Three or More Tuesday...

It's time for Three or More Tuesday over at The Gypsy's Corner. If you've never visited Tam's blog, you will definitely want to stop by to see her gorgeous gardens, lovely vignettes and wonderful tablescapes.

I've been eyeing that empty spot above the china cabinet in my dining room for some time now. At Christmas time it's often filled with greenery from the yard...like magnolia leaves and nandina berries. But the rest of the year, it's pretty empty up there.


So recently I decided to put my small collection of white pitchers there to see how they looked. I think I like it. :-) I really like the contrast of the white against the red wall in this room. I found all of these pitchers for very reasonable prices at Marshalls, HomeGoods and Michaels. The rooster pitcher was $10 and the others ranged between $6 to $8...so all total I spent around $38 to decorate this area.


I'm seriously thinking of adding an iron decorative piece on the wall behind them. I don't want to take away from the contrast of the white pitchers against the red wall...but it just looks like it needs a little something else.



Don't think I want any greenery because that might obscure the pitchers...unless, I raise them up a bit and then add the greenery. Ummmm, what would you suggest? :-) This room is painted white below the chair rail...wish I'd thought to take a pic showing that part. :-) If you scan down just a little, you will see pics of this room in yesterday's Metamorphosis Monday post. Thanks for your suggestions!

Christmas Shopping in April & Three or More Tuesday!

Back in November, I blogged about this interesting photo I found in an Orvis catalog...it was part of an advertisement for knives made by a French company called Laguiole. The caption below the photo read: French knife makers created ways to lie face down and save their backs...rather than sit hunched over all day...to hone knives on their sharpening wheels. The knife makers brought their dogs to the shop to keep them company and to keep them warm. Dozorme factory...circa 1900's.

I had never heard of this particular brand of knife, but you guys had! And after reading some of your comments, I knew this was a great knife made by a great company. So, here I am, months later shopping in Marshalls and look what I found! Each of these sets of six knives was on sale for only $10! Yipee! I bought three sets, one for me and two to give as gifts this Christmas.
Each set has a different style handle...the one on the left is stainless, the second has a pearl look and the third is a beautiful wooden handle. They also had a solid black handle...but I decided I shouldn't be too greedy...I left some for the other lucky shoppers! :-) Which set should I keep? (Click on the pics to enlarge for a better view.)

And look at this! Each knife, in each of the sets, has a tiny little bumble bee on it...reminds me of the Napoleon Bee flatware from Horchow! :-)

If you aren't familiar with Laguiole, here's a bit of history from their website. I think this may have been translated from French, because it reads a little odd. :-)
From their website:
1829: Birth of Laguiole knife inspired by the "Capuchado" local fixed blade knife with beech wood handle and the Spanish Navaja switch blade.
1840: The Laguiole adds an awl, used by the regional farmers to pierce the paunch of diseased cows.
1880: The Laguiole gets a corkscrew, essential tool for the Aubracians going up to Paris to be coal or beer retailers.
1981: Creation of Laguiole Knife Association in order to promote and develop a knife industry in the Village.

Since this time, Laguiole owns a factory with a forge and several knife assembling workshops. Some of them can be visited all the year long.

At the beginning, Laguiole was a very small rescue Chapel, depending on Alcorn parish. Etymologically, Laguiole comes from the word "La Gleisola" (1182) that means the little church. Its spelling should normally need a separation in the word to make appear the original article. Laguiole village is located in Aveyron Department, in Aubrac Region which covers three departments: Aveyron, Cantal and Lozère. The junction of these three departments is named the Three Bishops Cross. In the XVI th Century, Laguiole became principal church. The pronunciation Laïole comes from our ancestor's patois. The first houses of Laguiole Village were built at the north of the fort, close to it, in the quarter named today the Batut. Till end of XVIII th century, the village was protected by a rampart and a ditch (lou Bolat) situated at the present place of Valat street. On the slopes, at the south of the fort, were built several level houses which constituted Lou Barry, named today le Faubourg. At that time, the main street of this quarter was the "Bombecul" street. This denomination may appear, still today, somewhat coarse, bu it is the perfect illustration of one's body position if you have to walk up the street from south to north. Houses of this street and of nearby alleys are the living witnesses of these old days.

