Dreaming Big

I am very lucky that I married someone who came with furniture of some quality.  I am unlucky in that not every piece is something that fits my style.  

I have finally determined that I love Chippendale, Federal, Georgian or Empire style furniture.  Most of the pieces that I do not love are Victorian style furniture.  I plan on living with it until sometime in the distant future I can afford to replace it with pieces that I absolutely love.  

In fact, in the pieces that I do buy current (i.e. saving money right now for a new couch), my policy is that I must adore the piece and see it fitting into my long range design plans.  

Recently, I had a night where I could not sleep, so I spent a few hours dreaming while playing on ebay.  I have determined that I want a piece of furniture that resembles the following pieces.  While I would love the authentic antique pieces, I am willing to settle on quality reproductions.

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I want this style table and hope that it can seat 10-12 with leaves in it because I adore the idea of the future family gathered around the table.
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This style chair with a different fabric. Source

Wading in the Water

FORTY-EIGHT HOURS LATER...The pool is filled.  I am really dreading the water bill now!  In fact, I think I might cry.  48 hours of the water running constantly was not only going to hit my pocket book, it also drove me crazy.
I was not able to run the washing machine, dish washer or even take a shower without having to first cut the water off to the pool because of our stinky water pressure!  So umm...no clothes or dishes was cleaned for 48 hours!  (I just wanted that thing filled!)

The good news is that the pool is filled and no more 48 hours of water running needed this summer!  Yippee!

The bad news is that our filter/pump system is not working.  The plumber and I were able to coordinate our schedule for him to come back on this Friday morning.  That means that until the pool cleaning robot arrives on Wednesday, the only cleaning the pool gets is from me skimming it and the chemicals I add to the pool.  Not ideal but in this weather, I will take it!

In fact, I embraced it so much that I am now almost a bright pink/red on my legs from having fun in the pool!

I did toss my medium sized dog in the pool on Friday because she needed to get wet.  And then on Saturday, I did load her up on the foam raft and left her float around the pool with me.  Unfortunately, she did not appreciate either event and now hides from me under the fig tree or the outdoor sofa.  (I promise now actual harm was done to her...she is just stubborn.)

Anyways, Have a wonderful Monday and stay cool during this hot summer!

Pool time

Currently, I am in the process of filling up my pool. I was a delusional person in that I thought 24 hrs would get me filled. Here it is 26 hour later and we still have just under 3 ft left to go.
I have added the chlorine to treat the pool and by my calculations, the pool contains more than 30000 gallons. Are you have a heart attack yet?
I am!
I am dreading the upcoming water bill. I am sure it will give me seizures.
This is the first time that LML and I have filled the pool since we moved in. I am excited since it is already topping 100 degrees in our area and it is barely June!

I am looking forward to a summer spent in the pool this year! (maybe I will get tan!)

Here is a cute pic of my friends teenage nephew and her dog hanging out in the almost empty shallow end .


- I should blame it on the iphone, but this girl cannot spell so please excuse any misspelled words

How do you fold your sheets?

I hate folding laundry, especially fitted sheets.  My fitted sheets always look like jumbled mess!

When I saw this video, I could not help but to laugh at how simple it looks!  I am not saying that I am excited about washing the sheets next, but I do dread them a little less.

Have a great day!

Chair Love

I love to look at chairs in general, especially ones with upholstery.  I am drawn to two styles, ones with clean lines (not shown today) and those more ornate styles that reference French antiques. I really love Louis XV, but since my grandmother has so much of it, I do not seeing it work the expense at this moment.

 Enjoy the eye candy on this Monday Morning!

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Houses in Atlanta

Just a quick post of two houses we found while driving around the Buckhead area of Atlanta!

Enjoy!

Scotts, Pt 4

I found three architectural facade prints that I love!  I cannot wait to frame them and find a place for them in my house.  I have wanted some for quite a long time but finally the price is right!

I also found this pretty sterling silver napkin ring to add to my collection.  I love having a lot of random napkin rings and use them when I have people over for dinner!

My sister-in-law found this fabric for a good deal.  I think she wants to recover a chair with it.

Not a great picture but it will do!

Snow Day

I have promised you these pictures for a while now...so here you go only 2 months late!

