update

As I mentioned a couple of posts ago, I took the skirt off my sofa slipcover and shortened it and put it back on without the gathers or even any pleats. Here is a picture of the sofa before, along with a small ottoman that was filling the space where a coffee table should be:




This is the new look along with the new bigger storage ottoman with a white linen slipcover. I like the new look a lot. I will get a tray to use on the ottoman for times when it needs to function as a coffee table.





Here are some recent photos:




I fell in love with this little burro the first time I saw it at Susi's Flowers. I went back and bought it with some gift money.





We have been making gingerbread houses during the holidays for years. When the kids were little and we were home-schooling we entered a few local contests. Lots of creative fun.




Max seems to enjoy posing for photos!

I Love Chairs.

If I had a bigger house, I would bring home every chair I see that needs a loving home. But, since I live in a small house I will just have to enjoy the company of other people's chairs as I am making new clothes for them. Have you ever noticed that chairs seem to have their own personalities?

This chair reminds me of a European grandmother for some reason.




Here she is in the back of my car on her way home.




She has a twin there to keep her company by a window that overlooks the ocean. (Sigh)

A spoonful of NEW makes the OLD taste better.

This morning in church...yes, I am a church-goer... the youngish group who led the music/worship part of the service were making some rather new and strange guitar sounds during the playing of some very traditional songs. Some have told me that this is distracting to them, but I love it. I guess it just reminds me of where I am in life in general...more a part of the old than the new, but not wanting to drift off on a chunk of "old" ice, losing touch with what is exciting and life-giving to our youth. The fact that they are willing to let us in on who they are and what they love makes me happy. It feels like a life-line that keeps the ice chunk from floating too far out to sea.

When the home decorating styles started to reflect the 50's and 60's I had a real struggle. I wanted to love what is new and stylish, but it wasn't new to me and I had no desire to experience flashbacks to my Jr.High years. (Ouch) But...with some gentle prodding from some talented youngers, I am actually getting excited about a more stylish look, even if it does have a "back in time" flavor. AND......the way that is possible is the addition of the new to the old. A twist of excitement, a spoonful of creativity, and of course, the old style seen through new eyes, because to them it is new.

Speaking of older things that are vibrant, my Mother-In-Law and her 93 year old boyfriend stopped by today, since she will be out of town for Christmas. They are so active, that we get tired from just hearing about all their activities and socializing. I had to post this picture of them. They looked so cute in their festive outfits. (I should have gotten a close-up of the Santas on the tie.)





I am happy to report that there are now decorations on the tree. This ornament was a gift from a friend a couple of years ago. I am thinking about her a lot because she is in Illinois this weekend. I hope the weather is not being unkind to her. (was that a double negative?)



On the subject of home style, I ripped the skirt off of my sofa. The legs match the ones on my new, old chairs and I like the way it looks. (More like the sofa my mother had when I was in Jr. High) Now I just need to alter the skirt on the slipcover to make it shorter and less ruffly.

O Christmas Card, O Christmas Card........

For years one of my favorite things to do was to make our own Christmas cards.



Sometimes the kids got involved. Here is some of Raya's artwork:



This one was made on my Gocco printer:



My Gocco prints from the 80's were not as inventive as the ones I see today. I don't remember where I found my printer, and had to stop using it because replacement materials weren't available.

This fold-up ornament card was adapted from one I saw in Sunset Magazine. I think theirs was a house.



A paper doll that I made to sell at a craft fair:



After my sewing business took off, doing anything before Christmas became next to impossible, especially when the kids were small. This year I have been busy with my business, but manageably busy. When a young woman I know hosted a holiday craft night, I got excited about doing a card again. I haven't done much drawing in a while, so I decided to use scissors and glue. Here's a peek:






The tree still hasn't been decorated. Hopefully tonight.

Ch-ch-ch-changes.

When Colleen helped me to rearrange my livingroom, we took down the shutter/mirror combo that was above the fireplace.





We put this mirror, that I had, up there temprorarily.





Then she brought this one over for me to try out. Getting better.....





Then on Thursday, I brought this one home from her shop. I like it. It definitely changes the look of the room. We need to hang it, though. It's very heavy and I don't want it to become "earthquake damage".





I also got a really good deal on a chandelier at a little shop called Chairish the Thought.




I am trying to break away from the "shabby chic" that I love, and have been surprised that I am warming up to a more "modern" look. I have to laugh because a lot of elements of the more modern style look very familiar to me if you know what I mean.

I still have some shabbiness in the hallway. I love the shape of this old window. (We just hung a mirror behind it.)



My son picked out the perfect Christmas tree. He's working at a Christmast tree lot on his days off from Paramedic School.
It doesn't have decorations yet, so it just feels like we're sitting in the forest.