Destiny

I bought this landscape oil painting over the summer, unframed, with the intention of matching it with one of my antique frames. But when I brought it home, I realized that it was a really odd size!

So I figured that eventually, I would have to have one of my old frames cut down to fit (which costs about $100). Then yesterday, I was in the city looking through some antique shops when I came across this antique gold frame above. To my utter shock and pure joy, they were a match!

Both frame and painting are very happy to have found each other - I think it was absolute destiny! xo

Details on where I hung it will come later!

HAVE A HAPPY HALLOWEEN..................

It's that time of year again.......... .......... when we get ready for those cheeky little trick or treaters and have scrummy treats ready on the hall table ..........
.......... and wonderful Halloween dinners for family and friends ..........

.......... with wonderful things to eat and drink ..........

.......... and decorate our houses..... inside and out ..........

.......... and dress the children in original outfits, that are either fun....or embarrassing .........

.......... and dress ourselves up in our own Halloween outfits ..........

.......... and have terrific parties ..........

.......... and drink scary wine ..........

.......... and eat scary food ..........

.......... and scary cupcakes ..........but .......... I'm just lulling you all into a false sense of security because ..........

.......... it's really all about scary stuff, things that are hiding in corners ..........

.......... or under the stairs ..........

.......... or in darkened rooms ..........

.......... on buses ..........

.......... in your bedroom ..........

.......... in corridors ..........

.......... on your eyeball !!!!!!!!!! ..........

.......... and they want your blood ..........

.......... Shreiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick..........

Don't forget to look behind you.

Have fun everybody.

Jackie

Amy Butler Sweet Harmony Handbag

A couple of weeks ago I was fortunate to receive a copy of Amy Butler's new Sweet Harmony Handbag and Tote pattern in the mail. I was so excited to start sewing! I decided to use vintage black and white wool fabric I purchased on Ebay along with black silk fabric I had left over from a previous job. As I spend most of my time making curtains and pillows, it was a treat for me to work on something a little different.

Here is Amy's version:

Here is my version:

Amy's bag included a magnetic bag clasp for closing. Since I did not have one on hand and was too impatient to wait until I could get to the store, I decide to improvise. Although it is hard to tell from the photo, there is a button on each side of the bag secured with a loop made from a macrame black leather cording.

I loved the fact the pattern featured a small (handbag) and large (tote) version of the same bag, as well as a plethora of customization options. I choose to not include the cell phone pocket but did use two inside pockets - one with a zipper and one without. Since the bag is interlined and interfaced in several layers it should stand up well to daily use. This bag is a great project for anyone looking to make a useful and stylish addition to their wardrobe.

Happy Halloween

This was our first snow fall. It happened a couple of weeks ago and I'm happy to say that it hasn't been back - it will be a long enough winter as it is!

If this photo looks familiar, you may have seen it over at Tara Dillard's blog - she's doing our landscape design!! She sent me the beautiful landscape plans a few days ago and it's very exciting...I'll post on that soon!



This is the extent of my Halloween costume. I'll wear it when we carve our pumpkins tonight - and when I toast the fresh yummy pumpkins seeds!

Have a Happy Halloween!

Getting in the Spirit

I'm a little bit of a party pooper on Halloween. I think my favorite part is toasting fresh pumpkin seeds. In fact, it's probably what motivates me to carve the pumpkin!

I did put out this carved bird on the window sill, which isn't very scary, but it kind of looks like a silhouette against the light.

A SOAK IN THE TUB ..........

As much as I love a shower, you can't beat a long, hot soak in the bath and here are some that I wouldn't mind in my house.......... I wouldn't be able to have this one in my house as I haven't got anything like this view from any of my windows, but, a girl can dream ..........you would have to be very careful that you hadn't left the soap on the floor when you got out, wouldn't you ?!! Could end up flying out of the window !!......... another wonderful view although, methinks that this is just a staged bathroom but I don't care....it makes a great photograph !!!!

I love this one...romantic, pretty but still seems practical....ish.

I certainly wouldn't mind having a bath in here.......... sort of like bathing in Victorian times but with all of the modern conveniences.

Modern stainless steel fittings with a traditional feel.

Wonderful steel bath and I love the colour of the walls. I don't think that I would have chosen that colour but, it looks great.

Probably a last resort, this one !!!!!!!

I will be taking into the bathroom the following..........

Jo Malone bath oil..........

.......... a cup of tea and a good book ..........

..........maybe replace the cup of tea with a glass of red wine .........and finally..........

.......... a box of champagne truffles..........

.......... see you in about 2 hours !!!!!!!!!!

