antique lockers

At an auction, I bought a set of antique lockers. It was the best $35 ever spent. I am absolutely in love with them! Black rusty metal... it is perfect in my farm home 💜

 

[ The lockers were unsold at the auction when I returned to pick up my purchases. I could not understand why someone would not buy it. I fell in love with the lockers at first sight. There was so much possibility! ] 

This set of antique lockers has been repurposed in my rustic farm home. Once I moved the set of lockers into my house, I realized how big it actually was. WOW! It is stunning in my living room. 

The top of the lockers was uneven. To it, I added a cross member from the old corn crib. I love how it looks! It creates contrast and polish. Such a warm feel! And, I adore the knot in the wood. It has so much character  💜

A rustic elegance is the vibe of the lockers. In styling, I used...
black + white photos
clock
antique turquoise canning jars
wood candlestick holder [ Magnolia Market in Waco, TX ] + black taper candle
table lamp
accent chair + frilly black pillow
palm

I framed three of my favorite black + white prints... two 8x10 and one 11x14 lean against the wall. It is pretty great being a photographer... it makes styling my farm home even more special. The framed photos create more height to the lockers. They are at the center of the lockers as the focus. And, I love the layering of the frames. It creates some texture and dimension. The antique canning jars in turquoise add a pop of color for a nice contrast. The wood candlestick holder [ on clearance at Magnolia Market in Waco, TX ] creates height and balance to my framed farm photos. The black taper candle coordinates with the black frames. A lamp on top of the lockers was perfect for this corner of my living room. 

. wood . glass . metal .

The styled lockers add so much coziness to my farm home! The wood, glass, and metal elements created a lot of warmth in the corner of my living room. In love. A plant and an accent chair really completes it.

I then decided to add the vintage bird cage I bought at an antique store while visiting a friend on a road trip to Texas. I had been trying to find the perfect place for it in my home, and I found it... in this corner.  

This corner! So in love 💜 I absolutely adore how it looks!

[ Since posting, I switched out the lamp. I chose a clear glass baluster lamp. I love it. It is even more perfect. ] 

boho bag

Inspiration from Texas...

After seeing so many gorgeous bags on my road trips to Texas, they all inspired me to create my own boho style bag. I have always loved the boho style. It must be my wandering free spirit 💜 And, I love having something unique!

 

I found an antique, leather mail bag. And, I just had to buy it... perfect for my boho bag! It is such a gorgeous old bag. I absolutely love antique and vintage 💜

It was so much fun personalizing. To it, I added a beautiful fox tail I bought waiting to find the perfect bag. Eeek! They look great together! Needing a little bling, I attached a lavender beaded necklace I already had. A vintage silk scarf added more color and texture. The ivory and taupe scarf with a polka dot pattern add a soft touch to the leather bag. Then to complete the boho style of my antique bag, I attached an old brass number tag from our cattle farm. It adds something very special to always carry with me. I found a shop on Etsy that made custom canvas straps. So, I can also use my mail bag a crossbody bag.

I think it looks fantastic! I am truly in love how my boho bag turned out. Ugh. It makes my heart smile 💜

 

christmas bedroom decor

I could not resist. This year, I decided to add a little Christmas cheer to my bedroom décor.

 

 

Along side the windows in my bedroom are two large, antique wood doors that I repurposed as unique and charming décor. On one of the antique wood doors, I attached a set of old antlers. This year, I decided to add ornaments to the antlers. I found these pretty lavender and gold glitter ornaments. Then, I used jute twine to hang them from the tines of the antlers. Adorable!

These bottle brush trees! I am in love with them. So, I decided to buy a few more this year. These ivory bottle brush trees from Target are perfect to style the chippy table in my bedroom.

Just a little touch. So simple and sweet. These little bottle brush trees give so much Christmas spirit. 

finds from Texas

Oh, Texas. I love you.

Texas Antiques Week! I was at Texas Antiques Week! Oh my goodness. I have been wanting to go for a very long time... and was able to go!  For a girl that absolutely loves rusty, old junk... it was heaven! It was incredible. We wandered through the charming towns of Round Top and Warrenton. So much stuff! Oh my... literally all I could say everywhere we walked. It was so much fun to experience with my friend, Keri and her mom!
 

