Storybook Woods

Outdoor Livingroom

 

In WA, we get soo much rain and gray weather, that whenever the sun comes out, you want to make the most of it!! We hang outside as much as we can in the summer. Which this summer, so far, is not a lot.

 

So I tend to think of my yard as an extension of my house. I tried moving the gazebo to a new spot. We will see how we like it. I have my little outdoor kitchen with a work table and a galvenized sink. And on the other side of the yard is our grill.

 

I blinged up the gazebo with pieces of fabric tied around the outside, it makes a colorful bunting. And the large paper flowers from my Marie Claire Christmas, look fun hanging inside the gazebo.

 

David and I like to eat dinner in here, when we can.

 

My garden is slowly coming along. My climbing beans are starting to come up. I love my wheelbarrow full of different types of basil. You can not see it but I have a row of large pots filled with different types of herbs. It is like having my own little herb shop and inspires me to cook. Are you using your yard to your full potential?? We are not yet but we are getting there xoxo

 

A Corner Of My Home

 

The internet is an amazing place. It has opened up a whole new world to me. I have met so many kindred spirits who I laugh, celebrate and grieve with. Through blogs I have gotten to know people, their family and the details to their day to day life. It is unlike the type of intimacies I have with my non-internet friends. But all can be not as it appears. I do have to say though, most people I have met in real life are just like I thought they would be but some are not  :-o

It is a bit shocking when someone is not the giving, open, conscientious person I thought they would be. It can make me feel like everyone on-line is fake. I realize we all want to put out our best. Plus blogging is a diary of how we see the world and ourselves. Our view of ourselves is usually skewed. I do not know about you but I do not like to look at my weaknesses. Like when my girls told me this morning I am becoming overly sensitive to things (to which I want to cry and blame it on peri-menopause ;-P but I did not ). By the way I asked what my biggest shortcoming was, they did not offers this information on their own.

This has me thinking about my blog, about you readers. Have I given you a skewed, unrealistic view of myself? Of my life? I hope not! I am pretty transparent person. It actually is one of my faults (but I am learning when and where to be transparent). I do LOVE being a homemaker and a mother. I do love to cook from scratch, putter around my house and creating. But I am not perfect! I tend to want to hide in my library and write. I love cooking but I love going out and have someone cook for me too. I like a clean house but I HATE cleaning it. I have very messy corners in my home and still to this day, struggle with keeping all of my house clean (it seems to rotate, I get one area all tidy and another falls apart). I love people but I love my privacy too. I talk too much, I am loud and not everyone considers me a sweet person ;- )

So please do not think I live a perfect home, with a perfect family, always smiling. Well actually I am mostly smiling, unless I am crying but never yelling. Hopefully, I am being real about who I am on this blog because I do not want you to meet me someday and walk away going, gosh, what a disaster! She is not who I thought she was at all !!!

 

PS. To prove what a terrible housekeeper I am (and keeping things real), I am posting these pictures. I noticed the other day some ivy in the window of my little cedar closet. After closer inspection, akkk, it was growing through the side wall, INSIDE my house (Plus look at the cobwebs). I mean how long have I had ivy growing IN my house? The joys of living in a old home and a messy closet xoxo

Second image by Auberne`

Spring Garden

 

Lots of work happening in the garden lately. Veggies planted

 

New shed built (now what color to paint it???)
 

Flowers planted

 

Pond to be cleaned out

 

Old fallen apple tree needs to be dealt with

 
Still plenty to do xoxox

A Corner of my Home

 

 

Grouping, grouping, grouping, cannot say enough about it. Unsure what to do? Need to refresh a corner of your home? Group!!

 

I have a large French wire collection that I keep in my upstairs bathroom. I grabbed the smaller pieces and arranged them in my living room. Grouping makes such more of an impact!!

 

I wanted to give a shout out to Karla. I won her using the good stuff giveaway. Thank you Karla, the girls and I will have fun with these goodies xoxo

 

Inexpensive Medallion Kitchen Backsplash

 

I am a firmer believer in dreaming about what you want, regardless if you can afford. Because if you cannot dream it, you will definitely never have it!

 

Having said that, one needs to hold their dreams lightly, be real and think out of the box. My dreams for my kitchen is about $50,000.00 worth. That is NOT going to happen, unless the kitchen fairy blesses me.

So I have this running tab of dreams in my head for my kitchen:  bull-nose marble counters, professional stove, antique farm sink, old tin panels for the ceiling and back splash, etc ...

 

Well one day this last fall while having a rare treat of shopping in Snohomish, I saw these large heavy-paper place-mats. There is a whole collection of these (the paper cheese serving mats are cool!) but I was drawn to the rosettes because they look like those tin ceiling medallions. Plus they were totally in my price range 50 of them for $19.95!! 50 is a lot, so much so, these are temporary. I wanted th make sure I loved them and I taped them up with double-sided duck tape (this stuff is super sticky). I still adore them so we will wallpaper the extras one and coat them with something (I have not done that research yet) to protect them.

I was thrilled to see Ruth (love you Ruth xoxo) sells them in her shop. Check out all the different shapes and patterns and let your imagination flow!!!

Birthday Gifts

Hello everyone, I hope you are enjoying your summer and it is not going by too fast. I know a lot of you are dealing with really hot weather, I am sorry :-(     Here in the NW it just feels like summer has started. My birthday was a week ago and I wanted to give a shout out to a few friends who have given me the most yummiest b-day gifts.

