PresentPast Collection

Design Project

Right now I'm up to my elbows in fabric samples and swatches, roman shade books, paint chips, furniture photos, plantation shutter samples, etc., etc., etc.  I'm sure you get the point.  My mess has taken over our entire dining room. 

This is the 3rd house that I've designed for this client.  I thought we weren't through with the 2nd house when she up and bought another.  Hopefully I can finish this one before she moves again. ;)  I usually don't take clients during the holiday season but she has a 5,000sq. ft house with no window coverings to speak of.  And there are 37 of them! Not including 3 sets of french doors.  So I'm trying to get everything ordered before I leave for my Christmas vacation to Florida. Since we have had many years of working together on projects I think it should go smoothly.  At least that's the plan.                                              Most the blogs I read are making adorable Christmas ornaments, gingerbread houses, showing beautiful photos of their holiday finery.  I'm afraid you won't see that here this week.  I still need to take down the fall decorations.  So for now, I will live vicariously through all those winter wonderlands that I visit. Daily. Sometimes more than once.  My absolute favorite this week is Violets Are Blue. Go take a peek and you'll see what I mean.  Christmas Wonderland!

Grateful Gathering

How was your Thanksgiving?  I had such a wonderful time. 

Yesterday was such a beautiful day! The weather was spectacular, sunny, crisp air and blue skies.  We began our gathering at 1:00 and ate our delicious dinner al fresco on the patio.  This is the only turkey that did not get eaten.  It was the centerpiece on one of the tables.  I set up 4 tables with a mix of linens and vintage silver flatware alongside my new white dinner plates. 

Chairs were set out on the side lawn and the swing set plumped with pillows for the afternoon nap.  The meal was complete with a beautiful oven roasted turkey basted with herb butter.  Delish!  And the side dishes did not disappoint...cornbread stuffing, sweet potato praline casserole, homemade noodles, green beans, broccoli & cheese casserole, baked spiral ham, so much more I can't think of them all. Dessert was pumpkin, pecan, dutch apple, and cherry pies. It's a good thing this type of spread isn't enjoyed on a regular basis. 

After we had dinner about 9 of us started up a very, very long card game called Tonk.  It's a game of 31 where the last person standing gets to take home the pot.  Of course, as usual the person who had never played before won the pot.  It was so much fun, lots of teasing and jokes that I almost forgot that I lost my money.  And The Man lost his too!

Everyone stayed late, nibbling on leftovers and watching movies.  The cousins all played outside, inside, on the computer, with video games, riding dirt bikes, coloring, and taking pictures of each other.  What a great memory, who needs pictures?  Yesterday, my heart took a picture that I'll never forget.

This has to be one of my favorite Thanksgivings!  Hoping that you all had a memorable one as well!

P.S. I don't know why there is a large gap between 2 of my photos. I tried to fix it.  If anyone knows the solution, feel free to let me know.  Thanks!

Thanksgiving Week

Preparations are underway this week to get ready for the big day on Thursday.  We will be having 25-27 people over to celebrate the holiday with us.  I've already started with the tablecloths, thanks to my dear friend who is a wonder with the sewing machine.  She's coming back tonight so we can finish them. 

The main fabric is from the Martha Stewart Collection.  My sister found it for me and gave me yards and yards, so sweet!  I think it might be discontinued now.  The ruffle is just muslin that I think coordinates well.  They have the look of a vintage tablecloth and I think my crisp white dinnerware will look wonderful set on top.  The linen fabric looks like it has been stamped with the white botanical print.  Charming and very usefull for other occasions. 

As I mentioned in a previous post, we will be setting up some tables outside on the patio.  It should be great weather, it's in the 90's today.  Oh, and speaking of my previous post....The Matthew Mead left me a comment!  I couldn't believe it!  I was so excited, I can't even think of how to respond, do I email back?  Send him a comment?  What is blog etiquette?  I haven't been responding to all my comments because I'm not sure what is the best way.  Anyway, just the fact that he visited my blog made my day.  And I'm trying not to worry about the fact that my blog does not look the way I want it to look.  I haven't made a banner or customized it in any way.  It's still a work in progress.  Speaking of work I need to get started, groceries to be bought, homemade noodles to be made, house to tidy up, lawns and gardens to be manicured, tables to be set and family and friends to be enjoyed!  I'll try to remember pics of the finished product.  To all of you and yours.....Happy Thanksgiving Week!

It's That Time Of Year

Sorry it's been so long since my last post.  I've been trying desperately to get into the holiday spirit.  This shot of vintage lovelies is from a recent flea market excursion.  Usually I can't wait for Christmas.....the parties, the decorating, the baking, the smell of fresh cut greenery.  This year is a little different, we will be going on vacation to Florida.  We're leaving 4 days before Christmas and not coming home until the new year.  I'm very excited about the trip, I've never been to Florida.  But this leaves me with a slight holiday dilemma.  To go all out and decorate like crazy for the 2 1/2 weeks we'll be home or just do something on a small scale?  Which is not something I'm very familiar with.  So...I'm trying to get in the fa la la la mood.  I have bought quite a few vintage Christmas decorations this year and I'd love to use them somehow.  Perhaps I'll adorn my presents with them.  Wrapping presents is one of my favorite parts of the season, second only to baking!

In the meantime, my Thanksgiving preparations have been going well.  My sweet friend came over today to help me sew 2 tablecloths for my patio tables.  I'll take some pictures to post when we're done.  I think they are going to turn out just perfect.  My menu is planned and all that I have left is table centerpieces and a few more decorations.  Oh, and of course the unbelievably large grocery store trip. 

Pure Pomegranate

Yesterday, The Man brought home a half dozen or so of these beauties.  I forgot to ask him where he got them, I think they are from the same friend that gave him elk meat.  I'm not going to eat the elk but I do plan to enjoy these.  They are perfectly ripe.  And it's been so hot here in So.Cal (96 today) that I'm going to put them in a salad. 

When I was a kid I would peel them to get the fruit/seeds out and turn all my fingers pink.  Now I split them open and tap the back of them with a spoon to release all the little jewels.  They seem very "in" these days, showing up in juices, salads, jelly and I'm sure many other products I'm not aware of.  When I googled pomegranate I came up with this wealth of information.  More than one would ever hope to know about the ancient fruit, unless of course, you own an orchard full of them. 

Check Out This Site

Thought I'd share with you a great site I found recently.  It's Matthew Mead Style. Go ahead, click on over.  You know you want to. 

He is a stylist that works for Country Home magazine.  He has a client list that includes Pottery Barn, LL Bean, Target, etc, etc.  When I grow up I want to be like him.  His photo studio is incredible, and I bet his prop room would make me faint!

  There are great recipes and crafts, as well as decorating and display ideas.  This month he has his own magazine Holiday with Matthew Mead out on newsstands November 7th.  So besides voting tomorrow I bet you can guess where I'll be!

Our family has Thanksgiving at our home every year.  We have a pretty large family that usually spills out into the patio and back yard.  I have enough tables to seat 22 outside comfortably and I think I will take some inspiration from Matthew Mead and decorate the tables like this stunning outdoor setting.  Hope I can achieve the same look and feel that I get from this photo.  Tomorrow I'm off to do some serious holiday shopping!