Construction over here

Remember how I mentioned we were refinishing a room on our lower level?  Here's a pic of the room after we did the demo:

 Our contractors from CarrMichael Construction came over & are in the midst of drywalling the walls & ceiling:

Originally we'd planned to use the small room as an additional office space for me & my assistant Meghan, but two days ago I decided we were better off taking the bigger room (the guest room) for work and using the smaller room as the new guest room.  Here's a shot of our complete mess-of-a-future-office:

Nothing you see is really staying... not even the curtains.  I haven't decided where I want to go in either of these rooms yet because the project came on so suddenly, but as soon as I have design plans, I'll be sure to share.  {shoemakers' kids with no shoes syndrome here} 

Also, the guys are reducing the closet in the boys' room so we can fit two twin beds in there.  Again, I'm pretty undecided on what I to do but I think I'm going to have headboards made in one of my new fabrics. 

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

Nevermore

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,

By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven thou," I said, "art sure no craven,

Ghastly, grim, and ancient raven, wandering from the nightly shore.
Tell me what the lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore."
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."
~Excerpt from The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe

I am really ready for Halloween.  I just like the imagination side of it all, nothing too scary.  I hope every one had a great weekend.  I got my house all clean and more sewn up for my Etsy shop.   What have you been up to?
Both photos have been altered with textures by Kim Kalssen.
First photo: used autumn script in a soft light 100%
Second photo: used autumn script in a soft light 83%

Thanks for joining me for tea!

 Sherry

I will link to these lovely blogs, go and visit:

Table Top Tuesday  at A Stroll Thru Life

Tea Time Tuesday at Lady Katherine Tea Parlor

Tea Time Tuesday at Rose Chintz Cottage

Tea Cup Tuesday at Martha's Favorites

Tuesday Tea for Two at The Plumed Pen

Tea Pot and Tea Things Tuesday  at The Silken Purse

Tea Pot and Tea Things Tuesday at Breath of Fresh Air

Tea Cup Tuesday at Artful Affirmations

Tea Party Tuesday  at Sweetology 

Texture Tuesday  at Kim Klassen Cafe

A Return to Loveliness  at A Delightsome Life

Fall Crawl at The Artsy Girl Connection

WOW: Marie Hines

I am so amazed right now & totally tearing up.  I just got a supersweet email from singer/ songwriter Marie Hines about her latest song/ video from "Better From the Living Room Sessions" and I clicked on her link to see the video.

{Marie, if you're reading this, I'll be honest, I really had no idea what to expect.}

But I was blown away.  Really blown away.  I definitely teared up.  She has such an incedibly beautiful voice, IS so incredibly beautiful, and you can just see that she is seriously passionate about what she does.  I'm instantly a new fan & wanted to share it on the blog because I thought you might enjoy her songs too:

http://www.mariehines.com/

Marie decorated her living room featured in the videos herself & styled it beautifully with a million candles.  You'll love it.

Thanks so much to Marie for sharing & you have got it GOIN on!!!




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

Neutral Fall Inspiration

I was most inspired for fall by Lulu Tapp's home featured in Romantic Country magazine 

(Fall 2011).  I love the neutral palette and how she made it come alive with fun touches of the season.  Lulu Tapp is a photographer and stylist for Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic Couture.

I scoured the internet for more images of this feature and had no luck until I stumbled across The Old Painted Cottage's blog.   All of these photos are Lulu Tapp's and were featured at the Cottage of the Month at The Old Painted Cottage.  Click the link to view more of this fall decor.   I have these images and more pinned to my neutral fall board.  What colors do you like to experiment with for Halloween or fall?  

 Rachel Ashwell briefly had a tv show in the 90's.  Does anyone remember it?  I couldn't find it anywhere online.  So, looking around for a video of Rachel Ashwell this was all I could find.   Would love to see her wisdom and style on the screen again.:)

Rachel Ashwell for Target.com from rob featherstone on Vimeo.
 I am joining Natasha for her Pinning and Singing party.  
 I will also join Kathleen for White Wednesday at Faded Charm.
Click the link to view.  

