Thanksgiving

Joining Inspire me Monday. http://www.create-with-joy.com

On this Thanksgiving Day, I hope that you are able to find thankfulness. If this holiday has been one of trials, I hope you are able to venture through the lonliness, sadness, pain, and/or frustration to a place of calm, love, and thankfulness.

At my house, on holidays, vintage items make their way from the cabinet, to the dining room table.  Worn treasures that were once loved are still loved. Some items have belonged to my loved ones, others carry the mystery of their existence in their cracks and crevices. I can only wonder whose table they onced graced.

But for now, they are on my table, spreading love to those who broke bread with us today, and reminding us, that we have reasons to be thankful.

Blessings and God's Peace,

Ele

FAll is in The Air

The changing of seasons is very dramatic in the midwest. Warm days turn into chilly evenings, and chilly evenings tease of frost at night. Flowers and gardens are covered with blankets to keep them warm, to save them from demise. A blanket; a protector, a shield. For my family, this was a summer we would like to forget, but living with the loss of a loved one daily, does not allow. Cool evenings, covered with a warm blanket, holding on to those who are so dear, helps us forget...for just a moment.  

So, I have never been more ready to show signs of changing seasons in my home. It was time. Time for the pumpkins to arrive. 

Gone are the days of the indoors orange plastic pumpkins. Pumpkins come in all types of textures, shapes, and colors. My favorite, velvet pumpkins; luscious and dramatic just like the change of seasons. It oozes warmth.  


Peacock Blue Velvet Pumpkins

 

Caramel Colored Pumpkin

Visit www.etsy.com for some great handmade pumpkins.....and take time to snuggle with your loved one.

xoxo, Ele 

olio board

 http://www.olioboard.com is an amazing design site that allows you to create an inspiration board, and lets you know where you can purchase the items.

 

I'm seriously in love.
I recently spent an afternoon in a furniture store aimlessly wandering the aisles for bedroom inspiration. I found little, and the massive bedroom sets (although pretty) provided little in the way of softness and mismatched  look I want to achieve. 

Oilio Board to my rescue!  

I love mismatched. It gets my attention, so the above Olio Board is the bedroom "look" I would like to achieve.

1. I started with basic pieces: luscious tufted headboard, mirrored side table, neutral chair, and large barn wood colored dresser. 

2. I like mixing silver and gold, of which the mirrored table has both. I added the gorgeous gold shimmery chandy, the great London silver clock, the mirror, (which also has silver and gold), and the silver lamp with a neutral shade. 

3. I believe in neutrals, (YES I admit). Boring, boring, boring nuetrals, so the bedding, the rug (nice design), and laundry basket were added next. At this point, I could add more neutrals with lots of texture for a shabby french look, or I could add color. 

4. Since I'm not the only one who resides in this room, I chose to add a little color: purple velvet pillows (which I already have, yay!),  a lime green pillow, a lime tufted footstool that reflects the headboard and has great chocolate legs. With a neutral base, any color would work in this space. And, in the future the pops of color can be changed!

Have fun playing with Olio Board!
Ele

2010 Neutrals

To define the word neutral, I would start with a color that produces calm, breathing without thinking, and understated elegance. Recapping 2010 with my neutral blog pictures, seriously makes me want to devoid my life of hue. 
     

Wikipedia defines neutral as "a stance of tone without any bias." Very true, as love abounds everywhere with neutral decor and creations. The world dictionary says, "dull, but harmonizes with everything." Really, dull? I will agrue the first part of that definition. The world dictionay has obviously never fully taken in the visual experience of the different shades of whites, creams, beiges, and grays. It is a feast for the eyes.

Blessings,
Ele

Pumpkins, Do They all Have to be Orange?

Crisp and clean looking, white pumpkins are found in my house during the season of Fall. 

I really like how miniature white pumpkins look displayed in a vintage flower basket or a glass jar.   

