Blue Ribbon

Writing and freely publishing this book has been a blessing in so many ways, and trust me, it's a gift to you but it also gives to me. None of us is selfishly giving, and that in itself is the reason it's so good.

This  morning I awoke early, blearily opened my email and saw a message from Katherine Tyrrell marked, 'you've won The Best Book by an Art Blogger Blue Ribbon (Making A Mark Awards 2010).' How nice, I thought. I hadn't had my coffee or spent time in the Bible, as I do every morning, and I was pleased. But it wasn't until I visited Making a Mark that I was absolutely bowled over by this generous recognition!

Please take a moment to go over to her blog and read the stunning company listed on that page, in order to understand how I feel right now. I must tell you that I have never considered myself and what I've written here as coming close to ranking alongside Richard McKinley or Deborah Paris. Their books are amazing! They're each consummate professionals, recognized widely and very authoritative. I respect each of them immensely and have had the pleasure of a certain amount of interaction with each of them at various times.

I think the thing that pleases me most is that it was the giving that tipped the balance. That wasn't me. That was the Lord. Some may not understand, while others no doubt do, but suffice it to say that I gave the book away as a gift to honor Jesus.

All the thanks I've received from people all over the world, and now this lovely Blue Ribbon, are His.

Deborah

Catchin' Up

We're in Michigan right now relaxing with family and enjoying the lack of any type of schedule.  Sleeping in, playing ice hockey on the lake, eating home baked cookies and catching up by browsing some of my favorite home decor magazines.  I'm currently loving these pictures - great for some fantastic color inspiration....

SW Meander Blue (#6484)

BM's Wood Grain Brown (#2109-30)

BM's Hawthorne Yellow (#HC-4)

I also was able to catch up on the recent Renovation Style magazine featuring Meg Braff.  Here are two of my favorites pictures of her work...

Lastly, if you ever happen to find yourself in Ann Arbor, MI, you must go to The Treasure Mart.  My sister in law and I went there and it was amazing.  She walked away with a fabulous bamboo dresser for $75.  Not too dissimilar to this......

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I hope you all are having a relaxing holiday week.  I plan to be back in full swing in the New Year!!  Happy New Year's!!  

Wishing you a joyous.....

I am so thankful for all of you who read Green Street - you are a source of encouragement and inspiration to me!  I hope and pray that you have a wonderful and peaceful Christmas!

Merry! Merry!

Christmas card is from the talented Dani Silver - Dani Notes Stationary.  

One Room, Two Looks

Two Martha Stewart editors, Rebecca Robertson and Kevin Sharkey were recently challenged to decorate a similar room in a week.  Rebecca Roberstson took her love for bold colors and graphics and created an "ecletic modern room."  Kevin Sharkey went back to his Parish-Hadly roots and created an"updated traditional" room.  Let's look at the two looks in more detail....First up, Rebecca Robertson.

What initially attracted me to Rebecca's room was her bold use of colors; and I couldn't ignore her use of  Madeline Weinrib patterns!  But, after more review, what really won me over was her creative DIY projects.  For example, she reserached and found unpainted victorian gingerbread baulsters and used them on her walls. Talk about a graphic statement!

She bought generic Ikea ready made cabinets with built in shelves and used punched MDF radiator material to cover the glass fronts of the cabinet doors for a custom look.  How genius is that?

Lastly, also seen on Karen's Strictly Simple Style blog, Rebecca covered simple bakers trays with a bold zig zag fabric she designed on spoonflower and topped them with plexiglass.  Love it.

All pictures above from Room Remix.

Now, let's see her competition - Kevin Sharkey. 

He first began with the gingham check grasscloth wallpaper - the scale reminds me of buffalo check which I really love. And, then he added Schumacher's floral garden wallpaper to the ceiling to add a fifth wall.  This is very different from how he decorated his current home. 

He said his inspiration was a garden room, hence you see the garden stool, wicker furniture, floral wallpaper, etc.

Similar to Rebecca, he bought unfinished ready made bookcases and added molding to make them look custom.

All pictures above from Shannon Berrey Design.

So, there you go - one room, two looks.  Have a favorite?  I do and would love to hear yours.  Go here to vote. 



Finally Ready!

I'm happy to report we are finished with the Christmas decorations around our house. 

I swapped the artwork that is usually above our fireplace with the mirror that sits above my chest of drawers in our bedroom.  I made the wreath hanging on the mirror by taking ornament bulbs and securing them onto a wreath.  I hung real rope garland across the mantel. 

I added the two hurricanes to either side of the mirror to add some symmetry and height.  

Last year for stockings, I used these burlap bags that I thought were cute, but my husband was not a big fan.  I finally decided on the Garnet Hill Hable Construction stockings - I love how graphic they are. 

Lastly, we have our vintage Santa cookie jar from the days of my husband's youth and my German candle pyramid/carousel from my mother's home town in Germany (Trier).  

