I'm so looking forward to relaxing with some good magazines this weekend! My Romantic Country magazine came in the mail earlier this week and it was such a wonderful surprise to see it. Yesterday I went to the book store on my lunch hour and I picked up this Somerset Life magazine and thumbed through it....OH MY GOSH...so much eye candy! Wow it is unbelievably gorgeous! I just had to buy it even if it was expensive (about $15), it's really more like a book than a magazine so the price really wasn't that bad. Look at this lace below! I just had to read this article first and then when I finished reading it I realized I know who wrote this! It's Carol from Raised in Cotton! If you haven't been to Carol's blog before, please stop by, it's wonderful! 
Thank you all so much for your comments yesterday. A very good point was brought up yesterday~I'm 48 years old and I have been collecting things for my home since I was 18. I remember very well what it felt like to be 18 years old and starting out with very little but still wanting to make my home beautiful. I got married at 18 and we did not have any living room or dining room furniture! We had 2 beanbag chairs and a cardboard box that I turned upside down and covered with an old tablecloth. We would have candlelit dinners on top of that box while sitting in bean bag chairs! It's taken me 30 years to acquire the possessions I have. If you are young and reading this, my advice is to just buy things you love, things that are timeless, and things that are of good quality. Over time (and it goes by quickly) you will suddenly have a lot of beautiful things and wonderful memories of how you found them. I really believe that homes that have been decorated over many years look so much more appealing than those that were purchased all at once from a large store and have that same generic look that is in style now but wont' be in 5 years. I'm sure those of you that are around my age will agree with me on this, right?Have a great weekend!
Hi Cindy. You're right about how gathering things over time makes for a wonderful collection. But it must be said that you have absolutely exquisite taste. We are all benefiting from the choices you have made over the years. Thank you again for being so generous in sharing your pretty, pretty things with us. They're as beautiful as you are, inside and out.
ReplyDeleteOh, I have just loved seeing all your great decorating ideas! I have a big wall going up the stairs and saw your neat mirror idea! Is there a trick for hanging them in a particular pattern or order? It was just beautiful! :-)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely I agree!Experience is also the best teacher...the move I just made, showed me every yard sale, estate sale and antique store I have ever purchased from! It was fun but exhausting! This weekend I will relax!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great references and directions for how you did your beautiful mirrors! I love your ideas and added you to one of our "favorites!" :-)
ReplyDeleteI agree that it takes years to collect all the treasures you have. However, you must take a lot of the credit yourself because while people collect a lot of things over the years, not every one has your eye for decorating. You have purchased things over the years that go well together and have stuck to the one look you just adore.
ReplyDeleteI think you have a special touch because someone could have the things you do and still not know how to put it all together to have the look you do.
Also, you take wonderful photos. You know how to stage and how to add just that little extra something to make the area shine.
So I don't really think it is about how long you have collected or how much money you spent. It's about how much wonderful talent you have! People can spend thousands and thousands and not have the beautiful look you have.
You do not need to explain to others or justify to others. Just be thankful you have a gift that a lot of us don't.
You have been able to take a plain old apt and turn it into a place most of us would kill to live in. You took an empty back yard/patio and turned it into a beautiful relaxing getting away.
Be proud of your work. Be thankful for your wonderful eye and talent and know that most of us would love to be able to do the same thing. Of course you will have others who are jealous that they can not recreate the same thing no matter how much money they spent.
You are the decorating Queen!
Hugs,
Joanne
I hope Paige reads this and finds hope. Honestly, I have found now that I am in my thirties and not twenties I am less 'envious' and more happy with what I have. I have also been on the rollercoaster of life long enough to know that no matter what is around the corner it is just best to put your arms up and enjoy the ride.
ReplyDeleteYou are a marvelous person and as my 'fairy blog-mom' I send you a hug. You inspired me to do it NOW and not wait UNTIL I had MORE of something (like money).
Ahhh...you are all so sweet! Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteAmen to your post!
