Souvenirs:
decorating

For the May 2010 Sale at the farm here, I sold bundles of 'raw books'... old books that my daughter and I removed the binding from (this was hard to do to books I must say)
What was left, was these beautiful old binders, and being that they were red, they inspired me to use them for the "Farm Menu" for our recent dinner party (see here)

Everything was made from scratch... the food and the decorations
the best advice I can give anyone attempting a dinner party "from scratch" is to plan, organize, and make ahead some of the food!

Here's what you'll need: ~ old book covers (front, back, and binding still in tack) ~ a glue stick ~ old sheet music ~ and some bits of old lace and feathers (if desired) ~ some hemp twine for the tie ~ an awl and hammer ~ and of course, the printed image for your cover
First off, take the awl and hammer and make holes in your (now) menu covers

This is the image I used courtesy of The Graphics Fairy (feel free to use any of these print outs for your own use)

for the cover, I just added text and sized it to a 5"x7" to fit my book cover

then took it into my little computer arts program and just erased the deer to get this:

then flipped it, added text and came up with this: (this is the finished inside of the Menu)

With that same scroll design, I flipped it once again, and added text to the inside top:

Paste the papers (cut to fit for the inside so as not to be in front of the hole)

to cover the rather ugly inside of the binding, I adhered old lace with glue
and on the outside of the Menu, a sprig of rosemary and a small pheasant feather (which was also used in the buffet decorations) tied with another piece of vintage black lace

I cut some small strips of old sheet music (a whole page of music also took the place of a "placemat" on the table) under and above the front of the Menu with the glue stick

Of course, now looking at them, I probably wouldn't have used the black lace, but rather the vintage ticking, but the great thing about these, is that you can reuse them time and time again!!

Here's to enjoying your holiday season!
~Have a fantastic weekend~
xo+blessings,

...but when there are transitions going on in my life, I tend to decorate differently... and these pictures are just drawing me in this week

click on image to go to source... a fav. blog of mine
all the following pictures from "TRENDLAND.net"

can you guess what is drawing me in???
xo+farm blessings,

spring has finally come... and how absolutely beautiful on a Sunday!

in my little kitchen nook too...

this baby of mine... now 11 days overdue... but that's okay... he or she was just waiting for spring!!
have a beautiful day everyone...
xo+blessings,

within your home... do you feel comfortable? or a little dry on the decorating??

i feel it all around blogland lately
I think some more thought needs to go into you
your style
your decorating
(I'm totally joining you by the way)
this room, for example, looks comfortable... lived in...
a little white... a little color... not fancy/expensive... but "that person's style"
(click on any image to go to source)

now, this shouldn't be complicating...
... using OVERKILL on vignettes (my hand is up and I'm totally guilty of this one... can anyone say eggs under cloche??)
the only way to find out your 'style' is to sometimes imitate that other person's style... and there certainly is NOTHING wrong with that!!
it always leads to something gorgeous like this:

or taking a "normal" bookshelf and doing this

image: tracy porter
the wonderful thing about this above photo from Tracy Porter is that it looks lived in... that's because it IS lived in...
most of Tracy's styling for her photographs are taken right within her home... that's why they are so great!
SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS DRYNESS??
we are going to take a non-hard edged approach to design... by dusting off the shelves and combine old with new...
take a look at this picture again:

here's what I notice...
what's old in this picture? * rustic barnwood table *blue bottle on bookshelf *vintage mirror over mantle *the fireplace itself
what's new in this picture? *new upholstered chairs *chandelier possibly (could be old, but is neutral that way) *blue candles which pop the chairs *family photographs *fresh flowers and *bold new pattern on white end chair *new sisal rug
there's nothing... and I repeat NOTHING in this picture that you couldn't do to achieve this look
did you notice not a single vignette in that picture? only bright colors, a bit of boldness with the table and the pattern on the chair but sophisticated textures
the best part of this is:
there is NO book or NO person that decides what YOU surround yourself with
you want those goose eggs under the cloche?... go for it
you want that gorgeous Golden Bamboo side table from Tracy Porter?... totally! 

