My Little White Church

Last year while on vacation I saw a decorative "church house" in a gift shop that I just loved.  I just wasn't willing to pay $200 for it.  It was also very colorful, and the color palette in my home is a little more toned down.  So, on that same vacation I started hunting for antique pieces to incorporate into my "church house."  My plan was to collect interesting pieces over time, and then have my very handy dad make the church for me.  (He's sweet that way!)

I found two old door plates at an antique store.  I immediately knew these would be the doors to my church.  My dad just happened to have some knobs that fit inside of them perfectly!

The round metal piece was also found at the same antique store.  It is from an old Victorian lamp.  I had no idea how to use it, but bought it because I just liked it. 

 The finial on top is extra-special.  It took a year to come across the perfect piece for the steeple of my church.  This past May my family went "picking" (yes, we love watching American Pickers!) in some old buildings on the farm.  My sweet husband looked for 2 or 3 days. (He loves "picking!")  He would bring things out that looked like they might work.  Nothing really suited me until he brought out this piece.  I knew immediately it was the "piece de resistance."  It was made by my great-grandfather.  I knew because he always had a floating ring on his pieces.  I also really loved the dark color of the wood.  

The white bell was from a wedding my parents attended.

Don't you just love the roof?  My dad cut all of those pieces. Yes he did.  (Thanks, Dad!!)

The inside lights up, just like the one at the gift shop.  

 I couldn't decide about the windows until I was sitting in church one day.  (Still listening to my preacher-husband's sermon, I promise!)  I noticed the shape of the windows of our church.  I thought, "That's it!"  How special to have that incorporated into my little church.

This key was also a find the day we went "picking."  My dad says it's the "Key to the Kingdom!"

I just love my little white church.  I have it in my living room near my "wall of crosses."  I love that I didn't just buy it in a gift shop.  Each piece has a story and meaning to me.  It took over a year to bring it all together, but it was worth it.  I look forward to getting creative with it during the upcoming seasons.  Any ideas for what I could do, blog peeps?