ReplyDeleteCindy, how true. When we started out almost 40 years ago without much money we could buy used (at that time turn of the century golden oak was just "used") or new plastic. We chose the used wood. We've traded up as the years went by but we still buy used and wouldn't do it any other way. Not only that but everything has a story -- for those willing to listen.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your blog
I AGREE 100%.A HOME IS BUILT SLOWLY WITH LOVE...ANN
ReplyDeleteI so agree with you about not getting all your home decor at once or it looks like an interior designer did it instead of the person that lives there! When I first moved into my apartment, I wanted everything to be perfect right that minute, LOL!! Now, I'm SO glad that I didn't have the money or transportation (since I can't currently drive due to pain) to do it all at once because I love how my home has slowly come together over the 2 1/2 years I've lived here. It's FAR from done, but I like what's been done already and am enjoying the process of slowly making it mine.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, have a wonderful weekend!! I look forward to your next entry on Monday!!! Take care, and stay warm! It's supposed to be cold, cold, cold this weekend and rainy. I guess we need the rain, but I wish it would wait until AFTER my first ever holiday party on Saturday! :-)
Thanks so much!!
Michele R.(CA)
luvkittysmeowmail@gmail.com
Butterfly Whispers
Cindy, you are so right. Sometimes I think back to when Hubby and I first got together and we used cardboard boxes for end tables in our bedroom!! Now I can't believe the stuff we have accumulated over the years..but it takes time.
ReplyDeleteAmen. I would much rather have a home full of gathered things than not...that is just me. I am 40 and have been gathering since I was 18 also......Time flies when you are having fun (gathering)......
ReplyDeleteCindy,
ReplyDeleteYou once mentioned in an e-mail that your previous home was decorated quite differently than your present home. Could you share with us the changes you've made over time? I think that may help the younger folks with their frustration of not having it all now. ♥
Diane
Oh, definitely!
ReplyDeleteI'm 54 and had enough years to purchase good quality that the bones of my home (sofas, chairs, dining table, etc.) are "good stuff".
I was just telling my daughter last night (she is thirty-one) that as we grow older, we do change. However, I think we become better each year. At least hopefully.
That's why we can hug our home when we come in the door. It has taken a long time but over the years, we have kept only that which makes our heart sing.
Hi Cindy,
ReplyDeleteThank you for entering my blog and leaving a lovely message to me. But you should see now...what "Shabee Chic Designs" have done to my blog. They are marvelous. I am grateful to you because I have heard about them from your blog. I am a magazine lover as well.I can understand your excitement. Thank you again in sharing your beautiful things and your big heart with us.
i agree with you. it does take time. i know when i was 18-21 i wanted a home like those i seen in magazines and read about. i soon learned to be patient ( good things do come to those who wait):)
ReplyDeletei started scouring thrift stores( and still do). i made a decorating budget. i thought of "repurposing" items. it all came together. of course, my decorating style now is not what it was then. but thats the best part, you dont mind changing so much when you dont spend a fortune. :)
keep your chin up chickie and keep blogging. we love all you gooddies and all your posts. :)
Hi..greeting from Malaysia..I agree with you..In 1988, I collected the seashells evertime I went to the beach. I told my husband that these shells will become extinct in future but he denied it. Now you can hardly find any seashells on the beach, and I felt so fortunate having the possession of these precious things.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, collecting timeless pieces and even those little family heirlooms will fill your life with joy later on. Sommerset magazine is the best! They have various editions for crafters as well on their website.
ReplyDeleteCindy,
ReplyDeleteYou are so right as far as I'm concerned. I can remember the days of wishing I could have all the pretty things that I wanted. Now 35 years later I have more than I ever expected and am able to pass things down to the children which is so fun. Seeing the things that we have collected, refinished, reinvented and used lovingly by them is such a blessing. We never had extra money but somehow we were able to spot something with potential that sometimes others overlooked.
I learned early on that it was not about the money but the eye, how you pay attention to beauty and reinterpret what you see to work for your family within your own budget. When we open our eyes and see, instead of wasting time coveting, amazing things can happen and you are living proof of that. Great eye girl friend!
Hugs,
Sue
Great advice for those just starting out, Cindy. My tastes have completely changed (from primitive to cottage), but I've kept all the same furniture I've had for the past 25+ years and just given the pieces makeovers. Wood pieces were painted, sofas and chairs were covered with throws and slipcovers, and you'd never know an old pine trestle table is hidden underneath the shabby/cottage styled tablecoths I use. You have a wonderful weekend - I've loved looking at your home all decorated for Christmas.. Hopefull this weekend we'll finally be doing ours!... Donna @ An Enchanted Cottage
ReplyDeleteOh yes. You are right. I've collected things for my home over the years and now that I've moved I wish I didn't collect quite so much! Nevertheless, each one has a story to tell and together they tell the story of my life.
