The future

I am officially a university alumnus...with ever-present coffee cup

While I was away

Okay, I haven't really been away, just absent from this blogging space. I was shocked today when I realized how long it has been since my last post. Full time work hours have definitely been cutting into my decorating and blogging time. I sure would have a lot more time on my hands in I didn't need to sleep.

I am taking my commitment to prettying my home very seriously. At last count I had 22 items on my decor to-do list. All a result of the recent flurry of creative brainstorming and internet surfing. There's so much inspiration out there. The mind reels.

My dining table has become the decorating hub of my home. Here you see a number of art projects in various stages of completion, plus lengths of fabric I'm using around the house. Some day we'll be able to eat here again, or so I hope.

I've had all these framed pieces lined up waiting to be hung for several weeks now. For some reason I'm having trouble putting nails in my walls. I am especially excited to have two new Black Apple prints (to the right). I have a new obsessive (and very dangerous) relationship with Etsy.

I've made a little progress on my room. I finally got rid of the nasty blind and replaced it with some fresh white curtains. Much softer and prettier. And I did put at least two nails in the wall by hanging the decor above the headboard. I'm still trying to decide what to do about the headboard. 

More art waiting to be hung. I've seen similar pieces around the blog world, so this isn't exactly original, but I think it looks pretty. An Ikea frame, some Martha Stewart paper, and some butterfly stickers. So simple.

I just finished some pillows for the couch out of some vintage bark cloth I bought last summer. I like the way they look, but they sure take up a lot of space on the couch. I envision them ending up on the floor most of the time.

And in the kitchen...I hot glued some old silverware to a fabric covered canvas. I've also seen similar works around the blog world, so I cannot claim original credit. I'm happy with the way it turned out.

I also finally framed some tiles Javier and I bought on our honeymoon in Spain. These are the house numbers of our first home. We had planned to use them at that house, but then we sold the house. I'm glad I got to keep them as a momento of our sweet little house and our special getaway at the beginning of our married life.

I need some advice on how to fill this blank space I would love to hang wallpaper to fill this wall, but Javier has definitely put his foot down on the wallpaper issue. Boo hoo. We have 12(?) foot ceilings in our house and the amount of black space is very daunting. I certainly do better with smaller areas. Any ideas on a relatively inexpensive and attractive way to decorate this wall?

Update on the BOUDOIR challenge

What was once blue and boring...

...is now this tangy, citrusy green

The photos don't do this room justice

It's marvelous so far. Now I get to ACCESSORIZE.

I fear that I might dream about Granny Smith apples all night

Cherry blossoms in the backyard

Lizzie and I were giving our backyard some much-needed attention today and she discovered that one branch of our ornamental cherry tree had blossomed. This tree is the most annoying tree I've ever seen, as most of the season it dropped inedible cherries down on the ground which are crushed and smushed and create a horrible mess everywhere  Imagine walking over a field of EYEBALLS everyday from July through September. That's what it is like. But for now...

...we can enjoy...

...pretty flowers

Birthday surprises

Look at what Le Creuset just added to their line of gourmet cookware.

Oh Rain, you're so silly.

I got completely spoiled this year (as if I don't every other time!). The Le Creuset fairy came to visit for my birthday.

Loving the blue of this Dutch oven. The colour is Caribbean and I feel like I have a bit of the sky cooking in my oven.

Plus a matching mortar and pestle set. I've wanted one of these for years.

And a much needed spoon rest beside my stove. No more messy counter for me.

This gorgeous covered casserole dish is eagerly waiting for its first lasagna. Also from Le Creuset of course (told you I was spoiled)

My little Lizzie saved her money and bought me this heart pendant with a tiny emerald (my birthstone). I've worn it everyday since she gave it to me. It means so much to me.

A new bunny came to live with us as well on my birthday. I adore the wicker take on the traditional garden rabbit.

Are you jealous Ollie?

The $260 decorating challenge

Happy day-after-Mother's Day to everyone. I had a very quiet day around here yesterday. I over-indulged in some Australian wine at our Australian dinner party the night before. Yep, I'm a lightweight and a cheap drunk, so I wasted one of my rare days off feeling lousy. Oh well, I suppose I needed to catch up on my rest.

I'm moving on to new projects. Tax refund checks are in, so I'm going to finally decorate my master bedroom. I didn't get the whole check for my project- only $260.00- so I'm going to have to budget to achieve a Beautiful Boudoir. 

Want to see some of my plans?

Exhibit A - Looks okay. Just very, very boring. We had the entire interior of our house painted just days after we moved in. I quickly picked a shade of blue that I thought would look okay. And it did. Much better than the nicotine stained orange shade the previous owners had. I've lived with it for four years now, so I'm due for a change. 

Exhibit B - I would love to redo the inside of the closet, but I think all I'll do here is paint out the trim. Wait! Before you all get up in arms for painting wooden trim, let me assure you that the wood trim is most definitely not it's natural shade. The previous owner stained the trim a chocolatye-wine-ish colour. Very ugly and not very nicely done at that. I'm thinking a nice coat of pure white is the ticket.

Exhibit C - This is the dresser of shame. It's become a collection site for stray coins, lone socks, receipts, and anything else that cannot find its way home. I'm not sure if I will paint the dresser or not, but the very items on top will be relocated to their proper homes. Plus, the humidifier is a bit ugly too, so I will need to find a better home for it!

This picture is my inspiration for my room redo. It's from the March 2009 issue of Whole Living. I was flipping through the magazine at the checkout line at the grocery store, and I was immediately smitten by this photo. I'm not sure what it is, but I think I'd be happy waking up to this colour every morning.

It's surprisingly difficult to match the shade, because it's in a magazine and I'm told the scanner doesn't pick up the colour very well. I've been collecting colour swatches from all the various paint companies. Luckily, the quilt I planned for my bed has several shades of green I can also choose from.

I think I might have a winner - CIL's New Green. Very restful, no? Or maybe that was Behr. Now I just have to decide if I want four green walls or just one.

I have stack of decorating magazines down in my craft room, so I turned to them for more ideas. How about bamboo blinds with simple white panels over top. 

I like this simple decorative elements over the bed...

Look, I found just the thing at Winners. For $24.99 no less!

I'm not sure if my existing headboard will stay. I'm worried about how it will work will all the white trim. I have some large canvases that I may cover with fabric and put in it's place.

Of course, I'll put in some pretty embroidered pillowcases and I have a small console that I may dress with a fabric skirt for some additional colour.

Here are a few more elements in the room. I've ordered the lime trellis print to make pillow shams and the fabric on the pillow to cover a slipper chair I've had for years. And the mirror?

Another wonderful Winners find. I love that store. Unfortunately, I think at $119.99 this might put me over my budget, but isn't it pretty?  Maybe I'll save funds somewhere else.

I will keep you posted on my progress. I'm off to start clearing out the room. Wish me luck.