Thank you Angie for the tri-fold mirror. It is gorgeous and a real sacrifice on your part, to part with it. I love it and you xoxo

 

Thank you Linda for the beautiful swans, I can see them on my pink, shabby chic tea table. Also the cottage book and vintage place cards. Meeting you has been one of the silver linings to my blog xoxo

A big thank you my beautiful Auberne`for my tea-bag softies (You need to make some of these for your shop and NO I am not nagging you ;- ). You know I have been wanting one for a longest time. I LOVE her, her expression say "Pleas do not dunk me." You are the most clever, amazing girl. I adore you xoox

Lastly to my Chloe who gave me the best gift ever, no work for a whole weekend. She will do all my chores. WOW, now there is a gift I will use. What a giving, loving girl you are and you know your mama sooo well xoxox

 

Killer Finds

Gosh ladies, thank you for the overwhelming support of Wren Bay. I feels so love !!! I hope you love Wren as much as I do. I will share more soon.

I have been good for a while and not bought anything for my home. I have soo much already and I am trying to be happy with what I have. BUT when your girlfriend calling you Sunday morning at 9.30 and tells you, you need to get dressed and come down to this sale now because everything screams you and is dirt cheap, well you listen. I am soo glad I did. I got all this for $21.00 buck. The cottage dishes will make the sweetest table with my little cottage biscuit box. Another cottage print (it is a Helen Alingham) and who could say no to such, a beautiful, shabby, curvey large platter. Thank you Angie for calling me.

So this is the middle of the week for us. All Memorial day means for us is overtime !! But I would love to hear you plans. I can live vicariously through you xoxo

Just A Photo

Akkk, I just do not have a lot to share right night. I have been busy but not with things I can share. What have I been up to? Well Chloe turned 14, we celebrated her birthday this week. She is very into american girl dolls right now. She saved her money for six months a bought her own. So this year is an american girl birthday. Happy birthday sweetie xoxoxo

I have been taking lots of photos for the secret project. This is one I took that I decided it not right but I am sharing it with you.

My father is coming to visit in a couple of weeks and my house is a bomb, so I am trying to clean. DO I dare confess, I have not spring decorated at all. I just do not care. Shock. I am too lost in this project and it is taking wayyyyyyyyyyyy longer then I ever imagine it to. I am waiting for one thing and then I will hopefully share.

One thing I am into is clothes. Even though it is not very spring like here I am having fun looking at dresses, sling-back wedge shoes, little cardigans, I am thinking of making some flowery jewelry, ect.

So what have you been up to?? Is your house all done up for spring or are you working on some fun craft ?? I hope I am the only unmotivated person around here xoxox

Pantry Makeover

Okay let me first say, under no circumstances, are you allowed to look at my gross, old, scary linoleum floor. I know it is not going to be easy, it is like looking at a train wreck that one can not take their eyes off. But just pretend, there is pretty old wood floor instead, which there is under the gross linoleum.
 

Okay, now that we got that out of the way, you can look at my pantry. I am finally, seeing some light at the end of the tunnel, on my project (will share soon) and am starting to dealing with my scary house. There is nothing like moving furniture around, to make a space feel new. I took my marble table and put it in the kitchen, where the pink table was. It is almost too big for the space, but I am loving it. So I set up this little vignette. I moved the mixer, to the table in the corner and it all still seems to flow fine. I really am surprised how well, this dressers works. It is so perfect for cookie sheets. You might want to look at your dressers in a new light.

 

Lastly can I brag a bit. I was taking my afternoon bath, perusing through my stack of library books, I had not read Blogging for Bliss, yet. Anyways as I am reading about my good friend Debbie, at Homespun Living, who do I see listed under her favorite reads, me. In a book. You are soo sweet Debbie xox (did you get my thank-you note ??)  This book has been out for awhile and I had no clue !!! So if I am in any other books, will you all please let me know ;-P Thank you for letting me brag and have a yummy day xoxoxx

 

Library Curtains

A note for me:

I am just going to add this to my post. David was in a motorcycle accident yesterday on his way home from work.  He is okay. He shattered his right collarbone, dislocated a finger on his left hand and really bruised his ribs. But we are very grateful because it could have been soo much worse. So if I am not around for awhile that is why. Please be praying, David does not handle pain well, although last night he was handling it better then I thought he would. We will see how today goes !!!! On Friday he see a doctor and we will see if they will do surgery or anything. Also he has his right arm in a sling and his left hand in a splint. So he only has two finger he can use. Thank you soo much for all your love and support. I will be back as soon as I can xoxoxox

 

Good day everyone, I wanted to share my new drapes I made for my library. For my birthday my mother gave me this beautiful vintage hunting fabric that she had (I have been coveting it forever). I wanted to use it for new drapes but did not have enough, so what is a girl to do???? I found perfect taffeta for the rest of the drapes. I tied up the drapes (there is a second one I just did not take a picture) with pretty ribbon I had on hand and used a long nail as something to tie the ribbon onto. What I love most is the feathers. They are on a long wire that I bent over to make a hook and hooked it onto the knot of the ribbon. It just gives it a little some, some.

