A Corner, A Door and A Mirror

 

 

 During my visit to the flea market on Wednesday, I saw THIS DOOR.

A very old door, just the "right" old faded door with chippy paint, a very tiny old knob and a nail or two already in it.

Of course, it got my attention right away.

I'm not sure you all know, but some of you do....I have two other old doors in my house.

And this one looks somewhat similar to the other two.

They aren't full size doors.

One I got from my son-in-law's old family store, where a lot of old family things were stored on the third floor.

The other two, from the flea market.  

One an old faded tan color, one green and this one...sort of tan with a grayish blue color in places.

And, like the others, this one called my name!

Old, faded, beat up, beautiful doors.

So, I brought it home.

 

 

That was Wednesday.

I promised Kathy I would not try to carry it in the house by myself.

It does weigh a 'ton.'

 But....around 9:00 that night I couldn't stand it any longer and decided I would TRY to bring it in the house by myself.

And, I did.  Funny...it didn't seem nearly as heavy as when she and I tried to get it in my car.

It was much easier that that green table I bought last year.

Once I got it in the house, I decided to try making a place for it in the dining room, which is where I had thought of putting it the minute I saw it.

But first, I knew I'd have to scrape all the loose chips off.

I like old chippy furniture....but I don't like loose chips...so I took my trusty scraper and went over the whole door.

And, then, I placed it where I thought it should go.  In THAT corner in the dining room.

It looked good to me!

Next, I thought about what else should be in the corner.

I knew I wanted the mannequin there, along with a lovely old apron I've had a while, a crocheted heart pincushion I have a collection of...but this one was perfect there.

A purse I had purchased from one of our new vendors.

Several rosaries from my collection.

One was my Dad's, one was my Father-in-law's and two are from two of my friends, 

Brian and Kevin.

There is a heart-shaped pin there with a real four leaf clover encased on the front, a heart-shaped necklace that says "listen to your heart," a crocheted piece left over from some project 

and, a strand of mother of pearl buttons and a little plastic heart added there just for fun.

Just a little collection of objects that I dearly love.

 

 

 At some point, I remembered I had also bought a mirror.  When I decided to buy it Wednesday, it wasn't because I actually had a need for it...it was just that for $5 I didn't want to leave it at the store!

                      I mean....you can put a mirror just about anywhere! So, I hung it on the door.

On the little knob, I hung a red metal heart...it made sense to me and over the door, I hung an old photograph of a lady, held in place by a gold and pearl pin.  One of my adopted relatives from long ago.

Then, I added that basket of flowers and just placed it in front of the door.  I've had that basket of flowers for at least twenty years!  They are made of a velvety fabric....I have not ever been able to let them go somewhere else.  Beside that basket is a little travel case decoupaged with copies of old ads.

Notice the chair.  It's a small chair and has the prettiest needlepoint cover on the seat.  Naturally, it seemed to me to be right at home there.  On the wall, a print of an old country home.  It is a signed print by Nelson Rhodes, and numbered 713/1000.  I have walked through that old house many times in my mind....it feels like a real home.  And outdoors....there is a quilt hanging on the fence, honeysuckle on the fence, flowers growing along the fence and a magnolia tree.  That door could be part of an old home like that.....just saying.          

 

 

   

 

  

So, it's a corner collection of a lot of things I love.  With that old door setting the "scene."  Couldn't  
                                                                    have more fun if I tried.

                                                       Wherever You May Be This Day

                                                                          BE WELL       
                                                                              from
                                                                    Bird Nest Cottage    

                                                                          ❤️❤️❤️

 

 

When You Come Into My House

 

 I haven't been able to come up with a thing to post the last couple of weeks...my 'summer dry spell??"  But, yesterday, I saw my friend, Kathy, who is inspiring, which is where I got this lovely 'rock flower' and I just had to find a place for it this morning.  After doing that, I thought "Aha, a post!"  Kathy has the cutest little shop in Beebe....so I think next time I go over there, I will take some photos and then you all can see it.  I love going there!  Anyway, now inspired, I wanted to show you where her 'rock flower' found a home. 

This 'spot' is just to the left when you enter my house.  I have no entry, when you come in the front door, you are in the living room, but there is a little corner on either side of the front door.  I'll show you the other one later.  This one is where I have placed a lot of my 'bird' stuff....what else would there be if you named your home "Bird Nest Cottage?"  Do you see the flower on the right side of this corner?  Yeah, right there by the mirror.

 

 Here is a better view of it.  Just an old piece of wood, which Kathy made into an art piece using rocks she gathered herself.  Now, you know I love that!  Such a cute flower.  I wanted to put it somewhere where it would really 'show' and this is it...you see it right off when you come in.

 

 She used jute for the stem, lace and buttons for the leaves, etc.  I LOVE it and I love that it came from her, a special friend.

  

 Who knew rocks could look so cute?  Thank you, Kathy, for the inspiration!!

