Christmas Time At The Cabbage 2016

I can't believe 2016 is almost over!  This has not been a year full of particularly big projects or dramatic changes for me, at least not on the surface.  However, beneath the surface and behind the scenes I have been learning that small actions and slow but steady progress can have big and dramatic effects on my life.

So it is no surprise that this is how I approached the holiday decorating this year - taking on big tasks one small step at a time, making the most of what I had and then finally adding a few new touches here and there to take things just slightly up to the next level.

I hope you enjoy the below photos of The Cabbage at Christmas Time and once again, from my home to yours, I wish you very Happy Holidays.

Peace and Love,
Victoria

The Cabbage Dining Room At Christmas Time (with a glimpse of the tree in the gallery).

The Dining Room and Gallery At Night

Holiday Centerpiece Borrowed From The Cabbage Gardens

The Dining Room Window Seat Spruced Up With A Holiday Garland

The Cabbage Christmas Tree, 2016

I Added Just A Few More Silver Ornaments To The Fireplace Mantel Garland This Year

Small Holiday Touches Here And There Make Me Happy

I wanted to do a Holiday Chalkboard Mural but couldn't make myself erase my Rick Springfield Mural, so Happy Holidays and Merry Rickmas! :)

PS: Have yourself a merry little Christmas.

Autumn Magic 2016

Sometimes I complain when Mother Nature isn't as predictable as I expect her to be.

I curse her for upsetting my plans. 

I bemoan my failed attempts to tame her.

And then I take a walk outside with my camera on a magical Autumn day and I realize how idiotic all that is.

I realize that I don't always have to be able to predict nature in order to trust her.

I remember that she knows what the hell she's doing even when I don't.

 And I relearn that I don't have to control her in order to participate in her magic.

That all I have to do is celebrate the beauty of nature in all her phases to better understand my part in her mystery.

For more glimpses of The Cabbage and The Cabbage Gardens, connect with me on Instagram and Facebook.

Master Bedroom Sanctuary

I don't have a before photo of my master bedroom to show you because I've never had to redecorate it. It was the first room in this house that I painted more than ten years ago and since then it has sort of magically evolved, acquiring details and accumulating layers, until one day I looked around and thought, "I never want to leave this room".

Of course, most days I do have to leave it for at least a little while.

But some days I don't.

Those days are awesome.

Here are some more photos of my master bedroom sanctuary:

A Place To Hang My Hat (and my coat and some scarves and all the things)

A Place To Sit

A Place To Primp

A Place To Reflect

A Place Where A Girl Can Serenade Her Cat

A Place To Gather Inspiration

 A Place To Dream And Be Happy

Do you have a room in your home that has become your sanctuary? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below.

For more glimpses into my life here at The Cabbage, connect with me on Instagram or Facebook.

The Collected Cabbage

I have to admit I sometimes feel defensive when I see people post memes on social media that say something like, "Buy Experiences, Not Stuff" or "Collect Moments, Not Things".

While I see the wisdom of these maxims in general, personally I find them limiting.  I'm blessed enough to be able to afford both meaningful experiences and beautiful objects and don't see these options as mutually exclusive.

Besides, I don't just collect things.  I collect stories.

For example, last week I went on a bit of a flea market shopping spree.  It had been awhile since I had done this and it seemed like everything was catching my eye.  However, I didn't allow myself to purchase anything unless it also caught my imagination (and fit my budget).

Last Week's Flea Market Finds

Everything I bought spoke to me, telling me a tale not just of its past but also of its future possibilities.  By the time I was done shopping, I knew exactly where and how almost all of these seemingly random treasures would fit into and enhance my home.

A beaded purse provides sparkle and glamour while a lone maraca adds
color, pattern and playfulness to my home.

Stuff for my stuff! Trays, serving dishes and trinket boxes are useful and decorative.

I love giving old things a new purpose. I repurposed this
lovely bronze candle holder into an accessory organizer.

So yeah, I guess you could say my home is full of stuff or things but I'm proud of my "Collected Cabbage" and all the experiences and moments I have here.

A collected home can provide many soulful moments.

Do you have a collected home or a great flea market find to share?  Leave a comment or connect with me on Instagram or Facebook.

Shop VictoriaVintage

The Cabbage Garden In Summer 2016

The Cabbage Garden Bench In Summer
Good Fairies Pillow available at the Cabagelow Creations Shop

It happens every Summer.  Just when I think the weeds have won, the flowers fight back.  

The Cabbage Garden - Coneflowers, Bee Balm And Liatris In Bloom

They draw my eyes away from imperfect details and help me see the bigger picture.

Reflecting In The Cabbage Garden

They remind me of the value of my efforts in spite of the fact that I didn't accomplish all I wanted to.

Stopping To Smell The Flowers

They tell me it's okay to rest, to sit and enjoy the wild beauty of the moment.

On The Bench

"We're here," they say to me, "you did enough."

And I am filled with relief and gratitude.

The Cabbage In Early Spring

I heard the gossip among the daffodils.  They said that Spring was on its way.

And then some little birds told me it was true.

It arrived slowly and tentatively, as if it was waking from a dream.

Then suddenly it was everywhere.

And I wondered if I was dreaming.

Of course, I wasn't dreaming.  I was just remembering what a wonderful world this is.

The Cabbage Gallery Refresh

View Of The Cabbage Dining Room From The Cabbage Gallery

When I finished The Cabbage Gallery project back in the Summer of 2013, I knew I was going to have to redecorate the adjacent dining room.  What I didn't know was that would take over two years!

So, as I was completing the dining room, I realized that a few changes in The Gallery could be made as well.  Nothing drastic.  Just a few touches to freshen it up a little.

Here's what The Cabbage Gallery looked like before:

The Cabbage Gallery in August 2013

And here's what it looks like today:

The Cabbage Gallery 2016

One of the main differences is the fabulous new Nuloom rug which matches the runner in the dining room.  I also found a new office chair while I was searching in vain for dining room chairs at one of my favorite flea market shops.

The gold nail head trim on my new, vintage desk chair inspired me to
brighten up the hardware on the desk.

Another change is the lamps on my desk.  The task lamp is brand new but the other one just got a makeover.  Here's the before and after photo:

Before And After Lamp Makeover

Again, not a big change but it was a fun project and I love how it turned out.

I also painted an old table that I bought for $5 at a thrift store years ago so I could have a place to put my record player.

A New Place To Play Our Old Records

And yes, I did decorate the record player too, because why not?

You may also notice that my growing collection of vintage photographs now takes up the shelves on both sides of the desk. Actually, I am constantly rearranging stuff on all of the shelves but the back wall is still dedicated to my artwork.

The Cabbage Gallery Art Wall

And of course, no room refresh is complete without switching out some throw pillows.

A Room With Some Lace And Paper Flowers...And Throw Pillows!

As you can see, I'm very content in the newly refreshed Cabbage Gallery.  In fact, next to my art studio, I think it is my favorite space in The Cabbage.

Speaking of my art studio, I gave that room a refresh as well.  Click here to pop on over to the I Believe In Art Blog to check it out.

Have you ever made a small change to a room that made a big difference?  Please feel free to share your experience in the comments below.