Bella Pink Cafe

Some goods from Home Goods...

     Love to find some great buys at Home Goods!  They have the best stuff at the best prices.  So here is a little tour of some goodies I picked up. (I went a little overboard on the eggs, but couldn't resist!)

     I think the cloche was $9.99 and I used my great grandmother's silver plate for the bottom.  Birds nest galore and more eggs than I know what to do with!  I plan on filling them in my apothecary jars after I take out the Valentine stuffings!

remember it's mantel, not mantle lol!

This clock was a bargain at $7 bucks!

This wrought iron (and very heavy!) garden chair was $29.  Here is a before shot:

I added a table runner and pillow to dress, which instantly created a cozy nook in the kitchen!

cute egg wreath that I hung with silk ribbon from the kitchen sink window

this flower bucket was a bargain and I bought some inexpensive "twiggery" to stuff it

Deck The Halls (and get some light bulbs)...

     Here is the foyer window (waiting patiently for it's pretty custom curtains).  It takes a long ladder just to put up a candle in the bare window, only to realize the bulb isn't working! ACK!  I quickly shout, "No worries honey I have a drawer full of them"...and then discover that none of them work either!  Ok...on to plan "B"...

...and steal some from the chandelier by the coat closet

and don't forget a drink for my thristy worker...that should smooth things over

     Now let's get down to business and unpack these boxes!  Don't you love finding treasures you have long forgotten about?  (well maybe since last Christmas!) Below are some crafties I made when pregnant with little man.  It was during my tole painting primitive ish stage...I still love them and remembering the excitement painting them, 9 months preggers...

And my love of anything with mercury glass will never die

Winter floral arrangements...

and little corners

Here is a handmade ornament my brother made for the foyer tree (it's a picture of his dog Dixie and we laugh every year when we hang it)

other pretty ornament treasures from friends and family...

Stay tuned for part II of our Holiday Home Tour.  We have one tree up and one more to go and a lot more boxes to unpack (and bulbs to buy!)~xo

Tassles & Dazzles...

     Here is a quick shot of the Target curtains I talked about here.  My talented seamstress added some *tassle dazzle*.  Now they look custom and I love it!  A girl can never have too many tassles?!

     Speaking of dazzle, I ordered this beautiful paperweight from Janet at ShabbyFufu.  It came packed with goodies in true FuFu style.  Such a unique idea and a beautiful gift for someone special on your list!  I mentioned Janet and her home in Florida here in a previous post.  You can find these beautiful paperweights at her store here ~xo

Getting There...

   

     I have been a bad blogger lately!  Thank you Chris  for reminding me!  Looking back on my last entry, I think she may be right! Let's see...my foyer looks like a bomb went off with boxes of Christmas decorations.  The boxes have magically moved, doubled and spread out onto the front porch and into the dining and living room.  It looks like we are moving!  The foyer tree is up.  whew.  now it has to be decorated.  We usually have two trees every year, one in our family room and always a big tall foyer tree that we decorate with ornaments brought by our guests and family at Christmas time.  (I have only one rule each Christmas, you must bring an ornament for the foyer tree!)  Some are handmade and some are store bought, but each one means so much to us and I love looking back on them and remembering the friend or family member who hung it the year or two before. I am covered in glitter and sparkling from head to toe!  Here is a quick tour and I'll bring you more shots as we go along.  Happy decorating!~xo

Night glow from the staircase:

Nesting...

     Wow! Thanksgiving flew by?  Things seem to be moving so fast, it's hard to keep up!  I thought I would come up for air and pop in here.  I had a chance to read some of your blogs and it sounds like everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, I know we did!  Surrounded by loved ones...all of us complaining how stuffed we were..top button on pants unbutton..kids and their cousins running around like puppies ...funny family stories and laughter at every corner.  It doesn't get any better than that!  It was a jam packed weekend after the Holiday.  My husband & I attended his 20 year high school reunion... can you believe the turn out was over 300 people?  It was amazing to say the least.  And this little cocktail dress came in handy for the special night.  I think, to date, I have purchased at least 8 ensembles for upcoming events and I will admit... it's getting ridiculous.  Someone stop me!  I'm sure if I looked hard enough I could find something in my closet, but I can't resist buying something new for an event or party!

     We seem to be in a "nesting" mood around here.  I purchased the print below on sale for $12 bucks!...it was rolled up in a corner of a store going out of business.  I took it to my local framing shop (and spent way more than I wanted to), but it turned out so beautiful in the end!  Crackled black, gilded molding, marbled matting, non- glare glass and presto...my small print turned into a huge wall hanging, perfect for the foyer!  Also, as part of this "nesting" thing we have going on....we are talking about knocking down the half wall between our family room and kitchen, re-doing the guest room, getting a new bedroom set for little man, and my favorite project:  finishing the basement, complete with play areas...one for kids and the other for adults!  It's my husband's dream area, so he has big plans and I'm letting him run the show.  His list consists of the usual things ..pool table and game area, bar, built ins for a giant TV to watch movies (oops! I mean football games!) 

