Life goes up and life goes down.......

and I between the hecticness......we all try to find some creative time.....some time of our own......and through the last few months....I have not had much of any........
I moved my 85 year old mother out of a house she has lived in for 53 years. It sold fairly easily, closed quickly, got her a very nice assisted living....independent living facility very near my home......and she hates it.....change is hard....and I totally understand that.....but blaming someone all the time for your own life changes and abilities to handle those changes .....and live on your own.....has been.shall we just say......an adjustment for her. She seems to be settling in a bit after three months of blame and shame.....I have always said....change happens all around us everyday of our lives.....it is how we deal with those changes that makes us the person that we are.....so after many hospital ER stays in a short time.....making her try to feel welcomed and adjusted.....the past few months have been crazy and hectic to say the least.......BUT........
Today....I have received a cold.....and I have slowed down.....coughing, hacking....just a cold...it just hit me hard.....
I have stayed down today......curled up watching the tube.....gosh do people still call it that...LOLOLOL....and sipping something hot and steamy.....my sweet hubby brought me lunch.....and I have done nothing!.....but I have been on Pinterest......what a shocker!...LOLOL....how better else to spend the day....curled up in a soft blanket with my IPad......so hang I there for me....I'll be posting soon!
Stay safe and warm........and thanks for stopping by.......
Jann

Dragon Slayer.......

Recently my Daughter took her two kiddo's to the Oregon Coast.....just like she and I did when she was at that age........and came back with some fabulous photos for me to scrap layouts with.

So adding that I vowed to use "scraps" this week while designing anything and everything....I used a ton of bits and pieces on this layout.....enjoy the week coming.....and make something to add smiles to ones that you love........scrapping is such a genuine memory that will linger for many, many years to come.....they grow so fast and stay little for only a short time......capture those simple moments just like I did.....on my Gbabies very first Carousel ride.....he will never have another first to "Slay a Dragon"....enjoy the colors of your life. Thanks for stopping by.........

Scrappin the afternoon away.......

It's always nice to spend time in my room scrapping my favorite subjects.....my Grandbabies!
They are twins but very opposite in personalities.....they show lovingness and companionship with each other often.

So yesterday and today I got to take advantage of some beautifully taken photo's of my little sweeties for their Fourth Birthday shoot.

With my Grandson being still very young I decided to add some florals to his layout but did so with a mesh ribbon of open burlap, died green to make his a bit "less" flowery and added a few buttons.

Then adding more blues and greens it all came together well and ended up a sweet layout for our little guy. He is a sweetheart of a kiddo....with such a personality of gentleness and yet there are "snips and snails and puppy dog tails." in his life.

On my Granddaughter's I added a few more flowers and girlie things.....and it was fun and colorful but all blended together.

It's always fun to scrap these two........I look forward to catching up on some layouts of these little guys with their 5th birthday right around the corner!

Scrap those photos.......dedicated to those of a generation that will simply remember that we cared so much to take time to do so. It's such a pleasure to be able to do this........remember how much fun they will find in looking at them and passing them down from generation to generation.....life left behind......... tailored to bring them smiles........ with remembering great times..........that come and go so quickly.

Enjoy your week.....treasure the ones you love and cherish the memories you are making for them.

Still in search.......

for the perfect Settee......I have went around and around thinking to myself what if.....no that's not quite right......but I LOVE the look of this....the fabric is fabulous....but not my color.....but the "frame".....OHMYSTARS....the frame is delicious! Recovered in my blacks, red and wood tones....it would be just plain yummy and would fit right in to my home. I could imagine my friends sitting here having an iced tea and we plotting out next adventure.

Then I think....no no no.....I need a bench....a real bench....but a warm and inviting one.

But the only place I have ever come across anything like this was at "Sweet Salvage" in Phoenix, AZ. And just how I would get it home....ummm...no there's another problem.

Sooooooooo..........something simple like this could work.....great lines....great seating.....comfy. I know where to get this and I love the "wing back" appearance....but no....its just not "right."

But then I always go back to something less "structured".........ah yes...the first one.

I think when you design and play and except change with validly....it is hard to make a decision on a specific style. Although my home blends and sees suttle changes in simple things as small tables, chairs , florals, pillows, fabrics and antiquities.....my basic pieces have stayed them same.

But what I tell my clients most often is to "play" and look for those small changes that can give your home a complimentary "adjustment.". Mix up your art, prints or collections. Gather them into a new surrounding.....a new cabinet you've had your eye on....a piece long overdue for a change of color.....a taste of paint. Mix it up...."un-match" it up....move it around....color up for accents....breathe in calmness with blending your colors....all is acceptable.....all is just plain good.

Whatever makes your home.....warm and inviting to you.....your friends and family. I think it should always give you warmth and comfort and allow you laughter and loudness.... peace, quietness and solace......now there my friends.....is good design.

Enjoy whatever you are doing today.....and remember to think "outside" the box.....you might just surprise yourself. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your time with me.

Gardening.......

it is a love/hate relationship.

This spring however.....we have loved it.
And mostly every year.....being only in our home for three years...and two of them blocked out with  something that kept us from doing as we have wanted......did not allow us to tend our flower beds and gardens the way we would have liked.

But this year......oh my stars......it is surely very different! Thank you Mother Nature for a beautiful spring!

