Tobacciana can include vintage ashtrays which make great, kitschy catchalls for jewelry & change {or peanuts & candy}, cool old pipes, and also match collections which are not only fun to dig through {we have a huge bowl of them at the Cactus Creek Store}, they also make clever additions to scrapbooks, collages and found art projects.

So let’s get back to the Horn Ashtrays… what to do with them nowadays that most of us have snuffed our butts?? Last week I was at my friend Anna’s house for a Christmas decorating bonanza and we used her collection of Horn Ashtrays for adding greenery and holiday cheer to the top of a dresser in her living room. A creative way to turn something “old” into something FUN & HIP.

Recycle * Repurpose * RE~LOVE

This idea will be featured on the Junk in my Trunk Radio Show {JIMT} which airs every Monday, Thursday & Saturday from 10am till 11am on Kansas City’s 1140am KCXL & 1160am KCTO. You can also LISTEN LIVE on the Internet… visit JunkMafia.com and click on the Little Red Radio at the bottom of the page.

** Click HERE for more JIMT ideas!! **

Sooo, I couldn’t let this opportunity pass to show off the rest of Anna’s killer Kansas City house ~ all decked out for Christmas. Below are a few pics of all we did that day. You can see more pics of Anna’s house, from last year’s Christmas Decorating, right HERE.

Y’all enjoy… smooches, fancy

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“Before the border towns here in Texas got too dangerous to visit, we loved going to Laredo and crossing over the border to visit the local Mercado for decorating items.  I also recently completed the turquoise faux wall behind my sofa.”  What a bold color… love it!!

“We are pretty sentimental type people, the little barnwood bench {BELOW} with pillows was actually constructed by a dear friend of ours, made from my husband’s grandmother’s old bed frame! He then constructed a neat barnwood box for storage!”

“We live on a cattle ranch in Hamilton county, Texas, where we breed and raise Brangus cattle, and when we built our ranch style home seven years ago, we knew that we did not want to cover our windows, so as not to obstruct our beautiful view of the ranch and abundant wildlife.  In the bedroom and bath, my dear husband came up with the idea of making barnwood shutters {BELOW} to cover the windows when needed.”  Can your husband build some for our house, please??  They’re perfect…

“The photo of our guest bathroom {BELOW} shows how we used old rusted corrugated metal from a barn on our ranch that was blown over by a tornado! I also could not part with a sign that came out of my brother-in-law’s seafood restaurant in Tulsa, OK, that simply says, PLEASE BE SEATED!  I guess that would put us in the “going green” category!!”

“Western and country has always been a part of my life, I just love it, and have applied my Western decorating outside my home where I love to use old farm implements to dress up my yard that I have landscaped myself. The old grain drill was purchased from a local German couple that just wanted it out of their way. It literally had trees growing up through it that we had to cut down with a chainsaw! We paid them a whopping 20.00 each for two of them.”

“We put in a swimming pool three years ago, and OF COURSE, I had to use some western flair there also! The water feature is my favorite, this was made from a piece of pottery made in Vietnam, and i just love the sound of the water trickling when we are around the pool.”

“Hopefully this will give you some insight as to how we live and breathe country!!”
It does, Jamie and I’m sure I’m not alone wanting to come visit your dreamy home someday for a little taste of Texas country life. 
Thanks!!  xo,fancy

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‘It’s hard to grasp the scale of this recent addition to our house. This armoire is a bit over 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Even friends who have seen photos and then see it in person say – ‘holy cow’. It may be my most favorite piece yet and was purchased at auction by my husband for a mere $100. Of course it cost me $150 to move it, but still a small price to pay for this behemoth vintage lovely. The wood alone is worth that! It was bugging brad how they stripped wood from it in sections – and I had been wanting to do something with the vintage cow tags I had him buy me at a farm auction years ago. So I started slapping the cow tags on the door. {Click to ENLARGE images}

This piece houses our TV equipment, my computer, fax machine and many files. Its a mini office space and I love it! My collection of various fat chickens and roosters sits atop it… I have my eye on a great folk art wooden one at a Mexican restaurant in Atlanta to go in the remaining vacancy on the top right.

On either side of this are another of my favorites. When I was planning our wedding reception I took this photo of Brad’s old 2 cylinder John Deere that I wanted to have made in to stickers to use to address the invitations to our reception. I needed it manipulated to match my red bandanna color scheme so my friend Cathryn Simmons doctored it in Photoshop. She and her partner Lori created these 2 painting as wedding gifts to us and I treasure them.’

