Last week I was suffering from Operator Error!  All the photos I had taken during the week were not going to my computer. I didn’t realize it right away and by the time I got to it, I ended up spending days trying to figure it out.  Uggg computers are not easy for me.

Early in the week I received a box from overseas!  I had ordered an ironstone lid from Julia @ PonderandPurchase on Etsy.  I was so excited to receive it because it was the last piece of the puzzle for my shelf over the kitchen sink.

 I have a very small collection of ironstone with advertising and I just needed a little something to finish off that shelf.  

When I opened the box I was pleased to find that it had arrived from England in great condition, but as I was going thru the packaging I discovered a little something else.  What’s this?  It was a darling bone handled freshly polished pickle fork. 

 I was absolutely thrilled with this little gift and the note that she sent along with it.

I met Julia on my zoom calls.  We are in a mentoring class that is hosted by Marian Parsons aka Miss Mustard Seed and Shauna West from Perfectly Imperfect.  Julia lives in England and has a marvelous shop of antique what nots on Etsy.  I have enjoyed this group and all these ladies so much.

While we’re on the topic of Marian Parsons she has a new book coming out.   Miss Mustard Seed was the very first Blog I started following back around 2007.  Feels Like Home will hit book shelves on October 12.

 I am so excited to be a part of her launch team and I received an advanced down load of the book.  I started reading it last week and it’s like sitting down with a cup of coffee and an old friend.  She talks about the evolution of her builder home.  A home they purchased a few years ago in Rochester MN.  They were not able to physically see the house before they made the move from Gettysburg PA.  (Gutsy Move!). The home was built in 2004 had plenty of room, in a nice neighborhood but not exactly what Marian thought she wanted.  She took this builder beige home and turned it into something that is uniquely hers, and she takes you along and tells you how she did it.  This is going to be a fantastic how-to book for the homeowner who envisions a unique space but is overwhelmed and doesn’t know where to begin.  You can pre-order this book here Amazon.com.  I highly recommend it for not only the inexperienced new home owner but for the seasoned DIY and design enthusiast as well.

 We are going to be taking a rambling driving trip thru the Deep South soon.  I am so excited because not only are we going to  spend some time with my daughter and son-in-law but we will be stopping along the way in places I’ve always wanted to explore.  Vicksburg and Natchez MS, St Augustine FL, Savannah GA and a trip back to Charleston SC since I didn’t have enough time there the last time and then Nashville TN on the way home.  Of course I will be antiquing all the way.  

I had mentioned to my sister “That this time I am going to Journal”!  When you take a trip like this it all becomes a blur and I don’t want to forget anything.  

My sister is a keeper of memories, and she makes the most beautiful scrapbooks and books you’ve ever layed eyes on.  She is sooo talented. She presented me with a journal that she made.  I can’t tell you how thrilled I am with this little/big book.  

It has 3 smaller books inside that come out to make it easier to use.  

Love all the dingle dangles she added for the spine.  You know it’s all about the details.  Sorry the photos are blurry I was trying to hold it open and take the picture at the same time.

Lots of pockets, secret compartments and ephemera to add photos.

a section for sketching.

and one with graph paper.  You know because a designer needs graph paper!!!  She knows how I love details and the scruffier pretty much anything is the better I like it.  

This little book has all that and was made uniquely for me.  Such a thoughtful gift. 

And lastly I went to the antique mall last week to find a crock to transplant a peace lily my daughter had sent to me.  Of course I had to walk the entire mall and see what else was about!  

Off and on I have been looking for a cabinet to use for storage in our lower level bathroom.  This is an upcoming project.  We just have a sink and toilet there now.  I want an antique cabinet that I can store toilet paper, (very important) paint and cleaning products in.  I don’t want a closet there.  But I also need drawer storage down there too.  Well I didn’t find that but I found an 1850 Cherrywood  6 drawer chest in very nice condition with original brasses.  The inlaid key holes on every drawer were the clincher.  Of course there is no key, but that’s ok.  Anyway, this got my wheels turning!  I thought about it overnight and decided it needed to come home with me.  

Did it end up in the soon to be bathroom?  Nope!  It ended up in our bedroom.  I couldn’t wait to see how those brasses polished up.  Disregard the crazy paint swipes, chips, the crowding of the watercolor.  I just parked it and I’m trying to decide what color these walls are going to get painted.  See, even designers have trouble picking out paint!!!!!!

The chest that was in the bedroom is now in that soon to be bathroom and we will be making an upper for the top.  That will give me the best of both worlds.  The key is to be flexible.  Sometimes what you envision turns into something else.  That’s ok as long as you get there in the end.

Do you ever do that?  Think you want one thing but end up with something else?  Let me know in comments.  Oh and I found that crock to transplant the Lilly

Have a great weekend.

Thanks for stopping

Shelley