first pumpkins of 2019

October 4, 2019

In case you were wondering, yes – I did start making pumpkins.

For today’s Friday field trip I am sharing my first creations of the season!

My very first pumpkin of the year is a simple gray velvet.

So far, I’ve only made two.

The second was an experiment. I made it from velvet, but added a ‘top coat’ of tulle. The tulle is a very special one…it was taken from my mother’s wedding dress! (It’s the pumpkin in the first photo in this post.) I want to try using the tulle in a few different ways, but the overlay idea was my first one.

I hope you are inspired to make some pumpkins of your own, maybe using some fabrics that are special in some way to you.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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and so, the pumpkins begin

October 1, 2019

Well, it is October after all! Even as I write this, I haven’t officially started making pumpkins yet this year.

I did put a few out that I made in past years though. Today will start the beginning of this year’s pumpkin making! Chenille was new last year…I need to come up with something new for 2019!

Happy October! Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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pumpkin hanging

September 27, 2019

I was never much on fall. I never really cared for the whole pumpkin spice, warm and cozy vibe. And, I certainly never really cared that much for pumpkins. I always enjoyed carving pumpkins, but other than that, I never decorated with pumpkins or got inspired by them.

It wasn’t until the white pumpkin entered the picture that I opened my eyes to pumpkin décor. I love me a white pumpkin!

Once I started decorating with white pumpkins, I became much more interested in pumpkins as a decorating component.

Of course, making pumpkins from fabric and real pumpkin stems has become a staple to my October routine! But now, every year, it seems there is some new aspect to using pumpkins in décor that appeals to me. A great example of this happened a few years back when I first started noticing pumpkin ‘topiaries.’ I was so intrigued by stacking pumpkins and I started using the technique in varying ways.

For Friday field trip today, I thought I would share this great idea from Terrain – something I’ve never used before – hanging pumpkins! You may have never thought about hanging a handful of pumpkins, but what a great look!

I hope you will be inspired to add this look to your décor this season, or to be inspired to try something new with your pumpkin décor on this first weekend of the season! Maybe you will try using a new and interesting variety of pumpkin in your decorating!

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a fabulous weekend! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Note: If you don’t live near a Terrain, you can purchase these cool spheres on their website!

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choose a season

September 6, 2019

You know how I try to hang on to the summer as long as possible?

Look what I needed to do at work today:

Kind of ironic, isn’t it?

Putting out seasonal items is inevitable when doing visuals, but it is still hard to admit that summer is becoming a memory.

Have a wonderful weekend – enjoy whichever season you choose to embrace!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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water you waiting for?

August 30, 2019

Unless you are obsessed with details like I am, you probably haven’t been searching for the perfect garden hose! I like every detail in my environment to be beautiful – even if it is just something I use to water my garden!

I was a little surprised when I started shopping around locally, that beautiful garden accessories aren’t that abundant! I find it surprising because there are so many people interested in gardening – particularly in my home state of Connecticut!

If you follow my blog, you know I am really into what I call a ‘virgin’ garden – I love all flowers that are white! So, it would make sense that I would be on the hunt for a beautiful white hose, right? Well, when I didn’t find a beautiful hose at any of the garden stores I visited, I ended up purchasing a hose and a hose holder the exact color of my house. It worked out well because the hose just kind of blends in with the house.

Since the purchase, I have been able to locate a couple gorgeous white hoses and I thought I would share them today on Friday field trip just in case anyone else out there is on the hunt for a really beautiful garden hose!!

I am sharing my two favorites! The first is from one of my favorite stores – Terrain! If you go to their online store, there are a bunch of beautiful color hoses to choose from…my favorite, of course, is the white one! Look how gorgeous it is!

The second hose I found is from Garden Glory. They have some really over the top garden accessories (even leopard!) – check out their website when you have a chance (look at that diamond ring bird feeder!). This is their white garden hose:

One of these hoses would really go well with my white bleeding hearts, lily of the valley, moon flowers, white forsythia…

If you want one, there are pretty garden hoses out there! It will take me until the current hose wears out to save up for a white one!

Have a fabulous weekend! I hope you get some time off for Labor Day! I will be working in the garden! ;)

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Note: The photos of the white hoses are taken from the respective stores’ website.

