Trending: Busts

Lately, I have been seeing a lot of sculptural busts on some of my favorite blogs.  I'm not sure if they are really a trend, or if I'm just noticing them for the first time.  I'm pretty sure they've been making appearances in shelter magazines for years.  Anyway, here are a few I've spied around the internet lately... (As always, please pin from the original sources.  Thanks!)

After looking at the three images I pinned, I realized these female busts really like wearing jewelry!  I'm pretty sure if I ever get one, she'll manipulate me into buying her some fancy jewelry too!  Anyway, doesn't Nicole's look fabulous with a simple string of pearls?

Source: meohmymama.blogspot.com via Wendy on Pinterest

Edie's Terra cot-ta bust looks lovely with her layered jewelry.

Source: lifeingraceblog.com via Wendy on Pinterest

Finally, Emily's "rock girl" is living it up in some fancy turquiouse beads:

Source: emilyaclark.blogspot.com via Wendy on Pinterest

I am seriously loving these ladies!  If you are loving them too, you can find them in two different sizes at Cost Plus World Market.

Source: worldmarket.com via Wendy on Pinterest

The smaller bust is $19.99 & 11" tall.  The larger lady (no offense) is $39.99 and 17" tall.

All I know, is that one of these girls really needs to move in with me!  I'm so glad to have found them.  Otherwise, this guy might have been coming for a visit!

Source: chia.com via Wendy on Pinterest

Trending: Ball Vases

You may have noticed I gave the ‘ol blog a little makeover recently.  As part of my new look, I am also going to try and add some new content, since the blog has been kind of stagnant lately!  I hope you’ll enjoy this new series I’m putting together on Tuesdays, called “Trending”.  Basically, I keep seeing certain design elements used over & over by some of my favorite home decorating blogs & designers, so I thought I’d share some lovely inspiration with you, as well as sources where you can get the look too!  Here we go…

One of my goals for the new year was to find a new centerpiece for the kitchen table.  I don’t know about you, but coming up with centerpieces & staging table tops does NOT come easy to me!  (Remember, it took me an ENTIRE Saturday to style my mantel?)  So, I searched every inch of my favorite blogs, shelter magazines, & internet sources for inspiration.  I decided I loved the look of the ball/globular vases I kept seeing as centerpieces & tabletop styling.  Here are a few of the images that got me loving them… (Reminder:  If you would like to “Pin” these images, please click on the original link & pin from there.  Thanks!)

Below, Emily used one as a centerpiece for her kitchen table, but I think I've spied this vase in a few other areas in her home too!

Source: emilyaclark.blogspot.com via Wendy on Pinterest

Obviously, I totally copied this look from John & Sherry, although I'm pretty sure those leaves might be real!

Source: younghouselove.com via Wendy on Pinterest

Here, an assortment of vases was used to style an entry table.

Source: houzz.com via Wendy on Pinterest

So, now that I new what I wanted to use as my centerpiece, I needed to find one.  How hard could it be, right?  Finding a vase took me almost an entire day, but I finally found something similar at Old Time Pottery.  Here it is:


{Excuse the poor photo quality!}

This vase is 12 inches tall & cost around $25.  They had another one I liked better.  It was a little bigger, more round, & slightly tinted a bluish-green color.  It was also more expensive, around $40.  Since I didn’t want to spend that much money, I opted for this one.  The faux banana leaf is from Hobby Lobby.

If you are interested in getting this look, here are a couple of sources.

This vase, from the Couronne Company, is smaller, around 7".  (It's out of stock until April, so I have no idea how much it costs.)

Source: couronneco.com via Wendy on Pinterest

Brookfarm sells this 7" tall vase for $25.

Source: brookfarmgeneralstore.com via Wendy on Pinterest

This Poseidon vase from Pure Home is larger, at 14" but a lot pricier, at $108.

Source: purehome.com via Wendy on Pinterest

So, do you love these vases as much as I do?  I'm so glad I finally found one!  It's definitely a piece that can withstand time & be used all over our home.  Who knows, you may see it appear in more pictures on the blog, Where's Waldo? style!  (Okay, now that I posted that link, I may have to download the Find Waldo App!)

Styling the Mantel for Everyday

I have been wanting to change out the accessories on my mantel for some time now & I have finally found a look I am happy with!  Yay!  But first, we must check out what it looked like before…duh, duh, duh…



I usually change the look of the mantel for Christmas & fall, but for the rest of the year, it looked like the picture above.  There was something about this look that just wasn't doing it for me.  Maybe it was the Tuscan style painting or the use of glass accessories that made it look so bland, but whatever it was, something had to change!

The changes began when I found a huge mirror to fit the space at Home Emporium.  I think it cost around $60, which is a great price, since the mirror is about four feet tall!  Originally, I didn't want a mirror here, since it would be reflecting a ceiling fan & kitchen cabinets, but I couldn't find any affordable art that I felt fit the space.  After searching for months, I finally decided a mirror would be great for year round use, since I like to hang wreaths above the fireplace for fall & Christmas.

After Christmas, I had my husband hang the mirror & the mantel sat empty while I scoured Pinterest for ideas.  I  didn't want to spend much money on the accessories, but I knew I would have to buy a few pieces, since I don’t have many tchotchkes to choose from!  Luckily, I scored a turquoise vase at Old Time Pottery for $11 & a faux succulent from Hobby Lobby for around $6 (after my 40% off coupon).

Determined not to buy anything else for the mantel (since I have spent all my spending money until hubby’s next pay day!) I spent all day Saturday playing around with the mantel. 

I can finally say that I love the new look!  Here it is:




Doesn't it just look so cheerful?




I’m so happy with this $11 vase from Old Time Pottery.  To add more visual interest, I paired it with a small bud vase from Wal-Mart (that I already had) & threw in some faux flowers.  I plan on using real ones once my rose bush starts blooming in the spring, but for now, fresh flowers on a weekly basis are not in the budget!





On the other side, I added the faux succulent I found at Hobby Lobby for around $6 (after coupon).  Then I stacked some books in colors that coordinated with the room & topped them with a frame (from Wal-Mart I think).  I didn't want anyone to think I was showing favoritism for certain family members, so I took out the photo & added this bird picture I printed from Vintage Printable (and yes, I put sticky tack under it to keep the frame from falling off the mantel).





The frame did a great job concealing the on/off switch to the gas fireplace.





I’m so glad I finally came up with mantel décor I am actually proud of!





I’m loving the cheerful pops of turquoise & pink!  I can’t stop looking at this space!  It’s amazing what a few changes can do to a room!

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