Remains to be seen...

To finish decorating our bedroom has been on my mind a lot lately as I really haven't changed our decor in there since we remodeled several years ago. If I had to describe the style that I am hoping to achieve in the room, I'd have to say, it's "Antique Eclectic" for lack of a better way to describe it. The walls are a beautiful light beige with a darker beige shade in the carpet. The curtains in the room are one of my favorites features in the space and bedroom suite furnishing are "nearly" antique. I recently purchased a new set of sheets, feather pillows, and an ecru-colored down filled comforter.

I've long to fill the space with antique photographs, sun-faded roses, lace and pearls, so I really couldn't believe my good fortune when I discovered this metal branch in a "make an ofer" bin while visiting a much loved garden center recently. My mind instantly whirled with ideas for its use while the look on Don's face spoke of his wonderment of "what in the world are you going to do with that?" Needless to say, he did like it, even though I knew in my heart I coveted it a little bit more. Desiring to decorating it has been on my mind, but it wasn't until today that the opportunity to do so actually presented itself. I titled this piece, "Remains to be seen" because that is exactly what this room is to me... a space to evolve into what I envision it to be. I'm still shopping... looking for the "just right" nightstands, TV amoire, a chair, and other items but currently I'm thrilled beyond belief to be able to add this!

I decorated the metal branch using some jewelry from my jewelry box {necklaces and earrings}, the recently created cone, some tags, and a glass topped container that contains a collage inside and a magnet on the back side.I'm excited about the process of making this "one dream that will come true" as the weather won't interfere here!

Entertaining at Home...

We've had the sweetest little visitor visiting with us! We see Alexxis almost every day, as I've offered to provide childcare while Momma and Daddy are working.
As you see, it doesn't take a whole lot to entertain her and providing for her every whim and desire is what this grandma enjoys doing. I cannot believe how fast she is growing up! One day she was crawling and scooting all over and now walking and running. She is such a happy little girl, who loves both sets of her grandparents, mommy and daddy, and, of course, "puppies"... I'd hardly consider Chaos a puppy but when she points at him and says it, you just have to believe her. And he so willing obliges, even when it means backing up into the other room to accomodate her desires. Her vocabulary is increasing everyday but we all know that "bite" means "I'm hungry", "wuv you" is sacred and usually reserved for her bunnies and babies and the rare occasion that she repeats it back to you making it even more precious, ma-ma, maam-ma, da-da, and pa-pa are some of the most important people in her life, and "No." ought to be her middle name for she's is so very opinionated of what she wants and desires. I'm certain you'll soon be seeing more photos of her.

To celebrate my favorite season, Autumn, I create this little vignette on one of the table on our deck a few days ago. I love welcoming in the season, although my heart still yearns for more of summer.

Feeling "neglectful"

Due to my working 58 hrs. a week over the summer, our outdoor living space has been sorely neglected. I had high hopes in my heart to create "the perfect place to be" here on our deck during the spring. I so looked forward to the time we would spend here during the summer months, cooking out, having a few summer dinner parties, time spent with friends, being surrounded by pots of flowers, the sounds of nature, and the smell of lavender filling the evening air! Unfortunately, very few of those hopes and dreams came to fruitation but that doesn't prevent me from saying, "Maybe next year!" That is if God's willing, of course.

Anyways, here are some of the changes that we did manage to make. The covering over the jacuzzi has been removed; in its place, I long for a screened arbor to protect this area of our deck from the debries of the neighboring tree. We replaced our old jacuzzi with a new one and this one is fantastic! Perhaps, the bronze interior isn't what I would have choosen but when you get a great money saving deal on a new on because of a minor defect in the outer covering that won't be seen anyways due to being sunken within the deck, you really cannot complain. I've done somethings to attempt to make it all work together, although it isn't as much as I had originally intended.

