Velvet crush

There is nothing like vintage velvet. The lush softness and  the yummy patina make me crazy. I fell in love with this vintage sofa from the moment I walked inside the door of a local estate sale. I pushed my way thru the door and flung my body over it. I was prepared to fight for this piece. Well it never came to this, as it turned out everyone else was more concerned with the Hummel collection and could have cared less about my beautiful sofa. Yes you heard my sofa ...it's all mine!
My love for velvet has inspired me to start a velvet crush board on pinterest.  I have decided to open this board up to friends, acquaintances or just about  anyone else who loves velvet as much as I do. Follow me on pinterest and I'll add you as a pinner. You can find me on pinterest as kelly Ruehle. www.Pinterest.com/kellyruehle/

I can't wait to see all your beautiful pins and share my love of velvet with you. See you on Pinterest!

Shambala cottage makeover

The Shambala project is coming along. It has come a long way but still has miles to go before it's completion. The ceilings were covered in plywood. I feel like Nicole Curtis when I shout "why would anyone cover that up?"  The beautiful wood has been revealed after countless hours of pulling nails and removing insulation.

    The vintage chandelier found on Craigslist looks perfect in this space. Yep you heard it I shop on Craigslist.  It's amazing what you can find to fit a tight budget if you know where to look. I love antique stores and tag sales but some items are hard to find and antique stores can interfere with a tight budget.

Timely collection

Where has the summer gone? School is in and hints of fall color are everywhere.  When the season's change I get the itch to redecorate. It's easy to change the look of a room with a collection of like things. I love, love these little vintage alarm clocks.

The thrill of the hunt for vintage treasure

I find the perfect shoes, a comfy pair of jeans and a bitching bag. It's time to focus on my list of must haves. I'm so easily distracted with the the Shiney babble in the corner or that table with the perfect patina. A sucussful hunt is an art.
        My last junking trip across three states was a success because I finally found my mermaid. I've searched for Mercy for years. I had the perfect name just waiting for the perfect find.  Although I swooped in and grabbed her before she became somebody else's score, I managed to play it cool with the vendor and haggled the price down $50.
Tomorrow's adventure is a little shorter commute to an estate sale 140 miles away. Roadtrip!

Urban chic makeover

I allowed myself to be more adventurous maybe even a little bit reckless in my outdoor room design.  I didn't need to follow the rules no specific design style necessary. All that was required was a place to sit for a cup of morning coffee or evening glass of wine. No need for function or long term comfort just fleeting moments of pondering.
      The space didn't turn out as shabby chic as I had intended. It's more urban country than shabby chic. I love the way the chair turned out. It went from hideous 80 ' s to very chic and stylish. I'll admit it took way more paint than I anticipated but after 30 dollars and hours of watching paint dry it was perfect. 

          The pink and yellow rug is so playful with turquoise furniture.  It really brings the space to life. I think my favorite part of the whole makeover is the milking room door adorned with Charlie ' s skull. It's perfect for an outdoor room. I love the unexpected.

Possibilities

My toe slowly peeks it's way out of the softness of my toasty bed. The floor boards are cool to the touch. This crisp awakening guickly shapes my ward robe for a chaotic day of picking.
      The barn is simple and neatly packed.  The man who proudly claims it's eclectic contents is fair  and anxious to strike a bargain.
     My pick is swift. I know within seconds what I can't bare to leave behind. My heart beats faster,  images of a past life race by.  The moments are fleeting as the voice of possibilities speaks to me. This old door that once graced the milking room of a pristine dairy farm will marry well with the weathered skull of a proud steer that long ago freely grazed the ground beneath my feet.
       I am drawn to the the history and stories of my salvaged finds. The organic simplicity of the pair is perfect for my vision of a shabby chic porch. Layer upon layer of earthy patina with just the right pop of color will transform an urban deck into an eclectic oasis.
   I have several days of work to come before this perfect transformation is reality.
   Stay tuned...