I'd like to thank...

Thanks to super sweet and creative Evie at Post-College Working Girl and uber stylish Doreen at Style Maniac for passing on the Stylish Blogger Award to Fresh Quince. I am honored and so happy to receive it two times.

So part of the deal is that you have to pay it forward and follow these rules:

1)  Thank and link back to the person who awarded you.  THANKS Evie at Post College Working Girl!  Go check out her blog it is absolutely lovely!  

2)  Share 7 things about yourself.

3)  Award 10 recently discovered great bloggers. 

4)  Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award.

7 Things About Me That You Might Not Already Know:

1. I'm extremely silly to a fault.

2. I love cats, uh maybe you all knew that already.

3. I love my family more than anything in the world, I know obvious, but it's so true!

4. I would love to have a prefab ultra modern home out in the middle of nowhere to get away for the weekends...let my busy mind rest.

5. Nature is what grounds me.

6.  Design is what uplifts me.

7. Science is what enlightens me...my son and I are total science nerds. 

Now I would like to pass this award onto:

Caroline@A Flair for Vintage Decor

Rebecca@ Acanthus and Acorn

Kellie@ Ada and Darcy

Loretta@Apples and Rubies

Michael @ Inspired by Charm

The MOS Girls @ Matters of Style 

Leah @ Moss Eclectic

Doreen@ Style Maniac

Leah @ The Way We Are

Recycled Consign and Design

What to Wear Wednesdays

I wore this on New Year's Eve...

Here's a close up of the leopard print..

I have on the same black top as last week...told you it was a go to top for me and it was free, can't beat that! And the shoes are the same as well. I truly don't have a massive wardrobe, I use what I have over and over while being creative with mixing and matching. The leopard dress was bought over 4 years ago at a local consignment store for $4...yes I know, what a deal!! Behind me is a vintage mirror that a friend gave me years ago and the swag on it I got at Current Boutique...it's actually a scarf, so it's multi-functional. And the bamboo framed embroidery was purchased for $3 at the Salvation Army. Second hand ROCKS!!! 

For those of you who want to get your leopard on, here's a gorgeous vintage faux fur leopard coat on Etsy for $95...

Don't you just love her skirt too...what an awesome color combination!

Good luck shopping vintage, second hand and consignment...you'll be the most uniquely dressed lady about town!!! 

A Favorite Find: Therese in Camas, Washington

Therese was the inspiration that sparked "A Favorite Find" on Fresh Quince. A few weeks ago she sent a lovely e-mail about being a new subscriber and wanting to share her most recent score on Craigslist, because she knew that I would appreciate it and boy did I... 

This is the incredible headboard that she discovered...

And this is what she did with it, she stained it black...

Gorgeous huh? I was so impressed that I thought you all would enjoy it as well!!! 

To continue, last night I was perusing the Serena and Lily catalog and came across this... 

Serena and Lily 

I thought of Therese right away! So incredibly similar, don't you all think? I love it both black or white!!! Unfortunately Serena and Lily do not sell the headboard, the image was highlighting the bedding only.

Thank you so much Therese for being my muse!!! I plan on sharing her lovely home in the future, as it is filled with many more fantastic Craigslist finds...you go girl!!! 

I would love to share all of my followers favorite second hand items, so please send them to  freshquince.danielle@gmail. And thanks to those that already have!!

Fridays Finest Finds

Here we go yo! Awesome (at least I think so) finds on Craigslist in DC...

Campaign Style Desk $1200 (i know pricey, but this bad boy is worth every penny and i am pretty sure if found at an antique store it would be extremely expensive)

Wingback Chairs with Schumacher fabric $850/pair (these are already upholstered in a designer fabric and i think would look awesome in a shamrock green room with a baby blue modern sofa)

The chairs above remind me (i know different shape and different fabric, but the essence is the same) of the uber talented Lauren Leiss of Pure Style Home living room chairs...

Pale Blue Velvet Loveseat/Sofa $125 (looks a tad slippery, but could just be silk velvet...this is a see in person and then decide deal, but at the same time, the price is ab fab)

Antique Boudoir Settee $125 (i want this settee bad...it has recently been re-upholstered in a navy/white stripe with kelly green trim, gorgeous huh?)

The above settee made me think of this living room designed by the mother/daughter team of Good Bones, Great Pieces...

2 Wicker Chairs $50/both (simply clean lines, perfect for a sun porch...i see the cushions recovered in a fun pattern, which would be easy enough to do. just e-mail me if you need help)

Modern White Dining Chairs $75/all (great price and would match any decor, also perfect for kids)

Antique Twin Headboard $100 (it always amazes me that i can love ultra modern and very ornate at the same time)...

