Out with the old. . . . . .

Still working on getting the bedroom together.  

Lots of changes continue to be made as we put our 

edited items back into the closet and drawers.  

I think we became packrats somewhere along the way.

Saying goodbye to stuff is not a problem for me. Another

person has difficulty. . . . . . . I won't go into messy details!!! 

I've been working on framing new art for walls and arranging displays

 on dresser tops, night stands etc.  

These pretties above are packed away, other than the lamp. 

Two white ginger jar lamps will remain, one on each side of the bed. 

I've been looking for new lampshades as I made these swirled,

silk chiffon shades many years ago, however I just haven't found 

replacements I like yet!

International news has become quite frightening as the Corona virus spreads.

Now the virus is here in our city, brought by a passenger flying from Seattle.

He dined in a restaurant in town last weekend so we are hoping he hasn't 

spread the virus.

Hand sanitizer is no longer available anywhere in the area. . . . . . . washing 

with good old soap and water should be done often.

Staying home is calming and I really don't mind it once bit. 

This weekend will be good weather for garden chores. 

Throw in a little baking - a crunchy loaf of bread, some pistachio muffins, 

a pear cake, and make a mushroom and spinach quiche. . . . . I'll have

 plenty to keep me busy for the time being.

I will not be traveling anywhere far for some time most likely.

What are your thoughts on COVID-19 and staying close to home.

Scribble Picnic - CLASSIC

When I saw the theme CLASSIC for today's picnic I immediately thought of my classical

 bust of mythical Roman, Diana the Huntress. 

She graces my dining room table currently (see my header above) in front of the mirror

with the Roman numerals, but has been known to move around the house and be

 displayed in other nooks and crannies.

She also wears my small collection of vintage men's shirt collars for want of another 

place to display them!

Yes, I know, my decorating is somewhat eclectic, but I derive a lot of happiness from

pieces such as this, so what the heck, decorate with what you love and think is 

beautiful. . . . . . . there really are no rules when it comes to one's own home are there?

Photo edited to a sketch via PicMonkey - water color pencils.

SCRIBBLE PICNIC is back today after a short break, and of course Michael is hosting.

I'm looking forward to see what our group chooses to illustrate their take on something classic - this will be interesting.

Adding a little color to life ~ my living room makeover. . . . . . . .

Confession time again!  

I was not happy with the white slip covers I had dyed earlier
 this year. In fact I was downright depressed.

I expected medium grey and they were more like dark, dull, dreary navy, 

appearing almost black in the evening light. This room is dark to begin
 with as it faces due north with no direct sun, despite a wall of windows.

The longer I looked at them the more I knew they had to go!
Needed to replace that old, too heavy to move, sleeper-sofa anyway. It was
 donated to a family who could use it . . . . . . . and we shopped for a warm
 mid-grey velvet traditional English roll arm sofa and found this one from
 Drexel Heritage.

So, over the summer months I was busy making some changes to my
 living room at the cottage. . . . . . . . . . . .and new upholstery started here!

The previous 'shabby white' slip covered chairs have been reupholstered.

I shopped for a good quality fabric for my big, comfy easy chair and footstool,

as this chair (Henredon) gets a lot of use.

I knew I wanted to put blues with the grey velvet and am still amazed

 at myself for choosing an animal print which I had not considered.

 When I found this print it was not the classic colorway for a leopard print. 

 In grey-blue/black on a natural creamy background, it just leapt out at me!

 I fell for it, especially as it's an excellent quality fabric.

I bought a yard and took it to the furniture store where the sofa was displayed,

and my decision was made - it was to be my fun print in the room.

When it comes to decor and changing things one lives with day after day, it takes

 a leap of faith. . . . . . . . .especially these days, the ones I call the 'trendy days' in
decorating, fashion, food, whatever. So many choices in everything, but little really 
built to last.

~ Daylight ~

I know indigo blue is 'trending' and I do love it, however I didn't want anything 
that dark. I knew the blues I was searching for were the ocean colors,
 aquamarine, turquoise, teal, Aegean, cerulean.
 Gold goes well with these shades whether in mirrors, picture frames, pillows,
 lamps and other accessories, all of which I already have.

