A little more Blue and White

Ok..I just had to share a few more blue and white pictures with you because I'm just loving this color combination. The blue is more of a muted, steel blue with a hint of sea. How do ya like that description???? hee,hee,hee.

So this is my bedroom. I love the new carpet and I got those fabulous curtains at Lowes! Yep Lowes! They have scrolly stuff on them and that made it even better because it matched my scrolly ironwork above the bed. That sucker is heavy too! We haved it nailed up really good though so it won't fall off the wall and mush us in the middle of the night. I've told you before, but I really, really love my big fluffy bed! It's huge and the mattress comes up above my waist. Yes, I do have to "hop" into bed. ;)

Next, this little mirror I found at a junk shop for $15! It practically jumped into my hands! I walked around the store with the biggest smile on my face! The soap dispenser is Shabby Chic from Target. You know I had to have it with the scrolly stuff on it. I also have one in the kitchen. Behind it is the pillow I made from that gorgeous blue paisley fabric.

Finally is this cutie rabbit that I've shown you before. He looks good no matter where I put him.

In fact, right now he resides on the back of the toilet in the guest bathroom and tells the men "don't pee on the seat, mama will kill you."  ;)

Have a fun day and don't forget to scroll down and register for the giveaway!!!

A little Blue a little White

  Just a few pretty pictures. I have to have some dental procedures done tomorrow. Ick, gag, puke.

I wanted to look at something pretty first. You now... something "simply serene"...before the ouches start. I am loving this blue and white thing I got going on.

Your Opinions, My Decision and Simply Serene

Well I have to say that ya'll are just soooooo much fun!!!! I loved reading all your opinions and I wanted to share some of the ideas with you. Thank you very much for your ideas and comments!

First, many of you asked to see the entire quilt unfolded. This is my Rococo Rabbits #1 pattern. I haven't finished writing the pattern yet as I wasn't sure if it was something that people (quilters) would like to buy and make for themselves. Let me know if you think I should finish writing the pattern. You do know they are bunnies right? Ears and feet joined together.

Next, there was a suggestion to fold it in thirds and lay it on the couch. This looks ok, but it doesn't "wow" me because this quilt is pretty big and I think it sticks out too far this way.

Another suggestion was to fold it over the arm of the couch. Again, this looks too big there too.

So what did I decide??? Well, it's like this. Like I said in earlier posts, I have worked in interior design for a long time and have decorated houses for lots of different styles. I have learned that we all have our "comfort, happy, homey" look. Quilters tend to have lots of fabric and clutter and big cozy hearts. Others like lots and lots of color and warmth and they have the warm personality to match. Then there are the super modern folks that like all white and no clutter because they need calm and peacefulness in their hectic, uptight, world. There are more, but only these 3 relate to this story. hee,hee,hee.

So what is my style? Well, it's somewhere in the middle. I love white and how it makes me feel. I like specific clutter, meaning things that speak to me and usually larger scale items, not a lot of nick knacks. I like just a hint or splash of color and not a lot of pattern, just soft flowing lines and texture. Several of my long time readers know my style, but I've finally decided on a name for it, "Simply Serene."

So...I will take the left over yummy fabric and make myself two really big quilted pillows that can be laid on, cuddled, squished and washed. They will give me just enough color and pattern without being overload on my eyes. They will tie the colors of the rug in, yet not compete with the color of the drapes in the background.  They will be "Simply Serene."

Thanks again my friends. Ya'll truly are soooooooooo much fun!
Love ya bunches!
Michelle

Hello Beautiful

Well hello there beautiful.

No....not me. hee,hee,hee. The fabric!!! I just had to have this beautiful blue paisley!

I made a pillow for the chaise in my bedroom. I love it! I still have some left to make a few other projects. I wish I could sew clothes...I would love a jacket made from this!

At Home with White, oh and a Hint of Blue

As I mentioned last week, I have a lot of things to share with you this week. I thought I would start out with what I've been doing since last year. I've been "nesting" so to speak. No...don't get all crazy, I'm not pregnant. I've just been doing a lot of soul searching, thinking and preparing.

Over the years I have had the pleasure of decorating many homes and enjoying many different styles. It's easy to get caught up in things and to think you like something when really it's not who you truly are. After all, if your home doesn't reflect you, then why are you paying the bills there?

I built my home almost 9 years ago and boy oh boy has it gone through some design changes. This past year I have slowly found myself again and brought my home back to what David and I like best. White.

