If Mamma Ain't Happy, Ain't Nobody Happy!

The Cranky Queen took a trip west for about 5 days ("west" meaning approximately five hours from the Birmingham, AL area) to her home town of Tallulah, LA to visit her Mamma 'Cranky Em.' Typically Mamma has a "project" for me to do while I'm visiting...so we did a little yard work...a little house cleaning...and shopping for lamps & accessories to 'summarize' the house. Now I love my Mamma, but she completes the quote "if Mamma Ain't Happy, Ain't Nobody Happy!" Above is a vignette on a dresser used as a side board in the living area with pottery, antlers, Fleur de Lis (in all LA homes) & a handmade pottery tile purchased at KENTUCK FESTIVAL in Northport, AL. 

On the Duncan Phyfe dining room buffet, I used simple brown transferware, a Fleur de Lis & a fun bird on a glass top pedestal. I love the reflection of the mirror...

The sofa table continues the decor of various pottery birds, a nest-like metal basket filled with a menagerie of decorative balls & a candlestick.

                                                        Close-Up Look...

The dining room table was set w/ a striped runner & a square basket with rafia-type fruit, a cute metal rooster, peacock themed creamer & sugar and a glitzy candle holder for a little Louisiana pizazz!

The vignette above consists of some of the new items that we purchased on our Mother~Daughter shopping day.  The adorable pottery bird with glazed florets on its wing, the textured blown glass orbs & the vintage-style bottle help "freshen up" the basket on the coffee table.

My favorite pieces of Mother' collection... Pictures cannot show how beautiful these Roseville pieces really are...and I love the English washstand with ornate tile backsplash

   

"Cranky Em" & me "The Cranky Queen"... We are only 'CrAnKy' when "we ain't happy!"

STAY CALM & KEEP MAMMA HAPPY!!!!

Let Freedom Ring!

Well it's been awhile since I blogged! Excuse??? Life... Too much to do... But I read someone's blog yesterday & they mentioned the "blog graveyard", thus, it made The Cranky Queen think "I don't want to be in "the ground yet!" So, guess what? The Cranky Queen is back! Hoping to blog at least once a week. So to celebrate my return to blog world...a few snapshots of Americana decor. (Above photo courtesy of Pinterest).

I love "saving" & "recycling"...this broke-back chair is now a stool with a fresh seat painted navy & distressed; the rusty cast iron kettle is home to succulents & the windows can be used in lots of ways in the home or garden.

The flag was painted by me, AKA The Cranky Queen. It is painted on a leaf discarded from a drop-leaf table. The old jeep door (another roadside find) draws attention to the items for sale after I stenciled "JUNK 4 SALE" on it...plus it's for sale too.

The chair, another flag pattern painted by me, would be adorable on a porch. The old bike was offered to me (at a very good price) by a friend's hubby. I love the flag draped over it with repainted frames.

The Cranky Queen showing off more of her weekend "finds"! Love that red industrial cart & metal bird cage!

So I hope that all my blogger friends (& new visitors too) will visit the "royal blog" once more. The palace doors have re-opened. The royal pups have changed over the last few years... Ruby Fawn is our old princess, while Elliott (Eli) is our new prince. Dixie Belle & Sassy have passed over to the True Royal Kingdom.

KEEP CALM & Wave Your American Flag!

Winter Mantle...Baby It's Cold Outside

 The Cranky Queen wanted to show all of her royal blog friends the castle's winter mantle...Even in the South, temperatures have been in the "teens" and this Southern Gal is freezin' her royal buns off!

 The white owl was a gift from Cranky Em (the Queen's Mother)

 The Great Room was transformed into a "Nature's Christmas" theme...can you see the turtle shell, pine cones, deer antler & feathers?

 These houses are made from bits and pieces of the outdoors

 

The brown owl not only is used during Fall, but keeps watch during the Christmas holidays as well!

The snowman painted gourd is new to my collection

 

 This pottery ornament was created by a nurse friend of mine who is very creative.  The leaf imprint is a kudzu leaf.  For those that are not familiar with Kudzu, google it.  Very interesting vine!

 A side view of the winter mantle

 Cold weather in Alabama can get a little "prickly"!!!!

 Cranky Queen & King preparing the Royal Traditional Christmas Breakfast while Prince Logan shows off his newest gift...this Southern Boy knows how to keep his feet warm while hunting!

 The Royal Pooches try & keep warm during this bizarre winter weather, but Dixie Belle's sweater appears to be a little "tight"...too many Christmas calories makes the belly a little bigger!

So for all of you who experience COLD & FRIGID temps all winter long, I salute you...And for us Southerners who are "out of our element" with the COLD SPELL that has taken us by surprise, bundle up & ride it out...cause if you don't like the weather today in Alabama & surrounding states, blink and it will be totally different tomorrow!

STAY CALM & DO A LITTLE WINTER DECORATING!

Tiffany

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Gals Gone Glitzy!

The Cranky Queen and gal pal, Duchess Melanie, have coveted these vintage ornament wreaths since they saw them 4 years ago at The Country Living Fair.  The Queen created one last Christmas for a dear friend, and she absolutely loved it; hence, she decided (along with Mel), that they would have a craft night and create their own.

I started with a corn husk wreath purchased for less than $2.

Collections of vintage ornaments & dollar store tinsel

The wreath after wrapped & hot glued with silver tinsel

I"m not so Cranky...Having Fun at Melanie's Home...

Melanie wrapped her styrofoam wreath with ribbon & then wrapped with tinsel

The Cranky Queen's Glitzy Wreath!

See the details of the ornaments & vintage bells

 

Melanie's wreath below...Just love it!

 

 

Melanie added old ornaments like this boot, reindeer, elf & angel

 

These were some of the inspiration wreaths seen at Country Living Fair

 

I may add an elf and a few more balls for finishing touches.

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STAY CALM & MAKE A WREATH!

Tiffany

Gettin' My Crafty Christmas On...

 

 Now, the Cranky Queen loves Christmas...but, she typically puts off decorating until after Thanksgiving. She really is saddened by the fact that Thanksgiving is completely skipped by many...her turkeys still fill the royal castle with many gobbles, but she has started creating Christmas crafts. Her 1st DIY craft, pillows made from a vintage dish towel.

Easy as pumpkin pie~ Just cut, sew, stuff & add a little ric-rac & buttons.

 Check out this "Trash-Turn-Terrific" Window.  Yep, the Queen saved this cabinet door from a drive~by~ dump. Add garland (snagged at a yard sale), snow flakes & ribbon for $1 each & you've got a Ready To Hang Holiday Window that would make Scrooge tickled!

 

Lovin' this Silverplate Wreath

 This is my " Pinterest Twist " on a silverplate holiday wreath

 Started with a silver plate casserole dish stand, then added greenery, an adorable teapot & finished it off with crocheted ribbon, lace & pinecones.

Side View...If this little darlin' does not sale in The Cranky Queen's Booth, it will be hanging next to the castle doors this Christmas!

 I found this woodsy tray at a yard sale for $1 last week...the grapevine wreath was a freeby & pine cones, berries & burlap ribbon were already in the Queen's craft stash. Ready for the Lodge!

 CABIN FEVER stenciled on a shutter rung

 

 This star is made from old shutters that "have seen better days."  Hot glue & jute and wa~la, a Star is Born

The Cranky Queen wishes everyone a Blessed Thanksgiving.

STAY CALM & CHRISTMAS CRAFT!

Tiffany