Vintage French Laundry Basket

As the weather is starting to turn colder, my focus goes back to beautiful things inside my home.

Today, I have a beautiful and simple tip that will help you with a rather mundane chore --- laundry.  Although laundry may not be on the top of your list of beautiful things around your home, it can be.

Recently I attended Trade Days in Fredericksburg, Texas and found this beautiful Vintage French Laundry Basket. I bought it as soon as soon as I saw it.

It looks so beautiful in my laundry room.

Although it's old, it is still in wonderful condition and is very useful. 

I have folded towels, washcloths and pillow cases to make a beautiful display in the basket and added a bit of dried lavender too.

Lavender helps make so many things beautiful.

Now as you are carrying your basket through your home to put your beautifully folded laundry away, you can look down and see the simple beauty of clean towels, ruffled linen pillowcases and the smell of lavender.

You do not need a vintage basket, any large beautiful basket will do. Once you have put everything away, you can store your beautiful basket on a shelf.

 It's a simple and beautiful item for beautiful living.

Until next time,

-Robin

It's starting to feel like fall...

It's fall!!! When I was younger, fall was my very favorite season. It meant a new school year, new school clothes and beautiful fall days. Although I am not starting a new school year, I am excited to make a few changes around the house and still enjoy the beauty of the season. I love bringing the outdoors inside. I also love the fact that the squirrels are starting to gather their goodies for the upcoming winter. What do you love best about fall?


A few fall items in my shop...
Squirrel Statue
Squirrel Canvas
Squirrel Plate

A Sweet Rabbit

I have been out of town for a week and today definitely felt like a "Monday."

I just saw this sweet rabbit while watering the garden and it made me smile.

There is beauty all around us, so don't forget to look for it. Especially, when it's one of those "Mondays." Enjoy...

Vintage Wicker Vanity Project

A few weeks ago, there was a garage sale on my street. Since I have too many projects that are still in waiting, I thought it was best not to stop. However, there was a piece of furniture that I saw out of the corner of my eye, (maybe I should get eye blinders like they put on horses). Anyhow, within seconds, my car was put into reverse and parked. I asked the price on the wicker vanity and the man said how about 10 dollars? Since there was a ten dollar bill in my wallet just waiting to come out, soon the words "I'll take it" suddenly came out of my mouth. He said it had been in his wife's family for 50 or so years. She too had wanted to redo it but had not got around to it. All in about 90 seconds, I saw the piece, bought it, and it was in the back of my car.

As I mentioned, there are a lot of current projects in my studio, so I placed the piece outside. The spring weather had been so mild that surely it would do fine. Then the calendar turned to May and the many spring snows came. What is that saying, "out of site, our of mind"? Yes, the piece had been snowed on several times by the wet Colorado spring snows. It came with a little damage to the top veneer. Well, after all those snows, the veneer pretty much removed itself.

The before pictures.

After a few coats of white paint...

now I have a beautiful vintage wicker vanity.

Maybe I shouldn't get horse blinders after all... It's a beautiful addition to my garden.

What projects are you working on this summer?

Here are links to a few of the products shown:
Girl and Dog in Garden Wall Art
Ladybug Tissue Box
Victorian Flowers 8 by 10 Canvas
Lavender Sachet

A beautiful garden statue

Earlier this week, the temperatures were in the high 90s. However, today I woke up to rain and much, much cooler temperatures. No matter the time of year, Colorado has many bright sunny days. So today was a bit of a novelty and perfect for photography.

The picture above is one of my favorite garden statues. She lived in my mom's garden for years and just the other day, my mom asked me if I wanted her. Or, maybe I asked my mom if I could have her, (probably the latter). Anyhow I am so happy to have her in my garden now. She looks so stunning!

Happy gardening.

Not a bird, but a squirrel

This morning with camera in hand, I sat on my back porch hoping to take pictures of birds. I waited and waited, drank two large cups of coffee, but not a bird to be seen. 

However, there was a squirrel running back and forth on the fence. So after a while, he got his picture taken.

Here is a picture just before he jumped in the tree.

Squirrel in Tree Canvas Art

Hopefully, bird pictures next time, but squirrels make good art too.

Springtime Snow in Colorado

We had planned on working in the yard today.

But someone had a different idea.

