Home is Where the Heart is

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Summer at Charlevoix Quilt

Happy Monday Everyone! I was MIA for the last month, it seems just when I get back into the groove of blogging, I was called away again.
Gary and I spent the last month everyday at his parents home, cleaning and shinning every nick-nak and groove and cranny of every hutch and corner of their home. We even had the interior fully painted, hung new blinds and had the curtains cleaned, floor installed in master bathroom and kitchen tile steamed cleaned. I even managed to sew curtains and valences for the family room and kitchen. They now have a sparkling clean home to enjoy once more.
I hope to pick up where I left off and start my weekly posts.

So Many moons ago I started to make this black and white quilt for our daughter Desire', but as life is not always smooth I was unable to work on the quilt as much as I wanted. I was bound and determined to complete this quilt, even though many times I wanted to give up.
I think it has been by far the hardest quilt challenge for me since I started quilting. The quilt has 5 blocks and of course trim pieces and binding.
When I first saw the quilt pattern in (Quilter's World June 2011 issue), I thought it looked easy. Well I sure fooled myself I stopped counting the pieces after 1,852 .
I am so happy I stuck to it and completed the quilt (Summer at Charlevoix)

The quilt fits a queen size bed, I laid it over my king size bed for pictures.

Desire' has a queen size black sleigh bed and the quilt looks so pretty with her furniture.

I had some leftover fabric so I thought pillows would be a fun and playful touch to add to the bed.

Love you to the moon and Back is Desire' and Paul's favorite saying. I think its so sweet! I surprised them with the embroidered pillows.

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Joining in this week with the following linky parties:

Fabric Tuesday- Ouiltstory

Kim-Savvy Southern Style-Wow us Wednesday #236

French Country Cottage-Feathered Nest Friday

Monday, July 13, 2015

MacKenzie-Childs Tea Pot

Happy Monday ! Are you like me and love to have a pretty tea kettle on the stove?
I had been wanting a MacKenzie-Childs tea pot for so long, and when my birthday rolled along in March, Gary asked me what I would like. I of course answered I'm not sure, I don't need anything..

But, while shopping one day we ran into a beautiful shop that sold MacKenzie Childs, and to my delight the tea pot of my dreams gleamed from across the store right at me..., I ran over to this sweet Flower Market Blue kettle as fast as my little 4'11 body could run, OH yes I did ! .... and said with a big smile " Gary this is want I want for my birthday"

And here she sits all day long every day. I even bring out a few of my three footed tea cups every now and then to serve tea.
Many of you know my love for three legged teacups, I have been collecting them for years.

So tell me what stays on your stove all day every day?.

Hope this week brings you joy!
Elizabeth

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Where do I Begin

Where do I begin, I know its been a very long time since I've posted. At last post I had been sharing with you a home Gary and I purchased and renovated. Shortly after renovation we put the house up for sale and in the escrow process of the sale of the home my beloved Dad passed away unexpectedly, this was a shock to our family that broke our hearts.
Many of you know my sister passed away also very unexpectedly so the pain of her death and then Dads was just so sad , it left me pondering about what was important in life at this time and it was helping my Mom get through another lose.
I have a amazing and loving brother and husband that has been there everyday to help.
My blog needed to take the back burner. During the time I have been away I have received a few personal notes asking about where I have been, I can't tell you how sweet and thoughtful this was and without you knowing what was going on in my life you reached out to me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart!.
I'm back now and feel ready to blog again. Thank you dear friends and all of you that have hung in there with me and did not stop reading my blog.

So for my first Post of 2015 ( a little late LOL)
I would like to share with you the home Gary and I purchased brand new !, our first new home ever (well we did have a brand new condo once) this is a house.

We moved into our home in Dec. The builders had landscaped a standard front yard, Gary and I know the house needed some charm and definitely needed shutters. Paul our daughters boyfriend who I have written about in many posts, is an amazing carpenter! told us he would build our shutters for us. I kinda knew what I wanted but needed to find a picture so Pinterest was my go to website to find just that.

These were the ticket! So Paul began to design our shutters to look like these little beauties.

And here they are

Gary lent a hand while Paul was installing.

I was smiling from ear to ear at these lovely shutters, they couldn't be more perfect!

Many of you who live in California know our state is in a drought, the storage of water has us all on high alert and we have been changing our landscape to help with the drought, we have added more rock and taken out some of the grass in the front yard. Later I will show the back yard and the ways we have landscape to help with the water shortage.
Paul, Gary and I thought the house still needed more, so Paul and Gary said lets put shutters over all the X's, so that is what we did.

Now our track home looks more custom and softens all the rock. I can't wait for all the trees to grow and the landscape to mature.

Thank you again for hanging in there with me, I look forward to visiting with you all. I have really missed you!

