Last week I showed you a corner of my home I had recently rearranged, including some meaningful artwork on the wall. This corner is a bit less meaningful (though I did tape up some favorite pictures of my Grandma and Grandpa), thought I think it’s quite a happy little nook! I’ve been attempting to disperse my vintage needlework art throughout my home, because to me, balance is everything.

P.S. That antique clock isn’t working. I chopped off the chord and keep the time set to a desirable time of day. Wouldn’t you? :)

I’ve never been much of a Spring cleaning gal. Heck, I’ve never been much of a cleaning gal. But this past week I’ve been Spring re-arranging in our home. Just simple stuff, like changing up artwork on the walls and finally getting some corners organized. I’m afraid I’ve been slacking with this blog’s weekly features, but I think Phil appreciates getting the home in order. So I believe it’s worth it. :)

This particular corner of our apartment has always been kind of dead space. There is a closet, and perpendicular to the corner is our rarely used front door, so it’s always just been a place to look pretty until I can come up with a useful function for it.

Since I haven’t had any ideas for a meaningful function, I’ve really poured my heart into making this a meaningful visual part of our apartment. Most of what is hanging on this wall has sentimental value.

Clockwise starting from the postcards at the top left:

• vintage postcards from my grandma’s scrapbook: My great, great Grandma Jacobson visited Niagara Falls and sent this postcard to my Grandma Graber in the 1940s.
• crewel poppies: no sentimental value, I just think they’re pretty.
• framed and trimmed record album cover: my Grandpa Cook was a southern boy for life. He worked on the railroad, always kept a bushy mustache, and liked to work outdoors. Who knew he liked classical music? When he passed away, I got his collection, and now I have one album cover hanging on the wall.
• mirror: something meaningful is always staring back. :)
• needlepoint butterflies: my Aunt Sandy made this for my Grandma Graber. When she passed away, Sandy didn’t want it, so I took it.
• Chicago skyline: it has water damage, but it’s still beautiful. My father grew up in Chicago and I have always enjoyed visiting my friends there. Besides Canton, Chicago is my favorite place in the world.
• deer photo: I found this photo in my grandmother’s scrapbook as well. I hung a doily ornament that a friend gave me when we moved in.
• hat box lid: I love vintage hat boxes, so why not decorate my wall with one?
• crewel cattails: I simply love crewelwork, in case you haven’t noticed!

My recent need for more color in my life has resulted in a hefty purchase of Rit fabric dye for some DIY wardrobe projects. First up? A little practice in the home decor department.Three little packets of fabric dye gave the rather neutral alcove of our great room a much needed infusion of jewel tone color.

Adding color to these linen burlap curtains was actually a pretty easy process, but it took quite a bit of nerve. What if I messed up? What would I do for curtains? I kind of loved those curtains, and they were my first home purchase four years ago when I was preparing for married life.

Giving the burlap curtains this ombre look was a two-step process, which I’ve detailed in a recent post at Apartment Therapy. Easy peasy, I promise! Head on over to get the details, and maybe you can muster the courage to add a little bit more color to your home too!