Layered Living: dreaming, picking, + quilts

Hello friends! Welcome to my weekly update of all the things happening over here. This week let’s talk about dreaming, picking and quilts.

I noticed last week, I shared a picture of a sunset from up north, but I just had to do it again! Last weekend we were there, and I was sitting at the table when I noticed the light change drastically in the house. I looked outside, and then literally ran!

I have seen a lot of glorious sunsets in my time, especially on the west coast, but never like this. The clouds were voluminous, as it had been stormy earlier, and the play of light all throughout the sky, and on the lake was just spectacular. The picture does not even do it justice.

I love reminders of what an incredible earth we have, how small we are in it, and the general splendor of God’s creations. It was one for the books.

Since one of the highlights this week was me curbside picking, I thought I would take a little stroll down memory lane and share with you the evolution of my thrifting.

Back when we were newly married (a few years in) we bought our first home when I was pregnant with our firstborn. It was a small cottage that was built in 1911, with wide board pine floors, a white picket fence, and a brick chimney that jutted through the center of our bedroom on the second floor.

I could hear the bells chime from a nearby church, which ironically, would be a feature we enjoyed in several other houses we have purchased. Our first “major renovation” was when we needed a new furnace and finally had that old chimney removed. Now the bed could be centered in that tiny room!

When I think of that house, I see my hubby, laying in that bed with the baby snuggled against him, both asleep purring softly. I picture us in that tiny little den, where we watched reruns of “WKRP in Cincinnati” well after midnight because we had a child who didn’t like to sleep. One warm spring, when he was about 2, he had a poop blowout so bad from his diaper, that I took him outside and hosed him off on the deck with the garden hose.

I have often thought that all the people that have lived there since, have no idea that for decades you had to shove your bed up against the window, which was basically in an alcove, and crawl over your partner to get in. I loved that little house.

Every week, the night before trash day, much to my husband’s horror, was the evening I would take a stroll to go picking. Not literal trash picking, but in the off chance something good was put out by the side of the road, I wanted to see it first.

I cannot even tell you why I first started doing this. I was raised definitely bougier than trash picking. But I learned early that with a creative eye, I could make amazing treasures out of another man’s trash. And we were, after all, starting out on our journey of making a life and home together.

This continued for many years, decades really, and soon I had the kids in on it. My youngest teenage daughter once complained how embarrassing it was that while I was dropping her off at a friends, I spotted someone had placed some fabulous concrete planters out near their trash with a big FREE sign on them!

She knew what was happening as I slowed the car down. I simply said how much quicker this could go where her friend wouldn’t see, if she jumped out and helped me! We were done in seconds flat, and she was safely to her friend’s house, reputation still intact.

I don’t know what it is about large concrete planters, but people who like perfection tend to get rid of them just at the point where I think they are getting interesting. While living in California, my neighbor a few doors down threw hers to the curb too.

This time, I knocked on the door to make sure she really didn’t want them. Then I walked home, got my son’s skateboard, and rolled them home one at a time. Those suckers were heavy. Our family motto, “When there’s a (will) Jill, there’s a way!”

I guess the truth is, I like old stuff. I prefer imperfect. Things and people become a bit more interesting when there is a history. Wrinkles don’t scare me, but what does, is a life without purpose. Even if it’s only a neighborhood stroll on a trash day.

Dreaming

With all the projects I have going on, and because I like to look at real estate for entertainment, I have been doing a lot of dreaming. Some nights, if I have found an especially neglected house for sale online that looks like it might need me, I lay awake and redecorate it in my head.

Since dreaming implies sleeping, I probably should use a different turn of phrase, but since I have no plans on buying it then dreaming it is.

My favorite way to get inspired and support my house fantasies is to look through a stack of design magazines or books. I always have a pile bedside, on the coffee table, or in my favorite little vintage magazine rack. Ready to get inspired, and keeping my brain cells moving!

Get inspired!

Visit my Amazon shop for a list of my favorite design books (yes, I own every one!)

shop here

Some of my faves include the husband and wife team of Steve and Brooke Giannetti, old books from Charles Faudree (who is now deceased), and a plethora of other design books.

From Bunny Williams to Lauren Liess, a bit of Martyn Lawrence Bullard or Kathryn Ireland, getting lost in the magic of making a house a home feeds my soul. It literally gives me oxygen. But my all time fave is knowing that I don’t have to live in a world without the imagination of my favorite southern design guru, James Farmer.

Whatever you are dreaming about these days, I hope it’s something that excites you! And if it doesn’t maybe you need a morning stroll on trash day.

Picking

As we headed up north last weekend, I was taking a shortcut to avoid town. Luckily I happened upon the perfect little curbside find! Grateful I was driving, and could slow down a bit.

I hesitated just a tad, and my hubby seriously looked at me and said, “you’re leaving that behind?”. Yea, no I couldn’t. So I backtracked, politely asked for him to get out and grab it, and we were on our way. Score!

When we got to the cottage, I was reminded of another item that I had rescued. Almost 4 decades ago I found a little bench that sits in our cottage bedroom. It is where I place my bag each time we visit. Although it has been repainted and reupholstered a few times, I still remember the day I rescued it from the curb.

I pick for two reasons. Wait, maybe three. One, it feeds my desire to save stuff and give it new life. Two, I sell vintage in an amazing antique mall that is busy all the time. I continually need stuff to refill my booth. And three, once in awhile I find things for me to keep.

This solid wood, very heavy and sturdy chair is in need of an upholstery job. Thankfully that is a skill I possess. Although, I do have too many projects waiting in the wings to admit to.

Or maybe it could go right in my booth, styled with a fall or spooky Halloween vignette as is. Only time will tell, but stopping is always worth it! Keep your eyes peeled. You never know what you’ll find.

Quilts

I was playing around with my stack of quilts the other day, wondering if I had any that were “cutters”. What’s a cutter you ask? Why it is merely one that was over loved and has lost any full value as an antique quilt. Quilts often still have parts that you can make into something new.

Quilt pieces can be made into crafts, used to embellish clothing or other home decor, and still offer the charm of a bygone era. I love this sweatshirt I made using old quilt pieces for the letters.

There is a vendor where I sell at that often has small stacks of cut pieces ready for a project. I picked up this blue and white piece just the other day. And a soft green and white quilt may have followed me home. It’s always fun to add quilts to my display.

There are so many fun ways you can use and display quilts. If you are a fan of quilts, you might want to check out this post I wrote sharing ideas of how to display quilts.

Okay, still working with the word of the month, REPLENISH. Have you thought at all about how this can work for you?

I have let it inspire me in several ways. These monthly words have been really helpful for me to focus on goals and changing things up. I hope that you have found them helpful as well.

Until next week

Thanks for spending some time with me this week. Drop a comment below and tell me how things are going for you. What are you dreaming of or spending your time on?

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