cottage instincts: Vignettes

I've mostly avoided thrift shops lately.

Firstly, I don't have a lot of extra greenbacks (having spent them on $35+ quarts of chalk paint)....

Secondly, I really haven't found much that tickles my fancy, lately.

And thirdly, I don't have space in my temporary quarters to either display or store any more knick-knack-paddy-wacks.

Let me just stick my big ole BUT in here....

BUT.....

Lookie see what I found on the bottom shelf, way in the back behind a brassy watering can, when I found myself with some time on my hands last Friday:

I felt like I was robbing a bank.

'Round these parts, McCoy pottery like this goes for upwards of $40 in the 'tiques shops.

But my find has some cracks.

As do I. So this pretty fits right in.

And the lilacs I picked fit right in too....

I also found this wee little guy, and though it has no pedigree, I find him perfection itself.

I used all this yummi-ness to practice aperture with my new-ish lens.

And of course played around in Picasa and Picmonkey.

How 'bout you? Found any treasures buried in the plastic tupperware at your local thrift lately?

Don't forget.....would love to have you follow me on Bloglovin'! And would love to follow you back :)

Bringing Mr. McCoy to Junkin' Joe's, Photog Show and Tell, A Favorite Thing

PSSSST...I'm no longer blogging here!

You can now find me at

www.acottagegirl.com

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Hey cottage friends!

I'm excited to show you how I go about styling my shelves.

I change them out with the seasons, so it's a skill I've honed over the years.

I also like quite a bit of 'movement' in my vignettes, but even if you don't, I think my tips can still serve ya.

There is actually a method to my madness, but I'm no professional, nor do I play one on TV.

Most of what I've learned came thru studying pages of magazines and catalogues.

So are ya ready? Here are my tried and true tips on making mini vignettes on your shelves, your mantels, your piano tops....you name it!

TIP #1: Move it to the center.

You'll notice I mentioned 'when you can'....because on my middle shelf, I can't. Which leads me to...

TIP #2: Consider the practical stuff.

My beautiful Mama's picture helps to hide the technology that doesn't exactly fit into my ::cottage instincts::

So I can't squish everything to the center on that shelf.

TIP #3: Use variations on a theme.

There can be several themes so long as they play nicely together, coordinating by color, shape, type, etc.

I like to mix up textures and finishes too.

This is where you get a big payoff if you've learned what you love (and not just 'like'), because you'll realize you tend to buy things that go with your 'themes'. Surface styling is also a fantabulous way to add in a few of your 'likes' or trendy stuff as these vignettes lend themselves to changing often.

TIP #4: Pay attention to the size of the space and your items.

Vary the height and width of stuff. Size the items in the space in proportion to the space they will occupy.

I used my tall metal candle holder and barn star to fill the space here, especially since it's the top shelf.

TIP #5: Group items in odd numbers....

OR group an odd number of groups!

You'll notice there are 2 groups of only 4 items...which breaks the rule of odds. BUT it all works because there are 3 shelves. And adding all the items together make 11, another odd-y but good-y.

Here I will let you see the nifty wallpaper border the previous owners left for our enjoyment.

And some more examples of themes:

Another view....

Here's a test. I mean that's why you come here, right? To be tested?

I posted this pic yesterday when showing you how I Spring-ified my dining room.

Can you see how I used all my tips?

TIP #6: When you find yourself frustrated and/or overwhelmed do these three things:

~Stand back from the space and squint your eyes. Do it. It migt help you see what's needed or what's not working.

~Take some pictures and look at them on the computer...amazing what jumps out at you.

~Go eat something that makes you happy (ahem *Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies* cough) and come back later.

Here's where I show you what the built-in looks like for reals. The cabinet below houses Robyn Rose's toys. I'll be hanging a curtain there soon, as well as adding beadboard wallpaper in the back, adding trimwork along the outside, replacing the glass shelves for wood, and painting it all white.