I’ve been organizing

Warning:  if you don’t share a love affair of silver you’ll just think I’m nuts here!  Run away~run away!

Laying around sick has made me about nuts.

I’d try to work on -SOMEthing- to find it just exhausted me more.  Nothing has been getting done in any kind of fast –motion, but I DID manage to accomplish a FEW things.  YaY!

One thing loooooong over due for attention was cleaning up and REorganizing my (cough-cough hoarder) collection of silver service ware.  Instead of cramming it all in varying cabinets that would leave me fearful to ever open again—I organized everything and put things away PROPERLY.  About time!

*Oh please tell me I’m not the lone hoarder!

Below:  Beginning with the forks—I decided to (temporarily) use folded heavy card-stock paper as dividers.  Basically, supporting and separating the varying patterns.  *I love the “hotel silver” idea of mixed pattern place settings!  But instead of buying the expensive store collections, I’ve collected patterns over the years found in flea markets that I love!

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It was wonderful to have things out and enjoy their use for Christmas—I have some truly great service pieces!

The next 2 pictures are of things cleaned up but yet to be put away.

Yes, some may think it’s a bit much, even over the top, but I love it all and how special it makes a meal feel.  PLUS all my beautiful china, silverware, and crystal.  I used it daily in my former home in Chandler, AZ –I miss that.  After all, shouldn’t EVERY day the Lord grants be treated as a celebration?  Just saying. . .

Catherine

*I removed the cabinet backs before installing them back to back creating an island.  I added the “floating shelves” before it was all closed in~now they’re kinda’ stuck in there permanently so I HAVE TO make them work.

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juggling projects

Besides MY OWN crazy array of the usual projects,

I have been ~ I am

juggling projects for 2 other families!

For Judy~ REstyling some ladder-back chairs AND a trestle table,

plus a REdesign for a change of TV.

And THEN there is a “pseudo estate sale” for a senior couple leaving their home of MANY years–overwhelming and exhausting in the best of circumstances.  I’ll be helping them sell their treasures at the antique mall beginning April 1st!

The preliminary work is almost daunting–almost.  One bite at a time, it’ll get done!  Dressers are getting stripped–one completely REstyled!  Things are getting painted, even REcreated—

and EVERYthing is getting cleaned and polished!

Bear with me—COOL PICTURES ARE COMING!  I promise!  ; D

Catherine

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Kinderhook, and then some

Yes, I’ve run off –once again.

My mother asked me to take her “home,” to visit her last few cousins and go to the local annual Hull Town Picnic.  Check, check, and, check.

~Mom’s family were from the very small farming community of Kinderhook -and Hull and Quincy-  and we spent a LOT of time in and out of Hannibal while visiting Grandma.

~Below is a map of mom’s “home area” where we chased back and forth across the Mississippi River—only 12 miles from Kinderhook to Hannibal.

My oldest nephew’s wife jumped in the car to at last go see this place of all the crazy childhood stories.  We took her to see lots of Hannibal’s Mark Twain “stuff” and up the hill to tour the amAZing and haunted Cruikshank Mansion!  –which you can now stay at as a B&B!

~the driveway up the hill to the Cruikshank Mansion

Additionally, we ran into Quincy, where I was so excited to meet fellow-blogger Terry–

Forever Decorating

and tour her beautiful and oh-so-creative home!

It’s pretty incredible meeting up with all of you creative and talented folks!

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Finally, as we headed back home, we took advantage to take a break in Bloomington to go to the 3rd Sunday flea market.

. . . .ahhhhhh. . . . silver AND organization!  ; D

Of course I found a few cool treasures to take home,

I’ll show you tomorrow. . . .

Catherine

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It’s a sickness—and there’s NO VACCINE!

Just wanted to share pictures of my fabulous finds from the past two weeks!

1st- Murfreesboro.

~when I was supposed to be eating lunch and taking a rest from the road (Chicago to Atlanta-12 hours);

 

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*Picture of really cool chair would be HERE but–no more room in car.   :’ \

 

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2nd- in Atlanta

~when I should have been keeping out of mischief,

and getting more blogging help from a  v e r y  patient cousin;

The deal of the trip!

5’w  x  6’2″h

*safely strapped to car roof!

The palladian window and the following items were found shopping at

A Classy Flea!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Found these little props in a GoodWill…

…don’t they just look like best friends?!

Found the “tole” sconce at A Classy Flea, but the venetian sconces were found in a church parking lot sale!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Finally, this

vintage record cabinet

will become another

Freddy & Petunia

makeover!  Watch for it!

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I also found 4 great cabriole legs and made good connections for other unique parts to build with!

 

 

 

 

 

And finally back in the Chicago area at the Kane County flea market over this past weekend.  I was there to help my bf sell her crazy overflow of vintage furniture, accessories, mirrors/frames, garden/iron, and so on and so on and so on and so on and so on…!!!

—As you can see, I got distracted!  Maybe I wasn’t good help….

*but can you ever really have too many trophy/loving cups/silver-?

Truly a sickness.

No vaccine.

I also found another mini tea set for some little girl, and a pair of tiny corbels for a future little cabinet, and YES, another vintage frame!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The silverware pictured at the very top adds to my collection.  I love all the hotel cutlery for sale, just not the price tag.  So I’m having the fun of collecting and creating my own version!

It’s hard to stop….!

Catherine

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-showing you 1 of each of my current sets-

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