sweet surrender: September 2010

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Treading Water

I have been a bad friend and blogger lately....the final countdown to the wedding is here and the details are starting to keep me awake. I can't imagine how the mother of the bride is feeling....she must not be sleeping at all.

I want desperately to catch up with my favorite reads

and I will.

Have any of you been out shopping for a 'Mother of the Bride/Groom' dress lately?

Have I told any of you how picky I am?

Beautiful, no? Perfect for Mardi Gras.

Pretty design....don't relish the idea of robbing a bank anytime soon.

I don't like shiny or grandma,

matronly, or anything typical.

I would like to be age-appropriate.

After coming home in literal tears, suggestions were made to have one made. A sweet friend of mine who I've come to realize is a couture dressmaker said she would be delighted to make my dress.

Whew.

I went to a fabric store here in Atlanta where I'm told the owners go to New York to the garment district to buy fabric.

I wanted to see what was 'out there' in clothing fabrics.

I am one of these that likes organization and order.

Can you feel what I am feeling?

I don't do well at big store sales...too much disorder.

I was a mess....totally distracted...

couldn't do it, had to leave.

I understood grouping fabrics in types...how come organized by color couldn't be incorporated?

After much searching the pattern books which in my opinion stink, I was struck by this.

Elegant

Classic

ME!

will be hemmed mid-calf

I went back to the mess of the fabric store and asked where the taffeta was.

All along I wanted 'eggplant'.

God is good, all the time.

There

right on top...perfect.

Found this for the rehearsal dinner.

Plus a new 'do'.

Still working on accessories...heading for the jewelry mart this week.

Here's a sneak peak into a bit of table design.

practiced for a dinner party at my girlfriend's home...martini's anyone?

Do you need help making your house a home?

Contact me here for an online or personal consultation.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Dorm Life for Real

A few weeks ago I did a post called

Dorm Glam.

I wanted to follow up and get 'real life' dorms from students on a budget and the creativity that ensues especially in rooms where there is barely enough room to turn around.

Enjoy.

Molly- University of FL

Great use of space, raise the bed and use stackable containers for storage.

I love that Molly's roommate used the pink version of the same comforter.

J-Samford University

This adorable bed skirt hides the storage underneath. Note the coordinating pillows.

Cute roman shade too! I think I see a decorator in the making!

J - Samford University

cute paisley bulletin board

All of the essentials!

Good storage technique...take a cubed book case and add baskets!

Check out the Chi Omega poster which reads:

A girl should always be two things,

Classy and Fabulous - Coco Chanel

right on, don't you think?

These roommies stayed with the same colors but added their own flare.

M-Samford University

Storage shelf in front of the window between the two beds.

M got her dresser under the bed too along with other storage containers.

Geoff-Samford University

My son is a student but lives in an apartment, still his room is very small.

He did his own arrangement, proud of you buddy!

He painted his own artwork on the back wall.

See here about the color blocked canvas' above his low book shelf.

My niece Gabrielle is a student at the Fashion Institute of Art and Design in L.A.

She has a small apartment and has done a superb job in the use of small space.

Sorry the image is so dark, transferred from my iPhone.

She very smartly divided her living area to make a study space and a place to sew.

Love it Gab! ♥

A good organizing tip is to get these multi-purpose holders that attach to the rod in the closet. Use them for more than shoes!

I think these adult-kids did a great job, don't you?

My sweet bloggy friend Tamara of Nest by Tamara, a beautiful designer and writer is dedicating the month of September to kids in the home, stop by and be inspired!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

French Farmhouse Redone

Jill Lawrence, an English textile designer and her husband owned a rustic farmhouse and over a 15 year period transformed it into what was just perfect for them.

The home is in the quiet little town of Bourg, 30 minutes north of Bordeaux -

oh how I would love to bicycle in this beautiful countryside - a 1750's farmhouse expanded in the 19th century Girodine manner which is typical in this region.

Jill Lawrence here in her garden.

The pigeonnier, or dovecote with the small tower is now is home to Jill's painting studio. The original home and much of the land surrounding it was owned by one of the principle winemakers in the region. Around 1850 when the larger and more grandeur home was built, the house was named Domaine de la Croix de St. Michel. Over time the vines were replaced and pool and the gardens that slope down to a river.

Isn't this a spectacular entry? The chairs facing each other are communion chairs bought in the Cotswolds region in Britain. The cabinet came from an antique store in Libourne.

This lovely 1850's burl walnut console can just come to my house!

Mr. Lawrence separated the original farmhouse from the main structure and this is the sitting room mixed with local antiques and heirlooms from his family.