Yay for a Fall Friday

I am so happy it's Friday.  I really am.  It's 5:00, there's a little fall chill in the air and it's a bit overcast.  I made a batch of rice & potato soup this morning and it's been simmering for hours.  I'm ready to put on cozy sweats and hunker down...  watch movies & read & eat.  And of course hang with my family.

(I wouldn't quite fit in here in my sweats but it suits my mood ;)

I love this time of year...  both indoors & outside.  I love coming in with a chill and warming up and I love being outside, crunching acorns on the sidewalk when it'c ool enough for a scarf but not cold enough for a coat.  I made my kids wear hats today pretty much because they looked cute in them.  (I pretended they needed them and it thrilled me to no end.}

{Not our apples...  photo by Mikkel Vang via dress design & decor}

For the past few days I've been busy loading images of my new fabrics into the online store.  I'll be honest and say that it's a kind of torturous process.  It takes FOR-EVA.  Like Forrrrreverrrrrrrrrrr.  BUT----   I know it'll be worth it in the end, and the previously empty online store is starting to look good and take on some personality. 

Here's a sneak peek at one of my newer designs, Fern Star:

Last weekend for the photoshoot, I experimented with washing some of the fabrics to give them a bit of patina and I loooove how they turned out.  They're so soft & vintage-feeling and now I'm dying to redo my house.  Definitely doing some bedding for the boys new room in them.

Anyway, hope you had a great week & enjoy your weekend!!

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

Home Sweet Home # 32

Hello! Welcome to Home Sweet Home!  I posted a creepy hand I made a week ago.  You can find out how I made it and where to get the pattern here.

I had an opportunity to alter it and I wanted to show you how that came out.  The hand above looks ghostly.  I had a request to create some more and make them into witches' hands.

 To turn them into witches' hands I painted them green, covered them in a crackle medium, and then glued some moss on them.  The crackle medium gave them a glistening and bubbled effect which you can't see with these pictures.   The invitation owl graphic is from The Graphics Fairy.

And, since I have a witchy hand extended with an invitation, I will invite you to a Fall Open House here at The Charm of Home.  I will have it with the Home Sweet Home party on October 13th.  Your welcome to show off anything fall, decorating, dishes, candy, food, crafts, costumes, or even photography.  And, it doesn't have to be limited to your home, if you have a place in your community that puts out a fantastic fall display, show it off.  Grab the picture below and post it in your sidebar to spread the word. 

Thanks for joining me at Home Sweet Home!

Sherry

Now, I would like to feature some wonderful post from last week's Home Sweet Home.

First, Tres' Julie showed  off a beautiful wreath.  Click the link to view.

Design Dreams by Anne created a mini green house out of old windows.  Click the link to view.  

  Sylvia's Simple Life showed off vintage textiles made by her mother and Grandmother.  Click the link to view.

Courtney at French Country Cottage created this beautiful table cover out of bed skirts.  Click the link to view.

 Katty's Cosy Cove created this sea shell crown which was so unique and original.  Click the link to view. 

Thank you to all who join me at Home Sweet Home!

I will join these ladies today:
Fall Nesting Party  at The Inspired Room

 Inspiration Friday At The Picket Fence

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Fridays Unfolded  at Stuff and Nonsense

Farmhouse Friday  at LaurieAnna's Vintage Home
Seasonal Sundays  at The Tablescaper 
Treasure Hunt Thursday temporarily at From My Front Porch to Yours

Potpourri Friday at 2805

Air Your Laundry Friday  at Freckled Laundry

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. 

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.  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!

50 Big Ideas for Small Rooms

Thanks so much to Terri Sapienza & the Living Team at the Washington Post for including me in today's article "50 Big Ideas for Small Rooms."  Terri interviewed 17 local designers (some good friends & colleagues!! :)  to compile a laundry list of ideas dealing with designing small spaces.

If you're local, just check out the Local Living Section of today's Post.  If you're not, click here to read.
Enjoy your day!!



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