Wednesday, May 29, 2013
First Redecorating Pix
Our decorator Elizabeth Hall Designs (http://www.elizabethhalldesigns.com/) has helped us making choices with our downstairs living spaces. We are using the traditional style in the living room and breakfast area with western style in the adjoining family room. We got a few new pieces of furniture and all new curtains, which we are waiting to hang. The painters will be here next week to turn our drab living room walls into green and boring family room walls tan with one faux leather looking wall. Note: the entertainment center will move behind the chairs where the table was located. I hung an open frame around my family/home/blessing wall decal. The red chair will accompany my new secretary across from the new kitchen table. More pix to come...
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Nanna's Style
Nanna didn't have money to decorate her home and didn't particularly want her walls to look like everyone else's with store bought pictures. She took a folk art oil class and enjoyed painting, so she began filling her home with her own painted things. Soon she was on her way to creating the home she wanted.
Nana's painted projects began to include crafts too. She got many ideas for things to paint from magazines, craft shows, and stores. She enjoyed shopping antique shops and collecting items to embellish. She was always sketching ideas for things to create and display in her home. She would incorporated textiles, metal, ribbons & twine. She also was an accomplished seamstress and she knew how to use a drill press and jig saw. Eventually she was making annual Christmas decorations to sell and share with family members. Each holiday there were different nick nacks she had spent hours making, so her decor was updated and fit her own style.
One of my favorite paintings is on an old wooden ironing board. She hung it with an antique iron piece and an old painted match holder.
This is one she did and framed.
She made each item in this vignette, including the shelf.
This was an old sled decoration she took apart and painted the bottom.
Here's a glittery Santa craft.
And this is the whole Christmas display. She is so good at decorating!
This is a closed off doorway, so they built a cabinet below and a niche above. She painted the interior, hung the mirror & placed a few old items with a live plant. So tastefully done.
She painted this lamp and framed a picture from a child's book.
Nanna created this corner shelf and another one like it on each side of the guest bed. She made the headboard from a fence she painted white. It is clever how she built the shelf with the cord behind it. The lace which overhangs the small shelf finishes it off well!
This chest was painted by Nanna and she covered a hole on it with the plaque. She used books to bring height to the ceramic duck and the cake stand to heighten the flowerpot. The two pictures were framed children's book illustrations. Everything is set on a doily or lace cloth and makes it look very feminine.
These are framed doilies, and the top one has an old button on it.
This dormer is decked out! Nana painted the cabinet and created and sewed the cat family. The antique mirror and oak shelf are mismatched but really work. The live plants are on hand cut/hand painted plant stands. She made the valance to go with the lace sheers. Can you tell her favorite colors are pink & green?
This is only a sampling of the decor she has had displayed in her home over the years. It is mostly one of a kind and is personalized for a traditional American home. Nanna has a true talent for interior design!
Nana's painted projects began to include crafts too. She got many ideas for things to paint from magazines, craft shows, and stores. She enjoyed shopping antique shops and collecting items to embellish. She was always sketching ideas for things to create and display in her home. She would incorporated textiles, metal, ribbons & twine. She also was an accomplished seamstress and she knew how to use a drill press and jig saw. Eventually she was making annual Christmas decorations to sell and share with family members. Each holiday there were different nick nacks she had spent hours making, so her decor was updated and fit her own style.
One of my favorite paintings is on an old wooden ironing board. She hung it with an antique iron piece and an old painted match holder.
This is one she did and framed.
She made each item in this vignette, including the shelf.
This was an old sled decoration she took apart and painted the bottom.
Here's a glittery Santa craft.
And this is the whole Christmas display. She is so good at decorating!
This is a closed off doorway, so they built a cabinet below and a niche above. She painted the interior, hung the mirror & placed a few old items with a live plant. So tastefully done.
She painted this lamp and framed a picture from a child's book.
Nanna created this corner shelf and another one like it on each side of the guest bed. She made the headboard from a fence she painted white. It is clever how she built the shelf with the cord behind it. The lace which overhangs the small shelf finishes it off well!
This chest was painted by Nanna and she covered a hole on it with the plaque. She used books to bring height to the ceramic duck and the cake stand to heighten the flowerpot. The two pictures were framed children's book illustrations. Everything is set on a doily or lace cloth and makes it look very feminine.
These are framed doilies, and the top one has an old button on it.
This dormer is decked out! Nana painted the cabinet and created and sewed the cat family. The antique mirror and oak shelf are mismatched but really work. The live plants are on hand cut/hand painted plant stands. She made the valance to go with the lace sheers. Can you tell her favorite colors are pink & green?
This is only a sampling of the decor she has had displayed in her home over the years. It is mostly one of a kind and is personalized for a traditional American home. Nanna has a true talent for interior design!
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Finding my Child's Passion
Emily and I had a meaningful discussion while she was doing the dishes by hand and I was de- cluttering the living room. She had just finished watching the reality show, "Dance Moms." Or shall I say, I made her get up and work instead of entertaining her fascination with the emotional chaos the show emotes. It gives me a headache just having it on, but she seems to enjoy observing their dysfunctional relationships.
