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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

blog rethink


Thank you for such kind comments about the blog, you are so nice to comment and email me!  I have been thinking about what to do. Last week, I was thinking the blog was kaput... boring, lacking any interesting content, blah but after hearing from such thoughtful readers, perhaps I should just change the format a bit. One is to post much less frequently, perhaps a few times a month and the second is to post only unique content, taken with my own camera with the exception of a monthly Etsy post with some of my favorite finds. Etsy is a never ending source of entertainment for me, not to mention a definite stress reliever and mood enhancer. There is something about seeing all that creativity grouped together in one place! We are heading to NYC to visit our daughter next week and work on the bedroom of her apartment, perhaps a post can come from that. I appreciate hearing from you, thank you!

Interior Designer Lori Pepe - Lunché : Relaxed and Beautiful

The portfolio of Berkeley, CA interior designer Lori Pepe - Lunché evokes several adjectives: relaxed, unstuffy, warm, welcoming, and refreshing. All very good things. Here are a few of my favorite rooms by Lori.
White bedding...I think white bedding is my favorite.  I have lots of printed linens, but I always think my bedroom looks prettiest when my bed is done in all whites...


I adore this bathroom.  The cool slick marble contrasting with the branch sconces and decor is glamorous, but not too overt.



The small Berkeley kitchen below is full of cool storage solutions


How cool are those utensil holders?  I've never seen anything like them before.


Check out Lori's fab blog, Design Salon.

Bedroom furniture designs ideas.





Bedroom furniture designs ideas.

Happy Halloween!

Halloween fun....

via Pinterest


all images via Pinterest

Halloween is not huge in England but in the last few years it's pretty popular in my neighhourhood
....we're off to a party with some friends this afternoon & then at about 5pm we'll trick or treat at our friend's houses.

Have fun.....bwahahahaha!



devotional wednesday


{ source via pinterest



Guest Post - Autumn Decorating....

Today I'm very pleased to welcome a guest post by Jessica Phan about decorating during Autumn. Autumn is my favourite time of year, and whilst it's getting close to Summer over here in Australia, it's Autumn for half the world - you lucky things!

*******

Beyond Blooms: Decorating with Natural Accessories

Autumn is officially here and many people are inspired to decorate their home with the shades of nature. When the leaves start to turn colors, turn to the elements of the season to transform your home into a warm, inviting haven. Here are a few simple ideas to help you customize your décor this fall.

Decorate with Bark:

Create interesting picture frames to hold your favorite family memories with the help of bark. The outer layer of the tree's bark features varying textures and colors that add an interesting touch to old picture frames.

Head to a nearby woodshop or lumber yard and purchase a few sheets of bark. Cut these into squares or rectangles, big enough to be inserted into the frame. Next, trim your picture so that it's smaller than the sheets. Stick the picture in the middle and you have a unique nature-inspired border.

If you want to add color, you can paint a thin layer over the sheet. Pick autumn colors like red, yellow, and orange to emphasize the texture of the bark.

Wooden Tables:

Store-bought wooden tables can be expensive, especially if they're professionally carved and varnished. Instead of buying a new one, keep a look out for tree stumps that you can customize to fit your home. When you find one, paint a layer of varnish over it to keep it looking fresh and termite-free.

You can also use tree stumps as side tables to prop up other design elements in your home.

For something more unique, use several pieces of large driftwood as a base for your table. Glue and nail them together, ensuring both the top and bottom are aligned. If there are odd pieces sticking out, cut and file them out, as you want a sturdy base for the table top glass. Once the glass is in place, you now have a homemade table perfect for the living room or the entertainment area.

Autumn Tree-branch Arrangement:

Since autumn is known for bare branches and the crunch of fallen leaves, bring those elements into your home using materials culled from your own backyard. If you don't have access to a garden, the park is a great place to look for these materials.

Collect dried branches and leaves in varying shades and lengths. Some trees have multi-colored leaves that are perfect for adding life to decor. You can also look for pebbles or rocks to serve as a base for the branches.

Once you have everything, get a tall, clear vase and fill it with pebbles or rocks. Stick the branches in any order and finish it off with a sprinkle of autumn leaves. This vase arrangement is a great way to bring the scenery of autumn into your home.

Wall Decor:

Who says you can only hang art work on your wall?

Wood weavings, wood chips, and old birds' nests that have been flattened and dried make for great wall décor.

Juxtapose the beauty of the outdoors with the home's interiors by framing them or sticking them right on the walls.

Wood chips, for example, add texture to painted walls and create great conversation starters when you have guests over.

Decorate old birds' nests with pine cones and other knick-knacks and hang these as wall décor over the mantel or on doors.

Incorporating nature into your home décor is easy. Just remember to keep yourself inspired by enjoying the beauty of the outdoors. Take a stroll around the local park or your own backyard to look for new elements that can turn any home into a warm, inviting place for friends and families to gather.