~ Evening light ~

I know my style is eclectic. I enjoy a mix of traditional, a touch of industrial,
older inherited bits and bobs from grandmother and mother, small
 antiques especially from France, with thrift shop finds, and Anthropologie dishes
 and candles thrown in.

Where does one start making changes when living in a small, older home?

We may not be in this house forever, it's that aging thing which hangs over 

people in our group, so we hesitate to do much more requiring major remodeling 

and huge expense. Now it's more basic upkeep with some refreshing of space
 and elements.

So, these changes initially revolved around the sofa. I wanted a new one which

 didn't require slip covers, was open to the floor for easy cleaning (Swiffer I love you),
 was elegant but comfy, velvet, and grey. It also had to fit our small space.

My new pillows are an eclectic mix and probably will change now and then

 with the season.

The two large grey ones on the sofa I had made from a length of beautiful

 cut velvet fabric purchased from a dealer at ScreenDoor in Asheville, NC 

several years ago. The blue velvet edged in linen was a great find at
 HomeGoods, the gold toile with ribbon trim I made a long time ago.
 The plain grey velvet on my leopard chair is from IKEA some years back. 
The fabulous bright gold velvet Jacobean print I found recently at World Market
  - personally I think it makes the room, and all who've seen it have
 commented on it.
To top things off I found the cozy fringed throw in the perfect color
 at HomeGoods.

Another view - I was trying different pillow combos!

My other chair, Chippendale style, (Bob, has his leather recliner)

then needed to be clothed in one of those lovely blues.

  The fabric I chose is a heavy chenille velvet and I'm really pleased with how that

 chair turned out. It too is quite old, but made by Hickory here in North Carolina,

and will probably hold up longer than me! 

I've now had a couple more pillows made with leftover chenille fabric
including this neat little roll pillow for my back.

The space is a lot different from the previous look which I'd grown
 a bit tired of, and those white slip covers were so much work!
I do love color and enjoyed pulling the room together
with this new look.

What do you think? 
Should I paint the walls, add a rug? 
We do actually add a hearth rug in winter.
Should I hang more art above the sofa?
Feedback is always appreciated.

I'm not aiming for 'house beautiful' - just cottage comfortable
where I feel content watching a movie, reading a book, knitting
 on a winter evening.
So far it's all working for me. Just bring on the chilly evenings. . . . .I can't 
wait to light a roaring fire in the hearth.

Starting afresh. . . . . . . . .

Yesterday it began. The first of the couple of days total to take down the holiday decor.  

I started indoors. Do you do that? Perhaps leave your outdoor decorations a 

little longer, lighting up your home and the darkness of the winter nights. 

I love driving up our street - the cottage is at the end on the cul-de-sac - and

seeing the brightness welcoming me home. 

Also, it's very damp out there now after rain off and on over the past 

several days - not conducive to climbing ladders to disrobe the arbor 

of its lovely fairy lights, or taking down the Christmas tree still looking 

so lovely in the gazebo.

After the holidays everywhere looks bare. Even my sweet santo has lost her 
golden wings, glittery headdress and rosary beads, I think she's needs to be 
lighter for a while.  Her crown remains for now.
My collection domes are in limbo. I replaced a few things but need to completely 
redo them with freshly dried rosebuds - these are getting a bit crumbly - and 
other little treasures.

The red cushions with their holiday greetings, jeweled snowflakes, curly lambs

 and reindeer are boxed up along with the furry red throw. . . .I miss it already!

The hearth is prepared for this evening when I'll be watching the new season

of Downton Abbey, as will many of you I'm sure. I can hardly wait to meet the 

new characters, and of course the older ones will, I'm quite certain, continue to bring

us some wonderful Sunday evenings of entertainment. 

The mantel is another place where I need to come up with something attractive. 

The white iron candlesticks will stay - red candles are gone and the grey ones 

are back. I just put these things up for the time being . . . . . .  