ReplyDeleteCindy you are so right on the money about how long it takes to accumulate things you love. I got a laugh out of the cardboard box "furniture"...I did the same thing. I left an abusive marriage with the clothes on my back and had to start from scratch. It was actually kind of fun aquiring stuff all over again. Sure didn't have to worry about dusting furniture and knicknacks for a long time. I went to every yard sale I could find. I still have hand me down furniture, 26 years later. Just happy to have a roof over my head. lol.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend and enjoy your magazines.
Ginger
You said it perfectly. A lifetime of collected treasures is soooo much better than just a quantity of so-so quality things.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. Buy what you love. And you can do that at thrift stores, garage sales, and pretty much anywhere. You don't have to spend a lot of money to have a cozy home.
ReplyDeletexo Lidy
I so agree. I love that layered, bought over time, look. Your home and blog are just beautiful. Mimi
ReplyDeleteI remember being young and looking at magazine and wondering how they could have so much stuff! Now my house is filled and my attic too! I have to check out the blog, taht was in the magazine. I hoping to relax tomorrow. Had grands that are 5,4,3, years and a 16mo. old, Did you say I am tired? I am wiped out. Hope to catch on some blogs, and see all the Christmas. I still love your tree, want to send it to me? I am not putting up a tree, for the first time in 31 years! I have refused until the remodel is done. Hubby says Why? How can I want to deco tree when all I see is unfished sheet rock! I am little sad, I have seen everyone's decorations, and reminds me of some of my special ones. But nothing like your China tree!!!
ReplyDeleteI just got my Romantic Country magazine, too, and my Veranda magazine...I had to peak inside but can't wait to sit down, uninterupted, and savor them! Isn't that so much fun!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy!
I think you expressed very well what decorating a home is all about. A big part, at least to me, is collecting stories and memories about the things in your house.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree about amassing things over a long period of time, and only buying those things you love. You can sit on beanbag chairs for awhile until the right thing (& money) comes along. I've been married 50 years, and we had nothing the first few years. Now we have a houseful of beautiful, thrify, and memorable things that we enjoy every day. Sally
ReplyDeleteYou are so right..it takes years to grow into a style. My sisters always say that looks just like Peggy and even though it may not be their style they appreciate mine. I think that is a compliment and I love it.
ReplyDeleteI tell my daughters all the time to surround themselves with things that they love even if they aren't the "in" thing.
Peggy
http://pegslifeinthebuttonjar.blogspot.com/
You are so very right... it takes time and a good eye and buying things that are timeless. You don't just develop all of it overnight... and collections are things that are aquired and treasured. Your beautiful home reflects that. It took me a very long time to decide what I wanted. Now, it's all about the hunt and how to aquire what I am searching for. Love your blog and enjoy your photos very much!
ReplyDelete~Suzanne
www.sugarloafcottage.blogspot.com
Right!
ReplyDeleteCindy, just thought I would chime in about the gathered over the years look of a home. The sweetest home I know in that style belongs to my friend Jan. Her apt. can't be,more than 300 sq.ft. But I love going there, everything is from a garage sale, thrift store or some things we have found for free. She just has a knack of putting it togeather in such an inviting way. Both my daughter and I like your blog as do so many others. Your home is lovely as you have been told many times. But we admire it just the same. TTFN
ReplyDeleteHi Cindy,
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I remember those days when we didn't have much furniture in our little apartment. I married at 16 and had my daughter at 17. We lived Alabama far away from our relatives so we didn't have much help from them. (My ex was in the army.) We used a large 'yellow' rubbermaid garbage can for our t.v. stand. We used my ex-father in law's old baby bed that was already around 50 years old.(Today 'they' would warn you about this because of safety reasons) Also, we used my old hope chest for our coffee table. I remember when I saw my first Country Sampler magazine. I was amazed! I must have read it a hundred times! I loved country decor back then but I knew that we couldn't afford to buy any of it. I asked for a jigsaw for Christmas and I started to make my own country decorations. I would copy ideas out of magazines and draw out my patterns and cut them out and paint them. Our little apartment looked cute. I also cross-stitched several pictures for our walls. I still have some of them. Thanks for bringing back these memories and helping me to be thankful for everything that I do have now. Even if I were a millionare, I would still be thrifty and refurbish old furniture, etc.
