Here it is today in the above snap...
This is the way it was. Nothing wrong with it and I liked it, but it had been this way way too long!!
This is where I keep most of my decorating books (as you can see, I have a lot more books now) and a few others. I know the colors look like a rainbow but I need to be close to my decorating books. Have I learned anything from them? I don't know, but I sure love to pore over them.
Now the next four snaps are the shelves on the left hand side...
My Jan Karon stash of books...love these.
Oh, I took some of my dogs out from the other built ins on the other side of the fireplace and placed them around here. Love my doggies.
Now the reason for my post title. See that little doggy holding the book with his bum? Well, I'm a little like that book ~ a bit skewed ~ the definition is: suddenly changing directions. That's me, I'm all over the place most of the time! I'm skewed! :)
My Jan Karon stash of books...love these.
Oh, I took some of my dogs out from the other built ins on the other side of the fireplace and placed them around here. Love my doggies.
Now the reason for my post title. See that little doggy holding the book with his bum? Well, I'm a little like that book ~ a bit skewed ~ the definition is: suddenly changing directions. That's me, I'm all over the place most of the time! I'm skewed! :) 
I removed the mantle clock from the fireplace mantle and poked it up here in the middle on the top shelf of my built ins and flanked it with a pair of doggies.
This area is the biggest and probably at one time was the spot for the TV, being our house was built in 1970. I took away the tray that was here and poked down this picture and a little doggy. See those little candlestick lamps? Well, I've had these little puppies over 20 years and paid $20 for the pair at Montgomery Ward. 'Member them? Why I remember what I paided for them, I don't know.Oh, and below this shelf are snaps of Mr. Precious and me. I have been intending to change us out for little Carter snaps! :)
The right side of the built ins.
Books and dogs...
More books and a silly little dog. I have a tiny little lamp with a black shade that is the twin to this little dog.
The right side of the built ins.
Books and dogs...
More books and a silly little dog. I have a tiny little lamp with a black shade that is the twin to this little dog.
You may have noticed my doggy bookend and the one like it above! Well, they are facing the same way. I found them at Marshalls a few years ago and grabbed them not realizing they were the same until I got home. I get very excited sometimes, you know! :) Well, I guess someone else has the other two. The pretty cross was made by a sweet friend. The cross is Swarovski crystal. I just love it.
Now for my dirty little secret. See that extension cord? It's poked behind books and maneuvered around the edges of my built ins and is always hanging out so I can plug things up that I sit on my mantle at times. It doesn't look too pretty but it's on the side of the fireplace. Hey, it's Skewed too.
Well, here are my built ins all skewed by me! :)See that chair sitting there on the right hand corner? That's where I sit and blog. I put my little dainty tootsies up and kick back and go to town! But you must know ~ my tootsies are not skewed, they are as straight as an arrow! :)
Be a bunch of sweeties,
Shelia :)
I'm joining No Minimalist Here for Open House Thursday,
I'll leave you with a little Note Song~
She's About A Mover
She was walking down the street
Looking fine as she could be, hey, hey
She was walking down the street
She's looking fine as she could be, hey, hey
You know I love you, baby
Oh hear what is say, hey, hey
She walked right up to me
Said, "Hey, big boy, what's your name?"
She walked right up to me
Said, "Hey, big boy, what's your name?" Hey, hey
We had love and conversation
Oh yeah, what I say, hey hey
She's about a mover
She's about a mover
She's about a mover
She's about a mover
Hey, hey
She's about a mover
She's about a mover
You know I love you, baby
Oh yeah, what I say, yeah, hey
Now, she walked right up to me, talkin' about me
She said, "Hey, big boy, what's your name?"
Well, she walked right up to me
Said, "Hey, big boy, what's your name?"
We had love and conversation
Oh yeah, what I say, hey hey
She's about a mover
She's about a mover
She's about a mover
She's about a mover, hey
Looking fine as she could be, hey, hey
She was walking down the street
She's looking fine as she could be, hey, hey
You know I love you, baby
Oh hear what is say, hey, hey
She walked right up to me
Said, "Hey, big boy, what's your name?"
