A little inspiration for you ~

Back-in-the-day I used to buy TONS of magazines.

But I was very selective.

I had to be able to flip through the magazine very quickly and

have my breath taken away several times and I would KNOW

right then and there,

it had to come home with me!

Then as the magazine grew older,

I would eventually thumb through it with an exact-o knife

slicing out the pages that inspired me.

These pages would then be slipped into page protectors

that were placed into notebooks.

These notebooks were SWOON worthy to me!

I still have them too :)

I've scanned a few of my favorites over the years

and shared them here on my blog but

they never, ever fail to please me.

With blogs, Pinterest and other internet inspiration

it's getting harder to be impressed by magazines

but it is still wonderful to come across one that

you just can't leave behind.

To inspire you this Thursday:

(with a few prints and images sprinkled in too!)

I love the cabinet of curiosities feel of the shelf display.

Look at the slip cover on the dark chair and

the ballet shoe inspired leg ties!

Love it all...

Rustic but beautiful bird feeder ~

Ah...the shelf displays ~

I love that the statuary seems to be holding her flowers ~

A simple but elegant window treatment.

After working in a drapery room for a while,

do you know how easy it is to create these?

You simply measure from the outside left hemmed edge about six inches

(this measurement may need to be adjusted, play with the fabric and

the size of the window to really see what you like)

and sew on small plastic rings to the back, starting at the bottom and

working your way up about every four inches or so

up to the rod pocket (or just half way up is really enough).

Do this for the right side as well. Then just feed

some thin twine through the rings up
to where you want the curtain to hang,
usually just 3 - 5 rings is sufficient.

Do this for the other side as well and voila!

You have a gorgeous window treatment!

I love the double layer of curtains here...

Look at how these curtains drape so beautifully ~

A pie safe for your towels and toiletries...

Carol Hicks Bolton ~

Just beautiful to me ~

From the set of the movie 'Practical Magic' ~
that house is why I love watching that movie!

More Carol Hicks Bolton:

Just a little something to make you smile today!!!

Wishing you a wonderful Thursday sweet friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

Subtle changes can truly make a wrong, right!

I'm so pleased!!!!

These sweet, skinny drapes will work beautifully in our bedroom!

I've finished one, just to see, hung it on the rod and love it....

So I split six incredibly long drapes in half and am adding a ruffle to

each raw edge ~ but you know I had to complete one, just to make sure I loved it!

Yes, they are skinny but I'll just pile them on double ~

because, well...

I've got twelve skinny panels to cover three windows!

Do you like the ruffle???

Wishing you a beautiful Wednesday my sweet friends!

hugs and love,

Dawn

The sweetness of the new year ~

I just love the feeling!

It's a new year...time for fresh starts and new beginnings ~

Mostly I feel a wonderful surge of creativity!!

What to do? Where to begin?

I just want to make something!

A repeat image for you...

I'll never forget finding this gorgeous sheet music knowing

how wonderful it would be to share with you here on my blog ~

be sure to click it so it will be the largest for you to save.

I've started on my curtain panels!!

They are really going to be quite narrow as the windows are very, very tall

and not wide at all.

But I'm loving how they are looking so far....
we'll see how they look on the windows!

I forgot to share this yummy hand lotion I found at Ross on my birthday ~

it was only about 3.50 and it has the most beautiful rose scent...

and since it's right by my computer,

I use it CONSTANTLY!!

And this too!

I found this pretty rug at Ross on my birthday ~

I needed a new rug in the foyer and this was just perfect for only 30 dollars!

Don't look too close, it's already dirty from our New Year's gathering :)

I hope your new year has started off so very good...

but honestly,

I truly believe it will be as wonderful as we make it,

don't you think?

Wishing you a great Thursday my sweet friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

It's time for a few new projects!

I've decided we need drapes in our living room.

They will help keep this old farmhouse warm this winter and

we've had some chilly nights as of late!

I've had this wonderful fabric for years now...

gorgeous decorator fabric and a huge 12 yard cut!

