Do you have a "Statement Chair"

 Happy Month of July! July is such a happy month that always makes me smile.
 July happens to be one of my favorite months of the year, because its my first born daughters birthday on July 11.

 So to start off the month with my first post, I thought it would be fun to share and talk about  two of my "statement chairs" I was recently contacted by "One Kings Lane" to help them introduce their   "Home Décor Resource" guide, it has answers to questions like: Which era is your chair from?

One Kings Lane has written an article titled "How to Incorporate Statement Furniture Into Any Room"   What a fun read and very informative I thought. My chairs are definitely  an accent to the rest of my room, we use every bit of furniture in our home. Gary and I love comfy, sit your fanny down and curl up in kind of furniture.

This rocking chair Gary and I found at our neighbors garage sale for $100 dollars, it was in such great shape expect for the seat that had been lovingly warn out. The wood has a beautiful  grain to it with its original stain, we knew all it needed was reupholstering.
While browsing  One Kings Lane I came across an article on the History of the Rocking Chair  I did not know that the rocking chair goes back as far as 1710 and that the rocking chair was distinctly American from the start. It was mostly used in one of two ways/places: for mothers and babies in nurseries, and for the elderly and invalids, in hospitals and mental facilities.
I got the biggest chuckle out of this one.

 So here are the before photos

 And now:
For the reupholstering we choose a blue wool tweed fabric. It really brighten up the chair and gave it new life!

 Our Rocking Chair is from the 1960's we were told and purchased new at that time. The craftsmanship on the rocker is really beautiful. We believe our chair to be Mission Style.

 What I love about statement chairs is that you can put them anywhere. Move them around to any cozy corner of your home.

 I love the look and the feel of this piece in my room. I have moved it all the around the house.

 Now for this sweet petite Victorian Parlor Chair. Gary and I found her at our local antique shop, she had already been re-dressed in this vibrant wool plaid (I think she looks a bit talkative) or as some would call " loud" all dressed in plaid. But I love her the way she is.
I think we have a lot in common. She is short to the floor and very talkative. LOL

 I can envision tea time, with an elegantly dress lady seated ever so graciously in this chair sharing stories of the day or maybe even stitching and sipping tea, or better yet hot coco.
 

 The carving you see is so fine and pretty, but yet so simple in style.
 

 The seat is wider in front and sits low to the floor.

 Here she is sitting in style in the front room.

And again by a fireplace. This old gal gets around.
I think if someone was to ask me what my decorating style is, I would have to say Cozy, Warm and hopefully inviting, with a large scoop  of Cottage a pinch of French country and a dash of Farmhouse and Prairie. There is something about all decorating styles I love.

I hope you go over to visit One Kings Lane and use their the new Home Décor Resources guide, I enjoyed spending time browsing many of the article. Also the shopping, I have my eye on a few things....teeheehe.

Joining in with the following parties:

Susan-Between Naps on the Porch-Metamorphosis  Monday

Kathryn-The Dedicated House-Make it Pretty Monday

Marty-A Stroll Thru Life-Inspire me Tuesday

Brenda-Cozy Little House-Tweak it Tuesday

Kim-Savvy Southern Style-WOW Us Wednesday

Courtney-French Country Cottage-Feathered Nest Friday




 

Sewing & Knitting & Crocheting OH MY!

 Good Morning Monday! And what a grand day it is to write a blog post.
Busy hands, that is what I have had a lot of lately. Our family has been blessed with another baby on the way due in August. My niece is having a boy Mason Mark.
So of course I went to work making blankets.
Also a family friend is due to have a baby also in August (a girl).  So today I thought I would share with you all a few baby gifts I have been creating.
First off for baby girl no name yet Mommy and Daddy want to see her precious face before naming her (although I have been told Mommy and Daddy have two names picked out).
I enjoy sewing blankets in flannel and fleece, the colors and patterns are so pretty now and there are so many amazing prints to choose from. I fell in love with the pastel colors and little leaves and flowers on this flannel.
The baby girl sweater and booties are crochet and the pattern is from the book (Surprise Crochet Sweaters for Baby by Darla Sims).  I use cotton yarn when making baby sweaters.  

 How I love polka dots! they are such happy little dots! and I love adding the little p.s. I love you tag.

 The pattern for the blanket with the polka dot trim I found on line from (Missouri Star Quilt Company)

 Two fun blankets to sew in a few hours.  I watch TV while I sew, do you?

 Now for the blankets I made for my new nephew. I used the same pattern from Missouri Star Quilt Company.
And there's Shiloh he looks like he jumped off the blanket LOL. He was sleeping and didn't like that I disturbed him, just look at his face expression  LOL.

 The puppies are so adorable I think.

 A little knitted hat and booties. At first I left them kinda plain and then I thought they needed something, So I made a little M for the hat and changed out the booties ties from black to blue.

 You know how tiny the baby is when we bring them home and the car seats seem to swallow then up so to speak, well I thought why not make a tiny blanket just to fit a car seat since a regular size receiver or blanket is just to much for a new born. I made a small crochet car seat blanket.
I went on line and found the pattern for the (Football Embellishment  here)

 The crochet blanket is my own design.

 My niece and her husband live in the S.F. bay area where the Oakland A's are very popular. They attend quite a few baseball games and bring along their 3 year old son, who has become quite the Fan! So as a gift for my 3 year old nephew Makai and his new baby brother Mason I made them a blanket to share while going to the games or watching from home.

 I used fleece on one side and flannel on the other. Gary just bought me a new sewing machine and I just had a class on the embroidery functions. This was my first attempt at it.
I used the Disney charactures since this little family also loves Disney land and often visits Mickey so this was a double gift they can use it at the games and while at Disney land.

 And the last blanket for all the SF bay area peeps the SF 49er's ! I put the  baby's name on it. Teehehe the 49er's are Mommy's team and the Oakland Raiders are Daddy's team ...I think I might make a Raider one for Daddy, but don't tell him OK....LOL

 Oh ya, one more thing a little knitted hat in gold and red, the team colors of the NINERS! 

I sure do enjoy making blankets of all sorts whether its a quilt, a sewn blanket, crochet or knitted. A home made blanket is like a big (Hug).

Update on Gary's Achilles Tendon Surgery - He is doing very well, had the original surgical cast bandage removed last Monday and a hard cast put on that he will wear for another 3.5 weeks a total of about 6 weeks in a cast.
The incision was about 12 inches long and 40 staples. Poor guy! 
We rented a kneeling scooter for him to get around in so much easier, the wheel chair is just to heavy for me to lift in and out of the car ( I'm kinda wimpy)

Joining in with the following blog parties:

Susan-Between Naps on the Porch-Metamorphosis Monday

Kathryn-The Dedicated House-Make it Pretty Monday

Mary-Boogieboard Cottage-Masterpiece Monday

Cheryl-Sew Can Do-Monday

Cindy- Dwellings-Amaze Me Monday

Brenda-Cozy Little Cottage-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 

Courtney-French Country Cottage-Feathered Nest Friday