*******
Jessica Phan is a designer for Balsamhill.com, a purveyor of high-end artificial Christmas Trees. Living in the San Francisco Bay Area is perfect for her because she has a wide range of interests, including Art & Design, Fashion, Photography, Painting and Thrift Store Shopping.

*******

Thanks Jessica!

Linda. :)

Guest Post - Autumn Decorating....

Today I'm very pleased to welcome a guest post by Jessica Phan about decorating during Autumn. Autumn is my favourite time of year, and whilst it's getting close to Summer over here in Australia, it's Autumn for half the world - you lucky things!

*******

Beyond Blooms: Decorating with Natural Accessories

Autumn is officially here and many people are inspired to decorate their home with the shades of nature. When the leaves start to turn colors, turn to the elements of the season to transform your home into a warm, inviting haven. Here are a few simple ideas to help you customize your décor this fall.

Decorate with Bark:

Create interesting picture frames to hold your favorite family memories with the help of bark. The outer layer of the tree's bark features varying textures and colors that add an interesting touch to old picture frames.

Head to a nearby woodshop or lumber yard and purchase a few sheets of bark. Cut these into squares or rectangles, big enough to be inserted into the frame. Next, trim your picture so that it's smaller than the sheets. Stick the picture in the middle and you have a unique nature-inspired border.

If you want to add color, you can paint a thin layer over the sheet. Pick autumn colors like red, yellow, and orange to emphasize the texture of the bark.

Wooden Tables:

Store-bought wooden tables can be expensive, especially if they're professionally carved and varnished. Instead of buying a new one, keep a look out for tree stumps that you can customize to fit your home. When you find one, paint a layer of varnish over it to keep it looking fresh and termite-free.

You can also use tree stumps as side tables to prop up other design elements in your home.

For something more unique, use several pieces of large driftwood as a base for your table. Glue and nail them together, ensuring both the top and bottom are aligned. If there are odd pieces sticking out, cut and file them out, as you want a sturdy base for the table top glass. Once the glass is in place, you now have a homemade table perfect for the living room or the entertainment area.

Autumn Tree-branch Arrangement:

Since autumn is known for bare branches and the crunch of fallen leaves, bring those elements into your home using materials culled from your own backyard. If you don't have access to a garden, the park is a great place to look for these materials.

Collect dried branches and leaves in varying shades and lengths. Some trees have multi-colored leaves that are perfect for adding life to decor. You can also look for pebbles or rocks to serve as a base for the branches.

Once you have everything, get a tall, clear vase and fill it with pebbles or rocks. Stick the branches in any order and finish it off with a sprinkle of autumn leaves. This vase arrangement is a great way to bring the scenery of autumn into your home.

Wall Decor:

Who says you can only hang art work on your wall?

Wood weavings, wood chips, and old birds' nests that have been flattened and dried make for great wall décor.

Juxtapose the beauty of the outdoors with the home's interiors by framing them or sticking them right on the walls.

Wood chips, for example, add texture to painted walls and create great conversation starters when you have guests over.

Decorate old birds' nests with pine cones and other knick-knacks and hang these as wall décor over the mantel or on doors.

Incorporating nature into your home décor is easy. Just remember to keep yourself inspired by enjoying the beauty of the outdoors. Take a stroll around the local park or your own backyard to look for new elements that can turn any home into a warm, inviting place for friends and families to gather.

*******
Jessica Phan is a designer for Balsamhill.com, a purveyor of high-end artificial Christmas Trees. Living in the San Francisco Bay Area is perfect for her because she has a wide range of interests, including Art & Design, Fashion, Photography, Painting and Thrift Store Shopping.

*******

Thanks Jessica!

Linda. :)

Cosy Winter.

A chuva veio para ficar. O frio faz-lhe companhia. Altura ideal para todos nós entrarmos em "retreat mode", uns sozinhos, outros nem por isso.

Em qualquer dos casos, encontre aquele objecto cosy que lhe trás o aconchego necessário, como por exemplo, uma pele de ovelha (sintética) num tom terra.


Tons Terra | Ajudam a criar ambientes de bem-estar, tranquilidade e calma. São as cores mais quentes da palete, e sempre boas escolhas para épocas frias, como o Outono e Inverno, ou para espaços e ambientes mais húmidos, como por exemplo casas de campo ou praia.



Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Holiday Open House - the line up!

We have several local vendors joining us for our Holiday Open House*.   We really wanted a farmer's market feel for this year's event, so several months back we chose a few local businesses to help carry the theme for us and offer our customers some wonderful local products.

Don't forget, Marian Parsons will be joining us Friday, November 2nd, and Saturday, November 3rd. 

Marian will be on hand to sign her new book, Inspired You, and provide demonstrations of her new milk paint line produced by Homestead House Paints.



Oak Spring Dairy joins us from Upperville, Virginia.  You can find Oak Spring's products at local farmer's markets {including their 25 varieties of cheese}; or you can stop by the Holiday Open House and meet this wonderful local business.




