christmas in october

October 24, 2014

Hi friends! Earlier this week I shared my first Christmas post of the season with a gift tag tutorial. Today, I am continuing the holiday spirit with a shopping trip! Who doesn’t love a shopping trip, right! For today’s Friday field trip, I am sharing some of the items I’ve seen on an early shopping trip and am excited about for the upcoming holiday season. So, grab a cup of cocoa or tea on this cold, windy day and enjoy!

The first photo is one of some bottle trees at Terrain. You probably already know of my love for Terrain. This season, they are carrying bottle brush trees in many shades – including aqua and teal (did you see the photo on my Instagram?)…so exciting! Another really cool item I saw in the Westport store, was a candleholder in the shape of a house and made of cinnamon bark…can’t you just imagine the smell when the candle is lit!? I wish you had a scratch and sniff screen!

I also loved these cocktail napkins..so natural yet elegant! Since there are only two Terrain stores in the country, you may not have the opportunity to shop this fabulous home and garden resource. If not, take some time to check the website for some great holiday inspiration.

Talking about inspiration…what about this chalkboard wrapping paper at Paper Source! Definitely 50 feet of fun!

Christmas always involves ornaments and I love looking at the variety of ornaments offered at each of my favorite stores throughout the holidays. With my passion for typography, I could not ignore this stunner from Pottery Barn! I want to hang them up in many word combinations…like fa la la and ho ho ho!

I have been enarmored with this mistletoe ornament at Crate & Barrel for a couple of years now…so happy they are still offering it! I love to put them on packages of bridal shower or engagement gifts…so lovely!

I LOVE this Terrain ornament! Any favorite dried flower can be added…from your own garden or from a special bouquet! Even a lock of hair or small photo would be a great addition!

Mercury glass votives are always a lovely way to add some sparkle during the holidays. This year, Crate & Barrel not only offers some really inexpensive options, but has colors that remind me of the sea. At only $4.95 each, you can create a pretty cluster at a reasonable price for a beautiful sea inspired glow. :) Also, be sure to check out their snowflake hurricanes.

Fresh flowers are great all the time, but at the holidays they are always a requirement. Anthropologie has not yet put out their holiday merchandise, but I love these pinched vases as an artistic way to display a few beautiful blooms.

Ballard Designs always offers some beautiful holiday items, and this year is no exception. These gray and white antler totes really appeal to my neutral color passion! The Suzanne Kasler collection this year also features bears in a gray tone.

Christmas is always so very exciting for the children and it is wonderful to find great items for the kids (or the kids in us!) :) This cookie stamp from Crate & Barrel is sure to leave a smile on the faces of the kids during a Christmas Eve cookie making session for Santa!

Decorating the children’s rooms in a special way during the holiday is a great way to add to the excitement to the season. This year, Garnet Hill has a pattern called “North Pole” that is cheery and seasonal…

And, for the cutest little night light, how about this flameless squirrel candle from West Elm that can be used all year long!

With all the shopping and decorating, a relaxing cup of tea is always in order during the holidays…even better in a pretty mug. This monogrammed vine mug is from Terrain and oh, so pretty! It would also make a great holiday gift for that special teacher!

The last item I am going to share is also from Terrain. I love this inexpensive hanging zinc bucket as an alternative to a front door wreath! Filled with greens or holly, it makes for a really interesting addition to the outdoor decor! Don’t you love the dots! It would also make a great indoor organizer for wrapping supplies.

So that is it for today’s Friday field trip! I hope you enjoyed our little preseason holiday shopping trip! There is so much more to explore as the stores start stocking up…let me know some of your favorites!!

Please note that none of the photos in this post were taken by me…they came from the respective store websites.

Have a wonderful weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing at Shabby Nest.

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beach house dresser redo

October 14, 2014

Today I am sharing a summer beach house dresser redo. I am really proud of the finished piece because I think it captures the spirit of the owner’s personality while still keeping the nostalgic vibe of the house.

The dresser is really, really old and had tons of paint on it! I probably spent more time stripping the top of this piece than the total time I spent stripping all the pieces I have worked on in my lifetime! Yes, I did think about abandoning the stripping – painting the entire piece would have been so much easier! But, I just couldn’t do it! This dresser has been in a family beach house at least three generations and I really thought the best way to pay homage to it was to have a little bit of the original wood intact.

