My dining room has benefited from one of her remodels- these are all three signed artist prints from a gallery she purchased them in. At first I wasn't sure they would work- I don't use much rich dark greens- but, the gilded frames and the burgundy is dark enough to look well with the more vintage fabrics in my living room.
I have come to really enjoy these pictures.
OK- the dining room isn't finished. I am not used to ceramic tile floors, and we need nice rugs in the dining room, living room, and a runner down the hallway. This room looks a little barren without a rug under the table. P.S.- she also gave me the centerpiece on the table. The dining room table, along with the china cabinet pictures below this thread and a buffet were all auction finds in West Virginia. Isn't this all beautiful? Yes, yes, the china cabinet or the buffet would fit on the opposite wall- but, thats actually where we store the high chairs, which for picture purposes, were pushed into the breakfast room. :-P
The above were parted with because of the chip in the frame on one of them. Until she saw it on my wall, I don't know that she realized it wasn't noticeable. I have two ovals with similar rose "library prints" and ornate frames that match these perfectly. We are just looking for a spot to hang them.
This is the prettiest lamp I have ever seen, and she decided it didn't go with her new tables at the new house. I was actually trying to find something close to it on our budget, when she pulled it out and gave it to me this past Christmas. I was so afraid she would change her mind that I nudged Duane to stick it in the trunk of our car that minute. Isn't that horrid??? He knew I had spent months trying to find that lamp! *edit- she replaced that lamp with one thats even prettier! Oh my goodness does she have good taste, its the prettiest lamp I have ever seen and its in her keeping room. Its dark with ceramic fruit on it in the most gorgeous shades of green and bright cranberry and the shade is this gorgeous pleated latte color. Now ITS my favorite lamp!
So, here my challenge. She visited me this week and brought me *these*. I don't really care for them (and they are larger than they appear here). She was very enthusiastic about how nice they would look in our home. I don't own anything mauve, and this is an odd shade of green. I might could make them look shabby if they were above a shelf with some vintage china, but I don't know... its probably the oldest pictures shes given me- they were at one of their offices (one they haven't used since 1999) and they have decided to sale the building this office was located in. So, she and her husband were prepping the building for sale and "thought of me". *edit- I have stared at the three prints for so long trying to figure out where to hang them that now I want to keep these. Hee, hee. Something about them is very sweet.
My mom begged me to one of them to my grandmothers home. She is 87, and has a bedspread with magnolias on it. I might would do that, if it weren't for driving seven hours with three pictures that would be taking up the space of a jumperoo for the babies!!! *edit- my grandmother did take one of the pictures and I know my sil would be thrilled with how happy this made her~ she put the picture of the victorian like lady with the purple background in her bedroom. My mom says grandma is very impressed with it.
If anyone has advice on how to make these look less "country victorian" let me know.
In sad news, my grandmothers dog died last night. "Precious" has been my grandnothers best friend for 13 years. She had a autoimmune blood disease and died in her sleep. Whats sad, to me, is that I believe my grandmother believes her health is too ailing and she won't "live long enough" to invest in another dog, and yet having Precious gave her so much joy and also Precious was a barker so no one could come in on my grandma without her knowing.
This also makes me feel a little sorry for myself because at the time grandma was given Precious, I was given "Mr. Smith"- my shihtzu. And my aunt found her dog "Kelsey". Smitty is 12, and Kelsey is also 12. Kelsey is on medication for her heart- she has too much fluid on it. Smitty, thus far, has been healthy, but he doesn't hear as well as he used to. He is my first pet as a "grown up". I am not prepared to have an adult lesson about losing him!!! Precious dying just hits a little too close to home.
Grandma does have two cats- "Pumpkin" and "Annie".
Speaking of ANNIE, and now I am just rambling... my grandmothers name is "Anna-Mae". She LOVES her name. She passed on "Anna" to my mother, "Ann" to her older sister, and "Mae" to her youngest daughter. Then, she gets this cat and names it "Annie". It kind of gives us all the giggles... how much she loves her own name! I only hope Matilda loves her name so much. :-)
5 comments:
Hi Lizzie,
Thanks for coming to visit! The Lilacs are lovely, I like visiting my mum and dad's house (only 20 mins walk away) to look at the garden. Mum has recently retired so has much more time to spend on it!
Isn't your sister in law generous! I'm going to have to start passing stuff onto my brother and his girlfriend who are just setting up home, my sister just comes round and "liberates" what she likes!!!
Lizzie, I understand about the table sentiment. I passed on to my son a coffee table that was first my grandparents'. It has teeth marks on the bottom rungs from our very first and precious Labrador Retriever. My son had to agree to never sand them out. LOL Is that extreme sentiment?
I'm so sorry about your grandmother's doggie. It does hurt to lose them. Maybe you could tie the magnolia pictures to the top of the car and take them as a surprise to cheer her up.
My grandmother was Mary Anna. My mother (her daughter) was Mary Laura. We have a big family joke about how many Mary's and Laura's there are in the family who have come after them. I'm the only sibling in my family who had only boys and didn't get to use one of the names, but I am one of the many Laura's.
Lallee
I'm sorry about your grandma's dog.....
About the pictures, if you cannot take them to your grandma, then how about painting the mattes and the frames? Maybe a creamy white (even pinkish) matte? And the frame some color that goes with your decor .... or perhaps metallic, as it looks like you have some gold frames..... Just an idea; would soften them up a bit!
:)
I'm so sorry to hear your grandmother lost her doggie. How sad she must be. Your sister-in-law is very generous. I so love magnolias, and just named my Etsy shop, (although there's nothing in it yet), Magnolia Cottage. I'm thinking of renaming my blog that too. The color of your pictures does present a challenge. I like the idea you had of using them with some dishes for a shabby look. Let us know what you end up doing with them. xoxo
Oh Lizzie, cyber hugs to your grandmother for loosing her dog!
I loved peeking into you dining room. Thanks for letting me take a look and I really love your table! Those frames you have the roses in are amazing. Artwork in themselves! I say let go of things that you don't like or they become a burden so you may want to save those pictures for the next time you do see your grandmother.
I hope Matilda does love her name. I do! My nieces call me Aunt Matilda ~ long story.
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