The Red Queen Chair…Starts A Change…In Time For Spring!

Just a few weeks before Christmas, I was out and about doing a little gift shopping, and found a gift just for ME!



I was in one of my favorite antique shops that is in an old creamery in a small town in central Alberta, when I happened upon this baby.  I fell in love almost immediately.  When I first spotted this chair, there was a sign sitting on it that said “Queen”.   And thus this chair is called the Red Queen Chair.



At first I wasn’t really all that crazy about the red/pink upholstery…but the more I looked at it, the more I liked it…and soon, I was crazy about it!
 


I asked how much she was…and was totally blown away to hear that it was less than $100!  SOLD!



I could hardly wait to get home and put this lovely old chair into my living room!   Did I mention that this chair is BIG?  Ya…Big…and very comfy.  When you sit in it, you almost bounce…the original springs are still in great working order…and this chair is super cozy!



Well…I brought my wonderful Red Queen Chair home…and set her in the corner by the fireplace.  I like it there…but I am not crazy about the rest of the room.   It just NEEDS something!  Since it is almost spring, I figure now is as good a time as any to get a few spring changes made and clean it all really well!



Grammie and Grampie gave us these two occasional chairs for Christmas this year…and I think they are gorgeous, but just not right for the spot that I have them in…



The living room is just not “right”…something has got to change.  So…I sat and stared at it for a while…(that is how I get my best ideas—and it finally came to me)

I snagged the old window from behind the Red Queen Chair, and got to work.



I added three brackets as feet to the bottom of the window.  The reason I didn’t use four brackets will become clear soon…not to worry…there is a method to my madness!  :)



Once the feet were secured, I added an L bracket.  I attached the bracket to the wall and attached it to the top of the door with one screw.  (by adding only one screw to the top, I will be able to move it and adjust the angle I have it sitting at)



Ta-da!  We have a standing window!   Now…take a look…do you see the ‘feet’ we put on?   If I would have added the fourth one, I would forever be stubbing my toes on it as I walk past it!  That would NOT be a good thing.



So far… So good…right?



These guys think so!



By simply moving that window into the open, I defined the living room a little better, and added a room divider or sorts to the space.   It sounds funny to say this but by making the living room a little smaller, I actually created MORE space!



My little helper loves it in the living room when I am moving things around.  He likes to ride the chairs as I slide them from place to place…He helped me all evening!



This is just perfect!   I didn’t take down the plaque or the vines on this side…I figure it is a window working on both sides now, and the Lords Prayer is so pretty on there…It can stay!



I love this little resin plaque.  I actually bought several of them a few years back and gifted them to some special people in my life.



I shuffled things around and around and around…until I think I got it just right…at least for now.  I had to bring a bunch of plants in from the greenhouse this week, as it is planting season, and I am running out of space…so the tropicals have to move into the house for a few months…This is hard to deal with, as this house does not offer a lot of good lighting for plants.   They suffer just a little bit in here…but they bounce back right after I get them back out to the greenhouse…so I think I can stand to have them inside for a bit.



I brought the sea shell shaped chair back out to the living room…I had it in my bedroom for a few weeks…and I put one of the chairs from Grammie and Grampie in there instead.  



I placed the other occasional chair from Grammie and Grampie in the corner by the old stereo so that it is easy to access when we need extra seating for company.  I also re-arranged the plants a little bit.



I absolutely LOVE the way plants make a room feel.  They are my favorite thing, so I am a bit biased…but you must admit that they make a room feel just a bit more inviting.



A few accessories…and things are coming together.



I am not crazy about the two chairs together…but that’s life…I only have one of each of these…and they just happen to be my two favorite chairs …so I will live with it!  I have to go to storage and get the little table that I want to put between them tomorrow…so for now it will just sit empty. :) 

I adjusted the plants a little bit…and I think I like it.
  


