~A Visit to Sister's House~

Welcome to my Sister "Margo" and Brother n law "David's" home!

Their style is "Fun,Funky, Vintage and Retro"a mix of styles that all work with harmony and balance. My sister "Margo" has used orange, green, gold and warm shades of chocolate and black as accent colors. The pop-art photo of Margo and David above the couch is fun and colorful! it represents their playfulness and easy going side. The couch is upholstered with the softest suede fabric and David says the arms remind him of chocolate "Ho Ho's" ( by the way David l-o-v-e-s chocolate). The gold hanging lamp by the curtains is from the 1970's time frame.
Margo made all the paisley curtains for this room and the long bolster pillow on the kidney shaped love seat. A fun round mirror and candles hang on the wall in the front entry.
These are four Japanese nesting tables with hand carved dragons. They are over 60 years old and belonged to our Grandparents. I love how they look in my Sister's home!.
Aren't they beautiful!

Another piece I adore in this room is this Victorian- style Tunisian hand -painted birdcage from Africa. I hope you can see all the lovely detail.

Here's a better photo, Margo held a blanket up behind it for me so I could take the photo, in hopes of showing you all the beautiful detail work on the birdcage. (I have dibs on this birdcage if sister ever wants to sell it). Hint, Hint and a smile. Margo and David were married in 2001, they are both school teachers and love to travel. I made this counted cross stitch wedding sampler for them as a gift. The Dinning Room~ Is painted a warm golden yellow, the dinning table is black iron with four upholstered suede chairs. The restaurant sign was hand made that is hanging on the wall behind the table, Margo found this piece while antique shopping.

The hanging lamp is full of retro charm!
Margo loves her china plates and tea-cups just like I do and she has them displayed in these lovey white washed cabinets.
And for the love of orange and retro, you must have a 1970's orange glass vase!.
My love the tea-cups.

The Kitchen~ A bistro table for two, the walls are painted in a warm sherbet color. Modern yet retro, again for the love of orange. The curtains are a soft gray.
A vintage toaster cover, this little hand made doll is dressed in yellow checks and is wearing a white apron.
The tea-cart is another find Margo purchased while antique shopping.
Even the lighting over the bistro table has a touch of retro, a band of orange, green and gold strips.

I hope you have enjoyed a peek in side Margo and David's home.

Next post I will show you the office, Master bath and laundry room.



May your day be full of happiness and your heart be full of sunshine.

Hugs and a smile, Elizabeth

~More Afghan's~

My hands have been very busy! while laid up from foot surgery. During this time I have completed a few more projects. This white heart crochet afghan is one of my favorite's to make, it is made in strips and then sewed together. I have made this pattern for wedding gifts and baby shower gifts. I love the size of the heart's on this blanket.
I have it draped over the chair in the tea room, where I sit all wrapped up ready to read a good book.

This is our Grand Daughter "Aleena" at Christmas time. I knitted her the hat and scarf she is wearing.
And this is the new addition to our family born Dec. 11, 2009. Meet my new Great Nephew "Logan" he is "modeling" the hat and blanket I made for him. His Mommy is in love with him (lots and lots of kisses).
This little guy weighed in at 8lbs 15oz. let's just say 9lbs. Poor little mommy who is only 5ft tall.
This crochet afghan is a full size blanket that I made in stripes for my Niece and Nephew n law as a wedding gift. Again one of my favorite patterns. It's the same pattern I used for Logan's baby afghan.
I have finished my giveaway gift that I will show you on my 100 th post. I can't wait for you to see it.
Until next time may your hearts be full of love and your hands be busy!.
"Keep Creating"
Your blogging friend,
Elizabeth

~Plaid & Floral a Cheery Duo "Part 2"

All done! Yep, I'm all done with the curtains and pillows "for now anyway". I'm always changing something around! I know, I know, I can never just leave any room a lone for long. I keep changing my mind. Isn't that a woman's prerogative? and it's fun to change things around. (you can click on any photo to enlarge).
I kept adding pillows and mixing patterns.
I changed the buttons from white to red on the cream pillow. I like it better.
These curtains are so much brighter. Although I liked the other ones too, but they were more muted in color and I love the brighter colors in this floral fabric . To see what the guest room used to look like with the more muted curtains just scroll down to the post "Guest Cottage Sign" from Dec. 2, 2009. (I tried to link to it but I had problems with that, I will work on learning how to link)



A few weeks ago, Gary made this photo frame for me. It has been re purposed many times it started out as a mirror and then it held plates and now it's a photo frame.
What Gary did was screw in two metal sheets into the back of the frame that I had covered in left over drop cloth fabric. I spray painted the old photo frames in white and added magnets to the backs of the photo frames. No more nails in the walls and the photo's becoming crooked on the wall. I really love how it turned out and it's a great way to display all my great niece's and nephew's photo's. . "Thanks Honey".
I love to add fringe and ribbon to plain lamp shades. I first hot glued the hanging pom pom balls and then applied the blue and white flower trim on top.
Then the red and white checked ribbon for more whimsy.
So that's the "Guest Room" for now. I did use all the 7 yards of floral, I think I have about 4.5 yards left of the plaid. I'm thinking of curtains for the office. Our office is a work in progress, one day I will show it to you.