I was so happy to have had our stream beds in for a couple years and just fine tuned them last year....made all the difference....this year! Things have grown and crowned and fallen over the edges and its so pleasing to our eyes.

It is nice how the walkway beds have filled in.

Our Azaleas have bloomed well this year.

And our "creepers" are creeping and our simple flowers are dancing!

The hub and I really wanted to do an "English Garden" setting for everything.....and it's finally filling in to give us that look.

So this "Love/Hate" relationship I have had trying to get these plants to fill in and grow....just needed me to be more patient and understanding that soil and sun.....work well together....and gathered together with some TLC works wonders........it is so fun to have so much color to gaze upon everyday.

Enjoy your weekend all...be ever so careful if traveling and enjoy your "three-dayer."

Tuesday's RED......

I have had quite a few clients approach me to "add" some spring color to their homes. I truly think the long spring we have had here in Idaho has given everyone a "spring-fever-bug" to get their homes changed up a bit with some added color...and most requested seems to be red.

This is one of my most favorite dining niche's. I love the wings....the dining chairs and the settee near the windows. Look at how this brightens up the area.....and still soothes the eye and mind. It's a bit of color I have to admit....but still with all the patterns and textures it is fabulous but look at the "tones"...they are so similar. This whole house from what you can see in this photo is beautiful. I am sure the owner is a happy camper living here.

This bedroom expressed the same...different patterns in red. But its a warm and comfy mix. I love this as well. Who wouldn't love a bedroom that encases you and offers you calmness yet gives you such fluid design and calmness.....And....BTW....get a load of that mirror!

And once again....here's just a hint of red. Faded stripes and florals adding so much awareness to this soft porch and wicker settee. I love tulips that bend and bow in their container. Isn't this beautiful how the greens and white and red all blend in together?

But let's not forget just the "hint" of red to make this entry table seem dramatic and of depth.
Seeing.....red....it can be "outstanding and brilliant" or just as suttle as faded stripe and tulips past their prime. Whatever part of red you prefer.....add some to your spring and brighten up your home from this long awaited summer. Idaho is beautiful right now....with this long spring we have had.....the earth is bursting with color.....add a bit to your home and "feel" the change from seasons.

Design time........

Working with a few clients to brighten up and change their homes from what they have enjoyed in the past to lightening up and rearranging and changing for their future....I am so blessed to be able to do so.......

Bedding is hard to find these days....I have been looking for myself and yet my clients find the same thing as I am finding....the "classics" aren't available or I just cant find them........regardless....I LOVE this bedding...along with my one client as well....isn't is beautifully simple and of warmth?

Benches seem to be eluding me as well.  I have two clients looking...but alas....I have not found anything close to this as of yet! I LOVE this bench....the striped seat...I'd just paint it black but its painting is done fabulously!.....Is that even a word?....LOL

Then this elusive "desk/table" I have been searching for everywhere....I do love when a client bring me a photo and says I want this.....its a treasure to find it and an opportunity to seek out where it might be.....so far....strike three!....But that's sometimes the fun of it all.

I will be framing this.....along with several others that I purchased recently....and am so glad to find them all. As you know I love antique bid prints .....I have them all over my home....unfortunately....this one is going to a client...but they will LOVE it!

So here in Beautiful Boise is what I have been doing......searching, hunting and finding some things worthy of time and patience......

I hope regardless of what you are doing today.....you find time to breathe in all around you and feel warmth and comfort from your surroundings......enjoy your day everyone......

Finally...........

Received my "other" chair from the Upholster today! Thrilled to have it done.

This little baby was purchased quite some time ago at a second hand furniture store but nearly matched the other one I have exactly.

It was stained so I painted it black, but almost a "sheer" black so some of the woodgrain shows through. Then accented it slightly with gold.

One chair is slightly larger than the other one but just in a very slight way.

I am so ready for spring!

But then again so is everyone else!

So the only thing left to do is that little table.

Painting the base black and distressing will also be taking place and a fun, different design for the top!

But I have a friend visiting from AZ. next week so it will just have to wait!

Hang in there.....it will get done soon!

Have a fabulous March day!

VALENTINES.......

Is just not for sweethearts, boyfriends or Hubby's.

I love making things for the Hubby....friends and my Grand babies and my Daughter on Valentine's Day.

So for a private party ........woman are gathering for smiles and laughter, words of wisdom and knowledge, talents and expressions......and most of all just good ole warmth from great ladies gathered together and having a good time.

With 15 of these done and wrapped and ready for tonight's party....I'm excited to get them into the hands of these great ladies.

The are "Loaded Envelopes"....and contain some small treasures of tags and cards.

Little bits and pieces of tattered laces, dyed seam binding, distressed and stamped.

Flowers and ribbons, trinkets and threads.

Crunched and bunched,  gathered together in an envelope.

Shattered and scattered bits and pieces........

Topping them with something sweet and pink and "Valentine-zee."

Simple things of scraps and quotes.......I really enjoyed making them and hopefully the ladies will enjoy them.
Have a wonderful Valentine's Day all........make something for someone you love and cherish.....or something that will bring a smile to one that excepts your efforts and talents as a gift of warmth. Women always should support and cherish each other....... It is what we do.......it is who we are.