The Last Friday in August

Thank you to everyone who left a comment on yesterday's post. My blogging friends, you made my day!

We’ve had a heat wave here this last week so I’ve been trapped inside. The break in the heat today gave me a chance to take a long walk. On my way home, I stopped in at a favorite flower shop. I love going into this shop because the arrangements and the assortment of flowers is always unique. I struck up a conversation with the owner, and noticed out of the corner of my eye a huge bunch of olive braches in a zinc bucket. I love using big branches in my kitchen. My crazy . . . ALL . . . brick kitchen. I’ve given up the idea of painting the brick. I’m not brave enough to do it. I’ve embraced the rustic look and tree branches on the fireplace look great.

I asked her how much for each branch. She said they were free and wrapped up the entire bunch and gave them to me. I looked ridiculous walking home with an armload of branches bigger than me!

When I got home, I put the branches in a gathering basket I’ve had for years. The branches are on their way out, but I’m going to see how they dry.

It’s that time of day to light candles. Here is another view into my bedroom-living room. See you all next week . . .

Changes and Home Revelations ~ You'll find this post interesting

I hope you’re all enjoying the changes here in my blog space. I wanted a simpler look. I’m sure it’s been a shock for some of you, as so many of you have said you liked my purply-gray background. But change is good, even if it’s only for a season.

I took some interior photos yesterday. These are my favorite kinds of photos, but first I would like to share this:

The arrangement of the rooms in our home is strange because space is at a premium. When our home didn’t sell in this horrible economy, we had to rethink what we were going to do. Our home is tiny! The truth of the matter is that we moved our bedroom into the front living room right after we took our home off the market. Strange, huh? Most people who have come over have loved it. I’ve draped the entire bedroom in white and it feels ethereal, but some people have said they couldn’t live like this. I understand their response. I don’t know how I feel about it myself. It’s brought a wonderful solution to our space issues, but it’s (really!!) different. I have days where it feels romantic and lovely, and other days when I’m not loving it. I’ve tried my best to make our house a home.

In my bedroom . . .

If you peek through this lace curtain past the chair you can see our white wall of curtains shielding the bedroom area.

We were even able to include this small sitting area in our living bedroom room. I’ve posted this photo before.

Yes, my seashell obsession is still going strong in here too.

An Italian mirror hangs by itself surrounded by white.

Here is a table that I found in my MIL’s garage. I asked for it and she generously said yes.

This table was going to originally hold a small stereo system, but after I painted it gray and gold leafed the crevices, I put it to better use, holding flowers.

The phrase, “I got lemons so I made lemonade,” has been my mantra for the past few years. I’ve come to realize that our happiness is based on our perception and willingness to accept a situation.

Why am I sharing this? Because I wanted to send a little encouragement out into blogland where it may be needed.

Have a great weekend!

Lazy Weekend and Natasha's Revamp It Party

It was a lazy weekend for us around here. These are few and far between as we’re usually running errands and getting ready for the week to come. I actually had a chance to do some handwash that I’m ashamed to say I’ve had in a bag for years!

These two lovely vintage nightgowns cleaned up beautifully.

We also had time for some romance. I was greeted with these pretty peach roses from my hubby on Friday. He told me he’s making an effort to continue courting me. It made me giggle – it’s been 20 years! (since we got married, not since he’s brought me flowers).

And we visited some old haunts on Saturday where he surprised me with these little pink quartz hearts.

The circus box (as I call it) used to hold vintage handpainted eggs. I revamped it because I loved the scrunched up blue silk. I salvaged what I could of it when I removed the eggs. This box makes the perfect nesting area for my hearts.

Speaking of Revamp It . . .

Natasha Burns is having her second Revamp It Party. I didn’t get a chance to participate last year so I’m doing it this year. I will also be having a giveaway of something I revamp that day. I haven’t decided what it will be yet, but it’ll be fun! If you have time, this is a great way to get your creative juices flowing. I hope to see you there. Click on the button in my sidebar for more info.

An Impression Has Been Made

I had the privilege of viewing the latest impressionist exhibit at the de Young Museum in San Francisco. The museum was fortunate to be given this exhibit. These paintings are on loan from the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. They are renovating their impressionist exhibit space at the Musée d'Orsay, and have given this exhibit of their paintings exclusively to the de Young until the renovations are completed. The collection includes Monet, Degas, Cézanne, Manet and many others. This exhibit will be at the museum until September 6th. If you’re in the area and love the impressionists, this is a must see exhibit.

The museum was also having a demonstration called, Degas in the Ballet Studio . They had an artist impersonating the famous Degas. Students from a local San Francisco ballet studio were posing as his models.

I was inspired by the beautiful legs of the dancers. I couldn’t stop snapping photos of them. In honor of Degas and the impressionists, I have manipulated a few of my photos.

I took this photo below of one of the young dancers. Thanks to photo manipulating software, I have this amazing result! I might actually get this blown up and framed. I adore the black ribbon at the neck.

Degas painting

Aren’t the legs of this dancer exquisite? They are perfect. She has been blessed with hyper-extended knees and beautiful high arches. A dancers dream feet.

This was the painting the artist was working on when we arrived. It is very much in the style of Degas.

More dancer leg indulgence

Perfect little girl legs and Mary Jane shoes, this little one danced the entire time we were there!

I took this while she was spinning in a trance. This one might be worthy of framing too.

The end of summer is coming. I can’t stand it. Have a great weekend!

Natural Beauty

This summer I've been drawn to nature in my decorating. My last few posts have been on seashells, but there have been other natural beauties capturing my attention. Like this gorgeous fern below. I think the name of it is Squirrel Foot or Rabbits Foot fern. It has these amazing silky outgrowths that look like the foot of an animal.




Another natural element I love is quartz crystal . . . otherwise known as nature's bling. I tried to capture their beauty for you, but I couldn't. These gorgeous stones really satisfy my need for sparkle.




I'm starting to have crazy thoughts . . . like chucking anything in my house that isn't from nature and surrounding myself in a grotto full of seashells, quartz, and ferns. What do you think?