FYI

My NEW blog address is
bj-sweetnothings.blogspot.com

and I have a link to where you can receive
SWEET NOTHINGS posts in your EMAIL ACCOUNT.

Please go to the NEW BLOG.
thanks, bj

Sunday, March 28, 2010

COPY CATS and KNOCK-OFFS....

This is a photo in a magazine that I showed on a post not long ago...
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I am in LOVE with this look and, while I can't, OVERNIGHT, change
so many things in my cottage...
I CAN use these photos as inspiration towards THE LOOK....
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SOOO ...when I came across this cute little cubby hole shelf, $3.00 at GOODWILL...I just got it !!
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When I walked in the door with it, MR. SWEET'S eyes rolled so far back in his head,I doubted they would ever see again !! :)
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O, it is much, MUCH smaller than I would like...
I would LIKE one just like the one in my INSPIRATION photo...
but....
after I added some texture and loved items, it made my plain, long table come alive to my eyes...
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It added so much more interest without looking cluttered..
SMALL items CAN make a room look and feel cluttered UNLESS they are contained in groups, I think.
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I really am enjoying this look...
we ALL know that NESTING...FEATHERING...TWEEKING our cottages is
NECESSARY FOR THE GOOD OF OUR SOULS !!!
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SO there's a chance I will use this for awhile and *trade off* for something else as I
haunt the treasure-filled thrift markets that keep SHOUTING my name....!! :>)
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I added my little delightful MACKENZIE-CHILDS ornament, given to me
the first year I started blogging by a wonderful blogger friend, NAN.
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She has since taken a break from the blog world and.....I MISS HER SO MUCH !
I think of her every time I glance at this little glass, hand painted shopping bag ornament.
Nan, if you are reading this...know that I love you!!
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Those are little mini SAD IRONS...The regular, real sized ones were so heavy..
I wonder if the olden irons were named SAD IRONS because it made the woman of the house
so so SAD to have to iron with them ? :-)
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My olden brass keys, hanging with twine, add a little more *history* to the table...
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Yes, I am happy with THE LOOK...
and I'll be perfectly content with it....until the next magazine comes out or some of you talented bloggers show me something ELSE I WANT !!
****************************

A few LOOK-ALIKES...some of my readers that's been with me have seen a couple of these...


POTTERY BARN did THIS....
their bookshelf...over $175.00

MY version cost a WHOLE LOT LESS...

Thrifted yellow bookcase, painted the best FRENCH BLACK and filled with MICHAEL'S *on sale* baskets...


POTTERY BARN table and stools, top photo...over $200.00
MINE thrifted for $15.00 and the stools from BIG LOTS..
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
YEP....
POTTERY BARN CATALOG
has become my FAVORITE decorating book..



And, you know what ?
I LOVE the fact that I had my WICKER TRAY WITH HANDLES

BEFORE I saw this one that belongs to POTTERY BARN!
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NOW, I ASK YOU.........is that shallow.......... or WHAT !!?!!

Linking with:SHOW OFF YOUR COTTAGE MONDAYMET MONDAY...MOSAIC MONDAY and 2ND TIME AROUND...

41 comments:

Bobbi Ann said...

Very lovely mosaics!

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

bj! You are so clever...and I will be honest with you! I like your version best..and I mean that! I love what you have done and the small cubby...adorable!

(I love your new sounds..but...another honest fact? It made me want to run to the potty!) :):) Still so relaxing..nice addition!

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

p.s. Thanks for not making us copy those numbers that I sometimes don't get right and have to do again...or wait to see if my comment really went through....you are a gem!!

Lenore said...

I got a good chuckle out of this post....I too am inspired by PB and their lovely vignettes......not so inspired by their prices!
Love what you've done with all your look a likes.

Tardevil said...

What a find for $3. It looks great foo-foo'd up too.

Lori @ Dining Delight said...

Love your description of what your DH's reaction to your little cubby-hole shelf was! LOL! Don't we have the best DH's to put up with us and our nesting! I really like your new little shelf and how you've decorated it!

DD

Suzy said...

Great find!

Pink Roses and Teacups said...

BJ, you have done it again!! You've taken the inspiration pictures, and made them even better with your version. Truly, I like yours much better. Love how you decorated that little cubby. I love, love your coffee table! You got it down pat, even the books under the table. Now what is that little wooden thing under the books? Looks almost exactly like the one in the inspiration picture only better. Great job!!

Hugs,
Debbie

Rettabug said...

What a wonderful job of *benchmarking* their ideas! That's military talk for copying & the improving on it. BJ, you amaze me with all your wonderful treasures. I walked right past a cubbyhole shelf like that recently. Sure wish I'd seen this post before hand. I think I need to sign up for the Pottery Barn catalog!!!

fondly,
Rett

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

Your knock-offs are beautiful and much better than the originals!!! Have a wonderful week!!!

Robin@DecoratingTennisGirl said...