After all that stripping and sanding – I can’t even fathom how many coats of paint were applied to the dresser – the piece of wood that made up the top wasn’t even very nice! The piece seems to have been homemade and possibly constructed of scrap wood. It definitely has tons of character!

I chose a dark stain for the top, hoping the finish would be a little more forgiving to the not so great quality of the wood. I chose Minwax Dark Walnut stain and added three coats of Minwax Satin Finish polyurethane.

Although the owner of the beach house loves color and would have enjoyed a bright colored dresser, the man of the house really didn’t want any color at all! I think I came up with a good compromise by staining the top of the piece and adding a little color and metallic to the drawer fronts. I know the owner well enough to know her style is definitely one that includes tons of color and plenty of glam!

For the drawer fronts, I mixed Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White with Antoinette and a touch of Graphite to create a shade of pink that coordinated well with the dark walnut stained top.

After adding a coat of Annie Sloan clear wax, I did a second coat using dark wax and finished it off with some touches of gilding wax. I added the gilding wax to the drawer pulls and top edge of the dresser.

I am thrilled with the way the dresser came out – hopefully to be enjoyed by many more generations! I was asked to give new life to all the bedroom dressers in the house, so I am looking forward to additional inspiring pieces! Thanks for joining me for today’s makeover.

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing at Finding Silver Pennies, Sand & Sisal, and Coastal Charm.

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keeping it neutral – white party pumpkins

October 7, 2014

White pumpkins are the best pumpkins. I think so anyway! Never a big fan of orange pumpkins, when white pumpkins started showing up on the scene, I took notice!

Every fall, I use tons of mini white pumpkins in my decor. And, every fall I change things up a little. Today, I am sharing a few of the white pumpkins around my home this year so I can show you how easy they can be adapted to a fall party or get together.

SET THE TONE. Since small pumpkins only cost one or two dollars, they are an extremely inexpensive way to decorate. If you are putting together a fall mantel or buffet table, a group of white pumpkins can add a lot of impact and create a wonderful fall atmosphere for very little cost.

Try to find pumpkins with interesting stems to add some real character to your display! :)

Here I put some white pumpkins on the mantel with some acorns I collected. A great way to add a sense of warmth is to add a scarf to the mix. Using one I already had, the total cost of decorating the mantel was only a few dollars. Isn’t this an elegant way to decorate for a fall get together?

BY THE NUMBERS. If you are hosting a shower or other large party this fall, white mini pumpkins are the perfect way to display a table number! Or, use a cluster of number pumpkins as a centerpiece. A permanent marker is all you need to create these typography inspired pumpkins!

Even if you are not hosting a party, they look great in clusters around your home! Most of us have numbers that hold a special significance…add them to a pumpkin! A wedding date, jersey number, or house number are other numbers you can add to mini pumpkins. Don’t you love the black against the white?!

I love adding hollowed out pumpkins with votives inserted to add some additional atmosphere for an evening get together…they add such a nice glow! With so many colors and scents of candles, it is possible to get really creative. I don’t like scented candles near food – but elsewhere think about the many possibilities – maybe a black candle scented like licorice! On the buffet table, you can also serve your condiments inside hollowed out mini pumpkins.

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR…party favor, that is! Okay, so I mentioned the low cost of mini pumpkins. How inexpensive is a mini pumpkin used as a favor? You can add any embellishments you like. This pumpkin happened to be created as a special remembrance for a friend, but could easily be used as a party favor.

I just added some ribbon and a little sand dollar…so sweet!

I hope you are inspired to use white pumpkins in the decor for your next fall party! Please share your pumpkins on Instagram with hashtag #pleasuregram! Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing at The Shabby Nest, Craftberry Bush, Finding Silver Pennies, Sand & Sisal, and Elizabeth & Co.

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antique school desk redo & fall welcome

September 23, 2014

This year’s start to the school year was very sad for me – no one to send off to the first day of school! Luckily, I found a distraction! I renovated an old school desk. I found the perfect way to welcome the new school year and the new season!

This old wooden one-piece school desk was in my friend’s basement and it was just crying out for some attention. I decided to try Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint since I haven’t yet had the opportunity to do so. I used a color called grain sack – instantly my favorite in the line… it is a wonderful neutral. I was hoping to create a real chippy looking finish, but that wasn’t in the stars!

Mixing the paint myself, I thought if I skipped adding the bonding agent that helps the paint adhere to the surface, I would get tons of chipping… that didn’t happen. I guess the surface of my piece was too porous? Any experienced milk paint people willing to contemplate the lack of chippyness? I guess I need a little more experimentation with the paint to figure it out.