………….

‘The stretched burlap COW is one of my favorites. Brad begged a bar owner for this piece and it remained folded in his closet back in Iowa for years. Like almost every framed piece in my house, it was done by the very talented artist Lori Buntin – who I entrust all my framing to. It says – “if you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullsh(covered by the bull horn)”. The suitcase below holds all my mom’s old recipes; the Hereford plaster bull came from the Garden City, MO Antique Mall.  {Click to ENLARGE images}

The other side of the hall is another freebie – old literature files that came out of my dad’s old office in our basement. He brought these from an old employer back in the 60’s and they were old then. (I notice I have a love of things with lots of compartments). There is another set in the basement that I would like to nab one of these days! I also love books and using books as displays. A top these books are a vintage travel suitcase with a fun kitschy pattern, and somewhat politically incorrect piece of art, a vintage poster depicting how to roll a cigarette. I think its a riot, and when I saw the bold colors, I had to have it. It is from the fabulous artist Rhett Johnson.’

………….

‘My iron kitchen set has been so good to me. Its so heavy, but it was FREE on the side of the road. {Did I mention that KT is a Junker EXTRAORDINAIRE??} 
I have recovered it once for my shabby chic condo and now did a fun bright print…

I also love my “The Jeweler” sign that my hubby and I spotted, also at the antique mall in Garden City, MO which where our farm is. I said “I have to have that” just as a huge thunderstorm was hitting. Our windows were down in our car, as was our dog, so we left. I went back the next week and bought it, the same night Brad came home and was so sad, telling me he went back to buy me that sign but it was gone. Yeah, because I bought it!  {Click to ENLARGE images}

The green bench {under the windows in the top picture} was another old memory. It is from Roundhill, our community “barn” tennis and swim club where I grew up and life guarded. These were the benches on the tennis courts built by a late friend of the family so they hold special meaning to me. Many a tennis match I won and lost while taking a break on this bench. It was a “wedding present” courtesy of the Roundhill board after our reception there. Mack loves to climb on it and it fits perfectly below my windows in my kitchen. Funny how new houses we move to have a way of fitting my things in a new way.’

………….

‘I love adding to my collection of T’s. My dining table I bought in Leavenworth, KS for for a bargain about 8 years ago. It was a great turquoisey stain made from old reclaimed wood. I foolishly painted it white for my shabby condo and had regretted it ever since. I took it out to our backyard recently and decided to strip it, I liked the “not completely stripped” look I was getting, along with the faded turquoise/green hues coming through so I left it. The hutch and 2 chairs on either side of it I antiqued, they were a gift from my brother and sister-in-law. My mom found them at a garage sale for them right after they got married 23 years ago, so he was passing them along to me. The 2 yellow chairs on either end of the dining table belong to that set as well, I just put $15 Ikea slip covers (made for parsons chairs) on them. I had 4 red ladder-back chairs with my dining room but recently gave them away. I’m in search of retro metal zinc chairs – that I can afford!

Of course my cowhide rug from Craig’s List works perfect in here - I think!’

………….

‘Our sun-room houses Mack’s play room and my studio space… I love this wooden piece of furniture purchased from Cactus Creek- it has served as an island in 2 homes, a TV stand and now holds Mack’s books and family pictures. The piece behind it of old license plates is always a conversation piece.

The huge wooden basket is one slaves used to pick cotton in the late 1800’s – not a bargain, but a treasure.’

………….

‘This bathroom is a hodge podge of some favorites as well. The horse collar was my father-in-laws that I had framed. The wall has an old oil panting that I bought at a garage sale for 25 bucks and I am still in love with the colors. I love unframed old canvas paintings, I just can’t usually afford them!

The winged art piece and Italian tole candelabra were gifts from my girlfriend Mel. The polka dot pottery piece I picked up at the KC Art Institute’s student sale they have every fall for under 20 bucks. I also love this chunky old dictionary. The table was from the Garden City Antique Mall for 15 bucks.’

………….

My son Mack’s room is a hodge podge too, isn’t my whole house? His wall has a decoupaged “M” that I did for him, a needlepoint of a yellow lab by aunt amy, another yellow lab pic I just liked, and a photo from etsy that a gal took of an apple orchard back east called “mack’s” – I also collect a lot of Mack Bulldog Paraphenilia for him.  The COWBOY picture is a Dolan Geiman that I just bought!

………….

