RUSSO'S FANCY PASTRY

That was the name of a pasticceria in Brooklyn, New York in the early 1900's.   My great-grandfather Nicola Russo was the proprietor of that establishment.

It's always made me very proud to know that someone in my family came to this country from Italy and found a way to be successful and find the American Dream they all strived to live.  I've had this photo for years hanging on my family wall in our hallway, but Ive decided if I have an Italian style kitchen then who better to showcase in my Cucina then my Nonno Nicola and Nonna Vincenza.

This is Nonna Vincenza in front of the shop.  

I love the window display...kind of special that I would then later become a window designer/visual merchandiser.

I haven't been able to find out anymore information on the shop other than this photo...my grandmother Anna (the daughter passed away in 1996).  I was close to her but I never took the time when I was younger to ask about the history behind it.

This is Nonno Nicola (love his thick mustache) and his family.  My Nonna Vincenza is seated beneath him.  I do not know who the other adults are.  The 2 young girls are my Nonna Anna's sister Rose and Mary.  

Now in 2011 I find myself looking more towards baking and my oldest daughter aspires to be a pastry chef and I really hope that she follows through on that.  It would be a continuation of our family history.

This leads me to my next project (one of many this year). Brining Nonno into the kitchen in my own way.

The hutch is stripped of all the Christmas ceramics and needs some touching up.

  My vision is to re-create the window of my Nonno's shop in my hutch using the vintage items I already have mixed with some modern day finds.

My items all displayed for selection...some tins, glass, silver and a vintage scale and some other baking items. 

The beginning structure work

Change the placement of Nonna Vincenza and put her on top in a vintage frame

My Home Goods apothecary jars filled with red candies in honor of the family name Russo and also for Valentine's Day.  Also little DIY apothecary filled with cookie cutters.

This is the final arrangement (i think...lol)  

Top shelf - glass jar with cookie cutters, vintage scale, tin recipe box

Middle shelf - dessert plates from Ebay and a real candycane

below are babyjars with milk chocolate morsels and vintage baking tins

My favorite cook books Cucina Amore, Small plates by Williams Sonoma

Here is Nonno Nicola and the family

Dessert cup with old MS cookie press discs

Glass vase with metal cookie cutter and an old whisk

Part of my vintage collection of baking items...these cups are from Sweden

FOOTNOTE:

Only  2 items were broken in this process....1 crystal candlestick and 1 dessert cup.  Thankfully no one was injured in the crashes and have not yet gotten glass in their feet!

Ciao a tutti!  

Linking up to the following fabulous parties:

  

just in case you forgot or dont' feel that this fits the party criteria...this is what the hutch look like originally

If this isnt a metamorphasis I dont know what is folks.  This is my Showcase piece in my kitchen and I treasure it.

It does have a tabletop and I have tablescaped it! LOL

HOME GOODS $2 RE-PURPOSE PROJECT

This post is just to show how ordinary items can be used in ways other than its original purpose.   I'm always searching the Clearance shelves at Home Goods.   And rarely am I disappointed...there is always something that can be used for something. (poetic isnt it)

So last week I picked up this pair of great dinner napkins

Love the print...sad only 2

Yep that's a $1.00 price tag 

So there is no step by step photos to show....basically

You take napkins and use clip rings on a rod (Ta-Da) cafe curtains.

Ive been slowly transition the kitchen 

This fabric goes better with the color scheme and backsplash too.

I will show you all more photos of the kitchen as it comes along.

MY NAME IS MELANIE.....IM A HOME GOODS SHOP-A-HOLIC

I've been a fan of Home Goods for years but I've realized that it's a serious issue.  Looking around my home I see that it is comprised of items either from Home Goods or Craigslist.   Hey Im not complaining at all, now my husband on the other hand. lol

Last week I had to get out of the house after the horrible blizzard and being trapped for over a week.   I  went to Home Goods and posted about how I felt so much better after my little getaway and how it was just the medicine this mama needed.  Can something as simple as walking through a well stocked store bring such joy even if I walk out spending under $40.00?

The answer is YES...YES...YES!  

In 2002 when I worked for Lowe's, I remember taking my lunch break and I would walk 3 big stores down (quiet a hike) and just browse the aisles.  Of course I never left empty handed.   I can always find inspiration in something as small as it may be.  I see napkins (only 2.....hey I'll make cafe curtains).  This is how my mind works.  Footnote to this is that I would then go back to work grab a Diet Pepsi and chips from vending machines but work happily the rest of the day.

Never thought it was a big deal until last week when I was so relaxed and browsed and searched and came home with my little treasures.  Which of course I posted and then got some great comments.   So am I a shop-a-holic if I have to go to a store and shop to feel joy!

I'd rather say that Im frequently inspired. LOL (it sounds good though doesnt it)  I use it all the time when my husband tells me that I change my mind too much.    He gets confused when he comes home and Ive rearranged the furniture again. And I just tell him no love its just that I get frequently inspired, but see it's exciting to come home to a newly decorated house all the time.  He just laughs.

So this year I have decided that I will continue to share my Home Goods finds whether they are regular price or Clearance (my favorite)  with you.   I will also then do a follow up post and show you how the item was used .  Because you can show someone a whole tabletop worth of great accessories but unless you can give them unique ways of using them then its just boring!  It will be my Home Goods Shop-a-holic series!

While working on this post I looked around the house to photograph my many items that are from Home Goods and how I have used them.   Wow its alot...lol   This year Im taking on major redesigns in this house so some of them might change but even better to show you the versatility of their stuff and my imagination.

