Monday, December 30, 2013

…comfort and joy...

…a new chair has found its way into our home…
…it replaced a chair that we had purchased in 1986!…
…the old chair was a wing back…
…I had made a white slip cover for it several years ago…

…all of a sudden…
…I felt the need for a change…
…so this little beauty…
…received a new life…
…with the aid of 'Old White' Annie Sloan Chalk Paint®...

 
…the fabulous frame also got the 'Old White' treatment…
…what a wonderful product…
…no preparation…
…you just paint...

 
…I truly adore different shades of white…
…and that is quite visible in this collage...
…the frame next to the little vintage child's coat…

 
…really, I never did have the desire to paint this little cupboard…
…but it just kept asking to become white also…
…I'm so in love with the result…
…guess I was ready for a change…

 
…these little treasures sit atop the cupboard…
...the wire birdcage is a gift from a treasured friend…
…the beautiful handmade card is from a dear Flickr friend…
…thank you both…

 
…now you can see what I have on the shelves…
…the gorgeous pinecone is also a gift…
…from a dear friend who is the most talented crafter I know…

 


 

…my white decor gives both of us…
…comfort and joy…
…all year round…
…it is so peaceful and serene…

 ...as we welcome in a new year
...we extend to you these gifts…
...friendship…
...love…
...and tremendous gratitude...

Friday, December 20, 2013

…a little holiday white…just for you!...


…if you have ever looked at my blog…
…you know I am a lover of all things white…


…so…
…I ask you…
…what possessed me to use these gorgeous vintage blue balls…
…on one of my little white trees…
…that's one of life's little questions…
…who knows…
…but…
…we both love them…
…and all of the white, too…
…so peaceful and serene…
…here…
…at our home...

…wishing you a very Merry Christmas…
...

Monday, November 4, 2013

…kitties are taking over...


…oh, my…
…it has been so long since my last post…
…days, weeks and even months seem to fly by…



…this mosaic pretty much speaks for itself…
…for years our bedroom was off limits to kitties…
…well…
…what do I say, but things seem to have changed…
…I have completely lowered my standards…
…my sweet husband is ecstatic…
…and so are the kitties…
…their question is:  why did it take so long?…

"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple."
~Dr. Seuss

Saturday, August 31, 2013

..what could possibly top a bouquet from a friend...


...one gorgeous bouquet...
...plopped in a simple quart jar...
...such a delightful gift...
...from an sweet and dear friend...

...of course...
...they begged to be photographed...

...just inside my front door...
...is an old white bench...
...the perfect spot...
...to snap photos...
...with natural light streaming in...

...these have not been taken into Photoshop...
...but I promise you...
...this one is just asking for some fun textures...
...don't you think...


...but this pink daisy...
...practically jumped out of the bouquet...
...and said "choose me"...
...so this photo became my 'thank you'...
...for my friend...


...the quote is perfect for her...
...she is truthful, gentle and fearless...
...and so much more...


Wednesday, August 21, 2013

...surviving the long summer heat...

...my coffee group met at my home this morning...
...it is always fun to be together with the ladies...
...for the first time in many years...
...no one in our group is going back to school...
...we are all officially retired now...
...happy days ahead...

...I told them I had been contacted by a magazine editor...
...who wants to use some of my photographs...
...in an upcoming issue...
...(I'll keep you updated on that)...
...(when I have more information)...

...I also confessed that I had not posted much on Flickr lately...
...they all encouraged me to get back...
...keep posting...
...keep playing with my camera...
...keep playing with textures...
...so...
...after they left...
...I checked out in my garden...
...and found a couple of dianthus blooms...
...just begging to come inside and be photographed...
...after all, it has been a long hot summer for them...

...this image can be found on Flickr...
...posted just today...
...I've had so much fun...
...thank you dear friends...
...for encouraging me to return to the hobby...
...that makes my heart sing...

"Do what you love.
Do what makes your heart sing.
And NEVER do it for the money,
Go to work to spread joy."

