If a June night could talk, it would probably boast it invented romance...

 Spring is in bloom but it just won't warm up.  This has been one of the longest winters I can remember in New York...Lately I have been trying to preoccupy myself with visions of summer to bring some light to all the gloom.

"In the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer."

 I made little bird's nests in my antique Victorian tea cups complete with little ceramic swallows.  I would like to add something in the middle cup's nest.  Maybe some mini eggs?  Or a cute bow?

 

In the past I have gone for more BOLD bright colors in the spring and summer...pastels...psychedelic hues with a 60's vibe but I have been falling head over heels for the 1940's.  I love the muted "dusty" tones on Sienna Miller  here in The Edge of Love.

 Adorable cardigans everywhere!  A romantic lace dress like this would be perfect for a warm summer's day.  Throw on your pretty pink cardigan and lay in a field watching the sun set. Ahhh...

Found this dress on eBay...way out of my price range but without a doubt one of the most breathtaking vintage pieces I have ever come across.  The dress is almost a Hershey-copper brown, very unique. 

This is by far my favorite summer dress of all time.  Worn by Allie (Rachel McAdams) in The Notebook.

Actual vintage dress from the 1940's and just my luck, I found it on etsy yesterday!  I looks almost identical except for the trim and neckline are a bit different.  It even buttons all the way down the front.  I want to roll the sleeves up and put a darling floral fabric around the cuffs to match the collar like the blue dress seen above.  I will cherish this dress it is too good to be true.

Could you imagine waking up to this every morning right outside your window?  Out in the middle of the woods.

The 1940's brought us some great blouses in woman's fashion.  Kiera Knightley wears this sheer floral blouse/robe in Atonement.

Even under garments were prettier back then.  Silky, smooth girdle you would have a matching corset or bra under your pencil skirt.  Complete with garter belt to clip up your stockings.  Too sexy.  These look crazy but they truly do wonders for your curves.  There is nothing you can buy today that would work better than a girdle under formal wear trust me I have tried. 

Cherry Blossom Awesome!

"First floor washroom...on a budget!"

BEFORE:

NOTE: Tannish Yellow cabinets.

This is our WASHROOM.  

It doubles as a half-bath as well as a laundry room.  The whole idea behind this was to be very tranquil & natural.  I have always had an adoration for traditional Japanese culture in the way they use beautiful dark woods and earth tone colors....ohh yeah and RED.

I first started off with installing the wall shelf  to the left above
($2.99 thrift store)

I had three packages of 1940's postcards from Japan displayed in a row
($8.00 flea market) 

A mini Buddha statue 

($1.99 thrift store)  

Some cherry blossom fragrance sticks  

($1.00 Wegmans)

Above the shelf is an adorable artwork I found of two people holding a heart.  Its all hand cut with teenie-tiny scissors. 

 ($2.99 flea market) 
 

Found this frame at the thrift store.  Its that perfect red color I was looking for.  Inside are three black & white Japanese photo-postcards.

($0.99 Thrift Store)

In the photo above the door to the left is after one coat of "traditional walnut" stain.  The door to the right is the original "tannish yellow" color.  I had a lovely dark shade of "traditional walnut" stain from "Olympic."  It is a great one step premium interior, oil based stain.

($0.99 Real Deals)

 With one coat evenly applied.
(Sorry for the dark photo I didn't have my handy
 dandy Vintage GE hand held spotlight unpacked yet.)

Two coats later & its better than I could have imagined.

 

Medicine cabinet after 2 coats...charming!  Please excuse my finger prints on the mirror.  Work in progress.  Next on my list is the wood behind those lights.

The dark color amplifies the grain so well in the oak. I love how it turned out.  Even better how simple it was.

THE REST OF THE ROOM:

This is the laundry side of the room. 

I Just added the laundry sign on the wall to the left 

($1.00 Real Deals)  

The mini lamp 

(lamp $0.99 + shade $0.99)  

Box to hold dryer sheets was a cute gift basket from Avon 

(freebie!)

Lots of storage above for detergent, sewing kits...etc...

Little Zen table

I stumbled across this at the flea market at a friend's booth

who always gets amazing treasures from fabulous estate sales. 

This table is actually an old cigar side table.  It was handmade in 1914 is signed "Merry X-mas Mrs. Harp from Mrs. Schindler 1914" under the lid.  He offered me the table for free as long as I promised to bring it back to its original glory.  So I attacked it with pledge and here we are today.

 Zen lantern

($2.99 thrift store)

Candles & some " good luck" river stones

($0.99 Dollar Store) 

A couple good old classic books dated before 1950

(freebies)

So far I have only spent a total of = $25.92!

Next I definitely would like to get a new lighter floor to match.

Until next time...