Life doesn't have to be perfect . . .

I don't make New Year's resolutions and I don't choose a word for the year,

but when I came across the quote, "Life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful", I thought it would make a good motto for 2016.

So, what have I been up to in this imperfect, but WONDERFUL life I lead?

Mainly, I have been changing everything around from Christmas to everyday decor.

The dining room shelf turned white.

I stole a bunch of quilts from a cabinet in the living room and added them to the guest room ladder.

And of course one moves triggers another so new vignettes adorn the shelves in this skinny cabinet

and I spruced it up with a little ivy wreath.

My little shopping cart is now in the living room filled with a portion of my letter collection ( I have an addiction) and I discovered that an old wire crate fits on the bottom as a second shelf.

The ivy wreath didn't last long in the living room - the tall white cabinet in the entry needed a little color.

Everyone wondered why I would move my new red cart from it's spot in the entry, but it was just a tad too big.

My grandpa's rocker, spruced it up with some hearts I made the other day, takes up very little space.

Steve's kitchen got an update with a tall metal stool and then an unplanned change this afternoon.

I yanked a cord that got twisted around one of the shelves and then CRASH!

Not much survived, but I only lost 2 old treasures.

Even with the disaster in the kitchen (definitely not perfect) it's still a wonderful world.

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French Country Cottage - Feathered Nest Friday

A New Year & A New Look

It's a new year and the perfect time for changes around the house.

I spend most of my time in the dining room and I am a bit tired of the red window seat cushion, 

but I have made 3 cushion covers since 2003 when we added the window seat and with a dead sewing machine, I needed a simpler solution.

I found this chenille bedspread in the attic - one of two on the twin beds in my childhood room.

I decided that after a white look for a few months, I will be happy to return to the red cushion cover so I simply wrapped the chenille spread around the existing cushion.

My favorite quilt was added mainly because I just like to look at it.

Next up was some new pillows - I love the white, but I am ready for some color.

My sweet sister-in-law, Carrell, gifted me with a remnant of Waverly check fabric because she said it just looked like my style.

There was just enough fabric for two pillows and KC's sewing machine works well enough until I can decide on a new machine.

The red striped pillow was made out of a table runner that I never use.

We are having a cold and rainy January so I decided that having my embroidery

and some reading material on hand are a nice touch for the room.

The colorful pillows brighten the room on the cold gray days of January.

As you can see, Lulu has given the new look her stamp of approval.

The Happy New Year banner will come down soon, but I am content with it for now.

And now that the dining room has a fresh look, I need to find just the place for my latest acquisition.

A wonderful friend just gave me a vintage cart and I have no idea where to put it.

What are you up to in these first days of the new year?

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DIY Vintage Chic - Friday's Five Features

Oh, the wonders!

I don't remember when I first read the book, 84 Charing Cross Road, but I immediately loved the concept of strangers corresponding for years and developing a comfortable friendship.

If you are not familiar with the story, it is written by New Yorker Helene Hanff about the 20 year correspondence she maintained with Frank Doel, the chief buyer of Marks & Co antiquarian booksellers in London, England.

Recently, I realized that through blogging and Instagram, I have formed relationships not unlike the friendship of Helene Hanff and Frank Doel.

On Wednesday, I saw this picture on Instagram with the following message

Despite having a female dog, I had no answers, but through Instagram, I have become friends with the lovely @pmacaulay who is a bit of a dog whisperer so I left the following comment.

Soon I saw that Shelley of @peoniesandtumbleweedblog had left me a comment.

And not far below that comment, I saw that Patricia had seen my comment and responded just as I knew she would do.

Next was Shelley's response to Patricia

followed by Patricia thanking me for getting her involved.

The conversation ended with Shelley's comment to both Patricia and me.

@peoniesandtumbleweedsblog is absolutely correct that we truly do have an amazing community

and I love the daily connections with friends made through social media.

Patricia and I were connected once again as I put these fun towels in Steve's kitchen today (they photographed much nicer on the baker's rack) because she lovingly chose them for me to fit my primary color palette and love of the ocean.

I also connected with Karen of The Feral Turtle today when I spotted this grouping of little red hearts in the entry. 

Karen sent me the hearts and these cool Asian discs (along with other fun Christmas decor) in the Christmas Ornament Exchange organized by Vicki of Life on Willie Mae Lane.

That connection led me to Vera of Row Homes and Cobblestones

as I placed a little creature in the vignette because she inspired my collection of mice.

As I write this, Steve is making a lovely prime rib dinner which will be served on these beautiful Pfaltzgraff Pistoulet dishes which were a gift from Kris of Junk Chic Cottage.

Mary Alice of Chateau Chic and @chateau.chic has no idea that we made a connection today, but this gorgeous mantel vignette I saw on her blog this morning led to my using stars on my mantel this afternoon.

Random connections and inspiration

with sweet people from all around the world are why I love blogging and Instagram.

Just as Helene Hanff and Frank Doel never met, and I might never meet my blogging or IG friends, but oh, the wonders of social media.

Thanks to all my blogging friends for connections ... friendships ... ideas ... and so much more.