Thursday, August 14, 2014

Living Room Tour - Summer 2014


Our town's school children went back Wednesday, poor dears.

It is all just is too soon! 

 I am shocked! 

There is absolutely NO rush to greet autumn just yet!

I started then thinking about how autumn is around the corner
 and realized I hadn't even shared my living room with its
neutral and calming summertime decor.









I have been very much enjoying outdoors on these
 absolutely perfect days of summer!

It's been totally awesome weather this week, very rare for Ohio!









View from loft.










Sorry I am so short.
 With this pic I should have been standing on a chair
 for a better effect...so you weren't subject to seeing the backs of these tall chairs, ah well.

I like design but I am not a very experienced photographer.

When if I grow up I should very much like to become one, though!










In this room you will find a family heirloom cedar chest,
 and a few precious pieces of my mom's collection
from her Englewood Beach, Florida days.

(To this very day I still can't look at a shell without thinking of that sweet angel of a lady!)










I keep a candle safely inside that big stoneware mug with
it's neat braided/twisted handle with matching tray.

It hides the ugly candle, and keeps it just a little more protected
should the glass candle break.

My sister had that happen once and it caught the wooden table on fire.

So it DOES happen, so I like to be extra careful.










Oh, here's a little bit of Mom's white coral collection, too.
She had an entire huge basket full of them from over the years.

