While Emily Naps: Pinwheels, Pinwheels spinning Around!

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Two days a week, I am lucky to be the Nanny to my sweet granddaughter, Emily.  She keeps me hopping when she is awake!

 

However, Emily still takes several naps a day so while she sleeps, I don other hats.  This past week it was party planner.  Ashley and her friends were hosting a Pin Wheel themed baby shower for one of their dear friends, so while Emily napped I made pinwheels!

 As always, Pinterest provided an abundance of inspiration.  Using the directions on Neverland Nook Blog I began constructing dozens of pinwheels for a wreath and several banners.  Luckily, I had lots of navy and green scrapbook paper in my stash.

The actual construction is very easy, I am sure many of us made these in grade school:  Cut out a square, fold in half from corner to corner, cut along fold line almost to the center, fold corners in and secure!  See detailed directions at Neverland Nook.

 I used ball head straight pins to secure the center of the pinwheels for the wreath.  Cute little button brads secured the pinwheels for the banners.  To keep the pinwheels secure, I hot glued a bead to the back. 

Using a Styrofoam wreath form, I continued making pinwheels until the wreath was full.  The straight pins allowed me to move them around until I was happy with the color arrangement.

 

I decided to wrap the form with fabric as you could see the Styrofoam on the sides and between the pinwheels.  Luckily, I just happened to have a green mini dot in my studio.  I simply tore strips about an inch and a half wide, wrapped them around the wreath and secured the end with another straight pin.

 

 The wreath welcomed guests and set the theme for the shower.

Additional larger pinwheels were strung on twine to festoon the entry table that was decorated with baby pictures of the parents-to-be and a keepsake album made by one of the hostesses.

 One of the other hostesses made an assortment of pinwheels on sticks that adorned the flower arrangements - beautiful azaleas from the yard.

 The game

 And of course the cake!

Love how this gorgeous group of girls took one simple design element and by using it in mass, created a show stopping shower!  For more details, check out An Inviting Abode.

 Have a wonderful weekend!

Wendy

Virtual Yard Sale: Antique Jeweler's Desk

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On our recent trip to Renninger's in Mount Dora, I was  excited to stumble upon a great antique jeweler's desk!  Pottery Barn had introduced a reproduction (the Portland Desk) this year that I loved, but how cool is the real thing?

Unfortunately, after experimenting with it in several different rooms, I have decided I just don't have a place for it.  (Hunky Handy Man is getting tired of moving it!)  As much as I love it, I have decided it just won't work in my home and am giving my readers first chance at this treasure.

Need a work station in a small space?  This desk offers a generous work space plus 15 drawers to store all your supplies.  (Hmm, didn't try my studio - great storage for all of my crafting supplies.)

All original hardware.  A fabric lined apron slides out from below the drawers, it was used by jewelers and watchmakers to catch small pieces and hold tools they were using.

Entertaining? It would make a great bar.

Looking for a vanity?  The original attached lamp can be raised or lowered to provide great lighting while the drawers could store make up or jewelry.

If my guest room where only a little bigger it could serve as all three for my visitors - desk, vanity, mini bar!  Great paired with an industrial chair, but if space is limited, a stool could be stored underneath.

Manufactured by the J.H. Rosberg Manufacturing  Co..

Dimensions:  40.25 x 19.75 x 38.75

$550

Sold!

Any questions, leave a comment or email me at Twosinks@gmail.com

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Miss Mustard Seed

 

Chapin Group Interiors Etsy Shop is Live!

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Our Etsy Shop went live today!  We are learning the best way to photograph our products and list them, so only six items so far.  We will be adding more daily so be sure to check back.

I fell in love with this sweet poodle's face and bead poufs - not sure of the correct term in coiffing dogs.

These beauties just made me smile when I found them in Mt. Dora, Florida.  So many fun ways you could use them.

I love to use interesting architectural pieces in vignettes on bookshelves, mantels and tabletops.





Here is another set used as bookends on some shelves I was styling.  (Forgot to  take another picture after I centered the books!)

How about a bowling score sheet print plate for the bowler in your life?  Father's Day is coming up.

My Dad was an avid fisherman so I am always drawn to antique fishing lures.   These primitive, sculptural pieces would look great in a printer's tray or shadow box.

 

Watch for more great items coming soon!

