I'm Blue

This is a little redo I did in my sitting room before Christmas but I am just now getting the pictures. It used to be a tuscan style with and italian painting , brown plaid chairs, and burgundy pillows.  I took down the painting above the mantle and added this new mirror. There is writing in french in each of the four corners.
I made new simple pillow covers in icy blues.  I made bolster pillows out of the same fabrics for the chairs. 
I slipcovered the brown plaid chairs in a natural cotton duck. I was so happy to find this super soft throw at TJ Maxx. Usually when you go shopping with a color in mind you can never find it.

The fireplace surround is gray marble so I think it compliments the blue nicely.

I bought this blue church at Christmas but it matches so well I hate to pack it away. I got the nice little color change I wanted without having to change too many things. Since the room already had golds and neutrals I could get away with it I think. I'd like to do the family room in the same color scheme but the walls are green in there so that would require painting. Ugh....painting! I will have to think on that one some more.

How many books can one girl own!!

The problem with organizing is there has to be a place for everything. So somethings must go. I am a self professed decorating/craft book-aholic. I treasure them and take good care of them. But seriously I could open my own library. So to make room for the new year, I am selling some of my babies. If you need pretty pictures to look at on a cold and snowy night, look for them in my ebay. More added in a few days. 

One World One Heart

I am happy to be participating this year in the One World One Heart event. For my giveaway I am offering this box that I covered in a copy of vintage music. I then added tulle, crepe paper, glitter, trim, and a chalkware rabbit ( he is new, not vintage). Think Spring. If you want to be in the drawing, please respond to THIS post only. Drawing open to anyone whether you have a blog or not, just please be sure to leave me a contact email. Click on the logo above to go to all the participating blogs. Have Fun!!  A winner will be drawn Feb. 12. 

NOTE: I will be drawing a winner at 8:15 est on Feb 11 as I won't be available on the 12th. I will be accepting names until that time and I am sorry for any inconvenience. Thank you.

CONGRATULATIONS to  "KatCollects". You are the winner of my drawing. Please email me your name and address within the next 3 days . And a HUGE thank you to all who lefts comments, it was great fun!

January projects

This project was a long time coming.I had a sewing room, a tiny 8 x 9 room. When I wanted to spread out my paper crafting, I moved to another room downstairs because I didn't feel there was enough room to do both in this space. Now the paper crafting corner was overflowing and I was determined to coral everything and lasso it back into this sewing room which is now the "where I do everything" room. My tables are made by attaching folding legs to 2 hollow core doors. They used to be in an "L" shape against the walls. But I decided if I pulled one table out into the middle of the room , parallel to the other table, I could put my chair between the two tables and gain more table top space. I'm sure it wouldn't win any decorating awards, it's a tight space, but I think it will work.

The valance at the window I made from vintage hankies and hung lace behind it. That's my wallpaper stash in the corner. Fabrics are neat on the shelves.The one tight part is slipping around this table to get to the chair without getting caught on the shelves, but it can't be helped.

This is the view from the door. 

This was a Christmas present to myself. It helped me get all my ribbons and laces and bits and bobs out of the draws and boxes where I usually forgot what I had. It is called "Clip it Up" by Simply Renee. This is the two tiers put together. They are bought separately. It did take me quite some time to wind my ribbons and trims around cards so they could hang up, but now I can see what I have.  I bought mine at a local scrapbooking store and was able to use a coupon. Well, that was one job I was happy to get off my "to do" list.

Surprise! I'm back!

It has been awhile since I made a post! I wanted to show you some cute presents I received and the last project I worked on.  These deer were a gift from daughter #1.  She said she knew I would like them as Mr. boyfriend said he saw similar ones on my blog. Well, at least someone checks my blog from time to time! ( I know Miss H, you are a regular too!) The deer are so sweet with bells on their necks. They will go with my mantle of small sparkly houses. 

This little fairy elf was a gift from daughter #2. The fairy is riding a swan and looks like she should be in a magical snowy forest. I love her all white costume.   She came from the John Derian Co. in New York. 
This was the last project I worked on before the holidays. I hung my small plate collection on the blue border in the dining room. Most are $1 or $2 plates from the flea market. A few were gifts and 2 were painted by current artists.  You realize this only gives my more reason to frequent the flea market so I can do other walls right?! Well, I have more decorating plans for this new year. Including doing the family room in the same ice blue, cream , and parchment as the sitting and dining rooms. One big obstacle is a huge green couch. And I don't think I have another slipcover in me. Each time I say I will never do another one. Well, we shall see.

What projects are you planning for the new year?

Christmas Open House

Welcome! I am joining in the open houses hosted by Deena and Heather.

Please visit there blogs for  the fun lists of all the participants. It's a nice day for a stroll so let's get going.

This is a centerpiece that I used at Thanksgiving and will use again for the Christmas table.

Vintage pink ornaments go in every container available.

This is my hall tree by the front door. The Noel banner is tarnishing nicely.
My collection of houses and bottlebrush trees line the mantle, topped by the wreath of vintage ornaments that I made. 
Thanks for stopping and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Glitter and Sparkle and Lights, Oh My!

Wow, we just got back from the Christmas tree festival. Individuals or companies decorate and donate trees, wreaths, or vignettes to the festival to be sold. The profits benefit The Akron Children's Hospital Medical Center.  There were over 150 trees , rows and rows that looked like this in the convention center.

This little guy was so cute, I have a thing for flocked or plastic deer. Yep, anything tacky pulls at my heartstrings!
This beauty won a prize ribbon but I can't remember which one as they had so many categories to win in.
Some pretty pink ornaments that caught my eye.
This was a smaller tree decorated by a girl scout troop in a princess theme. Why do all the pink ones end up in my pictures? He-he!
Elegant is how to describe this lavendar and lilac beauty. Not my color but gorgeously done.
Do you see the cupcakes on this one!?  They should have done the whole thing in cupcakes in my opinion. They were so stinkin cute!
This was a heavily flocked all white tree . It was so peaceful and calm

Ok, can you tell this is the cotton candy tree!?  Yeah, those puffs are pink cotton candy, not real of course or it wouldn't have lasted the show!! I know you are saying "again with the pink and food themes!" I must have been hungry.
Ok, there should be a drum roll here.....this was my absolute favorite tree titled "O Holy Night". I couldn't capture it's icy blueness. It was so sparkly and I wanted to get close enough to see the lighted manger at the bottom so you can't see that there was a white trellis with white lights surrounding the table. It was already sold. I wouldn't have bought it anyways because as much as I like looking at designer and theme trees, I have to have mine with all the construction paper, pipe cleaner, tissue paper, ornaments that my kids have made over the years.  I buy the kids an ornament every year so that when they have to leave they will have a small collection and maybe they will keep their hands off the handmade ones they have given me.