Darling Daffodils

The sun has been brightly shining and we could 

 go outside without bundling up

 in multiple layers today!

What a joy to go shopping with a  special friend and make the rounds to some of our favorite antique and craft malls.     It was so good to get out and get some Spring inspiration after all the cold weather and snow we've had.    I know we still have several weeks to go but nothing says Spring like 

sweet little daffodils!

Yellow is my happy color and daffodils are among my favorite spring flowers.   I couldn't resist these small little nests filled with miniature silk daffodils.   Just the perfect size to fit in a  

pretty cup....

a small bowl ....

or a terra cotta pot!

Sweet, small and darling!

I may have to go back and buy a few more...

oh and did I mention ....

I can't wait until Spring!

I'm linking with:

 Seasonal Sundays

Bright Little Spaces

I love bright spaces and each time 
I redecorate a space in our older home I bring in 
more light, minimize window treatments 
and keep wall colors light but warm.  

The previous owner loved dark and intense colors which made the spaces too dark for my taste. 

We have stripped  lots of outdated wallpaper over the years and painted walls with soft neutrals and muted yellows.  

 I love the  french country style and colors of yellows, blues and vibrant reds.  Two of my favorite tablescape creations were a blue and yellow breakfast table and a lavender tea table in the garden.   This year I'm going to incorporate more provencal patterns and style into 
my home and garden.
  

   

I decided to redo my desk area in the kitchen first.  It's a built- in and  not a big space but I spend lots of time there writing, answering emails and visiting my favorite blogs. 
  ( Not to mention pinning on Pinterest) I start my day here with a quiet time and wanted to make it an inviting and a pretty place to have my first cup of coffee or tea.     

I needed a small lamp to brighten the corner of my desk so off I went to my favorite antique
 markets.  I found the perfect little lamp for
 only $ 8 dollars with a soft white shade.   

Back at home I cleared off my desktop of way too many papers and books.   My resolution is to keep papers and books filed away and organized in the desk cabinets.     My next organizing project will be to clean out the cabinets above my desk and all the drawers...so decorating always gets me in the mood to organize.  

I pulled out one of my favorite placemats purchased  in Carmel -by -the Sea  and added my new lamp.

Finding the right size lamp took me awhile but I'm pleased with the size, style and the amount of light it gives the space!    

Computer, speaker and phone cords are so unsightly so I conceal them with greenery whenever possible.   When we purchased my new computer I  had my husband drill through the wall and place all the ugly computer stuff ( like the printer) in the pantry on a shelf.   He thought I was nuts but it looks so much better!  There wasn't much room  for a printer on my desk anyway and now I 
have a small space to decorate.  

I'm pleased with my new space and will probably tweak it here and there ...but it's a bright little space to start my day.

I'm linking with 

Mod Vintage Life's  Mod Mix Monday

  

Valentine's Tables

Valentine's Day is a perfect occasion to set a table for two.

  I often collect dishes and placemats in sets of two so I can have more tablesetting choices when it's just me
 and my hubbie dining.

I've shared several of my Valentine tables over the past years but thought I would re-run a few of my favorites.

A few years ago I left my Christmas tree up and redecorated it for Valentine's Day.  The tree gave the room a nice glow.  Setting a tea tray is a nice way to treat yourself and certainly doesn't take as long as an entire table setting.     

This was a Bavarian tea set I found at Goodwill 
for only  $10.  It was just so pretty and too much of a bargain to pass up!



I put together this table right after a trip to California.  The  black and white placemats were a purchase in Carmel and 
I found the darling Valentine heart when we 
were in Solvang. 

I love this tea set that once belonged to my grandmother.  
It has just the right style for my tables and I use it often.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I'm linking with

 Susan's Tablescape Thursday
and
Seasonal Sundays

Love Birds

Valentine's Day is only two weeks away and one of my favorite holidays.  I met my husband 37 years ago at Valentine's party while at college so it's a special day to us.   

    

 With such bitter cold temperatures this winter I have been indoors and "feathering my nest."

I decided to redecorate my favorite little hutch

 and not wait until Spring as I usually do.

I took everything off the shelves and gave the

 hutch a good cleaning.

I went through my dish closet and cabinets looking for red and white pieces from my different collections.

I added some red plaid napkins to the 

shelves for extra color.

This was my hutch last spring....

hurry spring!!

The hutch at Christmas...

I  added my favorite teapots which include one from my grandmother and "Mrs. Potts".

The soup tureen was purchased for $5 at one of my favorite antique malls.

The dinner plates are Sheffield ...made in the USA bone china.  I love the swirl border and I found these at Goodwill for only a few dollars!

This sweet bird was another GW find.  

The English Garden transferware is from an estate sale.  Four cups with saucers were only $8 and they are perfect for tea.

I always enjoy a visit from these two love birds!

  

Happy Valentine's Day!

I'm linking with 

Seasonal Sundays 
and 
Susan's BNOTP Metamorphosis Monday