I purchased this unfinished wood shelf from our local Hobby Lobby. Desiring to mimic the bronze interior of the jacuzzi, I painted and stipple brushed the shelf prior to adding a green/teal pantina glaze to it in areas. The figurines were discovered in one of my favorite stores to visit in Galion, Ohio, The Evergreen Company and at 50% off they quickly became a few of my favorite accents to the space. I am desiring to one day create an eclectic mix of a Zen-like atmosphere to our deck... somewhere tranquil that we will enjoy and desire to be. Not that we don't enjoy the outdoor living space as it is, just that it isn't quite yet what I envision it to be... does that make sense? Anyways, lets just say it is still a work in progress. I used a lot of items that we had laying around our home to re-repurpose them and provide them with a new life.

This chair is an example of that and provides us a wonderful place to sit and dry off when it isn't being used for decorative purposes. One day, I'm hopeful to actually hang the patina glazed pot and have some greenery overflowing from it to take away from the bareness of the privacy fencing walls surrounding the space.

As the long days of summer quietly fade away, so do a lot of my hopes and dreams. I quietly realize that I will continue working on some of those as days become shorter and the nights a little longer, before the cold winter winds begin to blow. I've already cut and started creating a tablecloth for our patio table from some of the fabric I discovered for my bookbinding tables within the studio. The colors and texture lended themselves wonderfully to the vision I hold within my heart. In the meantime, I've the peony plant to get planted with our backyard, and to determing a place for the lavender that never did fair too well in that beautiful garden urn. As I looked around today while taking these pictures, I thought as bleak as all this may seem to be to me, its still an enjoyable place to be.

It's a start...

I find inspiration in a lot of things that I see and read, unfortunately it's hard to find the time to create all that my heart desires. Creating an altered tussie mussie has been one of the things on my "wish-to-create" list for an awful long time. Today was the day, I decided, so out came the cardstock, printed papers, brushes, and glue. I've decided that there are other elements that I'd like to add, perhaps a charm, a short poem or quote, something to hang it with... but for now, I'm simply happy that I'm following my heart and creating once again. The beige velvet woven trim was a not so recent purchase that I made at JoAnn's Ect. Superstore. I originally purchased it to be sewn along a seam in my crazy quilt; thankfully, I purchased extra of it! Those dried-looking silk roses have been in my stash of supplies for quite sometime. Those were originally purchased to be snipped, then tucked inside of a piece of ribbon used to hold some of the assorted envelopes that I have received over the years from swapping artwork with others or to be added to the front of some embossed wallpaper journals that somehow I never got around to creating. Needless to say, I've never gathered all the envies nor completed the journal project or so many other ideas that dance around in my head like fragments of a much larger picture. I constantly think that "Perhaps, one day.... " well, today was as good as anyday to get started!

OMG! How perfect is this?

I received my bookmark from the 1-4-1 Autumn Bookmark swap and I cannot begin to describe to you just how gorgeous this piece is in person. My friend, Dymphie, truly creates some of the most beautiful pieces of art using inks and stamps that I've ever laid my eyes upon. She is truly one amazing artist!

Pictured above is the bookmark and co-ordinating envie in which Dymphie created to mail to me, both of these items are simply gorgeous! To see more of Dymphie's artwork and read how she created this, please, pay her a visit @ http://papierenavonturen.blogspot.com/ The stamped sentiment on the envie is perfect and you've definately inspired me throughout the years and will continue to do so. Thank you so much, hon, I'll cherish it always! I believe you've created the perfect bookmark for me to keep with this:

Now, I'll have to go digging around in the studio now in search of some charms and trinkets to rust. I love those tiny, little photo hangers which will allow me to add something onto, perhaps something created using my brown velvet fabric, it would allow me to attach the charms and a little more! Once again, "Thank you from the bottom of my heart!" I love it!

All Ready to Mail...

I created this packaging to contain my bookmark within it. Since it is for a swap, I felt it deserved something a special as the person receiving it!