Spring Open House at Leola's.....

We worked at Leola's this evening to at least start decorating.  The store is closed tomorrow so we only have one day where, normally, we close several days.  Just seems we've had so many snow days that we just couldn't afford to close this week.  We're so glad we didn't because we sold several pieces of furniture the last few days. 

Judy & Kristi have brought in some wonderful plants.  They found great ivy.  It makes such a difference when you have fresh flowers & plants to decorate with.  After I placed 4 ivy in my room, it looked totally different.

Hope you can come to our open house.  Everyone has worked so hard and we promise it will be really special.

It's been a busy week.....

I've been able to accomplish so much this week.  It's been too cold to want to get out so I've stuck pretty close to home.  Except for yesterday when Judy and I ran to the shop and picked up my new chest for the hallway.  I love it.  What do you think?

Putting this piece in and taking out the hutch that had ironstone in it took some of the busy-ness (is that a word) out of the hallway.  This is how the hutch looked.  By the way, I'm going to be selling this piece at Leola's.

I moved things around in the living room, too.  Once I get started moving things, there's no stopping me.  I've had this cabinet on the wall for years and I'm thinkin' this will go to Leola's too.  It will have to come down because it wasn't removed before we painted it the last time so before the house goes on the market, I'll have to get it down.

My paperwhites are still blooming so cut these few to put in an ironstone pitcher.

Here's the new bedroom hallway color.  It really warmed it up and looks so good with the wood floors.  I love reading Miss Mustard Seed and in her blog a few days ago she talked about her True Value store and how she loves it and their paint.  Well, I feel the same about mine.  They're so nice and helpful and it's right up the street.  I've lately used Behr paint but decided to try True Value's paint and I loved it.  They keep everything on file so if I forget what I've used before, they can find it for me.  I love my True Value Store.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.  It's warmed up considerable today so the snow is melting.  Stay warm!!!

A snowy day.....

Another work day at Leola's.  It snowed almost all day but not much accumulation.  Didn't think much would be going on but it was busier then I thought.  New furniture had come in so I had no control -- had to buy this for my entry hall.

It will be perfect in my hall and I can sell the cabinet that's there now. 

Isn't this a wonderful sideboard?  It even has a silverware drawer.











Phoebe came to visit me this weekend and she's always game for whatever.  Through the years I have purchased Sage & Phoebe both little chairs and Stella never let me forget that I still owed her one.  I spotted this one at Leola's before Christmas but I had a little work to do on the legs.  Phoebe helped me and it is adorable.  Here they are sitting in each other's chairs in their wonderful bedroom.

Wish I had taken a picture of  the back of  the chair.  It has a big bow and covered buttons down the back.  They have a little vanity that it will work at perfectly. 

Looks like tomorrow will be an inside day so I stopped by my local True Value Store and picked up a gallon of paint.  I've taken everything off my hallway walls, filled the holes and it's getting some new paint.  Hopefully, I'll be able to show it tomorrow night.

My new (old) stair railing.....

I'm so thrilled to finally get new stair railing up.  My brother-in-law Mike came this weekend to go to a tool show and to stop by here and fix a few things.  He not only put the railing up but brought the old iron fencing that we used on it.  I had bought the column at Leola's but had to clean it up and put a finish on it.  Can't tell you how much I like it.  It will show up more when I get the wall painted behind it -- always something. 

Don't know what I'd do without Mike.  Besides the railing, he scrapped paint off an old fireplace, fixed a light fixture, got my tiller started, changed the battery in my car door opener & ran a birthday card to Phoebe that she had made for a friend & forgotten.  He's really a good guy & I so appreciate him & sister-in-law Susan.

I've worked so hard this week trying to get projects finished for Leola's holiday open house.  Can't believe it's that time again but it is and it's going to be incredible.

Thinking about fall......

The heat has not let up but I can't wait any longer for fall.  I checked my bittersweet yesterday and couldn't help but cut some.  Just wanted to see what it would do in the house.  Hopefully, it will go on and pop so I can use some for open house.  Also decided to try and make a wreath with the vines even though it was in the 90's and I was feeling heat exhaustion coming on.  But I love the way it turned out.  Allison and I decided we were going to try to make some when it cools a bit.

The gourds that came up in the garden are ready to pick so after picking some I sprayed them with polyurethane.  It makes them last longer & they just look better.