I have wanted an antique dough bowl for a long while. Antique dough bowls are so neat! They have so much charm. Knowing I was going to Texas, I wanted to find one at Antiques Week. I picked this dough bowl at Nomadic Trading Company. I love it so much! It is beautiful in my rustic farm home.    

The next stop was at a Jennifer Casebeer Art booth. Oh goodness. I wanted so many pieces. They are so unique and beautiful! After so much thought, I chose this cream cow on an antique tin. My heart is all aflutter. I am swooning over it. I am sure I will add to this rustic painting very soon.

 

When I saw this used Texas road sign, I knew it was driving back home with me to Illinois. So much fun! I am not sure where or how I am style it...but, it will stellar. I am in love with it. This road sign is a perfect find for my road trip to Texas!

So, I have been dreaming of an antique dress form. I was on a mission to find one in Texas. And, I found the perfect one. My heart fluttered when I wandered into it. It was ridiculously exciting! I was going to repurpose the antique dress form to hold accessories. It was exactly what I had in mind. I absolutely love how it looks in my bedroom. The dress form is displaying the cowhide earrings, leather wristlet, and felt hat I bought while in Texas.  

  

At an antique store in Smithville, I found these vintage Texas plates. Texas, black & white, stars, and rust... had to have them! All of my favorite things.

My first adventure to Texas Antiques Week was amazing! Texas Antiques Week was such an incredible experience. And, I am so glad I was able to go with my Keri and her mom! I am already looking forward to the next time, Texas!

concrete planter

On Pinterest, I found ideas for flower pots made out of concrete. I thought they were super cute and wanted to try it myself!

I used a plastic bowl and a cup to create my mold. Before pouring in the mix, I sprayed the inside of the bowl and the cup with cooking spray. I let it set until fully dry before removing the mold. Then, I sprayed the concrete planter with a sealant for protection.

 

At Lowe's, I picked out a few succulents I thought were cute. Of the three, I chose one for the concrete planter.  It fit perfectly in the planter!

I hope to create more planters... in all sizes and shapes. And, I will try to make bowls and candle holders too! The concrete may be stained for more of a rustic look.

kitchen table styling

In the kitchen of my rustic farm home, is a beautiful old table and chairs of my grandpa and grandma Stevens. This family table is iconic of my farm home.  So, I absolutely love to style it.

A black tablecloth is draped over the walnut table. From Magnolia Market in Waco, is a table runner I fell in love with. The black striped ticking is accented well by the black tablecloth. They are perfect together! I love rich and warm tones. They have a rustic feel I love.

 

At the center of the antique table are vintage finds. I love layering my favorite pieces in styling my home. A pewter bowl from an antique store holds one of two pottery bowls my parents gave to me. On a galvanized cake stand [ from Magnolia Market ] displays a vintage plate from an auction, the second pottery bowl, and an antique Ball canning jar. The turquoise jar adds a pop of color to the table. I really love this look!     

kitchen shelving

. a farm find .

Years ago, I found shelves in a barn on our farm. When I spotted it, I fell in love. It needed to be in my rustic farm home. Fantastic pick off the farm!

 

 

The rustic wood shelving is a focal point in my kitchen. Over the years, it has been so much fun to style. The old shelving has so much charm. And, I add my rustic farm chic style to it. A 2.5' x 5'  antique slate chalkboard leans against the wall beside the shelving. The two look great together. In love!

[  Recently, I decided to make a small change in décor to the shelving. To our old cattle farm sign, I added antique ceiling tins and photos. Both needed the perfect spot in my home. On the shelving was it! It created a neat layered look. And, I am really into layering with my décor. This also added more height to the shelving against the wall. I am in love with how it looks!  ]

The barn board shelving is styled with some of my favorite things...

wooden family farm sign [ Jolen Shorthorns ]

tin ceiling tiles

a 1912 b&w shorthorn bull photo

purple glass lightning rod from a local antique store

antique brass numbered tag from our farm

antique turquoise Ball jars

turquoise insulator

dark brown pottery bowl [ my parents gave to me for a birthday ]



antique brass cow tag from our farm



On the second shelf are more favorites from the farm...





