Friend Makin' Monday

 
I am liking up to Friend Makin' Monday with Amber Filkins.  She is asking us to complete the following:

I am.... still pretty sleepy.  It will take me forever to get used to this daylight savings time!

I think....I will go down to the gym after I shower this morning so I can wake up first.

I should...be more positive

I dream....pretty often I think.  Last night I dreamed that I had loaded two dishwashers after a party and used lots of my mother's silver too. (Strange, I know!)

I want....to make some pinwheel decorations today.

I know...my family loves me

I don't like....the snowplow piling snow in front of my driveway!

I smell...Chicken Soup from yesterday

I hear....only my furnace this morning.

I fear....new places because I have a terrible sense of direction.

I usually...make my bed.

I search..for things I lose--too often!

I miss....my grandchildren that I am away from

I always...say my prayers

I regret....not saying I love you everyday

I wonder....what my grandchildren will remember about me.

I crave....sweets and chocolate.

I remember...how my grandmother made bread and the way the house smelled like it.

I need.....to make several calls this morning.

I forget....where I parked my car often.  I think that I don't want to clutter my brain with that info but am sorry later when I have to search for it.

I feel....everyone should be a good friend

I can....give love

I can't....wait for warmer weather (but what can I do about it?)

I am happy....to share my home and what I know with others.

I lose.....my keys and glasses mostly

I sing....along with songs I like

I listen...to advice but don't always take it

I shop.....mostly with my daughter

I eat....too many carbohydrates

I love.....to sew and create

Happy Monday!!!

Tablescape Thursday-Summer Picnic

For this week's tablescape I decided to skip spring inspirations and go directly to summer.  So I started with a blue and white checked tablecloth that reminds me of a picnic.

Next I thought wicker is also very summery so I used my wicker chargers.

  Next layer is a fun square bandana print plate that is melamine.

On top of that are white with blue edges enamelware bowls that I bought in Boston at the  April Cornell store when the store was closing. I made my husband haul them home for me.

I couldn't decide on the napkins to go with this setting so I will let you choose from the following three.  (1)  I love these fun bicycle print dishtowels from Mary Lake Thompson

but I also love (2) blue and white striped ticking ones.

In the end I used these (3)  blue with white polka dot paper napkins. 

For the centerpiece I started with a wicker tray, then an old little piece that looks like a small picnic table.  Next I added a topiary for greenery with it's summer leaves, then some small vintage chairs and a few birds.

There is even a straw hat in case the sun is too hot!  Perfect for a summer picnic.  To see more tables and be inspired go to Between Naps on the Porch or click here.

Have a wonderful day and I hope spring, then summer come your way soon!

We learn from Each Other

It is so fun to be influenced by all you talented bloggers out there.  I am continually amazed.  I learn so much from reading your posts and find great joy when I learn that through my random postings that someone has taken something that I have posted and learned from me, too. Last month I posted about making Twirly skirts for my granddaughters here.  Recently, Ginger @ Dimpled Dempseys and a Big Tall Guy let me know that she read my post and has made a darling twirly skirt for her cute little girl from my tutorial on them. This is what she had to say about her experience sewing:

Look what I made!!!

I'm ridiculously proud of myself. I just sewed my first GARMENT a few days ago. Oh, I've started PLENTY of sewing projects. The proof is in a rubbermaid bin in my basement. But, I would always end up hitting a road block or getting frustrated because it wasn't just perfect and would resign myself to finishing it "later". Don't get me wrong. I've made plenty of what most would consider "curtains", but we know those don't really count, now do they?

So, here it is!


I thought making something for Molly to play in would be a safe attempt. That way, I wouldn't feel the "perfection" pressure for her to wear it in public. She has so much fun twirling around in our foyer, which, of course, gives me that "mission accomplished" feeling. It's not perfect, but most couldn't tell. Oh, I'm totally motivated now! Look out world!

Isn't her little girl precious!  And the skirt is adorable.  Love the fabrics! 

Thanks for letting me know about it too, Ginger!  I hope you are able to make many more for your daughter.

I would love to see any projects that have a similar history.  Happy Sewing and Blogging!

Trash to Treasure--Back Door Redo

Trash to Treasure
I posted this before but I think it is one of my favorite transformations and I look at it everyday and everytime I come home.  It is my back door from the garage into my house.  It was very blah and boring.

It used to be standard builder grade white metal (fireproof) door.  (The vacuum mess had to stay in that spot, darn)

 

It took many coats of paint but I love it now in RED!  I added a few items by it for interest.

It is fun to change the pillow and little seasonal decorations around it.  Here it is for fall.

 And for spring.

It didn't take that long to complete but makes a big difference in impact.

I am linking up today to Trash to Treasure Tuesday from Reinvented.

Friend Makin Monday

Today I am linking up with Amber Filkin for her Friend Makin' Monday.  She has a fun exercise for us today where we will learn more about our decorating tastes.

