adding an entry closet - nesting

Good Monday morning to you.  I feel a nice long "let's chat" post coming on very soon because I have one or two things on my heart that I'd like your opinion on, but for today I thought a nice decorating post would be better for this overly indulged, snack coma, post super bowl food girl.

In other words, my mind is moving too slowly for much else this morning.

So on to decorating...

(via)

Our home wasn't built with a true entry closet and there really isn't a space dedicated for hanging

how to mix patterns when decorating - nesting

I don't know about you but after the Christmas decor is put away my living room is always in need of a little freshening up.  We spend so much time in there that I thought a bit of color would help chase the winter blues away and make the room feel more warm and inviting.

And what better way to add color quickly and inexpensively than to add a few new throw pillows.

dropping the ball

Hello my name is Patty and I am a ball dropper.  There I said it...

I am a terrific starter but not a very good finisher in art, in home improvement, in writing, in books read, in life in general.  (And all the people who really know me are lovingly nodding their collective heads in agreement right now.) 

Do you know that point in a job interview where they ask you to tell them your weakest quality and you fidget and say something lame like, "I tend to be a perfectionist and so sometimes this makes me take my work home with me".  When what you really mean is "I don't manage my time very well so I have to haul my work home at night which I resent, just to stay current".

My answer would be something like this, "I have a lot of great ideas and wish there were more hours in the day to implement them."  When what I really mean is, "I am good at starting projects but lose interest or move on to something else before I finish the first one so I really don't get much done in a day."

One of things I want to do this year is finish a project or two that I've already started.  As I type this I am staring at our staircase that we removed the carpet from and discovered beautiful oak flooring that was in need of sanding and a little TLC...in 2011.

It looks
exactly.
the.
same.

Definitely on my list of things to finish.  That is just the tip of the iceberg.  I have five gorgeous quilt tops that need to be quilted, a bathroom with the wallpaper partial torn down, a vegetable plot with raised bed planters that I begged my husband to build that have been sorely neglected, a guest room/dressing room that has slowly become a storage unit and so much more.

2014 will be the year of finishing things well.  I am giving you all permission to question, remind and nag me about my progress.  I am going to do my best not to start anything new unless I have finished something old.

This should be frustrating fun.

xo, Patty

a little dreamin'

I just wanted to stop in with a quick, "Hello", before heading into my craft studio.  I am busy sewing up little girls dresses and making up photo journals for an upcoming Spring craft show.

It will be my "testing of the waters" so to speak before opening my etsy shop.  My sister in law and I have talked about filling a spot at a local antique mall for years and now that I'm retired, I am hoping that is in the near future, too.

So many exciting things going on...now it's time to put some dreams into action.  That's always the scariest part, don't you think?

Better get back to it.  Enjoy your Thursday!  xo, Patty

living room reveal (well, sorta)

I debated whether or not to share my living room reveal with you since it's not totally finished.  Between daylight savings, rainy weekends and life in general, I still have a couple of unfinished projects but since I'm getting ready to start my Christmas decorating I thought I better show it now or I'd have to wait until next year. 

I don't how you start a project but I take out a pen and paper and start making lists.  The living room for us was all about a certain feeling and function.

Simplicity. Cottage. Sunshine. Modern. Comfortable. Re purpose.  These words were my inspiration.



I love the results.  We managed to capture the feeling we were after and best of all this room is truly a living room. 

At any given time there may be t.v. watching, trains and cars scattered, a book open, bible study, some needlework being done, a quick nap or even some banjo practice going on.

Don't tell my husband, but I have already spread out an unfinished quilt on the new carpet to pin it for quilting.  (I'm supposed to keep my sewing in my sewing room...oh well!)

Besides the carpet and the new television (does that count?), the only purchase I made for the redo was fabric.  The curtains, pillows and recovered stool were all made fresh with basic sewing and stapling skills.  The stand the t.v. sits on was actually a re purposed bench from an outside structure we took out.  The plaid chair was a gift from family.