Here are some before and after pictures.

This was our living room last April. Yellow, fake plants (I can't grow stuff), carpet.

Here it is now. White, sand colored walls, no fake dusty stuff and new hardwood floors.

 Oh..and a hint of blue.

Before the view into the kitchen. Again, yellow flowers, etc.

The same view now. Have I told you how much I love hardwood! So Clean!

The dining room before. A whole lot of flowers, yellow and foo foo.

Our dining room now. Calm, Comfy and Sophisticated.

Oh... and a hint of blue.

The dining room table came from Ballard Designs and the shelving piece in the corner is from Target's Shabby Chic pieces. The artwork on the wall was black iron that got the spray paint treatment.

 

The foyer before. Again...lots of flowers and foo foo.

The foyer now. White and sophisticated. Even the bunny is sophisticated! The foyer table came from Ballard Designs and the mirror I found in a junk shop and David painted it for me. The two vases were a hideous gold color, so they got some paint too!

This is the view from the kitchen to the front door. Everything is very open.

The walls look a little yellow in theses photos, but they are really a sand color. In fact, the color is China Moon from Valspars Seaside Retreat Collection at Lowes. The trim color is Sailcloth. David painted the whole house.

I had to laugh when I thought about the fact that David and I both love blue jeans and white shirts and we pretty much wear the same style all the time. I've always been a tomboy at heart (love cowgirl boots) and I really don't like a bunch of foo foo that get's dusty. I love calm, clean and serene. White with a hint of blue.

It sure does feel good to be home.

Thinking about flying

The girl with the paint swatches

I have to laugh every year when I visit the wonderful vendors at the quilt festival and they remember me as "the girl with the paint swatches." Ya'll know I love my paint swatches and I never leave home without them. I can't help it, it's the designer in me. I find when I'm designing new patterns, it helps me to stay focused on my ideas if I keep my color scheme handy.

So here are my fabric, button and trim purchases along with my paint swatches. What do you think?

Now to get to work on those designs! Oh boy! Fun! Fun! Fun!

hugs and friends,

shell

Feeling a little Blue...In a good way!

So it all started when I took one of those quizzes about personality and color. I love taking those things. They are always the same answer, but somehow I think I need to keep taking them in case someone else invaded my body and I may somehow like something else! Yeah right...I'm the same old ding dong as before!

So this one said that "you are not one for a lot of color." Uhhh yep, that would be right. Then it said, "you like a calm neutral background with a little bit of color added in through accents. Hmmmm....

Then I saw this on sale at Pottery Barn. Since I just ripped all the carpeting out of the living room and added hardwood, I wanted a little rug for under the coffee table to ground the room if you will. I saw that this had that calm blue color I liked and the price was good, so I thought I would give it a try. Can we say loooooooooooooove it!!!!

Then... I remembered this cool clock I saw at Pier 1 or as my friend says, Pier Fun! I said to myself that if it was still there, it was meant to be and I would bring it home. Hello clock, welcome to your new home! David likes it too. We have this weird obsession with time.

Then Pier fun had these really pretty hydrangeas in the same blue. I thought I could add them to the kitchen to bring that little bit of blue color there.

Then I found this candle and put it in my favorite candle holder. It smells divine and again adds just a touch of color.

Oh and then I found some great scented oil at Pier fun called Oceans. I love the way it smells and the color.... perrrrrrfect! Isn't it funny how you can't smell your own house??? I buy all this stuff, but can't smell my own smell. What's even funnier is when someone asks you to describe the smell of their house and you can't.. you just say...it smells like you!!! hee,hee,hee! Cracks me up!

Then.... I went to Bed Bath and Beyond and found these ready made curtains (still had to take the hem out and resew, but ok with that). The color... perfect, the embroidered flowers on them...perfect!!! The price... on clearance and then the fella gave me two coupons...perfect! I got both panels for $30!!!! I think they add a great little "pop" of color to my dining room.

So...here's what the rug looks like in the living room.

Another view of it. See the clock and the new chenille throw on the chair? I think it still looks very calm, clean and serene. Maybe a little more spa zen???

Now... here is some Valdani floss that is soooo perfect with my new color scheme. I'm currently designing a new pattern with this floss to hang in the dining room. I'm so excited!!! I can't stitch it fast enough! Of course you'll be able to make the pattern too! I really think you'll like it!

Stay tuned!
yf,
shell