1965 WIU judging team





framed b&w print of my dad as a young boy on a Farmall H
antique Farmall oil can 
framed b&w print of my dad with the 1965 WIU judging team going to the International Livestock Exposition in Chicago

horse shoes

 

And, I could not resist this photo of my dad as a toddler with his favorite dog. So cute!

antique berry baskets [ found in Texas ]
antique Ball jars
vintage plates [ purchased at auction ]

On the second shelf, I placed the antique berry basket I fell in love with at an antique shop in Texas. To it, I added the dishes and turquoise jars. The dishes are so simple and sweet! They have a scalloped edge that is so cute. I love them! I made two stacks with the dishes to fill the shelf and to also display the antique jars. I sat a jar beside and on top of the dishes. This really added color to the shelf.  

 

Illinois Shorthorn sale catalogues
American Shorthorn Association membership certificates
Western Illinois University bull test certificate
The Shorthorn World

On the bottom shelf, I have some history from our 1943 Shorthorn cattle farm. My grandpa had kept catalogues from Illinois Shorthorn sales when he would sell heifers. I especially love seeing prices he had written in with pencil. In one catalogue there is a two-page photo with his cow herd grazing in the pasture. So special! In an issue of The Shorthorn World, he had placed a farm advertisement.



As a photographer, I adore photographs. They are always incorporated in my décor. Old family farm photos, or moments on the farm...they are in my rustic farm home.

This old shelving brings so much warmth to my farm kitchen. I love having it hold so many wonderful pieces. It makes my heart smile every time I see it.
 

rustic Christmas ornament

[ a rustic Christmas ]

I love decorating...especially for the winter. Decorating for winter creates coziness in my rustic farm home.

 

 

When I decorate, I decorate for the winter months. I can enjoy my winter décor for much longer. In my home, I have four decorated trees. My winter décor incorporates greenery, pinecones, candles, snowmen, blankets and pillows. It creates a very warm and cozy feel in my rustic farm home.  

 

rustic Christmas ornament...

clear glass ornaments

chalkboard paint

chalk

jute twine

 

Lightly and evenly spray chalkboard paint over the glass ornaments. Spray a second coat of chalkboard paint over the glass ornaments. Let the ornaments completely dry. Cover the ornaments with white chalk. Use an eraser to wipe the chalk all over the chalkboard paint. A word [ peace, joy, merry ] may be drawn on the ornament with chalk. Cut strands of jute twine. Tie the twine onto the ornament as a rustic hanger. 

 

farm chick favorite

Oh, Target.

These trees! I am in love with these bottle brush trees from Target!! For $3 per tree, I had to bring a forest of them home with me. They are 10 inches tall and are great to decorate a small space.

 

The bottle brush trees are perfect with my rustic farm décor during the white winter months. They are so simple. And, they add a little glam to my rustic style. I love them glittering in white and silver. They coordinate well with my décor. Such a great find at Target!

 

#farmchickfavorite

rustic boho bedroom

[ rustic farm chic bedroom ]

Slowly, I have been styling my bedroom finding the perfect décor. I started with my antique bed and designed from there. My bedroom is a room I want to be comfortable, rustic, funky, and a little frilly. It is of a rustic boho inspiration.

 

My bedding coordinates but does not match because I wanted it to be unique. The fitted sheet is tan, and my flat sheet is brown. My comforter is a turquoise and white pattern + a nubby turquoise blanket [ a find @ Buc-cees in TX ]. I love pillows... so I have a lot of them. From shopping trips to Junk Gypsy in Round Top, Texas, I found two pillows... a 'dream big' pillow, and a pillow in shape of a camper 'wherever you go, go with all your heart'. So cute!

At the foot of my bed is a wood bench my dad made me years ago. On it, is a basket with pillows to add a soft and comfortable touch. I have a pillow from one of my favorite local stores, and a frilly cowgirl pillow from a road trip to Texas. I also have a pretty fern for some texture.

My nightstand is a file cabinet I painted. It holds a brown glass lamp, a 11 x 14 b & w framed print of O6, an antique turquoise ball jar, and a felt letter board with a message of 'but first... cows'. The file cabinet also neatly stores my favorite ball caps.

cow hide love

The carpet was torn out to show the original hardwood floor. And, I ordered a 6 x 9 sisal rug from Wayfair to compliment the floor. A cowhide rug also coordinates with the sisal rug. As a cow chick, I absolutely love my cow hide rug. These rugs add character, texture, and warmth to the room.

