A Glimpse into my world and some Odds and Ends

It’s been a month since I’ve returned from my trip to New York where I visited my sons. I had a great time and even got to meet the family cat. But I also did a bit of housekeeping, reorganizing and refreshing some things. Today I’d like to share a different type of post with you. I’m taking you on a glimpse into my world and a few odds and ends that I worked on while there.

This is the living room. Of course those lovely burlap pillows were a gift to my older son but I did find time to display them first. The Peace pillow is a gift from my dear friend Nikki Frank Hamilton. You can visit her at the Make Lemonade Shop to check out her selection or you can custom order your pillows like I did.

Living room couch, A glimpse into my world and some odds and ends, www.theboondocksblog.com

Above the couch I had originally placed three frames. The one that was here previously has been moved and in it’ place I have added the “Birds of Christmas”. I was aiming for a brighter look. The two frames flanking the central one have vintage maps of New York and of Greece. It is my way of paying tribute to our two locations that pull us back and forth all the time.

picture frames over the couch, A glimpse into my world and some odds and ends, www.theboondocksblog.com

This is our living room wall with the television set. I have created a gallery wall of sorts using dollar store frames for the most part. A few of them were old wooden frames which I had spray painted black years ago.

The

one to the left is a drawing made by my son and I’ve added a fabric mat to it for a more refined look . The next two were printables that I downloaded from my friend Katrin’s blog, KreativK. She has the cutest printables. And these two in blue were perfect for my son’s wall. And the last one on the top right is also by Katrin; it is a winter village. The rest of the frames hold more of his drawings. They were dollar store frames.

But the important thing here is that because they display things that we love they are worth much more than just a dollar. I always encourage my kids to make art and then I get to display it. And it warms my heart to see Katrin’s work on my wall as well.

gallery wall, A glimpse into my world and some odds and ends, www.theboondocksblog.com

Moving on to the guest bedroom, I needed a dresser for my clothes and found an old one which was solid wood but in bad shape. This one actually belonged to my husband and when we married and moved here many years ago I had painted it white. I must have been ahead of the trends!

The problem was that after we moved to Greece, my dad stored it in the basement and had placed things on it. I tried to sand it but instead of sanding all I did was to move the melted paint from one area to another. It was really a hopeless case. I think that in the future this one will need a good strip job. But for the time being I embraced my farmhouse inner self and just went with it. As you can see it is full of chips and nicks. There were a few there, but I added some more with the use of the sander.

old white dresser, A glimpse into my world and some odds and ends, www.theboondocksblog.com

Below you can see just what I accomplished after 15 minutes of sanding – with a machine no less. Now I have to digress here and say that before I started to blog I would not have been caught dead with a piece of furniture like that in my house. Oh but how the mighty have fallen – No!

I have come to love and appreciate many different styles and there is beauty in the reveal of the raw wood underneath a lifetime of paint. This piece is just like me. A certain age with flaws and wrinkles but there is still much underneath that is of importance. Every wrinkle, scratch, nick and cut has been hard earned!

I no longer see it as unfinished, but instead, as a work in progress! Just like me! 😉

distressing on white dresser, A glimpse into my world and some odds and ends, www.theboondocksblog.com

This little fish bowl has been in this house for as long as I can remember. The color of the glass reminds me of the Greek sea.

blue fish bowl, A glimpse into my world and some odds and ends, www.theboondocksblog.com

The little stool was found by the hubs when he saved the mirror. I also finished this one with Old Fashioned Milk Paint in Oyster White.

wooden stool, before, A glimpse into my world and some odds and ends, www.theboondocksblog.com

I bought the lamp at Target two years ago. The shade is actually made from cork. I love all the texture it has.

cork shade on lamp, A glimpse into my world and some odds and ends, www.theboondocksblog.com

The two demitasse cups and saucers were hand made in my birthplace, Agiasos on the island of Lesvos. The village is famous for its tradition of ceramic and wood work that dates back thousands of years. Now you see where I get my creative side from. It must be in the village water.

demitasse cups on stool, A glimpse into my world and some odds and ends, www.theboondocksblog.com

The pottery and painting of the ceramics are all done by hand. And below you can see just how nice the little stool looks after I finished putting beeswax on it. Actually I’m not even sure it’s a stool. It really is too short to be a real stool. I’m pretty short and that thing is not going to make much of a difference when I’m reaching up to a high cabinet.

demitasse ceramic cup and saucer handmade, A glimpse into my world and some odds and ends, www.theboondocksblog.com

The vintage milk server was handed down to me from my mother. She had great taste, something which I am becoming aware of only now. I remember her wearing matching outfits and her shoes and handbag always coordinated. Unlike me, who well…we won’t get into that, after all this is not a fashion blog. Suffice it to say that matching shoes and handbags are no longer in style and I am grateful for that.

milk server from my mother, A glimpse into my world and some odds and ends, www.theboondocksblog.com

Disclosure: The items below are affiliate links and link to Amazon.com. If you purchase any of these products through the links, I receive a small commission, that way I can continue to provide you with lovely content. There is no extra charge to you for purchasing through my affiliate links.

I have a huge collection of cards. I’d get them in the mail and before I knew it, I had amassed hundreds of them. Well how many cards am I going to send out in this day of e-mail? None! Instead, I chose to display them in one of those collage picture frames that hold 12 photos. Depending on my mood and season I can just change them out. You had originally seen this frame in between my bookcase makeover.

Pcollage picture frames with cards, A glimpse into my world and some odds and ends, www.theboondocksblog.com

This was certainly a different type of post for me, this small glimpse into my world. I hope you enjoyed it along with my odds and ends! Which did you like the most?

Now you all must tell me, that “stool”… is it really a stool or is it something else?

musings on small changes that were made to the house, picture frames, dresser and stool, along with a bit about my village in Greece, A glimpse into my world and some odds and ends, www.theboondocksblog.com

If you like what you see, share it with your friends, or save it on Pinterest. Above is a Pinterest worthy image!
If you really like what you see subscribe to my blog and get my adventures twice a week in your mailbox. The form is on the sidebar and on top. Your e-mail will never be shared with a third party

You might also like:

Dictionary Stand upcycled with Chalk Paint

A lamp shade makeover with paint

<< MCM sideboard upocycled with OFMP HOME Sweet Inspiration Link Party #47>>

Linking up to these Link Parties

This blog is for entertainment purposes only; my DIY tutorials are not professional advice. Read my full disclaimer here .

I love it when I get your comments and I will try reply to them or visit you on your blog. Please do not add a hyperlink to your comment, otherwise we cannot publish it.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Florence

Wednesday 22nd of March 2017

Somewhere along the line I missed this post. I'm just now seeing it. I enjoyed seeing a bit of your collections. So what are my favorites? Well, lessee, I love the chest...you know the one you wouldn't have been caught dead with? Ha! I love it, and all that sanding you did just made it look better. I don't know about the stool...it looks like a stool. Had a chuckle over your mom's matching outfits. My mom was the same way...pearls & gloves...course that was the style back then. Whereas she used to say to me..."why don't you go in the bathroom and style your hair? Mama, I don't WANT to go style my hair!" Gee whiz, I would rather go climb trees or something. So what does this have to do with your post? Nothing! I'm off on another tangent, but I liked your post & the blue fish ashtray.

Kim

Wednesday 8th of March 2017

Mary, I really enjoyed this peek at your treasures. I always tell people that the best decorating comes from adding pieces you love to your space. You have certainly done that. I have no idea about the stool, but I love what you have done with it!

Mary

Friday 10th of March 2017

Thanks Kim. And all this just in my son's home. I haven't even gone to the basement yet! ;)

Debrashoppeno5

You spoke to me when you said there was a time you would not have liked a dresser like that. I was like that and it was my ex husband and ex fiancee who opened my eyes to the beauty of used items with a coat of paint. I am grateful they did. I love the dresser and all of the other items.

Thanks Debra, we are learning to appreciate so many things we would not have given a second look at years ago. I think that is the true beauty of this journey of ours through our blogs.

TwoPlusCute

The stool is quite the find, I can see it as stool for a preschooler, as elevated shelf, as prop shelf on a porch with pots on it, you name it!

Thanks. For now it stays there and when I get back I'll find another spot for it.

Marjan Hoebeke-Pfaff

Thursday 9th of March 2017

Thank you for showing us a "glimpse" of your world, dear Mary. Those odds and ends are full of memories and lovable. I really like those cups - wouldn't mind finding them in my china cabinet... I'm sure you had a lovely time in New York! Have a great day, Marjan

I had the best time even if I didn't finish everything I set out to do. But when are you really finished?