January 2017 – piddlin'

Piddlin’ Wish List | This Kitchen

‘pressed while thinking of what we’ll be noshing on for the “Big Game” next Sunday…Go Falcons!

As I began to write this week’s post about wire egg baskets –to be continued– I realized I would be remiss to not first discuss this D R E A M of a kitchen gilt with piddlin’ decor:

source

Where do I begin?!

the chalkboard made from an antique mirror + funny enough, similar to ours! // A chalkboard in the kitchen; little makes more sense! //
The wire egg crate holding apples // how have I not thought of that?! //
the beautifully aged wood walls…
the unreal jadeite collection… // surely this is the precise color of envy! //
the whitewashed original wood panels inside the pantry…

Wouldn’t you just love to see the rest of this home!? // You can by the way, simply follow the source link above. //

We have a dear family friend whose home is decorated in this way, ceiling to floor, front door to back porch. Without her as my first piddlin’ muse, I may not even know about this style of living! You know who you are–JB! Also, big thanks to mom for introducing us. There is such an incredible energy I get just walking into + through her home each time I visit…every item of piddlin’ decor just seems speak to me + each piece has been placed with the utmost thought + intention making for a very cozy home, regardless of size. One of my favorite features in her home is an antique screen door on her pantry as well as the bathroom full of mirrors! // “Don’t forget to sign the guest book!”–yes, really. //

This vignette above captures my home’s style perfectly. What a better way to make old things new, than turning one’s piddlin’ finds into piddlin’ decor that help keep things tidy to boot!? Swoonworthy!

What do you love most here? I would so love if you’d tell me how you use your favorite antique around your home!

Speaking of…more to come on egg crates next week, plus it’s almost time for February, which means all things: ❤️💘💕💖😍

| keep piddlin’

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Piddlin’ Decor | Coke Crates

‘pressed in the pauses of a crazy full season of life!

The vintage coke crate.^

There are a great many uses for this quintessential piddlin’ find. Be ‘ware of imitators!

I first brought this crate back to Ryan (filled with cans of RC Cola) + he loved it so much, we decided to use it at our wedding reception to serve them up once again as a parting snack: RC Colas + moon pies.

We also have used a few of these sturdy wooden boxes to organize our movie collection, though I have since consolidated them as a part of the all-important collection culling process I last wrote about. (More to follow on that soon!)

These crates, four or five in all, have also been a convenient home to the dog’s items: his brush, ball, collar, dog bags + leash. They have also served as our catch-all spot by the front door for the last five years, cordially known as “the front box”. Keys, tide pens, lint rollers, mail, sunglasses, Burts’ bees, sunscreen…you name it. It is one of the first antiques I gifted to Ryan to “fill his house”.

Most recently, this same crate has helped us corral + display children’s books + was an instant hit with my toddler who loves to read!

This piddlin’ find has become a functional must-have piece of piddlin’ decor around our nest over the years + could easily be used for even more purposes. See more inspiration for decorating/organizing with coke crates by searching “coke crates” on Pinterest or Google + please do let me know how you would use yours!

(^) “coke” is of course Southern for any type of soda, though I should mention Coca~Cola is #1 at our nest!

| keep piddlin’!

Piddlin’ Decor | Curating + Culling Collections

‘pressed while watching my Seattle Seahawks play the Falcons here in Atlanta–Go ‘Hawks!

Turns out moving is tricky for a “collector”…not only did we have many fragile items to pack, but it has made me even more aware of my hoarder tendencies! …I kid, though I as of the New Year I am seriously re-evalutaing which pieces bring me a sense of joy. I had always heard moving to another state can be a catalyst to fixing this problem + I can see why. In a matter of two weeks, it has turned from heavy stressor to exhilarating opportunity!

My beau + I always loved traveling to football games when we were dating, engaged + newly-married, so piddlin’ happened on our way home from most road trips we took. This hobby really took-off after I was describing my love of old things + how I simply had no room in my apartment to add any “new” finds. All he had to say was “you can fill my house with antiques” + it was off to the races!

Fast-forward a year or so, + it was he who had found so many of the fun things that now furnish + organize our married home including this iron lantern pictured above. The lantern was found by my husband + given to me the day we were engaged; it serves as an excellent reminder to only keep the items that bring pleasure/joy/happiness to our home. See the full story of this sentimental antique here.

As each room slowly gets unpacked here, it is encouraging to see each of these “old things” find new purpose or perhaps a new home while I remember their stories. As each year has its seasons, so too may we all have a time to curate + cull our treasured collections!

| keep piddlin’

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Piddlin’ Wish List | Antique Rugs

‘pressed while snackin’ on Trader Joe’s multi-grain pretzel nuggets + cookie butter

Hello there! It’s been a little while! Our second baby girl arrived in late October + oh, what a morning it was. We’ve been savoring her mellow soul, serene eyes + warm snuggles for the past few weeks in her journey from newborn to infant.

These days there is a bit of a changed motive for me when it comes to piddlin’. After two babies, a recent out-of-state move + the start of a new year, I have been keen to thin out the absurd number of “things” we have amassed as a family in the past few years–despite my best efforts to “tidy” a la Marie Kondo. It has even become terribly difficult to continue to accept gifts of any kind because we as a family just don’t “need” anything! We are blessed beyond measure.

On that note, I give you a post -perhaps the first of many- that is an excerpt of a recurring daydream of mine. It is a vision of a home that is simple, warm + seasoned with love, a place free of judgement + chock full of the most intentional kind of hospitality.

Over time, I have come to deeply appreciate the artisanship of beautifully woven rugs, each from far away + long ago. I have only begun to scratch the surface on the heritage of these incredible works of art, but look forward to perusing many a library book on the subject, soon! Here are a few Persian or Turkish woven wonders that have caught my eye during recent early morning musings. See more antique + antique inspired rugs on my “piddlin’ wish list” via Pinterest.

May your Winter Saturday be full of warmth!