. . . . . . . . .and, don't laugh, the pumpkins I spray painted nickel silver for Christmas are 

still solid as rocks and are hanging about because I love them so and haven't the heart 

to toss them out YET!

Are you busy getting back to some semblance of order around your home? 

Do you have any special interior projects planned during these cooler months?

Any great books waiting to be read while snuggling by the fire?

Will YOU be watching Downton Abbey Series 5?

Sorry, all these questions, you must think me very nosey!!!

Almost dry!

A quick update on my recent post HERE about drying beautiful hydrangeas 

naturally, easily.

They rustle softly. . . . .their flexible stems now stiffened, waiting to be trimmed 

as each delightful bloom is tucked into a vase, a pot, perhaps a table centerpiece, 

or even a holiday wreath for a door or window. 

I love these crusty painted pots with matching saucers - purchased at the 

Holiday Open House last week from Two Old Birds located at The Vintage Village. 

I'll be using them in my Christmas decorating.

Anyway, just ten days out and already the cut blooms have almost finished 

soaking up the water in the vase. Petals are now mostly crisp and somewhat 

shriveled, colors more muted but still very pretty.

The day after cutting these we were hit with an entire week of below freezing nights,

 unusual for this area in November. Several remaining blooms I'd planned to cut later

 for drying were completely zapped the first night. So this is it for the year - just enough

 to tuck into winter and Christmas decor along with some others from last year which 

actually still look good. . . .you can see them in the olive basket in my current header.

If you've been drying your hydrangeas, I hope you've a big bunch of really pretty

ones to enjoy around the home through the winter months.

Heading to the Pumpkin Patch!

My beautiful, farm fresh pumpkins from last year.

Around this time last year I shared our visit to a fabulous farm south of the city.  

It's time to gather pumpkins again - gosh the year has passed by so quickly.

Tomorrow should be the perfect day for a drive to the countryside.

I'll take pics at the farm and share my pumpkin bounty with you later!

Creating serenity . . . . . . . .

I haven't done anything creative around the cottage all Summer,

so yesterday I just had to change a few things around or go crazy 

staring at the same old same old for one more hot and muggy day!

I picked the dining room which is to the left as soon as you enter the 

front door so I try to keep it tidy. I no longer use the table as my 'office'.  

When Bob retired we were able to make his upstairs office (formerly a bedroom)

 into an office for the two of us. . . . . yes, the stairs provide exercise!

I decided to cover the farm table in my heavy vintage French linen tablecloth - a great 
find in a quaint little antiques shop in Carcassonne, France - and layered a French 
linen bolster cover across the center under the dough bowl, also French.

I moved the large grey metal baskets, great find at SuzAnna's Antiques, from the top 
of the dresser to the table and tweaked a few items on the dresser shelves.

In the corner you can see my 'cabinet of curiosities', moved from the living room.
 Inside, who knows what you may discover . . . . right now a birds' nest, butterflies, 
this and that from the natural world. On top I placed a bowl made from resin starfish, 
holding my collection of white china vegetables!
No drastic changes but I'm pleased with how cool and serene the room looks 
on these very hot August days.

Do you find yourself just enjoying your rooms as they are for Summer, but when 
you feel Autumn in the air your creative energy returns and you want to 
make changes?

Blog tour 2014~~~~~~~~~

I've been invited by my dear friend Jane, well known in the blogosphere as "Blondie"

at Blondie's Journals, to be a part of the current blog tour……known as 

Touring Through Blogland.

I've met Jane, and her charming husband in person - in Asheville, NC and here in 

Raleigh, NC, and we had so much fun each time.

Jane's blog is awesome and enjoyed by a lot of gals who are into decorating their homes, 

enjoying time with their families, spending time lakeside in Summer, gardening, cooking etc.  

She always writes candidly and has a great sense of humor. Jane is the perfect blogger and if 

you don't already visit her I suggest you head on over soon.

I started my first blog, Across The Pond, in 2007, this current one in 2010, so have been 

blogging over seven years. In the early years it was a lot different of course, fewer 

bloggers and limited editing programs for posting great photos - and let's face it, we all 

want to share our photos don't we?

