Powers of Persuasion

I love these rooms. The color on the walls in the first picture is almost a purple and the linen look on the walls in #2 is dreamy. I'm going to try to talk Husband into painting our bedroom this week. Wish me luck. It's a big undertaking. The painting that is. Although, the convincing will be too.

{House Beautiful via Journeys of a Mangonett & Apartment Therapy}

Get Your Own

We picked up a vintage typewriter a few weekends ago, our second one. The kids love them so much. We've found that they are a great catalyst for creativity. A blank piece of paper doesn't stay that way long when the words you type also create an audible rhythm. I'm finding poems, stories, letters and simple narratives. My favorite so far was from out youngest (read most challenging). It said. "I love my mother but sometimes she makes it hard to do." She's seven. Each piece is a special treat for me. Even that one.

Short Term Goals

I need to do this now while the kids are still little(ish) and cute. The last set we did was 6 (or more) years ago already!

*Note to self- Do the height measurements too! Tonight.
{Apartment Therapy, Found}

Unexplainable

Fringe (of all things!) has been on my mind. Go figure.
{Country Living, Domino}

Katie, No Peeking!

My youngest sister and her boyfriend just moved into together. I'm sending these to her in the mail today, Love Birds. They're salt and pepper shakers! Totally cute. Totally corny. Totally hilarious even if just to me. {Urban Outfitters}

DIY

Take the fabric shown above, apply it to any second hand chair with beautiful form and end up with something like this. Wait, I have a chair like this! Maybe it's time for a change. {Sew Mama, Sew, Homes and Gardens}

Ooo, La, La

I can't imagine that I would ever actually have this delicate of a color palette in my own home but I sure to love to look at it in the home of someone else. {Homes and Gardens}

Blue Morning

These are each pretty dynamic forms. Even if they were without any color at all. The turquoise & blue sure do add to their charm though. {kitchenwindows.com, sfgirlbybay}

A Recommendation

I made this for dessert tonight. Nectarine Golden Cake. It's really good. I'm looking forward to having it for breakfast in the morning.

Ready, Set, Go

Today school started. Just one class this semester, Basic Industry Sewing. I sew now but felt like I could certainly benefit from some formal training. I'm very excited. More excited than I should be really but that's how I work. I can't wait to see what I get to create! {Photo from Fashionista}

Can't Live Without

Index cards are one of my absolute favorite things. I keep a stack in my desk drawer and another in the chest of drawers in the dining room. I use them for grocery lists and recipes, notes to myself and cards for gifts. They are quite possibly the most versatile things ever.

Late Summer Loves

Late summer always finds me thinking of summer days past spent with my siblings. Family adventures, smashed pennies from various travel destinations, camping trips and hours spent playing Cowboys & Indians in our backyard. So of course, I love all of this.
eHow, Vintagegoodies, Hable Construction, Sweethorn Vintage, Fancy Pony Land

A Change in Perspective

When I spotted this image at Pink Wallpaper today, I found that I was suddenly rethinking my position on cafe curtains. Something I didn't even realize I had an opinion on until that very moment. {Sharon Simonaire via Pink Wallpaper}

Possibilities

Our house will need to be painted by October when the rain starts. I'd love to end up with this!
{Nonstopflight via COCOCOZY}

To Market, to Market

I'm very excited to be a participating in the Poppytalk Handmade Market this month. Check it out. There's so much good stuff.

A Monday Morning Musing

Why match when it's so much more fun not to?!
{Hidden Library, Lena Corwin}

A Simple Delight

A dinner party in the garden. That is what I am looking forward to today. What are you looking forward to this weekend?
{Country Living}

Embarassing House Photo Included

Maybe this doesn't apply to everyone but for me, I spend every day in my own home and sometimes it's difficult to make decision about changes that will be as effective as I would like them to be.

Case in point, my fireplace. Up until a few weeks ago, it had a gold insert. Yes, a gold insert! It was horrible and I lived with it for nearly 10 years. "What is wrong with her?" you are asking right now. I don't know. There's really no excuse. But now, it can't stop there. The fireplace wall (and more than that I know) needs to be addressed. So, lately what I'm contemplating is do I paint the wall on either side of the brick? Do I throw a bunch of stuff on the skinny little mantle, put logs in the fireplace, wait until I can replace the carpet, metal mini blinds (I know!) and television stand?

As always, there are limitations. Things like cash and Husband's agreement. Little things like that. So, round and round I go with all of the options. I think this is the explanation for 10 years of the golden beauty. Now, of course, if this was a friend's house and she asked me what I suggested, easy. I'd have a solution. Not so sometimes at home. Yikes.

Oh My,

Apparently I've become obsessed with kitchens lately. But really, this is a gem. The chair by the stove, the stove in the old fireplace, those baskets. . . and on and on!

My Vintage Cutie

Rode my bike to a friends for coffee with the girls this morning. The day really can't go wrong when it begins that way.

My bike started off as a garage sale bargain. Two years later, I decided what color I wanted it painted & Husband painted it. I added decals (not sure how long they will last as this is not the type of use they were intended for). We found a new seat, handlebar grips and a basket. Now it's just my type. I love it.

I do intend to whip up a basket liner. I'm thinking a green stripe might be best for that.

Monday

{I Nancy, Vogue Fabrics Store, Webshots,}

Today, sewing welting and zippers for cushion covers. It's surprising how rewarding & exciting it is to see a project take it's shape from bolt of fabric to finished piece. And, it's not even for me.

Farmhouse Kitchen

{Attic Mag}

Look at this kitchen! See the stairs off the the side there? A kitchen with stairs is just so dreamy for some reason. I'm not sure at all why that is. Of course the copper pots are what caught my attention in the first place. My love for them was further encouraged today by the movie, Julie & Julia (loved it).

Chevron

{Britniwood}

The Chevron print is heavy on my mind this morning. I'm inspired by it in this blue and white. Thinking about using it in grey and white using this tutorial.

Awestruck

{Skona Hem}

So many of my favorite things are in use in this room and it really doesn't have that many things at all. I know I don't have to say it, but the clock is amazing!

Wide Open

This kitchen is fantastic. Love the ladder, all the rough wood and of course the open shelving. The kitchen cupboards are one of the few places in my home where I am always organized. Someday maybe open shelving for us? Hmm...

Retracted Poetry

What a great idea (take a close look). Retracted poetry. I love it. The artist behind it all sounds like a great guy too. That's one of the things I love about Etsy, the profiles.

Solutions

{The home of Maria Calderara found via Bliss}

The floor pillows over in the corner caught my eye and have been on my mind ever since. Their simple construction would have huge impact if I made some for my backyard. We have a wooden deck with attached benches that would benefit (of course) by adding something soft on top. There's lots of green and brown in my yard too so those sherbert colors would look fantastic and when/if I ever get us set up for outdoor movies, we can toss them on the grass and relax.

Adding them now to my list of things to do.