The Little Drawer That Could

I love old drawers.  I have an old sewing table drawer that is one of my favorite pieces in my house.  And recently this old drawer came home with me from Trader Bakers Flea Market for just $3.  I thought it just needed a good clean up.

Well, this IS the cleaned up version!  Haha!  The dirt will not come off.  I could paint it, and I still may.  But for today, this shabby little girl is being embraced for who she is.  :)  See the bits of red chippy paint underneath on the drawer pull?  I wonder if that was her original color.  Wouldn't she be cute with a red drawer pull?!

After she had been cleaned inside and out with warm soapy water on a rag, I decided to have her adorn my one corner in my kitchen that is reserved for decor.  Underneath I placed a beautiful kitchen tea towel I got on clearance at Marshalls.  Anytime you find a pretty tea towel on clearance, grab it!  They make excellent fabric pieces for decorating.

Here is is for you to see...it has aqua details...aqua makes everything more beautiful.

Now to build a pretty vignette inside the drawer.  I started with this plate picturing an old church.  A bit of sticky tac putty at the base helps it to stand up steady in the back of the drawer.

Next I needed some fabric  inside the drawer to add some softness.  This green and white gingham napkin was perfect.  I also like to buy pretty fabric napkins on clearance to use in decorating.  I added a little tidbit stand that I made from a china plate and a glass candleholder.  And placed 4 antique kitchen items  on top of it...cookie cutters, a juicer, and spices.  That box of cloves was in my Grandma's kitchen when she died.  Treasure.

Anther piece that would add more height, the glass cupcake stand with a birds' nest inside was next, as well as a ceramic tile painted with chalkboard paint.  And lastly, my sweet antique egg beater.  The Shabby Little Miss is looking good!

Notice a change here?  I settled on using my 1950s North Star plate in the back, rather than the church plate.  It is taller and has the added bonus of aqua stars on it.

And then the crowning touch.  I've had this little vinyl wall saying set aside for several years.  Loved it but couldn't decide where to put it.  Seeing it in my friend Tammy's kitchen recently, in a similiar place, I decided THIS is where it belongs.  This little corner is my bit of quiet and pretty peace in my hardworking kitchen.  I know it will remind me many times a day to Be Still and Know God.  Just reading it brings my spirit to a quieter place.

And I am done.  For now.  :)  I've always had decor in this corner, but I really love that now it is all contained in a drawer.  Looks neater.  Less cluttered.  And I'll have such fun changing out the contents of the drawer display with each season.  
What do you think?  Want to keep your eyes open for a cute old drawer?  I am even toying with painting the drawer pull aqua.  My Kitchen Aid Mixer is aqua too.  #favoritecolor

Thank you so much for stopping by.  Your comments are so appreciated!  And I hope you'll be back soon.

Blessings!
<@ Donna @>

1940's Gossip Bench

Meet the newest member of our home...a little 1940s Gossip Bench!  I've been stopping to ooh and ahh over little Telephone Benches or Gossip Benches for the past few years, but I really didn't have a good spot for one.  Until THIS girl!  

She was in a corner booth at a local favorite Flea Market.  She caught my eye right away.  I looked.  I liked.  I walked away. Then I came right back and looked some more!  She's only 30 inches wide, which is small enough for the spot I had for her.  And that rounded table part just got to me.  Love!

She was very scratched.  But sturdy.  She had a red velvet upholstered seat that had to go...it was worn out and had dog hair on it.  Ick.  But she was only $25 and I HAD to bring her home.  And I'm sooooo glad I did!!

An antique dealer recommended that I not paint her or refinish her, but just use dark wood scratch remover.  That was certainly easy!

I couldn't resist this little piece of fabric for the seat.  I have aqua and this green throughout my house.  And the chocolate brown circles match the wood!

The little cubby in the table is meant for the phone book back in the day when benches like this were used.  The phone was stationary, so a bench/table like this was a great place to sit and use the phone.

This hat is very special to me...it belonged to Auntie B...my husband's spiritual grandmother.  She is still living and prays for us every day.  She was a pastor's wife, and wore hats to church.  Isn't it precious?

And now this little lady is clean, reupholstered, and gracing our dining room!

I love her!  And she fits here beautifully and perfectly.

Thank you for stopping in my home and letting me show you my weekend project and new favorite piece of furniture!  I had a ball!

Blessings!
Donna


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Aqua + Green = Spring

This past weekend, it was out with Winter and in with Spring at my house.  I have so enjoyed my Winter decor on the mantel, in my antique drawer, and elsewhere.  But as soon as I flip the calendar to March, I am ready to 'lighten up' my color scheme and start playing 'Spring.'  You too?!  During the Fall and Winter, our living room/dining room color scheme is green with a cranberry accent color.  For Spring and Summer I take away the cranberry and add aqua as the accent color.

This antique sewing drawer is one of my favorite pieces in my house.  It's so much fun to dress her up for each season.

I found this Fire King tea cup (it also has a saucer) at the Flea Market last fall.  PERFECT for welcoming Spring to my antique drawer.  I raised her up with a little box under the aqua floral fabric so the teacup can be seen.

An antique postcard passed down to me from my Mom-in-Law.  So fun to read the back!

I made this footed hurricane holder by gluing a Dollar Store candle stick to the bottom of a Dollar Store candle holder.  And guess where these beautifully colored Sixlet candies came from...yep...the Dollar Store!

This little chalk board was .50 at Goodwill.  And I was thrilled to finally find a Chalk Pen to purchase!  :)  

I'm smitten with my Coca-Cola crate...a Christmas gift.  I removed the snowman, pine cones, and vintage Christmas book til next Winter.  And added vintage gloves, an antique Atlas jar, and tin cup.

And in honor of the 2 new grandbabies that have been born into our family this year, I put my childhood copy of New Baby by Eloise Wilkens in the front of the stack of vintage Golden Books.  Awwww.

I love the rhinestone buttons on these gloves.

And I couldn't help but add that vintage bunny cutout to the wall...on the back it says in my Grandma's handwriting, "To Donna and Roger"  :)

This is my kitchen corner where I enjoy a bit of pretty among the necessities.  It had snowmen and red/white gingham for the winter.  Now it's aqua and green.

Love this tea towel with aqua rick rack...on clearance at JoAnns last fall.  

Some things don't change...my plant, my hubby and I, and my BLISS!

Sweet little green custard cups along with my biscuit cutters.

And this tea towel which has aqua in it and an aqua tulle ruffle is a NEW find and favorite...on clearance at Marshalls.  Any time I find pretty tea towels on clear or fabric napkins that I love, I buy them.  Super versatile for decorating.

So that's what I've gotten done so far. It makes home feel fresh and new for the new season.  Can you believe we turn our clocks to Daylight Savings Time on Saturday night?!  Unreal.  

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Blessings!
Donna


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