Here's a fascinating video...it will give you a whole new respect for what goes in to making these wonderful knives! The music they have playing along with the video is very pretty, so you may want to scan down to the bottom of the blog and mute my Playlist.


You can visit the website for Laguiole by clicking HERE

When I find a great deal, I just have to share it with you...my sweet Bloggy friends! Get thee to a Marshalls...posthaste! Merry Christmas in April! :-)


Today is the 23rd Three or More Tuesday and I just realized this post fits right in! :-) Stop by and say hello to our gracious host, Tam, over at The Gypsy's Corner by clicking HERE ...lots more Three or More posts await your visit!

Renovation of a Foyer... Welcome to the 10th Metamorphosis Monday!

Ok, hold on to your seats...we're going for another ride this week in my time machine...back once more to the year 1991. Yep, I've been at it again...playing with that ancient VHS tape that shows the interior of my home before we ever made an offer and bought it. I paused the tape, took some pics and this week I'm sharing a "before" glimpse of the Entry to my home. The "after" photos may look familiar if you've checked out the post on my sidebar.

Are you ready to time travel? Step up onto the porch, close your eyes and hold on...we're on our way back to 1991! :-)




Woaaaa, what a ride! Here we are in the entry and it's 1991...how do you like the "builder white" walls and the gold trim. Yep, it's GOLD! Hey, that's better than the green trim we saw last week in the master bedroom. :-) And note the dark floors...Yikes!




The shell niche in the entry was also painted gold...




While we're here, take a look at the dark parquet flooring. It actually looks lighter in this pic than it was, because this was taken with the front door standing wide open. It was reallllly dark and dated. :-(




Time to hop back into the time machine...we're going back to 2009. While we are traveling, take a look at the two "inspiration photos" I found in magazines for my flooring contractor. I loved the sunny, yellow color of the hardwood floors in these pics.







Ok, we're here...it's 2009 and gone are the white walls and gold trim. The soft yellow paint is a Duron color called Sugar Cookie...same color you saw last week in the master bedroom. I love this color yellow...it feels so inviting and even a little elegant! :-)




No more dark parquet...instead, we have tongue and groove, white oak, hardwood flooring. Most hardwood flooring you see in homes is done with red oak, but the contractor suggested white oak to better get the sunny, golden look I wanted. The flooring was installed unfinished, then it was sanded and stained on site. Yep, it was messy, but worth it in the end.




Another view...I added the french doors to this opening that goes into the living room. I have big plans for that room...one day. :-)




Ok, grab hold to something...we're taking off again in our time machine...back again to 1991. What have we here? It's more gold trim and the previous owner's entry table. Do you remember what I put here?




In the blink of an eye, we're back...here's how that area looks now.




One last time back in our time machine...do you have jet lag yet? Remember the ORANGE carpeting you saw last week in the master bedroom...it was all throughout the house. Note the stained balusters?




A full view of the stairway...didn't orange carpeting go out in the late 70's???




And here we are in 2009 again...for the "after" pic. We now have hardwood treads and white balusters...




A few more shots of the Entry today...this is the view from the family room doorway. You can really see the sunny, yellow color of the hardwood flooring in this pic.

The light fixture you see, is sort of a short chandelier. I know it's hard to see it in the pic since it's all lit up, but there are crystals all the way around the outside. I was not able to use a longer hanging fixture without completely blocking the face of the clock.




Close-ups of some of the details in this room...






Tam at The Gypsy's Corner hosts Three or More Tuesday. I've always wanted to participate and here's my chance! :-) As you can see, I have a small walking stick collection here in my Entry...some are antique, some are new and some are just plain silly...Quack! Every room needs that touch of whimsy. :-) Click HERE to visit The Gypsy's Corner to see all the other Three or More Tuesday posts.




Brass 'Torch' Sconces by Virginia Metal Crafters...I have two of these in the Entry, one on either side of the french doors. I recently heard Virginia Metal Crafters closed up shoppe. :-( I loved their brass even more than Baldwin Brass, so I'm really sad to hear they are out of business. They were the official brass makers for Colonial Williamsburg for many years.




A view from the other side of the french doors...standing in the future "library." (LOL) We would need to take a ride in our time machine into the future to see that room...it's a "someday" dream that is still growing in my heart. :-)



Well, now that we're back to 2009, let's go see all the "Before and Afters" posted for this Met Monday! :-)






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