Where in the world ...

... have I been?

While I could fill this space with the long story, I'd rather just share this photo of a super lovely globe I found while browsing Etsy! I consider myself pretty lucky to have found two vintage globes at really good prices. I consider myself silly and forgetful for not going back to that one booth at the flea market I was at this weekend to pick up #3 for less than $10 ... you know the feeling, don't you?

Plant one on us

If you've read this blog for any time now, you probably have gathered that I have a short attention span. I also have pretty big ambitions and sometimes my eyes are bigger than my stomach.

Enter succulents.

I have this thing for succulents right now. I've never been a green thumb, but decided its time to update my faux plants for some real ones. And for some reason, I think I can handle some succulents. Plus it's a good excuse to do some browsing on Etsy to find some super cute planters! I'm very drawn to these kitschy animal ones.

What's your latest ambition or obsession?

Etsy Therapy

I try to be a good girl, I really do. I try to put my money directly from my PayPal account to my checking account.

But sometimes I shop.

Here's a couple things I ordered this week.

I've developed an obsession with donkeys. It's fairly new, so counting the original Donkey this cute lil guy will make number 3. I bought it at kitschandcurious ... the name says it all!

I've been thinking about pillows a lot lately and decided I was in need of some vintage decorative ones. I fell in love with this one from enhabiten. It's the reason I make my bed now.

I'm off to transfer my money before the rest of it is gone!

Today I like ...

Aprons.

But who doesn't?

Click on the photos to be directed to the Etsy shop!

Vignette-ing

The other day I decided it sounded fun to use some furniture and pieces from my Etsy inventory to play an interior designer (at heart)'s idea of dress up. Vignette-ing, I called it.

If nothing else, it was a great opportunity to dust. I did have some fun and realized that I really need to get cracking on getting a booth space in a local antique mall.

Here's a couple options I came up with.

This is when I decided Chester and Donkey needed booth space.

And that's when I started decorating for myself. I hung some pictures from my shop in my dining room ...

And add some branches (that I trekked in the snow for) to my pitcher. I liked the look of something rustic in something so elegant and rich looking!

Then I added my $5 chippy table to the mix, along with some more recent finds.

I love these wire baskets! This one is filled with some vintage fruit that belonged to my grandma!

Vignette-ing can be a lot of work, but it sure is fun to have lots of goodies on hand to switch around my decor!

Catchy!

I daydream more than any adult probably should, but usually they are fairly creative and useful dreams. Today, while watching the snow fall in the Midwest, I played around with my new photos on Photobucket. I'm a big fan of Photobucket if you didn't know by now ... it makes me feel a little bit like a "real" photographer.

I was thinking about Chester and Donkey becoming its very own store, maybe on a Main Street in Somewhere, USA. I decided that I'd need a slogan ... a catch phrase, maybe. So I came up with this!

Though I've never been, I kind of have a thing for the "Virginia is for lovers" slogan. Maybe because Virginia is my grandma's name or maybe because I'm a helpless romantic at heart ... umm, where was I? Oh yeah ... Vintage is for lovers, according to Chester and Donkey.I love my little swans ... I think they're pretty. This one is kind of a play on words, because I think it's funny how we say things like "that was pretty difficult". Pretty = very, I guess, so its pretty vintage and (very) pretty vintage.

I definitely wanted to use these cute little salt and pepper shakers. After much (too much, actually!) thought I decided to tie in the number of pieces with Chester AND Donkey ... two heads are better than one!
Though I won't be adopting a catch phrase any time soon, I do enjoy editing my photos ... and trying to be witty!

I can't get enough ...

... of art deco. I guess it's the "architect" in me.

I have a big thing for the colors - I always think of turquoise, red, gold, and black specifically. I am enamored with the clean but ornate lines and designs.

My eye is drawn to just about everything that matches my idea of art deco. You might notice while browsing through Chester and Donkey that I have a few items tagged art deco. I decided that it was also worthy of an Etsy search and I was not disappointed!

Like this frame? I'm really thinking about buying it. I wouldn't even put pictures in it, would you? And this stapler? My desk needs this ... I don't even care if it works!
I think McCoy really embodies art deco. See what I mean about clean lines? They are so simple, but they make such an impact.

I couldn't resist the chance to show off this beauty.
What's your favorite architectural style?