What I've Been Making

My granddaughter, her hubby and their girls are here visiting. Of course you know they're the cutest great grandgirls in th' world, right? ;-) But I've been busy just getting things ready for their arrival and departure. I've been de-stashing this house as you may know and a lot of it is going to their new home in Woodinville, Wa.

I've been collecting some Fancy Nancy books for Caroline. Also, I've pulled down from the plant ledge over my kitchen the little cute houses I collected for several years. They are really cutesy so the girls will get 4 each for their bedrooms. The little "C" below also goes to Caroline. Someone from a group I was in many years ago gave it to me and I've had it perched on the top of the archway going from our living room to our dining room. It's time to give it up also.

Then I decided I wanted a pillow for my new living room chair. You'll see it below. I have a lot of that drop cloth left over from other things I've done so I went with that for the pillow.

I have a back pillow for another living room chair but I didn't especially like it so I unzipped it and used the insides for the new pillow, not realizing that the pillow was feathers. When I opened up the covering, I noticed a color beneath the thick fabric and thought it was kapok or shredded foam. It was feathers so I knew I'd have feathers all over the sewing/craft room. I took out about 1/4 to 1/3 of them, sewed it back up and saved the extra feathers in a bag to use some other time. But drop cloths being a very loose weave I have to sew around all the edges to secure them from unraveling. When I finished stuffing the feathers in and was sewing the opening closed I noticed a few areas on the ruffle that could unravel at some point. I simply ran around the ruffle edge with a "sealing" decorative stitch. See the photo below where I show it up close and what it looks like.

These are all the little houses.

This is a closeup on the left.

And this is a closeup on the right. I think th' girls will love them. Caroline is at the age where she wants "glam" everywhere. Can you hear me squealing?! Yessss, I have a froufrou great granddaughter with curly BIG hair!!! I can hardly contain myself.

This is the chair the aforementioned pillow now resides on. I love the look.

A bit different shot.

I attached a pretty ribbon flower on it.

This is our last initial so it's appropriate.

Here is the decorative stitch I mentioned above.

Does it seem like I'm fixated on the laundry room right now? I love my laundry room and it is unique. Not large at all but very accommodating for the two of us. It's a walk-through room to our garage so you know what I mean. I made it pizzazzy!

This is my second all time favorite painting by Susan Rios. I love her art. I discovered it back in the 80s in California. I saw the lithograph in Martin Lawrence gallery in San Jose and immediately bought it. I think at that time it was $500 but well worth it to me. Another lithograph hangs in my living room and that is one of three of my all-time favorites of here. I have small paintings of hers on my living room wall also. They're prints on canvas actually, a very affordable way to have some of your favorites if you can't afford the originals. I can't! They go for tens of thousands of dollars. That's not in my budget, trust me.

I adore these little Green Gate tins. I'd love to have them but I'm just not going to spend the money or shipping charges from Denmark.

Isn't this fireplace screen gorgeous? This mosaic artist has a good eye for detail. Gorgeous!

I love cute mugs but since we don't drink coffee it would be a waste to have too many. Hubby drinks a cup of hot chocolate every night; I drink one every once in a while.

Beautiful and colorful flowers.

No, this is not my bathroom, but it's definitely gorgeous and I'd love to have it.

~*~
Linking up with Pink Saturday.  

Just Jabberin' Today 11/19/2013

This is my laundry room just above the washer and dryer. For years I used a large box of Tide with a handle on top and one on the side to pull it down to use when I'm doing laundry. Well, I've had to tape it with very strong duct tape to hold it together as it's getting a bit flimsy. So I tried a pretty box that was strong to put my detergent in. After a while I thought it might break the small metal handle. So I looked around the internet and found this metal one at Pottery Barn for $29 and hubs said to go ahead and get it since I just couldn't make up my mind. So here it is and it may get painted white and decals put on it. We'll see. But it fits there perfectly at 8" X 8" square, very strong and not so tall that it wouldn't fit in there. Score!!! I love it; however, I didn't throw away the old Tide box. Why do they change styles on things that we love and worked for us? I don't think a mother/woman/executive would design like men are doing now. No, I am not a feminist but women do have a different view as to what works for woman who are homemakers. I absolutely love being home all the time.

