New Dining Room Chairs

Our dining room is taking shape, and I am in love! We took delivery of our dining room chairs and here is our  Dining room right now.... It is coming together perfectly. :)

I think the new chairs totally update the room. To remind you - we invested in new dining room chairs to update the table that was given to us my my parents. (To see the chairs that came with the table, click here)

The chairs are called the "Mia" and were custom made by Silva, who is a Canadian furniture manufacturer. If you recognize the name, they are who makes Sarah Richardsons furniture, but also her go to spot for re upholstery. (You can never go wrong with her sources)

I picked the chair style, fabric, nail head detail colour and even the leg stain and the chairs came out amazing. I walk by and run my hand over the curved back and smile. They are absolutely well worth the investment. These are our "forever" chairs. Classic, and will stand the test of time and changing styles in home decor. The neutral means it will survive changing colour trends, and the craftsmanship means they will likely be handed down to my children.

I also think that this is a pretty good example of how an old table can be instantly trasformed by changing out chairs. I'm often surprised at how much dining room tables cost, so I say buy a vintage table and invest in the seating. :)

Next up - Adding some art, and working with the light fixture. (No, I won't paint it) This is going to be budget as we used up our full budget on the chairs!

Beach Bunglaow

Love this beach bungalow by designer Amelia Handegan.

These images and more Architectural Digest.

{ Blueberry Ice }

Fresh picked chilled strawberries

and frozen blueberries

The perfect spot for a 

mid-morning snack

on a hot day 

I found this dresser along 

the side of the road last year.

And finally got around to adding some shelves to it.

While the final touches were being put on my kitchen,

 my nephew cut some wood shelves for the spot where the drawers were.

{ *tip* the original drawers were warped and damaged,

 so I left them where I found then and took only the base}

It's perfectly yellow, and perfectly chippy.

To freeze your blueberries, lay them in a 

single layer on cookie sheet 'til frozen.

{that way they won't stick together}

linking here...

From Grandma with Love........Cherry Picnic Dresses

I mentioned in my last "From Grandma with Love" post that Grandma Jane had made these adorable Cherry Picnic Dresses for the girls.  So here they are -   I absolutely love them and they fit perfectly!

I just love coordinating sister looks where they are matching, but not exactly the same.  Mom found this fabric at her local Joann Fabric store and thought it just shouted summer picnic and I couldn't agree more.

Matilda's dress is so sweet with the pleated top and the button detail across the front.  Her dress has three medium sized buttons in the back and has the plaid accent at the bottom.  I've been kind of into the square neck-line lately and I think the pleated top just makes the dress!

 

Miss Savannah's dress couldn't have been designed more perfectly for her.  She is really into collecting things and sticking them in her pockets (you should have seen the mound of rocks she had in her shorts the other day).  These pockets are nice and large and are set at just the right height for her little hands.  I also love that Savannah's dress has encased elastic in the back which makes for a very comfortable fit.  And my favorite detail of this dress is the piping that has been added in around the bodice edge......mom knows I love that piping!

What's even more fun right now, is that the girls love to be matching.  I know this is not going to last long, so I'm taking full advantage of it for right now.  But with them only being 16-months apart they pretty much have the same taste in clothing and both love wearing dresses!

Thanks Grandma Jane, handmade gifts are the best!  

We love all the pretty things you've been making and sending for the girls!

My Sunday loot shoot

Before I show you the L-O-O-T today, I first have to tell you what a lovely setting I found when I arrived at the fair early this morning.  In a field beside the river Seine.   I'm told that the houseboat above was for sale, but I passed on that one - sometimes life just seems too short!!

At first I wandered around, finding nothing, or rather seeing nothing.  You have to be in the right frame of mind to find the treasure in these fairs.  So I started concentrating more and the magic worked.   Here's what I found.

Mostly enamel ware and textiles today.  

This breathtaking sheet ... SIGH ...

A whole bunch of fun enamel pots and pitchers

I love this old egg basket

and the writing on the soda and bleach bottles

along with the sheet  ...   SIGH ... :) :)  I bought these pretty pillow shams and 

the rather wonderful mattress ticking, two pieces, each with sewn on eyelets

down the centre.  This would make some great cushion covers. 

Same routine as last week, I'll be putting everything up in the store during the day.  If there's anything that interests you and you don't find it in the store just send me an email.

To finish I had to show you this sweet aviary that was for sale for only 20 Euros !!  I couldn't use it, and I certainly couldn't ship it, but it made a fun photo.

I hope you're all enjoying a happy weekend, thank you for stopping by and 

for your regular comments, I treasure each and every one.

Quiet Time

Remember Pinocchio? There is a Jiminy Cricket on your shoulder, giving the very best advice. It is you, your authentic self, the one your were in first grade, before you learned to massage your personality into a form that would suit others. Sometimes it's hard to hear its message because all the external voices are so loud, so shrill, so adamant. Voices that are loud are always meant to bully. Do not be bullied. Acts of bravery don't always take place on battlefields. They can take place in your heart, when you have the courage to honor your character, your intellect, you inclinations, and, yes, your soul by listening to its clean, clear voice of direction instead of following the muddled messages of a timid world. So carry your courage in an easily accessible place, the way you do your cell phone or your wallet. You may still falter or fail, but you will always know that you pushed hard and aimed high. -Ana Quindien via Good Housekeeping

While this could be applied to different things, when I read it I immediately thought about faith and how hard it can be to have/show in this world. I found this to be a good reminder to stay focused on what is important, which is Him.

French and feminine

How about this for a Parisian girl's apartment?!

I mean could you honestly see a man living here?

Very clever vignettes, combination of furniture, colours,

a few tasteful pieces of antique furniture,
the colour scheme carried through the two rooms without feeling too repetitive.

Pink, fluffy, posed and sweet.

I don't think I could do it for more than a weekend,

but I know a couple of  girls who'd love it!

Photos thanks to Mires Paris