At Home With Mrs. Fox

This is one of those moments when I'm thinking, "Why are you posting this? Who would care?" but I'm doing it anyway. It's where my brain is today.

I thought I would share some photos of my favorite room in the house. Like so many things about me it is probably a little weird. There's that horrible toilet element that we aren't going to talk about because it has nothing to do with why this is my favorite room in the house. This is my favorite room because I LOVE to soak in the tub. I am a marathon bath taker. My record is 4 hours and 3 refills. My secret to not getting pruney toes and fingers? Read a book and prop your feet on the tile.

Here is my vanity where I spend too much time trying to feel pretty. Yes, those are deer antlers. I keep my rings on them. My grandmother kept her rings in the same manner, and it is my little nod to her. And before anyone gets angry at Officer B for killing Bambi, he isn't responsible for this particular deer. His dad is.


By the way, this area is usually a total wreck with junk everywhere. It only exists in this condition on one Sunday morning a month.


And yes, that's a pin-up calendar. I bought it. It's mine. I get a lot of hair-do inspiration from that calendar. Plus it fits into the scheme of the room - you'll see.


These are my World War II propaganda pictures. The furthest one is for the U. S. Air Force, the second is the classic British "Keep Calm & Carry On" and the third is a "Nazi's Are Everywhere So Watch What You Say" themed poster. I love them.

There are three smaller ones over that thing we aren't talking about. The top one is an American Eagle crowning the British Lion with a victory laurel. The second one is tips to be more fuel efficient. My favorite piece of advice is "Do No Demand Hot Water 24 Hours a Day." Ha! The last one is a poster for the Women's Auxiliary.


So, that's it. In retrospect I can only say that it very difficult to photograph a long, narrow bathroom. I hope you've enjoyed the tour.

Masochism

Why do I torture myself by looking at Anthropologie?

I love this quilt!! It would look fabulous in my bedroom. It would not look fabulous on my bank balance.

By the way, their Spring clothes are out too. Go. Look, if you must.

a sense of style

Thinking more about the grande expanse of blank wall, interior decorating, and what makes me feel comfortable. I got out on the web this morning and started looking for inspiration.
I love an organized clutter with lots of curiosities. I am drawn to rich colors and fabrics. The art of India, China, Japan, Morocco, Egypt - think of the tatters of Victorian Empire and you have my aesthetic. But, I also have a quirky, somewhat irreverent, sense of humor and like to throw in elements that are slightly off.

This image from Bloesem sparked my imagination. I love the use of the embroidery hoops and the idea of fabric as art, in and of itself.

This room from Desire to Inspire is really striking.

The Daunting Blank Page

Despite having artsy tendencies, interior decorating isn't one of my strengths. At best, I manage a sort of cozy eclectic. Add to my lack of skill and confidence, an overwhelming expanse of blank wall and I panic. My house is a split-level, meaning that there are two floors but you actually enter between them. It makes for a rather narrow entry.

This is the ominous wall. The space has potential to be stunning; I just don't know how to tackle it.

The cabinet by the door is used for dog leashes, sunglasses - that sort of stuff - but I am inclined to think that it might brighten up the space if it were painted. What color, though?

This is the narrow wall over the downstairs

The downstairs.

It needs color badly. The two that come to mind most often are red and black, but that's a bit bold for a gal who doesn't know what she's doing. Help!

Wasabi would like you to know that she tried very hard to be in as many pictures as possible.

Heritage

Last week, my dad brought me some quilts that my grandmother had made. I think they speak volumes of her resourcefulness and love for her family.

This first one is probably my favorite. The colors are so delicate. I smiled when I discovered that the print from a feed bag that was used to stuff it is visible through the backing.

This one is pretty bold.

Almost all the squares on this one are pin striped. My grandmother worked in shirt factory for years and I wouldn't be surprised if these were scraps from damaged shirts.

This last one took my breath away when it came out of the bag because it was so different from the others. I can only assume it was meant for a special occasion. It had to be unfolded to really appreciate the pattern and the cross stitching.

Special thanks to Liz at Mabel's House who gave me the You Make My Day Award. I don't think I deserve it, but it was very sweet of her. I'm going to pass it along to Jennie at Falling Down the Rabbit-Hole, whose blog I have really enjoyed reading and in whom I sense a kindred spirit. Cheers!