She walked right up to me
Said, "Hey, big boy, what's your name?" Hey, hey
We had love and conversation
Oh yeah, what I say, hey hey
She's about a mover
She's about a mover
She's about a mover
She's about a mover
Hey, hey
She's about a mover
She's about a mover
You know I love you, baby
Oh yeah, what I say, yeah, hey
Now, she walked right up to me, talkin' about me
She said, "Hey, big boy, what's your name?"
Well, she walked right up to me
Said, "Hey, big boy, what's your name?"
We had love and conversation
Oh yeah, what I say, hey hey
She's about a mover
She's about a mover
She's about a mover
She's about a mover, hey
~ sung by Steve Earle
I am very envious that you have such lovely book shelves on the side of your fireplace. I have always wanted that! I love all of your changes. Your shelves look wonderful!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Penny
Your shelves look beautiful Sheila! Love all of the different dogs...You arranged everything perfectly! Kristen
ReplyDeleteOh, and I love the frame with the cross! Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI love your shelves and the new look with books and doggies is all you! I think it looks great. I love to change things up and since I have so many collections this lets me enjoy them all. I'm skewed then also...but I knew that! hugs, Linda
ReplyDeleteOH! Shelia!!...I wish you could travel to southeast Georgia and help me get my bookcase skewed!!
ReplyDeleteYour skewed "treasure's" ,so lovely!!
~Jo
LazyonLoblolly
Hi Shelia, I love what you done with all your books. The doggies flanking the books and keeping an eye on them are just too cute. My collection of those dogs is growing... have quite the obession with them now...
ReplyDeletehugs ~lynne~
Beautiful... love it!!!!
ReplyDelete{{{HUGS}}}
Donna
You have a sweet collection of doggies and wonderful books too. Your book shelves look great! I remember that song and always thought it was difficult to sing along with. :-)
ReplyDeleteI love every detail of it Shelia! Anyone who has all of Jan Karon's novels is a kindred spirit.:-)
ReplyDeleteAnd I think that painting is just the perfect pop of color. Well done!
Vanessa
Love all your changes Shelia, the shelves look beautiful!! Martina
ReplyDeleteIt does a girl good sometimes to move things around. "gives a little boost" You've done a great job "moving things around". Enjoy! The cross is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteMy eye went right to the "Mitford" books. I love Jan Karon! I even made a pilgrimage to "Mitford" a few years back and have done book talks to local libraries as each one came out.
ReplyDeleteYou've inspired me to work on my shelving around the fireplace as it is really static!!
Best,
Bonnie
I love it! Books and dogs are a beautiful combination. I would love to have a place like that to sit with my favorite things nearby.
ReplyDeleteLooks great, Sheila. Always fun to change things up now and then for a new fresh look.
ReplyDeleteYou've given me great ideas for my built in shelves next to my fire place...I just fixed them up a little and I love all the doggies you have, I collect them, I'm really liking how we used them, specially the book ends! Hugs, FABBY
ReplyDeleteOh, Shelia, I think you arrange shelves better than anyone I know. Love all your doggies, too. xo,
ReplyDeleteLove all the dogs. Richard and Sissy Dog at My Old Historic House
ReplyDeleteShelia, this is inspiration to reorganize the shelves on either side of our fireplace. Now if I can just find the energy. ;-)
ReplyDeleteIt all looks great. Love all your dogies. ~ Sarah
HI SHELIA!!!
ReplyDeleteGREAT JOB< are we not all a little Skewed????I know I am!!!I think your wall units are perfect for all your GREAT books and just nice little things we love, Jackie O always said Surround yourself with people and things and BOOKS you love, you have done that.
hugs,
jamie
You've done a wonderful job with the bookcases, Shelia! How I'd love to have a few instead of shelves. I love all your little pups and that painting in the center is really the icing on the cake. Wow, you have a lot of books!!
ReplyDeleteXO,
Jane
Your shelves were very pretty before, but they are even more beautiful now! LOVE the painting of roses and all your little doggies! The framed cross is gorgeous too! GREAT JOB!
ReplyDeleteWaving from Our Back Porch,
Rebecca
Hi Shelia,
ReplyDeleteYour bookcase looks absolutely lovely. I love the different dogs you have displayed, adorable.
You have brought a lot of warmth and charm to this space, I love it! Well done, my sweet friend! Thanks for sharing! XOXO ~Liz
Well, it is beautifully skewed Shelia! Love it! All the dogs are so wonderful and I love the large picture...so vibrant! Love the colors!
