The Decorated House

~ A Daisy Cottage Secret? Decorating Diva Sisters

2009-07-15T13:47:00.009-04:00

Ok so it's not really a secret because if you are a fan of Daisy Cottage you've heard Kim talk about her fabulous sister many times. And it is no secret that the decorating diva gene runs in the family. Jill has sewn and painted many treasures for Kim's house even as busy as she is!

But even though most of you know the fabulous Kim of Daisy Cottage fame, you might have only heard of her adorable and talented sis Jill. Guess what! now you can see more of her talent in her own wonderful home. And it is so much fun. You are in for a treat.

Sometimes I hear someone grumble that they too could do this or that with their homes if they had the time someone else has. Well, Jill has a family, and she went back to school to become a teacher. And she still accomplished all that you see by redoing, painting, creating and much more to make a house a home.

I have been in many houses that the owner would say something like ...you would never guess where I shop. Um... yes, I could. But there is a huge difference in walking into Kim or Jill's homes. Sure they frequent thrifty haunts, but their homes are full of charm as if they found their treasures in boutiques that cater to those who love vintage, lovely or quirky, depending on the mood, or day of the week.

Now some of us, including me, seldom find anything at the GoodWill. So instead I love to shop online. They often pull some of the better items, such as jewelry, art, etc. rom the stores and have online auctions for those items. Did you know that??
Here are a few treasures I found today on GOODWILL.com

See Y'all Soon!

~ Follow the White Rabbit

2009-07-13T19:58:00.005-04:00

A short time ago I worked on the logo/illustration for a new website for "The White Rabbit" in St. Louis. The website and blog were designed by Sara of Sadie Olive. Of course Sara did a beautiful job on both sites.
Click on the links to visit the website or the blog.

You will love your visit to the website for this delightful shop run by a wonderful mother/daughter team. Be sure to click on the bio information and see all that these two ladies have been through to get to the point of having this gorgeous shop. It will make you count your blessings.

Thanks for your notes about HGTV. It's good to know I'm not the only who misses the "old HGTV" and wishes they would improve their programming.

See Y'all Soon!

~ Where Have You Gone, Joe Ruggiero?

2009-07-12T22:42:00.005-04:00

**An update from Joe:**
"Donna, thank you for your nice comments. We hope to be back on PBS. Fine design needs a showcase on TV. I hope to do it.
Looking for a sponsor to bring the best of design to TV. It will have to be PBS. My passion to showcase the best of American Design."

Oh, are we happy to hear this? Yes, I know you all are!

"Where have you gone, Joe Ruggiero?

Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

What's that you say, Mrs. Robinson?

Decorating Joe has left and gone away."

{ Thanks Paul Simon :) }

Do you still watch as much HGTV now as you did in the past?

What happened to all the great programming on HGTV? I wonder if their ratings have declined as people like us have watched less and less, or if they have found an audience who is quite different from those who watched it in the beginning. It used be that their success was copied by others, now they seem to be fishing for hosts from other channels all the time.

Remember shows like Homes Across America, hosted by Joe Ruggiero? In the past, many of HGTV's shows had hosts who actually had decorating & design knowledge and they took us on trips around the country, or world, giving us such fantastic glimpses into beautifully decorated homes, often done by extremely talented decorators and designers. We also were treated to professional design observations by the host. And the host didn't sound like a vaudeville act like quite a few do today, yelling and over animated. Joe spoke in a normal tone. Thank goodness.

Well, of course Joe didn't go away. He is as busy as ever and still making many people happy with his design talents. But HGTV isn't the same without him.

Just in case you've missed Joe like I have, you can visit him on his blog and find him on Twitter as well!

You can visit Joe's blog HERE!

There are exceptions of course! Candace Olsen, great show. Holmes on Homes will give you great insight into remodeling. Angelo's Rate My Space is interesting, too. I'll add as I can think of any.