Question for the week: What's YOUR personal decorating style?

Head over to Sproost to take the quiz. 

{I just copied & pasted the results}

{then I saved the pictures I liked & uploaded them}

This was a fun challenge this week and I loved seeing the beautiful pictures and taking the quiz.

After taking the quiz it turns out my taste is 50% Nantucket, 25% Classic and 25% French Eclectic.

Nantucket Style

Oh how you love the beach! Who doesn't, right? And so your dream home is either perched in your favorite beach town, or you've brought that favorite beach town into your house.

More >

Materials

Your art and accessories speak directly to the activities that are found at the beach. Pieces of driftwood you found here, pictures or paintings of the amazing views there. Things that remind you of the coast - surf boards or fishing boats - are found throughout the house. The feeling of the seaside is both abstract and literal in the design of your space. The fabrics are natural, cottons and linens and are light in color and touch. Much of the furniture is wood or wood framed (the lighter the better, think driftwood!) and wicker, when done right, is a must.

Colors

And since your true inspiration is the sea, the colors and textures in your home are the same that you would find at your favorite beach: white, light beiges and grays of the sand and driftwood, a variety of blues for the ocean and sky, and greens and vibrant blues of the sea glass... but the key is white! Your space should feel light and airy and give off the mood one has when at the beach: laid back!

Space Planning

Your furniture is comfortable and the layout is cozy. The more it reminds you of actually sitting on the warm sand the better! And what do you do at the beach? Hang out with family and friends - and your home is just an extension of this play place... and though the space is filled with large white furniture, it somehow manages to feel both durable and casual.

Classic

What's old is new again! The beauty of Classic Style is how well it takes all of the beautiful forms, colors and textures of the past and reinvents them in a way that feels both fresh and inspired. The style itself is a mix of European influences and French, English and Italian antiques and replicas are often used together. Furniture is well proportioned and comfortable and the rooms give off an air of sophistication and grace. Oil paintings depicting a still life or nature scenes and emphasizing symmetry of pairs helps maintain the Classic nature of the room. Windows are often covered with opulent fabric shades and/or drapery. Classic rooms give off an air of history that seems to say: "I was here long before you, and will remain long after you've gone." And yet, even with this level of sophistication, the rooms are soft and inviting.

French Eclectic

Parlez-vous français? Even if the answer is no, you can confidently say your home does! French Country, like its name, somehow manages to both be formal and casual, classy and unassuming at the same time. You like your spaces to feel inviting from the moment you (or your guest) opens the front door and this feeling should continue even after you've entered your most formal room. Even though there are French antiques here and gold details there, the rustic elements provide a balance and warmth that seems to say, "come in, relax and stay a while." Your love of antiques leads you to flea markets, garage sales and hours of eBay hunting.

 If you would like to take this same quiz to find out what your personal decorating style is head on over to Sproot.com.  Then if you would like to see how you compare with others' style go over to Amber's site.

Have a wonderful Monday!

Burlap and TV

Yesterday I had the opportunity of going with my daughter to a local TV station because her blog Tatertots and Jello.was featured one of their segments.  Of course it had snowed the night before so we loaded all the necessary equipment she needed into the car as the snow filled our shoes.  We  parked in the wrong garage and so arrived one minute later than planned and scrambled to get everything out onto the set before the show started.  Jen was the second segment.

It was her first time on TV and she was a little bit scared (or maybe a lot, really) but she did an awesome job and of course, as her mom I was very proud of her.  Here she is with the hosts of the show Brooke and Darrin

I forgot my camera again, but I took pics with hers the whole way through as she demonstrated how to make her original burlap wreaths.

You can find her tutorial for them here. If you want fun, creative, and inexpensive ideas for your home and family please check out her blog.  You can also learn our fate as we are both direction-challenged!

It was a fun experience for both of us!

Thursday Tablescape-Blue Hues

Thursday Tablescape

 

Today's tablescape pictures were taken as I was running through Bloomingdale's in San Francisco with my daughter and grandson.  The large ceramic vase held silver branches and these very tall laser rods of amazing blue hues.  They had some sort of light source so they were lit up.  The whole display table with it's blue and white dishes was stunning.  I wasn't able to photograph the tops of the laser rods but my guess is they were about 7 feet tall.  They reminded me of our grandson's power laser that he runs through the house wielding as a sword. I believe the chairs were covered in a very masculine stripe fabric that was reminiscent of men's suiting.

 

The individual place settings were so beautiful with their varying shaded of blue, crystal and lovely silverware.  I wish I had the names of each element on the table but as I said, it was a fast run through.  (I think my grandson had reached his very small limit of time to shop and we were headed for the car).  Perhaps this has given someone an idea to use on her own table another day.  I hope so.  To see more beautiful tables click here and go to Between Naps on the Porch.