Rachel Ashwell and The Prairie

~ This is the floor in the foyer of Lilliput Lodge ~

This is the place where you enter into Rachel Ashwell's world and her life on The Prairie ~ the house where she stays, when she is in Texas.  It's lovingly named Lilliput Lodge ~ after her daughter, Lily.  

You know the question that we've all been asked one time or another, "If you could invite five people to dinner, who would they be?"  Well, for me, one of those people would be Rachel Ashwell.  And if you were to have told me years ago, when I was a young mother, that one day I would have a chance to have a chat with Rachel, I would have let out a little chuckle and said "Yeah right."  Monday ~ I had the honor of meeting this remarkable lady ~ at a blogger's luncheon.

~ Rachel pausing to chat during lunch ~

Let me share why I have so much admiration for Rachel ~ mind you the reasons are in no particular order but are merely how they popped in my head on this day.

First, I respect her as a mother.  From reading her books, one can't help but appreciate her unfailing love for her children.  Through the years, she has tenderly shared snippets of Lily and Jake's lives.  I was always impressed by her devotedness to them and moved by her desire to create a beautiful environment they could live in without worry of mussing things up.  Perhaps my deep respect for Rachel as a single mom, stems from the fact that my widowed mother raised four children alone.  

~ Rachel giving a tour of her home on The Prairie ~

Secondly, through her signature Shabby Chic style, she validated my love for tattered things.  She dared to be different and gave me the courage to march to the beat of a different drummer.  She was true to herself and consequently, she has significantly impacted the design world. 

 

And lastly, I appreciate Rachel for her genuine heart ~ she's the real deal.  She is a gentle and gracious hostess and comfortable in her own skin.  She loves blue jeans, t-shirts and cowboy boots and likes them all the more when they're worn and comfy ~ my kind of gal.  She's a lady and speaks softly and sweetly ~ surely she must lose her temper every now and then.  :)

~ A snapshot taken at Shabby Chic Couture on The Prairie ~

I left the ranch that day, feeling rich ~ happy our paths had crossed and so thankful to have met Rachel and her gracious staff ~ they all are truly a special bunch.  Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts with you.  I hope you have a happy weekend!

Window Screen Headboard

Nothing says welcome like a comfortable and inviting guest room. This room has all the indulgences needed to make a weary traveler feel right at home. When planning out the design for the room, I wanted something different to stand in for a traditional headboard.

I stumbled across this old screen at Third Monday Trade Days in Mckinney. The story of its beginnings, as I was told by the vendor, was that it was salvaged from a barracks in Ft. Chaffee, Arkansas. Legend has it that when Elvis Presley was inducted into the army, he stayed three days in Ft. Chaffee before being shipped to Ft. Hood, Texas. Supposedly, he stayed in the barracks where this window screen was removed from. Who knows, some of his DNA may actually be embedded in the wood of this old screen ~ ha ha!

I was thrilled to find out the screen was only going to set me back $15.00.  I gave it a light sanding to knock off any loose paint, cleaned it with soap and water and then sprayed it with a satin varnish.

I then attached D-rings (found at your local hardware store) to the back of the screen.

I added inexpensive Ikea wall lamps to each side of the "headboard" for nighttime reading.

I centered the screen over the bed and attached it to the wall with heavy duty picture hooks.

I added some cozy, comfortable euro pillows dressed in a sumptuous, soft linen. The duvet cover is one purchased a few years ago from Rachael Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture. She now carries a line at Target.

It doesn't require a lot of effort to transform an ordinary room into a little haven of luxury. A comfortable bed, luxurious linens and ample lighting goes a long way in saying "welcome" to your guests. I think this rustic window screen headboard is the crowning touch to this charming guest retreat.