It’s My Blogoversary!

**This Giveaway has ended.**

Two years ago today, I began a pathetic attempt at creating a blog. I wanted it to be an extension of my website. Some place where I could share decorating information and tips without overcrowding my website. It has become so much more than that.
It took me a little while, but I realized that I needed to put myself, my personality, into my blog posts. I think it was a change for the better. I have met some wonderful people through my blog. People who are supportive, comment on my posts, and say the nicest things in those comments. People who have become my friends ~ who I love to tease and who I look forward to contact with.

I don't believe I've gotten any business as a result of my blog itself, but I think it allows someone who might be thinking about calling me a chance to see that this is me. What you see is what you get. I like pretty things. I like to help people. I love to laugh. I really hope that comes across.
So this is an opportunity for me to thank you. All of you who read my blog. Whether you comment or not. Whether you like me or not. I picked up some special things at a great boutique near me called Lavendar Fields. I hope that you will like my gifts, because I just love them. In fact, I can't believe I'm giving them away!

How fitting that they are wrapped in such a regal color! A journal {basically an altered composition notebook} and two metal crown hooks.




How to enter: Leave me a comment. You don't have to have a blog, but you have to have an email {and leave it with your comment if you don't have a blog}, so I can contact you if you win. Giveaway ends Sunday, January 3, 2010, at 8:00 p.m. EST. I'll either announce the winner shortly after that time or by Monday.
Thank you, again, my friends and readers. I appreciate your support of my blog more than you can know.

Warming Up A Living Room Bay Window

One of the things I did with my newlywed clients was also help them pick a color for their living room. They wound up going with Edit: Sherwin Williams Restrained Gold. You can see from the first two pictures below that it is an off-white or bone color.

The wall color is also in their sofa and loveseat {as well as the coordinating pillows}.

There are five windows in this bay ~ 10 panels, 10 short decorative rods.

Just changing the wall color already made a difference. Here we are starting to mount the hardware for the drapery.

Note the height.

These sage green {a green with gray in them} drapes are another store bought window treatment. They are from JC Penney and are 96 inches long.

It looks just beautiful in person and really makes a dramatic difference from the before.

I think this is my favorite room so far. I still have the den to finish, so that may change!

Love it! I’m pretty sure the client does, too!

A Current Client’s Windows ~ The Master Bath

While I am a big fan of custom window treatments, I understand that they can be expensive for some. I am all about working within my client’s budget and if custom window treatments are not in that budget, I will look to ready-made {or store bought}.

Such was the case with these clients. They are newlyweds and are in their first home. They were left with some blinds and shades in certain rooms, but the rooms that I am helping them with needed a little bit of warmth brought to the windows. The master bathroom pictured above is one room. This bathroom is HUGE and the dark stained wood vanity and mirrors help to bring some warmth into the room.

We decided to just go with valances in this bathroom and bring in some of the colors that they already had going on in the room with their towels.

I would love the opportunity to accessorize this bathroom!

Above is a close-up of the valance. Not bad for store bought! Love the trim; love the fabrics! {JC Penney, in case you’re wondering}.

I’ll be sharing the living room next.

Paint Is Great ~ A Small Change Can Make A Big Difference

Last week’s blizzard put a kink in my slipcover, since my friend, The Drapery Lady, could not get here to do the fitting, and the resultant icy streets made it difficult for her to get here in the evening during the week.

So I thought I’d just give you a peek of something else that received a makeover in this room while we wait.  The scroll grill above the picture over the sofa was purchased from Ballard Designs several years ago.  I purchased it in an aged cream color.  Since we painted the walls yellow, it pretty much blends in to the wall {as you can see from the picture below}.

I decided to spray paint it black to go with my new black and white look.  Here it is painted below.  I think it really “pops” off the wall now!

I’m thinking of painting the coffee table {which you can see in the first picture} black New Year’s weekend.  I’m hoping that I will have this room completed before the end of January. 

I’m linking this post up to Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch.

 

Hang ‘Em High

I had a funny conversation with my Mom the weekend before Christmas.  Apparently, she and my Dad were changing out the window treatments for some heavier ones.  She had bought new drapes for their guest bedroom/computer room and they were 95” long.  She had my Dad mount the rod above the window {somewhere in between the top of the window and the ceiling}.   I have told her for years about mounting the hardware and drapery higher than window top level, and I do it in my own home.

