Tuesday, May 7, 2013

...a metamorphosis revisited...

...remember...
...this room was once a carport...
...a perfect size for one very small car...
...it is much more sophisticated now...
...so, I've tried to call it the 'music room'...
...or the 'library'...
...so much better than the 'den'...
...or the 'family room'...
...but, sadly...
...it is most commonly called the 'TV room'...
...perhaps you could help us out and suggest something more fitting...

...the walls are really cinder block..
...but paneling was popular in the 70's...
...and then a dear friend taught me how to plaster...
...using joint compound...
...it was quite a job, but so rewarding...
...the paint technique we found in a book...
...lots of masking tape...
...and three colors of taupe in each square...

...yes, this is the Pottery Barn sectional...
...where we do sit and watch a little television in the evening...
...our set isn't on all day...
...we prefer listening to lovely music instead...
...each item hanging on the wall has a story...
...when you live in a home for many years...
...I guess everything does...

...the architectural piece came home in the car with us...
...after visiting our California son and his family...
...it really started the whole 'white thing' in this room...
...I'm in love with it...
...the little silver pot and old book pages...
...have been photographed over and over...
...and, I guess so has Alex, the kitty...


...the table was built by a neighbor...
...the little boy in the photograph is my husband...
...it is such an adorable image...
...the wonderful window was given to me by a friend...
...she is the one who helped me paint everything white in this room...
...I glued old book pages onto foam board for the window insert...

...here are the (never pretty, but) necessary electronics...
...my sweet husband calls my old pieces 'expensive hunks of junk'...
...this one has been with us for a long time...
...when these shelves were built in many years ago...
...a piano used to fit here perfectly...
...his Broadway Show albums fill the shelves...
...along with my white pretties...

...I couldn't resist a little bit of a close up...
...can you tell I adore ironstone...
...platters, plates, pitchers,vases, creamers, sugar bowls...
...I love them all...

...oh, yes...
...another hunk of junk...
...completely filled with CDs inside...
...we do love music...

...of course, this lectern has a story...
...I've just never been able to paint that gorgeous pine wood...
...should I turn it around and give lectures...
..probably not since I'm not interested in public speaking...
...meanwhile, it is filled with quilts...
...and photos of our beloved doggies...
...Woody, Gus, Ginger, Maggie and Sarah Jane...
...that's Granddaughter Catherine holding Miss Sarah Jane...
...sweet memories...

...the drapes over the books used to cover HUGE unsightly speakers...
...but now, our sound system has little teeny, tiny speakers...
...both of us love old books...
...many have very special meaning...
...most were found on trips we have taken...
...I do hope you approve of our treatment of Alex...
...we are trying not to spoil him, however...
...and, finally...
...I'm showing you a bit of my husband's photography...
...the vintage photos were taken in 1939 when he was a little boy...
...using a baby brownie camera...
...Washington, D.C. plus New York City and the World's Fair...
...the two larger photos were taken 50 years later...
...it was the first time he had been back to Washington, D.C. ...

...well,  it's not a carport any longer...
...but truly a room filled with us...
...we love spending time here...


"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort."

Jane Austen



Thursday, April 4, 2013

...a metamorphosis...

...once again...
...it's all in the details...

...visualize a tiny house built in 1949...
...two tiny bedrooms...
...and one really tiny bathroom...
...but the real bonus was...
...are you ready...
...a carport...

...one day the carport became a room...
...just a room where little boys played drums...
...and watched television...
...the little boys grew up...
...and moved away...
...to homes of their own...

...finally after a few years...
...it became a beautiful white room...
...with delightful cozy walls...
...filled with all sorts of vintage items...


...there is an old kitchen drawer...
...found at a garage sale...
...which hangs on the wall...
...filled with little white pitchers...
...accented by a background of vintage music...

...flash cards..
...from days gone by...
...and a rusty, chippy grate...
...that used to surround a stove pipe...

...built-in shelves are at both ends of the room...
...lots of old books...
...but also photographs of my husband's family...
...and sweet little white dishes...
...the walls are adorned with pieces of wonderful old...
...architectural embellishments...
...this one came all the way from Texas...

...lace, iron, vintage book pages...
...candles, beautiful textures...
...all contribute to making it such a cozy room...
...Verna Odille Hohl Nelson...
...was my husband's mother...
...she was a real treasure...
...and is such a charming little girl in this photograph...
...one year I learned how to solder lead around two pieces of glass...
...the finished charm hangs down a birdcage...
...which is filled with silver, books, and real nests...

...this is one of our favorite rooms in our home...
...stay turned...
...I hope to share more of this delightful space...

"Home is the nicest word there is."
~Laura Ingalls Wilder

Monday, March 11, 2013

...an intruder on the porch...


