Here are my Sources!

I was enormously pleased with all of the lovely comments that I received from you both on the blog, and personally, about how much you liked the lanai. This means a lot because this project was huge for me. This was the first, big, solo thing that I did since Jim passed away. It's kind of scary making big decisions like this on your own, but it's also quite liberating. I feel very fortunate to have found Joe Rogers, the master carpenter who did such wonderful work, and from there I was filled with so much confidence that I thought nothing could stop me.

A number of you have asked me for sources of various items, so I'm going to give you a chronology of the things that I bought, how I bought them, and give resources at the same time.

The fan came first, believe it or not. I spotted one with palm leaf blades and bought it. I stored it in the garage for about seven months before it was put to use. You can find a similar one here.

 Next was this green pouf. I struggled trying to decide on color. It was between the orange one and the green, and I eventually decided upon green. My granddaughter and grandson both love sitting on various small chairs, poufs, floor pillows, and the like, that I have scattered around the house. I knew that I was going to have to find some seats that would suit them out on the lanai as well. So, I did a Google search for “outdoor pouf.” That search led me to this page on Amazon.

After making the purchase, I realized, that the rug shown in the picture underneath the pouf was exactly what I wanted for this space, and these were the colors that I wanted to use, so both problems was easily solved. While the pouf was available through Amazon, it was drop-shipped from Plow and Hearth. I headed to the P&H website and searched for the rug. I felt very fortunate that I found it, so I ordered that next. Once I decided that I wanted a tropical/Mexican theme (and considering the rug's name was Talavera), I decided that I needed a Talavera piece in the colors I was going to be using, so searched on eBay, and found this wonderful frog.

After that, I decided that I was going to need an orange tray, so I grabbed one that I had around the house and spray-painted it orange. The glasses on top of the tray came from Pier One, and I'd used those before, and you can see them here, here, here, here, and here. Can you tell that I love them?

The napkins that someone asked about I made myself. They are made out of fabric that was called “Hawaiian quilting fabric,” and I found it on eBay. 

The table in the corner was one that I had gotten from Pier 1. The top is a beautiful mosaic, but in colors that I didn't plan to use in this room. So, I knew I was going to have to cover it up. My hope, of course, was that I would be able to match the colors in the rug. So, yet again, sight unseen, I did a search for a long tablecloth in a deep turquoise for the base, and then searched good old reliable eBay for a Hawaiian smaller tablecloth to go on top. I couldn't believe how fabulously it worked out. The turquoise tablecloth underneath comes in a variety of colors, and you can find it on Amazon here. (This is a wonderful tablecloth at an astoundingly low price. I have two others, one in brown that I use for Thanksgiving, and another in forest green that I use at Christmas.) The floral tablecloth on top is Tommy Bahama. The lantern is from Pottery Barn.

The furniture took me a long time to find. I knew I wanted something study and nice, but shopping for an entire set of furniture online is daunting! This set came with striped throw pillows in soft, rather neutral tones, and I knew they would not do. I have saved them though, because they perfectly match a beautiful coastal picture that I have, and it would be very easy to change this room entirely, by putting the original pillows with it, pulling up the rug, and putting down one in sisal. So, I may have a little fun as the season progresses, or do something different in spring with the lighter colors, and then pull out the orange, green, and blue for summer.

 This furniture came from Joss & Main, as did the orange pillows and the leafy tropical pillows. How everything managed to match, I'll never know.

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Welsh Love Spoons & a Decorating Dilemma

 Anyone who has moved from one domicile to another (and we all have), be it large or small, elegant or rustic, invariably suffers from the same thing. Beloved items from one home just don't look quite so special in the other. In my case I went from a nineteenth-century American Victorian farmhouse full of bold colors - raspberry and French blue to name two, to a sleek modern, brand spankin' new home with an open floor plan and a destiny of serene neutrals. 

What I found was that only a handful of pictures from the old house worked in the new. So, the quest to redecorate begins, on a severe budget. You may recall my consignment store bargain picture that I talked about here. It is now hanging behind a cute little vignette that I will share shortly.  The plans for the room have changed a bit from the initial “coastal” theme that I longed for, to a “Riviera” theme to make use of French accessories. But I wander from my point.  

I am the type of person who is seriously affected by her surroundings. I need cozy, and I need it now!  (Did I mention that I'm also, ever so slightly impatient as well?) I have walls, lots of big, empty, oyster colored walls that, eventually will get a coat of paint, but in the meantime I'm doing my best to cozy without cash. 

So here's a little spot that I'm working on. The letterpress quote, perfect for the dining room, is from Etsy, the thirsty dog print from eBay, the frames repurposed (the previous pictures now filed away). The “Love Spoons” were one of those delightful, didn't-know-we-had-them discovery while unpacking. They belonged (yup, past tense, they are mine now!) to my husband, purchased during a trip to Wales back in the seventies. 

According to the tag on the spoons:

Around the 17^th century, giving wooden hand-carved gifts was general all over the country, but the giving of spoons originated in Wales.

They were given to a girl as a prelude to courting, as an indication that the boy was interested in her.  This was not necessarily a commitment.

There are no hard and fast designs for the spoons. They can be as elaborate or as plain as the imagination of the carver allows.  However, various symbols have become, traditionally, an integral part of the spoon.

The flat stem of the spoons, often very wide, developed as the carver wanted more room to display his skills.  Thus the spoons gradually evolved further and further away from the original utilitarian design.

Here are a few of the spoon symbols and their significance:

A Wheel – Willingness to work for a loved one.

A Spade – Willingness to work for a loved one.

Keys, Keyholes – My House is yours.

Little House – My House is yours.

Locks – My House is yours.

Single Heart – My Heart is yours.

Double Hearts – We feel the same about each other.

Anchor – Steadfastness or My Love is Safe, or Home to Stay.

Celtic Cross – Faith or Marriage.

Vines – Growing Love.

Trees – Growing Love.

Leaves – Growing Love.

Bells – Marriage.

Horse Shoe – Good Luck and Happiness.

Flowers – Courtship.

Ball in Cage – Captured Love, or Number of Children Desired, or Number of Years Together.

Chain Links – Captured Love, or Number of Children Desired, or Number of Years Together.

Double Spoons – The Couple.

Triple Spoons – The couple and hoped for family.

  

Pretty sweet, no?  Imagine what a cute Valentine’s Day gift this would be.  But again, I’m wandering…

Now, here's where you come in. The pillow. Yes or no?  Number two son says, “no.”  He likes it better on the couch, but the chair needs something, I think. A throw? A smaller pillow? No pillow?  Speak to me!

I'll be waiting.

This post is linked to:

Rose Chintz Cottage for Home
The Vintage Farmhouse for Creative Things Thursday
A Delightsome Life for Home and Garden Thursday
Imparting Grace for Grace at Home