And, if you've missed our front door and dining room Christmas decorations, go here or our Christmas DIY gumdrop wreath, go here.  

Come join me & other bloggers over at Rene's Cottage and Vine 2010 Christmas Tour of Homes.

Nearly there...

This weekend we finished our Christmas decorations - the house is done, the stockings are hung and ready for Santa to arrive!  I was able to take a picture of our front door before we had the horrible rain and wind storm yesterday that knocked everything down.  Yup, garland, bells & wreath are all currently laying on our front stoop!

Oh well!  I still need to take more pictures of the inside but the natural lighting has been really bad.  In the meantime, here is a close-up of a little bar I put together in our dining room.  I bought 30+ of these blue and gold barware glasses at an antique store for $25.  I absolutely adore them.

More pictures coming soon.....

  

Dear Santa,

It's only a couple of things!! :)  

Happy Weekend Everyone! 

{1} Canon Rebel XSi {2} JCrew Timex Vintage Field Army Watch {3}Kate Spate Tidbit Plates {4} AMH Designs Stitchable Journals {5} Jonathan Adler Book {6} Petite Porcelain Vase {7} Harry Allen Gold Pig {8} Kate Spade Sandpiper Bangle {9} Duluth Pack Green Canvas Tote Bag

From Formal to Relaxed...In No Time.

I read an interesting article on Oprah's website (O At Home) which discussed how accessoricies can really transform the feel of a space.  Now for all you designers out there, this is not new news, but for a lot of stay at home moms, new home owners or design enthusiasts, there are some key tips here that can be carried forward to fit any space.  The above is a picture of a family's dining room.  They loved it, but the truth be told, it wasn't practical especially for their toddler aged children.  They quickly realized that they needed to change things fast so their whole family could enjoy it.  So, they hired a stylist to help. 

So, what did the stylist do to make this space more relaxing?  First, he started with the rug and drapes.  Do you notice the sisal rug? - a family friendly option that brings instant casual chicness to the space. He then added  linen shades which immediately softened the room.  These 2 subtle changes transformed the space immediately.  Then, he added a linen PB table runner, an oversized centerpiece to break up the intimidatingly banquet - like dining room table and a lot of greenery.  Yes, plants do bring life to a room!  Personally, I also like how he broke up the symmetry and hung a painting below one of the wall sconces; it immediately adds interest and brings down the formality a notch.  The lucite console brings in the fun factor and modernizes the room while keeping your interest level up!! All in all, I think it is much more inviting and welcoming room. Let's take a look at their living room, shall we?

Beautiful furnishings, but a little sterile, huh?  Let's see what the stylist did to add some life to this space.

Ahh..much more relaxed!  I like it....again, he started with the rug and window treatments.  He decided to add a geometrically Jonathan Adler patterened rug on top of a sisal rug.  The sisal rug brings in the casualness and the geometric rug adds interest.  He hung linen shades to soften up the room.  He changed the coffee table which is a better fit scale-wise. Notice how he hung abstract paintings  below the sconces?  It adds more depth and sophistication to the room.

My favorite part is that added some animal prints to bring some 'fun' in the space.  The great things about animal prints is that they are great neutrals and will look in a lot of spaces. The room was given a more "lived in feel" by adding a couple more pieces of furniture - the Stella shelves by Oly and a Jonathan Adler floor lamp. 

What I love about this family's living and dining room transformations is that it has gone from formal traditional to casual tradition by just adding accessories.  I mean how easy is it for all of us to take away some of these tips and apply it to our own homes?  The best part of the article was when the client said she is 'shedding' her textbook ideas of how a house should look!  Amen, to that!  A living and dining room is not just for company - it is a place where your whole family can and should enjoy!

Happy Hump Day!

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Hope you're having a good week!  I wish I could stay home today (and not go to work).  I'd love to wear cable knit socks, eat toast and jam, drink cafe au laits and bake Christmas cookies with my son!  Friday can't come soon enough!!  Happy Hump Day!

Blogger Stumbles into Assange Media Scrum

By chance, I found myself in the middle of the international press scrum surrounding the first court appearance of Julian Assange at the Westminster Magistrates' Court today. I'm not sure what this has to do with the project described in this blog, but the incident occurred after spending a lot of time in Westminster observing the general increase in police activities.

My Gumdrop Wreath

This Christmas season I was determined to make a gumdrop wreath.  So, this weekend with hot glue gun in hand and 7 packages of gumdrops, I set forth to make my gumdrop wreath.

I started off with a 12" foam wreath form from Michaels.  For starters, I wrapped packaging tape around the top of the wreath to protect the foam from the fishing line I used to hang the wreath.

I used a hot glue gun to stick the gumdrops on the wreath.  This was extremely easy to do - just seemed easier than using toothpicks.  But, learn from my mistake and don't place your gumdrops in horizontal rows like this.  