Enjoy!

How the dogs enjoyed the snow...took a lot of coaxing to even try and get them to put their paws into it!

The base of my magnolia tree!

See I got him to put three paws in the snow...that was it!

Scrappie stayed hunkered down in dry zone...she played dead when I tried to get her to go in the snow.

Ice frozen on the leaves of a shrub

The dogwood tree

Where are you my missing WII games?

This past summer, I splurged and bought a WII and the WII Fit board.  I love my WII and I had so much fun doing the WII games.

Fast forward a few months, I went to play the standard WII Sports game and Lo and Behold, it was no where to be found.  I searched low and high and in all closets, cabinets and drawers for a week trying to locate it.  I chalked it up to my own self losing the game, perhaps once when I loaded up the WII to my grandmothers house so that I could watch some netflix on the the TV.

Fast forward to Sunday, I was looking for my Super Mario Brothers game for my WII.  I open the case and find out that I did my favorite thing to drive my husband crazy and I put my WII raquet sports game in the mario case.  Yeah I know it is stupid, but I cannot help it!

So the hunt begins to locate my Raquet Sports case that hopefully contains my Mario Brothers game.  Just last week, I had seen it on the top of my stack of DVDs in the Armoire.  It was not there.  It was also not in the drawer where I keep the WII remotes and games.  I decided maybe it got put in with the DVDs and guess what it was not there either.

I then decide maybe it fell behind the TV or DVD player.  I moved all my electronic boxes and my tv side to side and inspect behind it with a flashlight.  I found NOTHING!

I decide to quiz LML on it!  He claims no knowledge about the missing game.  I pester him to help in the search.  I was sure he would find it, since he finds everything!  He had no Luck!

Since I have not taken the item in question anywhere, I know that I did not in fact lose this game!  I can honestly say that one of two things happened: A. the case grew legs and walked away (I mean how else can it disapper) or B. the mythical creature that steals my socks in the dryer got a WII for Christmas and needed something to entertain itself between washloads!   (NOW FOR REAL: I have no clue what happened to it, but I would love for it to return to its loved home in the drawer with the remotes!)

So that is what is going on in my life!

Fabric Inspiration

I am in a holding pattern right now in terms of my house.  There is a lot of stuff that I would love to do for my house, but I need to hold off and save up to pay for them.
Today, I was browsing the internet for inspiration to make curtains for my bedroom.  The last room that needs curtains in our house.  I have a vision in my head of just simple floor to ceiling curtains in a bold blue pattern.  I am leaning towards geometrics, but that is not all I am considering.

Source: Lewis and Sheron Textile Co

Source: Lewis and Sheron Textile Co

Source: Lewis and Sheron Textile Co

Granted currently, all I am doing is considering fabrics until we save up some money.

What projects are you thinking about tackling next?

Sewing Sundays

Recently, I made curtains for my Living and Dining Rooms.  I have had them complete since the week before Thanksgiving, save the final hemming.  The week before Christmas, LML and I finally hung the curtains so I could pin them.  After I pinned them, I removed them and hemmed them.

The curtains are the in the Background (sorry I do not have a more detailed Picture!)

I like Curtains that sweep the floor. LML wanted them to not quite touch the floor, Can you tell who won??? 

Christmas Dinner

I had LML's Family over for Christmas Dinner this year, yeah can we talk about how weird it was being THAT OLD!

The Buffet

I mean it seems like just yesterday that I was the one so excited to see what Santa brought myself and my siblings.  In fact, I can remember pouting one year when Dad made us wait to open all of our gifts until after Christmas Dinner at our house.

This year, LML had to make me open his gift before Christmas, because I just did not have time.  I was on a schedule and trying to get everything made for Christmas Dinner.  I do have to say that everything went beautifully, except for a minor mishap with spilling heavy cream in the fridge.  That resulted in a time out to clean out the entire fridge since I spilled it on the top shelf.  (OOPS!)

One of the Tables for Christmas Dinner

I had a wonderful Christmas and throughly enjoyed visiting with my family Christmas Eve and Christmas Night. I guess we are lucky that we live so close to both of our families because we are able to juggle them on holidays for the most part.  I do refuse to drive back and forth from one town to the next, but my family was up here Christmas Eve and Christmas Night for visiting my parents siblings at their Christmas parties.

