Tile, Lanterns, and my Eastern Asian/Avian teaser ...

Oh what a weekend it's been! Shopping, searching, tiling, cleaning, decorating, sewing ... I've been up to my eyeballs in projects - but success is just around the corner and the feeling of progress is so so so sweet!

The tile started to go up on the walls today, after a few hours of planning, measuring, leveling - then measuring and leveling again. It seemed insurmountable, but within a few minutes the technique was down and I was flying! Here's a picture of what I accomplished after an hour and 1 box of subway tile:

Of course, doing anything in an old house can never be easy. Nothing, and I mean nothing is ever straight, level, plum - it's all eye shot measured and it can be daunting in trying to figure out a way that will leave you with a perfect finished product. Though a few of the edge tiles are about 1/16 short, the overall is right in line, level, plum, straight - whichever you choose to use! And the best part? We're saving a little over $800 by doing the dirty work ourselves. Once this reno is finished I can't wait to share with you what it all cost ... I think you'll be surprised!

Of course, no Saturday is complete without shopping I didn't get to do during the week. If you've been keeping up with me, you'll know that I'm in love with lanterns, specifically the Suzanne Kasler lantern at Circa lighting that neither Suzanne or Circa has offered to give me simply by mentioning their name on my blog. Darn! But I did come across a beautiful lantern at an antique co-op Saturday that I just couldn't pass up:

It's not antique, and it's not copper. That's a bad paint job - one I hope to redo when the weather allows. But for now, it's propped up on the mantle with the makings of the spring/summer look I will share with you all real soon! What do you think of it?

Speaking of spring/summer, remember that post Joni from Cote de Texas did way back in October 2009 about Objects Lost and Found in Houston? Well it was another one that I just couldn't get out of my head. Why?

This line up of antique parrots. I fell in love that day, and decided that they had to be added to the list of things I simply couldn't live without.

So a pair flew into my living room - and I've started working on my Asian meets Avian spring/summer ... maybe year round look. After all, with accessories as beautiful as these - who could ever put them away?

Lots of fun packed, motivating, progress pushing, and budget saving tips stored in posts this week - so come back, and come back often, and always remember I love reading your comments! :)