So...rather than going out and buying new fabric

I thought, why not use what I have?

I know that the popular choice is neutrals, creams and such

but I still love this beautiful botanical fabric.

I'm going to create a couple of panels

for each window...so wish me luck!!!

I forgot to share this wonderful tote bag

I found on clearance the other day at Hobby Lobby!!!

It's was marked down to about six bucks....

I love how aged it looks!

You can barely see the printed "France" and logo on the front ~

The blue striped lining made it even more irresistible!!!

While at Hobby Lobby the other day, I found the neatest lined laundry basket...

yes, it was in the clearance section but I kept telling myself,

you have five of those willow baskets at home!!!

So I hope to sew a simple linen liner in one and then fill it with

some of my antique lace. Just so I can dig and dig fast!!!

Making my supplies visible helps me so much in the creative process.

I found this treasure while Christmas shopping a few weeks ago.

It is a beautiful table runner!!!

But me, being the crazy girl I am...

I want to make some wonderful things from one simple runner.

Maybe lavender sachets for my Etsy?

We'll see!!!

Seems like the new year has me reeling with ideas!!!!

And you know I'll share what I actually get accomplished with you too!

Wishing you a beautiful Wednesday precious friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

A sweet transformation . . .

A simple old bedspread

can brighten a precious little girl's bedroom

more than you realize!!

I've had this pink bedspread for YEARS...

just sitting on the shelf ~ waiting to become something

even more beautiful than it ever imagined!

I split a twin bedspread in half.
The center of the spread are the two outside edges....

and the gathered skirt that originally
hung from the top edges and down the sides

are now gorgeous gathered ruffles flowing down the center of the window.

What a beautiful hue it casts in baby Clara's sweet bedroom.

Simple things can make you so happy!!

Wishing you a beautiful weekend precious friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

#594 ~ More inspiration . . .

Well, I'm not quite finished with my tutorial but I thought that I would show you the finished product! It's an altered composition book featuring a beautiful image from Shabby Cottage Studio. I'm on Gail's design team and I have to say these are the most wonderful images to work with! They have the look that I love ~

Here's a few more of my clippings. First a wonderful page full of techniques on how to age your fabric. I know, usually you are trying NOT to let your fabric look old and faded by the sun but this is for those of us who love all things old and just can't seem to wait for the beautiful muted tones!

Nothing too special in the below photo except I want you to notice the layered curtains. They seem so very simple. Straight drapes to the floor with a bit of a puddle, no custom, fancy treatment here but don't you think they have the most luxurious look??

Another drapery photograph, simple but oh so luxurious to me in the way they are pulled back and tucked behind and slightly puddled on the floor as well. Billowing fabric always looks so beautiful . . .

I just have to say that I love my friends here in the Land of Blog. Such kindness, encouragement and friendship exists here and I can't tell you enough how happy I am just to be a little part of it!! Thank you so much for taking time to visit my blog and for always leaving me such sweet comments. Each and every one is treasured . . .

Wishing you a wonderful Thursday dear friends,

xxoo, Dawn

A baby shoe and some gorgeous fabric!!

Just look at this precious baby shoe. Wonderful, soft leather that once held a little one's chubby foot as they began their life. I love the folds, the scrapes, the beautiful verdegris of the eyelets as they've aged. Quite a simple thing, but so very lovely ~ soon to be transformed into an heirloom keepsake pincushion!

Do you see the gorgeous fabric it's resting on?

Doesn't it have the look of French linen?

Looks at the specks and nubs all over ~

I just love working with this wonderful fabric.

Would you like to know where I buy it???

Home Depot or Lowes!!!

It's a canvas dropcloth! I love the look of them new, fresh out of the package but they're also gorgeous if you throw them in the wash with fabric softener and you will see gentle wrinkles that add character!! They make the most beautiful curtains, too. Another idea...wash one so it will be soft, and throw it over that chair that needs covering. When it gets dirty, rip it off and wash it again . . .

Don't you love a cool idea??

Have a happy Tuesday!
xxoo, Dawn