The Dining Room Table

I could not have asked for a better Christmas.   I will try and post a few of my new awesome recipes that I made for Christmas over the next week .  I know that most of them are Gluten Free due to diet restrictions in LML's Family, but I would make them again for my family who eats bread likes it going out of style.  They were just that wonderful!

Christmas Decor, Part Two

Besides the Christmas Tree, which I leave up until the new year, I always love to decorate the mantels.  This year, I did a fresh greenery swag again on the big mantle in the den and used two china-berry garlands to sit on the formal living room mantle.

I will be back tomorrow with my Christmas Dinner set up!

Sewing Sundays

I know this is a Wednesday and not a Sunday.  I do have a calendar ya'll!  Unfortunately, I failed to make two sewing Sundays in a row, and this project is a super special Christmas Sewing Project that would not make any sense at all after Christmas!

I made my sister- and brother-in-law an advent calendar!  I am not going to pretend that I am perfect, but I do think this a cute and personal gift that almost anyone would like!

Materials Needed:
1.5 Yards Base fabric (I used a cheap muslin)
1.5 Yards Fusible fleece (go ahead and cut it at the fold so that it is the width of the base fabric when folded in half)
1/2 yard each of two coordinating festive fabrics to make the pockets, numbers and letters
Plenty of coordinating thread for the festive fabrics
A WHOLE LOT of straight pins
Print out of the numbers in a font you like and make sure that they are big enough
36-40 inches of cording, ribbon or rope to make hanger
1 Dowel rod
Hot Glue Gun
(I used a ruler to ensure that I evenly spaced them, so I would recommend this unless you have a great eye)

1.Wash and dry all fabric.  (Believe me do not ever skip this step!)  Then press with an iron all fabric to remove wrinkles.  

2. Fold the base fabric (in may case cheap muslin) so that the selvedges meet.  Crease the fabric with an iron. Here is where you have a choice to make you can either be a cheater like I am sometimes and not cut your fabric apart and just use the crease and skip the next step (go to step 4).  I was not on this project but believe me I do not judge.

3. Cut the fabric along the crease.  

4.  Put right sides together so that both wrong sides are facing out.  I take the time to pin it in a few places.

5.  Adhere the fusible fleece to one of the wrong sides according to the directions provided by manufacturer.  

6. Follow the directions here to do a French seam on one long side only.   (or if you already know, do it!) - Believe me you are going to want less product to sew through when attaching the pockets in a bit.  

7. Cut out 10 pieces out of the festive fabric of 17 inches wide by  5 inches long.

8. Cut out 5 pieces from the fusible fleece that are 16 inches wide by 4 inches long.

9. Again follow manufacturer's direction to attach the fusible fleece to one of the wrong sides leaving more fabric at the top that is not attached to the fleece.  

10. Put together two wrong sides of the festive fabric and sew a French seam on ONLY THREE SIDES!

11.  Repeat with the remainder of the cut out pieces.  

12.  Put this fabric right side out and press smooth.  Then fold down the excess of the fabric to the back and press.  

13. Sew a decorative stitch about 1/4" inch down from the top all the way across the fabric lengthwise.  This seals up the pieces.  (At this point, I usually divide up the piece into 5 equally sized pockets and baste a stitch or two for my reference.) Do this for all five long pieces.

I pinned the numbers into the fabric to keep them from shifting while I was cutting.  

14.  I then took the second festive fabric and cut out the numbers using the template I had cut out onto card stock.  If you do not have card stock, you can just trace the pattern out that was cut out of regular paper.  (Note: If you want to speed things up, cut out little squares and stack them so that all of the fabric faces the same direction.  I did not take this step and got a few numbers that were cut out in the wrong direction...oops!)

Do you see my little helper?

15. Pin the numbers within the corresponding sections on each long piece.  

16.  Sew the numbers to the long piece of the fabric using an applique technique.  (Here is a tutorial!)

The settings I used!

