Design Book Library ~ Cottage Style

I’m not going with any designer name in my title this time around because this is a Better Homes and Gardens book and includes many various designers within its pages.  This book is another favorite, as you will see from the pictures.  Lots of eye candy in this book and if you love cottage style, this book is for you!

This book is a little older than those I’ve shared previously, but I think a lot of the elements used in this book could still be used today.

I think the one thing you can count on with this style is florals.  Florals figure into all these pictures in one way or another.

Plates as accessories is something also seen quite a bit.

You’ll also find bits of whimsy involved, too, whether it’s painted floors, painted furniture, pattern mixing, or the decorative accessories themselves.

And you’ve got to have a porch of some kind.  My favorite would be a screened porch.

Of course, you can’t forget the ever popular cottage garden!

This series has been unexpectedly helpful to me as I have come across some books I haven’t pulled out to look at in awhile.  In the coming weeks, I will have some books featured that I will be looking to pass on to more interested individuals {i.e. giveaway time!}.  So stick around and maybe there will be one that interests you that I will be offering up.

Christmas In July ~ Etsy Shop

Before the month totally gets away from me, I wanted to run a Christmas in July special in my Etsy shop.   You can get the code below. 

Here is a small sampling.  I’ve got some home décor items.

I’ve got some little girl’s aprons.

Some pillows.

Christmas items.

I’m getting ready to make up my Halloween items ~ I’ll have some banners like I had last year. 

Also, the pillow I made for my son {that seemed quite popular} will be listed as a made to order item.

This was a double-sided pillow.

 

And I’ve got a bunch of other stuff, too!  I will be offering 30% off ready to ship items {this excludes tea towels}.  Just use code JULY30 when checking out.  This code will expire on August 3, 2014.

The Artist Behind The Etsy ~ Marionberry Cottage

Being a part of the Etsy community, not only as a seller but as a customer, I have come across many talented individuals.  With this series, I hope to introduce you to some of these creative people, finding out where they find their inspiration, and a little bit more about them.

I am very pleased to introduce you to Debbi of Marionberry Cottage this week.   Debbi not only has an Etsy shop, but she also has a blog and a website.  If you embrace the cottage lifestyle, you will just adore Debbi’s creations!

 

I am Debbi Oeltjen, I live in western Oregon in a small rural town called Sublimity. Named by the early settlers because the green rolling hills were simply “sublime”. My husband Jim and I have two grown children and two granddaughters Lynsie Jean and Lilian Grace. We love to vacation in tropical destinations with our favorite being the big island of Hawaii. After many years of working a day job and pursuing my art as hobby, I decided two years ago to live my dream as a full time textile, mixed media and graphic artist.

I opened my etsy shop in 2007. I had sold on ebay for a few years, but got discouraged with the high fees. Joining etsy opened many new doors of opportunity and lasting friendships with other sellers and customers. I also joined a ning group Etsy Cottage Style and eventually became the administrator. Today the community is called Embracing Cottage Style. http://embracingcottagestyle.com

I find my color inspiration from nature and the flowers of the garden. I am a passionate cottage gardener and grow many English and old fashioned roses. Many of my designs are centered around roses. I also have a love of old lace and crochet, collecting pieces both perfect and tattered. I am always finding new inspiration with these well loved treasures.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of my art is being able to see a vision in my head of what I can do with a single piece of fabric, a box, a frame, or piece of crochet. I rarely have a plan or a pattern, I let the vision or idea guide me as I design. Therefore my creations are truly one of a kind.

I have 2 etsy shops and a website
http://CottageRoseGraphics.etsy.com
http://MarionberryCottage.com
http://TheFridayFlea.com

 

Debbi

Thank you, Debbi, for sharing your creative journey and inspiration!  You can visit Debbi at all three of her site links (above).

 

Design Book Library ~ Mary Carol Garrity

Getting back to my design book library series this week ~ some of you may know these next books by the name “Nell Hill”.  These books are a favorite of mine and they are definitely my “go to” vignette idea books.  I probably pull these three books off my shelves more than any of the others.  The three I have are Christmas at Home, Style at Home, and Feather Your Nest.

The Christmas one is the least favorite of the three only because I expected more from a Christmas decorating book.  If I had to recommend any of these three it would be Style at Home or Feather Your Nest.  This would be a super long post if I tried to show you an equal amount of pictures from each book, so I’m just going to give you a random sampling. 

One of the things I really like is that she will show you an area, whether it is a wall or a tabletop decorated three different ways.   Note the picture above and then below the three ways she has decorated the wall (showing one side) as well as the table top.

 

Here is another table top that has gotten made over three different ways, with the lamp staying the same.

The pictures share vignettes throughout a home, from the kitchen

(Notice how this little terrarium holds silver pieces above and china cups below.  Simple changes that give this terrarium a different look.)

through the dining room

to the living room.

Even the laundry room!

And all the rooms in between!

And I think you can guess these are from the Christmas book.

Lots of great ideas and inspiration from these books. Many of these little touches and vignettes you could put together with items you already own or for very little money.