You see the gaps between the gumdrops?  Not good.  Instead, after you glue your first row of gumdrops, start to stagger the gumdrops in the subsequent rows so you don't have a gap between the gumdrops.  In other words, when starting your second row, place the gumdrop between the gumdrops in the first row.  Does this make sense?

This will eliminate the gaps and your wreath will begin to look dense.  The wreath took me about 4 hours.  Who has 4 hours these days?  But, I actually enjoyed sitting there (after my son was in bed), gluing one gumdrop after another onto this wreath.  Not complicated and a bit cathartic.  

The ribbon covers the fish-wire that is actually holding the wreath.  I love how it turned out!  Supposedly, there is a spray you can use to preserve the gumdrops.  I have no idea if this will keep until next year.  If I had more time, I'd love to make another one and offer it as a giveaway!  Maybe, next year!

Have you seen?

the sneak peek of High Gloss Magazine?  All I can say is, "I want to see more!" 

I am pretty confident this is a sneak peek of Tia Zoldan's kitchen.  I remember when Julie from Milk and Honey Home interviewed her back in July and posted new pictures of her home.  Here is another shot of Tia's kitchen via Milk and Honey Home.

Isn't the herringbone floor amazing?!  I am anxiously waiting until January; until then, you can read High Gloss Magazine's interview here.

Advice for New Moms: Odi et Amo

Come join me over at Averill's incredibly resourceful series, Advice for New Moms, as I share my favorite items when I was a new mom.  If you don't follow Averill's blog, Odi et Amo, I strongly encourage you too - she is a fabulous blogger with a keen eye for design who is expecting her first child. 

Before & After: My HomeGoods Bedside Mirrors

I was able to cross one project off my list this weekend - hang mirrors above our nightstands in our bedroom.  If you remember, this is what our bedroom looked liked before the mirrors.

Before:

Obviously, we needed something above our nightstands, but it has taken me a long time to find the exact mirrors I was visualizing for this space.  I was on a hunt to find something similar to the Lilly mirror from Ballard Designs.  This mirror, unfortunately, is no longer available and costs $199.00.  Even if it was still available, there is no way I could afford that.

So, I waited and waited and regularly checked HomeGoods.  And, then one day, while browsing HomeGoods down in Danbury, I found the perfect mirror for only $19.99.  The only thing is that it needed a paint job.  No problem!

A little white (gloss) spray paint and I was good to go.  Here is how our master bedroom looks now. 

After:

So, what do you think?  It's unbelievable how similar the mirrors look like the Lilly mirror from Ballard Designs.  You gotta love HomeGoods!

Eddie Ross: Tips for Decorating your Entryway for the Holidays

Check out Eddie Ross' tips for holiday decorating!  Here is his video on how to decorate your entryway, but check out his videos on how to decorate your mantel and tree as well!  He is also hosting a $250 giveaway from Sears or Kmart right here!

Kayce's Giveaway!

It's not too late to catch the tail end of Kayce's week of giveaways!!  Check it out here!

Happy Thanksgiving

To all, I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving.  Last night, knee deep, in chopped fennel, carrots, parsnips, etc. I would occasionally glance over at this

and it would make me smile.  I was planning on using this elsewhere in the house, but when my husband heard me 'stressing' out last night, he brought it in the kitchen and placed it on the counter!  He's the best.  I also finished my thanksgiving tablescape (flower arrangement and all)!

Lastly, I want to thank you for taking the time to stop by and reading my blog!!  Every time each one of you leaves a comment, it makes my day and I'm just thankful that I have found a passion, a supportive group of readers and an outlet in which to enjoy it all!!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!  I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving Day!!  Have a wonderful weekend!

This and That

I've been busy.  With what you ask?  Oh the typical - prepping for Thanksgiving (we're hosting), working, cleaning, joined a gym - trying to get into shape, play-dates, and trying to finish up some overdue home projects.  My favorite part?  I actually took some time to create a Thanksgiving tablescape this season which I plan to post pictures tomorrow! Yay! In the meantime, I hope to use this long weekend to finish up some home projects.  Here is a hint on one such project I'm working on:

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Do you notice a trend?  I also plan to get a head start on our Christmas shopping and decorating this weekend.  This year we will choose our Christmas tree from a local farm and have it tagged.  When we're ready to have it cut, we just call them in advance and they cut it.  This way I can guarantee NOT to see a pile of needles on the living room floor before Christmas Eve!  

Lastly, I plan to take some time for me.  A good friend and mentor gave me this book in which she wrote, "I love how in a very gentle and uncomplicated way the book encourages self-love, dreaming, imagining, creating, playing, exploring and nurturing your spirit, dreams, passions, curiosities and desires."

I couldn't have said it better.  Don't we all need that from time to time, particularly during the crunch of the holidays?  I'll see you tomorrow to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!