Home Sweet Home #73

Hello and welcome to Home Sweet Home!  I have been pulling out my favorite blue and white a lot lately.  Here it is for a red, white, and blue setting.

This setting meant to be a little country and nostalgic.  As the sun sets we'll just light the lantern like we're camping.   

Now, I would like to highlight some of the posts that caught my eye last week at Home Sweet Home.  I am adding a disclaimer that I may be pinning or tweeting your post by adding it to this party.  I like to share your great ideas when I see things that are exciting.

Elaine at Creating Wonderful Spaces created a mile high beach table that was beautiful.

Sarah at Dumped and Discovered showed off a wonderful furniture makeover. 

Two Cottages and Tea  had tea under her rose bower that was enchanting.

Be Book Bound showed off a little girl's bedroom that was gorgeous!

Our Life in a Click  showed off her Vintage Picnic Graduation Party that was awesome! 

Many great links each week!  Thank you to all who join me at Home Sweet Home!   It is wonderful to have you here.

Sherry

I will join these ladies today:
Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground 

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Home and Garden Thursday  at A Delightsome Life 

Creative Things Thursday  at The Vintage Farmhouse

Say G'day Saturday  at Natasha in Oz

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here

Potpourri Friday at 2805

Let's Dish at Cuisine Kathleen 

 Guidelines for Home Sweet Home Party:

Attention: To link up with inlinkz you must have a permalink back to this party in your post or they will not allow you to link.  

Link up anything in your home or garden.  I love seeing neat shops too!

My button is on my sidebar for the party, if you want to use it.   If you are new here I hope you will become a follower. Please don't link up more than two posts.  No Etsy link ups or direct advertising, please.  Please visit some of the other blogs and get some great inspiration.  Thanks.:)

Now let's see your beautiful homes!

I'm Shopping for... Spool Chairs

When I shared sneak peeks of a client's project about a month or so ago,  I received a few emails asking about the spool chairs.

{Spool Chair in my client's home...  Custom LL Textiles "Squircles" in fresh blue & oatmeal}

I loooove spool chairs.  They're deceivingly comfortable and just have this relaxed & carefree vibe.  You'd never see them in a stuffy room.  My clients grew up together in the Northeast and we wanted to bring that feeling of "home" into their new house, which is here in the DC area, so I proposed a pair of spool chairs.  I was thrilled when my client loved the chairs too & we decided on one of my fabrics printed on an oatmeal-colored groundcloth. 

Spool or "bobbin" chairs, also called "Carver chairs were named after John Carver (c. 1576–1621), founder and first governor of the Plymouth colony in America. A chair of this design, reportedly owned by the governor, was displayed in Plymouth, Mass., in the late 19th and early 20th centuries."(source- Brittanica.com)  ...Which explains why we they have that Northeastern / coastal vibe :)

  

We looked at a lot of different options before presenting two options (a lower end option and a higher end option) to our clients...

We ended up going with Vanguard's spool chair, shown here in white:

..And here in a dark stain:

{Vanguard Furniture}

...But I did fall in love with some others during our search:

{Hickory Chair}

It has box cushions so it's a bit more structured-looking.  It also has casters like the version we selected.

=  SOOO GORGEOUS!!!

{Noir Furniture...  this was our other option, available in black.}

I saw this one, below, a couple of Markets ago, and it felt very rustic with their fabric selections & showroom design:

It's by the Penisula Home Collection Company & here it is in white:

{Peninsula Hoe Collection Co.}

I sat in it & while comfy, I have to say, the spool chairs with the arm cushions are much more comfortable.  I would use if it were a spot for shorter sits, vs. comfy, cozy long ones.

Here's a beautfy by Motif Designs:

{Motif Designs}

..And I loooove the little cushion detail in this one by Julian Chichester:

{Julian Chichester}

...Anyway, as you can see, they're available at a number or pricepoints & there are so many to choose from.  (If you google it, you'll see even more options.)  

If I ever have a lakehouse, I'd love one or two of these for their laid-back days-gone-by feeling...

Where would you put yours?



If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Also---  I need a HUGE favor for a friend of mine, Elise, who recently opened the Design Center of NOVA.  She is applying to win a business grant and needs 250 votes by Friday in order to be considered.  If you have a spare moment, please vote here!!

Just enter in "Design Center of NOVA" to vote!! THANK YOU!!

