A Passion for Scrapbooking, Decorating and Shopping

Vintage botanical artwork...

From the very first time I stepped foot in Valerianne, our local luxury linen shop, I could not take my eyes off this set of vintage botanical pieces, framed ever-so-elegantly. 

 
They are preserved botanical pieces from the early 1800s in France.  These photos do not do it justice but trust me when I say they are much better in person.

We hung them above our nightstands to add a little interest to the walls. 

In working with Aimee at Valerianne, she is helping me bring together a bedroom that is restful, serene and stylish in the most subtle way. 

And taking this project in baby steps is helping the decision-making a bit easier.  Perhaps one day we will get to the point that I may never want to leave this room.  Well, except to eat.  I suppose I must work too unless I win the lottery. 

Amongst all the great items Valerianne carries, they also have framed vintage wallpaper which I greatly admire.  

That's why I love Aimee's shop so much.  She believes in offering unique and one-of-a-kind things that will take your breath away.

K-Cups...

Fall is the time of year where I resume drinking hot beverages to warm me up.  I visit Starbucks more often and I dust-off my Keurig and break out the K-Cups.

My current favorites are Green Mountain's Hazelnut and Timothy's German Chocolate Cake as well as many other teas, hot chocolate and coffees.

I love coffee and tea but admittedly, I do not typically drink it unless I need the warmth.

All summer I skipped coffee, but when Starbucks began offering their Pumpkin Spice Lattes renewed my love for flavored coffee. 

Fall is a great time to re-introduce warm beverages.  And if you do not own a Keurig, I highly recommend putting it on your gift and/or wish list.

To all coffee drinkers, I raise my mug of Pumpkin Spice to you and toast to another wonderful Fall season.

Cheers!

Where Women Create, the blog...

When I discovered Jo Packham's books, Organizing Your Craft Space and Where Women Create, several years ago, I was delighted to see books dedicated to three of my favorite pastimes:  crafting, decorating and organizing. 

Sometimes I believe I spend more time attempting to create and refine a dedicated space for crafting than actually doing the craft itself.  Quite frankly, I sit in my craft room thinking about crafting. Thoughts of making a mini album for family or a journal of my favorite things, even a photo cube for my niece which is half finished. 

It takes inspiration to motivate me.  And friends who influence me.  I do try to think for myself but I can't help but be inspired by others. 

The introduction of the magazine version of Where Women Create guarantees me continued inspiration on how artists surround themselves with objects and supplies that give them the desire and passion for their craft.  It is almost like taking a peek into one's handbag.  These are the things that are a part of their daily existence. 

And now Jo Packham hosts a blog entitled appropriately, Where Women Create.  A great gathering place with a plethora of information to keep the inspiration circulating. 

Speaking of continued inspiration, in searching for Ms. Packham's books on Amazon I discovered there's a book she has co-authored with Jenny Doh due for release in April 2010 - Where Women Create: Book of Inspiration: In the Studio and Behind the Scenes with Extraordinary Women. 

All I had to see was the title and immediately pre-ordered it.

This entry is my way of keeping the inspiration circulating.  See it all for yourself and enjoy.

Medicine chest...

Cleaning the countertop of my bathroom vanity is a tedious task as I have to remove all the pretty little jars that hold cotton swabs & balls as well as the knick knacks before wiping it down. 

Then I must dust & clean those jars & knick knacks before returning them to their original spots.

I want to simplify these steps because burning an extra 10 calories might endanger my girlish figure.  ;-)

Taking inventory of the product in my medicine cabinet was the first step. Nearly half the product have not been used in at least 6 months.  I prioritized what I use daily and purged or stored the rest in the closet.

In my search for medicine cabinet organizers, I found great acrylic 2-tier storage containers to store cotton swabs and balls that fit snugly in the cabinet. 

I love the concept so much that I added a smaller side-by-side cotton ball/swab container for our guest bathrooms.

 

I also found organizers that stick to the door of the medicine cabinet and a divided organizer & shelf set.

My goal is to keep the vanity counter free of clutter but that goal lasted only a few days.  You see, I discovered a quaint clock at The Nest Egg recently and thought how lovely it would look on the vanity.  It helps me not to lose track of time in the morning as I'm preparing to face the day.