So, without the chippyness, I decided to distress the finish. And, even though the piece didn’t chip, I love the way it came out. Of course, this old desk wouldn’t be complete without adding a chalkboard finish to the writing surface! After I finished waxing the rest of the piece, I used chalkboard spray paint on the desk’s writing surface – carefully masking off the finished sections of the piece.

Can’t you just hear the school bell ringing? I can also hear the whisper of the new season in the air. The kiss of autumn has already started turning the hydrangeas a subtle color of pink.

Happy fall, my friends. Thanks so much for stopping by, Jackie

Sharing with Finding Silver Pennies, Liz Marie Blog, Craftberry Bush, Miss Mustard Seed, Inspiring Hearts & Homes, and AKA Design.

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pink velvet pumpkins to celebrate health

September 16, 2014

I make velvet pumpkins at this time of year, as you may already know! One of the fun parts about making the pumpkins is choosing the fabric. I love finding new and different velvets each year to make my velvet pumpkins – adding real pumpkin stems as a finishing detail.

One velvet that I continue to use every year is a pink one. Since breast cancer awareness month is in October, what better way to celebrate it than with a pink velvet pumpkin!

Every year I make some pink pumpkins to give to friends that have survived breast cancer that I may see during the month of October. (One year I had the opportunity to give a pink pumpkin to breast cancer survivor Hoda Kotb when I met her at a book signing!)

A pink pumpkin makes a thoughtful gift for a breast cancer survivor and displaying one is a wonderful reminder of breast cancer awareness month.

This year, for a friend celebrating 5 years cancer-free, I added a ‘5’ using a wooden tag stamped with the number 5.

A pink velvet pumpkin is a subtle and beautiful reminder of breast cancer awareness month. If you would like to make your own velvet pumpkin for yourself or a friend, click here for my tutorial.

Thanks for stopping by, Jackie

P.S. The ribbon used on the ‘5’ pumpkin was inexpensive white seam binding tape I bought on clearance and dyed with strong coffee…some of my favorite ribbon!

Sharing with Nancherrow, Crafts a la Mode, Craftberry Bush, AKA Design, and Sand & Sisal.

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in the fabric mood

September 5, 2014

It is very hard for me to admit that summer is coming to an end. It is my favorite season, by far!

We all have our end of season traditions and I’m no exception. One of mine is to start looking for some fabric to make velvet pumpkins. Last year I also started making velvet acorns to go with my woodland themed holiday décor for 2013.

So, for today’s Friday field trip, I am taking you to my favorite fabric store – Mood in New York City. If you watch Project Runway on television you may recognize the name as the store used by the show’s fashion designer contestants. Located in the fashion district of Manhattan, it is a popular place for students of fashion design to shop for supplies.

Although I do often shop for fabric at the local craft store, it does not compare to the selection available at Mood. And, fabric is one of those things I prefer not to purchase online… I need to see and feel the fabrics I am selecting for my projects.

At Mood, I can be sure to find a huge selection of fabric to admire! Starting downstairs, in the home décor section, I start by looking at upholstery fabric. I have a couple chairs to upholster and I want to find just the right fabric. I have brought my handy paint color swatches – they make it so much easier to compare paint colors to the colors of various fabrics.

So many great choices…it is hard to choose! Can you guess what I decided to purchase? You may recognize some of these fabrics in upcoming projects!

pleasure in simple things visits Mood fabric in NYC

I am always a sucker for a great awning stripe! There are plenty to choose from at Mood in New York City.

My next stop is upstairs to the apparel fabric section. Here I will look for velvets that I use to make velvet pumpkins and velvet acorns. It is so inspiring to find so many different choices and my creative juices are in overdrive! My budget limits me to only a couple choices, but it is so fun to pick up some new fabrics and to imagine the pieces I will create!

Upholstery fabric…check! Velvets…check! Mission accomplished! That’s it for today’s trip! I had fun discussing my projects with the Mood staff and talking about some of the new fabric trends. Mood is always an awesome and inspiring place to visit!

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Have a wonderful weekend and remember to find pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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september book giveaway!

September 2, 2014

Congratulations to Jenna, winner of the August selection Ocean Fishes by James Prosek.

I hate to even admit it is September, but today I am announcing the September giveaway selection. The book is Inspire: The Art of Living with Nature by Willow Crossley.