Have a good night and just know how much you inspire us!
Hugs,
Lee Laurie
Hi Sweet Cindy,
ReplyDeleteYou are a doll for mentioning me in your post. I am honored:)
I think one of the main reasons I love to flea market and hunt goes back to my days when I was just married and could not spend a ton of money on furnishing our new home. You so reflect the thousands of us who still love to decorate with our found treasures.
Blessings and Hugs,
Carol
Lovely magazines. I wonder if it's possible to buy Romantic here. It would be worth a try LOL.
ReplyDeleteHope you're having a nice Saturday.
Love Elzie
Cindy, I love your blog. I visit it daily and just look at it with awe at how much talent you have! I would love to find the "Romantic Country" magazine, but did a "Google" search and no luck,any ideas where I can get it? Keep up the beautiful work and exp. keep sharing it with us! I don't have a blog yet, but maybe some day!
ReplyDeleteLinda, you can usually find Romantic Country at Barnes & Noble, Borders, Walmart and I've even seen at Rite Aid here. I don't think this new issue is out in the stores yet though.
ReplyDeleteI just started a blog but have been following yours for several weeks. I love it and your house is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteCool Blog, Buttercream!!!
ReplyDeleteWelcome.
Cindy, yes indeed you are absolutely correct ... it is best that we gather major pieces and accessories over the years. One reason being that we, ourselves, are always evoling unto "ourselves." Meaning, our tastes mature and change over time. How many phrases have I gone through? Many, but you know what? My favorite pieces are still with me and some I have shared with family members. Why? We moved into a more open home and I couldn't use them here. I just hated the thought of never seeing them again. Now, when I visit my nephew and family I can enjoy some of favorites and they appreciate them! We develop our "Signature Style" which is whatever makes us feel comfortable! AND we all know what your signature style is and we love it too! Perhaps some day you will become a home stager or decorator!
ReplyDeleteYes, yes on taking your time with collecting things. I've been at it as long as you have & it does take a lifetime to get nice things that you love. That's exactly what I'd tell younger girls starting out too.
ReplyDeleteI'm hosting a blog party on Monday for sharing all our Christmas decor, so come on by and add your link, Cindy! Lots of parties going on next week, so I'll be joining all of them.
I wholeheartedly agree, Cindy. I've been collecting for a very long time and rarely buy anything anymore. I just start digging at home to find things I love and want to use again. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou are so right. I remember buying an extra sheet to make covers for two moving boxes filled with books. They were our nightstands for quite some time. I thought it was very "designer chic" back in the early 70s.
ReplyDeleteJanet@Housepeepers
Gorgeous magazines! I would like to read this sometime!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing,
Monica.
Hi Cindy! I'm glad to know Romantic Country's new issue is out I've been looking. I also purchased the Somerset book/mag a while back and love it too; I look at them over and over! Sooo glad to hear you survived the layoff! Such scarey times for everyone!! Your advice to the young ones is excellent (hope they listen though!lol) Have a great week! Sincerely, Jeannette
ReplyDeleteoh yes of course, you are so right, I remember too being 22 and sitting on deck chairs and a tiny little tv, sometimes i look back on those days and smile!!
ReplyDeletei only wish I could get those magazines here, I am going to try get them on ebay
SArah
Thanks for the advice against discouragement! We visited friends who had recently remodeled their entire house. And while it is so very beautiful, I came home realizing that they've lost their family history by starting completely afresh. It's a good lesson for me to only acquire stuff that I want to travel with me over time.
ReplyDeleteCindy,
ReplyDeleteI'm a first time visitor to your beautiful blog via of Carolyn's at Aiken's Home and Garden...
I married 2 months shy of 19...I've always loved home and decorating...I've collected dishes, linens, odd chairs, mirrors, pictures, etc for 48 and a half years...nothing matches but each object has a story....I thrifted long before it became popular...
May I say how much I've enjoyed reading through several of your postings and certainly plan to return....Betty @ Country Charm