Under a Blue Moon

 

Happy First Day of Spring!

It's an appropriately gorgeous day here in Northern California.  I should wander out and see how the lilacs are getting along. 

I have big plans to sew all weekend.  Back a month or so I was flipping through a decorating magazine in a waiting room and I saw a picture of a barstool cover that was so sweet and so simple.  My plans are to try to recreate that barstool cover.

When we first moved into this house eight and a half years ago I bought four "temporary" barstools at Bed Bath and Beyond.  I think they cost $14 a piece and are simple four-legged, no back, maple-toned wood.  You probably know exactly what I'm talking about.

Well we never found anything (or could afford to buy) that struck our fancy.  We sit at those stools all the time.  Rick sits on one while I'm making dinner or if friends are over half the time we just eat at the counter on those stools.

I'm going to paint them white (because what doesn't look better painted white?) and make the little covers for them.

The covers will have a double layer of ruffles.  Well not ruffles exactly.  I don't want overly gathered stiff ruffles – I want a gentle suggestion of a ruffle.   The photo I saw had them done up in a lovely flax colored linen.  But I happen to have yards and yards of off-white muslin that I purchased over 25 years ago that I've been storing that I will use instead. 

I'm being frugal.

I found instructions online for doing a circle flounce (it was meant for a sleeve but what the heck, I can improvise) and I'm going to give it a go.  Wish me luck.

 

P.S.  Thank goodness I don't make my living drawing.  I'd be living in a drafty garret for sure.

P.P.S. This dictionary description of garret cracked me up:

gar⋅ret

–noun

an attic, usually a small, wretched one.

 

IMDB

The movie Grey Gardens comes out in April and I can hardly wait.  It's based on the documentary of Big Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter Little Edith Bouvier Beale. 

I admit that I TRIED to watch the documentary and just couldn't get past the first few minutes.  I don't know what it was – they were just so eccentric and out of touch with reality that it felt uncomfortably voyeuristic to me.  I'm hoping the Jessica Lange/Drew Barrymore dramatization doesn't have that effect on me.

I just cannot wait to get a look into that house and the gardens.  And the costumes!  I might just give up my yoga pants and cardigan uniform and adopt a more 30's look.

I may have to start wearing hats.

 

IMDB

 

Flickr favorites

Normally scheduled posting to resume soon.  Promise.

 

Sara sent me a picture of an Easter tablescape that showcased a HUGE vase of cut blossoms.  I immediately dispatched Rick out into the yard for an armload of pear blossoms.

Sara if you were closer you could pick armloads for yourself. 

 

I loved that plaid chair seven years ago when we first picked it out.  It has a matching one just out of the picture.   Now I hate that plaid.  It goes nicely with the solid green sofa and the floral loveseats but if I had to do it over again I would have gone with a faded floral like Taylor Scott's Antebellum Peach fabric.  

 

I'd also whitewashed the wood bits but I may come up against some opposition from Rick.  Why do men have trouble with the notion of painting wood? 

We have houseguests coming up tommorow so we are getting the house all sparkly and prettied up.  Nothing like inviting someone over to make you dust the six month old cobwebs out of the corners and finally deal with that three foot high pile of magazines.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!  I hope you have sunshine and blossoms too!

 

Tilly's Journey

I was looking on Etsy for rabbit related items and found this artist, Amber Alexander.  I love her work.  Each painting has an entire story going on.  Don't you just want to know how Tilly got into such a situation that she was navigating the surly seas in a teacup?

 

Donald

Hmmm, who do you suppose Donald is waiting for?  Quite elegant, that Donald.

Etsy has been nothing short of a marvel to me ever since I discovered it a couple of years ago.  So much amazing talent and so inexpensive! 

 

Partridge Child

Oh dear.  Don't you hate it when you wake up with a partridge in your hair?

Amber Alexander also has a blog where she showcases her latest works and the stories they tell.  She also tends to give stuff away.

We'll deal with the rabbits another day.  I was too easily distracted this morning.

 

On Sunday Rick, our friend Steve and I got up early (and can I just pause a second to say how ruinous day light savings can be to a good sleep in?) and headed for the Sacramento Antique Faire – also known as the Under the Freeway Antique faire by the locals.  Because it is quite literally under the freeway.

The picture above was from one of the prettiest booths there.  It was also the last booth we went into and I was tried from walking around for three hours so I didn't get that long of a look at it. 

 

I bought only one thing and it was a Paragon teacup.  It was kind of funny because the teacup was in the second booth we went into and since I had a very limited budget I decided that I would look around some more before deciding if I wanted it.  It was $18. 

So we walk through half of it and I decided that I would go back and offer the man $15 for it.  I had my firm resolve that I wasn't going to dicker with him.  That was my one and only final offer.  So I get there and I pick up the cup and then I notice the sign that says "Everything on this table $5." 

So this is my $5 teacup:

 

It is the prettiest pale aqua color.

I also saw the Tumbleweed Cotillion booth but it was so crowded (probably with other bloggers!) that I could hardly take any pictures.  Here are a couple that just do not do it justice.  Click on the link above to see better ones.

 

Any bloggers in the above picture?

 

There was a wide variety of wares for sale at the faire.  Of course I'm drawn to the shabby, the pale, the glass and the painted furniture.

 

This basket of baby shoes actually was a little bit creepy to me.  But the colors were lovely and each pair was tied together with a wisp of gossamer ribbon.

It was fun to go to.  I was trying to find Cindy from My Romantic Homes (we have never met in person but emailed each other with what we were wearing) but I think we both probably had our heads down the entire time.  I know I did.