Simple Pleasures

I have been enjoying the simple pleasures lately ~ sewing baby gifts, hanging out at the pool on humid days, celebrating my granddaughter’s 5th birthday, patiently waiting for granddaughter #2 to arrive {6 more weeks}, doing a little gardening, a little purging, reading a cute mystery series I started but never finished {the Flavia de Luce books by Alan Bradley}, and cutting some hydrangea blooms.

I have not been online much lately {except maybe Pinterest because it’s quick} and I apologize for not having commented on blogs recently, but I feel like I need this time to be disconnected from the internet. 

I just can’t let these simple pleasures in life pass me by.

What The Dickens?

Just some news to share, especially with those local folks that found me after the last gift shop I participated in {two years ago} for the St. Anne’s Hill Holiday Home Tour - I am thrilled and honored to have been asked to participate again.

I’ve got lots of ideas of what I want to make and send along for the gift shop.  Even though December seems a long way off at this point, I know I will be scrambling to finish up some projects.  I do need to get started, though, and I plan on sharing some of those creations right here!

Meanwhile, back to Summer!

 

Guest Post ~ Wood Lighting

*The following is a guest post from my new sponsor Parrot Uncle Lighting.

Catch up with New Home Lighting Trend----Wooden Lighting

At a time surrounded by cold and lifeless technology, we may sometimes miss the past when life was simpler and greener, when family parties are about talking and sharing instead of scrolling smart phone screens, and when books are selected by going through row upon row of bookshelves, instead of inputting key words into a search bar. When it comes to lighting, nothing beats wooden lamps in arousing comfort and pleasure, which can be only experienced in nature.

Wood, dominating the making of tools for the better part of human civilization, can be shaped into an infinite number of shapes and sizes. Crafts associated with wood have ascended to a level that often goes beyond our wildest imagination. It is safe to say that they have broken people’s old, settled ideas. Toddlers to centenarians can find the magic of wooden items.

A loyal lover of wooden lamps may start from a wooden chandelier. Going by appearance, it looks magnificent; going by function, it is highly practical. Typically, a wooden chandelier features sprawling branches, each of which holds a bulb. This allows it to brighten up a huge area. With a wooden chandelier overhead, it can really create a relaxing and comforting environment, which is ideal for having supper in the dining room or exchanging some chit-chat in the living room.

The general supersize of wooden chandeliers may not fit every room in a house, say, a child’s room. On such occasions, a wooden pendant light in a cute shape may be helpful. With the wooden frame bearing the resemblance of a diamond, a pendant is able to create fanciful lighting effect. A child will fall asleep fast while lying on bed watching the magic shade on walls and ceilings.

Considering ease in moving about, wooden table or floor lamps stand out. They can be placed wherever you want and then removed to a different spot if needed. These lighting devices are loyal companions whether you are reading by the table, dozing off in front of television, or having an informal chat with a friend on the sofa.

But if you are living in a small apartment and wish to save as much space as possible, a wooden wall sconce is the optimum choice, especially one with a swing arm. It covers a wider area instead of wasting the brightness of glow.

French Style ~ A New Magazine

I found a new magazine a couple of weeks ago called French Style.  New to me, at least.  I thought I’d share some of the pictures that had me poring over each detail.

Most of the homes shared in the magazine are not in the United States, except for one that was in New Jersey, but looked like it could have been in France. 

Some lovely homes featured and I would have liked to see more of some of them.

Have you seen this magazine?  If so, what did you think of it?   

Sweet Little Sundresses

Some things are so much easier to do these days.  Case in point are these sundress fabrics that are available now.  I sure wish they had these when my daughter was little!  Well, at least my granddaughter gets to benefit.  The fabric is already smocked at the top and is basically set up in length.  For my granddaughter’s size, I got a yard of fabric {and had a little bit left over after I cut to her size}.