{I blog for the fun of it. And I am not paid
for any of your visits to this site
or any reviews written here.}

~ Chasing Pavers

2009-07-10T21:16:00.004-04:00

See all those stacks of pavers. It's a small corner of the whole manufacturing yard. I've been here 5 or 6 times. At first looking just for the pavers to do Sweet Daughter's backyard. That's how it began. Then I decided to start on my front yard since I had an area where the grass had died. If it was taken out at the same time as her yard, I'd save a few bucks. From there it snowballed. For a few years we talked about changing our walkway. So this must be the time to do it!
You know what we said ....... while we're at it.......
I'm not sure there is an end to that statement. It just keeps going on and on.

No choice made yet. But I need to get a move on before the mailman gets lost in all the sand that was left behind from taking out the old ones.

Hope you have a great weekend. See Y'all Soon!

~ Who Is Your Target Market? the Kindness of Others

2009-07-08T23:08:00.006-04:00

If you sell anything, online or otherwise, you could probably learn a great deal from this thread running on Etsy. HERE A talented artist, and very kind person, CopperLeafStuidos has been helping other members for days!

While you are there, please look at her beautiful metal art.

You might not need to purchase now, but what great gift ideas in the future.

Although she has not admitted it, I personally think she has an exceptional crystal ball and is just plain psychic!

If you take the time to read her advice to others and look at the shops she is discussing, you can learn a great deal about marketing, for selling or just for knowledge.

See Y'all Soon!

~ Kitchen Island

2009-07-07T15:56:00.007-04:00

This is the same kitchen as the previous post. I found another picture of the island, which shows more of it, and how really functional and beautiful it is. Even if the gray cabinets aren't something you would choose, that island could win you over. And I'd take the floor as well.

See Y'all Soon!

~ Kitchen Cabinets . Gray ?

2009-07-06T21:18:00.003-04:00

While looking at kitchen pictures and ideas for a backsplash for Sweet Daughter, I came across this oversized, and too big for most of us, kitchen with gray cabinets. You seldom see this color used. But it is certainly an option of those who love the white/cream/taupe gray look of some of our Euro Sisters' blogs.

Although the size of the kitchen and house is more than most of us have any need for, the cabinets would be beautiful in a smaller kitchen. Maybe even more lovely in a wonderful small kitchen.

See Y'all Soon!

~ Happy 4th of July

2009-07-04T14:40:00.007-04:00

Happy 4th of July

~ Pink & Black, But Not In This Kitchen

2009-07-02T09:31:00.006-04:00

Savannah

It takes courage, and a special house to pull off pink and black for your house colors. I adore this combo for this particular application. When it is slapped on a mid century house? Not so much. Yes, we've seen it, haven't we?
Pink and black was not a choice for Sweet Daughter's more neutral color scheme in the kitchen though.

And that kitchen is looking good! The granite arrived on Monday and we thought there was still time to get a plumber in the next couple of days. But you know how these remodeling things go. As soon as granite man came with the new counter tops and sink, he said he had to cut the old plumbing pipes to accommodate the deeper sink. Now what. The two people I had called to bid the job had not called back.

Fortunately, granite man knew a plumber who happen to be able to leave the site he was working on which was new construction, and come work at Sweet Daughter's house. Took him, and a helper, over 3 hours! So happy I did not ask Sweet Hubby to try to do this one.

Now to pick out the backsplash and figure out if I can get someone to do it cheap, or ...
you guessed, do it myself.

The Mad Tea Party was a ball! I wish I could have made it to everyone's blog by now. But I might get around to a few more this weekend. Or maybe not. Cody Puppy is spending the weekend with us while his mommy is out of town. Thank goodness Sweet Hubby will be here to get us through 24 Hour Cody Days!

See Y'all Soon!

~ Winner of the Marie Antoinette Art, Mad Tea Party

2009-07-01T10:11:00.006-04:00

The WINNER IS KARIN!!

This message was the one chosen by random generator.

Karin said...

marie is lovely!

karin

Thank YOU to ALL of you who stopped by and left your comments!

See Y'all Soon!

(Karin, this will be mailed
as soon as I have your mailing address.)

~ VOTER on ETSY . Original Bird . Mixed Media Collage

2009-06-30T13:28:00.005-04:00

Thanks for voting!

Mixed Media Original Bird Collage

Come by tomorrow
for the winner of the
Marie Antionette Art Print.