     I am working with a local talented seamstress on new window treatments for the foyer and bedroom.  Plus, she is spoiling me with these gorgeous pillows!  She also ripped down my Target curtains in my home office right off the rod and she plans to add tassels, fringe and *dazzle* for a custom look inexpensively.  Love her style!

     And as the days get colder here and we are busy with Christmas around the corner, I am comforted by the little things around my home...I think it's because our project list seems overwhelming, I am appreciating the smaller things right now!  Happy nesting to you~ xo

The Hunt For Burnt November...

     That’s the only way to describe the color candles I was looking for. I wanted something not too red or not too orange, just a nice mix that will take me through the season and into January. So "Burnt November" is the name I gave the color. Searched high and low for them for the foyer project. Found these at a local store right down the street. Funny how things you are looking for are always right under your nose? Speaking of nose...mine is stuffed...I have some kind of head cold, but nothing like the bug a boo I had a while back.  Just the change in season perhaps. Not getting much work done! Now...speaking of "burnt", below is a peek of a super cool project in the works!

     We are going to a fund raiser tonight, the theme is "Casino Night" which means I need to make a quick trip to WhiteHouseBlackMarket for that perfect cocktail dress!  Our weekends are already booked all the way through January... I can't even believe it, but I guess it's that time of year!  I need to find plenty of ensembles to wear to more than one occasion! Have a fabulous weekend~xo

   

Floor Comfort...

     Had a bunch of these comfy floor pillows made for the kids by the talented Di from Petticoat Junction .   Just grab a handle and go!  They are super large and machine washable with snuggly removable inserts.  Our floors are all hardwood, so this gives the kids cozy time on the floor.  The pillows were inspired by Carolyn Westbrook Home and fit into our cottage style decor in our family room just perfectly (not an ounce of shabby or pink!) ~xo

The Foyer

photos from Traditional Home

     Now that's a nice entrance!  Not mine (*sigh*), but I'm gathering ideas for my foyer since we are in the middle of a re-vamp.  Not long ago it had a piano temporarily in it, remember? Now we have beautiful molding, and a fresh coat of paint.  A table chandelier and an antique french mirror are all that sit there now.  It's such a huge ginormous two story space, I have no idea what I was thinking when we built this Farmhouse six years ago and laid out this foyer.  I could fit a school bus in there if I wanted to, it's ridiculous.  I believe the foyer says so much about your home.  It's the first thing guests see upon entering and makes them feel welcome.  Right now my foyer is saying to guests "get the heck outta here".  So I am collecting some inspirational photos in my design binder and will keep you posted!

photos from Traditional Home

Give me a "B"

     Love this paper cone stuffed with goodies for Fall that I got over at Etsy I was able to choose the custom letter initial and went with a "B" for Bella Pink, since it was going in the studio.  It looks so pretty hanging from the work table and reminds me that my favorite season is just around the corner.  Thank you for all the well wishes and personal emails, in means so much to me and was the perfect comforting pick me up I needed! I am feeling much "B" for better today and getting the kids off to school. ~xo

Is This Necessary?

    That was my question to my husband when I saw him digging an area in our backyard outside my office window and then watching him build yet another patio.  Our first patio is outside our kitchen back door, the typical cobblestone paver patio jazzed up with a waterfall and steps, etc..  So when I see this going on outside my window, I had to ask that question.  Of course he says "yes it's necessary!" Like I'm crazy for even asking.  Ok then, I say to myself...now we have 2 patios.  This new one is more of a private area with a walkway that adjoins the other patio but it's sort of tucked away.  It is turning out just beautiful and I have come to the conclusion that he has to create.  period.  He does this for a living so you think he would be tired of looking at them or talking about them.  Nope.  This is his passion, so I will sit back...admire and when it's all done, I will take my laptop onto the new patio for my own inspiration and tell him how very necessary it was!~ xo

Site supervision:

Also very necessary for him...as he said "it helps the creative flow" lol...

Fresh Props...

     Here is superman's handywork for the wedding ceremony.  He created these two urns (in size XXL) with fresh flowers to be placed near the mock altar during the candlelight ceremony.  I think we may need to hire a crane and forklift to get them there, so darn heavy!

   

The Cafe...

     My lovely new sign for the studio came last week from Ms. Claudia.  So beautiful.  If only I could snap my fingers and the rest of the space would be finished.  Gotta get it done...it's been taking soooo long.  After the wedding I will focus, I promise myself!  The spindles Claudia painted for the boutique sold fast (and to those that bought them, thank you for your patience! I am packing and shipping them today) ps: We have cute new items being added in our "Whimsy" department in the boutique, lots of cool stuff I think you will love! 

All Tuckered Out

    Just coming off a busy weekend and headed for even busier weeks ahead.  This Friday we have another performance from our little girl and her Summer dance troop and our son is in the junior golf tournament over at our golf club the same day, that should be fun juggling the two events!  Also, my brother's wedding is coming up fast too!  7-27 to be exact, it will be loads of fun for sure and I have so many things to do yet!  When that is over, we can rest a bit with a much needed vacation to the beach...and possibly squeeze in a quick trip to New York City after that.