Okay, this is my very first foray into buying Cath Kidston. Squeeeeallll!!! I've always loved her style but especially her dishes. So recently with a coupon and free shipping I bought these 4 gorgeous little bowls...

and these 3 cups. Hubby has his own favorite mug to drink hot chocolate out of so I just got three for me. I'm telling you they are simply gorgeous in person. These are called Stanley mugs and are much bigger than one of our "regular" mugs here in the U.S. They had a Crush mug but it was a bit smaller I think and a bit different in its shape. But I chose these Stanley mugs and love displaying them in my kitchen.

I really do like the look of some French things around my house, but I'm not one to go all-white. I love pink and that's what color my home is. I just couldn't have all white as I'd find it too boring. I love color! So after making over those little foot stools with drop cloth fabric (see that post here), I'm also going to make a pillow or two for some chairs. I have so many beautiful pillows I've bought over the years and hate to get rid of them but it might just have to happen. Granddaughter will have first choice when she's here for Thanksgiving and then the rest might go on eBay. Many are feather-filled pillows. Some are beautiful European prints. All are gorgeous. If any of you are interested, send me an email and I'll take pictures of all of them and you can make your choice. I'm not going to bother putting them all on here. I'll just take some pictures and keep them for any inquiries, but I doubt you'll be disappointed in any of them.

I actually love the look of things like this out in the open. I don't have a large kitchen, in fact, it's small, just the size for senior citizens (that's old people to some of you) and people who don't like cooking everyday and love eating out (that's ME!). I don't have enough space in my kitchen to do this, but I have vases and beautiful pitchers holding kitchen utensils in my kitchen.

What a delightfully colored chandelier.

I like the look of this mosaic table but I'd paint it white. I do love white furniture.

Another squeeeeeallll! Isn't this adorable? I saw it on the internet and have no idea who did it but I'd love to have one to hang on my porch.

See what you can do with a plain ol' chest! Jazz it up with stencils. I find it darling.

Now this? Ooooohmygosh. Of course, I love Christie Repasy's art but she outdid herself with this little gem. I'd love to have it but I'm not willing to pay high prices this probably got. My hubby would probably faint if I spent money on something that looks like it's falling apart. He just doesn't get it and never will. ;-)

I'm going to make one of these to hold...something, just haven't figured out what. But if it turns out cute then I'll make one for a giveaway. Wouldn't you like something this cute to hang in your laundry room? I already have 3 darling ones I made hanging in mine but there's always room for a few others. :-)

Yes, I also like these little baskets but I don't have room for a lot of "fluff" around here. I would dearly love to have one though as I'm very visual and just looking at gorgeous things makes my heart flutter and my eyes glaze over.

I'm old enough to remember these drying frames and love seeing my whites hanging on a line drying. The sun actually bleaches them naturally for you and just seeing them out there brings back memories to me. I recently found some indoor drying racks on a pulley system in the UK but they were several hundred dollars and that ain't gonna fly with this chick! They were really nice looking and would be great to have for winter time and if you didn't have a dryer.

I'm not this organized but I love looking at it. I rarely give gifts so I don't wrap a lot of things. But when I do wrap it's on the kitchen table. I hate wrapping packages. I really do.

And I love looking at white linens. That reminds me that I need some new sheets. I have some Lily Pulitzer pink patterned ones and I love them but apparently she isn't selling sheets anymore as I cannot find any. I also love very high thread count sheets and will only sleep on great sheets. I feel the difference actually. My daughter bought 600 count sheets just for her spare bedroom for when we visit. She was taught well by her mother! That would be ME!

