a waddle through my garden

Almost nothing compares to Springtime in our garden.  After the grays of winter, the yellow grass, cold nights, it's such a wonderful feeling when Spring arrives.  Our flowers burst into bloom and we always seem to find a new project around the house.  This year, it's the deck.  We've decided to make it waterproof under-neath so it has been challenging.  But finally we are on the downhill side.  I'll post pics soon.

Our plantings have been on delay but we're getting started this week.  After many years of trial and error, I think we've come up with some low maintenance yet long lasting plants that do not have to be replaced yearly.  With 2.5 acres of gardens and ponds, annuals are just not an option.What garden would be complete without hydrangeas.  You've heard about my blue ones, but competing in popularity are my oak leaf hydrangeas.  I have full size plants that reach 10 feet tall and a dwarf variety that grows under my crepe myrtles.  They provide just the right amount of green and the perfect amount of white.  The blooms last forever........through the whole summer.





 

I guess you've noticed that I'm a collector of stuff. I pick up odds and ends and use them to decorate my flower beds and pots. A few years back, a friend gave me a darling birdhouse. Since then, my son has made me a couple and I've managed to collect a few more. Of course, they become much more special hovering over a bed of roses.

La chaise

Why do I love chairs?  I'm just not sure.  But chairs and rugs and dishes are something I gravitate toward.  I buy chairs just because.  I see them nestled in a corner of my home, flanking a fireplace or as a future focal point with custom upholstery.

Sometimes I buy in pairs and usually I'm looking for a great deal.  So Craigslist and auctions, estate sales, flea markets, Home Goods, and Garden Ridge are all great places to pursue the art of chair collecting.

Here are a few of my finds and some of my redo's:

My french chair/ottoman that I found at Ballard's Backyard.  No cushions so I made them!

an old dining chair redo

french with a chippendale flair

garden ridge

garden ridge

believe it or not......Garden Ridge about 5 years ago.  These are beautiful chairs with nailheads!

a chic place to lay your towel while you soak

another garden ridge

Yeah for Craigslist

Love These!  They are works of art....literally!

Probably my all time favorite chairs.  I had these made from the frames up.

Craigslist find for my daughter set off by the angora pillows

designer showcase dining room

Scott's Antiques.  Largest antique show in America has some of the best stuff!

hunted these chairs down and found them at World Market

Your Majesties......gave these away but thinking of stealing them back for my wine cellar

the inspiration for the barstools we actually could afford

fun chairs for my daughter in law

chairs in my other daughter's living room

gave these away

I made this chaise lounge for my upstairs library

menswear fabric never goes out of style

a barrel chair that flanks my fireplace

tufted ottoman next to my tub......luxury!

believe it or not, these benches used to be the smallest table in a nestle of three, ballard backyard

a road side find, not in the best shape but gave it a total make over

another dining chair repurpose

a great place to put a tapestry

tufted chaise fits perfectly

girly desk chair 

my very favorite french toile fabric.....goes with everything!

Did I mention I love toile and animals and antiques and vintage fabrics and anything "french" especially toile?

L'architecture du France

We, my designer daughter in law and I, found these prints at a flea market in New York City one drab Sunday afternoon. She invited me to one of her textile shows because she knows I love haute couture for domestics. (that's high design in textiles and finishes both residential and commercial)  We've been back to this little secret in the city each time we visit to pick up any other little jewels we can find. 
The prints were part of an antique collection of books and indeed, are the pages themselves. These particular drawings are from La Palais De Fontainebleau; his moldings and mantels in intricate detail.  Bringing attention to them by layering and interesting arrangements, just makes them all the more "chic", don't you think?

1Cor 3:10 By the grace YHVH has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Messiah Yeshua. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.

Don't be afraid of color!

Well if  you thought the drab color palette so popular with Restoration Hardware was going to stay in style, you're behind the times.  Bringing back color is like seeing a long lost friend.  This Parade of Homes "show stopper" was built by my son and decorated/staged by my daughter in law.    It is a stunning new look for the residential world, standing in stark contrast to the last several years of dull and drab surroundings.  Amber is always on the cutting edge of design, working in the hospitality textile industry.  She directs the art department for a fabric company and sets the tone in Las Vegas, New York and Miami textile shows for what's "in style".  Just like anchorman, she's "kind of a big deal". I think so and I think she did a fabulous job.....with a little help from her mother in law. :)

I must add that this house did not win any of the Parade awards.  Me thinks something is awry since countless visitors to the home, all commented on the refreshing absence of gray and taupe. 
So when a "designer" as a judge is unfamiliar with what is trending and scores the house low;  shame....shame!  Time to get a new judge!             (or I could just be biased...............nah!)