SHOW OFF YOUR COTTAGE MONDAY

Join me today at Show off Your Cottage Monday hosted by Cielo at The House in the Roses:

As well as Metamorphosis Monday hosted by Susan at:

Not everything in a cottage home need be an antique! If you love it, use it! Many a sweet find can be discovered not only at antique malls but also at flea markets, garage sales and thrift shops. I always keep an eye out for collectible cottage treasures wherever I go. You never know what you might find.

Now that the house is sunnier I've been feeling more motivated to do lots of little decorating projects. My decorating budget is still non-existent, so stay posted for lots of easy changes you can do that cost next to nothing. Most of these involved things I had lying around already, so it helps if you already have things like leftover paint from other projects etc.

The first thing I've done is add more shelving in our kitchen. The wall over my table was completely bare. We made some shelves (with the help of IKEA).  Originally I had planned to just put a bunch of stuff  that was cluttering up our countertops on the shelves, but after I'd added a couple of ceramic pieces I decided to add some hooks to hang beautiful cups.  Some of the cups came home with me a few nights ago from our local Home Goods store. They had been marked down to $2! What were they thinking? I know what I was thinking! What a great thrifty find!  I love visiting flea markets.  I'm especially excited when I find something beautiful, for very little money for which I can find a new home.   Have a look at the shelves and the cups:

I'm still not sure about the red butter dish yet.  I'm quite liking the aqua, green, blue and yellow ceramic containers.  Have a look at the cups I found:

Some I received as gifts and the two last ones with flowers I found at the thrift store.  I find the effect quite pleasing.  Each time I have a cup of tea now I treat myself to a beautiful cup as before they were collecting dust in my cupboard.

My friend was given a desk by her mother.  When I first saw it I figured it was not too attractive.  I was given similar furniture in the past and I'm sad to say that I just gave it away.  She told me she was sending it to a wood finisher in our area.  She took a  "before picture".  I could not figure out how she could make it more attractive.   She sent me this picture via e-mail:

I could not believe my eyes!  She told me they carefully sanded, repainted with several coats of white, and decorated with  delicate  rose appliques. The result is a stunning and beautiful piece! All the hinges, drawers, legs were changed.  It looks like a brand new piece of furniture!

I have so many projects on the back burner I'm not sure which one I will do next. For now,  I think I will just make myself a cup of tea using one of my beautiful cups.  Hope you can join me!

I wish we could sit down together
And have a cup of tea
But since we can’t
When you have this one
I hope you’ll think of me.