Inspiration – OLD THINGS NEW

I’m writing this post from an unexpected place today. Flat on my back. Due to a probable herniated disk the doc has ordered complete rest in order to get the inflammation down. I’ve been pushing too hard, right through the pain, until this morning when I was nearly brought to my knees in the shower when bending over to pick up my shampoo.

I want to tell you what I’ve been up to and why I’ve been pushing so hard but today, while I’m “under the influence” -Advil and Tylenol with a Tramadol chaser- isn’t the best time to try to communicate anything. I’m so loopy I might tell you my deepest, darkest family secrets, and that probably wouldn’t go over well with the fam.

So instead, I’m going to share with you pictures I took at Thistlewood Farms when I went to KariAnne Wood’s book launch party a few weeks ago. This really is an amazing farmhouse and I only call it “So Close to Amazing” because that’s the name of KariAnne’s new book in which she shares all the ups and downs involved in making Thistlewood Farms a home.

Rather than try to think and type at the same time, I’ll just take you right to the pictures. Most are not full room views as I tried to zoom in on all of the wonderful vignettes. MANY of the items KariAnne decorates with are handmade and the tutorials are available on her blog and in her book. Enjoy!

Beautiful KariAnne signing her books. She really IS beautiful, inside and out!

KariAnne’s own smocked burlap curtains. Love these!

I know that water bottle wasn’t meant to be a part of the vignette.

One of my favorite ever DIY’s from KariAnne was this pom-pom pillow. On my to-do list.

Chandys, chandys everywhere. I think there was one in every room.

Kari’s famous recipe plate rack. I HEART this and I want one. Mr. OTN?

Isn’t this butler’s pantry fabulous? It’s where Kari’s refrigerator lives.

This laundry room has long been a favorite room of mine and it was fun to see it in real life.

The guest room. I would be very comfortable in here today.

The master bedroom where Kari’s own sweet sister was creating artwork for the guests at the party.

Outside on the screened porch we had some live entertainment goin’ on.

Including Kari’s own sweet husband Denny. He is so proud of her book success.

Mr. OTN came to the party with me and this is where he chose to hang out for most of it. It really WAS a wonderful place to sit and relax.

The view from the porch.

Finally, here are some other pictures I took outside.

The studio.

The back porch. Kari painted the design on the floor herself.

Artwork depicting Thistlewood Farms.

If you don’t know Kari and her wonderful blog you are really missing out on something special, and her book, So Close to Amazing, is her personal story of leaving the big city life in Dallas, Texas to live in small town Kentucky. She shares her joys and her sorrows and her faith in the one who says she is amazing even when she is feeling far less than amazing. You can purchase the book by clicking on the picture below. It’s even on sale!

If you do know Kari you probably know by now that she and her family have been called back to Texas and have left Thistlewood Farms behind. How lucky the person who gets to live in this wonderful home, a place that will always hold a piece of KariAnne’s heart. Her heart has long been in her new home too though, as they’ve purchased the very home she grew up in. I’m looking forward to following along as she renovates and decorates this grand Southern colonial.

Speaking of Southern colonials, I’ll be updating you on the status of ours once I get to a place of being able to do that. A lot has happened during this blogging break of mine. Soon.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the tour of KariAnne’s home and that you’ve gotten lots of farmhouse decorating inspiration and I hope my words haven’t been too jumbled by the pain cocktail I’m under the influence of. Falling asleep even as I sign off here.

Blessings friends,