My living room is tweeked!  I am happy with it for the most part…so it will stay this way.  I do have my eye on an antique sofa and love seat…lol…so you never know…you might be seeing my living room again soon! :) :)

Until Next Time…Happy Decorating!

*) *) *) To my favorite three…I love that you are still hanging on my every word…and to one of you in particular…Lying is the most personal act of cowardice there is.   You know who you are!

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.

www.tootsietime.com
Today I am also linking this post to the parties at the following sites:
  Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olsen 
 From My Front Porch To Yours
 The Vintage Farmhouse
 The Brambleberry Cottage 
 Common Ground Rooted in Thyme 

A Day in Seattle at NWFGS ( DAY 1 )

Well hello there!   Thanks for stopping by today! 

As promised…I am sharing a few of the photos I have taken while at the North West Flower and Garden Show in Seattle Washington!

Yes…we did it!  My cowboy and I drove 2000 km to attend this annual event!



There are some very creative gardens displayed here…check out the dinosaur…



I liked this one because of the creative use of some cool junk…



My favorite part of this booth was the wire “purse” like basket all planted up!  Super Cute!



It seems that this show has a LOT of Orchid booths.   Every isle we went down had at least one or two beautiful displays of healthy blooming orchids.  Look at this one.   It has a huge bloom…Gorgeous!



I was loving some of the wonderful shapes that the orchid blooms have…the colors are fantastic too. 



As luck would have it, this is not just a flower and garden show…it turns out it is an antiques and vintage market too!   YAY!!!   I get to do a little junkin!  :)



There are some wonderful little nick knacks just waiting for a garden to call home.



Loving this creative little gravy spoon!!!



I have a few glass door knobs and I think I even have a tomato cage or two!!!!



  I think this is a fantastic use for them!  



Blown Glass flowers are a huge trend in this show…they are pretty aren’t they?  I could have picked several out to bring home…maybe I still will!!!  :)



Grammie and Grampie will be happy to know that the garden gnome lives on for 2013….there are gnomes in ANY size you would imagine…ANY Size…:)



THIS is my personal favorite…I fell desperately in love with the old shopping cart as soon as I saw it.  My cowboy laughed at me at first…but he soon saw how cute it is.  He likes it too…but would not allow me to purchase this lovely.   I even offered to push him around the show in it…but he stood his ground…(mean bugger)


Yep…I NEED a shopping cart….REALLY bad.  So…if anyone has one who lives in my area…I would be a very happy Tootsie to have it!   (Grampie…that is a hint for you…?????xoxo???? :)  okay?)



I am sure that we could cut a “Deal” for a shopping cart Grampie…maybe it would involve a gnome or sumthin…?

Well…that is it for today…I am on my way back to the garden show to take a bunch of wonderful photos to share! 

Until Next Time…Happy Gardening!

*)*)*)   "I'd rather stand up and be a fighter than lay down and be a victim"

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.
www.tootsietime.com

The Yellow Door…Stands Alone

Hey!!!  Welcome!   I am so glad you stopped by today!  I am working on a few little things here and there from my junkin’ stash…and today I am sharing one of those projects!

Lets get started!

A while back I went junkin’ with my cowboy.   He is a great little junkin’ partner…cuz’ that boy not only loves his junk, but he is strong (and easy to boss around er I mean very sweet and helpful).   Things that would probably take me a long time to remove or take apart…he just pulls a little and it’s done!   Take this door for example…



Yep…ain’t she a beauty?   Well this little ray of sunshine was still attached to a dilapidated old abandoned farm house (owned by a hunting friend of my cowboy….did I mention he is also well connected AND knows where lots of these places are because he is an avid hunter?   Yep….He’s a real junkin’ catch!)   Oh…Ya…I know how badly some of y’all  want to know about my cowboy…but that…is not the topic for today…so FOCUS PEOPLE…FOCUS!   We are talking about that sensational yellow door. 