BJ,
I love all things Early American, that that little cubby has that charm. Great find. Love your coffee table, too!
Robin

Mary said...

Oh BJ, I LOVE your Pottery Barn look-a-like! And you have filled it with so many wonderful things! Thanks for sharing at MM. :)

Diane Duda said...

I love your little cubby and your coffee table is WAY better!
Everything looks great. Reminds me that I need to put down the paintbrushes and start spring cleaning. :)

xo
Di

Deb said...

Now that is inspirational. I love what you did with that little shelf.
Deb

Lisa~A Cottage To Me said...

My first question is...Is Mr. Sweet Nothings okay? Did his eyes straighten out? You had me laughing with that! I always love your displays, you do such a great job with your thrifty finds! Thanks for sharing!

PAT said...

Great inspiration here, BJ. Beautiful.

I have a new PC, I'm going to be setting up in our room. J wanted to turn the dining room into an office, so I wouldn't be down in the basement, at my desk. Thank goodness, I've been able to convince him otherwise. I see things here, I'm going to try to incorporate into my little corner.

Connie said...

I am sooooo with ya on this one, chick! Yep, you don't have to spend thousands of dollars for "the look" you want. "Cheap" works wonders for the discriminating homemaker who wants that look without the money! I should know. I've been doing it for years, sugar....
xoxo,
Connie

Denise said...

I love your befores and afters, great inspiration and just goes to prove you don't have to spend a ton to get the great look you like :)

Americana Lady said...

Nice shelf and I like what you did with it! You're on the way to changing your look. Happy Easter, Joan

Anonymous said...

Hi, fantastic find, i love it....Kathy

Unknown said...

Looks great!! Love your beautiful keys.
Hugs
Charo

Theresa said...

I LOVE the cubby hole shelf! Great find and beautifully decorated with your special touch! Your table with stools look much better than the ones in the magazine. I also think you wicker basket with handles is perfect. Have a blessed day dear BJ!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

You did great! Love it, BJ!

XO,

Sheila :-)

Nancy's Daily Dish said...

I like your little cubby shelf best of all of them! It's so cute! I love the white bird figurine on top too! So pretty!

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

You've created a nice rustic look on your table. I picked up one of the large irons at a historical place last year just to feel the weight. Wow - the pioneer women must have had large arm muscles.

Fifi Flowers said...

Nothing wrong with copycatting... looks good!

Angie Holden said...

Awesome job!!

Bab's Kitchen said...

Awesome stuff!

Kathleen Grace said...

Not shallow at all BJ! You just like to decorate and you do it so beautifully! You just seem to be lucky in finding lovely things that make the look for less!

Kammy said...

BJ -
I swear Pottery Barn looks at all our blogs and steals stuff from US, LOL !
I adore the coffee table and everything else !
Kammy

Brenda Pruitt said...

Nope, it isn't shallow. I love it when the PB catalog comes in the mail. They're doing so many "vintage" things now it's a real treat. And I'd have grabbed that for my desk as well. It's a keeper, BJ!
Brenda

Kelee said...

Hi Bj!

That looks a lot like your inspiration BJ! Great job...love the keys!

love,kelee at www.katillacshack.com

Cher' Shots said...

Your cubby is perfect! I also decorate via garage sales, good will and second hand stores. Not that I have to but that I choose to. Why spend more? I love my eclectic look.

Anonymous said...

I found your profile on another blog I follow and I added myself to follow you.
You are more than welcome to visit my blog and become a follower if you want to.
http://ronjoewhite.blogspot.com
ronj1946 at gmail dot com

God Bless You, Ron

Dena said...

I loved your versions of your dream looks BJ! They serve as a perfect reminder that we can all make our look happen with a little love and determination. Now I have a project for this weekend that you just inspired...I have this bookshelf in my bedroom that I had painted a shabby sagey color that makes me think "ew" everytime I look at it. French black, here I come!!!!


Love & Hugs,
Dena

Shirley said...

I like your version best! I love cubby holes too. Your's looks very inviting and really draws your eye to the tabletop.

Kathleen said...

You have to stop buying magazines. They put bad thoughts in your head..And forget about getting Men's Health magazine LOL. We must be content with what we have!
The shelf looks sweet. You do a good job of creating the look you like.
I would like to create a new look too..that pretty blond on Gray's Anatomy will do! :)

Rhondi said...

Hi BJ
I love the look you are going for and I love the prices too! Everything is looking great!
Hugs, Rhondi

I am Harriet said...

Wow- that's wonderful. You are a talent.

Stopping by via SITS to say hello.
Have a great day!
Harriet

Atticmag said...

Great eye for detail and styling. Bet they won't let you in their store! LOL. Hope you'll drop by and see our lavender fantasy bath. -- Jane F.

Diann said...

BJ, I just love this post! I love to find inspiration and then go on the "hunt" to create mine in a much more thrifty manner! And girl, you did great! I love the little shelf. you never know, you might find another one very similar on another thrifting adventure to create a longer version or taller one.

Have great day!