I'm to answer four questions………so here goes. 

All photos are my own.

My cottage home.

1.  What are you working on right now?
To be quite honest, not much!  In the oppressive heat of Summer here in the southeast,
being lazy seems to be the best thing, and having recently returned from a busy trip to the
Baltic and Russia, I'm just catching up on regular things around the cottage, while sipping
chilled beverages on the side!  Being British I do not like hot weather one bit. If it wasn't for
the humidity, bad evening storms bringing an overabundance of rain, followed by clouds of
mosquitoes, I would be outside gardening, perhaps painting some bits of furniture I see waiting
out in the potting shed, and of course walking much more. I am cooking a lot lately - easy hot
weather dishes - after buying a really great new vegetarian cookbook - will share that with you
another time.

2. How does my work differ from others in this genre?
I travel often and love taking photos of amazing places around this awesome planet.
Besides the usual vacation venues, I have been fortunate to do a lot of expedition travel via
small ships, not something enjoyed by the majority perhaps, but a special way of seeing areas
of other countries usually off the radar for regular travelers. Having now visited all seven
continents, Antarctica last year being the 'jewel in the crown', I have so loved sharing these
wild and wondrous places with blogging friends.

There are several thumbnails in the right column of my blog page which open up to many of the
places I've visited.  If you've not read those posts and would like to see my photos from around 
the world, please click on them.

My Garden over the past few Summers.

3. Why do I write/create what I do?
I am a creative person, born and bred, sharing my late talented mother's genes I suppose.

She was an amazing dressmaker who actually made clothes for Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, the mother of our present Queen, in the mid-1900's, then taught me to sew and acquire a great interest in textiles and fashion.

She let me redecorate my bedroom, over and over again, helping me choose wild
wallpaper designs of the '50's - hence perhaps my love of interior design.

She was a great 'from scratch' cook - doing it professionally for a while, and yes I love to cook too.

In my childhood garden she showed me how to raise and care for beautiful flowers,
from climbing sweet peas to dinner plate sized dahlias, fuchsia bushes the size of small trees,
and always gorgeous roses. Gardening, a very creative pastime and, as they say,
"A thing of beauty but a job forever",  I certainly agree.

Having worked in several professions, my most-loved were the years spent in the art and advertising business. My blog, though started as a way to journal and hopefully share aspects of my life for my children/grandchildren in the future, has really become my personal creative outlet. I love words and therefore try my best to write interesting content on my blog. As for photography skills, those I've had to teach myself. I was a lousy photographer with a basic camera when I started blogging, now with better equipment and fabulous places, wild animals, flora and fauna appearing in my lens, I'm doing much better but still have a long way to go. I am also prepared to spend hours editing my photos - this alone is probably the most creative time for me these days - I love playing with my photos!

Places I've been around the world.

4. How does your writing/creating process work?
I confess I spend perhaps too much time on blogging! Each morning when at home I'm here raring to go - to bring something cheerful to my readers' day. I don't post every day, sometimes writing one and then leaving it in draft for a later date. I could post daily as I'm never without something niggling at my brain, some subject to expound on, or a photo about which I can tell a little story. I do understand though that we bloggers already have a hard time keeping up with each other……there's just so much to read and comment on, right? When traveling I always carry my trusty MacBook Air, using it to post when Internet is available, and also downloading the photos I take each day so they are backed up in a second safe location. Although I have no further 'big trips' lined up for 2014, next year appears to be another busy travel period and I'm hoping to share many more interesting places with you here.

Thanks as always for stopping by - I love it when you have time to leave a comment but understand if you're too busy, then I just hope you enjoy peeking at something I've enjoyed sharing with you.

I now have to pass the baton to two more bloggers who hopefully will share their stories with you.
How about these two lovely ladies who lead interesting lives and take us along to special places~~~

My wonderful 'keeps me young' friend……whom I've spent so much creative time with 

over the past several years……Vanessa of Dreaming Shabby

My 'hope to meet in person' some day……long time, very kind Southern California blog friend
Sara of Come Away With Me 

Happy weekend everyone and thanks for stopping by.