ReplyDeleteEverything is so balanced and that is hard for me to do with shelving....Perfect!!
Lou Cinda
Hey sweet Pickle...love the new look...the darker pic in the middle and those beautiful lamps just make it look so rich and chunky...love it!!! Hope you had a great 4th sweetie...thank you so much for coming by and for that sweet comment...touched my heart...love you so girl...Picket
ReplyDeleteHi Sheila, I love all your dogs and you did a wonderful job with the bookcases!! Yes, I remember Montgomery Wards. It was the largest store in the town I grew up in for a very long time. Thanks for linking to the Open House party and have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Sherry
You have a great bookcase to play around with. Love all the little doggies.
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful! You did a great job putting it all together!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Maryjane
Sheila, you brighten my day EVERY time I visit! I love how you write! The built ins looks GREAT! I love all your dogs! Thanks so much for telling me about the cloche party, I just edited my post so I can join in! XO, Pinky
ReplyDeleteI love changing things up! I may take everything out of my china cabinet and rearrange it now! You've inspired me! I think the painting you put in the center made a HUGE difference! It really fills that space and add so much rich color! Love all of your precious dogs...and Jan Karon books! ♥
ReplyDeleteShelia you are just too cute! I love everything about your shelves. The thing that caught my eye the most is the framed cross. What a great idea. I have a cross that belonged to my Dad and I hope you don't mind if I try my hand at a similar idea.
ReplyDeleteThank You so much
Kathleen! I would love to know you were able to do this with your special cross. If you do, I'd love for you to send me a picture! :)
ReplyDeleteBe a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Well of course you know I love all the doggies and I have a stash of Jan Karon myself, even a few duplicates I found at such a great deal I want them available to share with friends.
ReplyDeleteI can see how such a beautiful space to blog is inspiring to you.
It's so fun even to move around your precious things on shelves..a mini re-do. I had fun reading your book titles, and seeing your collections. I like putting books laterally like that for interest and a change. Nice job! Your mantle clock takes me right back to one my parents had on our mantle. I wonder where it is now.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Sheila...do you know right where my eye went...yep the Mitford books! LOVE, HEART and all other words to express adoration the Mitford Series. I know deep down in my heart I am supposed to live there and Cynthia would be my best friend and Father Tim would invite me to dinner! You've done a great job rearranging your shelves and I don't think anything looks skewed at all, I think it looks perfect! Thanks for sharing with us at Inspiration Friday.
ReplyDeleteHeather
Your shelves look wonderful! Those doggies are so cute!
ReplyDeleteSmiles,
Carol
Hello Sheila! Everything looks so organized, clean and beautiful. You have proven that there's beauty in being neat and systematic.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the shelves and on hiding that cord.
ReplyDeleteI think you did a great job of arranging everything! We are just like little birds, always feathering our nests..adding a stick here and a stick there. I love to do it too. ;D
ReplyDeleteHi Sweet Shelia, I love the new darker picture...it "pops" beautifully inside the shelf! LOVE all the decorating books! I saw some that I have also have! And, I just ADORE all those sweet doggies! Nancy
ReplyDeleteShelia...your book cases look as if a decorator got in there and went to town ~~~ that would be YOU! They look great! I miss not having bookcases next to my fireplace in our new house. Love, love, love your little doggies. A job well done, you sweet thing! ;0
ReplyDeleteDonna
Change is good! Love the changes.
ReplyDelete- The Tablescaper
Shelia, Thanks for the tour of the bookcases and your little four legged friends. You have so many pretty things. I love your "blog spot". Hugs, Ginger
ReplyDeleteShelia, I am in love with all your sweet doggies!!! They are so precious and make such a statement being grouped together in you pretty shelves. I have some book shelves that are so in need of your decorative touch!!(I do have my Jan Karon collection in among my books too!)
ReplyDeletebee blessed
mary
I love all of your doggies, Sheila...especially the skewed one! ;-)
ReplyDeleteThe painting in the center is gorgeous!
Nancy
Your shelving is wonderful! I'm envious of all that great space, and I LOVE all your doggies. Great having your collection all together. Thanks Shelia for joining in for the party! xoxo Debra
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful area! I especially love the picture with the pretty roses.