Do you like the black wicker chair ? (it now has a new coat of black paint) My sister gave me two of them. I still need to make new cushions, I think I will just use basic black twill. By the way this is my corner where you will find me working on my blog, chatting with all of you, knitting, recharging. I wish you could come have a cup of tea with me xoxoox

 

 
 

A Storybook Corner

(Click on pictures to see detail better)

This summer I fixed up our little entryway, but I also redid the the small area when you step from the entryway into the kitchen. This is the space that holds our coats, umbrellas, slippers, etc. I liked the pale yellow I had painted the pantry (on the other side of the kitchen) and decided just to paint over the wallpaper the same color.

I call this my storybook corner, well looking at it, you can see why. I have my wonderful Cozy Whimsy prints and also my black apple print. I painted a round frame intense blue and put in a red silhouette.

I have my little paper cottages out. I am planning on getting a few trees and a silver glittered banner that says storybook to hang above the cottages.

The hooks are new. I have black iron in the pantry and love it. So I found a site with a lot of different black iron hooks. I decided it would be fun to have them all different. I did not realize the hook with the white knobs was so small. So in time I will replace that one. But I love how they are all different, yet have the same feel.

 

My sweet gnome tassel is from Selia, I LOVE him, thank you.

I have my doll from Angie, a gnome plate and other storybook bits. I hope when you walk in and see my storybook corner, you feel you are in for a special visit. 

The wall needed one more picture. So I took a pretty carved fame, lined it with red polka-dot fabric and added a vintage cottage I had with some museum wax. I am just over the moon with my storybook corner and hope you find something in it to inspire you xoxox
 

 




 
 

Killer Deals

I went to Oregon to drop off my daughter. She is spending 10 days with her grandparents. I am sure she is having oodles of fun, but I miss her xoxox.

I was only in OR a day but I had to run to Mr. Fosters in Dallas. I always find something amazing and CHEAP !!! Look at these sweet little glass bowls. Only a $1.00 each, the color is just beautiful. Some fun vintage fabric $2.00. But the killer deal, was thanks to my MIL. I was hoping to pick up a comfortable chair for our living room. I saw this strawberry pink velvet chair and they wanted $49.00, but it has a little stain and a tear. My MIL (who loves to barter, I do NOT) got them down to $10.00. Well how could I say no to that. It is very comfy, incredibly soft velvet, swivels and the scale is not too big for the room, I am over the moon. The little pillow is from Paula, thank you sweetie xoxoxo

Out With The Apple Green

In with the lavender. I was tired of the bright apple green (it was really not the color I was trying to get anyways) so I decided to go in the opposite direction and pick something soft. But I wanted it fun, different. I wanted a lavender but with a lot of red in it. There is just too much gray weather here to use gray tone colors. I envisioned something to perk up the space on a drizzly, cold day. This color is still not perfect. I can not tell you how much I HATE picking paint color. I ended up mixing my own. I took Benjamin Moore purple cream and adding a bit of a deeper mauve paint and a bright blue paint. Just a bit. At first it was soo light, but it has deepened a bit and looks better. It changes with the light and is very Coco Chanel to me. I am loving it more and more.

Also you can see the wood around the windows is all chippy paint. I was sanding it and then decided I liked the layers of yellow and green. So I left it, my hubby thinks I am a loo !!!

By the way all my plants are tomatoes, peppers and basil. It was an experiment to see if they would do better, since that room gets warm but they really have not done much. So I am not sure if it worked. After I take the plants out, I am thinking of using black and white accents. But I can also see cranberry red with it too. Thank you for letting me share and to my girls for painting the room xoxoxo

 

Outdoor Livingroom

I love having an outdoor living room, although I will confess lately I am only enjoying it in the morning when it is still cool. Since we are stuck inside with rain much of the year, we are always looking for a chance to be outside.

On the weekends David and I like to sit out here before dinner and enjoy a mango slushy. The birdcage is a wonderful find from Angie (thank you xoxox), I set candles inside as great reuse. Next post I will share the garland, it is so easy to make xoxoxox 

Lumière

 

I hope you do not mind me sharing my new chandelier. I rarely get a new light fixture, so I am soo excited. Actually as beautiful as this home is, it has a lot of bare bulbs. But my mother taught me on some things you can go cheap. But some things need to be quality and light fixtures are one of them. So I just patiently wait till I find something stunning, looks expensive but is not ;-) This light fixture was only $98.00 and was from Lowes of all places. I was there looking at paint chips and happened to see this beauty and knew it would be right for my hall.

It seems very French to me and is perfect for this odd space. It fills it up and adds interests. I am planing on adding a few more crystals at the top, it seems bare to me ;-) This is hall (between my kitchen, bathroom, basement and library) is small, narrow, very dark and has a door on all 4 walls. Please do not look at the horrible wallpaper, that I need to paint over. I was looking at new wallpaper. But akkkk, can someone tell me why wallpaper is sooo expensive ? I want to do something fun and different. I figured a hall is a good place to try something unusual. It is not like you are going to be sitting there and look at all day. So I am thinking two shade of paint, one lighter then the other and a big stencil to give the look of wallpaper. But now what color ? Robins egg blue maybe ?? Any suggestions xoxoxoxo

Last Shades of Summer

 

A few more glimpses of my livingroom. The lavender ice cream was amazing and I have 30 pounds of strawberries on my kitchen counter. Wishing you were here to share it with me xoxox

 

Shades of Summer Cabinet

 