What's Behind The Charm of Home

Today you can get a peak into what I do to make The Charm of Home exist each week.  I am happy to join Kathy of A Delightsome Life.   If it wasn't for Kathy asking me to share this info with you I probably wouldn't have thought of it. 

Well to start with, blogs are a lot like icebergs!  I saw this graphic and it was exactly what I wanted to portray.  You only see maybe up to 4 posts a week on TCOH but, hour upon hour goes into making this blog run.  Let's look a little closer and I will show you why this is so.  First of all correspondence is very time consuming.  It involves giveaways, advertising, reviews, new products, feedback, and possibly event invitations.  Luckily I am to the point I get all of these and I don't always participate due to small children at home, schedule, etc.  But, I have to read and respond.   Then you have questions about anything and everything to answer that come in through email.  I do answer most (legitimate) questions within 24 hours.  I do try to visit and read my favorite blogs each week also.  I can do this better now in my sidebar than I do in my reader since Blogger reorganized the reader it seems a bit useless.  Commenting is a hot topic.  The rule of thumb in the blogging community is to comment to every comment you receive.  Well....I can't get to them all.  Sorry, I just can't.  I try to visit all the people who join me each week at Home Sweet Home (my party).  At the current number I get for that party, around 120 a week, it takes 8 hours to visit each participant and look at, at least one of their post.  I have tried for the last year to have a rule of thumb not to spend more than 4 hours a day in my computer chair. (But at least once a week I spend 12 hours a day in this chair! Ha!)  So I tend to break up visiting with the participants into two days.  I am also doing this at the end of the week closer to my next party date because I feel it reminds people to join me for the upcoming party.  That seems to keep my party numbers up.  I am really happy with the party.  It is a lot of fun and I really enjoying visiting you each week.  Lots of talent and inspiration visit me!   

So for the rest of the comments I get all week long, I try to pick some to visit but, I just don't get to them all.  

So, how do I organize my post in the planning stage each week.  I have a running idea sheet on a legal pad and then when the pictures are taken and the post is in draft I use this organizer to participate in each party every week. 

 I not only just post to the blog, I post to Tumblr, Google+, Pinterest, Twitter, and Facebook.  These social media outlets are perfect ways to grow your blog.  Why do I pick these?  Tumblr is for the visual people and it showcases my photography well.  Google+ is a way for those who don't have a Blogger Blog or who don't like Facebook to view my content.  Pinterest is a social media dynamo.  It also showcases my blog really well because it is so visual and people are really getting this.  It is like looking at a virtual magazine everyday.  It is a very powerful social media tool and if you aren't using it go ask for an invite.  You will enjoy it, I promise.  Twitter was one that surprised me.  I really thought I wouldn't like it and I have been doing it a few months now and I love it.  It is the most abbreviated version of all social media and I love to read tweets and view photos posted.  So much so, that I may have a smart phone soon!  It is awesome!   Now that brings us to Facebook!  The most powerful social media tool but, for me the most disappointing.   When I first started to blog I was hacked through Facebook and they also hacked my blog.  I just kept on blogging on another computer but, I haven't trusted it since.  Oh, and my blog automatically feeds to people in RSS feeds, in email, and through Networked Blogs. 

What I like about blogging the most is connecting with people.  I'm getting to meet online so many interesting people that I would never have the chance to know.  I also like that I get to use my design skills that otherwise would stay buried and unused in my daily life.  It is a wonderful thing to be creative.  

 I try to balance it all.  I am raising a family and staying at home with all of my time involved with the family.  I do babysit several days a week and that keeps me hopping.  I have tried expanding into an Etsy shop but, I don't feel I do it justice because I never have the time to sew or hunt up many treasures for resale.   I even on occasion substitute teach.   I have never had any help with this blog.  I have just learned it all on my own.  I have met a few bloggers who were a lot of help to me and I have tried to help them out when they have had questions.  I have not had any money to spend on this blog, so I have never hired a professional blog designer.

What might I have done differently?  In trying ways to increase my revenue on my blog I tried an affiliate program.  I had several buttons for retail outlets on my blog for months and it gained me nothing.  I feel affiliates didn't work for my blog at all.  So, I wouldn't waste my time with them again.   What has worked for me to generate revenue, well, if you have the time Etsy is a great way to sell handmade or vintage items.  It really works.  I also have had a really good experience with BlogHer.   They have a review program and paid advertising which both are working out for TCOH.