Such pretty colors and patterns, too!  We started with these two, although she wanted all six of the ones they had at Hobby Lobby.  I made one for her about 2 – 2 1/2 years ago and they didn’t have that many patterns/colors available even then.  Like then, I also bought some headband elastic “ribbon” to use as straps.

From what they had available, I got two that would work with the dress fabric.

Very simple to do and a great project for beginning sewers.  I used a cloth tape measure to measure around my granddaughter’s chest area.  I added a half inch to an inch for the seam and cut the fabric.  I hemmed the bottom and then you just pin the edges together {right sides facing} and sew it up! 

She loves them, I love that I made something for her, and it really is a simple and quick sewing project.

Where Bloggers Create ~ 2015

Gosh, I can’t believe it’s been 6 years that I have been participating in the Where Bloggers Create blog party!  Thanks so much to Karen of My Desert Cottage for putting this together. It is a lot of fun to share our spaces and see what everyone else’s craft rooms, sewing rooms, and studio spaces look like.

So, let’s get started with this year’s tour.  I am always looking for ways to pretty up and organize even better in my small space.  Lots of pictures ahead so grab a drink and a snack and get comfortable!

Welcome to my craft/sewing room.  This year I made a sign for over the entrance.  This Atelier sign!  Easy, quick and inexpensive to make.  If you’d like to read that post, you can find it here.

I have my mannequin here to welcome you all in!  She wears a thrift store skirt that I’ve been debating cutting up, one of my crowns, a cool necklace, as well as the broaches I’ve come across over the past couple of years at flea markets, yard and estate sales.

As always, I’ll start to the left and will bring you around the room.  Here is the screen that I added fabric to and it not only works to hide the water softener, heater, etc., but it also holds some of my Etsy items like tags and totes.

My small “work” table.  I keep little things like plastic and glassine bags, my Exacto knives, and a couple of other little bits and bobs in the drawer.  I don’t exactly get to work on top of this table, since I tend to put things that need to be put away on here.  So work table is not quite an accurate description ~ it should be called the catch-all table!

On top I have my tiered baskets, my Exacto mat, and another little basket.  I did have a non-working lamp on this table previously, but I took it off to give me just a little bit more room!  Every little bit counts in a small creative space!

It is a hard little worker though!  Besides using the little drawer, I also utilize the shelf on the bottom to hold other supplies and pending projects. 

My shelves have not changed much since last year. 

The only part that did change is where I had my fabric bins.  I now have my fabric down below on one of the bookcases.  I reorganized that here.

My bookcases are still quite jam packed with things I hope to use in some way to create with ~ peat pots, small “dollar spot” frames, empty boxes of all sizes, etc.

My sewing table, which has been a pleasure to work at.  I’ve been doing a lot more sewing this year both for my Etsy shop and for gifts and items for myself.

I’m still loving the toile fabric I used to skirt it and my check chair slip.  It also conceals more supplies that I can keep hidden and out of the way, like batting and fiberfil.

I’m also still loving my lamp with the lampshade I recovered a few years ago.  This little lamp really does add some nice task lighting to the table for me {especially when I’m trying to thread a needle!}. 

I added the button wall décor last year.  I found them unfinished at an online craft supply store and painted them up with paint I had on hand. 

There is a shelf above the sewing table and I continued with creative inspirational quotes to the ceiling.

A new addition this year is the shoe organizer I got for behind the door. 

I have started to decorate it a bit with lace, fabric, old hankies, etc. to dress it up.  It does hold a few things already.

Above the door I have my plate clock with the chandelier bling.  It is very easy for me to lose track of time when I am in here sewing or even just straightening up and moving things around.

Here are a few random close up shots of the different items I have on my shelves, both decorative and functional.

I love my little creative space and I love that my granddaughter thinks of it as a treasure trove.  She is always wide eyed when she comes in here ~ as am I, when I’ve got some inspiration to create!

I hope you enjoyed the tour of my creative space again this year.  I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s again.  I always come away with some great ideas and inspiration when I visit other’s creative spaces.