A beautiful idea...

A Springtime snow.

 The raised garden beds will not be planted.

The garden statues are all wearing tall snow hats.

Flowers are blanketed with snow.

The cherub on my planter appears to be sleeping.

There is peace in my little piece of the world today.

Grateful and awed by the beauty of a Springtime snow.

Happy Valentine's Day 2017

 Happy Valentine's Day!

(And a very big thank you to my pug Sophie for being such a patient model)

Victorian Homes Spring 2017

Thank you so much Merrie Destefano, editor of Victorian Homes Magazine. She featured my floral writing desk in the absolutely beautiful Spring 2017 issue of Victorian Homes Magazine. Make sure to pick up a copy for yourself . The magazine features beautiful homes, interesting editorials and of course, wonderful pictures of Victorian Homes from around the country. 

To order or to learn more about my beautiful Floral Writing desk, just click on the link below: 

Beautiful Floral Writing Desk 

Thank you again Merrie!

Beautiful Things for Beautiful Living: Pale Pink Tulips

Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places... Camille Pissarro

Pale pink tulips inside a vintage lantern. A simply beautiful display. 

Christmas 2016

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

 Below are a few ornaments from my tree this year.

All the best to you and yours in 2017.

-Robin 

Spring Window in January

 

Even though it is January and there is snow on the ground, that doesn't mean you can't have Springtime in your kitchen window.  This window is above my sink. At this time of year, there is not too much to see outside, so I decided to add cut flowers in small vases, a bird clock, cherubs, and  house plants in decorative urns to my windowsill.

 

 

I chose pink carnations and baby's breath for my small vases. These flowers are beautiful, smell wonderful, and are long-lasting.

 

        A simple and beautiful way to add a little Springtime to your January.

Beautiful Christmas Projects



Oh, Come Let us Adore Him
Christ the Lord!

I wanted to share a few of my current Christmas decorating projects. We all have our favorite decorations, some old and some new. Below is one of my favorites. It's a simple manager scene we put out every year.

The pieces are very small and scene usually goes unnoticed in the room.

 

 

Not too long ago, I found the above items on sale at one of my local stores. I loved the shapes and different sizes, but hesitated on buying  because I had no idea what I was going to do with them.

 

So, I bought them anyway.

 

Then it hit me, these are perfect for Christmas decorations!



I filled  the stand with a little natural excelsior for hay.

A perfect setting for a manger.

With some ribbon,  French lace and two large angel candles on each side...



The Manager Scene does not go unnoticed any longer.

 

A beautiful way to display the greatest Christmas gift of all time.

 

The next project was very simple.

 

I placed one of my vintage bottle brush trees inside the round glass container and it looked like this.



 

Simply beautiful in my kitchen window.


Then I thought I would try something else. Why leave well enough alone?




I added a vintage choir boys figurine.

I think I will keep the choir boys, I can almost hear them singing,
 "Hark the Herald Angels Sing,
Glory to the New Born King!"

Merry Christmas.

Beautiful Finds from Robin King Designs

As you know, my website Robin King Designs is where you can purchase my decoupage creations. Each item is handmade and features my signature crackle finish. Every design has been inspired from my antique paper and fabric collection.  However, I do have a section where I sell acquisitions that will look beautiful in your home. The inventory is always changing and many items are one-of-a-kind. The beautiful floral needlepoint pillow shown is an example. Click here to see more Beautiful Finds.

Roses in Basket Tissue Box Cover and Wastepaper Basket

Even though the roses are almost done blooming until Spring, you can still

have a beautiful basket of blooming roses where ever you choose in your home.

 

 

 

Roses in Basket Tissue Box and Wastepaper  Basket by Robin King Designs.

 

 

 

The oval wood wastepaper is as beautiful on the back as it is on the front.

 

 

 The wood tissue cover will work in every room in your home.

 

A beautiful way to have roses all year long.

 

 

Roses in Basket Tissue Box Cover

 

Roses in Basket Wastepaper Basket

Beautiful Living with Flowers

"There are always flowers for those who want to see them"

- Henri Matisse

 

 

Sophie taking time to smell the flowers.

 

How nice to see the world through flowers.

 The beauty of walking along a path of flowers.

 

I hope there are many flowers in your world today. A beautiful way to live.