A summer makeover for my cabinet. The big platters in the center are from the rose Limoges china from my great, great grandmother. The green and white bowl is my new $1.50 find. I love those kind of finds.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. I have friends who are so hot and friends who are freezing. It has been cold in the morning but sunny in the afternoon. I can finally run around my yard barefoot and it is heaven. My veggie garden seems to be doing well. We are going into our weekend and plan to go strawberry picking in Sequim. I am sure we will get some lavender ice cream at the lavender fields. Poulsbo has their 4th celebration on the 3rd. My girls will be able to sit on a boat in the bay, under the fireworks. Isn't it wonderful how there are things in life that only happen with each season, only come once a year. It is these small moments, small traditions that make life, life xoxoxo

Shades of Summer Table

 

I got this table free for Auberne` (I collect free furniture for my girls, I am such a loo-loo) then I decided to use it. I love it soo much I think I need to keep my eye out for a white, round pedestal table. I usually have a vintage tablecloth but I did not want to cover up this table. So I took a cloth and folded it in thirds and used it like a table runner. Just fill a pedestal bowl with some sea shells and you have a charming summer table. By the way please try not to notice it needs a new paint job, I need Manuela ;-)  xoxoxo

 

Shades Of Summer

 

In the summer, I always crave the colors of sea shells. Soft purples, blues, greens, corals. I also just have less stuff out. I want light, air, open spaces, lots of white.  

 

I did pull out a few of my favorite summer children's books. Houses from the Sea by Alice Goodey , Loraine and the Little People of Summer by Elizabet  Gordon, Golden Nature Seashore, Brambly Hedge Sea Story and Leaves From Nature Storybook, Young Folks Library. I am never to old for these books or at lest I do not want to be xoxoxox

 

Victorian Loo

 

I am sure you are wondering why I am showing you my toilet, but I am just so thrilled I had to share with you. I saw this cross tank lever in the June Country Living. (It is only $15.00 at Lowes) I thought what a simple, inexpensive way to make my bathroom feel a bit more Victorian.  Sometimes just new hardware can make something feel unique and special xoxox

Sewing Theme Party

 

 

 

A group of friends and I had a surprise birthday party for a good friend. She is such a talented sew'er and quilter, so we decided to have a sewing theme. I used my quilted table runner and for napkins rings, just some old wooden spools tied on with yarn. We asked each person to bring a fat quarter for the birthday girl, I laid them out in long pieces, overlapping. I took a tall tin, wrapped the fabric around it, held it together with a rubber band and tided a ribbon over it.

My friend Kristin made embroidered dishtowels for the birthday girl. They looked perfect hanging over the back of each chair. Also another friend Mary, made charming place card holder with scrapbook paper, buttons and mini clothespins holding them up.

It all turned out wonderful, I think the birthday girl was very happy. Happy birthday Tracy, we all adore you xoxoxo

Spring Blue

 

One of my favorite accessories lately is just a pretty hankie tied around my wrists xoxox

Spring Ruby

 

This is from my mothers mantel, I just love the colors xoxoxo

Spring Pink

 

Auberne` has been having fun making terrariums. But it can be as simple as a small plant under glass xoxoxo

Spring Brown

 

Well laziness pays off, sometimes ;-p

I was given some free furniture, including this pretty cabinet. Great lines but boring. I had planned on painting it white. I took it outside to paint, put on my first coat and came out later to check it. It was COVERED with dead gnats stuck to the paint. Half of them came off but left little blood streaks (I know more info then you wanted to know)  SO, after sanding most of it off and quite frankly not wanting to ever see the cabinet again, I stood back and said cool. I love it. I painted the knobs a pretty blue and called it done. Someday day, wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy down the road I might paint the whole thing but it is full of my fabric now and I am happy xoxox

Spring Purple

I thought every day this week, I would do a spring vignette. This is my mothers tea pot I have been coveting for years xoxoxox

Looking For Spring

 

I have been craving spring, besides a flower or two there is no sign of it in my yard. So I decided to search my own home for signs of spring. The pretty pillow is made by Paula xoxoxo

Speaking of pillows, Kari & Kijsa is having a pillow parade.

 

 

 

 

A Corner Of My Home

 

 

I am finally getting in a spring mood. I am craving soft colors and neutrals.

 

But I still love my pom-poms.

 

I thought since I was using cream pom-poms, I could get away with bigger ones.

 

This sweet bird is from Paula, thank you sweetie xoxox

 

I am finding my neutral window calming. BUT we will see how long till I crave some color ;-)

 

By the way Storybook Woods is on Facebook

Mini Pantry

 

I have been in a crafty mood but are trying not to spend money. So I decided to look around my house and see if I could find inspiration. I have this miniature shelf my mother gave me years ago. After a while, I just put it away, you know how stuff gets old. Well after about 5 year in the basement it was a dirty mess. I decided to spruce it up. Gave it a new coat of white paint, replace the ribbons, add some more. Tore off what I did not like and added more doo-dads. I am happy with my mini pantry.

So what do you have sitting around your house that you can refresh, gussy-up, give new life ??? If you do I would love to hear about it xoxox

 

A Well Working Pantry

Well it seems one of the things on my blog everyone loves is my pantry, me to. It has been 8 months since I set it up and I have to say, even thought I baked a lot before, I really bake a lot now. Having a space set aside, organized, has made baking easier and more inspiring.

