getting ready (!!!!!!!)

The "Grow Your Brain" Room! Those large, colorful rolls of school paper are so useful. :)

Quote from Gary Lew.

spotted...

...at the gas pump.  YUM

ann howell goes shopping

So, here's something you might not know about me: I have a very special place in my heart reserved for old things made out of wood. I don't really know where this obsession comes from, but I am just fascinated by the sturdiness and the rustic imperfection. It seems like old wood has a story to tell me. 

Luckily for me, I live in a place surrounded by old things, wood, and old wood. :) And lots of antique shops that are SO much fun to spend hours wandering and exploring.

I found this antiques shop housed in an 1860s-era train depot, where there were the most incredible treasures... more old farm house-style, with sturdy wash tables, benches, chamber pots (not buying any of those ever, btw), glass bottles, cast iron skillets, books... it was amazing. 

I spotted this old mantle leaning outside, in the open air and exposed to all the elements... and it is incredible. It's still covered in all these dark little paint chips, which I love because it almost looks like it's covered in lichens or moss. (I am polyurethane-ing asap to avoid potential lead paint chips falling off and floating around my living space... yikes).

Also picked up these two blue bar stools, with the original paint color on them...

Finally, I made my jewelry display a while ago out of an old wooden window frame and some nails, but it just wasn't fitting in to my space very well... I couldn't hang it on the wall (too heavy, and a plaster wall), and leaning there it just looked like an afterthought. When I saw this amazing old bench, I thought it was perfect. The jewelry display sits comfortably on it, and everything is at the perfect eye height. It carries enough of the rustic roughness into that space to make it all cohesive.

So those are my purchases! Now onto styling it... which is always a long, drawn-out series of trial and error for me. :)