Wedding Quilt

My last child got married a few months ago.

My daughter, my middle child, my independent, strong-willed child.

Finally!

And just like her, the wedding was

elegant, fun, beautiful and intimate.

When my boys got married, I made a quilt for each bride,

featuring their wedding colors and incorporating blocks

that are personal or representative in some way.

 For instance, the wreath surrounding the house

is not only traditional for wedding quilts,

it is also reminiscent of the olive branches that covered the tables

at their reception.

 The blocks that surround the house and wreath represent

the building blocks for their life together,

such as love and faith and joy...

They chose to have all the children in their life,

the groom's son as well as their nieces and nephews,

participate in the ceremony, and pinwheel blocks always

make me think of children.

I also like to add a note on the back that explains

the symbolic nature of the quilt and gives the dates,

so the quilt will become a keepsake for generations.

A Cottage Bedroom

True to form, the master bedroom in this

House with Potential

is the last to get attention!

When we first moved in, I painted the walls a soft

Robin's Egg blue, put up the black four-poster,

added a few pictures and called it a day.

But when I updated the family room, I was missing

those cottage-style touches, like the red-checked curtains

and Mount Vernon family tree.



So, I decided to finally work on my bedroom and add

those cottage touches in here.

The red curtains looked great with the wall color

and the family tree worked well over the bed.

I also painted the bed white and took down the footboard posts

to make the room feel larger.

Next, I needed bedding.

I wanted something simple, but it had to bring

together all the colors and work with the cottage theme.

I looked everywhere, to no avail, until I realized

the solution was right under my nose!

I brought in some quilts and pillows I already had

and just played with the combinations until I was happy.

To tie it all together, I went to my fabric stash and pulled out

this Waverly fabric I bought years ago for $1/yard

(that's right, $1)!

I glued a strip of the red checks to the bottom and,

viola, a bedskirt!

Then, I just raided my stash pile and other rooms in the house

until I had a collection of frames, old windows,

white plates and other miscellaneous items

for the walls and tables.

I framed a baby dress that had belonged

to my grandmother for one wall.

I liked it so much, I hung another one

on this old window.

I was painting this $5 dresser to sell

when I realized it was the perfect size and style

to hold the tv, and what could be easier

than hanging up an old window and

some empty frames?

This wall was already decorated,

and it fit right in!

I have a few things left to do, and probably

a few tweaks along the way, but overall,

happy cottage bedroom!

Christmas House Tour: Family Room

My family room at the back of the house is a lot of red and yellow,
so this is where all my old red and green Christmas things live during the holidays!

 
Quilts and pillows.

The red checked curtains look like they were put up just for the season!


Nutcrackers and Christmas books!


Snowmen and snow globes!

This year I had a 4 and 6 year old helping with the decorating,

thus, some interesting placement of things!

Santas on shelves!

Santa with his horse!

Even Santa on a picnic basket!

Merry Christmas Links:

"Summerizing the House"

I don't know if "summerize" is a word, but every year, when the weather takes a turn towards summer, and you know this time it's going to stick, usually sometime around Memorial Day, I get an urge to clear out all the heavy, dark accessories that are still left after the Spring purge.

Things like quilts and dark pillows and too many chotchkies.

 In the dining room, I went all white with just a little color.

 I brought in 6 white chairs and 2 turquoise chairs for the ends.

A white cloth on the table with white candles and a 

white pitcher filled with lavender keeps it simple and fresh.

In the guest room, I replaced the pink quilt with one that feels like summer:

Grandmother's Flower Garden in reds and yellows and blues.

 The mantle felt too heavy, so I lightened it up by 

removing some of the stuff.

Much more "summery"!

Pillows and quilts were removed or changed out

in the family room as well.

Maybe it only makes a little difference,

but to me it feels lighter and less cluttered and ready for summer!

Books and Tea Tablescape

I was looking for something a little different for the dining table the other day,

so I threw an old quilt on top and began playing around with some random items.

I filled a decorative birdcage with some old books,

and set one of my great-grandmother's tea cups on top of the stack.

Then I stacked some more old books on the table,

added some favorite candlesticks,

another old teacup,

my grandmother's old watch face,

and voila!

Books and Tea!