Beads, Baubles and Bracelets

I love to use unexpected treasures to decorate. I think it gives a home some personality. One of my favorite things to use is jewelry. Not some dinky old gold chain from the '80's, but big, fun statement pieces or beads. It doesn't have to fancy, but it needs to be fun, colorful or meaningful.

I have actually been looking for some big, funky, yellow beads. To wear, of course, but also because I have the perfect spot to hang them.

Plus, if you can use your jewelry for fashion and home accessorizing, it is like getting two uses for the price of one.

This would be a fun closet to play dress up in.
It belongs to Mary McDonald. Maybe I will call her for a play date.
It looks like she has good jewels.

Can you see that funny wooden bowl/pedestal thing? If you could see it close up, it is full of jewelry. I also love the bag and hat hanging on the wall. Nice touch!

This has kind of a hippie chic look going on.
I may try to start picking up beads and bracelets on my travels. Travel where, I don't know, but something to keep in mind. Much better than a snow globe. (No offense to all you folk who collect snow globes)

Somebody has been collecting bracelets...

That coral wouldn't stand a chance with Butterball around.
It's a shame because I love the look with the bracelets.

I've shown this picture before, but I just love it. I love the orange trays and the blue beads. And the silver and the magazines. I would leave the orange trays out all the time.

I move my favorite pieces around a lot. I can't wear them all the time and by hanging them or laying them around I still get to see and enjoy them. Right now I have a beaded necklace in my entrance hall on some books (yes, that same picture from last Monday) and another necklace with a picture of my husband when he was 6 hanging on my inspiration board. Seeing these throughout the day makes me happy.

Where do you keep your jewelery? Out of sight or out to enjoy?

pictures from: Black and Spiro, MA Belle, Style Court, Domino, Point Click Home, and Canadian House & Home.

Welcome

Your entrance hall is important. It is the first thing your guest see when they come to your home. It is the only thing door to door salesmen see. What does your entry say about you? Mine? Mine say "Welcome. We are plain, boring and vanilla. Please don't expect any surprises." I hope that is not how my house looks but my entry is a total bore. I showed a peek of it here. It needs help. I tried to paint stripes when I was 8 months pregnant. I loved them for 6 weeks after Butterball's birth. Then my hormones started to level off and so did my love for the stripes. Oh, I love stripes. Just not the color of the stripes I painted in a pregnancy induced frenzy.

I adore a round table in an entrance hall. Especially one with books. I would love to have a round table in my entry, but then I wouldn't be able to open the door. It's always those small details that kill you.

Another round table, more books. It's a good thing!

More fabulous wallpaper!

And stripes. See, I do like stripes. Maybe I should have painted mine horizontally.....

This entrance hall is full of personality. Sure it may be Willy Wonka's personality...I wonder if you lick the stripes if they taste like chocolate?

Some people show their personality on the stairs...

Caution, don't walk up the stairs if you are tired or have had a glass of wine. I love lucite, plastic, see through things. But stairs? Not so much. I will give them a check plus for cool. Check minus for practicality.

What about a bright, funky color on the door?

This foyer says "You're at the beach, relax. Drink a beer or two. We're not too fancy."

(Does anyone recognize this picture? I can't find the source and would love to credit them.)

This entry says cozy and welcoming. And they have a cute Orla Kiely bag I might want to borrow.

Sophisticated and sleek.
You'd better have on a fabulous outfit, or you can just go on home!

Tiny but fabulous!
I would love to wallpaper my entrance hall, but that would mean making a decision. Do you remember how long it took me to pick fabric for the pillows in Bill's office? It wasn't pretty.

So, what does your entrance hall say about you?

pictures from: Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Canadian House & Home, Decor Pad, Domino from High Fashion Home, Trey & Laura, Country Living.

Are you sick to death of...

Paper Flowers? Sorry. I just had to show you some pictures from dinner last night. Our mixed doubles tennis team got together for dinner at a great old beach club. It ain't fancy, but it sure is fabulous. You start with drinks upstairs, sitting in rocking chairs watching the ocean. Then finish with dinner downstairs. Dinner you have brought. Along with the tablecloth, napkins, centerpieces etc. That's half the fun.

I had some paper flower arrangements left over from my Aunt and Uncle's anniversary party and just hated not to use them again.

My sisters and I were in charge of the flowers for the party so my sister Susan, in Atlanta, made the green Sweet Peas. My sister, Betsy, in Charlotte, made the pink flowers and I made the white with the green and yellow center (Shake my family tree and a craft nerd will fall out). We made 30 of each. Once everyone got to town we crossed our fingers and started arranging.

Voila! It worked. This was at the anniversary party. Next stop the beach. I needed something more casual. Who wears gold to the beach?

Out went the gold boxes. I threw in some greenery, votives and trellis napkins with bamboo rings and I was set.

It looked even better once it was dark and the candles were lit. The pictures aren't great, but that is because everyone was ready to eat and I was still trying to get the perfect photo.