My curtains are from Target. They are a medium tan fabric with black stitching. The curtain panels are drawn together using jute twine. Along side my windows... I have two old, large wood doors. They were salvaged from a house. These gorgeous doors enlarge the wall and windows. They have so much charm. And, they add a lot of character to my bedroom. The antique doors are also perfect to hang photos!

 

From a barn on our farm, I found a chippy white paint table. It adds a rustic boho edge to my room. I adore it. I also have an old wood ladder leaning against the wall as a functional interest piece.  

I am in love with my bedroom. It has taken quite some time to style...but it was well worth it. My room is so cozy after a day on the farm.

chippy bedroom table

 

Years ago, I found a table out in a shed on the farm. Of course, I just had to clean it up and bring it into my house. It was perfect in my rustic farm home. The chippy white table now had a cozy spot in my bedroom. For years, I was not sure how it use the old wood table but loved that it was in my bedroom.

 

 

On a recent visit to Bishop Hill, I found two vintage lamps. I was so excited to buy them to style my rustic home. I love these lamps! The lamps no longer work, but I thought they would add character. They have so much charm! When I carried them into my house, I started thinking about where I wanted to use them in my décor. After a little thought, I decided to set a lamp on the chippy white table in my bedroom. Oh my goodness. Perfect! It could not be more perfect.

 

oh, my heart.

An old wood crate was already sitting on the table to store some of my accessories. Then, I had an idea that would coordinate with the table, lamp, and crate... an old photo and frame. A framed photo of my grandma was given to me. It all looked so amazing together. My heart actually fluttered!

 

These light pink, glass dishes were a find at Junk Gypsy in Round Top, TX. They look vintage. I thought they would be so sweet to keep jewelry. I think they are perfect for this chippy table.
 

antique finds

Beside the table, is a pink metal stool I fell in love with this adorable stool at an antique store. It was a fun find from my road trip to Texas in September. I knew I would have the perfect use for it in my home.    

 

I am so excited about my bedroom table. My taste is not frilly but do like the pink, white, and antiqued brass palate. It is whimsical. The inspiration for my bedroom was rustic boho. Sigh. I love my bedroom so much. And, the chippy wood table will be so adorable as a makeup table and as a cute way to organize some of my accessories. All I need is an old mirror.

fall chalkboard

I did not want summer to end and soaked up every last moment of the sweet sunshine. But, I finally said good bye. Hello, fall.

 

 

It's time to decorate! And, I do like decorating for fall. With the change in season, a change in the chalkboard. This antique slate chalkboard is such a sweet and simple way to decorate my rustic farm home.

a moment in Bishop Hill

Between farm errands and chores, I decided to enjoy a moment in Bishop Hill. Though dreary, it was the perfect day to enjoy a lingonberry iced tea from the Bishop Hill Bakery. I walked along the brick sidewalk covered in the colorful fall leaves. It was so peaceful.

 

I walked to one of the many cute shops in Bishop Hill. That morning, I went to Peasantworks. There, I purchased two old lamps I had seen earlier this summer. I will style them in my farm home. These lamps will be adorable with my rustic décor.

farm find

 

So, I loaded up my truck with a hog creep feeder from the farm. Since it is no longer used, I thought it would be great to repurpose it at my house. It will be so crazy cute in my rustic landscaping! This summer, I bought a few native Illinois prairie plants [ Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, Blue Flag Iris, Purple Prairie Clover, Sky Blue Aster, Spiderwort, and Wild Petunia ]. The rusty creep feeder will perfect nestled within the native plants. It will be such a cozy spot outdoors.

A large section of a tree truck had been sitting along the driveway to a pasture. After driving past it many of times, I finally decided to pick it up with my loader tractor and haul it to my house. I thought it would be so fun to grow flowers in it! The tree trunk had decomposed enough that it would be perfect as a rustic planter. When I dropped off my 'new' planter beside the pig creep feeder, my heart fluttered. They looked amazing together!

