Shelf Life

Don't you just love visiting a blog where you know it will just be a pure feast for the eyes?

Beautiful vignettes and tablescapes that some very talented bloggers just seem to be able to conjour up out of nothing, set within the most beautiful rooms or backgrounds?

The windowsills, table tops and shelves in their homes all skillfully, artfully and tastefully arranged with the most interesting and visually appealing mix of items - some vintage or antique china or glass maybe, or books and candles and flowers, maybe with the seasons foliage or flowers, or a scrap of vintage fabric, shells or feathers, all looking as if they have just been there forever and placed artfully as if without any thought whatsover.

Or even just a simple but somehow perfect pot of flowers.

I am becoming increasingly inspired and amazed by what these clever people can achieve, and can gaze for ages at the wonderful still lifes they create.

Some of my very favourites are Madelief -  her still lifes of the wonderful flowers she has grown, together with the gorgeous vintage (and new) china she collects, positively have me drooling very time I visit. Even the photos of her clothes and closets are always so beautifully arranged and photographed.

And then there's Brenda over at Cozy Little House, who, despite having just moved house a few weeks ago, has already created  the most amazing home with beautiful tablescapes and lovely arrangements everywhere you look (I still have boxes to unpack over a year since we moved!!!).

I love to visit The Summer Porch for wonderful eye candy and inspirational still lifes using herbs and flowers. together with old gardening paraphanalia, pots and statues, all wonderfully put together to create the most stunning outdoor vignettes. And some wonderful words and poetry alongside too.

With these thoughts and images of artful arrangements in my head, yesterday I decided to do a little job that had been nagging at me for ages - to paint the dark shelf above the range cooker in the kitchen. 

Before

and After

I used Annie Sloan's Country Grey and gently distressed it a little

I am quite pleased with how its turned out, as it doesn't draw the eye like it used to, being such a dark element of the room - now it blends in more and looks, hopefully, more attractive - although I need to practise some more with the "arrangements".


As I have now reached 150 followers (yay!!!! Thankyou to you all for visiting and following!) I think its time for a giveaway to celebrate and to say Thank You to all my followers, old and new - no idea what yet so I will have to have a think and announce it soon, so watch this space!


I'll leave you with a vignette of my kitchen windowsill

and lets just see a closeup of that tasteful arrangement shall we???   ;0


LOL!!!!!!

My reality I'm afraid!

So what's on your windowsills, tables and shelves???

Pretty, artfully and thoughtfully placed things that you are pleased with, or are they more like my sad reality, a combination of some quite acceptable and some a downright eyesore??!!!

I'd love to hear ( and see!) so do please leave a comment and share!!!

Also, any clever ideas for Christmas tablescapes and arrangements?? Would be great if you would share your best ideas for us all to have a go at!

Wishing you all a creative and inspiring week!