See Y'all Soon!

~ 2nd Annual Mad Tea Party & A GiveAway!

2009-06-26T18:26:00.017-04:00

It's that time of year.
One of the most fun events
that happens in BlogLand.
So grab your Happy Hat and Let's Party!!

You must leave your comment
on this post
for the GiveAway, here.
(Be sure to leave an email addy or blog link.)

The day has finally arrived. A Party!! This is not a little gathering. Oh no, it is Huge!
It will take you some time to make the whole journey, but it is worth. You will be filled with wonder at all the arty and fun blogs you will discover.

The Mad Hatter has been so busy.
He is out scouting for as many
Happy People as he can find
to throw his annual Mad Tea Party.

Marie Antoinette,
Print from The Decorated House.
GiveAway
Winner will be announced for the Marie Antoinette
Print, here on the blog.
WED JULY 1st.

Marie Antoinette. Now there was a lady who could throw a party! So it seemed fitting to have her join us for the 2nd Annual Mad Tea Party. Ms. Vanessa at A Fanciful Twist who has a fanciful imagination that is sure to tickle your funny bone. Out of her most delightful mind came the idea for this Party last year. We had so much fun and I know you will this year as well.

Happy Weekend, Happy PartyTime, See Y'all Soon!

~ Happy Friday! Sod & Pavers Yet?

2009-06-26T17:35:00.008-04:00

Recently I discovered a wonderful blog and website, Creative Home Expressions, when the owner Kathy asked me to design a banner for her blog and website. I love how it turned out. Kathy is an interior designer and I know you will enjoy visiting her blog if you haven't found her yet. She is so good about keeping up with her blog. Lots to see and read, so stop by and say Hi!

It's really a thank goodness it's Friday kind of day! Since next week is going to be as crazy as this one, I'm looking forward to the weekend.

The sod was delivered today, a few short, but things are moving along. Just replacing a large bad area that excess rain killed previously. But it allowed me to rethink the end of my walkway, the sprinklers and the landscaping. Which of course meant work.

Sweet Daughter's backyard was completely taken out except for her flower beds she put in along the fence. Pavers did not get delivered so it is going look like a desert or mud pit (depending on rain & time of day) for another whole week. Cody is not impress by the barren look for his needed activities, but does think that rolling in the dirt and digging where there were holes for the new sprinkler heads was great fun. Yes, thank goodness it's Friday!

I loved hearing about your dog stories, especially if your dog might compete with "Marley" as Cody can! It seems a lot of puppies need extra attention. I just didn't know that.

** About doing the antiquing over painted pieces that have oil-based paint, yes you can still do the technique. Although you could use oil paints, the kind in the art department, you can also use a water based one instead.
The easiest thing to use would be "Patio Paints." They have a very strong pigment to withstand being outdoors.
Sometimes they are with the craft paints, sometimes in an area of paint for terracotta and outdoor use. Thin with glaze or water, and adjust the amount of color you want.
There are other antique glazes that are not water based as well. They are bit harder to use.

Happy Friday! See Y'all Soon!

~ Etsy Treasure Hunting & What's New

2009-06-23T15:24:00.008-04:00

It isn't easy some days to find what you might be looking for on Etsy, but it's worth the bother if you find a treasure. It's exciting to come across something special.
I found this artist a little while back and jumped at the chance to have one of her pieces. I was cheap, it was on sale. But her prices are very low anyway. Take a look at her sold items as well. I'm sure if you see something that really strikes you, she would be happy to similar piece for you.

And Victoria has just added some new chair paintings. I love chairs! 6/25

Mercers Daughter Etsy Shop

The temps are hitting near 100 (which is NOT like 100 in the desert!) and I'm running around for 10 hours a day it seems. It has taken months to close a refi for Sweet Daughter. Since she can't spend hours on the phone or computer at work, I've been doing all the work I can for her. She has great credit, and is staying with the same company and it still was 10 times the work and wait than when she first got her mortgage. If "they" had done this to begin with everyone, we wouldn't be in the financial mess that has hit us all.

In the meantime, we have met with the granite guy to do her kitchen, picked out the sink and faucet for there. It will be done soon.