Asian Antique Replica Armoire $200 (the inside is bright red and remember it does not need to be used as a tv stand, think outside of the box. i have 3 similar white ones and i use them as dressers. or how about using it as a linen closet)

Glass Coffee and Side Table $10 (uh...the price, need i say more...maybe tone down the shiny gold with matte gold if you wish)

Pair of Vintage Stiffel Lamps $125 (the balls are actually ostrich eggs, cool huh. change the shade to something modern like ruby tuesday's did)

Drexel Heritage 'Tai Ming' Bedroom Suite $1150 (high price, but look what you will get! and you don't have to stencil a red dragon around your bedroom if you don't want to...i would use that stencil sparingly, because it kinda feels like march of the dragons, instead of wow cool image. honestly though theses pieces are gorgeous and so hot right now)

Chrome and Glass Coffee Table $95 (simple clean lines and would bring in a lot of light to a dark living room)

Beautiful Modern Chrome Side Table $200 (a tad pricey, but a great side table for a small space)

Gus Modern Sofa $950 (a beauty for sure, great color. i see it in a mans apartment with a deep rich chocolate wall and lots of zebra and chrome)

Or the sofa above could look this hot in a room like this...

Palmer Weiss

4 Brand New West Elm Dining Chairs $100/each (these look comfy and would match most decor)

Gold Antique Gigantic Entry Mirror $400 (the piece du resistance...wow. wish i had a home big enough to handle this gorgeous piece, nice coffee table too)

Oh Lonny, how do I love thee! Below is a fantastic inspirational image for the mirror above sourced from Lonnymag...

Hope you may have found something to your liking! Have a fabulous weekend!!!!

What to Wear Wednesdays

This is what I wore to my husband's holiday party, every item is second hand, except the tights...

 

The shirt was given to me by a friend over 5 years ago...it has been the most versatile shirt I own. Being an older shirt circa early nineties I presume, it is very short waisted, so ideal for under dresses or with high pencil skirts. The skirt was purchased at a fabulous consignment store, Current Boutique for under $30. The mary jane Cole Haan shoes were also bought at Current Boutique and they are my current favorites, mostly because my one cat has taken a liking to chewing on my dress shoes...bad kitty!

And last, but not least the necklace is vintage and was given to me by my mother-in-law. It was a gift from my father-in-law to her 35 years ago. I am so blessed to have both her. She treats me with so much love and respect. I love her dearly! Thanks Djamilah!! 

And yes I changed Fresh Quince's background....ahhhhgain! Pink it's whats for dinner ;)!

Random Acts of Blogging...My Cats

Last week I created a calendar that I wanted to share with you all, but it just was not up to 'Fresh Quince of Lyon Village (my neighborhood) style,' as my husband said. The initial plan was a Pin-Up Calendar featuring the following hot models...

The Models:

Mickey (aka Fatty McFatty): Handsome and ever so charming especially when in desperate need of food, which is pretty much all of the time.

 Pumpkin (aka Main Man): Rugged, aloof and not the most faithful of men, he's been known to play the field quite often. So don't be surprised when he is gone for a few weeks and he comes home smelling of cigarette smoke and you don't smoke. 

 Custard (aka Girlfriend): Gorgeous, sweet and always at the ready for some serious lovin'. This lady has a purr that just won't quit!

 Milou (aka My Little Black Pony): Stunning with a personality to match. This beautiful gal is up for an adventure any time of the day and if you let her in your home she's been known to 'you know what' on a sofa or two...who doesn't find that charming!?!

And here are some pin-up poses...

Yes they are all my cats and a kitten was on my wish list for Christmas, but instead I got a gift certificate to a consignment shop...I think my husband is concerned that I will become a crazy cat lady someday. 

Chinoiserie Style!

Yes, I know it is a pretty dramatic change from my previous design and if you have been popping in here over the weekend you would have seen a few different background color selections...do I go with a light pink, dark pink, neutral, green or even patterned background like this...

The pattern, which can be used as a fabric or wallpaper, is called Flowering Quince from Clarence House. It was created by fabric designer Kasumi Yoshida, who was inspired by an antique kimono. The only issue as a wallpaper for my blog the pattern was not fluid, so I decided on a fun shade of quince green white for a fresh start...wish life was filled with such simple and fun choices. Flowering Quince was my inspiration to change Fresh Quince's design for 2011, it reflects my current passion for Chinoiserie and pink obsession...I almost called this blog pink lady because of that and for the fact that I blush quite easily, but when I searched pink lady on the net I didn't want to be associated with what I saw. So, instead Fresh Quince was born. See Flowering Quince in the lovely images below...

All of the images above were sourced via Chinoiserie Chic Blog, a gorgeously done blog with a plethora of lovely images and ideas.

Hope you all like the change!!!!