On the unfinished project list is a drop leaf table that is in the garage awaiting painting, hemming of the curtains and finding something for above the sofa (I'm thinking maybe a mini quilt of some kind). Any suggestions?

I still hope to finish painting the table this weekend but if not, it can wait till next year.  Once I start playing Christmas music it's all about the enjoying the season.

the piano bench

Do you recognize this little piano bench? 



I bought it from a thrift store last year for $5.00 looking like this...

Not very cottagey looking that's for sure but a little blue paint and some bargain basement polka dotted fabric totally transformed it into this pretty little side table.

Never one to leave well enough alone, now it's Martha Stewart Cornbread Yellow.

I know I've said it before but I think this is my favorite so far.

Till the next time I'm sure. :)

my cozy corner

Can you believe it's November already?

I've changed out my favorite corner again, what do you think?

My sister in law is in the middle of rearranging rooms at her house and she gifted me with this amazingly comfortable chair.  I loved the look of the white wicker here but I knew for practical comfort we would probably need to find something more substantial. 

 It took some tweaking but I think I have everything jelling together again.   I've moved the wicker chair back into my studio where it was sorely missed by one little white dog and tucked the ottoman in a corner for extra seating as needed.

Couldn't you just grab a magazine and a hot cup of tea and cozy up here for an hour or two?  I am a feet tucker inner...that's how I test furniture for comfortableness.  If I can sit with my feet tucked under my legs then we have a winner.  Let me tell you folks, we have a winner in this chair.   Now all I need is for the weather to cool down enough to light a fire in the fireplace!

I made some good progress on the living room redo last weekend and I'm just about ready for the big reveal.  I have to admit that I really love the way it's turning out and I can't wait to share it with you.

Happy November,
Patty

partial living room reveal

Patience is not one of my virtues. I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that we were having new carpet installed in the living room. I’m not going to lie, it took me a little while to warm up to it once it was in.   It turned out a little darker than I remember that 12 inch square swatch being, but now that we’ve lived with it and my eyes have adjusted from white to brown, I really like it…a lot.

It feels so good under my bare feet, all squishy and soft, and it is so nice not to worry about stains on white carpet.    I know brown carpet is not "in style" right now but I think I've finally learned that when style doesn't mix with practicality (the way your family lives) it takes the haven out of the home.

True story...Did I ever tell you that Emily and Andrew got into my cooking oil and when my daughter discovered them quietly sitting in a pool of oil on the kitchen floor they took off running, you guessed it, directly onto my white carpet. Needless to say, when they came to haul out that old carpet there were still toddler size (yoil prints, as Andrew would say) oil footprints that never did come out.  As sick as I was over the carpet being ruined and my strong urge to freak out, it couldn't take precedence over those sweet little kids wanting to be at grandmas house.

My hubby and I spent the better part of the weekend arranging and rearranging furniture in the living room. I knew with the dark carpet and our brown leather sofa we were in need of some bright colors to lighten things up.  We are both committed not to buy anything new and between our two old noggins we managed some very clever fixes. I don't want to reveal it completely until it's finished but I love it so much I couldn't resist a little sneak peak…

I still have some drapery to hang, furniture to paint and art work to find so the total reveal is still a little down the road.  But so far...I'm loving it.  I'll go into the details later. 

I'm sure we all have horror stories about our possessions.  I'd love to hear yours...

vintage Halloween - part two

I'm back as promised with a few more pictures of my sister in laws vintage Halloween displays.

There is so much history to her little cottage style home but I will wait for her to share it with you one day.

Until then, you'll just have to enjoy the eye candy...

How can so much vintage cuteness go without it's own blog?

That's a good question?  Maybe with a few encouraging comments she'll finally get off that blogging fence she's been sitting on for the last couple of years.

If you think this is cute, you should see the rest of her home!  Enjoy what's left of your weekend.

vintage halloween - mini home tour

My hubby and I took a little much needed vacation time this week.  We took a leisurely drive up the coast, took the grand babies to the pumpkin patch, visited a local amusement park and even managed to tackled a few projects on the home front as well.  Now I have so much to share that I hardly know where to start.