Some finished long pieces

17. After all numbers have been attached, lay out the base fabric with the side not attached to fleece's right side facing up.  You are now going to pin the long pieces to the base fabric.  (Take care to not pin through the fleece.)  As you can see, I spaced my long pieces about 2 1/2 inches apart, but you can play with it to match your own personal aesthetic.  

18.  Now you are going to applique all long pieces to the panel on three sides. 

19.  After all long pieces are attached, you go back and put a decorative stitch between each number at the mark where you basted a stitch or two.  This separates and defines the pockets.  

18.  At this point, you are going to put wrong sides together and sew a French seam on the bottom and the other long side.  This leaves the top open. 

19.  Turn the calendar right side out.  Now you have a choice, where this can be the end of your sewing, or you can add their name to the top like I did for mine.  

20.  I cut the name out of the same fabric as the numbers and then appliquéd it to all layers since when I tried it with one layer, it bunched up.  

21.  Once you are done, take a dowel rod that is 1 inch longer that you calendar is wide and fold the excess fabric at the top over it.  Pin it so that you you have just a smidgen

22.  Make sure that the rod pokes out about 1/2 inch on each side of the calendar.  Using a braided cord, rope or even ribbon, you are going to make the hanger.  Start on one end with a hot glue gun and draw a bead over about 1/2 inch length of the rod.  Wrap the rod with the rope, braid or ribbon. 

23.  Figure out how much you want the calendar to hang down and leave enough slack and then repeat the hot glue and the wrapping of the other end of the dowel rod.  

You now have a advent calendar that you can fill with presents or as I did with cards saying verses for each day.  This can start a wonderful tradition in your own family or make a perfect gift for you friends and family.  Just be warned, this can be slightly time consuming!

Christmas Decor Part 1

The silver is now polished and I have made a few deliveries of presents and only a few left for tomorrow.  My groceries have been bought and now it is time for me to start setting the tables for eleven people!

Here are few glimpses at my tree! Enjoy and have a wonderful day!

I got this ornament this year at the Pottery Barn Outlet in Memphis.  It is so delicate and see-through!  

This ball was bought on sale by Hubby...I do love some silver

My Christmas Tree this year...I love me some real tree!

Christmas Decorations

My Den Mantle Christmas 2009

I find that people's home decor, especially holiday decor, is greatly influenced by what they grew up seeing.  

I grew up with needlepoint stockings, a real cedar tree, fresh greenery, nutcrackers and my favorite a Christmas mouse.  

Since beginning my own Christmas traditions with the LML, I have kept the needlepoint stockings, fresh greenery and nutcrackers.  I did deviate from the cedar tree since they are flimsy, but I still need that fresh tree smell.  I also like to wait and put the tree up the week prior to Christmas and leave it up until after thanksgiving.  

Another new tradition that Hubby and I are incorporating is a Fontini nativity scene.  We are actually going to get a new piece each year for a while.  In fact, so far we have the stable and the holy family.  I have to go to the store and purchase our next piece soon.

In addition, I have an extensive collection of Christmas themed music boxes that I have gotten over the years.  I start pulling these out right after thanksgiving and slowly add more Christmas decor leading up to the tree the weekend prior to Christmas.

Dreaming of the next project

As many of you can sympathize, I have several major items that I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to have.  Unfortunately, it is either the budget or the item.  And good for LML and I that I choose the budget every time.

That does not stop me from drooling over a few big ticket items and placing them in the room in my imagination.

A picture from this time last year, prior to the armoire and curtains being rehung.  Sorry it is so dark but I had this one on the computer.

Currently, my den is dark with dark wood with no overhead light.  While I would love to put in an overhead light, I like the wood panelling.  It is manly in a retro way and perfectly compliments the femine touches in the rest of the house.  

The main things I would love to change is the leather sofa, a piece inherited from my late father-in-law.  I think a sofa in a grey tone would look perfect here. In fact, I have seen the sofa I love in a store.  

This sofa lines are just what I love.  They are classic and I love the warmth that a fabric sofa provides to a room.  Granted I would definitely get the sofa treated to prevent staining.

Now I know that leather is more masculine, but I would much prefer to have it in a smaller aspect such as a chair with an Ottoman.  

I should probably let you know that the curt

I would even love a wing back chair in leather with a warm leather tone.