  

 Now, some of you might be wondering just how I could possibly put anything else in this corner.  (Yes, I know you are.)  But, I'm sure I could manage to find more room if something special comes along! 

  

So, okay, there is the door.  I took these photos early today, so there is a lot of light coming in that side window by the door.....but, I could still manage to get a few photos.  I call this the "bird corner."

  

A vintage print, one of my very favorite things in the house, a bird house, made from other recycled wood, and various bird themed items.  You'll see.

  

Here are bird feathers I have managed to collect in the time I have spent in this house...as of now...a year, can you believe that??  I'm always looking for feathers when I go for my daily walk...well, rocks also!  And, bird nests.  These are all real nests.  The large one I found in a neighbor's yard.  An ACTUAL 'bird nest on the ground.'  It had been there for days and finally I asked for it and they gave it to me, thinking, I am sure, that I was nuts.  The two very tiny nests came from my daughter's yard.  I like to put little labels in the nests telling where they came from.  

  

 I find little birds here and there, these made of wood.  Sometimes at the flea, sometimes gifts.

 These are sitting on a mirrored tray.

 

I found this bird house at one of the fleas....made by a local guy.  It's taller than you think and I loved it instantly.  The flower pot holds paper flowers made by a friend, from book pages.  

  

Sorry this photo is kinda blurry, but you get the idea.  That apothecary jar is filled with feathers gathered from my former home.  During the time the 'old navy man' was ill and I needed a bit of a 'time out,' I would walk around our back yard for a few minutes.  All these feathers were gathered during those times.

It gave me something to look for and I would share them with him...he loved to watch the birds.  So, this jar cannot be added to....it's a reminder of how we tried to find one good thing a day to be amazed by or to make us laugh.  A lesson I still practice today.

  

A little metal bird dish....the tiny basket was given to me by a friend very long ago, and the thread buttons are from my collection.  

  

See.  Adorable, right?

 

Here is a vintage English tin with birds/nests and poetry on it.  It, also, is one of my favorite 'bird items.'  So sweet.  And, that nest is real.  For the life of me, though, I can't remember where that one came from.

  

I was reading blogs the other day and came across an English lady who had placed photos behind the edges of her light switch plates.  I loved that idea instantly and had to do the very same thing right away.  Now, there are light switch plates here and there in my house with photos or cards behind them.  Maybe you wouldn't do that....but me, oh yeah!!!

  

 My friend, Bibi, has given me real leaves over the years, Mod Podged and glued to paper or burlap.  These are several years old and still look just great.  I had gotten the little wreath from Kathy and decided to add the leaves to it.  Nothing to do with birds, really, but I liked it in the mix.  (And, you know me and my clothes pins!)

 The funny thing is....when you live alone, you can do just about anything you want.  I only have to please myself and am not overly concerned with what others think.  That being said,  I find being inspired by others just makes my day a lot of the time and I am so grateful to my sweet friends and even strangers in blogland, who constantly leave me thrilled with what they do.  

Hope you enjoyed this little tour of my 'bird corner' and it's special items.

From Bird Nest Cottage,

Until next time,

♥♥♥

Changing the Mantel

 

 It seemed to be 'changing the mantel' time over the weekend.  I finally took the 'snow scene' print from off the mantel and that means other things get changed there too.  Well, taking that winter print down led to this Springtime print....you know how it goes.  Especially when I'm in the mood to do some 'piddling' around the house.  I think I am a champion piddler!

 

So, here it is closer up.  Several vintage clocks on the mantel...well, except the one with the bells.  It isn't old, just looks it.  It does work...paid $1 for it a couple of weeks ago at the flea.  The rest are vintage.

 

 A closer view....a vintage postcard placed on a small guitar part...I have no clue what it is except it has something to do with guitars and I knew I could use it for a postcard or photo holder.  That sweet little bird is a flea market item....the little sign in its beak says "Wish."  By all means! 

Also, there is THAT mirror!  I found it at the flea too.  It was standing on end in the corner of a booth.  I have a small mirror collection, so immediately was attracted to it - loved the shape of it.   I always love oval shaped frames and such and even though this isn't oval,  I could imagine it on my mantel, placed horizontally. So, I took a closer look and discovered it was a mirror off a BUS!!!  It's heavy, but I picked it up anyway and took a good look...then decided I was right...it should go on my mantel.  It makes me smile to know what it really is and where it has found a new home.  The old navy man would be shaking his head about now and then laugh out loud!!!

 

Another look at that print.

  

A closer look at the bird...so sweet!

 

 I managed to get a photo of the print without the frame.  Now, what do you see when you look at this print?  If you have read my blog with any regularity, then you know I see Pink French Knots!!!  Just saying.  Seriously....I just LOVE old prints like this!!  I can imagine myself standing right there on the path...

So, until the mantel cries out for changing again...this is it.  Hope you enjoyed seeing it.

Wishing you a lovely new week!

Until next time,

♥♥♥