Everyone had a great time and I got lots of joy from setting the table! And of course the great company. Thanks for a great night everyone!!

I promise, no more paper flowers, ever!! Unless I think up some new design or fabulous arrangement and then well, I might have to share.

P.S. Why is it the one night you have been out late, Butterball wakes up early?

Have a great weekend!!

The Buzz

I have a new blog I want you to check out. The Buzz. I feel like a proud mama. Many years ago when I lived in Atlanta I babysat for a family with 3 adorable children. The kids grew up, time passed, I got married, moved away, had my own children and found myself back in Atlanta. Mary Allison, who I used to babysit, now babysat my children (and so did Anne and Thomas!) Now Mary Allison has two babies of her own...baby Annie and her new blog The Buzz.


While visiting in Atlanta this summer I missed the arrival of baby Annie by about two weeks. You know what that means? Another trip to Atlanta. I did however make time to stop by Mary Allison and Reg's fabulous first home.

I don't want to give away the whole house but I had to show you two of my favorite spots.

Mary Allison's home is way cuter than my first home. I had dish towels on clip rings for my kitchen window treatments. Even sadder? I thought they looked good! Do you remember my guest room from this post? I painted the plaid on the walls because I was too cheap to pay for the wallpaper. The same wallpaper that is now hanging in Mary Allison's kitchen.

O.K. I couldn't resist a picture of baby Annie. She is such a Shingler!! Please check out The Buzz, tell Mary Allison I sent you, and most importantly, if you live in or near Atlanta, call Mary Allison for all your decorating needs. She is a pro with fabulous taste. Plus she's cute and fun to hang out with. I should know I helped raise her!! (OK, that may be a little exaggeration)

Still Missing Domino

I've quit wearing all black, but I am still missing Domino. So Haute did a post on Annelise Peterson and her home that was supposed to be in a future issue of DDD (Dearly Departed Domino). Check out the post here. It brings back good memories. It also reminded me of Sara Gilbane. A fabulous decorator who is probably the only person on earth sadder than I am that Domino was shut down.

According to Style Court, she was to be the April 2009 cover girl. Bummer. Big bummer. Don't you know she had already told all her friends. And then they told their friends and so on and so on....Big executives are mean.

I decided to share a few pictures of her bedroom...

And a few others from her website.

Maybe if you look at these pictures..

Then look at the ones on So Haute,

We can pretend Domino never left. Of course to make it seem real we would have to throw in some lucite, some antlers, a suzani spread and we must include Nick Olsen. Oh wait, is that a suzani on Sara's bed? Check.
Pictures from Style Court and Sara Gilbane Interiors.

Blue Monday

I love me some blue. According to House Beautiful my love of blue means I am flexible, tranquil and patient....huh, not so much. A love of indigo means you're impulsive, curious, and ambitious with a great lust for life. Indigo is a shade of blue, right? Anyway, I am switching the indigo and blue descriptions. It just works better for me.

Right now I am loving rooms with a pop of blue.

This room, well I love everything about it. I want those lamps!

I use blue and yellow in my own home for pops of color. What about you? Do you have a favorite accent color? Check out the new House Beautiful to see what your favorite colors say about you. Or do what I did and just pick the description you like the best.

pictures from: My Notting Hill, Delight By Design, House Beautiful, Angie Hranowsky, Shelia Bridges, Diary of a Steel Magnolia, Just Beachy, House Beautiful, Point Click Home, Home Magazine, Canadian House and Home, and Blue Hydrangea.

Fall Fashion

It is that time of year..back to school. I remember when I was younger, much younger, getting so excited when the Fall issue of Seventeen came out. It had all the cool back to school clothes. Butterball wears smocked Jon Jons and the twins wear uniforms to school. So I'm the only one who really needs cool, new fall clothes. I'm thinking about getting a uniform for me too. Jeans, tunics and fabulous accessories.

Love this whole outfit!! This is so the look I love and I even have a pair of pants almost exactly like this. I must get one of these big flowers from Emerson Made. I saw these flowers On A Cup of Jo and Two Ellie and just fell in love.

Picture this red flower on...


This tunic. O.K. they call it a mini dress but if you are over 40 (like me) please wear it as a tunic. Wouldn't it look great with a pair of jeans, the giant flower and some ballet flats?

I may need something a little bit more casual so I found another great tunic on Etsy. I would pair this tunic with..

My vintage cow tag necklace,

Frye Carson boots in brown and...

The perfect pair of Boyfriend jeans. And yes Bill, I really do NEED another pair of jeans and another pair of boots. But thanks for asking. Plus, I am not buying, I am just looking...for now.

One last thing...I always, almost always, wear a big silver cuff. Even to the pool or beach. Sometimes it is this turqouise one other times it is a big hunk of silver. Otherwise I feel naked and that is not a good feeling.

What about you? Have you been looking at Fall clothes? Anything cute I should know about? Do share!