 A metal black crow is at home in a white birdcage.

Vinyl bats cling to the mirror, and also the front door (as seen in the reflection).


 A silver mercury glass pumpkin sits on my mirrored chest.  

Pumpkins don't all have to be orange to look fabulous.

Blessings,
Ele

Bathroom Makeover

Shades of beige? Yes, shades of beige. This isn't your standard stock wall color. It's a little deeper and richer. It's the lack of gold tone in this paint that I actually like. It's Sherwin Williams Threshold Taupe.

The before color was a light pink.

What do you think? I like to call this room a clean line/shabby chic style.

The vintage mirror received a fresh coat of white paint. I love the contrast of the perfect gloss paint next to the weathered mirror tiles that line the bottom and top of the mirror.

The before of the mirror was quite beautiful, but the white paint adds an extra pop from the wall.

White lace curtains received a bath in tea. I put the curtains into a large pot and added tea bags and hot water. I let them soak for about 1/2 an hour, and then gave them a good wash.

Textures in this room are present in the gloss of the paint, ridges in the sea shell mirror, and the roughness of the coral. The aqua mercury glass and the blueness of the picture are the only colors this room needs.

Blessings, Ele

Drapes and Spray Paint!

I knew what type of fabric I wanted to frame the window in the sitting room. I looked for drapes to purchase ready made off the shelf, or to order online/catalog. I wanted something with a little texture, and just the right color.

I couldn't find what I wanted, so it became necessary to special order the fabric. Really, I have a lot of patience, but when it comes to decorating, I don't. I WANT IT DONE NOW! A few weeks after ordering the fabric arrived and I was thrilled!

It was an easy peasey sewing project with straight seams all the way. I double folded the side and bottom seams to hide all the raw edges.

I let the hem puddle on the floor, (which is great because precise measuring is not needed).

Even though some may think this room is a little fussy looking, it is calm and relaxing to me. My pink girl and I hang out in here snuggled on the couch, with book in hand.

I bought rods that were stark white. The white was a little too drastic for this room, so out came the can of spray paint.

Heirloom White by American Accents is a great color. The paint doesn't dry as fast as I like, so I had to be patient. When using spray paint, spray thin coats of paint and repeat the layers.

While I had the spray paint out, I changed the color of the four rose pots. For those of you who are actually reading, you can see my next project through the window-the sunroom. It's not quite finished yet. Soon. I. Hope.

I LOVE this paint color. Look at how the color blends with with the white roses, but doesn't match exactly, (which I like).

 Come back on Saturday and I'll show you the new drapes in the kitchen dining room, (black and taupe with damask trim).

My pictures are actually enlarging, so CLICK away!

Blessings to all of you!

Ele

More Sweet Tweet Swap Gifts

From Vintage Patina, I received a vintage raspberry crate filled with bird goodies!


One of my favorite items include a silver ladle altered with a bird's nest, eggs, millinery and ribbon. So perfect for me!


I received this bookmark charm-set that says, "farm girl" and on the other side, "plays in dirt'. Isn't that great? I LOVE it, cause I am a farm girl and occasionally....play in the dirt! Visit Vintage Patina to see all the beautiful items in the basket!


Lucky me!

Blessings, Ele

Merry Christmas From My Home to Yours

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Check out my website  Hannah Banana Baby !

Holiday decor pictures of my home-

Vintage ornaments in a glass compote-

Bottle brush trees under glass and also on a wreath-

Strawberry sachets on a silver tree-

Sometimes the simplest touch can look grand. Beads and a baubble hung from a light fixture.

A mosaic table made by Nan at Manic for Mosaics. She does beautiful work.

crystal.... 

One of my new favorites- mercury glass candleholders!

A Christmas book filled with altered art pages from various bloggers. I will show you more of this creation in another post.

Faux treats from Jennifer's Petal Palace are perfect for my candy themed kitchen.

Peace and Blessings,

Ele