Halloween...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

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 boo,

F

Finding Inspiration...

Sometimes we just get stuck and can't find the spirit of inspiration.
It happens!
When this happens put down the usual magazines, shut down pinterest
and go for a walk.
That's right...
Go to a neighborhood with local boutiques, cafes and restaurants and
walk around, take a look at what's happening and how other people
are creating a comfortable and inspired space.

The other places I find inspirational is a city park or a busy corner and I
just hang out watching people. It's the best! You see trends in color,
pattern, hairstyles, tattoos. It's a world filled with inspiration out
there all you have to do is go find it and trust me it isn't always in
a magazine or on pinterest. I'm not saying you can't find it in those
places but sometimes you just have to get out and see it for yourself.

So, what are you waiting for.
Get going and be inspired

One of my favorite shops where I always find a little inspiration...

Flutter on Mississippi Ave.

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Be inspired!
Ciao,
F

It was meant to be...

Last year I spent a long weekend in Minnesota visiting my BFF
and doing a little junking. We stopped in one of her favorite little
vintage shops in the suburbs of Minneapolis. Here I found these
steel panels from an old carrousel  hand painted with Dutch country side images...
and I fell in love. They were beautiful in that vintage folk art way and
they reminded me of Holland where my dad was from.

I don't know why but I didn't buy one. I know, silly right?
You should always buy it if your gut is screaming for it.
Well, a year later and I was still kicking myself for not buying one.

This brings me to this September when I stopped in Minneapolis for a couple
of days to see my BFF and do a little junking. You seeing a pattern yet?
This year we went to Junk Bonanza, neither of us had been before.
We were cruising around and I was reminiscing about the carrousel panels
I was still kicking myself for not buying from last year. I had to stop off
in the restroom and when I came out my friends said "your not going to believe
this but..."

Right behind where we stopped were the ladies who owned the shop we had
been in the year before. (I'm horrible, I don't remember the shops name).
We asked them about the panels and your not going to believe this but they
still had two of them. I described the one I wanted and yes, it was one
of the two they still had. Her husband was kind enough to run them over
and this time I bought one.

Now the issue was how was I going to get it home. Shipping it was more
expensive then what I paid for it and the thing weighed at least 45lbs.
Well, just a couple of booths down was a woman from Yakima.
Some of you might know her, Lisa Souers.
We told her our shipping delima and she offered to stick it in her
truck as she had room now and it wasn't very bulky and I would
find some time to run up to Yakima to pick it up. 

Well, a couple of weeks later, everyone is home again and Lisa and I
are trying to figure out a weekend that would work for both of us for
me to pick it up when she told me she would be up at Ruffles and Rust
in Monroe, WA. I figured, a quick drive to Monroe, pick up my piece
and I get to stop in Bellevue to see a girlfriend.

It all worked, out! I drove up to Monroe on Friday found my new friend
Lisa and picked up my fabulous folk art.

I owe Lisa a HUGE thank you for schlepping my piece half way across the
country and to Monroe just for me. You ROCK sister! Thank you!

Here's the piece, it's not a great picture but you'll get the idea.

Now I need to figure out how to hang it. My walls are lath and plaster and not
very forgiving with holes or heavy things hanging. But that's for another day.

So, you see it was all meant to be.

ciao,
F

take me away...

I so want to be here right now...

warm cozy blanket

a hot toddy

and 

pure quite.

 

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 ciao,

F

Crisp days and plaid...

I am loving this Indian Summer...
Crisp nights and mornings with sunny afternoons.
Absolutely lovely!
It's a great excuse to pull out those favorite plaids.

Saturday afternoon picnic...

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warm and snuggly on those chilling nights...

 

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perfect fall...

 

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perfectly upholstered...

 

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don't be shy, deck out the walls...

 

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why only one, why not a stack...

 

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I know there is an apple pie hiding inside...

 

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cozy home...

 

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so, pull out those plaid blankets, pack a picnic and cozy up in your favorite
sweater and enjoy all the season offers.

ciao,
f

lovely surprises...

Opposites really do attract...

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ciao,
f

Decor seasonally styled...

I have a hard time when the season of summer ends
and it becomes fall as you probably have already figured
out by my previous post.
To help with the transition I decorate or what I like to call
a little re-merchandising of my house. It's a mind trick I play
on myself and you know what, it works.

Here are some of the little things I do to spice up the season.

a little burlap on the table...

leaves are natures way of dressing the season...

 

accessorize the mantel with touches of fall...

 

different nuts sprinkled around candles add textures and brown tones...

 

placing orange and white pumpkins balance the orange...

 

sunflowers are my favorite transition flowers...

 

a few pillows or blankets in oranges and browns make a room

that much cozier...

The sun is still out which makes this all that much easier and of course little changes
in my scenery goes with out being said.
Have a little fun with your own seasonal changes.

ciao,
F

Tis the season to be Fall...

Today was the last day of Summer but it felt more
like the first day of Fall.
I'm a lover of Summer and mourn just a little every year
when it comes to an end but I would be lying to say their isn't
something about Fall or better yet an Indian Summer that I did like.