~*~

A Few Thoughts and My Heroes 11/11/13

Okay, another reminder of my Pinterest page, where there are over 12,500 images, beautiful images, and over 9,800 followers viewing them. I have nothing to gain on telling you this, just your pleasure at seeing all the photos I've collected in one spot for you to see. I promise you will not be disappointed. Plus I'll never be able to post them all on my blog, just too many. So go over there and enjoy all the eye candy you could possibly want to see.
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We went out to dinner a few nights ago, planning on joining another couple but they never showed up. We ate and then left, no problem. But the waitress was very chatty. She was also adorable and cute and hubby mentioned it to me before I said it to him. He then said, "But not as cute as you." Saved his backside BIG TIME! :-) But it got me thinking about how the waiters and waitresses chat us up all the time. Sure, it's very nice of them and they're probably told to be very friendly, but I truly don't need it. I'm just fine being with my hubby chatting away or with friends chatting. I don't need it. Not that I'm opposed to it but I have absolutely eaten in top notch restaurants and for the most part, wait people are to leave the diners alone. Be there but be unseen while taking care of the diner. I like that much better as hubby will tend to chat right back and keep it going. He can't shut up! He's just a gregarious guy and more so if it's a cute chick. Sigh.
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One of the most profound things ever said to me, and it was my hubby that said it, was: Not everyone thinks like you do. I was rocked to the bottom of my core. Truly. I didn't know what to say it shocked me so badly. Of course I thought everyone thought like I did. Good was good and bad was bad; evil was bad, etc. I've since realized he was absolutely correct. Nothing brings it home like politics.
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It's starting to get cool here in Idaho and they're forecasting possible snow in a few days. We'll see. I love this state. However, we know a man named Wrangler, one named Colt. Can you tell I live in Cowboy Country? :-) Love it here.
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We're pretty humorous in this family and the other day I was putting on makeup and pulled all the stuff I needed from the cabinet to the countertop and told hubs this is what I needed to be beautiful. He picked it all up, put it back on the shelves and shook his head as he was brushing his teeth. The point being that I was beautiful without makeup. He's a killer, I tell ya. Won some brownie points but it isn't true no matter what he says. I proceeded to tell him he can't be treated to a gorgeous beauty everyday, that being the days I go makeup-free. ;-) Gotta love a man who can lie that well.
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A few weeks ago, I sent hubby to WM to buy some shredded sharp cheese for tacos. He called me on his cell phone saying he was having a problem finding it. I walked him through it. Sigh. He's lost without me. ;-) Then he asked if I wanted one or two bags. I said to get one bag as I was hesitant on his "choices" of something.—he rarely gets it right. So he said he'd get three. I said no, just get one. He said he'd get one. He came home with two bags. Sigh. But how in the world did we exist before cell phones?
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I haven't been blogging as much as I used to because I'm very focused on other things right now. I'll probably never blog like I once did but I try to do it at least once or twice a week. So keep watching and you'll see new posts. Promise.
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This is one of our heroes returning and the story a man on the airplane wrote about it:

What you’re looking at is Delta Flight 2255 after it landed in LA earlier this week from Atlanta.
It was an ordinary flight in every way except one.
One board was the body of a fallen soldier in the cargo hold.
None of the passengers had any idea until the pilot made the announcement about 45 minutes before the plane landed.
“The plane went quiet as he explained that there was a military escort on-board and asked that everyone remain seated for a couple of minutes so the soldiers could get off first.”
“He also warned us not to be alarmed if we see fire trucks since Los Angeles greets their fallen military with a water canon salute.”
One of the passengers on board was a man who calls himself Johnny Jet: The Travel Insider. And all these quotes are from the blog that he wrote about what it was like being on the flight.
“A few minutes after touchdown, we did indeed have a water canon salute. The water glistening on the windowpanes looked like tears.”
After the plane pulled into the gate, a military officer came onto the plan and spoke to the passengers.
He said:
“It is a sworn oath to bring home, to the family, the fallen. Today you all did that, you are all escorts, escorts of the heart.”
He then thanked everyone and walked off the plane.
Can you imagine being on a plane and witnessing something as powerful and emotional as this?
“Everyone was silent and no one got up, not even that person from the back row who pretends he doesn’t [understand] English so he can be first off the plane. I’m sure most had meteor-sized lumps in their throats and tears in their eyes like I did.”
And it got even more emotional once the passengers finally did get off the plane.
“There was a large number of passengers, who are normally in a hurry to get home or make a connection, standing by the window to witness something truly moving.“
“To see the Honor Guard and family waiting patiently, while LAX baggage handlers and a military loadmaster removed the flag covered casket first from the cargo hold, was humbling to say the least.”
“ I’m not sure if it was the fallen soldier’s mother or wife who I watched slowly walk up to the coffin while a few other family members, wrapped in blankets, stood near with a dozen or so of the Honor Guards standing in salute.”
“As soon as I saw her reach out to put her hand on her baby’s casket, I walked away.”
“This ordinary flight became extraordinary and is one that I will never forget.”
“Thank you to all the military who protect our beautiful country and let us live the lives we are able to lead. Without you we would be nothing.”

I couldn’t have said it any better. 

[I agree with that writer wholeheartedly!]

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 And one more video about our returning heroes. If this doesn't reduce you to tears, nothing will and there's no hope for ya! This makes everything look insignificant in comparison.

~*~

Truly I do love all-white rooms. And this one is gorgeous with its pop of pink. "POP"? Where did that word come from? I find myself using it much more than I ever did and am finding it a bit trite. And I love this room with its ruffles and roses. But I need color and my favorite color is pink. I can't imagine not having colors I love all around me.

A cheery little kitchen and dining area. Very, very cute!

If only I could have a porch or patio that wasn't so dusty, it might look a bit like this. Hey, an idea just struck me!!! Why not use a canvas drop cloth over some lawn furniture? That might work to keep the dust from our farmers' fields around here from covering the seats and I could pull it off and wash it quite often. I think I'll try that.

My great-granddaughter loves the books of Fancy Nancy. I just bought her one about FN's delectable cupcakes. Who can refuse cupcakes? If you had this in your hand right now, I'd probably mug ya and run! Dieting is never fun.

I love the Cath Kidston and Green Gate kitchen ware. Those 2 designers are the most fantastic I've ever seen for beautiful kitchen items.

I don't know where this bread box came from but it is the most darling one I've ever seen.

This would be a joy to have as a craft/sewing room. It would be just the right size for me.

More darling kitchen ware. Does anyone know what kind this is? I'd love to know. It's probably antique but I've never seen it and I'm pretty old!

Looks like a party going on here but I love the curtains especially. I have them hung on 2 entrances in my home. One on the living room going into the dining room and one on the arch going into our family room. I love them softening archways.

One of the most darling little girl's rooms I've ever seen. It's just stunning with that headboard.

I actually like this style of sofa a lot, especially with that fabric and pillow.

I also have a love of birdcages no matter how big or small.

Now this is camping or glamping as it's called now. I wouldn't mind camping so much if I had this to look at when out in the wilds of Idaho!

I also adore beautiful pink and roses china. This to me is stunning.

Who in the world wouldn't love a room like this with all that sun shining through all those wonderful windows?

~*~
Linking up with Pink Saturday.

What I've Been Doing Lately 11/5/2013

BTW, this post right here is my 1,400th post. Can I hear a round of applause or a hoorah or something equally cheery?! Hmmmm. Let's hear it, now!