She was so excited to tell me I was right!  It does look different; it does look better; and she loves it!  She couldn’t stop going by the room and peeking in at it. 

So, my Mom wanted me to tell you that I was right ~ you should mount your drapery hardware and drapes higher than the actual window ~ it makes quite a difference.  I guess it’s a good thing I know what I’m talking about! ; )

Images from Smith & Noble.

What Do You See?

I stole put dibs on this tray that came with chocolates from my day job last week.  It is a long narrow wood tray that I knew I could probably do something with. 

I purposely put it off to the side because with Christmas on the brain, I didn’t want that influencing how I paint  or decorate it.

So, I thought I’d throw it out there to see what other people see, as far as dressing it up.  Would you put knob feet on it?  Scrapbook paper? What color paint? A wood embellishment to cover up the “kron”?  I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I am using Live Writer for the first time to see how I like it.   So far, so good!

On a side note, Blog of the Week will be back after New Year’s. 

Make It Merry And Bright!

As I delve into cleaning and cooking today for tonight's Christmas Eve family gathering, I just want to wish all of you, my friends, who read my blog, a very Merry Christmas!


May you enjoy this special time spent with your loved ones {whether family or friends}!

My Absolutely, Positively Last Handmade Gift For Christmas ~ Maybe

Panic set in yesterday when I realized that I still had to get a gift for a woman I work with at my day job. I could not figure out what to get for her. Since I stayed home due to the snow, I went looking to see what I had as far as supplies. This is what I pulled together.



This is what I turned it into.

Not the best gift in the world, but without driving myself crazy over what to get her, I think this works. Plus, she can always take the scrapbook paper with the initial out and use it for an actual photo.

I gave it to her today and she loved it!

A Pillow Gift For Any Occasion

I wanted to do something different for my Dad for Christmas this year. Since he retired, he's really gotten back into his art ~ he has drawn since he was a boy and over the years would draw or paint for us, but it was pretty rare. One year I got him a gift certificate to an art supply place; another year I got him some supplies; this year I wanted to do something a little less predictable.

These pictures below are his favorites and I had to cook up a plan with my Mom so that I could get pictures of these two.

I decided I wanted to make him pillows using these pictures. I sent the pictures to Fabric on Demand, who puts your pictures on fabric. This was very reasonably priced to have done, too. Here is what they look like when you get them. I had the smaller picture centered on the fabric and the larger picture done in a multi-pane.

{Apparently, Blogger wants these pictures shown sideways. You may have to tilt your head a little}.

I found these remnant fabrics at Joann's and I thought they'd work well for the backs of the pillows. I love this little green plaid.

This one is a linen fabric. Plus, there is enough left over for me to use for a couple of other projects.

Here they are all sewed up!

My plan: I told him I wanted to make a calendar for my one sister who lives out of state using his artwork for each month. I took about 100 pictures of 12 pictures just to really get these two. Since I had the 12, I did wind up getting a calendar made up for my sister anyway and one for my Dad. How cool for him to mark down any of their appointments on a calendar with his own artwork! I gave my Dad the calendar early and he was just floored. He could not believe that you could have things like this done. Wait until he sees the pillows!

Linking up to Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps On The Porch and DIY Day at A Soft Place To Land.

Show Us Your Snow

Some may look at snow as Mother Nature's way of decorating the out-of-doors for Christmas. However, when it comes to snow, I say "Bah!". Sure, it's pretty to look at. From inside the house. Not so pretty when you are outside trying to clear it or drive in it.

Since so many people were in the line of this blizzard, I thought it would be nice to see everyone's pictures and set up a linky below. Here are mine ~ taken through glass and screen, in some cases.

Back yard and patio area.



Back yard.



Back yard.



More back yard.



Front ~ living room window.

Also from living room window. This is where the drifts are the worst.

Front door.

From front door.

View from great room.

Hubby clearing driveway with the monster snow blower. He was waiting until 8:30 to start because he didn't want to disturb the neighbors. Only one problem . . . he has to go to work. He is in retail and with this being the last weekend before Christmas there is no snow day for him.

Look at how high! And I heard this morning we may have 30 inches when all is said and done!

So link up your snowy weekend pics! Let's see what you got!