Brothers Olde Fashioned Bakery hails from Round Hill, Virginia.  They offer a variety of goodies, including, pies, cakes, muffins, brownies mixes, and gluten free items.





Liz Handcrafted Soap offers more than 60 varieties of handcrafted soaps, including many holiday scents.  Many of the soap varieties are vegan- friendly; however, there are also Goat’s Milk and Lavender soaps, which use fresh, local goat’s milk.

{source}
Sugarloaf Alpacas is owned by Kevin and Nancy Brandt who raise nearly 100 huacaya and suri alpacas of all colors. The farm is nestled on 40 acres of prime farmland in Frederick County, Maryland.





We are pleased to welcome back Carpe Donut again this year to our Holiday Open House.  An awesome company that makes awesome donuts.  Carpe Donut uses organic flour, organic eggs, organic apple cider, and organic spices in their donuts. They add pure organic sugar and non-aluminated baking powder; all donuts are cooked in 100% pure soybean oil.




Pizzeria MOTO is back again this year!  They offer delicious pizzas out of their mobile wood-fired pizza oven.  Pizzeria MOTO has been at several of our events, including our Spring Market, and they are a crowd favorite!





Tarara Winery is a short drive from our Leesburg, Virginia store.  Founded in 1989 by Whitie and Margaret Hubert, the 475 acre farm showcases the best of Virginia Artisan Wines.



 
Our existing vendors have promised to bring extra treasures for this weekend.  So be on the lookout for items in the pavilions and the tent on the property too!




Yes, our Holiday Open House is still on, November 2, 3 & 4.  Bring your boots, the grounds are a little wet from Hurricane Sandy.  We'll also have The Design House Open November 9, 10 & 11 for those who can't make it this weekend due to the storm.




* Please note that due to Hurricane Sandy, we are doing our best to confirm that all the businesses listed will still be able to participate in the Holiday Open House.  We don't anticipate any major changes, and will try to make updates as we hear of any scheduling changes.  Thank you for being patient with us and for being respectful of these local small businesses that have been affected by the recent hurricane.

Wooden kitchen furniture designs ideas.





Wooden kitchen furniture designs ideas.

My Summer in Europe - Budapest Part 2

If you saw my first post covering our trip in Budapest, you know how much I loved it. It is such an amazing city. There were so many photos I wanted to share that I had to break it up into two posts, so here goes again.

The Hungarian Parliament Building is one of Europe's oldest legislative buildings and the largest building in Hungary.





Aerial views from the top of St. Stephen's Basilica

A view of Castle Hill - you can see the top of Fisherman's Bastion



Along with my 10 week backpacking trip with my fiance Chris, I have also done traveling on my own to France and Italy.  Traveling alone is an enjoyable, albeit different experience than traveling with a friend.  Everything is on your scheduled and your preferences.  I think it's becoming more popular to take single vacations, as more and more places are advertising themselves to the lone traveler.

One of the highlights for me was the stunning, not-to-be-missed Matthias Church.  Unfortunately because of the bright spotlights from the ceiling, and our not-so-great camera, it was hard to capture the beautiful blue of the ceiling.

If you really like these you MUST go to 360 Cities where you can click and drag for a 360 degree, high res. view of the church







Here are some screen grabs from 360 cities.




Here's that list again of all my posts from our travels that I've posted -

Spain

•Introduction to my European backpacking trip and a list of places we visited
• Galicia - Baiona and Isle de Cies
• Galicia - the coast, some charming vineyards, and Pontevedra
• Santiago de Compostela and gorgeous hidden beaches
• Gorgeous mountain lakes of Picos de Europa
• Stunning mountains - Picos de Europa
• Bilbao and San Sebastian
• Beautiful Barcelona
• The amazing Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona
• Art Nouveau dream house by Gaudi in Barcelona

Italy

• Not to miss - the gorgeous rocky coast of Italy's Cinque Terre
• More from my summer traveling Europe - amazing Rome
• From my summer in Europe - amazing Pompeii
• Turquoise ocean and vineyards on cliffs - the amazingly stunning Amalfi coast
• My Summer in Europe: Pictures from lovely Florence, Italy
• Enchanting Siena
Venice
Lake Como, Italy

Switzerland
Jungfrau region, Switzerland, Part 1
Jungfrau region, Switzerland, Part 2

Germany
• One of my favorite cities from my European backpacking trips - Ulm, Germany
• Lake Constance
• Cute HOUSE Overload - the charming medieval homes of Germany's Romantic Road
• Regensburg, Germany, and Salzburg, Austria  

Austria
• Salzburg
• A charming lakeside village, Hallstatt
Beautiful Vienna
Kunst Haus Wien in Vienna

Hungary
Budapest Part 1

*disclosure: This post is brought to you in partnership with Varvacations.com

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