:: answers ::

Wow ! I am so thrilled at the results of my last post ! So far, I've got 23 comments, and if we take away two because Mari and Tina commented twice, then that's 21 people who commented ! I'm trying to make it to 109 comments (at least), as that is how many people I have subscribed ... go read the post, you'll understand. Out of those 21 comments, I've come across FOUR NEW BLOGS ! FOUR !! Isn't that crazy ? I always visit the blogs of people who comment but these guys hadn't commented before ... so, thanks for leaving me a comment to let me know you read, and so I could stop by and visit you !! ('cept for Susie ... do you have a blog ?)

ANYWAY ... some of you had some google reader questions. I'm going to do my best to answer them for you. Google reader is a great way to keep all the blogs you love at your finger tips. Instead of going through each blog and seeing if there is a new post, you just open your reader and it shows you all the new posts !! It's wonderful !! I love it. From there, you can click on the post and it will take you to it so you can comment if you like ...

Here's how mine looks. I've got the blogs I follow sorted into categories. You can see the categories under "subscriptions" in the left hand column ...

To find out how many subscribers you have, just subscribe to your own blog. To subscribe, just click on "add a subscription" (right under google reader in the left hand column below) and type in the address. Once you've got your blog there, you can click on "show details".

I've circled it for you ...

The view will change and show you some details ... here's mine. Oh ! Look ! I have 68 subscribers now ! That's one more than yesterday !! So, I'm going to have to up that to 110 comments !! ha ha

Hope that answers everyone's questions ...

Want to see the living room ?

We hung my painting yesterday. I'm not sure that it's finished but I've decided that it's going to stay the way it is. Rory loves it and I don't know that I will love it even if I keep working on it so ... it's finished !

I still need to get some cushions and I think we're leaning towards getting a rug to go under the coffee table ... what do ya'll think ?? Rory thinks that we should turn the coffee table to be the other way now that we have the painting there. Yes ? No ?

Yeah ... the painting IS crooked in this photo. Rory fixed that ! We both kept walking past going "is that straight ?" It wasn't. But it is now !!

There is a small lamp on the end table too. I added that after I took the photo ...

I like how it is shaping up !!

Well, I think that is all for today. Tomorrow I bring you the pantry overhaul .................................

Read more »

{help}

we got our new couches
we love them

BUT

i am not a great interior decorator

not since highschool anyway
ever since i've outgrown Ricky Schroder and Kirk Cameron posters
my decorating skillz have gone out the window !

seriously.

so
i'm after some help

what should we do ???????

all suggestions are welcome

we're thinking a rug
but what color ?

do we do a coffee table ?
what shape ?
timber ?
glass ?

this is what it looks like now
plain
the pile in the corner of the couch that i did not straighten for the photo
contains the afghan my grandma knitted for us
two brown pillows and one pillow covered in an african pillow case
i like it and i could get more but will they go with the colors of the painting ?
does it matter ?
do we go with other color pillows ?
what color ?
more than one color ?

see .... no interior decorating sense.
and for the record
for those of you who don't see me in 'the real world'
i have no fashion sense either.
it's true.
sad,
but very true

here's a couple of different views of the room the couches are in.
it's a big room.
the piece in the corner that you can see in the top, right photo is going to move
out of the corner and onto the wall between where it is now and the table
we will probably fill the corner with plants.

and i really need to get some stuff hung on the walls
but we were waiting for the couches ...

here's a close up for you to see the color of the material ...
and the cushions we had on the old couch, which is now in my garage studio !! :)
the kids are happy because they can comfortably sit and watch me paint now !

anyway ... help me out here people !! any ideas ?!?!

Read more »

Time to Light the Fireplace

It suddenly got cold here in California. Really cold. And windy; the Santa Anas are back and as I look over at the Santa Monica mountains I could tell there was already a wildfire brewing. So sad.

This is the season that I turn once again to sewing. I pulled out all my wool fabric scraps and began a nap blanket. More like a crazy quilt nap blanket. I love these textures and embroidering over them, adding applique and little embellishments that tell a story.

I have to pull out my denim one too which needs finishing around the edges but is so heavy for a bed; I think I'll trim the borders a bit and make it into a large wall hanging.

Read more »

Once Upon a Time

GOD got creative

and gave me permission to enjoy the goods.

Images courtesy of "Not on the High Street" UK and "Zurza" a store in Santiago, Chile, "

Read more »

Searching for decorating ideas

I found this spectacular website today in England with the most beautiful decorator items http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/ . Ofcourse I was led there by the roses, Kit Kathston, and then wandered off to the artwork section and sculptures. It's really time for me to restock on cardigans and skirts and a decent pair of boots, but no, I always end up in the decorating department. I must be firm. I do not need any more stuff. But for those of you who do, take a look a few I saved in my wishlist.

Read more »