 

Wendy



Out and About: Antique Stores in Statham, Georgia

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Last summer I took the backroads between appointments (somewhat intentionally). While trying to make my way to Bogart, I stumbled upon the charming town of Statham. Not having time to stop, I decided to try and visit the antique shops along the highway another time. Recently, two people have raved about Factory Antiques, so I decided it was time!

Well, I am sorry I waited so long!  What a great shop.  Part of the Georgia Antique Trail, Factory Antiques has 14,000 square feet and 50 booths.   They have an impressive variety of merchandise.  We spotted many sold signs throughout the store - inventory turns fast so be sure to snag any items you really want.

Here are a few items my intern picked up.  I had a plant mister very similar to this in college - guess it would be vintage now!

 Second floor treasures

Great storage piece







Lots of great architectural salvage

Wouldn't she be fun to dress for the holidays?

Great prices on painted furniture

Down the street is another great little shop called Rewind.  Only open on Friday and Saturday, they had a great mix of furniture, art and accessories.

Susan picked up this great chair for her loft for only $60.  The painted wood and piping detail really update this traditonal chair.

Looks great with her Ava desk from Pottery Barn!

Along the Tracks antiques is located in the old train station.  Unfortunately, my memory card was full by the time we got here so not many pictures.  (Plus I get so involved looking for treasures, I forget to take pictures!)

Susan did snap this picture of the great vintage bikes hanging in the back of the shop.

 

Statham has a free "garage sale" every Saturday where anyone can set up in the parking lot.  Starting in May, they also host a farmer's market each Saturday.  Definitely worth the drive!

 

Coming soon:  Pictures of my finds!

 

Wendy



 







Easter picnic in Grant Park

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Our family is big on holiday traditions, but last year we (I) decided an Easter picnic would be more relaxing for the adults and more fun for the children (plus I didn't have to clean my house!)  Although much more casual than previous Easter celebrations, I did find pretty paper plates and napkins and brought my Pottery Barn Caterer's Wine glasses along with various lettuce leaf serving pieces I have collected.  And of course we set the table with the vintage plastic bunny silverware we have had since my children were small. 









We had so much fun last year, we decided on a repeat performance, but at a different park.  As there were no picnic tables near the playground at Grant Park we brought a small card table, a little crowded but still pretty.  Two years in a row, Target has fooled me with their paper table cloths.  I expected the pattern to be all over, but when you open the package, Surprise! only the borders are patterned.  Oh well, live and learn.  If they fool me next year, it is my own fault.  By the way, the selection of paper goods at Target the night before Easter is severely limited!  Crazy week but should have put this task higher on the to do list!

The menu was also a repeat performance as requested by several family members.It included both pimento and egg salad sandwiches, gingered carrot soup, deviled eggs, fruit salad, Mimosas and carrot cupcakes.  Being a transplant to the South, I was unfamiliar with pimento cheese until recently.  I am now an addict!  Not being a mayonnaise fan, I make it with cream cheese, good cheddar cheese and a jar of pimentos.  The egg salad is a recipe I have used for years from the Silver Palette cookbook for Mustard Dill Egg Salad - again choosing a good mustard makes all the difference.

The carrot soup with ginger and lemon recipe came from family friends, Jon Mayes and Nancy Butler (Nancy also taught me to make pimento cheese).  You can find the soup recipe here on Epicurious.  It is good both hot and cold.  These half pint canning jars are perfect for both serving and transporting.  I serve it with a dollop of Greek yogurt, a lemon wedge and shredded carrots for garnish.  So good!

 

Ray Ray (as Ken is called by the grand kids) made the beautiful fruit salad.  "No filler fruit" I overheard someone comment.  The grand kids devoured it.

Ashley found this recipe for guacamole deviled eggs on Pinterest Saturday night and decided to make them at the last minute.  She only had 9 eggs so was creative in spacing them in her egg tray.  I am not a huge fan of deviled eggs but these were wonderful. Watch for the recipe on her blog, An Inviting Abode.





For dessert, I made our family favorite carrot cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.  Being from Fremont, Michigan - Baby Food Capital of the World - I make them using a recipe from the Gerber Baby Food Festival Cook Off that uses Gerber Carrots instead of shredded carrots.  So much easier and my family loves it.  Check out the recipe at An Inviting Abode.

Addyson is a big fan of the cream cheese frosting!



Everett thought the park was much more fun than Neena's

dining room!





Next year Sydney and Emily will be running around too!

Hope everyone had a lovely Easter. 

 

What recipes are your family's Easter Favorites?

 

Wendy