Mismatched China : Plates & Saucers

I love the look of mismatched china. You can create a beautiful place setting, effortlessly, by stacking plates & saucers of different patterns. Vintage china is easy to find, and depending on where you're looking, it can also be very inexpensive.  I find all of mine at local thrift stores.

As I collect plates & teacups, I don't think about coordinating patterns & colors. I simply buy the individual pieces I love and pair them together later. Depending on the size of your collection, the layering options can be endless & changed to suit a wide range of occasions.  

 

Hayseed Home Essentials: Chandeliers

Via Tumblr

Chandeliers are a classic way to bring a little sparkle into any space.  An essential for any farmhouse or rustic home.

 Top left via Style Me Pretty top left, bottom left & right via Tumblr

via The Urban Farmhouse

Above left via LaurieAnna's Vintage Home & above right via Raised in Cotton

via Raised in Cotton

Stay tuned for my next post on June's Chandelier & Ceiling sprucin'!

Hayseed Home Essentials: Pitcher Perfect

This is the beginning of a new series of posts.  In this series, I will be sharing collections of my favorite things & pretty ideas for all of you Hayseed Homemakers out there - Starting with this Hayseed Home Essential: Vintage Pitchers.

They're so easy to find, fun to collect, & are a simple canvas for the prettiest centerpieces & displays: all you have to do is switch up the contents to change the look (or simply display the pitchers without contents at all, they can make a statement standing alone too).  Here are a few country-esque examples I found & fell in love with: Enjoy!

A simple bathroom display by A Country Farmhouse

 Open shelving beautifully displays this Ironstone collection I found over at Frog Goes to Market.

    

  Enamel pitchers.
(top left image: source unknown, top right image: French Larkspur)
(Bottom two images: sources unknown)  

 Serve up refreshments using these vintage silver serving pitchers from Potter Barn.


 Left image found here: Curious Details & Right image found here: Style Me Pretty.

[image source]

Pitchers as Kitchen Storage (original image sources unknown).

[original image source unknown]

Hayseed Homemade Happiness

A few simple Hayseed Homemade rules for a happier kitchen & home:

Keep a jar of fresh flowers on the table. (or a vase, whatever suits your style.)    
Minnesota winters can seem so dang long, especially when spring can't seem to commit to us around here.  So I've been keeping fresh flowers in the kitchen for the last few weeks as a pick-me-up.  I buy a new bouquet weekly (thankfully, my taste in flowers is pretty inexpensive: I like that country-wildflower look.)  Even if it's just a daisy or two, try it out... It'll put a little spring in your step.

Candles. 
Light a candle.  It's a mood thing & a nice finishing touch after cleaning.

Music.
Keep it playing: even if it's quietly in the background.  Dishes aren't as boring to the sound of a steel guitar & Strait.

Fresh Air & Sunshine.
Crack open a window, tie back your curtains.

Brew up some happiness.
I always keep hot coffee in the pot or cold tea & lemons in the fridge: depends on the season.

Simplify.  
Keep things around that are pretty, useful, and/or important.  Get rid of the rest.

Prettify.
It could be a pretty coffee cup, a pretty dish towel, or a pretty picture frame: get it in your life.  Functional doesn't have to be ordinary.

The Small Things.
Enjoy 'em.

Rise 'N Shine.
Make it a point to go to bed with a clean kitchen & a tidy living room (or wherever you spend most of your time.)  Wake up to a fresh start every day & take a little time to enjoy all of these things listed above- even if it means giving yourself a few minutes before the kids rise...& shine all over the house.


& a "Pinterest Friendly" photo: