Let's Hear it for the Red, White and Blue

Do you get tired of a red, white and blue color scheme as soon as the holiday is over?

It is such a fun burst of color for summer.

Our deck was inspired by some of the 4th of July 

parades we have been to. 

Our small/big town puts on wonderful parade.

It has an old hometown feel.

Our town feels a tad different since the big dog moved in.

Of course we have had the underdog forever.

Underdogs turned big dogs!

What is better than one Elvis?

Lots of them on mini bikes.

 

It's the town I have come to love over the last 35 years.

(Has it been 35 years?) 

Our kids have participated as part of the scouts and 

their high school marching band. 

I always get goose bumps when they walk by.

My baby had to carry a Tuba the whole way.

Can you imagine?

 This year I was in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.

They have a darling parade with a western feel.

There was a cute, cute fair.

You've just gotta love the view of the mountains from the 

Ferris Wheel.

I had a wonderful time in the mountains with 
my brother and his family 
but,

I missed celebrating with my family.

 

The house was festive while I was away.

 

We usually keep our porch patriotic until after September 11th.
  

I'm still feeling inspired by these patriotic colors.

Are you?

I hope that you had a blessed holiday with your family. 

Sprinkled with the red, white and blue,

Katie

Classic Blue and White

I thought by now I would get to re-tile the blue shower in the guest bath downstairs.

I don't know what she was thinking when the previous owner picked it out. It was already dated by the time they built the house.

I've tried talking Mr. Bill into re-tiling it ourselves but he wants nothing to do with it.

After all, we were able tile 500 square feet on our ground floor.

I guess it is an experience he never wants to repeat.

So it is not happening. 

When we first moved in the wall paper was an art deco mini print. It wasn't bad it just wasn't me.

I pulled that down and painted the wall gold with the blue.

 Once yellow and blue played out I switched to brown and blue. It updated it as much as it could.

 Instead of trying to disguise the blue as I have done in the past, I've decided to embrace the blue and add white for a classic scheme.

I love the June issue of Victoria.

Traditionally it is devoted to this classic color scheme.

I ditched the brown shower curtain and got a crisp white one. 

I added a blue and white paisley floral valances. I got two at Tuesday Morning. They are by Waverly and were $14.99 each.

I pulled of few pieces of my blue and white china out and put them in my little cabinet.

I put some blue plates and platters on the wall in place of the prints I had.

I had in mind a Coscill type of hand towel but couldn't find anything on-line.

To make my own, I measured the width of a plain white towel. 

I took some of this blue striped fabric 

I pressed and hemmed a quarter inch hem. 

I sewed the blue fabric to the towel and added some white rick rack.

Just a little adds a bit of cuteness. 

I have enough to make another one.

We took the builder mirror down and put up this antique framed mirror. 

An old ripped oil painting used to reside in the frame.

The painting couldn't be saved but the frame got recycled.

 I love what I call moldy gold. 

It's not the bling from the 90's but old mellow aged gold.

 Refreshed and ready for summer.

Sprinkled with crisp, clean, blue and white,

Katie

Linking with,

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style 

Time Travel Thursday @ The Brambleberry Cottage 

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage 

Sat Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors 

Sunday's Best Par tay @ My 1929 Charmer Blog

A Thrifty Week in Review

I have been doing a lot of thrifting so I thought it would be fun to have a post showcasing my various thrifty finds.

Since I am off for the summer I have been stopping in at all 

the thrift stores in town. 

I even found a new Salvation Army in the next town over.

I found some really cute stuff with cherries and some white pottery.

Love, love the little milk glass compote.

 The little hand painted plate was 50 cents. The white platters were 1.00 each. 

I was tickled to still find deals like that on white ironstone.  

They made me mad with the pitcher. When I took the tape of it was chipped. 

I know to check carefully under tape and didn't. 

Love this bowl behind my sink. 

It is so cheerful!

I was tickled to find this cherry print. It was $2.50 at The Salvation Army. They are actually called Family Stores now. I rematted it because it had a faux matt printed on the paper.

  I painted the red mat in the background. 

Mat board takes craft paint really well.

 Cute ribbon makes it more of a feature. (Sorry about the glare. Really I tried a bunch of times to take this picture.)

I saw this cute message board at Goodwill.

I took out the picture that was in the top and put in a left over piece of chalkboard.

The picture I took out? It was cherries of course. See the little sign at the top of my plate rack?

I was super thrifty and water colored the cherry painting.

It didn't cost me anything because I messed up some watercolor paper at school and decided to practice my skills rather than throw the paper out.

 I'm still on the hunt for red transferware.

I found three little hotel china plates at Goodwill for 50 cents each. 

How cute is the little pitcher?

It is target brand found at Goodwill.

I'm smitten with the copy of a vintage stove.

It's not old but it sure is cute.

I gave all my roosters and hens away after those were such a huge thing years ago. I should have kept (hoarded) them. 

She is a little chippy, but I love her anyway.

Finally my steal and super find.

 I found the same sewing machine that I already have. (???)

Here is why I bought it. 

I have had mine for almost 24 years. I have used and used it without getting it serviced. 

In 2000 our puppy chewed through the presser foot cord. 
(Which has been rewired together since then.)
I don't recommend this type of "fix".

See all those dangerous looking cords? Yup. 12 years. 

I thought at first I would just trade presser foots but the new old machine is soooo clean and it runs soooo smooth that it will replace mine. 

 Mr. Bill bought mine when his grandpa died and I was thrilled with her.

She is after all a New Home, the same brand my great grandmother had.

We spent many wonderful (frustrating) hours together. (stinking tension)

But... it is time for her to retire and allow a new New Home take her place.

The new to me New Home was $25.00. 
Like I said, a steal of a deal!

I have already used her.

(a sewing machine is a her? right?)
Sprinkled with great deals,
Katie
Linking with,
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch 
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style 
Time Travel Thursday @ The Brambleberry Cottage 
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage 
Sat Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Sunday's Best Par tay @ 1929 Charmer Blog