Homefront: Vivid Modern Florals

I bought a book called Rooms in Bloom a few years ago, about decorating with florals throughout design trends. A little outdated, but still some great ideas in there. I started picking through it again a few weeks ago and a few of my favorite images really grabbed me all over again. One of them I will be implementing in the nursery, I can't wait!
  

So, when I went thrifting and found these two vintage glass lamps, I couldn't decide what I wanted for shades. The book about florals must have inspired me. I brought home a few different shades and harp sizes, and nothing seemed to modernize the glass and bring personality in the room like I had wanted. When I found these bold purple floral shades at Garden Ridge, I was sold. I would have loved to get larger shades, but then they would not have sat as well on our little side tables. Now I am wanting to use more, bold florals in here.

While I have been loving these vivid purple florals for a few weeks now, I saw that Amy of Ten June guest posted on Censational Girl the other day about bringing back modern, bold, vivid florals to liven up spaces and was a little surprised I had picked up on a trend. There is some great advice (and examples) in the post on what to look for and how to do it so you don't feel like you are living in a 90's era garden room. Happy picking some florals, you will be glad you did!

Homefront: Vintage Granny Square Afghan and final Mantel Scape

My afghan finally arrived. The description from the seller, "This is a lovingly made 1940's Granny Square afghan by my Pennsylvania Dutch nana when she was probably in her 60's. She passed seven years ago, at the age of 103. I have so many memories of her crocheting afghans for everyone in church, and those in need. I bet she made 500 or more in her lifetime."

When I got the afghan, I was amazed at the perfection of each little detail and color groupings. I really love how the main color is a dark navy, instead of black for a less severe look. I would love one in a cream color one day.

The question is, how do I clean a vintage, handmade wool afghan? I found some information online, but if anyone has any tricks, feel free to let me know.

 And this is my final mantel scape in this home. It will all be packed up by tonight. I would have changed it more than last time, but everything is already in boxes. I'm so glad I painted my mirror white. It looks so pretty with the white mantle. The white chair needs a fresh coatsoon, but I kind of like the shabbiness of the old green color showing through.

The chair was in front of a dumpster in our first apartment, we've been carrying it around for 7 years now, and the little wood truck I got at an antique mall for $7. It's so cute, it's usually on the wall in the boys room with their toy cars lined up on it, but we never had a chance to put it in their room. It's special to me because my grandpa was a truck driver. We really need to paint that armoir one day.

*why do my mirrors always look streaky? I cleaned it today!? 

**linked to: life in the fun lane's first fresh coat friday,  sew much ado's, we did it wednesday, blue cricket designs show and tell

Homefront: Peacock Mantel Decorating

Here is the peacock embroidered art I won at a charity auction for $6. The woman who brought it, was probably in her 70's, and told me her great aunt had made it many years ago. She is also the one who also brought the red boots I won. We were kindred spirits, I suppose. What time period would you place this design?

One lady told me the art was hideous, and I must have bid on it just for the frame. I told her that I liked things that have a bit of character, and enjoy finding ways to use things that others find "ugly". So, it's fortunate that I was resolved to say my piece without offending, or being offended.

In any case, I think the peacock is adorable. It looks perfect in my home. I would rather have a home pieced together, one little find at a time, than one that was designed quickly by buying matching mass produced accessories on a store shelf in a single afternoon. (No hate to those who do that, just not my thing at this point~ though of course, I do have some new store bought items myself.)

 Building my collections over time is therapeutic, builds great memories, and lets our home evolve naturally as we do. It is also a lot better on our budget, the environment (b/c  reusing old items cuts down on production waste of new ones, and garbage on throwing away old things), and I don't have the guilt of supporting loose regulations on pay and working conditions of impoverished employees overseas.

Okay, back to decorating! Here, you can see how the mantle arranging evolved until I felt it was just right,( it took about 5 minutes of my life). Both nice and plain, but once again, going against my "remove one item" philosophy, I decided more is more, so that's what I did, and I have no regrets.

Do you have any decorating philosophies that drive you at all, or am I just insane? Before we move, I will have to change this mantle up one at least one more time. I'm going to miss not having it.