Thursday, July 28, 2016

Curtains Table



This is what I call my "Curtains Table" because the tablecloth is made out of leftover fabric from the curtains hanging in my living room.
IMG_8499
Different colors of roses scattered on the table. Vintage plates paired with vintage glasses holding a sweet drink.
IMG_8577

You remember the curtains, right?  And the runner?
IMG_1208
When I fall in love with a fabric, I fall hard.  Then it gets used liberally.
IMG_8575
Coffee cups and saucers repeat the roses theme.

IMG_8608


IMG_8479


IMG_8505


IMG_8529


IMG_8613


IMG_8600


IMG_8527


IMG_8537

Jan





Friday, July 22, 2016

Drying Sunflowers and Hydrangeas


This is a summer harvest vignette from our yard.  I am drying the hydrangeas.  A lot of them turned brown on the bush this year.  I don't remember having so many turn brown before I could cut them off in get them in water.  The zinnias are producing well.  The sunflowers were spent and I wanted to enjoy letting them dry indoors because I knew the birds would likely eat all the seeds.

IMG_2143

My mother in law's teapot.  My grandmother's wooden pedestal along with a garage sale vintage mirror. 

IMG_2120



IMG_2073

We had one sunflower with this massive head.  I plan on saving the seeds from this big one separately from the others.  That way if I just use those I will increase the likelihood of having bigger sunflowers next year.


IMG_2153



IMG_2094



IMG_2091

But I love the look of the smaller heads as well, I think especially now at this stage while they are still green around the outside.


IMG_2139



IMG_2022



IMG_2143



Jan




Thursday, July 21, 2016

It's Been Such A Long Long Time


It's been such a long long time but I didn't give up hope.  Then Joni Webb of Cote de Texas,  a known blogger wrote, "Floral, patterned fabrics are back in style. Maybe not yet quite a trend, but there is a renewed interest in prints. Driven by a rejection of all-beige and all-white interiors - bright, color drenched rooms have been popping up in magazines, looking very fresh and new."  Which was followed by a photo of a room with green walls and floral prints.  She then wrote," This library by Miles Redd, recently shown in House Beautiful, says it all.  Prints are back.    And to satisfy the demand, fabric houses are busy introducing new designs, but, the old patterns are as popular as ever."  Her post is here.

Let's savor this, shall we?!!  "Driven by a rejection of all-beige and all-white interiors."  I wondered many, many times if I was alone on this island of despair.  But I was paying attention and reading comments made on magazine sites.  There were so many that were not buying the neutral look.  Many that wondered out loud what was being sold to them.  After years of wanting to pull my hair out and fussing and a little cussing I am elated with reading this.  I know with all things in the decorating world it may be a little while before it trickles down.  But at last there is vindication for the  florals that have been held captive, hidden away from admiring eyes.

This is fresh from Architectural Digest showing Nancy Hoguet's home.

Nancy Hoguet

I literally felt such a sense of relief.  This is how it's done correctly now with some updated fabrics.  It's just enough to keep the granny look away.  Do you see the freedom in this room with the exuberance and life from the patterns?!  They don't match but get along so well.  Do you notice that you cannot take the whole room in a glance as we so often do now with the simple decorating that has pervaded our homes?  This is exquisite layering that is interesting to the eye.

d7ce68f1f0c91cdb48454dc35c5f7417

How about that wall color, not a neutral for sure.

whitecouchsag

Now I really do realize that most white sofas don't look like this all the time.  But yes this is what I have always been so afraid of with one.

I know many including me are jubilant, joyful and looking forward to seeing florals coming back out in the open!  You know I wonder if a lot of this is because the manufacturers were looking at the millennials when it came to purchase power.  They say there are one million more of them then the baby boomers.  Of course they (the Millennials) would want a totally different look then the looks they saw in their parents home.  I know there is a market for those that desire the looks we have seen.  But then our sheer number demanded that they listen to our desire for furnishings that are prettier to the eye.

 So I raise a toast (mine being sweet tea but you get the point) to my fellow boomer, that we did it!  We brought back the florals!  Now I can listen to Etta James sing and not cry about those florals!


Jan



Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Delightfully Overdone


With so much ugliness in the world today, I wanted to share a few photos.  Delightfully overdone (which is a requirement for me) and full of color, I hope they bring a bit of happiness and escape from today's troubles.
img_1736
Miniature roses in every hue possible, I think.  They are sharing the mirror on the coffee table with seashells.

IMG_1807

IMG_1991


IMG_1987
Blue brandy snifter holds the roses.
IMG_2004

IMG_2297

IMG_3485

IMG_1998

IMG_1837

IMG_1882

IMG_1997
Yes, I rearranged again.
IMG_1809

IMG_1751

IMG_2003

IMG_1627


Jan




Sunday, July 10, 2016

Watermelon Brunch


It's definitely time for watermelons at this point in the summer.  They are so juicy and good for you.  There's something about the sweetness and summer that work together like their meant to be.

IMG_1151



IMG_1167



The sunflowers are bursting out everywhere in our plot for them!
IMG_1332




IMG_1329


The zinnias grown from seed continue to delight.
IMG_1194




IMG_1156




Summer's palette of greens, pinks, yellows and purples adorn the table.
IMG_1166




IMG_1172



IMG_1113




IMG_1191



My favorite vintage plates paired with the watermelon slices.
IMG_1158




IMG_1118




IMG_1163



I didn't know that lizards 'show their money' in their legs right before they do in their throats!  But this fellow sure did.
IMG_1203




IMG_1155



Jan