And we have had our consultations with the sod removal/installation guy, the move-the-irrigation man, and the paver dude! So by the end of this week, she should have her new backyard. It is a very small space, and once you start adding it all up, you are happy it is. And of course it makes me grumpy that if she had bought her house this year, you and I would be giving her $8k free with no pay back. But that's just eh way it is, and we can't do anything about that now.
So I'm breathing in deeply and letting it go. :)

That's what been keeping me busy lately, besides running around after you know who, as seen in the last post. And Cody said Thank You! for all the sweet comments about him.

Hope you are all staying cooler than we are!
See Y'all Soon!

~ Cody Puppy, Thank You! To All the Dog Rescue People!

2009-06-17T18:14:00.011-04:00

(and all the cat & other animal rescue people and groups, too!)

No one was happier that we were back home than Cody Puppy. Remember this little guy that Sweet Daughter adopted from the Lab Rescue lady?

I think this bed lasted almost a week.
Did anyone tell me that labs chew everything!??

So funny to think he was that size such a short, short time ago. I really forgot how fast they grow. He is supposed to get about 55 lbs. I think the estimate was pretty good. We went to the doggie toy store (Petsmart) today and he now is 51.5 lbs. He just turned 8 months old. The next picture was when he was 7 mos. He certainly became a handsome young pup.

He enjoys his porch.

I've been really busy with custom art since I've been back. Besides chasing this puppy around every single minute, that's all I've been doing. But....

I'll See Y'all Soon!

~ Ocean Blues

2009-06-06T20:43:00.006-04:00

My renewed love affair with aqua to Tiffany blues has not diminished yet. While looking for another picture, this one popped up.

It was a beautiful room. I keep thinking I'd like to see an off white/cream cover on the bed. Maybe because it's so hot out now.

It was a show house for the benefit of the local Opera Company. The opera company recently announced that they could no longer stay open. Music and art has a difficult time hanging on during recessions. The first things they cut from schools as well. No need to feed the soul during hard times they seem to think.

The ocean has been calling to me. Although I grew up close the water, I don't go very often now. Life was always too busy and we just didn't make the time. I always thought I would spend more time at the beach "later." I guess it's later now. A few days will be just right even with the afternoon rains.

Sweet Hubby lived by the water for a few years as well in Hawaii where he got to be a surfer kid. It must have been a fantastic place to be back then. The Atlantic will just have to do for us this time.

See Y'all In a Few Days

~ Dream. Fly . Live Now, Art

2009-06-04T13:25:00.008-04:00

Sweet Hubby wants to retire, a bit early. I want him to be able to get away from such a demanding job that keeps him working every minute of the day for at least 9.5 hours. But I've been scared about it, too. How will we make it with so little income?
Today, I don't care so much about how will we do it. We just will.

Today I found out that a wonderful man who's an artist on Etsy has passed away. Mr. Slavko leaves a large hole in the world, it looks a lot like a shining star. His kindness and spirit of generosity were well known to hundreds of members. I remember when he first sent a little note to me and how kind it was of him to say hi and that he enjoyed our (mine and Sweet Hubby) art. He was a true artist, creating beauty as a way of life. This event, like others of its kind, has smacked me in the face, and made me think about Life.

This piece of art is my contribution the weekly challenge from one of the teams I am on, the Melange (Mixed Media) Team. You can find more wonderful art pieces by clicking on the name.

I'm thinking about flying in life. It's really tough for a lot of people right now. You can feel it even if you have a job how difficult it is for thousands of families. I hope that it is getting a little better for most everyone. Not just a few.

See Y'all Soon, DREAM . FLY . LIVE

~ Angel Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah

2009-06-02T13:27:00.006-04:00

There probably is one or two angel statues that I missed during our visit. But I certainly tried to find everyone of them. All of them are pretty well known and if I had time to research before we left, I would have had a list. The ones I found were fabulous though.

Which picture do you like better? I can't decide. I am printing some of these and I like them both. First one with a bit of colors in the background, or the 2nd with just a touch of blue?

