Tuesday, February 18, 2014

A Copy Cat "Demijohn" And The Problem With Blogging

Hello Sweets, I hope you all had  a wonderful weekend. I have long been looking for a "Vintage Demijohn" with a wooden crate around it. While browsing through T.J. Maxx this week I found these 2 large glass bottles for a good price.

I placed them in a wicker basket that I already had and dressed them up with some twine and little iron numbers. I also stuffed some string lights in them.


I put the basket on a narrow wall in my kitchen nook

Here is a close up of the little iron numbers I found at Hobby Lobby
Here they are with the lights turned on...
Here is my inspiration picture of a real Vintage Demijohn from 
The Blue Willow House


So until I find the "Real Thing" such as this beauty, my little "Copy Cat Version" gives me a similar look.

On another note, I wanted to share a problem I've been having ever since I started blogging...lol
I am so inspired by all the wonderful talent out there by my fellow bloggers, that my head is spinning with new ideas every day. Suddenly I criticize all sorts of areas in my home and can't wait to change them. Is it just me, or are you guys feeling the same way? For Example, this week I was reading a wonderful blog from Kristi at Addicted 2 Decorating. Kristi was talking about how to decorate a ledge above a front door
One of her suggestions was to resist the urge to decorate with fake ivy. I immediately thought of some areas in my house where I use fake ivy to fill some spaces high up. The very next day I got my ladder out and threw all my fake ivy in the trash. Here is my ledge, high up in our living room. Lots of ivy draping down.

BEFORE
AFTER -- No Ivy
Much better and cleaner looking without the ivy draping down, what do you think?
Another area I had with ivy,was above a small kitchen cabinet, I changed it out immediately with some decorations I already had on hand. 
 
Much better, I think decorating with "FAKE IVY" is a thing of the past!!! A big thanks to Kristi at Addicted 2 Decorating

Well, that's all I got for you this week peeps, thanks for sticking with me!!!
Christine

38 comments:

  1. I think blogging influences me in good ways and bad. :)

    The Nester had a get rid of your greenery party about 4 years ago and that was the end of most of it for me. I'll admit to still liking a little here and there, of course.

    I think I've learned and been inspired over and over. I also find myself questioning my choices and feeling "unworthy" at times. Which is ridiculous!! We just have to keep it in perspective.

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  2. You know I can understand the always changing thing because we keep getting better and better ideas and we want to change it...LOL Well I was always one for always changing things and it drives hubby crazy....and well now I just love that fact... ~whahhhh~ I have to say that I do love it without the ivy as well. :-) Have a great day. :-)

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  3. Yes, I agree. I think trailing plants above cabinets etc are now considered dated. I used to have that everywhere in my house too! That is the beauty of surfing blogs. You get so much wonderful inspiration. Maybe that's why it's addicting too! I want one of those demijohns in the crate too. I saw some for sale at the Country Living fair last year but had already spent my money by that time. I'm hoping to get one this year if the same vendor is selling them. They were vintage and a very good price! I love what you did with yours though! I'd say that's the next best thing! Your basket is very French looking too.

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  4. I didn't even know what a demi john was until recently! the iron #s from HL are too fabulous! Looks great!
    Jenna

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  5. Love the demi-john idea. It looks great glowing with its lights. I took down most of my fakes several years ago because I was tired of cleaning them. I saved some and spray painted them white to use from time to time. A little fake goes a long way. I just saw a great dark navy wall just like the one I had back in the eighties. I might just have to revisit that.

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  6. Your "demi john" looks great! Love the lights in it too. I still use SOME greenery but have cut back alot. Some spots just seem to need some Life:)

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  7. Christine you copy cat looks great!

    Cheryl @ The Creative Me and My McG

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  8. Love your demi john with the numbers tied to it….you display it beautifully!

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  9. I love your copycat demi john. The iron numbers you found are perfect!

    It's easy to criticize and compare your home to other bloggers. I think we've all done that at some point. I am definitely guilty of doing it! Don't beat yourself up about it and try to concentrate on the beautiful home that you have created for your family. : )

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  10. Love your 'copycat'! And your after pics without the ivy look great, too. It's hard not to compare ourselves sometimes...I think if we can get inspired without getting too down on ourselves, then it's all good! :)
    Susan

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  11. I love the lights they add so much. Simply charming, thanks for linking up!

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  12. That's really pretty and very creative of you! Thanks for linking up this week at Thursday STYLE.

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  13. Love the pretty lights!

    I am also inspired by other blogs, and have a ton of Pins to prove it, but not only have they inspired me to decorate, but to start blogging myself!

    Kelly from www.lifeonbirchst.com

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  14. I have always had mixed emotions about the fake ivy thing...I like the color it can add, but I don't love the dust it collects. Love these projects.

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  15. No fake plants is my mantra! Looks so pretty without and yes, less dusting as stated abvoe by a few girls ;) I love your faux Demi Johns, baskets add such warmth and with the lights is a big thumbs up!!

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  16. Girl, I so hear you on on your blogging problem-- I do the same thing! And your copy cat demijohn turned out beautifully! Thanks so much for linking up at Hit Me with Your Best Shot! Have a wonderful weekend!