Until we meet again may your day's be full of peace and love in your hearts.

Hugs and Smiles,
Elizabeth

~Plaid & Floral a Cheery Duo~

All my favorite colors rolled into one!. With shades of Yellow, Cream, Red, Green and Blue. Yes in deed Gary and I purchased 7 yards in each roll. I think it's always better to buy a little more just in case, no fabric will go unused in our home.
Love this plaid, it's so happy and bright and you always need more fabric when matching plaids. And this floral just gave me that tropical "Aloha" feeling. Together I thought they made a lovely pair. I think this fabric duo will brighten up the guest room perfectly. The curtains I have in there now are more on the muted tones and this duo is so much brighter. I will be making curtains, pillows and pillowcases.
We are having a raining Sunday, so it's perfect to sit and sew. I better get busy so off I go!

Until we meet again may your heart be full of peace and joy.
Hugs and smiles for you,
Elizabeth

~A Special Gift~

Gary bought this very sweet bowl for me ~ can you believe it says "Home is Where the Heart is" I was so thrilled!!!. Home is Where the Heart is means so much to Gary and I, it's a saying we treasure and hold very close to our hearts. It has the sweetest blue butterfly and the tiniest red ladybug inside the bowl. Gary had designed butterfly's for our stain glass windows we have in our dinning room, so this little bowl was perfect for us, it was as if it was made especially for us. I know it wasn't but it's fun to think so when you are given such a loving and meaningful gift from your husband. There are even butterfly's on the outside of the bowl.
Along with lovely soft flowers.
Little bees and dragonfly's.

Made by LENOX "Butterfly Meadow"
Gary is so sweet to me, he even climbed up and had to stand on the edge of the entertainment center to put up the wooden letters I had painted. Once again in our family saying "Home is where the Heart is. I think he did a great job.
No matter where we are our home is always in our hearts.
It's really true there is no place like home.

Until we meet again I wish you all ~ Love, Peace and Joy~
Your blogging friend ~Elizabeth~

~The White Bench~

On Saturday Gary wanted to get me out of the house for little drive, we ended up at one of my favorite places to browse and shop "Antique Emporium" located downtown Modesto CA. I love this shop and I always find the cutest things. He surprised me by taking me there. I haven't been out much since I'am still healing from foot surgery, so this was a real treat.
We were lucky enough to find a parking place right at the front door, so I did not have to walk far. Right in the front window I saw this sweet little white bench, it reminds me of a church pew. I ran {hobbled} over to the white bench and just had to have it, it was calling my name and so the little white bench came home with us. I just love the red and white checked seat cushion. It fit perfectly against the wall.
I just had to hang the pink hearts on the side. These little lovey hearts were hand made by my dear friend "Becky" from "Sweet Cottage Dreams" Becky has a ESTY site where she sales antiques and hand made gifts. Since Becky and I live close to each other she came over for a visit and brought the hearts as a gift. She brighten my day so much, Becky is a real delight and her sweet spirit just shines throughout her.

The day I took the pictures of the white bench the sun was shining through the glass stained windows,I had hoped to capture the brightness of the light for you all to see.

Gary and I would like to wish you all a very "Happy and Blessed New Year" and I want to thank each and everyone of you that have left a note asking how I have been. It means the world to me, really it does. It just brings tears to my eyes to think how very thoughtful and caring you have been.

I am trying to visit you all and leave you a note. Also to all of you that have become a follower, I welcome you to "Home is Where the Heart is" and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Big hugs, always your blogging friend,

Elizabeth

~Finished Projects~

I thought I would share a few crocheted and knitted projects that I made for gifts. First is this red and white crocheted afghan, it was a gift to our home. A fun and quick afghan to make.


This baby girl crocheted blanket and knitted sweater was a gift for my niece Christine who had the most beautiful baby girl named Heidi two months ago.
Also for Heidi a knitted blanket and hat.

Another baby gift crocheted blanket and knitted hat. This was for our niece Amber who we (thought) was having a baby girl, but it's a boy who will be born this Friday Dec. 11 and we can't wait to meet him. So for now I will save this gift for the next baby girl to be born.
A quick sewing project, this red and blue blanket was for our Grandson Ty who love Cars and Optimus Prime! These are quick blankets that all the kids love. I sewed 11 pockets into Ty's blanket for him to keep his cars. The blanket is reversible.


A brown, green and white crocheted blanket and hat's were a gift for our niece Amber, who is having a baby boy who's name will be Logan and will be born this Friday Dec. 11.

I 'm still working on our giveaway gift for our upcoming 100th post. I am trying to post more so I can get to the 100th post.

My fingers have been very busy every day while resting on the couch. I can't wait to show you what I've been working on for our first giveaway.

Until the next post we wish you all good heath and the love of your family during the Christmas Season!