ReplyDeleteA person would NEVER know your home was built in the 70s! :)
ReplyDeleteYour shelves are just beautiful--I always love seeing other people's books, and I LOVE JAN KARON BOOKS TOO!
Your song cracked me up, as I nearly drove my hubby crazy this past weekend--MOVING furniture againnnnnnnnnnn.
May need to find that one and play it for him. ;)
Such a fun blogger you are!
Happy Weekend!
Your shelves look wonderful. I seldom, if ever, change my bookcases...they are filled with mostly books so I don't move 'em around much.
ReplyDeleteToo hot here to move ANYthing ....including moi.
Your new arrangement of the book shelves looks fabulous! Oh, how I wish I had shelves near our fireplace, too. I'm like you, and always need my decorating book stash around, but they're scattered about. Yours looks so neat!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend,
Susan
Hi Shelia, I knew you would spot the little dog.. I've gone crazy over them, Wait until you see one in an upcoming post.. Thank you for swinging in to say hello. hugs ~lynne~
ReplyDeleteNew blog follower! Come follow back and enter my great giveaways! {One ends tonight} http://www.peacelovepoop.com
ReplyDeleteShelia, I love your new look. Your tweaking made a great, fresh look.
ReplyDeleteYou make me smile. I've been working very hard, and I've missed you.
Shelia,
ReplyDeleteYour bookcases are lovely. The dogs are a great addition. They are so classic and always at home on shelving. Thanks for linking it up at Home Sweet Home!
Sherry
Hi Ms. Shelia,
ReplyDeleteJust had to take a moment to say hello...Also to let you know that I absolutely love what you have done with your lovely built ins...They looked very lovely before too, but a little change makes life a little bit more exciting, don't you agree? :-) Love all you cute little doggies too. Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
Hugs and Blessings,
♥Ana
Hi Sheila, I love your book shelves. I wish I had some to keep books and some pretties. Someone asked me about a roo party, I referred them to you, as I believe you were the hostess with the mostess for the last one right? Well I do hope you have another one someday, because I certainly have plento of roos!~
ReplyDeleteHi Shelia, I enjoyed seeing your bookcase changes. You have such a great collection of decorating and fiction books and they should be where you can get to them easily and enjoy them. The way you have everything arranged begs us to sit and curl up with a good book! Hope you enjoy the weekend.
ReplyDeleteHi Sheila, I love the way you decorated your book shelves.Everything looks just perfect. I love all your dogs,and books.The picture you have on the shelve is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteKathy
Love your shelves. Your doggie collection is great. I love rearranging things after a while also.
ReplyDeleteWow, your new look is amazing, fabulous job. You have a great collection of books, and its so nice you can see where they are when you want them. I love your definition of Skewed, describes me too most of the time. Thanks for some great inspiration, now just need the energy to clean out my own shelves........
ReplyDeleteHappy Weekend
~Emily
The French Hutch
It must be our "age" thing...I'm skewed too!!! I just didn't realize it till I read this post...
ReplyDeleteLove all those little doggies so you need some Carter & Chloe photos to continue that theme for those shelves!!! I gave away all my decorating books and kept my gardening books...what was I thinking??? . . .it was that skewed thing wasn't it??? . . .it is way too hot to garden!!!
Have a beautiful weekend Shelia!!!
Hi Sheila, Oh yes, do like what you did with the book case...it's just lovely. We have a clock very similar to yours if not the same, no couldn't be yours is better looking than mine. Of course love all the doggies, I love dogs and have always had a dog till now, have cats!
ReplyDeleteHugs...Lu
First of all that painting and the pillow are OMG Gorgeous!! Those dogs are so sweet! What awesome vignettes in your beautiful bookcase!
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job, Sheila, skewed or not. It looks so lovely -- both the before and the after.
ReplyDeleteI love your bookshelves! I am a bookophile and would easily fill them up with all my books. I love the way you interspaced your bookjs with wonderfuk china dog collection. Pretty!
ReplyDeleteThe shelves look great. I love your collection of vintage doggies!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your home! You've inspired me. I love books and dogs too, altho mine's running around, and I'm a little bit skewed! Thanks for your visit...I'm a Blue Mon Virgin...my first time. I've subscribed so maybe I can keep up with you.
ReplyDelete