Dog Blanket?

I found this beautiful crochet coverlet in the dog blanket bin at Salvation Army.  I pulled it out and could not believe it - there was nothing wrong that a good washing wouldn't take care of!!! Dog blankets cost $1.00. I know the thrift stores get these in by the dozens and need to move them quickly. I have crochet large pieces before - it's a lot of time and work. So I felt craft bound to save it...

And this one was so pretty!!!

It fits a twin bed wonderfully well, I searched long and hard to find the "just right" combination of bedskirts - I want them to show!!!  The head board was just recently revamped and added. There's not enough room to have a foot board. The night stand was originally a sewing cabinet.

Each perfect square has three flowers (roses) with leaves - blue, lavender, and of course rose. I envy the person who crafted this - I never was able to achieve two squares the same size - so hat's off to you for a crochet coverlet well done!!!









 



Underneath is a queen duvet that I stuffed a full size feather bed insert into. I tuck the overage under the mattress. It has the prettiest little blue flowers on it.

And underneath all of that there is yet another feather bed that you sleep on, This room tends to get a bit chilly in the winter. Yes I have central heating, but this is an old house~~~

I've finally been able to put up this large round mirror with the etched basket and flowers from the 1940's.  This mirror has a razor sharp edge! The grand kids are old enough to understand that this is just for looks and looking into - no touching...

The "eyebrow" is a (gold) resin piece from the "80's" that I transformed with paint. It hooks over the top as if it were made to do just that! 

See those shelves and petite framed pictures? I don't paint every thing white - just most things.















I also transformed two gold angels for each end of the bed, because some times the kids sleep toe to toe.







I used my powder blush to tint there little
checks and arms and a soft rubbing of light
gold on there wings and hair.

The walls are painted Lavender Mist and the trim is Chantilly lace both by Benjamin Moore.







 

Over the bed hangs a grey chandelier entwined with beaded greenery. The bed sits in an alcove and this is the back wall. I hung a large GOLD frame with a pair of GOLD metal string instruments and a GOLD framed oval mirror.

Before the remodel, this was a closet (not this big - about one third this size, I stole three very tiny closets to make the alcove).  Well, on the top shelf of that closet was a very old violin in a case. This violin had been handed down to the eldest child for generations. I use to love looking at it.

So the metal violin on the wall is in honor of that memory. Some day, when I'm out junking, I will come across a real one that strikes a cord in my heart!

 A selection of comfy pillows turns this bed into a VERY COZY DAYBED. The pillow on the left was a surprise when I took an embroidered cover off to launder. An insert sewn out of old unbleached flour sacks! Of course I had to keep it.

And when you hop out of bed your feet land on this beautiful swan, velvet wall hanging, with very tattered edges - that I use for a rug.  And so concludes the tale of the "Dog Blanket"....

Happy Hunting and Gathering ~~~ 

and Saving  a Crochet Coverlet!!!

Winter Sunlight

Wanted to share with you the new crochet table cloth I found while out junking. It was sealed in a plastic bag and labeled "72 x 72 inches, over 60 years old, and no stains or holes". So I doubled checked the stain/hole statement with the gal that checked me out, paid, and went my merry way.

I was thinking this would look awesome on my double bed...well think again, because the measurement was off, it was only 48" x 72".

 It works on my wood table but it definitely needs a larger white cloth underneath to show the color (ecru) and the swirl pattern off.  And I'm not going to use it for real...just for pretty! It's kind of difficult to find crochet table cloths that are in great condition around here.

So while I had the cloth on the table and the winter sunlight was coming in through my french doors I decided to work on my picture taking.

Three books that were published in the mid 1800's (one of my latest collecting must haves), a sterling candle holder and a very tall silver plate candle holder, with toile and script candles that I made.





Also, sitting on the books is a crown that I fashioned out of lamp parts. I have since given a coat of white gesso.







The big white cabinet in back is a great find from Elkton, Oregon...followed a garage sale sign one day when going through and this is what I found.  I keep table linens, my ironstone collection, and all my other pretties in there (or on top).






 A covered ironstone casserole (and a large soup tureen on top of the cabinet), gravy boat, and a squat pitcher. With a wonderful dappling and burst of winter sunlight!  This was during our cold snap, it was about 22 degrees outside....brrrr!

I have four of these porcelaine de Sologne plates they are 8 1/2" across and all feature a different fish. It's part of the cupboard stash.







Just a wee sampling of my silver and silver plate utensils. The spoon on the bottom is sterling and has beautiful pears at the top of the handle and "Ruth" engraved in the bowl and 1908 on the back of the handle.

Off to the left is a fish knife. I love how the handle is turned up from the blade.

From left to right; a meat fork with a pronged guard or rest (not sure), a beautiful serving fork in the grape pattern, next up is a wood handled fork,( I only have one wish I had more, it's one of my favorites) and on the very right an olive fork.
 

And two pretty floral creamers...

 As always~~~Happy Hunting and Gathering!!!