could find one just like it. Then I would have to figure out where in this small space for it to go however. You have wonderful friends! I think I hear Riley barking. Is supper ready?
    Brenda

  31. Aww, what a sweet friend to send you malt balls! And pumpkin spiced to boot! They wouldn’t last very long in my house that’s for sure!

    I couldn’t help but giggle at Meri’s post. She does have a great idea though. My mind is completely blank. I have unpacking overload!

    Hugs,
    Deanna :D

  32. First of all, Happy Anniversary, Claudia! I’m glad you had a good day, and I loved seeing all of the special presents you received from blog friends.

    Your new cabinet is SO cute. I liek the blue handles. It gives it a little added interest due to its style, and I like the color, too. I can see it going either way, so whatever makes you happy, do!

    All good wishes for many more happy years together to you and your beloved…

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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