it started with sea glass sinks

February 15, 2019

My friend Phyllis is finishing up a remodel of the bathroom off her bedroom. I am so enamored with the results!

So, even though the bathroom wasn’t yet styled and the window coverings weren’t yet complete, I snapped a few photos when I was last over her house. This bathroom just made me so happy to look at, I had to share.

The level of detail on the trim work is beautiful. A mutual friend from back in our high school days is a master craftsman and was responsible for the designing/creating of these details.

The combination of a master craftsman and my friend’s great taste made the bathroom come together in a fabulous way!

The entire project was spearheaded by the selection of two beautiful sea glass looking sinks! They were the first item chosen for the bathroom and provide a fabulous little pop of color to the finished project!

The ‘cherry on the top’ is the view from the tub! But then, this is the yard I call a park…the landscaping is fabulous and the property adjoins a golf course. In the middle of winter it may be hard to imagine the gorgeous view during the rest of the year, but you can see it by clicking here.

Thanks for joining me today on Friday field trip. I hope you enjoyed seeing some little glimpses of my friend’s new bathroom!

My buddy, Sadie!

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

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more holiday neutrals

December 28, 2018

As promised…

A continuation of Tuesday’s post with a little more from a favorite gift shop…

Holiday neutrals…

Enjoy!

And, that’s a wrap on this year’s holiday inspiration! I am already thinking of colors and themes for holiday 2019! Am I the only one?

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

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sea glass green and white pumpkins

October 23, 2018

One of my favorite color pairings with white pumpkins is the color of green sea glass. I am talking about the color green that is also the color of Jadeite. And, also the color you can find in hydrangea when they turn color in the fall.

A far cry from the traditional orange and black colors of the season!

My love for the green/white combo is how I originally got started planting inside white pumpkins. These images are from something I posted on planting succulents in a white pumpkin back in 2012. To see the original post, click here.

I hope you are inspired to try a new color combination with white pumpkins this Halloween season!

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

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autumn porch goals

October 19, 2018

I think most of us like to create a little sense of the season on our porches. It may be a simple seasonal wreath on the door, or something more elaborate; like assembling a pumpkin topiary.

One of the best examples of a seasonal porch is at my friend Phyllis’s home! Each season she does a wonderful job of creating a sense of welcome at the back entrance of her home – the entrance that all the true friends use to enter! (How cool is that kale?!)

For Friday field trip, you can experience this sense of welcome as well!

Thanks for stopping by!

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

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making chenille pumpkins

October 2, 2018

Now that it is October, I guess I can get really serious about my pumpkin making! You know I love making velvet pumpkins with real pumpkin stems at this time of year.

Although I love making pumpkins of velvet, in addition, each year I enjoy experimenting with a new, different fabric for pumpkins. Remember last year I tried some cashmere?

Well, this year my experiment is becoming an obsession! And you thought my obsession was about stems! Well, it is about stems – it’s always about stems lol!

But, the new fabric obsession has become repurposing a vintage material – chenille! It turned out to be convenient timing that cleaning out my linen closet happened at the start of fall. I couldn’t bear to throw out a vintage chenille spread that, in the past, has adorned both the bed of my grandmother and of my daughter. I decided to repurpose the spread into pumpkins…with real stems, of course!

I hope these photos help inspire you to create some pumpkins from a repurposed material – like a treasured keepsake!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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it’s all about the stem

September 25, 2018

It’s official. It is fall! I always start the season by making some velvet pumpkins. Every year I make a few more, using new shades of velvet and pumpkin stems I have collected from the year before. Each year, I like to make some pumpkins that are a little different than the year before…either in color or fabric. But, before I start my own pumpkins, I have a few pumpkins to make as gifts.

If you make velvet pumpkins, you know the personality of the pumpkin is created with the stem. And, the hardest part about making pumpkins to give as gifts is to part with the stems! It is all about the stem!

Here are a few great stems from some gifts I made this year – my first pumpkins of the season.

At a request, I created my very first red pumpkin. Look at that marvelous stem!

Thanks for stopping by! If you haven’t yet tried making a velvet pumpkin, you can look back into my archives for directions by clicking here and give it a try! You can start by collecting some fabulous stems!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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more autumn 2018 at terrain

September 21, 2018

As promised, I am sharing a little more of the season change at Terrain, here in Connecticut. It is the best place to get inspired for a new season.

Enjoy the photos here for Friday field trip!

If you live within visiting range of a Terrain, you will want to be sure and stop in for the Annual Autumn Bounty Festival on September 29^th!

Thank you for stopping by!

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

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autumn 2018 at terrain

September 18, 2018

I was kicking and screaming over the whole season change. Summer wasn’t going away easy for me…and then, I took a trip to Terrain. I should have known better. I should have saw it coming. One trip and I was sucked in – dreaming of all things pumpkin towers and fall colors!

I am sharing some of my favorite glimpses here…you will see what I am talking about!

Serious stem envy! I had to buy this little fella…I needed the stem for making velvet pumpkins!

I always feel sorry for those who don’t have a Terrain nearby to visit! There is no better way to kick off any of the seasons than a visit to Terrain!

Stop back on Friday and I will share some more…even a small glimpse is hard to contain to one post!

Thank you for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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july book giveaway!

June 29, 2018

July is almost upon us. It is time to announce the July giveaway. This month, as a homage to the designer, I am giving away a Kate Spade notebook. To enter to win, simply leave a comment here, on Instagram or in an email.

Congratulations to Emily from Arizona, winner of the organizer and pencils from last month’s giveaway. (Click here to read more about it.) And, thanks for your sweet note Emily! I am sure you will put the organizer to good use. Enjoy!

Instagram users, please read on for this month’s challenge!

Since the tragic passing of Kate Spade, I find many of my friends have taken out Kate Spade pieces from their closets that they may not have used in a while – almost as a way to honor Kate after her passing. With this in mind, July’s Instagram Challenge is to share photos of your favorite Kate Spade piece(s).

I have many – from office supplies to handbags, but one of my very favorites is a pencil case designed with a book motif. I often use it as a wallet. What’s your favorite? Use hashtag #pleasuregram to share during the month of July.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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repurposed plant materials

April 20, 2018

Pieces of jewelry crafted from plant materials are a highlight of the Philadelphia Flower Show each year. For today’s Friday field trip, please enjoy some of my favorites from the 2018 show!

Although the lighting and display cases make it impossible to get great photos, I think you will still be able to grasp the unbelievable creativity in the designs of these pieces. They are truly works of art.Remember, these pieces are all crafted from plant materials! It is hard to believe, even when you see the photo of the items used!

If this type of art appeals to you, I encourage you to check out the work of botanical artist, Bridget Beth Collins. For a treat, follow her Instagram @flora.forager