    ~Abby =)

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  17. Hi, I'm ginny and I found your blog today. I love how you decorate with wooden boxes, baskets, and other earthy things! Where is your favorite no nonsense place to shop for your treasures? I know you mentioned TJMaxx.....
    Also, yes, I agree on the hanging ivy....
    Your home is lovely and I have been very inspired to make some changes in my home. I have no particular style, but I am a bit of a traditional person. I absolutely do not like the modern colors of oranges, bright greens, etc. I actually like warm colors as we live in Michigan and it is cold. Our summers are too short, so I tend not to go toward whites and pastel colors. Well, that said, I will continue to stop by and see what things you have been doing. I have a blog, but, I have not written since last April. Bye!

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  18. Of course we're sticking with you! Have a great weekend. You always have such interesting posts, too. Linda

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  19. Gorgeous! I love your version :) I want one! Thanks so much for linking up at Thursday STYLE!

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  20. Hi Christine. It's nice to meet you! I really like your fake demi-john! It's fun to see things that inspire me to change things up a bit. Congratulations on joining the ivy free club.

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  21. LOVE it. I have some large glass bottles but never thought about sticking lights into them. You are so genious.

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  22. I love your "new" demijohns every bit as much as the vintage one. I think we all compare our homes to others, whether it be on blogs, in magazines or our friends homes. If it inspires us to make positive changes that we enjoy it's great. It's when we start feeling bad about our home because someone else's is "better" that we run into problems. I admit I've done my fair share of this, and my home has a long way to go to get to where I want it to be, but the joy is in the process. You have a beautiful home that you can be very proud of! Thank you for sharing at What We Accomplished Wednesdays. Have a lovely weekend! ~Deborah

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  23. I love the look you got with your copycat demi john with lights. I also love the cleaner look without ivy or other faux garlands. Thanks for linking to TTF!

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  24. Christine, I think that your bottles turned out wonderful! I love the addition of the numbers. I've never been a big fan of fake plants. They just get dusty and well, they look fake. lol! I think it looks much better without. I know that they were real popular at one time. I'm laughing because I know what you mean about always wanting to do things. My hubby says, "does it ever end?" lol! I've always been one to decorate for holidays and make home improvements, but seeing what others do makes you want to do more, more, more! My only advice would be to not worry about what is trendy, just do what you love. Thanks for sharing with SYC.

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  25. Love the lights, it's so pretty! I do have that trouble too; I have been working diligently not to compare myself to anyone else and it has helped quite a bit. Oh yes I think it looks much cleaner without the ivy.

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  26. Hey Christine, I just wanted to stop in and let you know that I am featuring this post over at Tuesdays with a Twist this week, stop by in the morning and take a look. :-)

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  27. These are such cute ideas!!

    Thanks for joining the Link Up this week!

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  28. LOVE your "demijohn!" And I like the new "clean" look of no ivy! Never ever ever compare - just look for inspiration :) You have a GREAT style! Life to the full! Melissa @ DaisyMaeBelle

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  29. Great touches.

    Wonderful to have you at Seasonal Sundays.

    - The Tablescaper

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  30. I love your little copycat Demijohn. What a pretty addition to your kitchen. And yes, I too find myself critiquing things in my home and wanting to change them. My poor husband has to hear my seemingly endless list of projects for our home based on the inspiration of fellow bloggers (which now I want to make my own copycat Demijohn). Thanks for linking up again to Thursday S.T.Y.L.E. I hope to see you at the party again this week!

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  31. Christine, great job with the lights. I'm especially interested in your project because I'm trying to figure out what to do with a bamboo bird cage. I really like the idea of using lights. Also, I agree with you about the ivy. It's a much cleaner look without it. Ann Marie @ Iris Abbey

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  32. What a fun addition to your home! One of my neighbors has hers on her front porch, it looks so pretty at night! I love the # detail, too. Thanks so much for stopping by Best of Nest to share it!

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  33. I too want a demijohn thanks to blogging (and thanks to your pictures!)! I know how you feel about the outs of blogging! I'm overly critical of all parts of my home. On the other hand, it keeps me inspired to keep improving it. I try to do one small thing a week to keep myself motivated...it adds up, 52 things a year vs nothing! That's how I feel about working out, too! I can either be down about only working out 1x / week, or happy that I'm working out 52 x / year vs 0 last year! :) I digress.

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  34. Ha Ha. I too criticize my home now. But I find, I'm tackling more projects than I ever have! Thanks for sharing with us. I would love for you to share on my Chic By You Link Party @ http://chicbytab.blogspot.ca/2014/03/chic-by-you-wednesday-link-party-2.html. Hope to see you there!

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  35. Isn't this true, seeing the great ideas from other bloggers can be expensive and time consuming, if we tried to do them all, lol. I did give up the fake plants years ago, they harbor a lot of dust mites. Yuck. Thank you for sharing this and your terrific "moss loving" post at my History & Home Link Party this week, take care - Dawn @ We Call It Junkin.com

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  36. You did great with the demijohn. Love the look in the basket, and the lights inside.

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