Do you think I'm slow getting the photos up? It's not your imagination. I'm not only chasing Cody puppy around most of the time, but getting ready for a few days at the beach. That sounds quite relaxing to me.

See Y'all Soon!

~ the Winner, 3rd Annual Cottage Charm GiveAway from The Decorated House

2009-05-31T10:12:00.005-04:00

The Winner is:
Shabby Chic Junk
Congrats!!
Send me an email at DecoratedHouse at aol.com
and I'll get it out to you.

Thank You bunches to everyone who
left a comment!

I just listed a larger size of this print.
There have been inquiries about the larger sizes,
so I thought I'd list a few.
Most of the prints can be created larger.

Happy Sunday, See Y'all Soon!

~ 3rd Annual Cottage Charm GiveAway at The Decorated House, too.

2009-05-28T17:33:00.011-04:00

The lovely Kim at Twice Remembered Cottage (One Woman's Cottage Life) is hosting her annual Cottage Charm GiveAway! This is your chance to discover interesting new blogs, or visit old friends, where cottage charm is enjoyed.

I will be giving away the print above.
It is brand new in my Etsy shop.
The size is 5 x 7 inches,
and it is a delightful Vintage Style Print.

***Leave a comment here on
this Post to be
entered for my GiveAway.***

I joined in late, so you have ALL of
May 30th, to leave a comment.
I'll post the winner, May 31st around noon on my blog.

You do NOT have to have a blog to win.
You must leave either a blog address or email addy.

You can find many lovely cottage style gifts to be given away on different blogs on May 30th by clicking on the button below. Good luck to everyone!

~ The Stained Glass Windows of St. John the Baptist Church, Savannah

2009-05-26T12:23:00.011-04:00

And the windows..... more beauty.
Just a few of the many to see.

The stations of the cross are stunning as well.

I am enjoying sharing the pictures with you all so much. And it makes me get them more organized and resized. A few more posts to go of Savannah. Come again. Thank you for the sweet comments on the pictures and the magazine article.

See Y'all Soon!

~ St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Savannah

2009-05-21T08:48:00.018-04:00

At the top of almost anyone's short list of things to do in Savannah is to see the magnificent French Gothic style cathedral church in Savannah. It deserves the honor. After the fire of 1898 the church had to be rebuilt. And as recently as 1996-2000, the church went through some major work and restoration. So what you see today is simply beautiful. If you love it as much as I do, please remember to leave a nice little donation. One church looks very nice from the outside, but you have to pay for a tour. And another is always locked up. We missed the time of the free tour at the oldest Baptist church. Maybe next time we'll see it. The cathedral is always free, for quiet time & prayer, or just for inspiration.

Cathedral St. John the Baptist, Front

Wonderful Old Side Door

There are 3 naves, the one on the right
is dedicated to the Virgin Mary

Be sure to look up!

The ceiling is breathtaking!

Still resizing pictures. Be back soon.

~ Owens-Thomas House Savannah

2009-05-19T14:18:00.008-04:00

One of the best tips for visiting both Savannah and Charleston is to take a tour the city as soon as you get there. In Savannah, that is usually by trolley, but they do have horse drawn carriages as well like they do in Charleston. We had hoped to go on the Architectural walking tour with Jonathan, but just couldn't work in to his times.

Once you go around the whole city, it is so much easier to figure out where things are. But I still got turned around a few times and wasn't sure which way I was going.

Now owned by the Telfair Museum, the Owens-Thomas House is a gem. It was amazing to see not only the house, but also the slave quarters above the gift shop, and where they cooked in the basement of the main house. A fantastic example of English Regency architecture with so much kept original. I have a special love for the peeling paint on the back of the house. Simply beautiful!

Front Owens-Thomas House, Savannah

The back gardens looking towards the gift shop, carriage house.

I'm trying to get things done around my house and Sweet Daughter's as well. We are planning a pretty paver patio for her small backyard. It takes so much time just to get to the stage of having the work done. What we all go through to get anything done, I know. It seems like I spend almost every minute each day making sure Cody puppy doesn't eat the sofa or everything off the counters. So everything is moving in slow motion these days! Just getting a post on the blog is an accomplishment.

See Y'all Soon!

