Maybe the word “collections” is a little bit overstated…these are more like “groupings”..which is absolutely fine…How ever you state it, we all know that by placing similar or duplicate items side by side, you can make a bold statement..often very inexpensively. SO whether it is a grouping of cheapo/thrift store white plates hung creatively, old globes, white pitchers, books or small paintings..the more the better. In fact, less is not more I always say..more is more!!;;

I have a small “collection” of these old suitcases..a few in one spot and more in another. Honestly, in a small house, they make great storage…and I have moved them and used them all over the house. And the look is classic.

My blue and white collection used to be on my fireplace/”built-in” wall but I moved it to this armoire top a few years ago and LOVE IT! The “collection” includes pieces from my wedding dishes, gifts, and a few large and old (but cracked, that is how I was able to afford them) pieces we got on a trip to England.

This collage of various sized framed prints over our dresser is certainly a “mish mash” but I have hung them close together to try and give some cohesiveness and a big “punch.” This is a fairly large space and I did not have a big piece of artwork to hang here so I hung a bunch of small things, but close together! I will share a wider shot of this wall soon.

What do you like to “group”..what pleases you to see “en masse”?????

These jars are everywhere and I really love them–all shapes and sizes. Remember how everyone was trying to track them down at Sams Club and they kept selling out! I bought these at Michael’s but I have seen wonderful really large ones at TJ Maxx and Marshalls and of course Pottery Barn, Target, and Crate and Barrell, just to name a few. My question is, WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO FILL THEM WITH??? I get tired of lemons and I love my antique christmas balls in them during the holidays but honestly mine stay empty a lot because I am never happy with anything I put in there..I have a friend who has a HUGE jar filled with old hornets nest (or some kind of nest) very cool. Here are some of my ideas for things to go inside..please add your ideas in the comments.

*jelly beans, any kind of neat classic looking candy, I once did twizzlers in the tall skinny jar
*moss balls off of trees, cute with a nest and even fake snow in January
*old tiny book, would be great to open a book and fold down some pages like a fan
*broken piece of china
*glass Christmas balls, ornaments..
*an old silver cup
*old photograph
*vintage jewelry boxes
*dominos

Cant wait to hear what yall have to say!

{my jars currently have a shell, eiffel tower salt shaker, old books, old printmaking stamp, old books (a German copy of Luther’s Catechism) jewelry box from my grandparents wedding rings, and you cant see it but my grandfather’s graduation name card, and my favorite little dollhouse chair}

*****edited to say..”Be sure and go see what the brilliant nester has to say about a similar subject and notice HER cute jar!”

Chalkboards are everywhere! Ballard has some precious styles with shabby frames or gilt…and they have one that is huge! This blog shows two neat ideas for large chalkboards in a kitchen..above cabinets and on sliding doors..ver cool! Pottery Barn Kids and Land of Nod each have them in various sizes and shapes that will work either in or out of a children’s space. But of course we all know the easiest way to achieve this look is with good ol’ chalkboard paint..cheap ($12 at my Home Depot)and so easy (I used the brush on but they have it in a spray can as well). I have been wanting to do this for several years. I contemplated painting the bottom half of one of the old 1940s doors in my son’s room..or my sad little fridge (ca. 1998..cheapest fridge they had at Waco Circuit City!;;) I decided to do my laundry room doors on my back porch..why?? two words: CHALK DUST! I decided the backporch would be a better place for him to play with the chalk than in my kitchen or his room! I finished last week and the little man loves it..and I love the look. FYI..remember if you want a really vintage look, krylon also makes chalkboard paint in the vintage green..I used black on my project but I like the green too!

I wanted to share two pictures of monongrams in our home. The first, are “D”s on my son’s little play chairs (my husband insists little boys don’t need monogrammed chairs but I disagree)…and yes they actually stay on pretty well..he took them off a lot at first but now ignores their presence for the most part. I made these with plain ol’ red ticking from Wal-Mart. It is cheap, washable, and so durable. I simply covered these little IKEA chairs with a basic “sew a pillowcase” concept. I turned the fabric inside out over the back of the chairs, pinned and sewed. Are the perfect?? absolutely not..but they are cute and unique. On a homemade, imperfect treatment like this it is best to monogram AFTER you “make” your creation. And isnt my little model a cutie?

The big brown pillow on the master bedroom bed is made from large dinner napkins. I had one monogrammed in white so there would be bright contrast on the dark patterned fabric and then had my sewing lady sew on the little stiched seam (not the outer edge) so there is a cute little edge…On a project like this pillow, where I had someone else do the sewing, I had the monogram done FIRST. So be sure and think through when do the monogram application..before or after you finish sewing!