The Winner Of Giveaway #1 . . .

Congratulations Vitania ~ You have won this pampering giveaway!

Just to recap, Vitania has won the following:

Item 1 The Lumbar Wrap from The Happy Company. Part of their The Down To Earth Collection, this wrap is part of a naturally environmentally friendly line of relaxation products filled with flax seeds and eucalyuptus with 100% organic un-dyed cotton covers and a symbolic embroidered Mother Earth on each piece.

Item 2 A Mini Me Sampler from agoodnightkiss. Featuring two sachet blends they are housed in a recyclable metal 2 oz. tin. The all natural, vegan and 100% certified organic line of bath products not only soothe but eradicate dry skin.

Item 3 Dionis by Polysciences, Inc. Weekend Gardener exfoliating bar soap allows you to wash away dirt and grime while gently exfoliating with beneficial and soothing oatmeal. Each item in this line is blended with the fragrance of fresh lavendar, invigorating sparkling citrus, beneficial botanical herbs, soothing aloe, antioxidant Vitamin E and refreshing lemongrass to fully moisturize and protect hardworking hands and soothe tired muscles.

I hope you will enjoy using them!

Vitania ~ Please send your full name and mailing address to kathyp(at)creativehomeexpressions(dot)com (of course, with the proper @ and .)

~ A Fantasy Getaway ~

My new issue of Architectural Digest arrived and while looking through it, I came across an article about interior designer Diane Burn, who created this gorgeous getaway on Isla Taboga, Panama (San Pedro). While I wouldn't want to travel that far, I'm sure you could incorporate some of her ideas into your own home to make your very own getaway.

These are just a few of the pictures from the magazine article. I love the colors used here and the seamless flow to the next room (which leads outdoors).





I love this kitchen window and the casual simplicity of the storage; the wall cabinet is a display and functional piece at the same time.






This is the room next to the first room pictured above. The texture to those needlepoint pillows, along with the wicker, the metal, the smoothness of the walls, the shapes and colors of the plants brings this whole area together for me. I'd love to be sitting there reading a book.






Here is a view from the balcony of the cottage.




The little peek of hammock from this doorway, where it looks shaded by island plants, has "nap" written all over it!





Have you made a getaway in your own home?

Pretty Storage

I took a day off Monday and decided to visit Michael's Craft Store. I was supposed to be looking for some pictures to use in a long hallway in my house, as part of my prep for selling it. In and out, right? Wrong! Oh, so very wrong!

As I headed past an aisle, out of the corner of my eye I saw something pretty. I came to a screeching halt, backed up a bit and turned my head - storage boxes! Storage boxes in all shapes, sizes, colors, designs! I was in heaven! And best of all - wait for it - they were 50% off! (Heck, what was I in here for again?)


With a quick look around to make sure nobody else was going to infringe on my personal space (which at this point was the whole aisle) I began to check them out. Ooohing and aaahing; seeing how they snapped shut with the magnetic close; admiring the designs and text on each when I came across these items that I just knew would work in my home office (well, once I get it out of boxes and set up again).






Well, I just had to buy them! I would have been so mad at myself if I hadn't and you just know they wouldn't be there if I went back weeks later. Except for not having a little bit of green in it, the colors are mine (just look at my still new banner and button). These pretty little things just scream "Me" - don't they? And, don't forget - they were 50% off!

Keeping that in mind, I felt it would behoove me to maybe pick up just a few more. I thought "What a great item for a giveaway"!!!! Are you excited now? Sure, now that it involves you. : ) So here is what I put together to be a giveaway at some unspecified time in the future:

Lovely box with flip lid and magnetic closure in pink and green, and . . . . .

These cute little stationary items (in a green and purpley pink) . . . .

There is a journal in the back, a notepad and notecards. How cute is that???

So that will be one giveaway. Then I came across these boxes, which have lids that just come off. These reminded me of someone (Donna), who incorporates this particular subject matter into her beautiful work and graphic art.

Black boxes with gold accents (nice design on side) one has a chair and one has a chandelier on the box top. So pretty!

I couldn't find anything to put inside them to make for another giveaway item, but I'm sure I will find something!

So, there you go! I got some pretty storage for myself, a couple of items to do as giveaways and I did remember to get the pictures I went in there for originally! Quite a productive shopping excursion, if I do say so myself!

Don't forget to enter our Giveaway #1 (ends Thursday night)!