and wallpaper your room in antique paper!
Most of us have children right? or grandchildren visiting?? well, at least I do, so that's what I know best
and letting fragile things sit out sometimes is a good thing — it teaches the children to behave and "please don't touch sweetie" is said a lot, but I'm not doing that so much anymore
I have gotten rid of that pretty look and am going more "me"...
my style...
instead I have been using sumptuous fabrics for that "elegant" feel I like... but ALWAYS with the contrast of "rustic prairie"... (like the original dark wood on the bed)



our sunroom... bed draped in coverlet I made out of pink taffeta... it's like slipping into a ball gown! Wednesday is the start of a new journey for me into a time of reflection and inner personal growth... and I will be in the desert... but certainly not dead! I feel so alive during Lent... it's a very empowering time for me
(but let's just hope I'm totally exhausted because I have a new baby)
apparently: ~patience is a virtue~
xo+blessings,

It's party time over at the Rizzo house... and you are MORE than welcome to join the party!
It's all about FRESH
SPRING
NEW!! (go HERE to join the party!)
As I totally forgot about the party... (I have lots of excuses)... I will try to link up later
let me just say, that I am totally over the VIGNETTE thing...
do you know what I am talking about?? eggs under cloches...

nesting our goose eggs (from Gilberta herself) under the cloches...

c'mon... it's so "dry"... (I don't say boring, because only boring people say boring)
I PRAY that the baby comes soon... the stork needs a GPS I swear...

More on the whole 'vignette' thing tomorrow... how NOT to decorate while decorating...
this should be interesting
xo+blessings,

when we first bought this old farmhouse, one of the features we loved, and love now, are two "nooks" as we like to call them...
this one in the kitchen is by far my favorite

I have quite a bit of wire holders for spices and such in the kitchen, and while organizing the basement last week (there seriously is not a place untouched by organizing lately... the "nesting instinct") this wire hat rack with hooks was snatched and put up in our kitchen nook...
this 1950 chef's hat sits on top, as well as a few of my red & white French kitchen towels I have collected over the years... and of course, my favorite rolling pin that I use almost every day

In case you are interested in the details of the room... *here's what we did to this nook when we moved in* — removed the vinyl flooring, and refinished the original douglas fir floorboards -removed the butlers pantry that was in major disrepair — which we repurposed as our large vanity in our bathroom downstairs -new Marvin casement windows — new trim and beadboard (in lemon chiffon — but you can't see a hint of yellow) -new douglas fir tongue and groove ceiling ceiling -installed chandelier (it's been with us ever since we have been married) -I refinished this table top, painted the legs and did the same to the chairs -chair pads were purchased via Country Living

it's a place I sit with friends over coffee or tea and always a piece of pie or a homemade cookie...
it's an area for silence... views... and morning cheer!!
xo+blessings,

Some weekend inspiration has come to my attention...
Period Living Magazine, a British publication of interiors that I spent quite a bit of time looking at last night.
I came across this home and totally got inspired, and have already moved my living room around and rearranged items in there.
Here's the couple's synopsis: (courtesy of Period Living Magazine) Location: Derbyshire Period: Built in the 1800s as two cottages for the managers of the dye mill opposite; it was knocked into one house in the 1900s and an extension was added in 2000 Owners: Phil Heath, a tree surgeon, and his wife Philippa, a holistic lecturer, specialising in baby and child massage; they have four children: Jack, Tom, Joe and Bess
These aren't just words about them... but take a look above again at the Owner's description... A tree surgeon?? love that... and his wife a holistic lecturer?? I took baby and child massage classes (on how to instruct it) when I was a personal trainer at the gym... I think Jason and I could be good friends with this couple (lol)
THEIR HOME!

all their kids sleep together... I just love that! and want to recreate this up in our attic... i love every detail!

