SUMMERTIME TABLESCAPES

Labor Day is approaching which subtly hints at the fact that the Summer will certainly come to an end very soon. I happen to be living in one of those areas that has felt the temperatures remain steady into the 100's so I am really looking forward to the relief that the Fall weather will bring. Until then, I thought it would be nice to enjoy a few Summer tablescapes. Many of these tablescapes would be lovely in the Spring as well. I hope you will enjoy viewing them and will be inspired to create a tablescape of your own for the LAST HURRAH of the Summer.

VINTAGE POSE DOLLS

My sweet, little God-niece has been visiting with me over the summer and she has truly fallen in love with my odd little collection of dolls. Seeing as how God blessed me with sons and not daughters, it is very likely that I will end up passing my collection on to her someday. Her interest level is high as she enthusiastically questions me about the different dolls.

I shared with my God-niece that during my journey from childhood into adulthood, I lost several of my beloved dolls along the way. One type of doll that I have lost that my sister and I both collected as children (by way of my Father's purchases for us) was the VINTAGE POSE DOLL. These dolls were usually crafted in Japan and sometimes called BOUDOIR DOLLS. Many of these dolls were also made by the Bradley Company in the 60's and 70's. I always thought the most intriguing thing about many of these dolls were the way most of their eyes had been painted. Each eye was such a masterpiece. The eyes on these dolls were like little works of art.

In my quest to find pictures of these dolls to show my niece what they look like, I have decided to share a few pictures with you as well. "Why" you may ask? I don't know why but if you just happen to be a doll enthusiast or a lover of vintage, kitschy things, you may appreciate the view. Enjoy!

LOVELY LAUNDRY ROOM INSPIRATION

Everyone loves having fresh, clean, laundry but most people dread spending lots of time in a dreary laundry room. Most laundry rooms are a forgotten space in the home and rarely ever decorated. Just because the laundry room is a place where chores are performed, doesn't mean that the room has to be dull and lifeless. Actually, a laundry room can quickly and easily be transformed into a bright and cheery space that you won't mind spending time in just by adding a little paint, some wall art and a small potted plant. Today I'm sharing with you some over the top, lovely laundry rooms for inspiration.

Besides using my laundry room as a place to clean clothes, I also use my laundry room as a quiet place to go and pray. Why? Because nobody ever WANTS to go in this room so I know that I can spend time there talking to God and I won't be interrupted. That being said, I am even more inspired to transform this space into a place that I will desire to spend lots of time in. I think that it is ironic that the laundry room is a place where clothes are supposed to be cleaned but MY laundry room is also a place where my spiritual life is cleansed. LOL