Baking has become even more of a frugal and healthy way to feed my family. Not just for dessert, but breakfast, snacks, side dishes. I can make healthy, organic, delicious items quicker now. By having the space I have more of an assortment of grains, sweeteners, spices, etc. to keep thing new and different. I tend to use the same recipes but change things up with different ingredients.

There are few things I have done that make things easier. And to be honest, I have discovered the easier, more accessible, the more I will bake. For example I have my flour and sugar in glass cigar humidors. What I love about these is they has a wide opening, so I can scoop the flour right out of the jar. Before I had it in jars with a smaller opening and if I had to scoop out a large quantity, I could not easily get my full measuring cup in. Now I have plenty of room. I encourage you to look for wide opening containers.

I also now have two sets of measuring cups. One for wet, one for dry. I keep the dry set next to my flour and sugar. I keep the wet set in my kitchen queen. This also saves time and confusion. 

I have also found shakers work well for spices I use a lot like, cinnamon and ginger. A lot of things I make, spices do not need to be measure. By being able to grab the spices and just shake some in, makes it very handy. 

I encourage you to think out of the box to carve a baking center. If you have a dining room that is not really used, maybe you can use that. Or start eating you dinners there and use you kitchen eating space as a baking center. My baking pantry was a breakfast room. Do you use cabinets to hold kitchen items you do not use a lot? Can you move those items to another spot, to open space ?  Manuela, took an unused shower and made a pantry out of it. Brilliant idea Manuela xoxoxo

When planning my pantry I looked at what I used the most and focused on making that accessible. Believe it or not, I have a second baking area in my kitchen for items I do not use as much. You do not have to have kitchen cabinets. I used shelving, a table and a low dresser. The dresser I did not think was going to work well. But since I needed to use what I already had, it was suppose to be temporary. But I have to say it works well. Cookie sheets really fit in the long, low drawers. I keep foil, parchment paper, plastic wrap and baggies in the other drawer.

Look at the ingredients you use most in baking. Do you have them grouped together? Are they easily accessible? Can you put them in containers that would make them easier to us? Can you take some of those baking items you do not use as much and put them in something like a old suitcase, to make room for what you do use? Think about the open space under your table. Maybe an old chest or box can go there, to hold items. Also if you have room for a bigger table, maybe one end can hold you mixer, measuring cups, flour, sugar. The other can be your work space.

Having area for just my baking, having everything I use all the time in easy access, thinking out of the box for storage and containers, has made baking much easier. Which means I am baking more and more xoxox

Organized Chaos

 

I was reorganizing my tea cabinet yesterday, so I could fit in the two new cups I got. In the end it still looks just like the jumbled mess it was before. But this cabinet is soo me, I am organized chaos ;-)

 

This built-in cabinet with the leaded glass door, is one of the first things that made my jaw drop, when we looked at our house. The inside was painted pink, of course, Mrs. Mathews loved pink. I add a zillion coats of copper and pearl paint. I wanted it to look like the inside on a mother of pearl shell. It did not turn out perfectly, like I imagined. But I try to embrace, what I do and be satisfied.

 

There is a jumble of doll champagne glasses, hand pained china, baby pictures, pink jeweled fruit, sea shells, fairy chair.

 

Crowns, old flowers, broken china, dolls. So many bits and bobs. I bet if you play I-spy, some of you will see tokens of friendships from you. To me this jumbled mess, organized chaos shows who I am, what I hold dear in my heart, what I treasure, better then anything xoxoxoxo

 

Biscut Holder

 

This year we did not do a lot of gifts, except for the girls. But my mother did get me a really amazing gift and I had to share. It is a biscuit holder for our teas. It is not big enough to be a cookie holders but perfect for biscuits. The little woven handle makes it for me. Thank you mom, you have such a wonderful eye xoxo

My sweet Auberne` got me (at the Christmas House, of course) a little cottage creamer. It is missing the lid but I think it will be perfect to hold a tea light.  Thank you sweetie. My thatched cottage collection is growing xoxoxox

 

Christmas House Find

 

We woke up this morning to a sugar dusting of snow. I went out (at 8, akkk), waked across the street, on the bridge and took this photo. I am busy today cooking and filling up my freezer for Chirstmas (I will post my menu soon). A perfect day, ahhhhhh.

 

I was going to be a good girl this year and not go to the Christmas House. Because there is no way I can go to the Christmas House and only look and not purchases. It is physically impossible ;-) But dear hubby (and a good girlfriend, isn't that what girlfriend's are for) insisted I go. He said it would not be Christmas if I did not go. Thank goodness for him (I need to make him some Guinness chocolate cake) because I scored the most amazing dishes. 17 piece, $20.00 for these beautiful silhouette china. Plus I felt oh, so, trendy, when I saw an whole layout in the January Country Living all about how hot silhouette's are xoxox

Produce Mercantile

 

I love this time of year. The harvest, the overabundant bounty, the larder filling promise of plenty. I have been setting bowls around my pantry brimming with ripe red tomatoes, ruby plums, sweetly perfumed peaches, earthy potatoes, spicy apples. My pantry has been calling to me, to come shopping and create something luscious. Cooking like this is sooo effortless.