‘This is a treasured piece – the wedding quilt my sister made us. Full of fun bright colors and I love it! To preserve it I put it on our guest bed so it will last.  I used my old display pieces from 10 yrs ago when I first started Baubles, as a headboard. The small olive chest of drawers my Mom paid 25 cents for at the salvation army before I was born.’

………….

‘Another oil painting and a great old trunk plus french enamel vases.’

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When you first enter the Nelson’s home they have propped open a steamer trunk to use as an entry table.  The vignette includes a camera collection that was acquired from a relative, a recycling station, and a book propped open as a piece of art work.  A great way to re-use, re-cycle and re-purpose!! 

The Nelson’s primary business is massage therapy, Touchwork of Weston, which is based out of their home.  They do a lot of work with the b&b’s here in Weston, and also with conventions, and athletes during events like the Border Raiders Bike Ride.  {NOTE: They would love to find a trail riding group to work with for our horse people out there ~ just email Kirk HERE: massage@kjtouch.com}.  Because they have a home~based business their living room {BELOW} doubles as a waiting room for clients.

I adore the vintage quilts and Mexican serapes that hang on a ballet bar on the main wall of the living room.  They set a lovely backdrop and a colorful palette.  In the 2nd view {BELOW} you see the old suitcases that double as an end table, and are also used as storage to phone books, files, and keepsakes.  Brilliant.

 Also take note of the Vintage Saddle Lamp in the picture {ABOVE} ~ it is one of a pair that came from River Market Antique Mall
{a must see if you’re in KC!!}.  Kirk calls them his ’saddle-lights’ ~
you know, ’sattelites’, Ha Ha!!

The ‘tv stand’ is another re~purposed antique… it is actually
the dining table that belonged to Julie’s grandmother. 
It wouldn’t fit in the Nelson’s house as a dining table, Julie didn’t want to part with the table for obvious sentimental reasons, and they needed a tv stand.  Are you getting inspired yet??  Just wait…

In addition to massage therapy, Julie paints interiors.  I’ve seen her faux walls and they are out of this world {click HERE for contact info}.   Julie also teaches guitar, and together the Nelsons donate a huge amount of their time to the Weston Community Theatre.  They have shown our small town kiddos the power of theater, the stage and music… a priceless gift!!

For a peek at JULIE’S CREATIVITY, notice the floor in the Kitchen Pics {ABOVE & BELOW}.

The entire floor in the kitchen, hallway, and into a small bathroom, is DECOPAGUED!!  Mostly with images from a 1950 Sears, Roebuck and Co. Catalog.  Julie’s project, which started as a color study, became functional art that unfolds into a timeline of 1950’s consumerism.

{Notice the images laid out above like a rug, the women in coats are fringe.}

I always wanted to live in a town like Weston because I imagined it being a gathering of unique personalities, all working together as a community, for the sake of a simple * joyful life.  In fact it is all that and more, and the Nelsons are a huge part of what makes our community so special.  Thanks y’all!! xoxo, fancy

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Like most colorful souls, Anna has no idea how spot-on her style and taste really is… I always love my trips to her house so that she can share all of her new treasures with me.  There is always some little vintage knick-knack ~ an old pair of spurs, a Mexican rug, or a quirky new pair of earrings.  It is my JOY to style these treasures and contribute to Anna’s COLORFUL Family Home.

All of these pictures are from a couple of weeks ago when we had our annual Holiday Decorating session…

 When you walk into Anna’s home the first thing you see is the “wall of crosses” in their amber-colored hallway.  I love it so much that I have made my own “wall of crosses” in our basement.  This is a wonderful collection…  I can add to it whenever we go on a vacation, or to commemorate a big event, and it also offers up an extra dose of FAITH which we all need.

 A couple of years ago Anna and her Hubby added this family room to the back of their home.  The stone fireplace adds some funky, rustic personality to the space.  And, of course, the turquoise wall color is yet another testament to Anna’s willingness to play with a bright palette.  The chair is one she ordered from Cactus Creek, and the canvas poster is Double D Ranchwear, from Ann’s Turquoise.

This is a heavy iron frame that Anna found at a sale and supplied with a mirror.  For Christmas decor we added a vintage lariat bedecked with red bells.

In the family room there are glass doors that lead to the sun room.  The vintage rug above the doors was a find in an Arizona market.  For the Holidays Anna displays the terra cotta ornaments that her sister made for Christmas one year.  What a great craft idea for next year’s gifts!!

The leather bench is from Will Wyatt’s Cowboy Couture.  The bell-shaped rawhide lamp shade, and the iron lamp, are also from Cactus Creek.