I hope you all will enjoy this new style of blogging from me, its more natural to me as a retail merchandiser and it full-fills my love of continually trying new ways to use items.

Here we go............

My iron Home Goods cross $ 9.99

Home Goods candlesticks from Portugal $7 ea. Clearance

Animal crackle finish letter J (Clearance)

My print framed in fabulous HG frame $12.99

Home Goods shelf originally cherry finish but I painted it black $17.00 Clearance

My gorgeous Angel she was $49.99 and I paid it gladly

The apothecary jars are HG too vary from $5 - 10

Crackle finish letter J $3.50 (woohoo) project for this coming soon!

Tall tea light holder (gotten broken over Christmas so Ive relocated it to kitchen and pieced it back together (can bare to throw it away)

Home Goods shelf $9.99

Everything on the tabletop is Home Goods..actually blue candstick is Marshalls but same parent company so it's all in the family!   All items were less than $15, dont remember exactly but was perfect for our seaside bathroom

Love my seashell ball $ 9.99, tabletopper is actually King size sham w/ pearl accents $ 4.00 each

Gold herringbone frame $ 5.00

Apothecary jars from HG $9.99 DIY one in the middle $0. lol

Metal bird cloche $5.99

Huge apothecary jar and 2 large ones. Huge $3. (yea baby) long cylander $3 again and the twizzler one was $9.99.

This is actually a planter but I use it as a table base...right now its just in transition of rooms. It was $29

Turquoise vase $19.99 inspired my color scheme for bedroom 

Small candlestick $5.99 and matted frame that had broken glass $5.00

Well I'm still Home Goods happy after reviewing this post...I do admit I have alot of HG stuff.

BE HOME GOODS HAPPY...MYTH OR MAMA MEDICINE

Last year at this time I would be at Home Goods daily walking around and wandering the aisles of inspiration (also hoping to induce myself into labor so my already 9lb baby wouldn't be overweight. lol)

No luck.....with the baby that is.   She was 9 lbs 11.5 0zs and 4 days late.   However I did push out some heavy carts from that store in those last few months.

I don't know what it is about Home Goods but when I walk in there its like I'm in another world.   So my question is .....is their motto Be Home Goods Happy a Myth or Mama medicine?

MY GIVEAWAY WIN...ARRIVES!

Thanks to Stephanie Lynn @ http://www.bystephanielynn.com/ for hosting the Pillsbury giveaway!   Guess what, yep that's right I was the winner.

I love me some Pillsbury....I even had the little Pillsbury dough boy squeaky toy when I was a little girl.  I won a wonderful yummy little ensemble.  

Ya know Im gonna take you step by step so you can feel the excitement....lol

Here is the box, as you can see I was so excited I cut that badboy open asap

Nice yellow filler paper (def will be re-purposing that)

Ta-Da....  I got all these goodies!

My fabulous FREE coupon for a pkg of Grands or Mini Biscuits!

This awesome butter dish (I love butter dishes) and a fab butter knife like you get in the restaurants with your super big chunky yummy biscuits 

CHRISTMAS DECORATING GONE...BUT THE SPIRIT WILL CONTINUE

Oddly this year I have opted to take down the majority of my Christmas ornaments early minus my essentials for 3 Kings Day on the 6th.

Here is where Christmas has gone......

13 of the 22 Christmas tubs in the 1st phase staging area.

MY FIRST POST OF 2011...NEW YEAR NEW STYLE

This year will be a year of great change for me.   Im working on a few things and plan on changing up things in my home (re-design of 4 rooms in the house), business (launching of new line in Etsy shop) and on my blog (focused features).   In the 6 months Ive been doing this I thing I got caught up in the hoopla (if you will) of who's blog is on all the blog roll, who's having a giveaway, what tutorial is out there, who is (stealing) who's idea and what parties are going on and how fast can I whip up some magic to link up.

Although a merchandiser thrives on producing under pressure, I much rather take a step back this year.  I have made some amazing blogging buddies and that is wonderful.   I have also found wonderful resources through  certain bloggers and will explore and reach out further.

I have met some amazing ladies that I dont need to mention names, we comment back and forth and wish each other true praise and blessings for our endeavors and for our families weekly if not daily.  These are connections I plan to keep strong this year.

I plan on going back to my love of treasure shopping at my favorite stores and featuring my finds.  My love of styling is what drives the need to find something and create around it.  Also doing a monthly special for my followers just because I want to thank them for their dedicated readership not to gain the highest follower number in blogland.

I will feature products not because I have a huge following but because I bought the product on my own and think it is worth talking about and endorsing.

Being an Etsy shop owner myself, I want to shout out and feature my fellow artists/crafters and work together to promote our work.

I will also blog about topics that are close to my heart such as Autism (for those of you who dont already know I am the mother of a child diagnosed on the spectrum).  Along with Cancer (have had too many friends/family suffer and live or suffer and die from it).  Also the topics of  donating and volunteering.   And I understand that these posts are not popular and you might not comment but for the one person out there that it will touch and may need someone to talk to then I have done my work.

I envision a great year for myself and Lucky 7 Design and cant wait to get started.....Im inspired by so many things and so many new people that I have recently connected with that I need to get it all together and run with it.

I believe in the power of the spoken or written word in this case.  I dont think you need to have a fancy camera or etiquette to blog.  Its your passion, it might not be for everyone that is why you are given to option to follow or not too.    Im a visual person so I do love some photos but theyre not going to look like a Martha Stewart or Country Living layout. lol

 With that said here is a photo that is giving me much inspiration at the moment (photo taken while on an much needed mommy escape to Home Goods) could not enlarge the photo for some reason.  Hopefully you get the idea.