W-i-d-e Stripes

Love the new look of the back wall in my office/showroom!

Here's the before - the room finished with a fresh coat of Sherwin Williams gauntlet gray.

 

 

 

 Now for the after :)

First the wall on the left was painted one of my current faves-

Sherwin Williams stone gray.

Then the back wall was measured and the horizontal stripe lines

were marked with painters tape.

Last but not least- every other striped section was filled in with

stone gray paint.

 

 

 

The custom artwork ordered is going to look

simply smashing on this wall.  Can't wait!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Design element: layering.

Layering is a design element that builds depth and adds interest to a design grouping.



 

The table runner fabric in these photos provides a soft, woven texture and functions to anchor the design grouping.  In the first photograph, I started with a burgundy pottery leaf.



 

Note the difference in these photos of the pillar candle alone on the leaf and the picture below with the finishing touch of the added birch bark ring.

The natural elements included in the grouping- pine cones, bundled sticks, and a ring of birch bark add texture and contrast the glossier finish on the pottery vase and leaf. Everything comes together to give a simple, natural outdoors look the client desired.

Resources:  1.  Bundled sticks- Whimsey Green occasional sale, Dassel, MN
                    2.  Pottery vase- thrift store
                    3.  Pottery leaf-  Finders Keepers, Monticello, MN
                    4.  Table runner- fabric Mills End, St. Cloud MN
                            sewn by Ruth Anderson, Cokato, MN
                    5.  Pine cones-  thrift store
                    6.  Birch bark ring-  nature walk find in northern MN

chinese take-out

Soup and breadsticks were on the menu for a luncheon date
I had planned with a friend recently.

A savory, satisfying soup served with warm from the oven,

made from scratch, Italian herb breadsticks.

MMmmmm!!

That takes a little time to prepare, and as it turned out,
time in the kitchen was just not going to happen. 

(the best laid plans of mice and men...)


Plan B?

Two lunch specials from Lucky Kitchen with a side order
of cream cheese wontons!

Next- a quick stop at the local floral shop. 
Aren't these gerbera daisies just the happiest?

bright as sunshine!

I love how flowers add a fresh spot of interest 

to a room. 



The table was set with a mix of handthrown pottery I've

started collecting fairly recently.  The individuality of each piece appeals to me.

  There's also something about the hands on process of it all. 

Hands in the clay molding and shaping.  Creating.

So on with the hunt and finding those pieces that speak to me!

Did I say speak to me?

I did! 
This isn't something that I share with just anyone...

but, things talk to me.   
They do!

I have been out shopping, 
totally minding my own business.
 When suddenly something is nearly falling off a shelf to get my attention.

(Me, me!  Look at me! )

 I've had things pretty much jump right into my cart!
(Take me home!)

Or wait, was that me jumping over my cart to check out that amazing one of a kind find?

Whichever it is, shopping is always an adventure!

So what's the point of all this?
The moral to the story?

Go with the flow!  The chinese take-out was delicious and

looked great on our plates.  Soup will wait for another day!

Thanks for checking in!

Happy adventuring,  Deb

Time Out

"Take a rest; a field that has rested gives a beautiful crop."   Ovid

Observation:  In Minnesota this time of year not only the fields are at rest.  Water does not flow in the creeks or rivers.  It sits.  Solid, unmoving.  Frozen on the lakes and ponds.

Conclusion: Take a lesson from Mother Nature! You have permission to sit.  Unmoving.  As long as it takes.  You will know.

We would all benefit from recognizing our need for a little time out.

Our lives are full, and the most of it is good stuff.

There is however such a thing as too much of a good thing!

 I hope you are setting aside time just for you.

To rest.  Relax.  Recharge those batteries. 
And then do best what it is that you do best!

                                                              Relax

                                                   solitudE

                                                          reStore

                                               rejuvenaTe!

Peace, Deb

Winter Welcome

The twinkle in my eye that gives my hubby cause to pause is followed by a smile and these suggestive words  "How about we paint the   town   (substitute a room)     red      (substitute a color) tonight?

What a guy! He's such a good sport and so very handy with a paintbrush!

 Our most recent paint date was inspired by a Sherwin Williams paint color called Warm Stone and took place in our entryway.   A beautiful brown gray that I anticipated would be a stand out against the painted white trim.

For winter wall art, I took a large white vintage frame (28" x 40"), cut a couple of pieces off a silver garland and attached them to the frame with white pipe cleaners (not gluing allows me to reuse the frame for another project).

I trimmed the garland for winter using glass icicles, snowflakes etc.  Hanging a large snowflake  in the center of the frame and layering a couple of smaller snowflakes over it completed the piece.      

Voila!

A winter welcome for all to enjoy!

P.S. The red door is freshly painted as well - a Sherwin Williams red called Heartthrob.  Thanks Hon, I love it!

   

"Colors speak all languages" Joseph Addison, writer, born 1672

Happy Friday,  Deb

Happy New Year friends!

Brought the New Year in with a gathering of friends.  When crawling under the covers that night I found myself smiling as I reflected on our evening together. 

IT'S ALL GOOD!

Good coffee, good eats, good conversation, and lots of laughs!!

Isn't it fun to get a buzz - a lift of spirits - from something as simple as time spent with friends, coffee cup in hand?

Together...a great place to be!

Blessings to all in 2012!

Deb