 
Moving on to the formal dining room ~ turned music room.  It is here that Anna’s son practices guitar and also where they made space for a grand piano {a family piece that her parents restored 45 years ago}.  The unconventional coral walls add energy to the space, while the vintage rugs and textiles carry on the eclectic vibe that makes Anna’s house so much fun.

The wall hanging is a vintage saddle bag textile that Anna found in Arizona.  The angel was purchased at the fabulous KC retailer, Curious Sofa.

The dining area {painted the same striking amber color as the entryway} boasts paintings of Anna’s kiddos.  The talented artist is Anna’s friend Mike Savage.  On the table is a rustic collection of Mother Nature’s finest, including the massive California pine cones purchased from Vintiques {Anna’s favorite new shop located in Kansas City’s River Market}.

Also in the dining area is a Chinese Sideboard featuring a collection of tin Mexican candelabras from the antique malls & flea markets that Anna frequents.  

In the center of these is a “Mini Shrine”.  This is one of my favorite pieces in Anna’s house ~ on the back it says “Tin – Santurio de Chimayo 1922 Holy Dirt Room” ~ the artist simply signed it “G”.  The tin came from the roof they had to replace on the Holy Dirt Room.  {The Holy Dirt Room is located in the back of the chapel, the Dirt floor is said to deliver miraculous cures ~ Read more about Santurio de Chimayo HERE.}
 
On the wall hangs two Reverse Glass Paintings, one found at an estate sale, the other at a Santa Fe Flea Market. 

On the coffee table in the front room is a collection of red & green, plus elements inspired by nature, that was arranged for the Holiday Season.  The iron cross is Jan Barboglio, and the red drum is from an antique store in Atlanta.  The perfect composition… 
Thanks Anna!!  xoxo, Fancy

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This FABULOUS front porch is from our first OPEN HOUSE, Lane & Nancy’s Log Home.  Nancy sent me this pic last week…
“I finally finished the container pots on the front porch and we hung the swags from the lanterns. The pots are real juniper and pine and winterberry branches.”

It’s simple, festive, and PERFECT for their Rustic Log Home…
to see the rest of their OPEN HOUSE, click HERE. Thanks, Nancy!!

Another OPEN HOUSE is on its way this afternoon…

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After abandoning the notion of re-fabbing the Yellow Barn for a family home, the Tenbrinks gave the barn over to their businesses {he is a CPA and they also share space with Shea Photography}.  Since the Yellow Barn was not going to function as a residence, Regina and her husband began to reflect on the qualities they were seeking for a new home that would be built on the same property.  It had to be resilient, tough enough to bear the friendly scars of puppy dogs and three grown children.  A new home would also be asked to hold the spirit of love and peace that is fundamental to Regina’s philosophies.  
It was the plan to build a log and timber home from the Kuhns Bros. that the Tenbrinks settled upon ~ a cozy cabin perfect for empty nesters, but large enough to accommodate guests and grown children on the weekends & holidays.

The Tenbrink’s decision to build a log cabin was based in large part on their secluded, rustic lot which happens to be nestled in the middle of Kansas City.  The land called for a lodge-like residence and warrants the feeling that you’re escaping from the big world as soon as you begin the ascension up the drive way.  You will see in the images below how the Tenbrinks have made their permanent home as warm and inviting as any vacation home in the mountains, and no plane tickets are required!!

This is the Great Room ~ the caribou was a treasure from Mission Road Antique Mall here in Kansas City.

The stone fireplace in the Great Room is a cozy spot for the Tenbrinks to read & hang out.  The Buffalo Rug was a gift from Mr. Tenbrink to Regina while their Log Home was being built.  Almost all of the accessories and florals come from Regina’s store, the Yellow Barn.  Regina has a radiating passion for her store, her merchandise and her customers.  As evidence she confided her two criteria when buying for the store…

1.) Does this item make me smile or evoke a happy memory?
2.) Would I spend my money on this?

Don’t you want to shop with someone who cares this much??  It is a refreshing perspective on  retail.
{CLICK ON THE THUMBNAILS FOR LARGER IMAGES}

The vaulted dining room features a collection of quirky clocks, all of which can be ordered from the Yellow Barn.

Just to the left of the dining area is a large kitchen with distressed black cabinets.  Because of the high ceilings and large timbers Regina insisted on cabinets that were on a GRAND SCALE.  She chose black to break up all of the wood… It’s perfect!!

