Vignettes Here! Vignettes There! Vignettes Everywhere!

It is Saturday Night Special time (Yeah, I know it is Sunday.) at Funky Junk Interiors and I am joining the party. But first, a little history...

When I first moved out of my parents house and into my very own apartment, I had so much fun designing and decorating my living space. You could even say I went a little crazy...with it. I had more ideas than I can even remember stuffed into 400 square feet. Just imagine (if you dare) a shabby chic theme that somehow got sidetracked to countrified angel. Not something I am completely proud of...notice no photos! But at that time I loved it.

When my husband and I bought a townhouse, my design sensibilities had changed...now imagine lots of gold, sparkly, ornate items. And, we had just gotten married so there were plenty of new gifts - vases, frames, platters, etc. - to decorate with. I liked that everything was new (but that was then, this is now!)!

Next stop, our first house, which I will say carried over the same theme (for awhile anyway) as the townhouse....until my son was born. Once he came to stay, anything that wasn't hanging on the wall -at least 5 feet off the ground - or firmly attached (to the foundation) was put away. No, seriously...I caught him at 10 months swinging from the dining room chandelier!

Once again we moved...to a new house - an older home with low ceilings, not a lot of natural light, and in need of major updating. I got preoccupied with fixing what was "broken." I didn't do much in terms of decorating even though I was always wanting to break out the chatchkes (one of my fave words!). Painting, decorating, and making a home was one of my favorite things to do and I had left is by the wayside.

Well, recently, I jumped back on the wagon (it's only been 8 years+/-). I have begun a new love affair with treasures that I find in thrift stores, at flea markets, at the Goodwill, passed on to me from past generations, and the wonders found hiding in my parents attic.

Then, while perusing blogland one night, I found Funky Junk Interiors. Each weekend Donna hosts a Saturday Night Special with a new theme. This weekend it is "Vignettes." At first I thought I don't have any, then I took a look around, and surprise, surprise I did (see, now, I must have done some decorating)! So here is a peek at some of my favorite little rays of sunshine throughout my house.

Yes, it is Fall and almost Halloween and I have not really begun to decorate...a few things here and there, but I did pull this little vignette together with some pumpkins, big and small, a thrift store topiary frame, a rustic container left over from my wedding planning days, and a cute little pumpkin man that was a gift.

I have an old Victrola in the corner of my living room that I {heart}. Every once in awhile we play it, but mostly it houses a little vignette of some things I love...."Maui on My Mind" book, a couple of books about California (one vintage, one new), some seashells, and this cool "L" I found recently and {gasp!} paid full price for....but I had to have it..love at first sight!

My family room is already filled with toys...and more toys...and more toys. Yet, there is a little table in the corner that is an homage to some things my hubby and I (and my own munchkins) adore! The gumball machines are antique and passed down from a relative. The little blue tractor was my hubby's, the Raggedy Ann Doll and "Nursery Tales Children Love" book, mine. The teeny tiny Raggedy Ann was a flea market steal...the doll and a music box for $5!

As I mentioned my Halloween decorating is virtually non-existent. Nothing spooky or creepy allowed here...the kids don't like it, my son especially. He does love science and magic and potions. So I thought I fun vignette would be a Halloween inspired one..."Dr. Joseph's Spells, Potions, and Elixirs" is the inspiration for this Halloween vignette. I grabbed a flea market tray ($2) and the glass top of a broken cake plate (shh..don't tell!) as the base. Then, I layered a "spell book" and some old glass jars and vases filled with different elements to make potions and cast spells...garlic, feathers, beans, magic sand, crystals, "Potion No. 9 for Happiness," and "Potion No. 13 for Luck." I think is is fun...the kids thought it was cool (the little one keeps stealing treasures form it). To really make it "feel" like Halloween, I altered the photos to make them look old...and it looks way cool!

There ya go! A peek around the house and a little view of some things that make me happy when I see them.

Holly