When I first saw this book at Terrain, I instantly fell in love. Many of the projects are close to my heart – some similar to projects I have created in the past. Ms. Crossley does an amazing job of bringing nature indoors in lovely and inspiring ways.

You will find the photographs are really lovely and the projects are wonderful! A really beautiful book for a time of year when walks outdoors can be so inspiring! This book will definitely help you celebrate the season with projects from nature. Leave a comment here or on my Facebook or Instagram to be entered to win…good luck!

I am such an Instagram nut! I love it! For those of you that share my passion, please read on! You know summer is almost over when….Halloween candy is showing up for sale in the discount stores? College kids have moved back to campus?… What is it that signals summer’s end to you? For September we are using hashtag #pleasuregram to share photos that illustrate the end of summer. For me – my annual trip to the fabric store to buy velvets for pumpkins and acorns is a major signal of summer’s end!!

Thank you so much for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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top 6 summer obsessions 2014

August 26, 2014

Here in Connecticut, we are not experiencing the usual hot August days this year and I have been trying to fit in as many painting projects as I can before the weather turns cool. So, I have been posting quite a few painting projects. Today, I am posting something a little different…I am sharing my top summer obsessions.

So sit back with a cup of coffee or cold drink and enjoy…hopefully, after you read this, you will be inspired to share some of your summer obsessions with me! ;)

THE BEACH Of course, the beach will always be my number 1 summer obsession (and, clearly, this obsession is not limited to the summer!) This summer, I got the chance to visit a new beach. Although very briefly, I had the opportunity to visit St. Augustine, Florida – named one of America’s Happiest Seaside Towns by Coastal Living Magazine When visiting a new area, checking out the local beach is always on the top of my list! In St. Augustine, I even got the chance to visit a lighthouse!

Oh, while I am on the subject of beaches, I must include my favorite float/beach toy this summer. Have you seen the cool pool floats at Urban Outfitters? They were a must-have this summer. Definitely obsession worthy. The donut is my favorite…I’ll take mine with sprinkles, thank you very much!

TATTOO BRACELETS Bracelets are probably my favorite piece of jewelry. The trouble with wearing them, particularly in the summer, is that they get caught on everything! My hands are just too busy working, painting, crafting, etc. to wear a bracelet without it snagging and breaking. This summer, I came up with the perfect solution! These metallic temporary tattoos are a great alternative to a traditional bracelet and look so pretty on a tanned body! This cool arm or (insert name of body part here) candy from lulu dk is a great way to add a little bling to the ‘bod’ and a must have for the summer!

TOP CHEF DUELS This summer another food show was added to my TV viewing schedule…Top Chef Duels on Bravo! I love watching all the Top Chefs and this show is a win-win since Top Chefs compete against one another. Also, it happens to be hosted by two of my favs – Curtis Stone and Gail Simmons.

Meeting Curtis , Gail, and many of the Top Chefs (including one of my very favorites – Richard Blais) and getting the chance to TASTE THEIR FOOD helped make my summer complete! Aaaah, the beauty of living close to NYC! Clear the couch Wednesdays at 10:00…gotta love me some Top Chefs!

ANNIE SLOAN CHALK PAINT Painting has always been a part of my life…pretty much, you name it and I’ve painted it! And, the summer is always a great time to paint furniture since it can be done outdoors. This summer, I did tons of experimenting with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. I was late to the game on getting started with this paint, but I think I have made up for it this summer – from accessories to furniture, I have been having a fun time with it. The little to no prep required with this paint affords so much more time for the ‘fun’ part of painting furniture – different finishes and detail painting! I have to beat the clock with furniture painting in the good weather since I really don’t enjoy it as much indoors.

FROZEN TREATS Something frozen is always part of my summer treat repertoire! This summer, I did some experimentation with ice pops using the plastic sleeves that are now available for purchase – just the fact that the frozen treat is in the plastic sleeve makes it taste better! But, my top frozen obsession this summer isn’t made by me.

It is produced by a gourmet food store in Fairfield, Connecticut and is a store-made sorbet. My flavor of choice? Coconut lemongrass! O.M.G. I can eat a single serving (isn’t a pint a single serving?) plain or, at the serving suggestion of my friend Phyllis, enhanced with fruit. Either way, it is a big time winner!

Runners up in the food and beverage obsessions for me are watermelon water and (an every year summer obsession) fresh tomato pizza.

SPECIALTY STRAWS Summer is all about frozen drinks and what could be more fun than a cool straw to add to them?! I get involved with a lot of party planning and my current obsession for any occasion is specialty straws! I like using them for every summer party!