Regina’s rustic Christmas tree took my breath away. She describes her home as “URBAN COWBOY” but the tree is a vibrant homage to nature. I fell in deep LOVE with her tree topper ~ click on the thumbnails to the left!!

All of these decorations are available at The Yellow Barn, in fact you can even take the top of your tree into the store and they can put a topper on it for you. The Yellow Barn doesn’t have a website, if you would like directions just give them a call at 913.888.8976. They are open Mon. – Sat. from 10am till 5pm {and late on Thursdays}.

I had a wonderful time visiting with Regina, she has a big heart and is full of joy ~ her passion for Simple Abundance shines through both her home and her retail store. Thank you, Regina!!

Blessings to all of you as you spend the remainder of the weekend preparing for Christmas. Next week we’ll have some Gift GUIDES to help you wrap up your holiday shopping. I’ll also be heading to fabulous Las Vegas for the Cowboy Christmas shows ~ lots of wonderful new sources that I’ll be anxious to share with you!!  Don’t forget Reason for the Season… xoxo, Fancy

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Last weekend I had the absolute pleasure to visit Lane & Nancy’s house here in KC.  I went on the premise of helping them with Holiday Decorating, but in truth it wasn’t work at all, but instead a visual smorgasbord and so much fun!!  Their house is amazing as you will clearly see…

Instead of using a log home company, Lane & Nancy used an architect in the KC area ~ the original contractor was dismissed after drywall installation so they ended up contracting much of the work on their own.  Their extensive research and attention to details created a beautiful story that unfolds around every corner of their home. 
{Click on the thumbnails on the LEFT for larger images}

The carved front door was purchased, through The Rustic Connection in Gardner, KS.  Kathy Adamson of Woodland Carvings is the artist/carver.  Lane & Nancy saw the door on their first visit to The Rustic Connection and fell in love with this design. Theirs is a single door version of a double door that is also available. The door is 96″ x 42″ x 2″ made of alder wood.

Lane & Nancy’s Great Room is beyond stunning…  From the chandelier to the fireplace, everything is spot on.  Nancy was set on having a Moose to reside on the fireplace.  She wanted a quirky and light hearted addition to the space, and something that fit with the lodge look that they have created in their home.  The perfect Moose was finally located and purchased from Ralph Kylloe, upon arrival he was named “Murphy”.  It took scaffolding and two men to get “Murphy” hung but he looks gorgeous and right at home!!

Another view in the great room, looking up at the custom iron work that flanks the upstairs hallway.  My duties last weekend included styling the shelves that you see upstairs… 

Nancy has a fabulous collection of frames, knick-knacks and baskets of surprises.  These are the baubles that bring personality to a space…  Two of my favorite sources of inspiration ~ Mary Emmerling and Mary Carol Garrity, have perfected the art of detail, urging home owners to layer, and tell stories in each little vignette.  It was with these whisperings that I set to work on the shelves, I think they turned out just lovely and will definitely bring a smile to Lane & Nancy’s faces whenever they walk through this hallway.

The walls in the DINING ROOM were recently treated with a faux finish by Creative Faux Effects out of Lee’s Summit, Missouri.  It was a five-layer process {the first layer included ground walnut shells} that took four women a full week to complete.  The result is a sophisticated finish with a rustic palette and fabulous texture.  The Dining Room also holds Nancy’s Polish Pottery collection and a long dining table for family & friends.

To celebrate their recent wedding anniversary Nancy & Lane invested in a Mangelsen Image.  It was originally bought to lean on the mantel, but didn’t fit just right so they hung it in the stairway instead.  The size and colors coordinate beautifully; the image also filled a blank wall that needed a little punch making it a perfect fit!! Nancy now has her eye on another Mangelsen image, Teton Teddy, to make a home on the fireplace mantel.

The kitchen is definitely the crown jewel nestled in the center of the home. The cabinets were custom built with knotty pine, the counters are rojo travertine, and the island top is 2″ thick pine. There is also a log bar which is an 18″ Engleman spruce on red cedar legs. The kitchen tiles were custom made from artist Carolyn Payne. Nancy gave her ideas, saying that she wanted something rustic, whimsical and for it to include groves of pine trees, bears, moose, raccoons, a log cabin and a campfire. Carol sketched out the drawings for approval then started drawing, painting and firing on 6″ tiles. GORGEOUS!!
Thanks so much Lane & Nancy!!

I hope you all enjoy our first OPEN HOUSE!!  May your Thanksgiving weekend be filled with love and cheer…  Be sure to check in next week when we’ll start posting gift ideas.  God Bless, xoxo, Fancy

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