Pink Glow in the Corner

Old-fashioned, fringed and satin lampshades seem to belong to another age but that doesn’t stop me from using them in our home.


Several years ago, the pink silky lampshade with fringes, shown above, made me stop in my tracks. We were in a Cracker Barrel gift shop in Arizona.

Our daughter, who was about 10 years old at the time, added the cut-out paper hearts. Immediately, I loved them and kept them throughout the years.

Our daughter is now a married lady so that shows how long those hearts have been around.

When we moved cross-country and back to New England, the carefully packed lampshade came with us.

When my Mom died, her crystal lamps came to me and the shade looked perfect on one of the bases.

So now, the lamp sits on top of a cabinet that holds the non-flat-screen tv. See? Proof that I like old-fashioned "anything."

 

Some cranberry glass pieces add to the scene.

Here's my absolute favorite piece of cranberry glass in the entire collection.

At night, everything in the corner of the room casts a pinky glow. I love how it all came together.

Today we are joining the party Show and Tell Friday on Cindy's blog, My Romantic Home.

Go and visit her blog. You'll love it!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOR WITH WHICH TO DECORATE YOUR LIVING ROOM?

Oh, A-Thrifting We Will Go

Thrifted items for the home can provide a lot of beauty for little money.

Trust me.  I have been to more estate and yard sales than could ever be counted and many times  came away with terrific bargains.

Estate sales of people who have died are my favorites. The family usually wants to unload things  quickly. If I see the words "All must go in one day,"  it's almost impossible to pass up.

 Plus, I feel the person who has gone to the other side would be pleased to see things put to good use and make buyers happy!

The large rococo mirror shown below came from an estate sale. It's truly a high quality piece and, after some fine negotiating, I shelled out an unheard of $30 for it! This type of mirror can cost in the hundreds of dollars.

Once I attended an estate sale in a fairly moderate neighborhood yet the things inside the house were exquisite and very high quality.

Luckily, I found out later the person who had died had also won a lottery and became a millionaire!  He never left his original home but he bought the best of the best in furniture and decorations. How lucky of a find was that sale?

It was at his house that the brass lamp, shown above, was found. It cost $20 and was originally, no doubt, very expensive as it's very heavy and in great condition.

The bust of the beautiful girl next to it I purchased, if recalling correctly,  in Home Goods.  Isn't she attractive and very Victorian looking?

Let's see. This very fancy candy dish came from a yard sale. I keep it on the table in the hall and fill it with chocolate kisses or M&Ms.  One feels like a Queen Mother lifting off the top!

So it's true that thrifted items are out there and can be purchased at incredibly low prices compared to their original cost.

Today we are joining a party at Home and Garden Thursday on Kathy's terrific blog A Delightsome Life. Stop by and you'll find lots of wonderful posts to read!

DO YOU LIKE FINDING THRIFTED ITEMS FOR YOUR HOME?

DO YOU LOOK FOR SPECIFIC ITEMS WHEN YOU GO TO ESTATE AND YARD SALES?

Read This and Weep

Today's post is going to deviate from interior decorating or fun themes. The theme is anything BUT fun.

The only reason I am writing this post is because the story you are about to read touched my heart very deeply.

It is my own way of doing at least "something."


There's one thing that is virtually impossible for me to understand and that is domestic violence.


Granted, human beings get angry. It's part of the human condition.  But how can one person beat up another in a fit of rage or kill another? 


And what if there are children involved?  What if they lose a parent because of domestic violence?


Susan Roux is a fellow blogger from Poland, Maine. She's a tremendously talented artist and I just love looking at her paintings.


Her blog is An Artist's Journey.

On March 1st., she wrote about a true tragedy.


Rachel,  the late daughter of yet another very talented artist blogger, Don Hatfield,  has been killed, apparently by her husband, who is now incarcerated. She died in her home in Cameron Park, CA.


There are three precious little children left behind. Looking at the face of the little girl in the header of Don's blog fills me with immeasurable sorrow.


Susan's husband put together a video about the tragedy which you can see here:  http://hatfieldfineart.blogspot.com/2012/03/blog-post.html

Honestly, when I watched that video, tears streamed down my face. My heart breaks for Don and those precious little babies.

I cannot begin to comprehend domestic violence. It boggles my mind.


 If you are able to help financially, I'm sure that would be deeply appreciated.


Perhaps you could buy one of Don's paintings.


Maybe you could spread the word and tell other bloggers about this need.


Or please, if you are so inclined, at least pray for this fellow blogger, Don, and his beautiful grandchildren.


And for God's sake, if you know anyone in a domestic violence situation, help them get out before it's too late.


HAVE YOU HAD ANY EXPERIENCE WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE? DO YOU TRY TO UNDERSTAND IT?