~ Let's Go Window Shopping .. Jones to Broughton St. Savannah

2009-05-14T10:44:00.018-04:00

Strolling through the streets and parks of Savannah sometimes feels like Disney World or a movie set. You are trying to get so much in such a short time, and the buildings often look like movie set. Which of course some have been. But the parks always have a few homeless people which keeps you grounded that this is a real city afterall. Nonetheless it is a beautiful place to just walk and not be a hurry to make the next tour or whatever.

So what to do when it's just a half day and you don't want to run from place to place? Do a little window shopping. We were out by Jones Street so we headed the few blocks over to the Broughton. First stop Paris Market, Broughton.

The Paris Market, looking down Broughton St.

A huge, old bookcase stuffed with French books
from the earl to late 1800's.

What a beautiful haphazard display
(It might not have looked so "messy"
before I started looking at 100 or so books.)

A few shots from in the store.

And a downstairs area full of more & more!

Love this old piece. It was upstairs last time,
now resting downstairs until they
whip up another gorgeous grouping of treasures on it.

Just one small bag.

Marshall House.

I've always been drawn to this building. Then last time we went on a ghost tour and most of them include the Marshall House. Even though they had a great rate in April for their innkeeper's special, I'm not sure if the gorey beginnings of the ghost stories influenced the decision to pass on it this time.

Looking for the menu to the restaurant,
I snapped this picture of the sitting area near the lobby.

One Fish Two Fish sits on the corner of Jones St.
by Mrs. Wilkes (spells southern food.)
So if you go to eat at Mrs. Wilkes,
you might want to stop in. Cute shop.

We did not stand in line for Mrs. Wilkes. Someday maybe. But so far the lines were either too long, or we are never in the mood to eat so much food. But the locals almost all say, skip the Lady and Son's (P. Dean) and go to Mrs. Wilkes for the real food.
One tip that the lady at the Dresser House told us was not to eat breakfast and just get there early rather than later in the day. They let in a huge group to begin with, so that long line moves fast. The same length line later in the day is waiting for tables to open up. Good tip! Thanks Sherry.

Thanks for your notes. I've enjoyed sharing the pictures and I hope all of you who wish to visit one day get the chance to do so.

Have a Great Weekend! See Y'all Soon.
(I'm behind on emails. But I'm tring to get to them.)

~ Savannah, The Dresser Palmer House, B&B

2009-05-12T13:35:00.015-04:00

The Dresser Palmer House, Savannah, Gaston Street.
Built in 1876 as two separate homes (townhouses) and is 11,000 sq ft.
16 Rooms each with private baths

The Front Porch, Perfect for Afternoon
Wine & Cheese.

The Johnny Mercer Room

The largest room, suite at the inn.
The bed alcove is original to the house
& holds a king size bed,
very nice and not common for bed & breakfasts.

When visiting on tours, I've always
wanted to be able to walk out one
of these floor length windows!
There was a private balcony there.

New furniture and paint.
Really so relaxing and comfortable.
And you can see a glimpse of the lovely new bath.

My pictures are newer than the ones you will see on their site. They have just finished a major remodeling so that each room now has a private bath, and they are all beautifully done. Each room we peeked at, was just a nicely done as the next. Just a difference in size.

Looking down Gaston St.

After staying in a few bed & breakfasts now, we are spoiled. (I would never have tried one if not for Rhoda as I mentioned a few times before.) But since we stayed in the first one, each and every experience has been simply wonderful. There are so many advantages. Breakfast is served in the morning, the rooms are so "home-like" not like a hotel. And they almost always have free parking. This can add up in most cities where they often charge $20 plus for parking. Just be sure to check out places like TripAdvisor because you certainly can wind up some place not too good as well.

If you visit when things are slower, be sure to call directly and talk with someone there. We were so lucky to be able to stay in this fantastic suite at a much lower rate than it is during the busy season! (Thank you David!)

We would certainly stay here again. Did I call the 1895 Inn first? Yes, I did. Ed was booked already. There are only 6 rooms there. We did miss his cooking. He is still at the top of our list for breakfast, although we had very good food here as well and thank the cooks for it!