Fall Decor and Warm Browns

 

Donuts on a cold Fall morning

 

chunky sweaters, boots and scarves

 

pumpkins

 

Here's to a beautiful Fall
and a farewell to another Summer.

Ciao,
F

Back to School...

It's that time of year again,
when the weather starts showing little hints of fall,
summer vacations come to an end
and kids go back to school.
We don't have two legged kids (we have the four legged kind)
but we do go back to school in my house
because you see, my Mr O is a music teacher
for both elementary and middle school at a local
private school.
So, we do the annual back to school shopping,
you can't have your teacher wearing last years garb.
It's an adjustment for me and my "boys".
They spend more time at home alone and well,
I lose my house husband which means I have to
start doing my part around the house.
Like I said it's an adjustment.

So to all those amazing teachers and
their students...

Welcome back to School!

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Ciao,
F

in progress...

I don't know if you all remember but a few weeks ago
on my FB page and maybe here, but I can't remember,
I mentioned that I would be getting space for a studio
all for me.

Well, after some serious cleaning, moving stuff, getting rid
of stuff I can say it is finally starting to come together.
Today, we moved my new (new to me) table, locker
and what will be a book case into the space.

There is still much work to be done but I can finally
start seeing what it's going to look like and what I want
it to feel like.

I have to say I am pretty excited and down right excited!

Here are some pictures, excuse the quality as I took them
with my phone but you'll get the idea.

This is the bookcase, I just need to add a shelf.

My table!

 

I love the patina on this locker, eventually it will house 

by biking gear.

 

I look forward to time in there,
drawing, designing and sewing.
I'll keep you posted on it's progress.

Here's to creating your space to
ignite your creativity!

Ciao,
F

Summer is still here...

to all those nay sayers out there
bitching and moaning that summer is over...
please look outside at the blue sky, the big yellow sun
and feel the warmth on your skin, this is summer.
in a month or two you can tell me it's over until then...




ciao,
F

word...

a very good word...

a very good word indeed!

Ciao,
F

scales...

I love scales! I just do...

I seem to have this perverse desire to buy them
and if possible sell them. I will admit there are a few
scattered around my house, even one in grams.

There is just so much you can do with a scale other then
the obvious plus they add a fun focal point that is guaranteed
to start a conversation.

to stage vignettes...

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 this one sits in my best friends kitchen...

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 wine bar of course...

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 plates on one, oranges on the other...

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 measuring salsa ingredients...

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so, next time you run into a scale don't just walk by it
but consider taking it home and giving it a new life.

ciao,

F

industrial lighting...

I tend to fall in love with something and
then I obsess over it and want to collect them.
Not for myself, well yes for myself, but you
see I don't have much room and I would have to
get rid of something which I don't do well
and with out turning my house
inside out and starting from almost scratch, which
I would love to do but it's not really feasible, it's not for myself.

So, I hunt and collect and obsess in hopes that I can live
vicariously through my clients and customers.

This week it's industrial lighting.

I have always had an obsession but until yesterday
I haven't found a lot of it that isn't already super expensive.
Yes, I scored a small collection (about 8 lamps) of perfect
industrial lights. Now I will admit one or maybe two will end
up in my studio but the rest will be for sale.
They haven't arrived yet so no pictures but instead a little taste
of others I have pinned to my Pinterest boards.

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Once I get my lamps I'll post them to my FB page.
I just love the character, patina and charm of these.

ciao,
F

What's your color?

Everybody has a color or two they gravitate to,
and when we decorate our little nests we sometimes
pop them in to our rooms but more often then not we
shy away from adding color
because we aren't sure how or if it will look good even if
it is our absolute favorite color and can't imagine life
without it.

Here's what I say, throw it in! Start with some pillows
or a throw rug; pull in some small pieces that might have
some of that favorite color in it and then when you are
feeling confident and realize you can make this work
buy a piece of furniture in your favorite color; paint a wall
or two in it or find a rug popping with color.

I know, you are thinking that's easier said then done, but
really people it's not that hard, it's your favorite color just
remember baby steps if needed then go for the gusto.
You'll love it and everyday when you walk through your
little nest you will smile because it's your favorite color.

So, what's your favorite color?

tango orange...

 blues...

yellow...

pink...

 

lavender...

green...

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Tell me, inquiring minds want to know what is your favorite color in your nest?

ciao,
F

studio space...

my Mr O decided he was done with his man cave
in the basement and wanted to change things up
in how some of the rooms in our house were set up.

at first I was confused and then he threw out this
idea about turning the basement into my studio space.
well, I don't have to tell you what a good idea I thought
this was and you didn't have to ask me twice if I thought
it was a good idea.

my brain has been spinning with ideas on how I
want to set up and style the space. It will become
office space, design space, sewing space and storage space.
yes, it's that big. Of course it is going to be filled with
as much vintage I can find for it (I've already raided
my inventory for some pieces). Now the big question
became what look or style would I use...

well, I think I have landed on an industrial, rustic, primitive
style with lots of woods and metals. I haven't settled on the
pop color yet, leaning towards yellow but I did just buy the
coolest metal industrial blue stool for the table I want to make.

anyway, next week I am off so plan on doing some work
on the space and will chronicle the journey.

some of my inspiration:

 

ciao,
f