I am so excited to create a cozy area in my backyard to relax after a long day on the farm. It will be so much fun to landscape and decorate. I am thinking a fire pit will also be needed...    

farm chick favorite

One of my favorite finds from Texas was a Longhorn...

It is a Longhorn made of small branches. Oh my goodness. When I saw this Longhorn at a shop outside of Brenham, TX... I had to rope it. Ugh. It is so flipping cute! [ post from my road trip to TX ]

 

This Longhorn now has a new 'pasture' at my rustic farm home in IL! I am in love with it! It is just what this cow chick needed.

 

When I returned home from my road trip visiting Keri, I decided to turn my Longhorn out on my patio to graze. Since it is a planter, a beautiful plant will be a nice accent. We are nearing fall, so I bought a purple mum and kale. These plants will add a pop of color and texture throughout the fall. My Longhorn looks so cute on my rustic farm patio! In love!

 

 

When Illinois weather turns cold and snowy, I will have to bring my Longhorn inside for the winter.



#farmchickfavorite

summer road trip: 2018

[  IL - TX  ]

. follow your arrow...mine pointed towards Texas . 
 

So, I road tripped to Texas this summer...I love road trips! They are full of adventure and are good for my wandering gypsy spirit. I decided to drive to Texas to visit my friend, Keri...we always have a great time. And, it makes my heart smile with wonderful memories made.

On the way to Texas, I always pit stop in the Fort Worth Stockyards. During the summer, I love enjoying a burger from The Love Shack while sitting outside and soaking in the sunshine of Texas. This time I tasted the Dirty Love Burger...beef with bacon and quail egg. Yumm! It was so good! And of course, I have to go to the White Elephant Saloon for a cold beer... on tap was Revolver Blood and Honey.

Before leaving the old stockyards, I wandered into Lazy J Ranch Wear. Oh goodness. I loved this shop! Their Hereford tees and caps were crazy cute. This cap was adorable! It is my new favorite. I will most definitely be going back to their shop. [ tees will be in a future #farmchickfavorite blog post ]

On a pit stop in Waco, I rambled into The Findery. There, I found two pillows for my kitchen chairs. I had been wanting rustic pillows to make my kitchen chairs cozy. They are perfect!

 
A great way to live life...


lemon lavender cupcake

And while in Waco, I obviously roamed into the Silos Baking Co for cupcakes at the bakery! Of course, I brought home cupcakes for my parents to enjoy... chocolate with vanilla icing. I would be more than happy to back to the Silos Baking Co if my parents wanted more cupcakes...

 

One morning, I prowled around Whistle Stop Antiques in Giddings. Oh my goodness. I wanted all the things. This antique store was absolutely amazing. Seriously. I wish I had driven my truck to haul home everything I loved. I cannot wait to stop at this antique shop again! There were so many antiques that would be perfect for my rustic farm home. Berry baskets and flat, wash pan, chicken feeder, corbel, cow bell, and stool are what I picked at Whistle Stop Antiques. I am very excited to style them in my home!



This painting! Strolling around Round Top, we found this painting outside of a shop. I am in love with it. It is gorgeous!

Keri [ and Berkley ] and I enjoyed chatting over lunch in Round Top at The Garden Co. It is such a beautiful café to gather for lunch! And of course, we had iced coffees for the road.

 

my longhorn

We meandered through the Rustic Center. I loved seeing all of the beautiful clay pots and fountains. I ended up buying a longhorn while in Texas... a longhorn made of tree branches. It is a favorite! I am looking forward to displaying it on my patio. [ a #farmchickfavorite blog post to be written ]

 

A trip to Texas is not complete without a pair of boots. We stopped at South Texas Tack where I found a gorgeous pair. I love the smell of a boots.  

 

 

Sunsets on a cattle farm in Texas... it does not get much better. The sun through the Live Oak trees was glorious. I am very thankful for great friends that let me visit their cattle farm. 

While in Texas, I do love shopping and going to fun places to eat or have a drink... but, I enjoy spending time with a fellow cow chick. It is always great to see my good friend, Keri [ and Berkley ]. It is good for my soul. Every time I visit, I have such an amazing time and memories to forever cherish.

For the road back to the farm in Illinois, I had to have a little Blue Bell on the way... the perfect way to end an spectacular road trip.