Decorating Archives - Page 21 of 24

My Creative Space

January 21, 2010 jennifer Decorating, Quilting and Sewing

Last weekend I had so many creative ideas that I was just dying to spend a few hours creating. However, it was one of those weekends when someone was tugging on my leg every 90 seconds, especially since there was no school on Monday. I hate it when my day and my heart just don’t align well. I had so much pent up creative energy that I felt like I was going to burst!

On Saturday I stumbled upon these pictures of Heather Bailey’s studio . Instantly I wanted a room like that! I especially wanted to go shopping for a bookshelf that I could neatly stack all my fabric on, in plain sight, to look at for fun and to see everything and therefore use it all more. Well, that wasn’t happening. I’ve promised myself no more shopping like that until I have a basement empty of DIYs. For a few minutes I very seriously considered stealing my cabinet in the dining room to use for my fabric, but it’s perfect where it is so I left it alone.

Instead, I started taking everything out of drawers and made a fabulous mess. Then, over the next couple of days I got it all put back away, but this time I did it so that I can see all my fabric at a glance instead of having it laying in stacks (which means I forget what’s underneath).

So, while I’m no Heather Bailey, I can at least be inspired by the beauty that’s available to me. Here goes:

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Each drawer is now filled (I should probably say stuffed full) with my quilting fabrics, turned to stand up so that I can see all of them. They’re sorted by colors.

Hopefully I’ll use them all more wisely now that I can see them so easily.

There is another drawer for black and whites, another for browns, and a cupboard for decorator weight fabrics.
I also made a separate spot for Christmas prints, and for fall/Halloween projects.

A box full of flannels for baby blankets:

I simplified the cabinet that holds my rarely used collection of rubber stamps. Above it is a bit of vintage hand stitched red and white lace that I just love. It is incredible to me to look at each little stitch. I wonder about who made it and if it was art to her.

I cleared the fabric dresser top so it’s now free of clutter.

I also went through all the supplies that I keep in blue bins under my desk and was able to trim down on the clutter there as well. I use a vintage doll cradle to hold the projects that are currently in progress or next up. I reduced the number of projects in that category.

When I went to store something under the bed, I pulled out a box full of flannel fabric that I’d completely forgotten about! I remedied this problem by storing things I use a lot next to things I don’t use so much. I feel like now I won’t forget about any supplies, and will be able to use them all wisely. This step included using my wire baskets on the bookshelf better.

Now the basket which was formerly full of vintage supplies I intended to use but forgot about houses those vintage bits along with the jelly rolls, charm packs and fat quarters that I use a lot.

Another basket full of good stuff!

I keep being tempted to start collecting cute pincushions, because they’re everywhere and they’re really fun. I have a couple of cute ones, but for now I’m happy using my favorite, this awesome bird sitting in a nest atop a vintage candy dish.

There is a lot that I still want to do to this room, but I’m so happy with it even as it is. Because it doubles as a guest room, I want to try to keep it simple enough that it can also be a restful bedroom. I realize that I’m tremendously blessed to have it. I’m thankful for a husband who works so hard so that we can have a home that allows me a space such as this.

To anyone else who walked in the room, there would probably be no noticeable change.

But for me, it feels like a fresh start for a new year of creativity. I’m pleased.

It doesn’t hurt that I dealt with all that pent up energy in a positive way, either.

One comment Decorating, fabric, Organization, sewing

Ten Stockings

December 25, 2009 jennifer Christmas, Decorating

This Christmas season felt to me like a reflection of my life this year: lots of little things causing what I call “speed bumps” which are frustrating and time wasting, but ultimately everything works out.

We got our Christmas tree mid-month. It’s huge.

It was the 15th of the month, and we’d had scheduled activities every day in December. We decided to go cut a tree, which of course meant finding winter gear for everyone. Some of them fell asleep while we were driving, so we ended up with two asleep and others who were crying as they hiked through snow that was, for them, knee deep. All of the trees were short, it was getting dark quickly, people were crying, and son #2 had Scouts in 40 minutes (and I was supposed to provide a plate of treats for him to take caroling). We hiked to the first tree that was nice and tall and decided to cut it down. At this point, I was just grateful we were getting a tree and decided to let go of all expectations. My oldest daughter, however, was angry and upset and started ranting about how she wouldn’t even go in the family room to be with such an ugly tree.

We cut it, hiked back to the cars, and my Cub Scout and I jumped in the other car and left for Scouts. We frosted cookies, got him out the door, and then the family arrived home and we went to work on the tree. We cut it to the right size and brought it in…..

and the stand broke. So now we have a Christmas tree (9 feet tall by 6 or 7 feet in diameter) laying on the floor in our family room. We have crying hungry children, homework to do, you get the picture. So I left to go buy a new stand.

1.5 hours later and after stopping at every store in town (Walmart, Target, Home Depot, etc.) I learn that everybody sold out of Christmas tree stands long before. Seriously? Finally, feeling discouraged, I was leaving Lowe’s to go home when I noticed three Christmas trees for sale standing in an obscure spot by their garden area. I pulled over and discovered that they were in stands! I parked again, went back in, and BEGGED them to sell me one.

