Saturday Spotlight: Life Behind the Blogger

 Saturday Spotlight: Life Behind the Blogger is a feature done each Saturday that introduces you to a blogger you may already know or a new blogger for you to get to know. This feature gives you a peak into the personal life of the blogger.  Getting to know the special person behind the beautiful blog.

There is so much talent and inspiration in blogland so enjoy getting to know these talented bloggers each Saturday.

Jane and Leo: Cottage at the Crossroads

Hi Everyone.  This week I would love to introduce you to a wonderful couple that have a great story to share and a beautiful blog.  Enjoy getting to know this dynamic duo.

Jane and Leo: Cottage at the Crossroads

Hi there, everyone! I'm Jane and my husband and I blog at Cottage at the Crossroads. We are so honored that Kris is shining her spotlight on us today. Thanks so much for inviting us to share a little more about ourselves with your readers, Kris.  Our story starts with a little girl who grew up in a small community called Cross Roads in South Carolina.  

She lived in a white farmhouse with a red tin roof. Her parents had a large garden and when she was old enough, she definitely had to do her share of working in that garden. She would even go to the extreme of putting on her bikini to do some hoeing and getting a suntan at the same time. Luckily, the farmhouse was out in the country and no one had to witness such a sight! She received her love of flowers from her mother who always had something blooming or growing inside and outside the house year round. 

As so many females who grew up in the late 60s and early 70s, she had long hair down to her waist and cut it the first week when she went to college. Having always loved old things, she started attending auctions and visiting antique stores while in college. 

She eventually  earned a degree in elementary education and was thrilled when she received her first teaching job. you can see her very first classroom along with some of her students that she remembers so fondly along with some photos of that young teacher. She continued to teach school earning her masters degree along with obtaining National Board Certification. The highlight of her career was developing a Latin program to expand the vocabularies of elementary students.

Here she is in her Roman clothing that her mother made for her. Oh, those were the fun years, but she eventually retired after teaching 31 years.  

   

There was a young boy who grew up in a small community called Windhams' Crossroads in South Carolina.

He lived in a small country house and helped run the family store across the street. The family had a large garden and he did his share of working in that garden, even though he hated it at the time. He'd much rather be playing sports or listening to music like most typical teenagers. When he finished high school, he went off to college, putting an end to that dreaded work in the garden or in family owned tobacco fields. 

 When his brother Woody offered him a part-time job as a DJ on a local radio station, he decided to pursue it as a career. It turned into 38 years of doing what he has a passion for-music.     Leo and Jane met in 1993 when a mutual friend introduced them. Typical of first-time meetings, Leo asked Jane where she was from and she said, "A little place called Cross Roads," to which he replied, in surprise, that he was from a place called Windhams' Crossroads.  It was fate that they met that day. Through the years, they have enjoyed golf, shag dancing, and motorcycle riding. And one day while they were at a  "crossroads" in their lives, they decided to move back into the home Leo grew up in at Windhams' Crossroads in order to live a quieter and more simple life. There they started a large vegetable garden, a blog, a shop on the blog selling some vintage items, and an internet radio station.

But their greatest enjoyment comes from these four grandchildren and this little one below. 

Thanks again, Kris, for inviting us to share our story with your wonderful readers. I invite you to come by and visit us at our blog, Cottage at the Crossroads. We LOVE making new friends!    

Thank you Jane and Leo for sharing with all of us today.  Please hop over to introduce yourself to Jane and Leo and check out their wonderful blog.

Have a great week end.

Kris

:)

Spring Around Junk Chic Cottage

Happy Wednesday!  Hope your week is going great.

Before I start my post on some of my Spring decor I want to say this.......

This sectional has been a big challenge for me as most of you saw in my last post.  I so miss my slipcovered sectional it was so much more my style.  Unfortunately it was not a good choice when it came to actually using my furniture.  I have a dog, granddaughter and family that actually lounge and enjoy this sectional.  That created a problem with the white slipcovers.  It was a pain to wash and try and keep that clean.  

So the leather is so much a better choice.  I picked this one after looking and trying out several leather sectionals.  There were many that had the cottage look with rolled arms etc. I just did not like how uncomfortable they were. So we decided on this one for the comfort.

 I think I was trying so hard to make this leather sectional something it is not ever going to be.  So the ruffle is going and I will leave the barn boards for now.  My hopes are to find maybe some cool salvage feet to put on to replace the modern feet.  That way I can remove the barn wood and just have the feet give the character and charm of the cottage look.

So I need to step away from this room and hopefully come back with a better vision with the way I want to marry pottery barn leather with cottage.  I appreciate all your wonderful input on my decor crazy with this sectional.