She spent her winters on that beach looking for treasures.



~~~~~*~~~~~

Do you see my subtle summertime nod to the beach theme here?

Nothing overdone, just bits of neutral
 that bring my heart such fond memories and joy.


since I am being uncommonly nostalgic today
I should point out on top of that large antique wooden closet is 
a piece of driftwood my Mom had for years -
she used it upright in a white urn with white rocks
at Easter-time as an egg tree.

I keep it out year round.










Have I shown you my newish little wooden side table yet?
I'm not sure that I have.

It is the perfect size, and it has 4 pretty floral block carvings on it.

And it has a nice and pretty solid neutral marble top.










Below you see a glimpse of my new bronze lamp.

The glazed pottery one with the burlap shade is now resides 
in our master bedroom.

This is a neat floral arrangement: it has those little tiny
sticks that light up at the end at night for a bit of
ambient glow. 

It's the only floral arrangement in the house 
that I haven't designed myself.

The polished marble coasters were the very first thing
  my husband and I bought for our home together;
 purchased when we we travelling on our honeymoon cruise.














This little white carved bird on my mantle, below
 is one of my very first "birdie" decor items.

 I've had it for years......it is a tealight holder.

I've used it outdoors under the veranda for years,
and I've used it as a little seed holder before too.











BEFORE/AFTER


This below is how I had this room last summer.
You can catch that tour again here.

It's completely different now. 
I hadn't realized how much till I put this post together!








*Curtains & rods, changed to more casual & lighter 

*Round white mantle mirror gave to daughter;
 swapped it for our big wall clock that was in our dining room.

*Painting changed to an old arch salvage piece.
(Still have it somewhere, wonder what I did with it?)

*Smaller green jug is now in dining room,
traded it for an antique wicker covered jug for some texture.

*Black/white/brown chair pillows gave to daughter,
 traded for our new Arhaus down pillows.

*Little metal folding table by window went upstairs
 to my reading nook,
traded for large Umbrella plant that was in the opposite corner.
(It likes the window in warm weather but can't take the cold
so will move in late fall.)

*Painted the big metal wall art to lighten it up 
and moved my 2 heavy terra cotta candle sconces from dining room.

*Moved all furniture to new spots except the big wooden closet.

*Bought new bench and little side table in late spring.

*Moved jug lamp to bedroom when I bought the new bronze one.

*A few moves of little decor items not a  big enough deal
to be mentioned specifically.  : - )


As always, thank you for your visit!


~Michele





















Monday, August 11, 2014

Goodbye, Robin




Goodbye, Robin Williams.







The world won't be nearly as fun without you.

You will be sadly missed.




Faerie House Container Garden (Before/After)









Well at least I imagine a pretty fairy living in this tiny little house,
 but to know me is to know it is a bird.










At least for now anyway.










Where a little bit of imagination may lead us............
....I believe.









And as the seasons come and go, here's something you might like to know. 
There are fairies everywhere: under bushes, in the air, playing games just like you play, singing through their busy day.

 So listen, touch, and look around — in the air and on the ground. 
And if you watch all nature's things, you might just see a fairy's wings!
                                                                                           ~Author Unknown








As always, thank you for your visit!


~Michele



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Met Monday   *    Garden Party   *   You're Gonna Love It

Inspire Me Tuesday

Friday, August 8, 2014

Pink Flowers




The lovely color pink fills my life with beauty.











I find it as a gift from God in my garden....









































...or on one of my favorite teacups.





   
                   














On special collection pieces..............




























(Even sometimes on a favorite sweet little nieces.)










Yes. Pink indeed makes me happy.

Do you feel the same about pink?


We are so lucky to have all these pretty colors
to please our senses.

What color/s make you happiest?















You love the roses - so do I.
 I wish the sky would rain down roses,
 as they rain f
rom off the shaken bush.



 Why will it not?


Then all the valley would be pink and white
And soft to tread on.
 They would fall as light as feathers,
 smelling sweet: and it would be
As sleeping and yet waking, all at once.

                             ~George Eliot



AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT!




~Michele



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Tuesday, August 5, 2014

A Giverny - Monet Garden Tea



Oh, how do I describe this incredible tea party luncheon
 my dear friend Sharyn and her lovely Aunt Pat put together
at Sharyn's lovely home?

They really put together the ultimate summertime tea theme!







I was so blesssed and delighted to be invited
 to this amazing Monet-themed tea party!








Sharyn and her Aunt often take world-travel vacations together.
They toured England and France in very early spring,
 and one of their favorite spots they visited was 



Each guest at the table had a mini "Monet" painting
made by Sharyn and Pat in style!



















The entire theme of their tea was gardens/ponds/flowers.....


The tablescape was made to look just like a pond -
the tablecloth was "water" and she made lily pads
with cute colorful frogs on them!












They even had relaxing summertime pond sounds
 piped in - frogs and crickets and water.

The entire tea was such a mood!








Just look at these adorable froggie chocolates, too!















Her chandelier was even decorated
 to match the mood of the pond!








Oh, the FOOD - my, oh my!














What a cute way to serve French Fries with catsup - in a glass!

Can you see a bit of her gorgeous colorful floral 
Wedgewood china pattern?

Isn't it just perfect for a garden/pond themed tea?









And filled-to-the-brim tiered trays of savory & sweet delights!













Can you even believe all this incredible food?


But that's not all! 


We were given a fascinating lesson on Monet's Home and Gardens!


They shared their slide show and their books with us
in a totally professional presentation!

Here's beautiful Sharyn in her old-fashioned maid's outfit
telling us about a specific flower.

Just looking at the picture she took of those flowers
certainly looks like Monet, doesn't it?









Here's her pretty Auntie Pat,
 dressed as a maid as well
sharing a book they bought on Claude Monet's art.

(These two gals are way more like sisters.)









This is a huge paper pop-out rendition of the gardens
that was sitting on the buffet table behind us during tea.

Please don't duplicate it or pin it, as I do not have
permission from the original artist to share it
other than admiring it on Sharyn's buffet table.







We were sent home with a lovely bag of themed favors!

Even the gems on the bracelet with the little frog
look like a soft Monet painting!









My fast picture taking while at the party
does no justice to this special day.


I keep the little mini canvas painting made for me 
right here on my work table in my office.

And I think of this special treat-of-a-day
 every time I look at it!

Thank you, Sharyn!
(and Pat!)









And thank all of you for your visit today!



~Michele



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