Monday, March 23, 2020

My Heirloom Secretary. . .

What a history this Early American Style Secretary has!


I do believe I might have been seven or eight years old the first time ever I saw it.


You see,
this Secretary belonged to my MoMa. . .
                                                        and years ago, was gifted to me by my Dad!



So~o~o. . .
while we're 'social distancing' ourselves,
I decided it was a 'perfect timing' for 're~stylin' the Secretary!

* * * *Tutorial * * * * * * * 


After emptying completely and a through dusting and polishing,
I prepared the 'pigeon holes' for a bit of a refining
of the materials used on a daily basis within my Secretary.


Beginning with the center,
I placed some flora and personalized notecards with a blue color palette.


Next,
I added the brushed gold framed miniature photos of my dearest Sister and I.




Filling the voided space,
I used a vintage, shell shaped, hand painted bird motif miniature dish.


Next,
working from left~to~right, I began filling in the remaining 'pigeon holes'.



Hand crocheted miniature doily, and some Victorian seed packets
provide a vintage backdrop for my size 2 and size 3 vintage inkwells.



Spring flora note cards tied with sheer olive green ribbon,
a remnant of sheet music and a pair of silver birds complete the left side.



A touch of bright blue in my Thank You cards
brings the eye all the way across the 'pigeon holes' to the opposite side.



Die~cut Lily of the Valley note card
and a trio of hand~stamped oval rose gift tags complete the 'pigeon holes'.




















Quite a refined and refreshing appearance to the once hodge~podge of items.


Beginning once again in the center,
I filled the back space of the desktop with a Tulip print note card
and a vintage brass and glass inkwell.



I use the space, that would have been used for writing pens
to the side of the inkwell, for elegantly inspired postage stamps.
I adore these Madonna and Child postage stamps from Christmas!






From left ~ to ~right,
I've placed the items that are used weekly from my heirloom Secretary.


While this may seem to be an excess of notecards, postage, stationery
and thank you cards, at least one or more of these items is used on a daily basis.

Oh, and I mustn't forget the most important items on the desktop!


Honestly, 
I would be lost without my many "lists".

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Like the freshness of the air after a gentle Spring rain
is the 're~stylin' of my heirloom Secretary.







Until next time. . .
                           Pat


Dear Ones,
My heart goes out to each and every follower of On Crooked Creek
during these extremely trying times we face as a Nation, as each State,
as each County, as each Town and as each family.

The Land of Blog has remained an outlet of my creativity and expression.
But, do not let it appear that my heart is not deeply troubled during this
'social distancing' as prescribed to 'flatten the curve' during the Covid -19 pandemic.

"Mr. Ed" and I, like many of you, are doing our part by staying at home,
except for necessities, and want to encourage and uplift you as you do the same.
May God pour out His blessings upon each and every one of us as we endure.
In my heart, I do believe. . ."this too, shall pass."
Fondly,
Pat

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Spring Retail Therapy. . .

Once all the Christmas decor is packed neatly away On Crooked Creek,
it's time for some retail therapy! Spring Retail Therapy!



First,
I removed the faux pine boughs and pine cones from my wall sconces.
Needing something fresh to place within my wrought iron wall sconces,
I made a trip to the 50% off floral $ale @ Hobby Lobby!


I found these faux silk white flora which remind me of dogwood blossoms!
Combined with the faux green budding branches and the blue bramble berries,
I was thrilled with how this arrangement compliments one of my favorite prints from Home Interiors.


Look closely at the Wintry Forest Scene of the Home Interior print.
This print contains 5 'hidden' wolves faces. Do you see one through the glass?
Isn't that the cutest black 'button nose' e v e r?

Previously,
I had brown velvet with lace ribbon rosettes in lumbar pillows on my velvet chairs.






I am loving all the texture, pattern and the subtle chambray blue hue
in the design style of these two matching lumbar pillows found at my local Target!






































New flora and new lumbar pillows were just the refreshment my Living Room
On Crooked Creek needed to bring about my personal desires and taste.

Also,
on my shopping list. . .white tulips!





All I can say,
is that I am obsessed with the loveliness of this hue for tulips in 2020!

Bringing about a few Spring changes to On Crooked Creek's
Entertainment Center is all about my love for birds!


Atop the Entertainment,
I borrowed my two green pottery urns from the Family Room
and paired them with a flora bird's nest stem and mourning doves.





The mourning doves are perched atop some cherry branches
"Mr. Ed" cut in the Autumn of 2019. I had him glue white felt to the bottoms
of the branches so that when I place them on our furniture, they don't scratch.



Next,
I tucked in a few bird's nest and added a new flora wreath for softness
and texture within the Entertainment Center.

Also, within On Crooked Creek's Entertainment Center, rests my stereo.
I l o v e listening to Classical Instrumental Music throughout my day!

But,
I despise those h u g e silver and black speakers that set within the open shelf !




Oh, my. . .
it was pure joy when I found the perfect size and design 
corbels
at The Vintage Rhinestone owned by my friend, Sherry Edson Smith!

These corbels are something I've been 'on~the~hunt' for quite some time!

On Crooked Creek,
it was definitely time for some retail therapy! 


Spring flora. . .





                    Spring lumbar pillows. . .

  

Spring white tulips. . .


                            faux Spring wreath. . .and


                                                                                        corbels!

Ah~h~h,
Spring Retail Therapy!






Until next time. . .
                          Pat