November 2, 2015
Fall Foliage Wreath…
I wrapped a large twig wreath with 12″ wide burlap strips, twisting and turning as I wrapped it around the wreath, leaving tails long enough to tie in a large knot at the top. I tucked a few of my dried hydrangea blossoms and sprigs of artificial fall foliage in and around the knot for a bit of color. Propping it against the back of the bench rather than hanging it above the bench, gave it just a slightly different presentation. It’s always fun to showcase something in an unexpected way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
October 26, 2015
In Thimbleberries Small Wonders book by Lynette Jensen, you’ll find a collection of 44 quilting inspirations. Here’s a sampling of some fall projects from the book. Order it from Laudauer Publishing today!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
October 12, 2015
Living room fireplace with Polka Dot Pumpkins 
Indian corn bouquet inspired from arrangement seen at Hog In the Road Restaurant 
Pumpkin Boy artwork with picture of baby Taylor in his giraffe Halloween costume
.
Stacked pumpkin display with picture of baby Ella in same giraffe costume 3 years later.
Sitting room fireplace with abstract artwork by Lynette grouped with an antique metal star stencil and pottery.
Dining room side board arrangement.
Kitchen island runner (Quilting for Harvest II still available from Landauer)
September 15, 2015
Just a few moments that caught my eye this summer….
Pics from top to bottom….Asiatic Lilies, Front courtyard garden, Astilbe, Potted Coleus with Asparagus Fern and Neeto, Lake Superior off Grand Marais, MN, Backyard garden shed, Side patio by my grill, Bird bath reflecting pergola on a still morning and Tent for Ella and Taylor.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
August 17, 2015
” I can honestly say, this is the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”
When it was time to give Ella her big girl bed in her own room at my house, some room shifting took place. Taylor moved into his new space and Ella took over what was once Taylor’s room when he was a baby. First thought…must the paint color change or could it work for her as well? I made the decision to choose items that would work with the existing paint job. The giant rick rack border and two toned walls were just too cute to bid farewell. So
the challenge was to “girl it up” without going down the usual pink path. Except for the bed and the child-size slipper chair, all other items were in the house somewhere and just needed to be brought together. Hanging a colorful quilt was probably the most important unifying element. It had so many colors in it that coordinated with the wall colors and gave the room a bright, cheerful vibe. The large blackboard (achieved with blackboard paint and molding) needed a touch to make it more feminine. A small shelf with fun brackets lent itself nicely for housing teapots, flowers, a small ballerina, etc. It was safe to assume it would be a long time before she would need blackboard space that high for her chalk artwork. Since she is still too small for drawing pictures, the chalk shelf is used for book display. It’s so much easier for her to select books when she can see the covers rather than just the spine of the book. The little
slipper chair (not shown) was slip covered in the same fabric as was used for a curtain doorway that leads into a little nook in the room that makes a perfect playhouse and houses an antique child’s cupboard. Many items used in Ella’s room were once in Kerry’s room when she was a little girl. Handmade artwork hangs throughout the room, including favorite, oversized paper dolls from the forties. I loved playing with paper dolls as a child and collected these little charmers over the years. Thank goodness they finally found their way out of storage to adorn the wall above the dollhouse from about the same era. Ella loves her room and is very proud of it and likes to keep it pretty. She was a little put out when she first walked into the room and immediately noticed a Star War’s light saber casually left on the floor by her brother. She promptly put it outside her bedroom door.
DIY project… I made the “Ella” name sign using paint chips from the hardware store, adhesive letters from Target craft department, mini close pins from Joann Fabrics, a piece of scrap booking paper, an old frame that I spray painted white, and a little glue.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
August 1, 2015
I am one of those people who is very influenced by the seasons of the year. Perhaps growing up and living my entire life in a part of the country that has very definite climate changes is the reason. I genuinely enjoy each season and look forward to the changes. The landscape is ever changing, entertaining takes on new emphasis, activity in the kitchen is dramatically different, family gatherings have new meaning, and of course, home decorating is inspired by the seasons.
Since we are in the middle of a delightful summer here, we are reminded of why we love living in Minnesota. Our attention as a family turns to spending time at our lake cabin nearby. From my earliest childhood through present, my fondest memories are of time spent with family and friends at “the cabin.” I grew up going to the cabin at Lake Minnie Belle. To continue the tradition, my husband Neil and I purchased the cabin, many years ago, from my parents so our children have been raised going to the same cabin. We are now into the fourth generation enjoying the same spot and the same activities. Our grandchildren, Taylor and Ella are following in everyone’s footsteps; literally, on the same yard and on the same dock. It is a lovely tradition that is being carried on every weekend from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Needless to say, the cabin has given me another canvas for decorating purposes. It is most fun to display and live with vintage pieces. It isn’t a… lake home, but rather a lake cabin…they are two very different things. It is still fun to add accessories and move things around a bit now and then.It has always been important to keep it casual and easy. Wet feet and bathing suits are always welcome. Here is the cabin as it is today…a welcoming summer retreat for all.
Photos and quilts shown below, Block Party and Holly Goose Chase, are featured in the book, New Collection of Classic Quilts by Lynette Jensen from Landauer Corporation. They are two of many we have at the cabin. The red, white and blue version of Block Party is used at the cabin, Holly Goose Chase without the holly appliqué is one of the beds.