~Marianne Williamson

Sunday, August 18, 2013

...bits and pieces...

...creating photographic collages...
...is such fun for me...
...getting a pleasing arrangement...
...compatible images and colors...
...well, I could spend hours...

...these are all items that sit behind a little white sofa...
...in our living room...
...more often than not...
...a little kitty is lounging comfortably on that sofa...

...on vacation in the east last summer...
...we found a wonderful antique store...
...that had the most adorable little white cupboard...
...it was love at first sight...
...and of course, it had to be shipped home...

...it has quite a medicinal smell inside...
...but it has been fun to decorate nonetheless...
...both inside and out...

...here are bits and pieces...
...of the treasures on the table...
...behind the sofa...

...a fabulous ragged door stands behind the sofa table...
...with a wonderful old door handle...
...so cracked and chippy...
...a perfect place to perch an architectural embellishment...
...and drape a vintage crocheted tablecloth...

...reflected in a mirror...
...you can see my love of whites and creams...
...vintage bits and pieces...
...and my love of layering...

...sigh...
...love...
...contentment...

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

...keeping cool with white...

...the sweetest little white chandelier...
...hangs in the entryway...
...right inside our front door...
...it is hot outside that door...
...but so nice and cool inside...


...there are rolls of vintage music stuck into the top...
...and bows of sheer white tulle...
...tied on each arm...
...it is so festive...
...all ready for a party...

...the other items make me happy...
...white ironstone...
...vintage white buttons...
...candles and old book pages tied with string...
...classic white vases...

...what a fun way to remain cool...
...and have so much fun...
...on a hot summer day...

...the source for the collage is here...
...it is a wonderful site...
...lots of opportunities to be creative...
...and edit each photo...


People don't notice whether it's winter or summer 
when they're happy.
Anton Chekhov





Sunday, August 11, 2013

...from unlovely to gorgeous...


...just look what Chalk Paint® decorative paint...
...by Annie Sloan...
...will do for a really 'unlovely' chair...

...painted with Old White...
...two coats...

...and dry brushed  with Paris Grey...
...for the stripe...

...two light coats of clear wax...
...buffed out when dry...

...it feels and looks like vintage leather...


...it was such a fun project...
...all of the supplies were purchased...
...at my favorite shop in town...
...Bloom...
...they carry a full line of Annie Sloan paint...
...fabulous stuff...

...also...
...credit goes to my daughter in law Troi...
...who sent me the link...
...for the tutorial for making...
...the animated gif slideshow...
...always love learning new things...


Get over the idea that only children should spend their time in study. 
 Be a student so long as you still have something to learn,
 and this will mean all your life.  
~Henry L. Doherty


Friday, June 14, 2013

...a new app and a trip to the farmer' market...

...I LOVE learning new things...

...I have wanted to try blogging using my iPad...

...couldn't seem to access my photos...

...well Google had good info for me...

...out of many recommendations, I chose to spend $ ...

...a whopping $4.99 on an app called Blogsy...

...this is my first attempt, so wish me luck...

 

 

...so far, so good...

...and now a little information about the photo...

...I ran to our little farmer's market this morning...

...bought a lovely variety of goodies...

...when I took the garlic out of the little brown paper bag...

...well, I saw a photo moment...

...here is the original pic...

...I used two apps on this image...

...PhotoToaster for enhancing...

...and TitleFx for the watermark...

...and I snapped the photo with my iPad...

...love, love, love...

 

Monday, May 27, 2013

...a perfect day for playing on the porch...

...Trader Joe's had gorgeous roses...
...they are just so pretty...
... just asking to be photographed...

...three of the sweet little roses have had their stems cut really short...
...and are posing in a dainty white cup...
...out on the porch...

...as I sat this morning with my cup of coffee...
...more little details just kept popping up in my view...

...the light was so pretty...
...each little element began to shine...

...playing on the porch is very healing...
...makes me appreciate my beautiful life...

...all is well...
...on the porch...
...on this beautiful day...

...hope you have also had a wonderful day...

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