tweaks around here

so i've been doing a little bit of tweaking around here.

remember my monogram gallery wall?  

you can read about it here.  and also a big, BIG thank you to the cottage market for featuring my monogram gallery wall. 

my first feature ever!  super exciting.

one of my goals for  my blog for 2015 was to be featured on someone else's blog.  

so i'm truly honored and appreciate the love.

 it was totally unexpected and a great surprise to accomplish it in the 1st quarter of the year. 

if you haven't visited them yet you should.  they have a great linky party every friday.

now here is how the wall looks like now.

not a huge change, but enough to fill out & round off the wall better.

remember what i said about gallery walls not really having a beginning or an end?

so i just added some more details.  you all know how that goes.

the only new "m" addition is the small zinc one at the bottom & i added a frame around it to give it more presence due to it's size.

i also added a frame to the black "m" on the top left hand corner in order to ground it more into the display. 

i added the "life is beautiful" sign which left then a void over the round "m" at the top right so i added the cast iron scroll motif.

in making these small changes i also had to slightly move some of the other "m"s to maintain a balance and pleasing composition to the eye.

i have 9 "m"s keeping to the odd # rule, but now there are 4 frames|framed elements & that might  start to bug me.  lol!  time will tell.

i'm really liking the way it looks & although i like the new sign, i really want one that reads happily ever after for that spot.  i'll keep hunting for one & when i find it i have the perfect spot in the master for this one.

another thing i tweaked recently is the curio cabinet in the kitchen.

there's nothing wrong with the way it was but i just wanted it to be more functional, making some of the items we use more often more accessible.

and update some of the pretty pieces i've been adding to my many collections.

this is what the top of the cabinet looked like before.

it started to be a catch all for miscellaneous items rather than a pleasing vignette.

the curio opens in two sections and this is what the top looked like.

many of the pieces i wasn't using regularly and they were just taking up space.

this is what the bottom part looked like.

some of these pieces i'm using regularly & it wasn't convenient to bend down all the time.

so...not terrible...but not what i wanted to look at anymore.

so i started by totally emptying the curio cabinet & giving it a good cleaning, which it badly needed .

this way i started with a blank slate and it cleared my mind.

i also drew a rough sketch of what i wanted it to look like, but as i started to work on it i also changed & adapted to what worked best & made more sense.

this is how it all looked after i was done.

it isn't a huge change but it's much prettier & functional for me.

i put my green urns back on top that i use to have awhile ago.  i didn't have the green crate & watering can then so i think it rounds out the look nicely.

the top shelf has all my pretty tureens.  not sure when or how i started collecting them but i only pick them up when i think the price is right.

i use my green depression glass and some of my silver plate pieces a lot!  for decorating or entertaining or staging or whatever.

on the last shelf is the everyday plates from my childhood that i shipped with my parent's estate when i brought everything up from uruguay.  i love them & we use them often!  also my pasta bowls that we use frequently since i make a lot of pasta.  that's what happens when you marry into an italian family.  lol.

on the bottom i have the pieces i use less frequently & my server ware.  it's easier to just grab a single item from the bottom than a stack of heavy plates.

i can now check that off the list since i've been wanting to do it for awhile.

it's those little tweaks that don't seem to be that big of a deal AND then end up being a bigger project than expected, BUT are so worth doing because i smile every time i look at them and they make me HAPPY!

sharing @:

amaze me monday @ dwellings-the heart of your home

motivate me monday @ keeping it simple crafts

motivational monday @ burlap & babies

show & share @ coastal charm

the scoop @ stonegable

something to talk about @ karen's up on the hill

inspire me monday @ my uncommon slice of suburbia

metamorphis monday @ between naps on the porch

inspire me tuesday @ a stroll thru life

tweak it tuesday @ cozy little house

what's it wednesday @ ivy & elephants

sizzle into summer @ diy by design

wow us wednesday @ southern savvy style

wordless wednesday @ oh my heartsie girl

your turn to shine @ anderson + grant

think & make @ table & hearth

share your cup thursday @ have a daily cup of mrs. olson

home & garden thursday @ a delightsome life

feathered nest friday @ french country cottage

home sweet home @ the charm of home

frugal friday @ the shabby nest

morning cup of joe @ the cottage market

simple & sweet friday @ rooted in thyme

shabbilicious friday @ shabby art boutique

saturday sparks @ pieced pastimes

sundays at home @ love of home

before & after wednesday @ the dedicated house

 

 

 

 

 

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Comments

[Cynthia - Clockwork Interiors]

Stopping by from a Stroll Thru Life -- love your monogramed wall and your painted telephone stand! Brings back memories as we had one just like it growing up!

[Jann Olson]

Mary Jo, I too loved your monogram wall. In fact I featured it back in March. I don't think you knew because I was not able to leave a comment. Here is the link.
http://jannolson.blogspot.com/2015/03/share-your-cup-thursday-139.html
Thought you might want to know that you were featured at not only one, but two blogs. :) You also have a beautiful collection in your curio cabinet. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann

[Sherry]

I love your "M" wall! Thanks for joining Home Sweet Home!