     The boys came back (in one piece) with lots of tales from their camping trip.  My son jumped in the shower and took a snooze as soon as his head hit the pillow.  I'm still washing the dirty clothes, praying my washer survives!

     Us girls had a fabulous weekend of shopping, dinners, staying up late watching movies, and celebrating my niece getting her official drivers license (she only had her permit before) and the test was on Friday the 13th no less!  Here she is all proud showing it off.  Notice the Wriskey™ keychain? lol  Now she has freedom in her little convertible, driving around town picking up her friends.  Wait till she has to fill up her gas tank...that will change REAL quick!

It also was our job to take care of "daddy's plants & garden" while he was camping...I think we did a good job!

Here is a shot of  a small portion of the back patio with a glimpse of the carriage house to the left (or glorified extra garage!)  The 2nd floor is finished into office space, 1st floor is the workshop.

 

  Checking on her brother's  "froggies" in the waterfall !

 

The Color Purple

     

     Looking around my house,  my Sixth Sense says "I See Lavender!"  I just realized that I use it in my decorating a lot more than pink....perhaps because my hubby would not like the look of a pink bedroom or kitchen? I guess I choose this color as a way of "fooling" him.  But he is no dummy, he knows what I'm up to.  However,  the color is not as feminine as pink and therefore I can sneak it in, here and there.  I'm drawn to lavender and love it mixed with golds and creams, as shown in our bedroom and adjoining sitting room.  Below is a little photo tour of the room.   If you have a passion for the color purple, in any shade, please visit my dear friend, Chris, at Tuttichic.com

Take A Powder

     If I could fit a couch and TV in my powder room, I would probably live in there.  It's one of my favorite rooms in our home.  That sounds weird, but true.  I love the warm antique aged wallpaper and the chandelier, it feels so cozy.  The hutch with soaps and towels fits nicely too.  If I ever get around to it, I would like to replace the standard pedestal sink with something grand and add 2 chandelier sconces.  I love the furniture cabinets for sinks that they have these days.

inside the hutch...

Studio Progress...

     Ok!  We are getting somewhere now...here is a hutch that hubby rehabbed for storage in the studio...I quickly put pillows and things in there and snapped this picture but I think you get the idea though...it's a great place to keep fabrics (and the pillows look nice too!)  And thanks to my brother and brother in law...they helped us over the holiday weekend and we got the old piano out of the foyer!  They nearly broke their backs, but got it down the basement and we put it in the kids play area (better than the dumpster) and I can still hear "Mary Had a Little Lamb" being played on the old keys every once in a while!

 

     Oh!  And on another note, I got a email from  Kim at "Scrap To My Lu" that my blog is being featured on her site Today's Creative Blogs/ How cool is that?  Thanks Kim!

Help! There's A Piano in My Foyer...

     We are in the process of a studio makeover here.  Thus, the old antique piano has been wheeled out into the foyer, nice huh?  Have to make room for all that is planned.  So the piano will sit until we find the right spot for it (like maybe the dumpster?)  Is there a way to see passed this mess?  Hubby is building shelves to house the pillows, and hutches for fabric and slipcover storage all out of our salvage materials.  There will be an area for the canvas prints and frames.  A stationery spot for the notecard line, mason jars filled with supplies, etc..  A staging area for product shots, not to mention my daughter asked for her own craft area so she "can work with mommy", so I will have to fit this in somewhere.  I can see the  way I want it to look if I close my eyes...but getting it together will be a challenge  I still have my home office (see below) that's where the computer is and where I do all the paperwork.  (fun)  Wish me luck,  I will need it!

Oh the humanity!  Is there light at the end of this tunnel?

The home office in another part of the house...at least I can get some work done in here for now!

Garden Cafe

     Thought I would share my favorite spot on our patio.   It's a little corner as you come around the back walkpath and it always makes me smile.  Hubby is the landscaper, (he has his own landscaping and patio design business) I get to sit back and enjoy all of his hard work!  For garden inspiration, please take a minute and visit my friend  Chris at Tutti Chic she is the Garden Guru and visit her blog She also writes the Garden Column at Make Mine Pink, so lovely!

Not Everything Vintage Pink!

Ok, I know I love vintage Limoges and Bavaria pieces...however, I went on a Tracy Porter kick a few years ago and have an entire hutch filled with some favorite pieces---Not one of them is PINK, do you believe that? I love Tracy's style and use of COLOR.  The layers of her designs inspire me to use more color in my decorating.

Fabrics & Linens

Some of my favorite fabrics and tablecloths

Pillows and things

Hey, that's us!

   

Wait let me check again...Yep! That IS us!

I can't explain the feeling of opening a magazine and seeing your own home inside, not to mention your children as well!

It was like an out of body experience when the October issue of Romantic Homes hit the newstands in 2006. Staring back at me was a four page article spread featuring our childrens playroom, entitled "A Storybook Idea" I'm still a bit shaky in the knees over it!  The article is about how we transformed our bare and very plain room into a cool space for the kids.  The before shot is really hideous!LOL!

It was a wonderful experience that I hope to be able to re-live again in other publications! Stay tuned!