3 employees went out to remove the 8 foot tree from the stand, find a SKU number, and I cheerfully dropped $50 to leave with a dirty, used Christmas tree stand. Hooray! Did it all work out? Yes. Did it take about 5 hours longer than we planned? Yes. Did it mean that all the other things I was planning to get done were put off (again)? Yes. Is that the story of my life? YES! But, I keep reminding myself that in spite of the detours it always seems to work out.

So we got the tree up, ran out of lights, couldn’t find any white lights in stock anywhere… do you see a pattern here? Did it eventually work out? Yes. Did we finally get the tree decorated on, like the 19th of the month? Yes. And you know what? I think it’s my favorite tree ever. I don’t know if that’s because it truly is beautiful, or because I was just so relieved to have it done, or if it’s because I had no expectations.
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I enjoyed hanging the ornaments I bought last year on clearance, and I also borrowed all my big stars from my laundry room to stick in the tree. I took my white starfish collection and added it as well.
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I unpacked Christmas boxes until I found the stockings, and then I quit. It meant that the dining room got decorated. I love the fresh, bright colors.
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I played with the curtain tiebacks and added color to all the vintage silver.
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And since I am obsessed with birds, I gave in to the urge to put them everywhere.
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A bit of color and my favorite nativity scene.
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Not nearly as much decorating as I usually do for Christmas, but this is the year of simplification. A fussy baby and an overscheduled family have governed the month, and that’s ok. And as I said, my Christmas lesson this year is that ready or not, it all works out.

One comment 8 kids, Christmas, Decorating

A Decorated Laundry Room

November 18, 2009 jennifer Decorating

I really love my laundry room.

When we built our home, I did a few things right. Four of them involve the laundry room:
1. We put it upstairs where the bedrooms are instead of on the main floor where the original plans placed it 2. I had the cabinets painted red!

I LOVE these cabinets. They make me smile every time I see them. Funny how something so simple can make such a big difference.

Because I needed so few of them, I splurged on a special order starfish knob for the doors and drawers. I love them!

The third thing I did right was have the room built to hold two sets of washers and dryers, one stackable set and one set side by side.

These machines are my friends. Every time I start some laundry, I pause in the doorway when I turn off the light. I love to look back into the dark room and see the digital lights on all four of them, assuring me that they will do their job while I do other parts of my job.

You see, these friends are the only things in my house (next to my dishwashers) that I can count on to work even when I’m not watching. I have 8 children, and the real workers are the machines! (I know, I know, I must be doing something wrong but please tell me that when you look away your children start playing too!)

You can think I’m weird, but I give thanks for those machines EVERY TIME I turn them on. I don’t ever want to know what life would be like without them! I’m so grateful for the 847 loads of laundry that they help me to do each week.

True story (except the part about 847 loads. It’s not really that much, but it sure feels like it sometimes).

Well, when I placed my new runner made from placemats on the dryer this week, I suddenly had NO DESIRE to fold those 847 loads of laundry that were sitting in baskets in my bedroom. All I wanted to do was play in my laundry room!

I liked the flag and vintage chairs that I have sitting atop the washing machine, but wanted to do more. A little trip around the house yielded this:

A silver mirror with lead between a set of old shutters. Both were just waiting for me to do something with them. (Yes! I love it when I finally put something to good use!) I like the way it helps the room feel a little bit more open since it’s long and narrow.

Notice the laundry sign at the end of the room? It says: Laundry Expertly and Neatly Washed & Folded under personal supervision. Sometimes that’s my accomplishment; sometimes it’s my goal. And sometimes it’s my joke. Either way I like the sign.

The fourth great thing I did in my laundry room was to add a door between the laundry room and my closet. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been thankful for that thought! I decided to add something to that door to help the room feel more pretty.

I am a collector of old linens, but generally I don’t collect items of clothing. A couple of years ago, however, I stumbled upon this vintage slip. It is nothing short of incredible. To me, It’s awe inspiring. It’s hand embroidered, and I can’t begin to describe how beautiful it is to me. I bought it.

I’d like to meet the woman who spent dozens of hours working on this piece of art.
I ironed it and hung it with an old wood hanger. I then tied some ribbons and a lavender sachet made from old embroidered linens to the hanger. I added some millinery flowers, and hung it on the door.

On the laundry room counter I keep a few things:

A bucket of lavender laundry detergent for my vintage linens, fabric softener for them as well, and a basket holding lavender sachets made from lavender I grew and some pretty ribbons to tie around my favorite pieces. On the other end I keep:

Soap, hand sanitizer and my favorite lotion in a cast iron tray with some towels for hand drying. I also keep a wooden spoon which I use when I’m soaking linens in the nearby sink.

And that’s my laundry room. I felt so happy when I finished decorating it!
Which brings me to the fifth thing I did right in my laundry room (Yes, I said four, but now I have five). I filled it with things I love. Making my laundry room a place I like to be sure helps motivate me to do the laundry! Hey, if you’re gonna do the work, why not do it in an inspiring atmosphere?

2 comments blue, Decorating, Linens, vintage, white

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