We talked about how hard those dancers work and she said she wouldn't work that hard unless it was her passion ( or "my thing" she called it). Then she asked me when she was going to find "her thing."
I've been pondering that for a while, because kids and parents these define children by what talent they are great at. These children's talents are topics of many parents discussions & posts on social media sites, and I've felt the need to be proud of my daughter's great talent. But think she hasn't found her thing yet. So I keep looking for it, and I know she is waiting for its great reveal too.
I've come to the conclusion this has been putting stress on our relationship. Why does she have to be dedicated to an instrument, a sport, a hobby, or straight As, or a combination of these? Why can't she and I be happy with her sweet, merciful demeanor?
Who she is amazes me! She is very gifted and talented in many ways, but why do I have to stress her and myself out finding her passion? I don't! She has experienced many things but photography, softball, basketball, horseback riding, swimming, drawing, sculpting, theater, scrap booking, piano, guitar, and soccer have not been "her thing." She has been good or great at all these activities but none been her passion.
Why does she have to have a passion for something to brag about anyway? Can't I be happy with who she is rather than what activity she is involved in. Yes I can!
My creative, thoughtful daughter is wonderful just the way she is. And at 12 her passion is to be a good friend...and I'm proud of that!
We talked about how hard those dancers work and she said she wouldn't work that hard unless it was her passion ( or "my thing" she called it). Then she asked me when she was going to find "her thing."
I've been pondering that for a while, because kids and parents these define children by what talent they are great at. These children's talents are topics of many parents discussions & posts on social media sites, and I've felt the need to be proud of my daughter's great talent. But think she hasn't found her thing yet. So I keep looking for it, and I know she is waiting for its great reveal too.
I've come to the conclusion this has been putting stress on our relationship. Why does she have to be dedicated to an instrument, a sport, a hobby, or straight As, or a combination of these? Why can't she and I be happy with her sweet, merciful demeanor?
Who she is amazes me! She is very gifted and talented in many ways, but why do I have to stress her and myself out finding her passion? I don't! She has experienced many things but photography, softball, basketball, horseback riding, swimming, drawing, sculpting, theater, scrap booking, piano, guitar, and soccer have not been "her thing." She has been good or great at all these activities but none been her passion.
Why does she have to have a passion for something to brag about anyway? Can't I be happy with who she is rather than what activity she is involved in. Yes I can!
My creative, thoughtful daughter is wonderful just the way she is. And at 12 her passion is to be a good friend...and I'm proud of that!
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Austin Charities List for CHRIST-mas
Austin Charities. Christmas. Austin. TX. 2012
http://www.cbofaustin.org/
Christmas Bureau of Austin
Adopt a family, register online & deliver gifts by Dec 23.
Austin Area Food Bank
Donate at the Dec 1 Downtown Stroll. http://www.austinfoodbank.org/events/downtown-austin-alliance.html
Donate at Wildflower Luminations Dec 8
Multiply your donations by giving cash https://secure3.convio.net/cafbtx/site/Donation2?df_id=7280&7280.donation=form1
http://www.austinchildrenshelter.org/site/DocServer/ProjectSanta2012_In-Kind_WishList.pdf?docID=6421
Drop off listed items to Austin Children's Shelter Thru Dec 22.
http://austin-tx.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/default.aspx
Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots
http://www.salvationarmyaustin.org/
Angel Tree, gifts for children of prisoners or donate to red kettle online
http://austin.culturemap.com/newsdetail/12-09-11-12-18-operation-blue-santa-delivers-joy/
Blue Santa
Donate an unwrapped tor during the Chuy's parade Dec 1 @ 11:00 am downtown
http://www.chuysparade.com/
http://www.brownsanta.org/
Dec 9 Run https://www.edsregistration.com/events/39
Eat at TLC on Dec 1 http://www.brownsanta.org/dineanddonate.html
http://www.kvue.com/community/Coats-for-Kids-2011-133552228.html
Coats for Kids
Buy a tree, they give books
http://www.austinoptimistclub.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3%3Atree-lot&catid=3%3Aprograms&Itemid=11
http://www.cbofaustin.org/%20 christmas
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
identity analysis
I've always thought it is important to understand how other people work. Some of the labels we put on people help us with that. Like their love language, their learning style and their propensity to being clear minded in mornings or nights.
Then I saw a clever craft with just dates on it from a favorite blogger and I liked it. Then it made me think of the initials, birthdates and helpful labels as a craft to frame. One step further was to color code similar letters, numbers and traits of family members. It shows how similar we are to our spouses and how similar our children are to ourselves.
I liked what it showed. Our family is diverse but connected.
Then I saw a clever craft with just dates on it from a favorite blogger and I liked it. Then it made me think of the initials, birthdates and helpful labels as a craft to frame. One step further was to color code similar letters, numbers and traits of family members. It shows how similar we are to our spouses and how similar our children are to ourselves.
I liked what it showed. Our family is diverse but connected.
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