Now this door is not normal average height…it is a little shorter than your usual bedroom door, or even a closet door.   It WAS the door to the basement of that old house.   The moment I saw it I was smitten….dirt and all…It is gorgeous…don’t you agree?   The only issue with the door…is that some jerk teenagers vandalized the old house it was in…and it got a little black graffiti spray painted on one side….No biggie…right?   Right.  Tootsie can TOTALLY work around a little graffiti!



I brought the door home…and put it in the shed…I had a great little plan for the door…I just needed to get my “aster” in gear and get it done.   I just knew it was going to be lovely!   Well…in the meantime…I mentioned the little yellow door to someone else…She was intrigued…and wanted to see it.

 So…I loaded it up and took it to show her. 

Suddenly….she just NEEDED that little yellow door…MY little yellow door…and she needed it RIGHT NOW! 



There is a little grime on the door…and I was going to take it off, and maybe paint it just a little…but she…decided that she not only loved the yellow chippy paint…



…but she wanted me to leave most of the grime on it!!!  Go figure!







So…I just gently scraped the chippy parts of the door…to show off some more of the colors that are underneath the yellow…and scraped SOME, but certainly not all of the grime off.   I then reached for the brackets in the photo above.

Bet you don’t know what I am gonna use them for!



Yep!!!  I used them for feet!  Two on each side… and the little yellow door stands alone.



How easy is that?   I don’t think it took me half and hour…and I was done scraping and  attaching feet!



I love it!!!




AND since I lent out my little yellow door…and NEVER got it back...and probably never will...I guess this means that my cowboy and I have to go junkin again soon.  

Until Next Time….Happy Decorating/Junkin’ !!

*)*)*) Don't settle for contentment, fight for happiness...

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.
www.tootsietime.com

Please! Don’t Ride That Bike On My Mantle!

I have already shared the updates to the fireplace on the main floor of my house.  I am very happy with how they turned out…but I have to say…there is another fireplace in my house…that was just screaming for some attention.  It lives in the basement of my house, in the family room, and… it is even more in need of help than the one on the main floor. 

Take a look:
 

 
EEEEEEK!!!!I wasn’t exaggerating was I?   Not one bit.  I bet Santa would be terrified to jump down this chimney!  This poor thing is just screaming for me to help it!   There is a lot on this baby that…well…lets be honest here…we are all friends right?   There is a LOT about this fireplace that just simply HURTS MY EYES!   UGLY is something I totally cannot live with..  I just can’t wait to camouflage some of that UGLY!
 
I decided that since most of the colors in my entire house are similar, the best thing would be for me to use the same paint that I did on the main floor fireplace…that way I could easily interchange some of the furnishings from the main floor to the family room if the whim should strike me!   So I got busy…
 

 
I put on my bestest outfit and started to paint…that cement seemed to soak up everything I put on it…and it took me a very long time to finish…but it was worth every minute!
 

 
I am so happy that the paint calmed the crazy that was happening before!
 
Now for the best part…I have been junkin’ and found an absolutely fantastic piece…I can hardly wait to put it up on the mantle!  It is going to be perfect in this room!
 


What???   Why do you laugh at me???   This is not funny…this is gorgeous!   I can’t believe you scoffed at me!   Trust me…would ya???

 
I found this bike just sitting on a pile of scrap metal waiting for me to love it!   The lady who gave it to me looked at me like I was smoking drugs when I asked for it…ha-ha!   I bet she is going to be impressed when she sees what I did with this beauty!


 
Ta-DA!
 

 
I don’t know about you…but I am loving it!
 
The rest of the room???  Funny you should ask…I am not sharing it just yet…’cuz…I have decided to make a few changes to the furniture in the space…nothing major…just a few little things.   I am almost finished…just  tweaking it a bit... 
 
…so you will just have to wait!
 
**  don't forget to keep reading...there are several more posts below of what I have been doing...including some great how-to's!  I have been busy sharing all that I have been up to!**

Until Next Time…Happy Decorating!

*)*)*)   Always remember this: You are known by the company you keep.

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.
www.tootsietime.com