Jackie

A Clean Slate

I've been enjoying this fantasy that we've just bought our house and everything is just as it is now...crisp, clean and ready to decorate! In this fantasy world, it is as if the era of pea green carpeting and faux wood paneling never existed...

So my fantasy goes like this...Hubby and I pull up to a lovely country house that's in our price range! Wow, huh? We're instantly in love as we can see that the house has been well-taken care of. We walk up to the front door and as I step in, I begin to glide through the each room seeing nothing I don't like.

When I make my way to the living room, my eyes light up and as I turn, Hubby takes me in his arms (suddenly I have my wedding dress on) and we begin to dance, giddy with laughter as we know that we have finally found exactly what we're looking for in our new home. We pause only for a moment, with bright beaming smiles, and say to our realtor without any doubt or hesitation, "we'll take it!"

Nothing in this fantasy had anything to do with what really happened, especially the part about the doubt and hesitation. But I'm enjoying every minute of my fantasy as I stare into this empty room, dreaming of how I'm going to decorate! It feels like such a luxury!

So let me take you through the room...

This is the perspective you get when coming from the kitchen. The french door next to the picture window will eventually take you to a balcony, which we'll build this spring. The original 'deck' was torn down when they put in the new Marvin windows. The door you see through the entryway, goes to the wraparound porch...this is our formal entry into the house.

This is looking towards the fireplace from a corner that no one will ever stand in, but I thought I'd give every perspective. Entry is where the hall tree stands.

If I pan left a bit more, you'll see the coat closet to the left and to the left of that, the hallway where the den, guest bedroom and downstairs bathroom are located.

So this is what I've come up with so far...

...the main layout. The couch will face the fireplace and the two chairs will flank each side of the fireplace. I love the coziness that this layout will offer and I know that there will be many hours spent snuggled in front of the fire.

Here's the new couch we've ordered...accompanied by two of the above chair! We went with a couch with more modern lines to contrast a little with the more traditional lines of the coffee table. The coffee table (you can see here) is an antique pedestal with rounded feet and oval top, which will compliment the round lines in the chair.

Here are the fabrics we chose...the sofa fabric is a beautiful velvet (so luxurious) and the chair fabric, which goes really well with the tarragon velvet, is linen-esque (the photo doesn't really show the chair fabric very well). And due to the furniture store's amazing sale - I made sure that I picked out the highest grade of fabric - of course I did!

I've also been considering a tall narrow table to put behind the couch. I'd put two table lamps on each end to illuminate the room. I was thinking of something a little modern, made of mostly glass so that it doesn't feel too heavy. I think this would be the best option as end tables wouldn't work well with the tuxedo-style (high arms) couch.

Also, we'll order a 9x12 natural fiber rug, perhaps this one from Pottery Barn, to go in front of fireplace. All the furniture fits on the 9x12 size. I'll accent the rest of the room with antique rugs I already have.

I'll put an antique rug in front of the french door. This door will eventually lead to a balcony. There's about a seven foot drop outside the door right now. The balcony will have wide center stairs going down into the yard. It will be big enough to put a couple of rocking chairs or a small table and chairs for an extra place to eat or drink.

Our existing dining cabinet, that I'll be stealing from our dining room (photo below), will be relocated to the above wall. Instead of holding dining odds and ends, it will be transformed into a secretary that will be a place for beloved books, unframed art, special momentos, etc. I'll be stealing this cabinet from the dining room because we've decided to add two more windows on the wall where the cabinet is now. But I'll go into the dining room plans later.

Here's the cabinet we'll be stealing for the living room. Hopefully, someday I'll find a narrower dining cabinet to replace it.

On that small wall to the right of the kitchen entry, I've been considering a temporary bookshelf. Lauren at Pure Style Home inspired me when she put one in her house, on a similar sized wall, and it looks fabulous - like everything else she does. And I say 'temporary' because as you can see in the next photo, I have plans for Hubby (wink, wink Hubby), to build a built-in bookcase (love the look of those - I have a gazillion inspiration photos of them) on that huge wall.

We're waiting to begin this project until after we get rid of that floor furnace. It's the one 'functional' thing in the house we have yet to figure out. But whatever we decide to do, that floor furnace grate will eventually go...and hello bookcase. ; )

So odds and ends still left to find are: some sconces for above the mantle (any suggestions?), a 9x12 natural fiber rug, perhaps a white bookcase, a tall modern table and...

Any other inspiring ideas? I would love your feedback! Just love it!

*Also, I've made another friend over at High Street Market. ..... Kelly has the most amazing Etsy shop with so many beautiful treasures. I was eyeing the pair of marble table lamps, an antique oval mirror and a lovely pewter pitcher...and it's all so reasonably priced! How fun is that!