Tales of the Traveling Tote: March 1, 2020

Happy March, My Lovelies! 

Welcome to another Tales of the Traveling Tote post.  We have been in Alabama since my last post in December, enjoying the holidays with family and friends, and preparing for Shanley Belle and Christopher's wedding.  I'm working on a couple of lengthy posts about the wedding, and I'm waiting for the rest of the photos from our wedding photographer.  Stay tuned!

Photo by Chrissy Rae Photography

Although I haven't traveled out of town, I have managed a field trip or two.  Today I'm sharing the Vintage Market Days event here in Birmingham.  It was my first visit, and honestly I was a little underwhelmed overall.  There was one vendor I really loved, and a couple of others I liked.  I could've skipped the rest of it.  Most of the vendors were selling items not to my taste.  But the market did have a wide variety of items, including several booths with vintage clothing.  I left La Countess de Monet in the car because I took in my camera and case.  It was crowded, so I'm happy I left her safely in the car.

Below I'll share with you a few of my favorites.  They include:  spool and button crafts; pretty bottle crafts; quilted runners; pretty shabby chic lampshades; antique bottles; antique milk glass; architectural antiques; prints;  and dough bowls.  I bought a couple of items for Christopher and Shanley Belle's adorable little Tudor cottage (I'll share at a later date).  I regret not buying a quilted runner for myself, and I am absolutely inspired by the botanical/zoological prints.  I want to draw and make a few of my own!

 

 

I regret that I didn't purchase one of these pretties.

I will try to make one of my own soon!

Do you have a favorite?  Let me know what you think in the Comments Section below.

This month, Jenna @ The Painted Apron is hosting our giveaway.  

Make sure to visit all the posts from the Traveling Tote ladies; links are listed below.

Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths 

Emily with Miss Courtney Childs@ The French Hutch

Jenna with Miss Coquille @The Painted Apron

Linda P with Miss Lola @ Life and Linda

 Patti with Miss Kenzie @ Pandora's Box

Rita with Miss Luna C @ Panoply 

Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul

Jackie and Miss Madi K @ Purple Chocolat Home

Ricki Jill and Countess De Monet @ The Sketchy Reader

Cherry Kay and Carrie Ann Hall @ Entertaining Women  

Until next time...

Blessings!

Ricki Jill

Tales of the Traveling Tote: March 1, 2020

Sunday, March 1, 2020

Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic Books Round-Up

Happy Thursday, My Lovelies!  Spring has sprung in Central Alabama.  Yesterday, we took the Westies for a long walk and enjoyed the sunshine and 80 degree weather.  It was like heaven in February, and I loved it!

As I promised in yesterday's post, today I have a round-up post of my favorite Rachel Ashwell books.  Below each photo I'll give a brief synopsis of why I love the book.

Published in 1996, it's easy to understand why Rachel's style in Shabby Chic has stood the test of time.  Chapter One covers diverse styles: casual beach, contemporary, traditional, and eclectic.  The featured rooms are so pretty, and there's nothing in any of these rooms I wouldn't have in our home today.  My favorite chapter in this book is Chapter Four: Fabrics. Several of Rachel's early printed linen fabrics are featured, and I would be so happy if she'd look in the archives and bring back some of them!  The last chapter, Chapter 7: Flowers, has the prettiest selection of roses I've ever seen, and I'd like to plant a few of the varieties shared in this chapter.

Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic: Treasure Hunting & Decorating Guide was first published in 1998.  This is more like a resource book to me on all things flea markets and estate sales. Rachel not only shares her best shopping tips; she also explains what to do with treasures once you've found them.  There are countless tips on cleaning, restoring, and decorating your home with your found things.  Some of her best tips are on how to clean and treat vintage fabrics.  This is a keeper because I love old linens, and I'm not as worried about buying something stained since I have this handy book.  

Shabby Chic Inspirations and Beautiful Spaces was published in 2011.  Of all the books, this one has the most diverse selection of homes and rooms.  Among some of the features of this book are Rachel's Texas Prairie property and Notting Hill apartment; Sharon and Ozzy Osborne's stunningly gorgeous dining room and foyer; and probably the most pinned tiny shabby chic cottage in the world, Sandy Foster's Catskill cottage.  

Published in 2013, Couture Prairie and Flea Market Treasures is all about Rachel's property near Round Top, Texas.  Each building on the property is featured along with the store and outbuildings.  Because The Prairie is an event venue, there's also a chapter entitled "Making magical moments."  There's also a chapter on flea market finds, and a handy reference guide for all things Round Top.  This book will be my go-to guide if I ever get to visit the Round Top Antiques Fair.

The World of Shabby Chic was published in 2015.