Now On to the Spring popping up around Junk Chic Cottage.

I found this great centerpiece last year at Home Goods.  It had a silver shinny base so I just painted it white and then hung my spring sign on it.  Gives some Spring to the dining room table.

My Love birds have new Spring decor added to their home.

A few painted clay pots, some blue eggs and flowers along with a vintage nest on an old bed spring give my love birds a cozy Spring home.

The sweet birds in the wreath on the french door going out to the deck.

Love these little birds with their button tails.  Their nest is ready for Spring.

Added this new chippy bird cage to the spring decor on my little dresser in the dining room.

Found a cute Spring bird and some dried hydrangea's for the inside of the cage.

Brought in some chippies from the garden outside to bring Spring to my coffee table.

This little white birdhouse and picket were out in the summer garden last year.  Thought it would add some Spring to this table.

Also brought in one of my chippy watering cans and added some spring flowers.

Added a spring flowering crab vine wreath and another watering can by the front door for Spring.

Thanks for viewing some of my touches of Spring coming into my home.  So happy we are turning the corner on winter and Spring is in the air.
Enjoy the rest of the week.
Come back on Saturday for Spotlight.  I have a sweet and dynamic couple for you to meet in Spotlight.
Kris
:)

Parties:
Mod Mix Monday
Amaze Me Monday
What's It Wednesday

Leather Sectional meets cottage???????

Here is an older pictures of when I had my slipcovered sectional in my living room. Oh how I loved that sectional. I miss her but she is living in a good home.  She was adopted by Jennifer from Town and Country Living for her pretty farmhouse.  So it is all good she has a wonderful new home to live in.  I have to tell you I do not miss washing those slipcovers because you know who loves to lounge on the sectional........

Enter new leather sectional!!!! Big challenge for me to make this work in my cottage decor. Since this it the only seating in our family room it was so much more practical with my family and dog that lounge on the sectional.

This is where Pottery Barn leather sectional and cottage have to learn to live with each other.  Big challenge!  My cushions on this sectional are attached and are not removable.  So I could not just order a slipcover to the outer part of the sectional and then just have the leather cushions exposed.  Nope that would have been an easy and great way to get leather and slipcover to meet.  So.......... Plan B

I had some old barn wood planks and Terry cut and attached them to the feet of the sectional.  This way the leather was not touched at all.

The barn wood planks gave a little of the chippy feel from the room to the sectional.

Then I wanted to add some softness for a more cottage feel so I had a table cloth with a ruffle and cut that and then used upholstery screws to attach the ruffle underneath the cushions.  So no damage was done to the front of the leather.  This way too if this look is not what I want I can take the ruffle off easily and the tiny holes will be underneath the cushions on the base.

I added a ruffle along the back of the sectional and attached it at the legs so not to put any marks or holes in the leather.

I am still working on different throws and pillows and I am not sure I am in love with this look.  I need to leave it and see if it grows on me.  This has been a huge challenge for me.
Maybe when I get the rest of the room decor done I will be in love with this look on the sectional.  Nice part is if it does not grow on me then I can easily remove the ruffles.

So I started with this.

Then did this with the old pieces of barn wood.

Now I have this.  Not sure I am in love with this yet.  I will give it a little time.  I am just wondering if I should go back and remove the ruffles and leave the exposed chippy barn wood planks or just try to find some chippy architectural feet to replace the modern feet and call it a day.
What do you think?
Working on the decor to the new brick wall in the living room still.  This room has been a real challenge for me.  I am determined to get pottery barn and chippy cottage to mingle!!!!!
Have a great week.  Please come back on Saturday for Spotlight I have a really neat dynamic duo couple for you to get to know.
Kris
:)

Entryway Update and New Treasure

Happy Sunday.  We are having the best weather.  I think Spring  is trying to appear.  I have been really enjoying these high 50's and 60 degree days.  That is above normal for us in Chicago land for this time of year.  Hoping this is a good sign Spring is coming.

My birthday is next month in April.  While Terry and I were out junkin last week end we came across one of these old vintage water bottles and crates.  I have always wanted one so Terry said he would get that for me as an early Birthday gift.

 I put it in the entry way for now.

Love this old embossed heavy water bottle and crate.

Living in the suburbs of Chicago, I love that it is from the Chicago based Hinkley and Schmidt water company that have been in business for many years.

Now they deliver those plastic blue and clear water bottles so to come across this beautiful old piece of history was a fabulous find.

I got the chalk boards made up in the old frames in the entry way.  I like that I can change up the sayings inside these for the different holidays etc.

Hope to have the Living room done this week to show you.  Have a wonderful start to the new week ahead.

Kris

:)

Parties:

Amaze Me Monday