Have a sweet day, and tell your family you love them

Sharing this post with:

Kim - Savvy Southern Style - WOW us Wednesday

Sunday, August 17, 2014

English Ivy Lace Door Panel

Good, Good Monday Morning to you! I hope everyone is well and happy! First off I want to thank everyone for all your sweet and wonderful comments on our Daughters Wedding to Seth. Bernadette read your comments and was smiling from ear to ear!

I am a bit behind on my visits to you, but I do have a really good excuse, I opened on ETSY Shop! and it took me for ever! I mean for ever! I thought I would never get done. I named the shop Designs by Auntie Em. I am still making things and adding as I complete the items. I listed the ETSY on my side bar, so if you'd like to take a peek I would love for you to.
I know many of you have shops on ETSY how is it going for you?

Now on to my post about "Lace"
A few posts back I shared our laundry room with you and the door that leads to it. During remolding Gary and I choose a glass door, that at time seemed to be the right choice, until I ran into it (I'm a bit clumsy LOL)
Smack into the glass, I was not happy...

So to remedy my clumsiness and for my love of lace, Gary put up a lace door panel for me and I love it!! It almost matches my lace window curtains. I tried to find and order a door panel to match them, but no such luck.
I did find the English Ivy pattern from Heritage Lace and its a pretty darn close match.
The light changes many times during the day so the light shining through the lace gives the lace different appearances throughout the day.

A before shot without lace curtain

And now with lace curtain

The lace looks light and airy in this picture with all the light

A look from inside the laundry room

A few close ups of the pretty English Ivy and Lace door panel

Even the trim is pretty I think. I have always been found of lace and so this curtain makes my heart sing and the best thing is, I will not run smack into the door again!!! LOL

Shiloh how did you show up on this post, you just never know where this little Aussie is going to show up. We love our baby!

Have a wonderful, wonderful week!

Linking up this Week to the following Blog Parties:

Susan-Between Naps on the Porch-Metamorphosis Monday

Kathryn-The Dedicated House-Make it Pretty Monday

Cindy-Dwellings-Amaze Me Monday

Julie-Redhead can Decorate-Inspiration Monday Party

Brenda-Cozy Little House-Tweak it Tuesday

Marty-A Stroll Thru Life-Inspire Me Tuesday

Kim-Savvy Southern Style-WOW Us Wednesday

Jann-Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson-Share Your Cup Thursday

Alison-Nancherrow Life at our House-Fridays Unfolded

Courtney-French Country Cottage-Feathered Nest Friday

Monday, July 21, 2014

We Had a Wedding

Good Monday Morning everyone!
We had a Wedding! Our youngest daughter Bernadette married her honey Seth on April 19, 2014 Easter weekend. They wanted a small quiet and intimate wedding. Instead of a large wedding, they used their wedding funds to buy a home and start their lives together.
So 36 of us gathered together in Lake Tahoe Zephyr Cove, NV.
To celebrate their marriage.
With Bernadette's dearest friend from childhood at hand to capture the special moments, we now have beautiful photos and memories to last a lifetime (Thank you Jaclynn)
If you live in California and are looking for a amazing wedding, engagement, party or baby photographer our family highly recommends JRP Jaclynn Renee Photography Jaclynn Renne Photography Facebook

All photo's were taken by Jaclynn, This photo was taken on the dock at Zephyr Cove. Its a private dock, Bernadette and Seth rented a beautiful home in Zephyr Cove where they were married by Bernadette's cousin (my niece Amber).

Jaclynn had Seth turn around so he could not see Bernadette walking the deck for their first wedding look.

It was a fresh clear beautiful day April 19 Th.

I can just hear Bernadette saying (Do you like my dress) I think his expression says it all.

Seth looks pretty darn handsome himself! Both worn gray, Bernadette's gown was light sliver and Seth's suit charcoal.

Sweet Love! As a wedding gift from Seth to Bernadette he presented her with the diamond posts she is wearing. Bernadette gave Seth a watch that she had engraved with words of love.

Bernadette's sister Desire' was her maid of honor. Seth had his brother Ben stand up for him as best man. On both bouquet's a picture of my sister Margo their Auntie hung from the stem. They both wanted her to be there (but lives in heaven) so what better way than to carry her photo.

A moment of peace and prayer.

I love Seth's face here, these two really are a great couple and complement each other ever so nicely.

A kiss for luck and were on our way......

I LOVE this picture !

The wedding took place at the home under the cherry blossom trees that were just staring to bloom... Here comes Desire' and Ben. Des carried the wedding bands.

Gary walked Bernadette down the isle in a pinecone lined pathway.

There's Amber starting to say "Do you take" and you know the rest.

They both said "I DO" and off they go....had to watch our heels in the grass we kinda sunk in a bit..

I took these pics...can't you tell hehehee. I had special M&M's made in their favorite colors, Seth's color is blue and Bernadette's s green, I added the white for the wedding.