The Wild Side

Let me say I love it when I find out I was ahead of the trends.

Case in point are my birds.

I started a love for birds before I even knew they were popular (pre-blogging).

I didn't know when I painted Annabel's room this bright pink (I thought was azalea)

that it would offer me a chance to enter The CSI Project.

But I'll name it Honeysuckle and join the party!!

Have you ever had visions for a room,

put it together piece by piece then once you were done

realized you created a hot mess?

That's pretty much what happened with daughter #2's room.

I knew I didn't love it.

It was way too busy and way too pink.

Then I published this picture:

Two words: hot. mess.

I had an idea and I had a whim.

So at Target I decided to buck up and spend the $75 on some new bedding.

I made curtains out of really cheap white fabric and added the zebra stripe out of an extra sheet that I purchased. I was going to do a canopy over the bed but I just couldn't see that play out well in my head so I opted for the "artwork."

I had planned put black and white pictures in the frames, but once I hung them on the wall, I kind of liked them blank.

Yes, this artwork is a mixture of some other things you have seen on "Toile in the Family."

It is a little "Ode to A'ish" and I have found yet another way to use some buttons.

(You're hoping I'll run out of those soon aren't you?!)

I love it. You would think the black would be overwhelming, but there is just something about focusing on two colors that makes it much more pleasant to look at.

Let's see the before and after again shall we?

Hot Mess Before:

The AHHHH-After:

I'm joining the million of link ups over at Thrifty Decor Chick for her February Before and After Party. If you have a few minutes, come by and check out some other fun before and afters. I can't guarantee they will all be hot mess transformations, but there are lots of cool ideas over there!

This is another favorite room redo of 2011. I'm linking up with Addicted 2 Decorating. Come see some great room redos!

You can see the other two kids rooms here, just know that I already have some plans for little man's room. Don't go thinking I am discontent. I'm just creative, that's it, creative.

Orinthology

Birds seem to be all the rage, from blogland to boutiques, you can find birds everywhere. I have become a little addicted to the fine feathery friends.
I have had to hold myself back and not pick up every single bird I come across.
O is a tough letter but here I am for post #2 of "O" week:

As I sit on my laptop, I can count almost 18 birds in my house (within 20 feet of me).
Is that bad? Is that borderline addiction?
Well, you evaluate the cuteness and tell me YOU could resist even one of these little guys.

This trio I got at my favorite Flea Market (I finally figured out what to call the place, part thrift, part antique store, part boutique). They were a weird greenish-brown, but I just gave them a shot of white spray paint and I think they are pretty content on their new perch.

Little Red Man I got from Lowe's. He has a yellow brother, but I don't have a home for him, he is sitting on a chair waiting for his perch.
(Oooh, that makes 19 birds, I forgot about him.)
I just fell in love with his fat little body even BEFORE I knew how cool birds were going to be
(I got him last year, pre-blog, pre-being that aware of trends.)
Maybe I do have a little sense of style after all!

I got three of these toile guys at Hobby Lobby. I love them. I have one on my computer cabinet (shown above) and the other two on lamps.

Okay, so I forgot about this bird too
(I actually thought of 4 more I forgot about. I'm up to 24. This is getting a little scary. Maybe I do have a problem.)
This one is on top of a cloche/birdhouse thingy. He is pretty cute too.

This bird sits on a top of a weathervane that is on a 3 footish tall stand. I got him for $5 at a different Flea Market. He's cute too...couldn't say no to him.

Seriously, could you have denied wire man a home? I didn't think so.

I have so many birds, I dedicated my spring mantle to even more birds:

I found three of these birds at Cato (a clothing store of all places). I love how they look like concrete and are little chubby guys.

This picture/canvas I found at Big Lots for $5. Couldn't resist. Really I couldn't, I stood there looking at it for like 30 whole seconds and I just couldn't make my hands put it back down.

This picture (and another above it) hubby got at an auction. He didn't really set out to get it. You know how auctions are, you are bidding on one thing and they start throwing a bunch of other stuff in with it hoping to get the bid to go higher. SO, technically, I didn't choose these so I COULD HAVE resisted them.

(Maybe I'm back to 21.)

Here is a full shot of the mantle.

Full shot of mantle and fireplace.

So, could you have turned any of those guys down?
If I had to choose one to lose, it would probably be the trio.
After that I would really have a hard time. They are all so different and I love them for different reasons. Don't make me choose!
I promise I won't buy anymore birds...today.


Linking up with Funky Junk Donna:

And those amazing chicks from:


I'm also having fun with Jenny the very creative lady at Jenny Matlock