End of Summer Beach Table

End of summer and I'm still dreaming about another day at the beach.  Here is my beachy tablescape.

The tablecloth is the quilt off my daughter's bed. (Kohl's) The napkins, little shell plates, conch shell and white shell bowl are from estate sales.  The vase is from Ross, the other two shell bowls are from Kohl's as well.  The pillows are from TJ Maxx.  And the lovely books are from Perfectly Imperfect blog (I won them from Shaunna's giveaway a year or so ago.) The plates and flatware are my everyday stuff.

Jeannine
I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday. Look in on all the other great tables for some inspiration.

Pencil Skirt Part Deux

A few weeks ago I posted about wanting to make a pencil skirt here.

I failed to mention how Captain America and the pencil skirt came together in my mind. (It works in Mysterious ways, obviously!)

Two women in the movie actually were wearing pencil skirts and it reminded me that I had been wanting to make a pencil skirt to update my wardrobe.

Here is the pattern I made.

And then I chickened out and bought a pattern! You will happy to know however, that I stuck with the original plan and used the pattern I made.

Here are the pieces cut out and ready to mark and sew.  I added a 1/2 inch seam allowance. After I sewed up the skirt it was too large, exactly the size of the seam allowances I had added.  Weird.  So I went in and took out the extra.

Here is  the back view.  I need to work on my waistband.  For one this wide (2") I should have shaped it.  I had to take little darts on each side (but don't tell anyone, they'll never know.)

Side-ish view

Front. I bought the cute white shirt at JC Penney. It is by Worthington and has French cuffs. 

Believe it or not, those black pumps are from the early 80's.  And yes they are my original shoes.  Love them.  I had new pieces put on the heels about 10 years ago.

Jeannine

Super Fun Painted Dresser

Cassie at Primitive & Proper painted a fabulous dresser back in July. It was fabulous with its four colored drawers.  Check the link here for the full story.

About a week after that Husband and I were out at Estate sales and ran across the big sister of Cassie's dresser.  It has five drawers.  I immediately thought of her paint treatment.  We paid $20 for the dresser.  That baby is heavy, but we managed to get it in the Jeep.

Husband did the paint job using shades of green. (We got so excited to start we forgot before pics.  It was actually in great shape, just not modern.)

What do you think?  Thanks Cassie for inspiration.

It's listed on Craigslist if anyone in the Central Valley is interested.

Jeannine

British Colonial Dream Living Room

Back in 1998 or so I realized that my favorite decorating style is British Colonial.  Romantic Homes Magazine did an entire issue on the subject (either that year or 97, I can't remember which, and the issue is packed away) and I have saved and re-read it often.

In 2002, we moved to the Middle East and lived in a country that was a former British colony.  There are English/European influences all over the country.  We purchased all new furniture there and when I step back and look at our house even now, I realize it is the British Colonial style.  Modified of course.

Today I searched the web and decided to put together my dream virtual British Colonial room.

It combines the furniture style of British homes with the native hardwoods found in the colonies. Light airy rooms took advantage of the slightest breeze and local fabrics were often incorporated.

To find a detailed list of how to decorate in this style check out this page at HGTV.

http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/british-colonial-style-tips/index.html

First, here are two examples of a British Colonial living rooms.

(from dbl interiors)

(from the inspired room)

Both rooms have natural fibers in the carpet, pillows and window coverings.  They also have lots of windows and light colored walls

Love this Zebra chair: European styling with dark woods and a nod to native animals.

(from OldEmpireImports at etsy)

A coffee table from a trunk is both decorative and functional.

The curved style here is perfect for an end table.

Here is my choice of sofa.  The neutral color allows you to add all sorts of different colors in pillows or throws.  It would also show fewer stains!

A lovely woven carpet.  It would be great layered over a grasscloth carpet.

A combination of pillows in different fabrics and prints.  Something from the colony (zebra) and something from back home (French tapestry scene.)

I adore this campaign desk.  So useful and cute.  Perfectly accessorized with the spyglass and pith helmet.

A clock for the mantel.

(from trouvais.com )

Wall art would have to be old maps or botanical prints.

These Apothecary jars would be great on an end table.  The contents can be changed according to season or whatever has been collected on rigorous walking outings.

Silver was always brought from the home country. Candelabras for the mantel and silver trays and tea sets for the coffee table.

An old globe to track where all of your new friends hail from.

So there is my dream British Colonial room.  In a few days I will post pictures of my tract home that is loaded with a combination of furniture from overseas and here at home.  We have so many souvenirs that people have said our house looks like a museum.  Not sure that's a good thing.  But it is as dusty as one!

Thanks for dreaming with me.

Jeannine

Door Art

My Daughter and her Fiance went to find him an apartment for his senior year of college.  She was showing me the pictures of the different places they looked at and I noticed she had unknowingly taken some "art" pictures. Thought I would share them.

Love the hot pink color in the photo but it was actually red.

Thanks for stopping by.

Jeannine