I've rearranged almost everything in my house this week and tried to get the cobwebs out of the corners.  Does that tell you anything about my housekeeping this summer?  Today is my brother Bud's & SIL Kay's 50th wedding anniversary and I'm having a little get-together tomorrow.  They have had such a good marriage with 2 daughters, 1 SIL & 2 beautiful g'daughters.  Bud spent years in the Camdenton school system, first as a coach then moved into administration & Kay worked as secretary to the superintendent.  After they retired they moved to Springfield and live very close to me.  It's so nice having them in the neighborhood.  Happy Anniversary Bud & Kay.

Have a great weekend.

Happy St. Patty's day.....

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you.....  My family is kind of a Heinz 57 family -- you name it & we've got a little of that flowing through our veins so we do have a little Irish blood.  It seems to me that most people are Irish on St. Pat's day.

I had to take my car into the shop today and leave it since that scary light "check engine" came on yesterday so I'm virtually a prisoner at home.  It's cold & damp again today so again, I will attempt to get my taxes done -- yuck!!!!

Yesterday, while out and about, I took some pictures to post.  It's the time of year that I get in the mood to make some changes in the house.  These are a few things that brought me inspiration.  What do you think?

I'm so glad to see blues coming back.

OK, I'm inspired, if I can just get these darn taxes done.  Wish me luck!

Leola's is looking great.....

Everyone is so anxious for spring. Since we can't get outside, we'll do the next best thing & spring-up the inside. The first thing I notice is how dirty my windows are. I cleaned my windows & decided I needed to take a trip to Leola's. The place looked great & I found so many great things. It also made me realize how I needed some spring in my area.

This adorable bust is in Sandy's area. Is it not cute with the pearls!!! Would this not be cute in the bathroom with your necklaces on it?

I love using the little silicone bulbs in the lamps. They burn for forever & don't take much energy.

This is an adorable ottoman that Carol brought in. She does all our amazing slipcovers. There are 2 of the most wonderful chairs that go with it.

Kelli loves to make the paper flowers. These have vintage buttons or jewelry in the center of them. Aren't the great? The wonderful pillar is Dorlece's. It would be wonderful on a porch.

This is Judy's area. She finds the greatest things. How about that hat for Easter!!!

I think this was Linda's area. We all love white ironstone & pottery. Blue seems to be popular right now. It's about time since I still have stuff from that "country blue" era. I swear I didn't keep any geese or welcome signs but I do have some dishes & linens.

Anyway, we're sure spring is on the way so get those windows washed. Have a good Friday. I'm going to have Phoebe, & we're going to an antiques sale with Auntie Linda & Auntie Jean. They're never too young to start junkin' -- especially with Grandma.

Annie's Debbee Thibault collection

My good friend Annie decided to sell some of her large collection of Debbee Thibault's sculptures so I decided to take these pictures just in case anyone reading this might be interested. I'll take the pumpkin one to the shop this weekend but I think I'll wait awhile for the Christmas. There are several that aren't holiday so I might take those too. They're wonderful!

Fall Open House at Leola's - Sept. 5, 6, & 7

Since we've been having this incredible August weather (feels very fallish), we're all in the mood to bring a little "fall stuff" into the shop. Fall Open House will be Sept. 5, 6, & 7 so guess it's not too early to get a plan going. Here's a little of what's been going on. Judy likes to stay pretty neutral but she always seems to be able to throw a little orange into her decorating without you really noticing.


She brought in this kind of French, art deco piece that is gorgeous.

This is some of Debra's things. She definitely uses more color & she loves orange. She has some wonderful new things right now but they're going fast.

This is Janie's. I love this concrete squirrel & if someone doesn't buy him soon he just may go home with me. And he wouldn't go in the yard either. He just might set in the middle of my dining room table with some great candy corn from Richardson's Candy House.

Summer shower

Not the rain kind but the "gonna be a wedding" kind. We had one for our great niece who's getting married in a couple of weeks. My sister Judy's house is perfect for entertaining and she uses it for that quite often. We always say at Leola's that Judy is our best customer (she's also one of the owners) & you'll be able to see in the pictures what a great eye she has. She's also a great cook. It was a beautiful summer day & everything is so green with all the rain we've had.