PS. I wanted to say I know my blog has been neglected lately and I am sorry. I have been busy working on a project and am almost done. Thank you fo being so patient with me. Have a yummy weekend and make a produce mercantile in the corner of your kitchen  xoxoxox

Birthday Goodies

One of the reasons I have not been around much, is it was my birthday. It was quite a week and would be a very long post if I shared everything. But here is a whirlwind list of my week. Beach combing, marmalade cake, cameo milk-glass plate/wall hanging ???, Christmas House Goodies, Cherve, roasted garlic, pine-nut pizza, chocolate tin (above), rose' wine with fresh peaches, Indian food, vintage tablecloths, Chocolate and Zucchini cookbook, vintage pink doll box (Thank you Linda xoxox) yummy breakfast in bed, Cranford DVD, unbelievably good grilled chicken kabobs with feta cheese dip, cameo salad bowl and so much more. It was quite a blessed birthday.

Aubern'e made me the sweetest little altered book from cards. She also surprised me with two drinks, which I will share soon. Chloe made me a beautiful fairy and a pink duck-tape wallet. You, girls are so creative and I love you more then words can say xoxoxox

My Catch

I had a lovely week, it was even sunny. All went well and my father went home a few pounds heavier ;-) I did cook a lot for him but he took us out a lot too. As much as I love to cook, it was so nice to get a break. One day we went to Bloedel reserve on Bainbridge Island. I have not been there for a couple of years and forgot just how beautiful it is. We got a membership so we will be able to go all year (I will take more pictures). There was a pair of swans, just sleeping in the grass next to the pond. We were able to get so close. They are such a handsome couple.

My father wanted to buy me an early birthday gift. You know my obsession with little thatched cottages. I saw this picture and had to have it. It is quite unusual. I am not sure if you can see in the picture but the glass is convex and there is dried flowers added on the picture were the garden is. It is a bit of an odd piece but with my other cottage pictures, it fit right in. I am curious how old it is. If anyone know about this type of thing, I would love to hear more. I really missed all of you. My father and his wife probably think I am cuckoo, because I talk so much about my blog and you readers xoxoxox

Candy Craft Room

Wow, 85 responses to my giveaway. Thank you so much for all the support and kind comments. You have energized me to come up with 500 more ideas. I am please to announce Gill is the winner of the giveaway. I have to say Gill has been so sweet and such a support of my blog since the begining . I will e-mail you Gill xoxoxo

I have been meaning to show you my craft corner. In keeping with my candy colored living room, I tried to carry the same colors and vintage fabric over to this area. I am still working on it and it is a bit messy as you can see. I have been looking for the perfect spot for these strawberry pink curtains I got at a rotary auction. I added them to the arches and they add a bit of folly to the room. I was also lucky to purchase from Angie this old bird cage. I just love it. It is in two pieces, the red and the white and they come apart. Since it is not very summery outside (the pictures look sunny but it is not) at lest the room feels summery. It is always inspiring to craft in a fun space. 

 

 

                                                   

Candy Colors

I needed new pillows to go with my summer theme. This year I am using candy colors of summer. Strawberry, azure, lavender, raspberry, zucchini. Lots of fun color. Well since I was silly and bought a white couch (and I want my family to sit on it without me freaking out) I bought this stripped twin quilt to drape over the couch. Actually it is a pretty cheap ($ 30.00) way to add zing to my living room with each season.

For the pillows, I just took ones I already had and made covers that are easy to take on off. I really wanted to blend vintage/old fashion with a bit more modern fabric. I LOVE how these turned out. I used vintage red velvet trim below and red work above.  I played with a lottttt of fabric till I found a combo I loved. Of course Sis Boom fabric was a perfect choice. Don't you think it is almost halmarky Jennifer  ;-p xoxoxoxo

 

        

Craft Room part 3

Here is the rest of the room I did not show you. I wanted to say there is a mixture of Provencal fabrics, British transfereware and modern papers. But it all seems to work. Never assume something will not go, till you try it. I say just work with what you love and I bet it will go together better then you think. You can always pick out a color or two like we did to bring it all together.

In keeping with trying to spend as little money as possible, my mother took old pillows and covered them with fabric and fun trim. The middle pillow is just a tea towel. It is all pined, tied or glued. No sewing. We do not worry about the back of a pillow, because most times no one will see it  ;-)  

This is the wall across from the table and it is storage. Which is pretty boring white but that is good because your eyes are drawn to the accessories then. We used china, bucket, tin (thank youJanet, I am letting my mother borrow the pretty tin you gave me. It goes so well with her room and is holding her crayons), jars, ect.

 

This is my personal favorite thing we did. It is a glass cake plate that I found a blue and white plate that just fit in it. We set jars on the plate to hold pencils and such.

The one wall I did not show you has a closet, which my mother uses for more storage. I have to say, with all the gray days we have this sunny room is much more enjoyable to work in. Thank you mom for letting me share with everyone. I hope you found an idea or two. But mostly will look at what you already own and find a new way to use it xoxoxo

Craft Room part 2

Thank you for the comments on the scrapbook paper wall. It really does look stunning and is a cheap way to cover a large space. Aubern'e has done this in her room with some medieval paper.

My mother's lamp had shades that were covered with cow fabric. It did not go with the room but she might still use the shades down the road. So I took fabric and sewed a sleeve. Then gathered it at the top. I pinned it on with straight pins around the gather and glued the on pom-pom trim. This way she can pull off the pom-poms, unpin the fabric and still use the shades.