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plenty of eat

August 23, 2019

What do you think of my new metal eat sign? I thought it was perfect for my kitchen! The colors, size, and texture are super!

It certainly makes a statement – don’t you think?

There is another reason I am sharing this photo with you besides showing you my sign…this photo gives a hint of the next furniture redo project I am working on. It is in Annie Sloan charcoal gray and I can’t wait to finish so I can give you the full reveal!

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

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vintage dresser before & after

August 20, 2019

Do you remember the vintage dresser I was refinishing? I finally took a few photos of the ‘after’ to share with you. It is an old mahogany piece – I’m sure you’ve seen similar pieces.

Most of the furniture I refinish is for others, but this piece is staying with me!

Here are the steps I took to transform the piece:

Stripped the finish off the top
Sanded the top with fine grade sandpaper
Stained the top (in ebony) – I used 2 coats
Sealed the top – I used 4 coats
Painted a sealer over the rest of the dresser (to prevent the stain from bleeding through the light color paint)
Painted the dresser in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White – 2 coats
Waxed with Annie Sloan clear wax (all but the top)
Lightly distressed
Waxed with second coat of Annie Sloan wax in clear (all but the top)

I retained the original hardware without altering it since I love the dark color in combination with the ebony stain on the top of the piece.

Isn’t it beautiful!? I love it. I ended up styling my entire bedroom around this piece.

I put a buffalo plaid duvet on the bed and combined a couple of my favorite motifs (with my collections – old books and bird nests) to style this vintage dresser. The crowning jewel was to add a mirror. I thought the mirror that originally went with the piece was too ‘matchy matchy’ for my taste. I originally thought I would just go without a mirror, but I soon found out I really liked having a mirror in the bedroom, so I set out to find a vintage looking piece.

I didn’t really expect to find anything I liked to fit my budget until Ballard Designs had a 40% off sale with free shipping and I was able to purchase the perfect piece!

My biggest bargain in the room was the bedside wall lamp. Every one I liked had a price tag over $100. And I had all but given up on the idea of including a lamp in my room until I came across the perfect one for $19.99 at IKEA! Score!

The dresser ends up being my favorite piece of furniture! I hope you enjoyed seeing how I transformed this old dresser! Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

P.S. Click here to see how I refinished the mahogany side table that matched this dresser.

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new beginnings

May 28, 2019

Hi friends! I know my furniture redos usually show a ‘before’ and ‘after’ in the same post. But, today I am only showing the ‘before’ of a current piece I have been working on.

Like me, the piece is starting a new beginning! I have given new life to a vintage mahogany dresser and I am taking it with me on a new journey!

As you read this, I am on my way to a new beginning…leaving a place I’ve lived for a long, long time. I am looking forward to sharing some future projects with you as I prepare to downsize everything in my life!

I am going to give you one little peek as to how I refinished the dresser my daughter used growing up – a family heirloom. It is renewed and ready to join me! Because of my moving out, I don’t think I will be posting on Friday, but I will be back next week! And, I will share, in more detail, my new dresser!

Here is a little peek of the ‘after.’ As you can see, I decided to keep the original hardware. What do you think the rest of the piece looks like?

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

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mission san juan capistrano

April 30, 2019

A cool place to visit when in Southern California is the historic Mission San Juan Capistrano.

Founded in 1776 and located in San Juan Capistrano, it is home to Orange County’s first buildings.

Though not functioning as a mission today, the ruin remains the cultural heart of its community.

Even more than the history, the esthetics of the ruins are so inspiring! I’m wanting to pick one of the photos I took and use it to create some wallpaper!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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lights beyond the holidays

February 22, 2019

Twinkle lights and candles are not just for the holidays!

Doesn’t special lighting make everyone feel special? So, why save it just for the holidays?

A great way to brighten up any décor is with a string of lights or a few well-placed, beautiful candles. And, now that there are realistic looking simulated lit versions, candles can be enjoyed without a fire risk or suffering any soot/paint damage.

For today’s Friday field trip, I am sharing some photos from a recent trip to Terrain in Westport as a way to inspire you to use special lighting at every time of year!