pretty in pink

The last post got me thinking.

 

I realized I have a real garden passion for

 

PINK.

 

I had shared that my home is all neutral.

 

But when I think about it,
it's not all neutral I guess...

 

 

All of my homes have had one space

reserved for touches of pink.

 

 

At my Pennsylvania, home my studio

was located in a shed

in the middle of my garden...

 

 

On Sanibel it is the entire top floor of the house.

I'm so fortunate to have had my studio featured

in Where Women Create magazine!

 

Lovingly I call it the loft...

 

In this "new" old house

my studio has not yet been built.

 

I can't wit for that project to begin!

 

I must find pink calming

yet inspiring.

 

Do you have a color

that sparks your creativity?





favorite things wreath

To make a "my favorite things wreath", I started with a simple artificial pine form on a wire base.

 

 

I used green florist wire to attach my items, like this precious gumdrop snowman, to the form.

 

I use wire instead of glue so I can take the wreath apart in the future and it won't damage the items.

 

Tea and demitasse cups are terrific for wreaths because it is easy to wire them to wreaths by the handles. 

 

I made tiny bird's nests out of strips of vintage floral fabric.

 

Vintage Shiny Brites always look terrific in wreaths!

 

And I love mixing unexpected items together, like miniature bottle brush trees, wooden spools of thread and buttons.

 

To attach handkerchiefs, gather the fabric in your hand, cinch with a rubber band and wire it onto the wreath form. 

 

Then I tucked in some colored pencils in coordinating colors.

 

The finished wreath is so pretty!

 

I mentioned in my last post that I was hesitant to make one of these wreaths for a magazine article. Just because I love them it doesn't mean that other people will. I was worried that it would be criticized for being silly or unsophisticated. But I pitched the idea to my editor and she gave me a chance. Little did I know that it would be one of my most popular articles! Readers even made "their favorite things wreaths" and sent pictures to the magazine. I received loads of emails too! Goes to show that it pays off to follow your heart...

 

 



props for sale...

As many of you know, I have worked in the realm of styling, photographing and writing for different magazines over the past several years. I am cleaning house and offering up some of my props for sale! I have a dear friend who has a beautiful shop in Florida called Blessed and Distressed Vintage in Bradenton. Her shop is huge and full of amazing treasures. I took a couple of boxes of pretties over to her shop and they are now for sale...

 

 

An antique tea trivet, precious tea cup and rose plates...

 

 

 

This charming cream and sugar set with a delicate peachy luster finish...

 

 

Tiny hand painted pitcher...

  

 

Rose detailed vanity pieces...

 

 

Miscellaneous china and porcelain...

 

and many other treasures that were featured in...

 

Victorian Homes magazine...

 

Romantic Homes magazine...

 

 

And other beautiful publications like Flea Market Décor, Where Women Create and several others. Now these treasures can be yours if you visit Blessed and Distressed Vintage in Bradenton Florida...

Enjoy!

 

 



my kitchen

Not so very long ago I posted about my love of aqua...

like it needs to be stated...???

But I really do love it!

Maybe it's because I now live on an island
surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico.
The color is everywhere!
Even though I have been an interior designer for 24 years, if you follow my blog or articles in decorating magazines, you know that I don't "follow the rules". One rule (if we're going to call it that)I will follow is to fill your home
with inspiration from your surroundings.

A few years ago, my tiny kitchen was featured in the magazine Where Women Cook.
I even got the cover
(ignore me while I have my moment of overwhelming pride).
I have surrounded myself with beachy things, garden things
and the colors of the sea.

I would like to share it again in case you missed it...

 

Here is a little tour...

 

 

As you come around the corner into my kitchen, the first thing you will notice that it isn't fabulous. Or fitted with the best high-end cabinets or appliances.

 

I know those things are terribly important to some people.

I just want to love my kitchen and surround myself with things that make me smile...

 

I have an old salvaged farm sink that sometimes has to double as my potting bench. You know my addiction to lovely flowers... 

 

These are actually IKEA cabinets...

 

...but you know I would have to add my own flair.

 

The small table, pitchfork and mountain of vintage picnic baskets show my West Virginia country roots. 

 

Although I might not have what some would call a sophisticated palate, it doesn't mean I avoid my kitchen. Quite the contrary! I can make a mean peanut butter sandwich and a batch of my mom's chocolate chip cookies!

 

I am so honored to not only be in WWC but to be featured on the cover. It was really special. Plus it gave me the opportunity to show that I really don't follow any decorating rules. I surround myself with colors and objects that bring me joy. I sure hope you will do the same! Thanks for taking the tour...

 

 



spring inspired

There are so many different styles that I love but when it comes to decorating my home I tend to keep it simple. I have a very neutral palette of natural dark wood antiques, white slipcovers and loads of ironstone. But there is one place in my home that takes me back to my inner childhood. The entire top floor of my home is my studio space. It is a sitting room, a work space, sewing room, drafting area and so much more. This space lives in a perpetual season of spring and is filled with things that make my inner little girl smile. I think we all deserve a place that makes us feel happy, safe and inspired. I would like to share mine with you...

 

My favorite rescue chair pulled from a dumpster many moons ago.

I never settled on the perfect fabric so I decided to recover it using an old quilt...

 

It may be a simple beginner sewing machine

but I really love it...

 

A work room wouldn't be complete without aprons...

 

I was very fortunate to have my little space featured

in an issue of Where Women Create magazine...

 

 

And I do have a swing...

 

...and a drafting area with a lovely view atop the palm trees...

 

 

...and when it's time for an afternoon siesta

this is the perfect place to daydream...

 

...of course I fill every nook and cranny with my collections...

 

You might remember I shared some of my spring

inspiration in Romantic Homes...

 

 

(I really don't look anything like this when I'm working!)

 

 

One of my favorite projects in this space

was the sink re-do...

 

 

I shared the instructions in an issue

of Romantic Homes last year...

 

I do feel so fortunate to have my own little getaway

even if it is right under my own roof.

I don't need to go far to be inspired.

I can work for hours on end and it never really feels like work!

Thanks for joining me on a tour of my work space.

I hope you enjoyed it!