...Spring is on its way...
...and my screened in porch beckons...
...temperatures are warmer now...

...so it is time to clean the porch...
...getting ready for those gorgeous mornings...
...and evenings...

...when it is so serene and delightful...
...out on my porch...

...filled with white treasures...
...and twinkle lights...
...it makes me happy to spend time out there...

...but wait...
...there has been an intruder...
...the evidence is everywhere...
...it is shocking...
...I feel so violated...
...I seem to be sharing my special space...
...with someone else...

...you guessed it...
...Miss Fluffy has created her own door...
...custom made at her height...
...just her size...
...she is so naughty...
...I need your advice!...

"In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats."
- English Proverb

Friday, February 15, 2013

...oh, those tulips...




...thank you...
...Trader Joe's...
...I love you...

...what I love...
...is that for $4.99...
...I can have such lasting joy...

...there was this beautiful little bundle...
...of nine tulips...
...in the most delicate shade of pink...

...I know...
...you are shocked...
...that I didn't bring home white ones...

...well...
...what can I say...
...these kept whispering to me...
...'take us home, take us home'...

...they really ganged up on me...
...those adorable little flowers...

...they have lasted for a week...
...always wanting to sit for photographs...

...one day I tried a black background...
...it's just okay...
...I still like my white...

...they are getting a tiny bit droopy today...

...but they are still begging to be photographed...
...this one especially leaned over...
...to get my attention...

...the pink is even more pale and delicate...
...than when I brought these little sweet tulips home...

...and then of course...
...I had to play in Photoshop...
...this creation I called:  Flowers for You...

...hope you enjoy your bouquet...

...Life is Good...

"When you arise in the morning,
give thanks for the food
and for the joy of living.  
If you see no reason for giving thanks,
the fault lies only in yourself."
~Chief Tecumseh

Sunday, January 20, 2013

...inspiration in detail...


...on a recent morning...
...as I looked around my living room...
...my realization was that...
... I'm still in awe...
...of the tiny little details...
...on my vintage pieces...


...so, of course... 
...I grabbed my camera...
...and snapped way too many shots...
...for one post...

...making these mosaics bring me joy...
...hopefully you will enjoy some of the detail...
...in our little white cottage...

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?” 
― Mary Oliver
 New and Selected Poems

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

...sharing a little white...


...we are having really cold weather right now...
...normally our winter temperatures do not include teens...
...playing with photos of my beloved white ironstone...
...is like being all wrapped up in muffler, earmuffs and mittens...
...I'm staying toasty warm...
...I'm staying contented...


“Be content with what you have;
rejoice in the way things are.
When you realize there is nothing lacking,
the whole world belongs to you.” 
― Lao Tzu



Sunday, January 13, 2013

...what women should know...


...I've been taking an online class...
...given by the most talented teacher...
...the class is called 'Beyond Layers'...
...taught by Kim Klassen...

...sometimes I have a hard time keeping up with assignments...

...but I decided to share this one...
...we were to photograph a cup, book and one other object...

...then process it using at least one of her textures...
...she names her textures...
...the two I used are called chaos and calamity...

...Kim is the most generous person...
...if you want to learn more about using Photoshop...
...I would highly recommend taking one of her online classes...

...I chose a tiny white cup...
...a real bird's nest...
...and the most wonderful book...
...published in 1873...
...the author thinks she has all the answers for women...

...I snapped and snapped...
...digital photography is so fun that way...
...no worries about the time and cost of developing film..

...this is the version I finally decided upon...
...I like the vintage tones...
...I also adore the idea that...
 ...what women should know is all written in a book...
...so simple...

...as I searched for the perfect quote to end this post...
...I found this...
...hope you enjoy it...


One Flaw In Women 

Women have strengths that amaze men. 
They bear hardships and they carry burdens, 
but they hold happiness, love and joy. 

They smile when they want to scream. 
They sing when they want to cry. 
They cry when they are happy 
and laugh when they are nervous. 

They fight for what they believe in. 
They stand up to injustice. 
They don't take "no" for an answer 
when they believe there is a better solution. 

They go without so their family can have. 
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend. 
They love unconditionally. 

They cry when their children excel 
and cheer when their friends get awards. 
They are happy when they hear about 
a birth or a wedding. 

Their hearts break when a friend dies. 
They grieve at the loss of a family member, 
yet they are strong when they 
think there is no strength left. 

They know that a hug and a kiss 
can heal a broken heart. 

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors. 
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you 
to show how much they care about you. 

The heart of a woman is what 
makes the world keep turning. 
They bring joy, hope and love. 
They have compassion and ideas. 

They give moral support to their 
family and friends. 
Women have vital things to say 
and everything to give. 

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN, 

IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.
- Unknown