Because I never seem to color in the lines, I think I'll start with my Friday outing and work backwards from there.

My sister in law and I planned a little shopping excursion to a few of our favorite stores that are all decorated for the holidays.  I never arrive at her house during any holiday season without my camera in hand and Friday was no exception.

These photos are all from here charming home.  She is a collector of vintage and has such a knack for display.   I've learned never to make a quizzical face at her purchases because she always has something brewing in that creative mind of hers.

She claims not to be crafty and says she can't sew but somehow manages to transform adorable fabric into pillows and slipcovers in the blink of an eye...

give her a few picks of seasonal goodness and she works her magic...

She has a wonderful collection of quilts and vintage table cloths and is not afraid to use them.  That's one of the things I admire about her...she somehow manages to always put the love of people above the love of things. 

I have more of her vintage Halloween collection to share tomorrow...and then maybe you can help me convince her to start sharing some of her talent with the blog world herself.

I'm joining The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday...

autumn afternoon

It's hard to believe we are already into the first weekend of October.  The heat here this afternoon still has it feeling like a balmy August day.

I know the cool weather will be here before too long but day after day of this heat has me a little impatient with the arrival of fall.

I've finished the last of my fall decorations and of course, have an apple cider candle burning on the stove, so as long as I don't venture outside I can almost convince myself that this is a lazy autumn afternoon in October.

How about you?
Are you having any luck feeling fall where you are?

rediscovery hidden gems

Last weekend my husband finished pulling the carpet up on the stairs and made it into my grandson's bedroom exposing this gorgeous floor.

After giving the newly revealed floor a good cleaning, I couldn't help but notice how the shadows of the window panes made the sun dance across it.

To think it was there all along hidden under wall to wall carpet just waiting to be revealed.  I suppose when the previous owner had it covered in carpet the thrill of the old wooden floor had faded and carpet provided the warmth and comfort they desired. 

I can imagine the children who slept in that room before, playing with their cars and trucks and dolls and buggies just the way I know my grandson will play with his toys now.

Isn't it funny how what was old and worn to them, is fresh and new to me?  It didn't take long for Bear to feel at home on it either.

My simple pleasure this week is rediscovering hidden gems for a new generation.

I'm joining Dayle for Simple Pleasures...

entryway corner

The entryway corner came together easily once the little painted table found it's home there .  The best part is that almost everything I used was moved from somewhere else in the house or repurposed from things I already had on hand.

I finally got around to making a chalkboard out of a thrift store frame I've had for some time.  We're having fun coming up with phrases each week...this one is a nod to my husband and my adult daughter who has returned to the nest for a season.  Guess who gets to be in the middle of those discussions?  That's a story for a whole other time..

This little basket was a gift from my mom.  I think its original purpose was to hold utensils and plates for eating outside.

I've filled it with little things I found around the house.  The corked bottles were a $1.00 a piece at Michael's.  I can see them filled with single stemmed seasonal flowers.

This pair of silly, chubby chickens were tucked up high on my buffet shelf.  I like them much better down here free ranging in the open.

Now that I've decided on my color scheme of yellow, white, black and red, I am happy with the way the front of the house is flowing together.  My next project is making a white slip cover for the chair and ottoman you see in the living room and to paint the drop leaf table beside it my new favorite cornbread yellow.

All my recent purging has involved a few trips to drop off items at my local Goodwill.  I've been careful not to go into the store to take a look when I make my drops or I could easily bring home as much as I leave behind.  I'm hoping once this gathering habit of mine becomes a distant memory, I'll enjoy the thrill of the hunt once again.  They say it takes 21 days to form a new habit...let's see if I can go 21 days without bringing anything new into the house. 

Wish me luck!

Patty

I'm joining the following linky parties...

House in the roses for Show off Your Cottage Monday
Dittle Dattle for Amaze Me Monday
Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphis Monday
Mellow Yellow Monday
Boogie Board Cottage for Masterpiece Monday