A Fun Gift Idea!

These days they are doing all sorts of things with postage stamps.  The U.S. Post office comes out every year with a new selection of stamps for the year. Here is a sample of some of the ones for 2010. And of course there is the forever stamp, never goes up in price, ( obviously very economical).

 

  But did you know that anyone can get a stamp printed with their  very own personalized  pictures on them.   I guess I've known this with brides getting their own wedding stamps printed and all, but this just hit me as a great gift idea.  Here are a few websites that I found...  http://www.zazzle.com/custom/stamps   and  http://photo.stamps.com/Store/?source=si10666783

What a great gift idea for a  new grandma, new mom, hard to buy for men, you could print your family pics, or flowers, pets, snowstorms, the ideas are endless.    This could really be a fun idea for that hard to buy for person on your  Birthdays/Christmas list this year.

Blue Hues

There is something so comforting about the color blue.  Especially the soft  blues were seeing this   year.  Blue has always been a staple in our homes.  And a  neutral in shades like these.  Easy color just about anyone could live with.  When choosing your new paint colors this fall think about those summer hues of blue.  Brings a quiet feeling to our mood.  If your trying to get away from that hectic life at work, this might be for you.

And the inspiration comes from garden flowers, this is what they call "bringing the outside in".

Bookcase Organization 101.

People often ask me about organizing a bookcase. There is really some very simple ways to make your bookcase feel balanced and beautiful.  Here is a photo a bookcase in my home.

A few things that you might notice right away, is that I have tied in some accessories that go well together.  My chair collection.

Also notice the  weight of the books are zigzaged down the shelves.   This gives good balance and helps the eye to view the display easily.  Keep in mind the weight, balances  your selves.  Of course you can always fill your shelves with books straight across, but if you wish to add in accessories, this is a great way to balance it all together. I often try to organize my books in like subject categories.  Obviously that makes for easy access when  trying  to locate the book you happen to be looking for.

 Now here are a few samples of some fun ways  to add decoration to your selves.

Color coding your books.....

Or adding a beautiful paper or paint to the back of your cabinet

We tend to use the shelve edges in front of the books,  for a drop of spot for pictures, new books, and all kinds of things.  It's a good idea to weed out and rearrange about once a year just to keep things neat and organized.

A Beautiful Workplace!

I sat down to my computer to work today and here is what I found...uuh no inspiration, none, I'm a designer what am I thinking? 

Well, I have been wanting to create an inspiration board for a long time, and I happen to have a wonderful bulletin board right in my work space. 

My hubby bought me  this beautiful piece of furniture, from Ballad Designs about 8 years ago for an anniversary gift.  And I usually just close it all up so no one has to see my mess.

But today when I sat down I thought it should be filled with all the things that inspire me, not a messy place that I don't want to set at.  So I got to workcleaning it up, and began my inspiration board, with some Mary Engeklbreit, chocolate pics, pictures, sayings and all the things that inspire me thoughout my day.  And on my  shelves I arranged them with pictures of my kids,books and gifts that I have been given, that really make my life happy and beautiful.  Check out my End results.

Wow...a Much Happier

 place to work, wouldn't you agreee!

I'm linking this post to Metamorphois Monday

An awesome place to shop- Mackinzie Childs

If you have never heard of Mackinzie Childs you're in for a treat.  This is a beautiful, fun, colorful, happy, place to visit.  I had the pleasure of visiting this shop in New York a few years ago with my daughter.  It was one of those places that I loved so much I didn't want to leave. I purchased a wonderful pot for myself and later my daughter gave me the matching salt and pepper and a sugar bowl.  This black and white check is so cute in my home and I just love it.  It's  the "Courtly Check" pattern that I have. 

Oh Oh Oh almost forgot...I also bought some super cute coaters too..

They have come out with some gorgeous floral patterns too.  I have a catalog that I look at from time to time and lust over all the goodies. Very pricey, but Very Cute!

What is Matelasse?

Matelasse is a double woven heavy fabric, used for coverlets and bedspreads. The actual defintion is as follows;

Mate`las`se´ (må`lå`sã´)

a. 1. Ornamented by means of an imitation or suggestion of quilting, the surface being marked by depressed lines which form squares or lozenges in relief; as, matelassé silks.
n. 1. A quilted ornamented dress fabric of silk or silk and wool

Matelasse has been around since the 1800's when it was used for Kings and Queens warm bedding.
I love this look, and nowadays they are making it in so many differnet colors and designs.  It can be a very elegant look from the 1800's, or a newer casual look of the 20th century. 
I recently used a matelasse coverlet in a room makeover.  It happened to be an older enexpensive version of a matelasse coverlet that I had and wasn't using at the time.  It  ended up being a very nice look.  Here is a close up of the detailing.

And here is a look of some of the more beautiful colors and designs that are available...

Matelasse has a very warm and cozy feel.   The more expensive versions are so unbelievably soft. When your looking for an alternative to a quilt or comforter, this winter, Matelasse may be just the ticket for you.