Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Finished Bookcase #1


This week I planned on getting the living room spic-n-span, shiny clean but so far I've gotten sidetracked with making stuff. Oh well, the good thing about being a homemaker is that I can set my own schedule!

I did finish one bookcase and I have one more to go. I organize my books library style - by subject. Then by size and/or author. Breaking up your books by color looks pretty but I really use my books and it would drive me crazy to have to either remember the color of the book or spend time hunting it down!



This bookcase has my gardening & self-sufficiency type books. I leave the bottom shelf empty so I can have a place to have changing displays. Things are pretty safe there from big cute dogs with swishy tails!



That's my favorite bookend! I got it at Hobby Lobby for a few dollars. If you wait eventually everything in that store goes on sale.





I made that leaf picture above. I just picked three nice leaves and used some scrapbook paper.





We've lived in this house for 8 years and never knew we had a chestnut tree! We have a clump of trees in our backyard that has about 4 or 5 different varieties of trees. This year we got these chestnuts (the prickly balls are from our tree, the opened ones are faux) from one.



I think it's time for a nice sit down and a cup of coffee! I'll be back on Friday with Kelli's Show & Tell. If you haven't visited her yet (which I can't imagine) do, you're in for a real treat!


29 comments:

Rosemary said...

Hi Manuela,
Thanks so much!!
Your bookcase looks fantastic!!
I love your style of decorating.
Have a great day!
Rosemary

Kim @ Home Is Where The Heart Is said...

Lovely vignettes!

Rhonda said...

Your talent is amazing!

if you do decide to take a job, any store or photographer or magazine would be so lucky to have you as their window or set designer.

thanks for sharing with us all.

Suzann said...

Wonderful job on the bookcase. It looks fabulous. I'm so happy to know that I'm not the only one who organizes her own books by subject and author. My DVD's and CD's are also organized. I'm hopeless. LOL

Tammy said...

I was about to say the exact words as someone already said...Love your style of decorating! It gives me such good ideas, too...
Blessings,
~Tammy

Susie Q said...

You have a total gift for arranging
and designing a vignette! I have always loved seeing your home. I love the idea of framing leaves. Keeping bit of Fall for a long time!

Love,
Sue

Georgia Girl said...

Love your bookcase and especially the bookends. Gotta get out and get me some leaves and make a fall pic like yours...I know I am a copycat.

Carla said...

How lovely! Thank you for sharing:)

AJ said...

I'm so jealous that you have a chestnut tree!!!

Kathleen Grace said...

You are a busy bee! Your bookcase looks great:>) I hopped over to Kelli's blog, I have to add her to my google reader. I never stop finding great blogs! Eventually it is all I will do all day! Somebody stop me:>)

GlorV1 said...

Hi Manuela. Your bookcase came out beautifully. How wonderful having a chestnut tree. Of all the trees we have, that is one we don't have. Now that you know you have chestnuts, its roasting time. :) Great post and great pix. Take care.

Vee said...

It looks wonderful! I made a leaf picture from collected leaves today, too. But I need to copy you with the scrapbook paper. Mine are on plain black and do not look as lovely as yours.

Anonymous said...

My bookcase is a mess..... as usual you inspire me.... it looks so well arranged..... love that metal piece on the top..... sometime I would love to here tales about Maxie and his swishy tail...
HUgs
Linda

Sue said...

Hi...Love the chestnuts..I haven't seen them since living in Jersey. And I'm making a trip to the Hobby Lobby tomorrow!! You find the best stuff....Sue.

Donna, The Decorated House said...

Hi Manuela~
All the bookcases are coming out beautifully! But you know I am really enjoying see the new fall decorating with them, too. Oh this is a wonderful time of year isn't it!
Donna

Salmagundi said...

I clicked on the pictures to enlarge them - I had to check out the transferware. Is that a Meakin plate with the white pumpkin? Also, you already know I love those turkey bowls. The bookcase looks great! Sally

Buzzings of a Queen Bee! said...

Lovely bookcase! I think arranging it and organizing your books sounds very relaxing...and it paid off because it looks so pretty!
Carrie

Unknown said...

Hi Manuela,
YOur bookcase looks wonderful. You have inspired me to work on mine!

Cottage Contessa said...

Very nice Manuela, you really do have a knack for decorating sweetie! Wishing you a lovely day.
Amanda (aka Cottage Contessa)

Anonymous said...

Your bookcase looks great. I love all of the seasonal touches you have added. Those are the touches that always make a home seem so cozy to me.
Have a great day :)
Jen

Free Art Printables said...

Love it Manuela! It looks great!

Christina said...

Everything looks great. Love the bookend too.

I wondered what those prickly things were. We saw some on the ground somewhere a few weeks ago and didn't know what they were. Now I do.

Salmagundi said...

Thanks for answering my question about your Tonquin plate. I checked my similiar plates out closer. They also are marked with the Tonquin pattern name, but were produced by the Meakin factory. Must have been two different factories producing the same pattern. I learn something new and interesting everyday by blogging. Thanks, Sally

Ms. Tee said...

So beautiful, all of it. I love to frame leaves. I keep waiting on ours to change! :)

Rue said...

Beautifully done Manuela! I have such a hard time with bookshelves. My mother does it well, but the gene skipped me LOL

Can you believe I have never thought of using wallpaper and wrapping paper for the back of them?! I've been piecing together scrapbook paper.... ugh. Thank you for sharing this, so I don't drive myself insane ;)

hugs,
rue

Angie said...

You have some beautiful pieces on your bookcase. Love the china and transferware. I want that fleur de lis bookend! I really enjoyed this post and your last one about wallpapering the backs of bookcases. I sure wish I had a store near me that sold wallpaper cheap like that!

Rosie's Whimsy said...

Cool! Love the framed leaves on the checks. Simple and elegant :-) Rosie

Paula said...

Dear Manuela,

I love your finished bookcase! It all looks so lovely. The way the books are arranged and the pretty vignette that is safe from a sweet doggie tail! You decorate beautifully! I love being a homemaker too!

Love, Paula

Susie Q said...

I do my bookshelves the same way. I'd love to see a list of your books to compare with mine and see what I need to get!