Mine is a little faded because it was sitting in the sun in my family room.

This is the book without the dust jacket.  Isn't it beautiful!

The World of Shabby Chic has three sections:  The Shabby Chic Story, At the Heart of Shabby Chic, and The Looks of Shabby Chic.  This book details the history and evolution of the brand, and I found it a very interesting read.  One thing that stands out in this book are the unique vignettes featuring flowers in unusual yet beautiful containers.

This is Rachel's new book, and in case you missed it, you can read my post about My Floral Affair HERE.

I love Rachel's style, and her influence can be seen in our home.

Until next time...

Happy reading!

Ricki Jill

Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic Books Round-Up

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Chippy Wood *Love*

Happy Thursday, My Lovelies!  Recently I finished two painting, part of a series of old, chippy doors and doorknobs.  I found photos online via Pinterest and decided to paint them.  I'd like to take photos of architectural elements the next time we visit family in New Orleans and paint them, too.

All four of these oil paintings are 6" X 6" and painted on artist boards.

I finished this one last week.

"Chippy Turquoise"

This is the first one I finished in the series.

"Glass Doorknob"

sold

I finished this one yesterday.

"Gothic Indigo"

"Chippy Yellow"

I have a few more warped, chippy doors with interesting hardware photos on my "Stuff I Want to Paint" Pinterest Board.  Decisions, decisions!


Linking to:

Thursday Favorite Things

Feathered Nest Friday


Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Chippy Wood *Love*

Thursday, November 2, 2017

The Simple Beauty of White

"The Simple Beauty of White" is the theme for Country Living Magazine's February 2011 issue.  I am digging it!  Some of the highlights include:

1.  "The Insider's Guide to White" featuring three designers (Rachel Ashwell, Darryl Carter, and Suzanne Kasler) and their distinct takes on white;

2.   "How the West was Reinvented" that features a pretty Montana home that is a mix of grays, browns, blues, and a whole lot of white;

3.  "The New Way to Do Lace."  Y'all, I am way ahead of the curve on this one (for once in my life...seriously...only this once).  The article is about how lace is popping up on everything, and I actually have a couple of lacy pieces that I have bought (and made) in my home.  I will be posting about my lacy treasures next week!

If you all have not bought a copy of the February issue yet, at least go check it out the next time you are at the grocery or book store.

Here is the cover:



And check out how many flags I have in this issue!  I hope I don't tear it up before I absorb all the white gorgeousness!

In the spirit of Country Living Magazine's February 2011 issue, I want to share with you some of my favorite white things.

1.   This is my white Fireclay Belfast sink.  I love it because most of my large trays and all of my pots fit in it so well.



2.   One of my sweet friends gave me this as a Christmas present.  It is a linen fragranced soy candle from waverly and irving.  I visited their website yesterday, and I will probably buy more for myself and for presents.  The neat thing about this company is that they make their candles with vintage glasses, tins, and art pieces.  Check out their website here.



3.   I love these little thistle vases from MacKenzie-Childs.  Scotland is one of my favorite places on Earth!



4.   My husband and I saved for a very long time to purchase these Darcy dining room chairs from Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic.





5.   The painting in my dining room is not my best.  One of my friends gave me a present to go to Sips 'n Strokes for my birthday one year.  She was trying to encourage me to start painting again, and her ploy worked. Although I do not like working with acrylic paints or pallet knives, we had so much dang fun that I bought the biggest, most gaudy frame I could find and hung it in my dining room.  It even has puff paint on it (oh, the horror of it all)! I put lots of white in my rose in spite of the instructions!



6.   I painted my kitchen walls in Benjamin Moore's Super White.  You do not get anymore white than this.  I also love the pastel pears my daughter drew in fourth grade, and I think the white frame suits it very well.



7.   This is a multi-media collage by Kim Victoria Kettler.  We bought it years ago in Scottsdale, and it is atypical of most of her art which is very colorful.



8.   I have bought these picture frames over the years at an adorable store in Homewood called White Flowers.  Everything in the store is white!  The are made by a California artist from found objects and old wood.





9.   This Victorian sofa was new when one of my husband's ancestors bought it.  I had it recovered many years ago in a white basket-weave fabric.  The painted pillows were purchased at Sweet Peas several years ago.



10.  I love my Welsh cupboard.  You can read a post about it here.



Do you like white as much as I do?  Have you decorated your home with white!  I would love to hear what y'all think about white.  Is it beautiful or too sterile?

I am linking over to Faded Charm's White Wednesday.  Use the link below!








I am also linking to Courtney's Feathered Nest Friday.  Go check it out!




Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

The Simple Beauty of White

Wednesday, January 5, 2011