Copyright 2009 Kathy Passarette, Creative Home Expressions

~ July Giveaway #1 ~

This giveaway has now ended.

Sound the trumpets! Let the giveaways begin!

Every week in the month of July, I will be offering a giveaway here on my blog. Let's get to it then!

Giveaway #1 ~ This lovely giveaway is comprised of 3 items. Perhaps to pamper yourself after a full day of decorating your lovely abode; or from a busy day of crafting; or from working 9-5, coming home and doing what needs doing there. Whatever your day is like these 3 little goodies can help ease away the stress.





Item 1 The Lumbar Wrap from The Happy Company. Part of their The Down To Earth Collection, this wrap is part of a naturally environmentally friendly line of relaxation products filled with flax seeds and eucalyuptus with 100% organic un-dyed cotton covers and a symbolic embroidered Mother Earth on each piece.

Item 2 A Mini Me Sampler from agoodnightkiss. Featuring two sachet blends they are housed in a recyclable metal 2 oz. tin. The all natural, vegan and 100% certified organic line of bath products not only soothe but eradicate dry skin.

Item 3 Dionis by Polysciences, Inc. Weekend Gardener exfoliating bar soap allows you to wash away dirt and grime while gently exfoliating with beneficial and soothing oatmeal. Each item in this line is blended with the fragrance of fresh lavendar, invigorating sparkling citrus, beneficial botanical herbs, soothing aloe, antioxidant Vitamin E and refreshing lemongrass to fully moisturize and protect hardworking hands and soothe tired muscles.

To enter this giveaway (for all three items), visit the three websites for these items and then come back here and comment, telling me which of their products you are most interested in (you only need to do one product from one company).

You can enter up until Thursday, July 9th, 8:00 p.m. The winner will be picked by a random number generator and announced on Friday, July 10th. (I will, therefore, not be commenting on this post, so I don't mess up the numbers, but will be reading the comments).

Blog Of The Week ~ Down Home DIY

Marybeth Barrett is the creative force behind Down Home DIY. Also known as The MacGyver of Decorating and Artist who specializes in Interior Redesign, Staging & Color, Marybeth crafts and creates by repurposing and refinishing items giving them new life.

Along with blogging about interior decor, Marybeth also shares with us some of her artistic endeavors on her posts. These purses (below) are one of Marybeth's creations using wallpaper! How gorgeous! She keeps them on a shelf displayed in her office. Creatively crafty and decorative accessory in one. I think the one with the Japanese lettering is my favorite.

To go hand-in-hand with this post, Marybeth has kindly offered a giveaway on her blog. She has put together this cigar box purse (so creative). You'll have to visit her blog for the rules! Marybeth's blog covers subjects ranging from color, to repainting furniture, to some of her decorating jobs. She is a very talented woman!

Here's a glimpse at the inside ~ love the handle she used and the tin-look wallpaper!

When Is A Refrigerator More Than A Refrigerator?

When it becomes a decorative element in the kitchen or blends away into the cabinetry. I saw a beautiful paneled refrigerator painted to match cabinetry in a kitchen featured in the current issue of Beautiful Homes Magazine (which, of course, I can't find a picture of online). I decided to search out the different ways of integrating a refrigerator into the kitchen without it looking like a refrigerator.

See if you can pick out the refrigerator in these pictures.



This one looks like an armoire. I think those are even tassels hanging from the handles.



This one is so pretty - it even looks like a painted cabinet.

Photo courtesy of Pam Design

This one blends in seamlessly with the surrounding cabinetry.


Photo courtesy of HGTV

This one looks like it could be a pantry cabinet.

Photo courtesy of Decorati

It took me a few seconds to realize that this mirrored piece is the refrigerator - draws and all!

Photo courtesy of Decorati

Another that looks like it's a piece of furniture. I would never think that was the refrigerator!

Photo courtesy of Decorati

More of a cabinetry look.

Photo courtesy of Decorati

This one looks like an armoire in a bedroom.

Photo courtesy of Decorati

Who would have thought a refrigerator could be beautiful!

Oh, before I forget - here's one for the guys. A toolbox refrigerator. Gotta love the creativity!

~ July Is Giveaway Month! ~

That's right, July is giveaway month here on the Creative Home Expressions blog! I'm pleased to let you know that I have 3 confirmed giveaway items - 3 - confirmed! I'm very excited and all three items are very different.

Starting next week, I will post the first one. Make sure you check back with our blog to enter and check out the first giveaway for July!