Table Dressings...

The Nester is having a party!







As my nest is still under restoration...I'll just be sharing a little snippet...a few twigs, some canvas, and bits of straw...




In the early 1980's, whilst visiting the home of our paternal grandparents in Minnesota, one of my brothers discovered something hidden behind some shrubs beside the garage. Stacked in pieces and coated in layers of paint, was an antique dressing table. My grandmother said that my brother, who wanted to use it for a school project, could have it. And so, it was packed up alongside our big red Coleman cooler in the back of our "wood-sided" white Mercury station wagon for our 3 day drive back home to Washington State. What a perfect divider between my brothers in the center-back passenger seats...and my nest in the way-very-back. When my brother finished restoring the table...he gave it to me! I have always thought that the legs were too sweet to cover them with a skirt.



My parents purchased the painting of a boy and his dog at an art fair in Minnesota in the 1960's. The straw fedora on the little lamp was my grandfather's. The little porcelain bouquet was a gift to my mother from my grandmother...but it has been with me for as long as I can remember. I bought the tiniest frames at Nordstrom in the early 90's. They used to sell the little silver-plated ones for $3.00 each. The tiny round frame is Italian and cost a bit more. The frames behind the perfume and the Ikea ($9.99) alarm clock, are also old family keepsakes. The paper snippets tucked into the frame of the painting include a couple of pretty postcards, a vintage comic, and 2 old attendance cards from the church where my parents were married, Powderhorn Park Baptist. I bought the little lamp under the fedora at target for around $20..I think...it took me a while to decide between the table or floor lamp version.



Under the table is a vintage suitcase for which I paid between $1.99 and $14.99...I can't remember. The little straw purse with pretty pink lining (not shown) is from Victoria Secret. I have several cute handbags from Victoria Secret and Bath and Body works...they came filled with yummy lotions and such. As for my hat, my straw hat is from an Australian company called, "Corroboree." I used to work in a boutique that sold them. I believe I paid about $22 dollars for it in 1997.



The fir floor, baseboard molding, and 1/4 round trim are original to the house...which, like the antique dressing table...came coated in layers and layers of paint. The newest layers were provided by me...along with a plaster treatment and buttercream glaze on the walls. Mmmm...buttercream glaze...now that sounds like a great table dressing for a party!

That's absolutely true...so I'm adding this ol' post to Miss Mustard Seeds New Year's Favorite Furniture Linky Party! 
Happy New Year blessings to you!!!
: )
Julie M.
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