And this is what I call my world of logic.  It only makes sense to me.  ;-)

BUST Holiday Craftacular...

The following is a bulletin from BUST Magazine, who very kindly asked me to share here for all crafters to read:

CALLING ALL CRAFTERS! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Vendor applications due November 2nd! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Happening at: THE METROPOLITAN PAVILION (125 West 18th street, NYC) BUST Magazine’s Holiday Craftacular is set for Sunday, December 6th in NYC and is set to be our biggest yet! BUST Magazine will be hand-picking over 200 of the most unique and talented crafters from across the country to stuff your holiday stockings with the very best in indie-designed and handmade wares! Take care of your entire shopping list while browsing thousands of ware that will include knitwears, jewelry, beauty products, ornaments, vamped up vintage clothing, silk-screened apparel, gourmet sweets, handbags, chic and original iPod cases, funky home décor, books, sassy soaps (for the naughty and the nice!), cards, the best gear for babies and more. Then take a break from shopping as the BUST DJs jingle your bells on the Craftacular dance floor. Independently owned and operated, BUST Magazine has been a leader in the crafting movement since 1993. Now in its 16th year, BUST continues to support and influence the handmade revolution though constant editorial coverage, sponsorships, and events such as the Holiday Craftacular. Always on the cutting-edge, BUST is a revered and trusted authority in the DIY and crafting community. The Metropolitan is located at 125 West 18th Street Seventh Avenue, between 6th and 7th Avenues. Subway to Manhattan: 1, 2, or 3 to 18th Street, or F, V to 23rd street. BUST Magazine’s Holiday Craftacular will take place 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM on December 6th. Your entry ticket also gives you a shot at winning a BUST-load of booty in the Craftacular Raffle! 1. Fill out our online vendor applications today! Apply here: http://www.bust.com/craftacular/apply.html 2. Pay the required non-refundable $10 application and processing fee that is payable at the time you submit your application. Checks and money orders should be made payable to BUST Magazine (78 Fifth Avenue, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10011, Attention: BUST Craftacular 2009) and must be postmarked by November 5th, 2009 for your application to be considered. We will notify all applicants of their status on Friday November 6th, 2009 for NYC and November 18th, 2009 for L.A. and London. If you are accepted as a vendor, your deposit will go towards the full booth fee of $250 due by November 27, 2009. All application and processing fees are non-refundable. For a list of frequently asked questions, go to http://www.bust.com/Craftacular/FAQ-NYC.html Got questions? E-mail us at craftacular@bust.com. Be a sweetheart and jingle-tell your crafty pals about BUST' Magazine’s 2009 Holiday Craftacular by forwarding this news widely! See you under the mistletoe, BUST Magazine

High Point Market...

Right now is the time for interior designers to travel to High Point to showcase and/or see the new designs related to home furnishings.  This trade show is what CHA is to scrapbookers.  The excitement builds around trade show time and for consumers like us, we eagerly anticipate great things as a result of the hard work designers and manufacturers put into their product. 

The last 2 days, I have enjoyed sneak peaks at the eyes and hands of designer, Robert Petril.  He spent the weekend visiting the likes of Halo, Charleston Forge (I still have a very lovely baker's rack for sale by this very manufacturer), Aribesque and Haute House. 

Stay tuned to his blog as he may have more to share on more showroom visits this week.

Joe Ruggiero has also shared his new introductions at High Point, including some video clips. 

Everything from upholstered goods to fabrics, it is all very exciting to take in. 

As I discover more great releases from the market, I will be sure to share them here.  And if you have any to share yourself, I welcome it with open arms and hungry eyes.

Filling a bay window...

A bench, console table, pedestal, plants....these are a number of things that have crossed my mind in trying to fill the space in our living room bay window.

Seeing the lovely ottomans Mrs. Howard offers at her retail shops is something I've kept in the back of my mind for inspiration.  Then I landed on Restoration Hardware's website and discovered their linen covered storage ottomans were on sale.  Actually, I saw them earlier this summer, on sale, and waited too long to order them as they soon disappeared from their website.

A few weeks ago I was browsing Restoration Hardware's website again and noticed the linen ottomans were back and at a sale price I couldn't turn my back on.  It was meant to be.

The ottomans are sitting in the bay window, where I like to call the conversation pit, and is in need of sprucing up it's surroundings. 