Some applications include: the name of a school for a graduation party, Mr. & Mrs. for a casual beach wedding, a new baby’s name or all the possible choices a new baby will be named, etc. A party accessory that can easily be adapted to any theme and so much fun! They are really great for summer frozen drinks or for a signature drink created for a party. And, such a fun takeaway! Order the word(s) of your choice from Krazy Straws and add some extra fun to your summer soiree!

So there you go…the things I have been obsessed with this summer! There are still some summer days remaining and some time left to add a few more obsessions to my list. Do you have any contenders? Do tell!

Thank you for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

The photo of the metallic tattoos is from the lulu dk website…I had a heck of a time trying to photograph my own arm! ;)

Sharing with Crafts a la Mode, Craftberry Bush, Shabby Nest, Finding Silver Pennies, Coastal Charm, and Sand & Sisal.

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seaside summer lunch

August 22, 2014

In an attempt to squeeze every last sun-filled second out of summer, today I am taking some time to have lunch with a friend at the beach and you can join me for today’s Friday field trip.

This is the time of year when I panic to think I haven’t truly appreciated my favorite season! Couldn’t I have done more summer ‘stuff?’ The season change already threatens with some cooler nights…one night has already been flannel worthy! Shouldn’t I have taken more time to make s’mores, attend an outdoor concert, or float in a tube on Long Island Sound? So, today I am fitting in some summer ‘stuff’ by having a lunch that truly celebrates summer in all its glory…

What do you think I am having for lunch? Lobster roll?…Hamburger? Nope!… Pizza! Pizza may not sound much like typical summer food, but with fresh, seasonal, limited- time garden tomatoes, how can you beat this plum pie with pesto? So seasonal and so good!

And, for dessert…doesn’t this scream summer?

Hope you enjoyed our quick summer lunch. Have a wonderful weekend! I hope you will stop back on Tuesday when I continue to celebrate summer by sharing my top summer obsessions of 2014. :)

Thank you for stopping by. Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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diy mirror to chalkboard

August 19, 2014

It has been a while since my last large chalkboard project when I used an old skim board to create a nautical themed chalkboard. I have wanted to make another large chalkboard for quite some time and when I saw this mirror, I knew it would be perfect to repurpose!

The frame had such great detail at the top and it was in wonderful shape.

Today I am sharing the easy steps I used to create a chalkboard.

I took apart the mirror – separating it from the frame. I put a coat of shellac on the frame using a soft, clean cloth.

Then, I used Annie Sloan Chalkboard paint in French Linen with a Pure White wash (the same process I used for this Newport table). French Linen is one of my favorite Annie Sloan colors and I really love the way it looks with black… perfect for a chalkboard frame!

After using clear wax on the completed finish, I did a little distressing and then added a second coat of wax to the frame.

To create the chalkboard, I used chalkboard spray paint in very light coats (probably 5 or 6) right over the back side of the mirror. Why the back? I just figured it could always be used again as a mirror if I kept the mirror side intact.

Chalkboard spray paint works so well on smooth surfaces – the smoother, the better. For this reason, any picture frame or mirror repurposes really well as a chalkboard. These items are pretty easy to come by at yard sales or thrift shops. Or, maybe you are holding onto a frame you really like, but aren’t too crazy about the print in it…perfect to refinish as a chalkboard!

After the chalkboard paint was good and dry, I ‘seasoned’ the board by using a piece of chalk on its side to color in the entire surface and then wiped it off with a soft, clean rag.

After putting the mirror back into the frame, my project was complete! And, the mirror already had a hanger on the back so I didn’t need to add one. I love this kind of project – when I use all materials I have on hand…I didn’t need to purchase one supply to complete it!

I added a favorite ‘beachy’ quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson and my project is complete! Can’t you just see this elegant chalkboard in the entry way of a coastal home?

I hope this has inspired you to repurpose an old picture frame or mirror into a beautiful ‘new’ chalkboard!

Thank you for stopping by.

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing with Finding Silver Pennies, Elizabeth and Co., Sand & Sisal and Coastal Charm.

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christmas in october

beach house dresser redo

keeping it neutral – white party pumpkins

antique school desk redo & fall welcome

pink velvet pumpkins to celebrate health

in the fabric mood

september book giveaway!

top 6 summer obsessions 2014

seaside summer lunch

diy mirror to chalkboard