Thursday, April 22, 2010

A Vintage Chandelier for My Kitchen Island

While out scouring the vintage shops today I found the perfect chandelier for my kitchen island! No island yet, but the chandelier is waiting!


Not just white and not just dark!
And just enough sparkle to be fun!


It's even been re-wired! And the price was fabulous, too!


I absolutely adore chandeliers like this one from RichardandRuthie on Etsy, but I think the colors would be just to much for my space. I love to look at it, though!



Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Happy Etsyversary MissesKwittys

One of my many Cottage Style friends on Etsy is MissesKwittys - in fact my first team purchase was some sweet tags from her shop!

Anyway, she is having a fabulous giveaway in her shop to celebrate her 4th Etsy-versary! Just click on the photo below to go to her blog and enter!


She is practically famous for her sweet birdies!


And now they're in a gift pack!

She has other goodies as well, so make sure you check our her shop!








Something New

I have been working on something new and I have finally finished one completely to put in my shop! Fun and cottage style hooks for your jewelry or whatever needs a spot.

I'm trying to decided if I should continue with the ribbon up top. It would only be decorative if you wanted to hang heavy items (I put hangers on the back), but I really like it (and I already have holes drilled in 4 of them!).


This one is still in progress and has a totally different feel, more "old world," less cottage-y.

Monday, April 19, 2010

I Won - Thank you Catnap Cottage!!

I won my first blog giveaway ever! I don't enter that many - only the ones I really want to win, so I was super excited to win these fab sachets from CatnapCottage - she has a beautiful shop on Etsy!



Aren't they gorgeous?! And they smell divine, too!

She also has amazing vintage chenille and the coolest vintage feedsack pillows!


Lucky me! Thank you CatnapCottage!!

Sunday, April 18, 2010

A Great Day for Soccer - and Wildflowers

It's a good thing we left for our soccer trip early - and that I remembered my camera. The wildflowers in South Texas are amazing right now! In between Cuero and La Vernia the colors were breathtaking as we drove through today! I wish you could have been there!







I managed to get a bug enjoying the flowers as well!


And we did make it in time for some soccer!





Wednesday, April 14, 2010

New Cabinets for our Kitchen

They're finally here! We won't be able to have them installed for a month or so, but how cool to actually see them! It's so tempting to rip off all the packaging!

How cool to never lose anything in that corner cupboard again!


The lower cabinets and island are simple panels in a dark brown.


A pull-down space for all my sponges and scrubbies in the sink cabinet!


I can't wait to have room for my plates - two doors are going to be so much more practical than three! No more twisting the plates to get them out!


All of the upper cabinets will be a creamy white beadboard with a light brown glazing (built-in dust!)


Look at all this trim - so glad I don't have to figure out where it all goes. Oh, wait, I probably do - I just won't have to actually attach it myself!

For now I just have to imagine them installed! Everything has been ripped out for a while now and I'm excited to see how the kitchen will feel with an island and actual eating area instead of a cramped u-shaped kitchen. Although, I must say I am enjoying the space with only a sink, dishwasher, and fridge.


Countertops will be next and then figuring out the backsplash. I may have to repaint or save up for lots of tile. I don't really like the tile/wall contrast to the left of the venthood. Of course the tile I like is being discontinued so I will be rethinking the whole plan! Any ideas? Oops - almost forgot stools - counter height - and I haven't even started looking yet.


Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Swedish Texas Cemetery Search


This week has been amazing! My cousin from Sweden (that I have only been in contact with through letter and email) came to visit with her husband and two friends. My great-grandfather and her grandfather were brothers. Thanks to google I have seen photos of the historical marker at the Type Cemetery, but have never made the visit (it's not a very easy place to find!) Armed with some information from an older cousin, we went in search of some history.

Jonas Sunvison, my great -grandfather (my dad's dad's dad).


I have read this part of the inscription many times, but never imagined that Christina Fredrickson was my great-great-great grandmother! My cousin's husband did research not only on my great-grandfather's side of the family, but also some on my great-grandmother's side (so sweet, and so unexpected!).







Also, the gravesite of my great-grandmother's parents, August and Amanda Nyman (Christina's daughter).



Then we made a 3 hour or so drive west to West Sweden (a "ghost town", marked only by the cemetery), quite isolated, but easier to find, where my great-grandparents and their 3-year-old daughter were buried.



My grandparents and father lived in this area until sometime during or after the 1950s drought (1950-1957.)