Home for Everyone

I’ve been working to create a space in our home to have family and friends over more often. Hospitality is something I love to do, but haven’t done much of in these last years. In earlier days we used to have people over all the time and the slightest thing would give us a reason to celebrate. When we moved into this house 8 years ago, that changed. If you’ve been around my blog for awhile you’ve probably read our story about our small home. We moved into this house expecting to add on, etc. Suffice to say, the economy tanked and it didn’t happen. Fast forward to the present, this year is about opening up again. I hope to buy the book The Reluctant Entertainer, but for now I’m charting new territories on my own. It’s not that I’ve been reluctant. Quite frankly, I’ve been more overwhelmed and, sadly, sometimes embarrassed by our space.

My greatest deterrent in recent days has been getting over the fact that my bedroom is now located in my front room. It’s really a lovely space, cordoned off by billowing white curtains with a beautiful brick fireplace, but a bedroom it is nonetheless. I spent last weekend rearranging furniture and turned the dining room into our music and curiosity room. I decorated the space with our upright piano, shells, butterflies, ostrich egg, and a display of our wedding china. This used to be wasted space, but now it is serving as a lovely storage area with some fun touches. It also creates an interesting entry into our nice sized kitchen – the one room in the house where you can tell someone was thinking SPACE.

This next weekend will be about the kitchen. Below are some vignettes of things I put together this last weekend. I've brought my seashells back out for the year.

Hope your weekend is filled with beauty.

Old glass buttons in a clamshell

This amazing frame used to hold a favorite antique print. I might put the print back someday, but for now I'm loving the frame with the lavender bow.

These were the pink seashells I added last year to my collection. I strung them together like a necklace and now they're cascading over this seashell vase.

I love the subject of mother and child. My hubby bought this glass sculpture for me early in our marriage. I had been diagnosed with a condition that would make it difficult for me to have children. This became a symbol of hope to me. A promise for the future.

Butterflies in our curiosity room

Blooming narcissus bulbs from a friend

Cushy ottoman in the kitchen.

Seashell fest!

Sunshine streaming through our kitchen window. I treasure this time of day.

Being Inspired

The wind gently lifted her long hair away from her face. Where shall I sail, she wondered? She listened and the warm breeze whispered an answer. Yes, that will be perfect. She climbed into her exquisite little boat and arranged her gossamer dress about her legs. She let out the sail and moved swiftly into an ocean of shells.

I often find inspiration in macro photography. I was finishing my Christmas clean-up this week when I noticed a shriveled poinsettia leaf on my floor. It still had gorgeous color and had shaped itself into the perfect fairy boat.

Can you see the bonny ship's prow and the seat where the fairy would cocoon herself to sail the Seashell Ocean? Imagine the creatures she might discover, the places she will see.

I love capturing the beauty of the unusual. Seeing the tiniest of wonders through my camera lens is a blessing.

Have an inspired weekend.

~N