Look out Jason... we might just be putting up a pink canopy in our room like this

Considering I am joining Jennifer Rizzo and her party:

if I can, I will post pictures of the changes I have made because of this amazing home (it all depends when this baby wants to arrive!!)
do you have spring fever like me? then join Jenn's party! click on the above picture to take you to the post on all the details

Have a great weekend!!
xo+blessings,

This front room used to be the old front porch of this house (to read more about it's history — and some divine intervention — go here)
Since Jill is doing a Porch Party every Monday, I thought I'd join in on the fun with pictures of my thrown together front room/porch/baby and I room...

only things that were bought was a dresser and the two glass lamps
everything else was literally thrown together to make a comfortable and feminine room for me and the baby to cuddle... dream... and enjoy our first few months together

the couch is vintage (our first purchase as a married couple)
my collection of mirrors I used in here as well as some of my favorite trim to add some texture and interest to some pretty boring lampshades...

my grandmother's antique egg cup adds a bit of color

this bed was a gift for my daughter a number of years ago...
I really like the dark wood tones against the pink! This pink fabric was originally purchased for the Patisserie I designed...
and never... NEVER thought it would be made into a coverlet for a bed I would sleep in... (didn't I tell you I was totally into pink lately?)

the fabric is taffeta... and feels like I am slipping into a ball gown when I get into bed...

bedside...

when I first started this room it was minimal bare... and I just couldn't help putting some of my favorite items in our home in that room
there is no 'rhyme or reason'... golds... metal... dark wood... painted items...
I let my gypsy soul go

a crocheted caplet my sweet grandmother made for me!

this is one of the items I purchased for the room...
a $60 dresser bought locally — and all it needed was a scrubbing
now it is perfect for a changing area

As the weather warms up... I'm looking forward to opening all of these wonderful casement windows and hearing the birds awaken in the morning and smell the flowers outdoors
it has a terrifc view of the potager as well

Do you have an area of your home you want just for you?
Just start bringing some of your favorite items into that space and you'll be surprised at how much you love it...
xo+blessings,

To see what this room has looked like before go: HERE or HERE or HERE or what until you see Romantic Prairie Style (book by Fifi O'Neill)

After Jason was well enough after back surgery, and the February issue of Country Living Magazine came in the mail we decided to put up some shelves made from reclaimed barn wood in the kitchen for our every day dishes -

as you can see, I only have a few plates left... they are getting used and abused since we switched to hand washing our dishes... and I would love to find some ironstone ones now... (though I would really like to become a potter and make them myself...)

they are so much more functional than what was there — and a cinch to put away! (and display)

we left the barnwood on the sides all beautifully raw and rustic...

I like keeping some of the items on there corralled — especially my silver pieces — I use those everyday (those forks I just got at my local antiques store... and baby Daniel thinks they are pretty great!)



Jason made this cutting board... by hand... I believe it is black walnut

we sealed the 'counter top' area with our bees' beeswax — it is made from Douglas Fir (like our flooring) thank you CLiving for such a great feature... you can see where my inspiration came from here
peace + blessings,

yes, about the baby due in a few short weeks... but honestly, this May Event is really the best thing that could be for me right now... a blessing if you will...

My Hungarian roots are colorized by the true gypsy blood that runs through my veins...

photo credit: gypsy purplestories of dirt floor huts, and brushing the dirt with a special rake to make patterns in the floor when company comes to visit... seriously...
no joke!! I am from Gypsy Blood (I know what you are thinking... "oooohhhh... that explains it!) lol
you have no idea how badly I want to make a gypsy hut of my own...
or at least bring in more textures and colors into my home decor...
so I'm trying...
I just bought 2 pink chairs for my living room — PINK! (do you think my gypsy soul is telling me it's a girl?) 
Our home is pretty 'prairie farmhouse', but I came up with a new one that I really like: "PRAIRIE GYPSY"
that's me!

photo credit: Tobias Harvey

but I tend to crave solitude colors as well... and would love to spruce up the corn crib like this: 

photo credit: Virginia McDonald see? didn't I tell you I was random?
thoughts are like that when you just had a braxton/hicks contraction and some sugared treats with milk (craving)
I tend to dress the same way... sometimes pure linen with simple drop earrings... or a classic long denim skirt with a t-shirt top and funky hat or head scarf
it never is the same
and neither should my "decorating"
I am no decorator... not one bit do I think so, but I do like expressing myself around my home with sometimes new furniture, new drapes I made, or a simple throw

and don't you worry! I am still focused on that master bedroom!!
inspiration via linenandlavender.blogspot

focused

just on about 20 different things right now

xo+blessings,