 I don't plan to take my blog to a different platform.  I am not looking to publish it differently and as much as Blogger gives everyone trouble on occasion, I think it being owned by Google puts you in a good position to help you grow.  So, I am staying put. 

 The most important thing I have gained from blogging?  I have been most amazed at the sweet, sweet comments so many people leave me.  In the beginning, I would wonder why  was I blogging, what good was it doing?  My husband dared me to do it.  I had never really read a decorating blog.  If I had, I would have never ever put that first post up.   I would have days; after I found the other decorating blogs, when I would feel down about blogging and then someone would leave me a sweet comment and I would feel so blessed to be able to connect with you and hear those kind words.  So the most important thing for me has been encouragement and connecting with you.  Thank you!  I appreciate it very much.

Sherry

Stone Fruit

I saw these cherries in the grocery this weekend and I grabbed them up.  The kids will eat them so fast.  I wanted to take a picture of them.  Their color is fantastic.  Every time I buy cherries they don't last 24 hours in my house.

So Sunday night before anyone saw them, I whisked them outside and snapped a few pictures. 

And there you have it!  Stone fruit.  I knew they would be pretty!
The teacup is Johnson Brothers Coaching Scenes.

Sherry

 I will link this to:

A Return to Loveliness  at A Delightsome Life

Tea Time Tuesday at Rose Chintz Cottage

Tea Cup Tuesday at Martha's Favorites

Tea Cup Tuesday at Artful Affirmations

Your Cozy Home Party  at Cozy Home Scenes

Table Top Tuesday  at A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Moooo

I have been stalking cows.   

 

Charlene by Cheri Wollenberg

I have been wanting a cow painting.  This one is Charlene by Cheri Wollenberg.   Isn't this lady talented?  I love her cow paintings! 

Cows are such curious animals.  They are really easy to pose they stare at you, naturally curious.

The one with the horns wasn't more than five feet away, he was the most curious.   I will post my cow picture soon.  I am still working on it.  I may stalk the cows at the county fair too....

Sherry

  I will join:

Sunday's Best Party  at My 1929 Charmer

Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

Mosaic Monday at Little Red House 

Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House 

Heart and Home Link Up  at Trisha' Heart & Home  

Sunny Simple Sundays  at Sunny Simple Life

Home Sweet Home #72

Hello and welcome to Home Sweet Home!  I have been enjoying flowers in the yard this week.  I have been babying them a lot by watering them.  Very dry here.  

Did you see this picture on my blog Monday?  I had just remodeled my dining room and received all these wonderful furniture pieces from family and we are driving by a yard sale this weekend and saw this hutch.  It was marked $100 but we went back late in the day and everything was 1/2 price and we got this for $50!  I was so excited! I have always wanted a hutch like this and it is solid maple.  So now I have a great piece to show off my transferware. I was such a happy thrifty shopper!  

 So, one side of the room has that hutch and then the other side of the dining room looks like this.  I am so happy with how it turned out!!  I can't wait to decorate it for fall and Christmas!

 Now, I would like to highlight some of the posts that caught my eye last week at Home Sweet Home.

Cindy at Beaux R'eves showed off her beautiful new French bench.

Penny ay Penny's Vintage Home showed off her pretty shabby coastal bath decor.

Jill at Sew a Fine Seam showed off this great vintage cabinet.

 Must Love Junk showed off this vintage shoe rack that is a favorite of hers.

Maggie at Little Miss Maggie showed off a French family crest that she made that is wonderful!  Info in this post as to where to get French and German grain sack stencils.

 Many great links each week!  Thank you to all who join me at Home Sweet Home!   It is wonderful to have you here! 

Sherry

I will join these ladies today:
Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground 

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Home and Garden Thursday  at A Delightsome Life 
Creative Things Thursday  at The Vintage Farmhouse
Say G'day Saturday  at Natasha in Oz
Thrifty Things Friday  at The Thrifty Groove
Furniture Feature Party  at Miss Mustard Seed

  

 Guidelines for Home Sweet Home Party:

Attention: To link up with inlinkz you must have a permalink back to this party in your post or they will not allow you to link.  

Link up anything in your home or garden.  I love seeing neat shops too!

My button is on my sidebar for the party, if you want to use it.   If you are new here I hope you will become a follower. Please don't link up more than two posts.  No Etsy link ups or direct advertising, please.  Please visit some of the other blogs and get some great inspiration.  Thanks.:)

Now let's see your beautiful homes!