One of my favorite things my mother did was her thread holder. It is just a wooden thread holder, but with all the different colors, it ended up looking like a work of art on the wall. It is across the room from the paper wall and really picked up all the colors. She made a cover for her sewing machine from a vintage dish towel and sewed ties on the side.

This is her work table. A wooden table with sides that fold down. She already had denim drapes and just added some yellow rick-rack to the edges to pick up her colors.

She felt the table looked a little bare and wanted to use more of the fabric she loved. So she made runner for the table.

I thought this bulletin board was also clever. It is just squares of foam core covered in fabric. I still have more of the room to share xoxoxo

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Craft Room part 1

I have been meaning to share this with all of you for a while. For my mother's birthday I helped her overhauled her craft-room. I had helped her decorated it several years ago with all of her quilts and Americana accessories. But she wanted a new look and did not have much money to spend. My mother is very different then me, I know what I want. I have a vision, she does not. So we started by looking at what she already had. She has a large collection of blue and white china and decided to start there. Next I encouraged her to go to the craft store and look for anything (like fabric or paper) she loved. I told her not to worry about it matching (she worries to much about things matching, have I taught her nothing ;-)  She found some scrapbook paper she loved and fabric. They both had a strong marigold yellow and we used that and blue as our base.

I have broken this up in several posts because there is a lot of simple and inexpensive ideas that might inspire you. We used her white furniture so her china would stand out and found any linens that would go.

For a side table we just covered a small table with fabric. By the way this is the back side of the fabric. So remember to look at both sides.

The coolest thing we did was her wall. She had all this large blank wall space. We used the book of scrapbook papers she loved. We just taped the papers together in strips and then tacked each strip, top and bottom, to the wall. It gives the room lots of color and the wow factor !!!

I still have a lot more to share xoxoxo

A Baking Pantry

 

I have this little room off my kitchen, Mrs. Mathews the previous owner used it as a breakfast room. We were using it for an office, but there was always a huge mess. I decided to not fight the mess and just move it were I can not see it. Makes a happier marriage ;-) Even thought I have a big kitchen, I still needed more room. I need storage for all my bulk (almost 30 jars) and baking items. So I decided to turn the room into a baking pantry. I am just using what I already have on-hand but slowly over time will replace and make the room more like I want. I want it to feel more Victorian, without feeling cutesy. You know what I mean ? So I decide use use black as an ascent color. It feels a bit more formal. My big find (well I did buy this) is this French marble pastry table. I was looking on-line all day and could not find one I could afford. When low and behold on Craig's list was one, Wa-hooo !!! I love it and it works great to make my bread and doughs right on the table.

  

The girls and I painted over the wallpaper a pale buttery yellow and all the trim white. It looks much more yellow in these pictures (it also looks much more crowded with stuff in the pictures). This room has some sweet woodwork and corner shelves, I really wanted them to stand out. But I also wanted the walls to be neural and warm for those gray days we have. I am really happy with it.

A lot of the accessories you see, I will change out. I just sort of set things in, to live with it for a while. I can not decided if I want a more European French feel (which I am leaning towards) or a old fashioned general store. Or a mish-mash of both. I know everything I do not want the room to be, but still working on what I do want. It is very tempting to go out a buy a bunch of new stuff, but I am trying to be good. 

By the way the below picture is standing in the party looking into my kitchen. The hall on the right goes to the library. So this is what I have been up to. Next is taking the room apart again and pulling up all the yucky linoleum. There is hard wood floor underneath. I will see what it is like and then decided what to do. I have my lap-top back and just today I can get on-line. Thank goodness. All is right with the word. I would love your feedback on the pantry. Remember be honest , not polite xoxoxoxox

More Christmas House Inspiration

Oh and my killer deal for Aubern'e I got was 8 dinner plates, 4 salad plates and one serving bowl of Limoges Haviland china, free. Just because they were a bit chipped. They will go perfect with her gold crown teapot Yeah for chipped french china xoxoxoxo

A Garland and Winner

Do you remember this garland ? Well it is time to spring things up. All I did was change out the red rick-rack ribbon with something more spring like. The reason I posed this again is because it is such a simple garland. All you need is different ribbons and some tape. I added butterfly's were the holly was (it covers up the tape). Also I just love the pom-pom trim on the window. It make doing the dishes so much cheerier. So if you have a corner that needs an uplift, try a ribbon garland.

Congratulations Sarah at Mama and Jack, for winning the book in my last give away. I will e-mail you. Thank you again everyone for joining in and being such a blessing to me xoxoxxo

PS. the reason I can not send the books media mail, is because anytime someone wins a give-away on my blog, they get chocolate  ;-)

PSS. I have been asked were I get the butterfly's ? I got them at Jo-Ann's floral section. They are only $2.00 or so and the cool thing is they have little clips on the back to attach them to things. I need to get some more !!!!

Sweet

This is the perfect pillow Aubern'e made me for Valentines day. She took a tee-shirt (that I loved) it did not fit her anymore and made a pillow. She just sewed it up, stuffed it and cut a fringe edge. So sweet !!!!!!