They look very lonesome over there.  Just when I thought I resolved one problem, it creates another.  This means I will continue to fuss over this area until my eyes find comfort in what I see.  And so the saga continues. 

Rearranging our bedroom...

It started with the idea that if our armoire that houses our TV in the bedroom were a bit closer to the bed, we could comfortably watch the morning news and have a great view.  Dare we admit that our vision is deteriorating? 

The armoire was placed in the sitting room from the first day we moved-in until today.  You see, we have nothing to sit on in the sitting room.  Basically, I iron in the sitting room.  And I dream of having the means one day to knock down the wall and enlarge the craft room by taking over the sitting room.  For now, it remains as a sitting room with no seats.

Rather than admit our eyesight is deteriorating, with a few grunts and groans, we lifted and slid furniture across the carpet, the 'TV command center' now sits within a reasonable eye shot from the bed.

 
 
Do you see what I see?  A blank wall!  The ideas are filling up my interior-design-obsessed-mind.  Oh the possibilities.  I have longed for a wall behind our bed.  I was tired of blocking windows with our nightstands and bed.

There is still work to be done here.  The good news is we will save money on new eyeglasses.  The bad news is...I can envision a new area rug here as well as mirrors to flank the nightstands. 

Rearranging a room can freshen the look as well as cause chaos at the same time.  That is, chaos to the checkbook. 

And that is the story of my life.

A bench....

Decorating a hallway is no easy task.  Over 4 years in our current home, I finally discovered the most fabulous mirrors (featured in a previous post) and we now have a bench, thanks to a great sale. 

The photo is not a great one but given that it was taken at nearly midnight, it was the best I could do without natural light.

What I love about this bench is the neutral palette, the 'x' design beneath the seat and the nailhead trim.

Truly, I have a great weakness for those design elements.

The hallway is a space that does not get utilized very often but it is one area that I pass through each day.  When it pleases my eyes, a feeling of contentment overcomes me and it makes me feel good inside.

No knook or cranny should be overlooked.  What pleases the eye, pleases what's inside of us. 

And a great sale pleases the checkbook.

Have a great weekend, friends!

Wine tour - Northern Virginia...

It's amazing that in a busy suburb such as Northern Virginia, we are fortunate enough to be surrounded by vineyards and wineries to delight our palettes with.

Yesterday, myself and a group of girlfriends went on a tour of 3 wineries which our good friend, Ashlie, coordinated for us through Girls Night Out.  Transportation was arranged and off we went.

Arriving at our first stop, Pearmund Cellars in Broad Run, where we enjoyed our own private wine-tasting in their cellar.  We were surrounded by oak barrels undergoing the fermenting process.

Did you know you can purchase your own oak barrel?  It includes perks like free wine tastings, a case of wine each year during the 4 years the winery utilizes the barrel before turning it over to the purchaser.  Now that is a unique gift idea!

To also see where the grapes are crushed was something I've never seen before in person.

When we arrived at Piedmont Winery in The Plains, my eyes were immediately drawn to the black barn.  Quite a stunning and classic structure.

This is where Girls Night Out taught us the fine art of wine tasting.  How to sip and proper wine-tasting etiquette.  And we practiced with a fabulous bottle of Piedmont's Cabernet Franc.

The setting is very picturesque being surrounded by lovely orchards.

Climbing the stairs to visit the Winery at LaGrange in Haymarket was worth the exercise as our hostess poured delicious wines for us to taste. 

And we were surrounded by luscious greens where folks could picnic and enjoy a glass of wine or two.

You can see the young orchards in the distance.  They planted them 3 years ago and from what I understand, it takes 5 years before they are mature. 

There also was a wedding reception taking place during our visit and I discovered a barbecue pit, which is available at your disposal.

 

I could hang out here all day.

 

One thing I learned, which was a consistent message with each winery we visited, is that they encourage you to open your mind to wine-tasting.  Although their tasting notes may indicate a hint of this and flavor of that, it is your own palette that should decide what you taste.

The more you taste, the more you learn about wine and what you like.  Enjoy the process.  For me, it's an ongoing process.

I went home with a few souvenir bottles of wine and cherished moments having experienced a bit of culture in the world of wine and wine-making amongst a great group of dear friends.