This is the Posh girl or Fancy Nancy, better known around her as my great-granddaughter, Miss C. She is intrigued by the Fancy Nancy books and her mom (my granddaughter) and my daughter, (whose name is Nancy and Miss C calls her Fancy Nancy) are ordering them for her. I'll be doing the same so we have to coordinate as to not duplicate them. She is never without a book. That's her favorite "accessory" as her mom puts it. She also says the most amazing things trying to be like Fancy Nancy. (I highly recommend these books for young girls. They are adorable!) Also the books called Anna Hibiscus about a young girl in Africa are her favorite books and her mom highly recommends them also. She asks many questions about that continent now. This photo is Miss C going to her school. It's a kind of expensive school, actually a pre-school, but how many pre-schools have a chef! He prepares them wonderful snacks. Today she has so much Hello Kitty on—courtesy of her grandmother, my daughter—that she looks like an advertisement for Hello Kitty! :-) My daughter's RV is done completely in Hello Kitty and she's 51 years old! She's indulged by her hubby and she indulges Miss C. Sigh.

Okay, this is one of the things that has kept me so busy lately, besides maintaining my diet, running to doctor's appointments, and generally, just treating myself to a few shopping excursions for makeup. Can we ever have enough? I think not. ;-)

So this is one I made for me exclusively for in my family room. It has a pillow of stuffing I made underneath to give me more cushioning for my feet. I've photographed it here in our living room, but read on.

I also made this one, but it stays in the living room. I made these out of a drop cloth and it was really "on th' cheap"! I think we paid about $20 for the drop cloth and I got these two covers made with all the ruffles included. I then stenciled the letter "C" and the designs on the corners. The stool cover on the top also has the letter "C" on it also but that was after I took these photos.

I had to finish off all the edges of the fabric as canvas drop cloths are loosely woven and will start fraying in the wash, but all of this fabric was washed twice before I cut into it. BTW, it washes beautifully and I don't iron it afterwards. I like the looks of it that way. As I said, this has been washed a couple of times and I think it looks great. Decorating on th' cheap is my favorite way of doing things. I already had the little stools and they've been covered several times.

I moved my old sofa back into the living room as I absolutely love it more than the new one, which is now in our family room. I've had it for 18 years and the man who came to dry-clean it a few weeks ago said it looked brand new to him. Well, I take very good care of my things. But this Ethan Allen sofa really is my favorite of all times. I'll never part with it.

I think it goes well with the French chair I got from Ethan Allen a few months ago.

I used a Dusty Lilac craft paint for the stenciling as I love that color and it looked better than the pinks I tried on a scrap of the drop cloth.

Now, how about this darling caravan! Is this posh cute or what? If hubs had this kind of camper I think I'd be more enticed to go along with him.

I'm not fond of the colors of Fall. I detest orange and don't have it in my home. But I do love the coolness of the season. I like cold, or at least cool, climates. So why would I decide to live in the desert? Well, I feel a peace here I don't feel anywhere else in the world. I've lived in 3 deserts 4 times in my life and each time I felt "at home" there so this is where I'll spend the rest of my life. Hopefully.

Talk about a "posh" bathroom. Red walls and a fantastic chandelier certainly qualifies this one for posh status!

This one looks like something the old movie stars of the 40s and 50s would have. Also very posh. We're using that word a lot around here lately because of Miss C. (See above if you've forgotten.) ;-)

A craft room I could love. It would be pink though.

Another cute and all-in-one craft, sewing, computer room/office. I like this one a lot.

I like this room because of its cheerful yellow color. Plus it has a red rug to offset a lot of the yellow. Pink and yellow is my favorite color combo. I'd probably paint the walls pink  but keep the yellow chairs. I think they're adorable. But I had yellow walls once and didn't care for them as much as my pink walls now. Another time; another place. ;-)

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If you knew how many times I read and re-read these posts before I hit the "Publish" finding mistakes, it would amaze you. I do the photos first and then add the remarks about each photo and then—usually—add the story when I put a story first in the blog. I read it over from Previewing it several times and each time I'll change it. It's a lot of work but I'm sure most of you do this also.
~*~
Linking up with NMH.
Linking up with Pink Saturday.