We have a winner for the Easter book. Congratulations Miss.Tina (who I have met and is the sweetest. I am hoping to have her over for tea soon xoxox) I will e-mail you Tina xoxoxox

The new book this week is Vegetarian Cooking For Everyone by Deborah Madison, you can look inside the book. The reason I post the radish salad recipe, (which we are really loving) was because I knew I was giving this book this week. Even if you are not a vegetarian (I am not) but are looking for interesting ways to use vegetables and vegetarian ingredients, Deborah knows her stuff. I have just about every book she has written. This is a very thick book full of info. Good luck.

PS. Because this book is sooo big, I will be mailing it book rate.

Vintage At The Sewing Expo

I decided to go to the sewing expo and see what it was all about. Thank you Deby for letting me know about it. It is the biggest in the US and second in the word. It was big and I had fun. Although there was a lot I was not interested in, there were a few great vendors selling vintage and interesting trims, buttons, ect. I even got a tablecloth. What I love the most about it, is the red polka-dot, wavy edge. It was hard to photograph, it is much paler but not boring. The detailed stitching is so perfect.

Oh I did get more then what I am showing but the rest are Easter basket gifts for the girls.

I hope you are having a lovely day and remember to do one nice thing for yourself today. I plan to make a cup of tea in my prettiest tea cup and just watch the birds in my yard (wait till you see the bird nests you can make). Oh and to be grateful for all I have xoxoxo

What An Adventure

I had a lovely time in OR. Although it was very stormy and we could not do much. I was thrilled though, we went to an outlet-mall and they have a Le Creuset seconds shop. I have been wanting a 9 qt. Le Creuset for such a long time. My mother taught me it is better to have less kitchen equipment but the best you can buy. It is a life-time investment. My Le Creuset lovely deep blue-green. Another blessing there is no tax in OR !!!!!!

But I wanted to tell you about my little linens adventure. My MIL (who knows me so well) was talking with my FIL's barber and he was telling her how the trunk in his shop was full of linens, made by his mother and had not been opened for years. While visiting she said she wanted to stop by the barbershop and unbeknownst to me, she asked him if he was interested in selling any of the linens. He was and the next night I went over. Now this trunk is huge and has big leather straps around it. As he opened the trunk, there was this beautiful smaller wooden box on top with a picture of a lady with an amazing hat. He lifted the box and the trunk was stuffed with linens. It was like Christmas morning but better. It would have taken me an hour to really go through it but I only had a few minutes. It was so much fun and a bit awkward, going through someone's family history. I kept asking are you sure you want to sell. Actually I think it is sad none of his children did not want any. I could have taken piles but did not want to seem greedy. I just picked out a few really beautiful pieces. My favorite is this child's apron. I love how the ladies frilly skirts are the pockets. I need to find a special way to show it off.

Then he proceeded to take me in the back-room full of boxes, old tables, chairs, ect. He tells me all those boxes are full of china. I thought I would die. I so wish I could just rent a u-hail and clean out his store room for him  :- ) maybe if I am lucky, next time I visit he will want to sell more.

I also loaded up on Sisboom Mod Girl fabric, old vintage lace, 10 yards of hand embroidered linen trim for $2.00. I need to do some sewing now. Speaking of sewing, wait till you see my Valentine runner. Thank you for all well wishes and glad you had yummy oatmeal xoxoxox

 

New Goodies

 

 

 

Well I have some new goodies to show you. David and I are not giving each other gifts (although I am sure someone will leave him some gourmet beer under the tree) but I did get to some goodies at the Christmas House inlew of a present. I love the wool pear, of course anything french, old ironstone and that whole set of dishes was only $5.00. I have to say they do not look like much on the table there, but in my kitchen queen, they look very charming and gingerbready.

Also my father bought me a couch. We were in desperate need of a couch. The one we got 7 years ago was an old hand me down recovered in wonderful fabric. But is had gotten so saggy Chloe was the only one who could sit in it. Now I do not love my couch. I had only 5 days to find something and I am very limited were I live. Plus everything I loved was like 3-5 thousand dollars. Anything under $1000 all looks the same. It made me crazy. I go in a  furniture store with hundreds of couches and they were all the same, big and pillow back. Well I decide to just look for something basic with good lines. One day I will get my curvy, vintage, tucked back couch I want. Some day. I hope I do not sound ungrateful, because I really am. We never could have bought a new couch and it was very kind of my father. It was just very frustrating.

Also I want to thank Manuela and Janet for my friendly blog award. I do hope my blog is friendly. I know both of yours are and you are both such dolls. I know I am suppose to pass this on to others  but I always agonize over giving awards. I want to give them to all of you, so that is what I am doing. You readers are so dear to me. that you would take time out of your day to come to my blog means everything to me. I never take that for granted, thank you xoxoxox

Guest post by Chloe

Hello my mother said I could share my doll house with you. I have been busy decorating it for Thanksgiving. I made leaf garlands and leaf covered roof for my house.

I decorated the mantel with autumn leaves and made a pie and vegetables for the kitchen.

You can not see it very well in the picture but I also make a stuffed turkey for dinner.

I made a leaf rug and of-course I have my guitar to practice on when I am not cooking. Thank you for letting me share and Happy Thanksgiving, Chloe.

Beauty

 

Chloe found this beautiful butterfly out in our yard. It was so stunning and we never find anything like this, it need to be showcased. I love the shadow boxes in Martha's new craft line at Michaels and it was very easy to use. I tried to get a better picture (it is so hard to take a picture of something with reflective glass) I found two papers with reverse colors and did half and half. Also have you seen the velvet rick-rack !!!!!!