In The Red and Instant Photos

My beautiful red head. 

Thanks for all the support and compliments on my photography yesterday! There is so much I need to learn. Starting a blog has forced me to take better photos. I never retouch photos for the blog but I've been having fun playing around in picnik with my kids' photos.

Speaking of photography, I recently picked up 3 vintage cameras for $10 each!  This is one of them.

I loved Polaroid cameras when I was a kid. The instant photo was great. Do you remember blowing on the photo to speed up the drying process?

I'm thinking of how much film I would have wasted the other day. So nice to be able to see the image before we even print it! 
We've come a long ways, baby!

555 Reasons

Thanksgiving is over but I'm grateful each and every day for my family.  This past weekend a favorite uncle of mine passed away.  Yesterday sitting in the middle of church, a wave of grief swallowed me up.  It was so overwhelming I almost bolted outside. But then my little boy climbed in my lap and squeezed me real tight. A gentle reminder that life goes on, it's short and I must make the most of it.

To save money this year, I decided to be my own photographer. I'm known to cut important parts out of pictures. Like a head (see above.)

 Let's just say this one was making a game out of it but we didn't care as long as he was happy. He is so proud of his first missing tooth on the bottom. 

You probably already know that 13 year old boys do not care about taking pictures.

Smiles from Mr. Handsome only come when not posing.

And the princess. Isn't her hair amazing? Not only is it an unusual color, it will do just about anything. She loves to twist it in all kinds of crazy ways.  I think she should have been born in the 30's or 40's. She loves everything about that era.

Somewhere in the batch of 100 + photos, we'll select one for our Christmas card.

I really do have 555 reasons (and then some) to be thankful.

Thanksgiving and a Winner

Country Living

Announcing the winner for the Shabby Apple Dress giveaway.
The lucky person is...
#18- Podso!

She is such a delightful person. I always enjoy her blog posts. Congratulations my friend!

Some Thanksgiving loveliness from Country Living...

With the warm temps we've had, the above tablesetting is not out of the question. But we'd rather graze around the dinner table from noon until bedtime. My daughter is coming home from college today. It will just be our little family for Thanksgiving but we are happy to all be together. I'm signing off until next week so I can soak up the moments.
Happy Thanksgiving!

The Console

It's always fun to add a surprise element of furniture to a traditional space.  This mid-century styled console/buffet is a very heavy piece of furniture. The single most dreaded piece when moving. The top is solid granite. We have surround sound in this room so it makes a great to house my stereo system. (I've yet to hook up stereo so excuse the wires shining underneath.)

I won this little postcard on ebay.

It was postmarked March 5, 1913.  Isn't it interesting how the addresses were not very specific in those days?

View from the sofa-

console: consignment shop
mercury glass lamps: Tuesday Mornings
red finial bowl:  Sears
mirror: Hobby Lobby
books, antlers and trophy: antique/thrift stores
croc tray and silver candle holder: Home Goods
candle: gift
leaf candy dish: Goodwill

Posting to:
Mod Vintage Life 
Coastal Charm
Savvy Southern Style


I'm extending the Shabby Apple Dress Giveaway for a couple of more days.  If you haven't signed up, please go here. 
Winner will be announced Wednesday.

The Little Chair

Introducing the "little chair."  You saw the man's chair, now here's the lady's chair in all her petite goodness.  The animal print pillow is from Target- $29, chair from a flea market- $15.  

She cleaned up quite nicely with fabric cleaner. 

I don't remember why I was in a flea market days before moving. Must have been an escape from packing.
Never go to a flea market or thrift store when:
-you don't want to buy anything.
-you can't buy anything.
Murphy's law: you'll find the best bargain at that exact moment. 

How could I even think about another piece of furniture to move?

This one wasn't so clean but I loved its soft curve. Even though both pieces had been recovered with the same fabric, I don't think they are original mates. Close enough.

I bought the chair first, went home, then returned the next day to buy the sofa- $55 after a bit of negotiating.  A bargain is always justified right?

Hopefully re-upholstery will be done before my next move.

Thinking about the color.

I so love the peacock blue velvet.

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Or a light blue/gray leather.

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Gray velvet is nice too.

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But really, neutral always makes the best sense.

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You know the routine. Add the pillows.

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Don't forget about the GIVEAWAY!  There is still time to enter!



Posting to:
My Romantic Home
At The Picket Fence 
Common Ground 
The Charm of Home
French Country Cottage
The Vintage Farmhouse
No Minimalist Here

Shabby Apple Dress Giveaway

In celebration of my 2 year blog birthday, I am partnering with Shabby Apple for a give away.

Shabby Apple carries so many pretty dresses.
 

They are offering my readers a 10% discount on any purchase (use this coupon code-beatricebanks10off.) 
Go take a look!

You can win this dress!

Classic black and white is perfect for any occasion. It would be great for a holiday party!

Enter this giveaway by leaving comments for:
1. Being a follower of Beatrice Banks.
2. Liking Shabby Apple on facebook.

You have until the 20th to enter. (Sorry, but it's only open to US residents.)

I appreciate each of you who take time to read my blog. I am so thankful for all of the friends I have made in the past two years, friends whom I wouldn't have met otherwise. It's a wonderful thing.
Thank you!

The Recliner

This is another one of my chairs- the recliner.  When I ordered a Queen Ann recliner in white leather with nail heads back in the 90's, I got some looks.

But I knew what I wanted. It has held up well, other than having one of the sides re-bolted a few years ago.  

 I don't know what the doc would do if we didn't have a recliner. It's sort of his go-to chair in the living room.  I keep warning him that some day it'll have to go.  He's clinging to it as long as he can.

  
But recliners have come a long ways.  I may not be opposed to getting another one.

Lazy Boy

Horchow

Love the blue color of that one!

I could see this cowhide in a library.

And in case you missed it, look what Mimi of Blue Roof Cabin did!

 Isn't that the most adorable recliner ever?


Yes, recliners can even be dainty and pretty.

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Lazy Boy

Do you have a recliner?

Posting to:
My Romantic Home
At The Picket Fence
The Charm of Home
Mod Vintage Life

Louis Chairs

I love chairs. If I bought every chair I loved, my house could not contain them.  But some are worth making room for.

These two Louis XVI chairs have moved from room to room in every house I've owned for the past 13 years.

I was fortunate to find them at an estate auction for $40 each. They are in the exact great condition I found them. To this day, I still love the fabric and details.

They have a formal look and are probably not the most comfy to sit on so I usually put them in a welcoming area or a spill over space for guests.

To keep them from being too serious, I added the circles pillows and modern sphere lamp from Target, the wrought iron tables with heavy glass from a yard sale, vintage books from Goodwill, and bookends and a vase from Marshall's.

The difference between a Louis XV and Louis XVI chair is the shape of the legs. XV legs are curved while XVI are straight. You probably already knew this but, if you'd like to read a little history, go to this neat blog, I Dream Of Chairs.  La Dolce Vita has a great summary on the chairs as well.

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Louis XV

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Pinterest



Louis XVI

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The Louis ghost chairs are chic right now.

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And I do love them.

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I saw some ghost chairs at Tuesday Mornings a couple of weeks ago for about $100 each. I'm sure that was an excellent deal but I had to keep walking.

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My blog is turning 2 years old!  Stay tuned for a giveaway!

Posting to:
 Mod Vintage Life
 Coastal Charm
 Savvy Southern Style
 Charmed Bracelet Diva
Sugar and Spice