Today’s cool hunt

I went on a little cool hunt this morning and found this…

A bedroom to die for. I love everything about it. If this was my bedroom I might never leave my bed. Okay your right I can’t sit still for more than 5 minutes but I’m just saying…

As the years pass I become more and more determined to own a cottage kitsch house. I love, love old architecture , mediterranean, country cottage,english cottage, french country, etc. We built a new house a little over six years ago and it is quite modern. The last few years I’ve been craving a little cottage with character. I don’t want to leave the beautiful setting I’m in, woods, meadow, pond, but the heart wants what the heart wants. That doesn’t mean it’s going to get, so for now I dream.

The pathway to this colorful cottage  sold me and the red door, well, let’s just say this would definately be an impulse buy. Good thing we’re only cyber shopping.

No new house for me just a cottage garden.

 

 

Join me in my garden of cottage dreams…

xo-jj

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Kitschy cool and cottage chic

image borrowed from telegraph.co.uk

This room is calling my name. This combo of cottage cute and collectable treasures speaks to me. I have always wanted a little cottage to decorate in a colorful shabby chic/country charm way. I would love a little cottage by the lake or ocean (even better) just so I could decorate in a  cottagey way. I’m in love!

this image borrowed from farm4.flickr.static

This room doesn’t say cottage but I can’t get over the fifties charm, so cool. My grandmother had the very same table with chairs in  chili pepper red. I could eat here.

image borrowed from web.mawebcenters.com

Oh what can I say… the rich color of the wooden planks, the slip covered furniture, the little pink frig, mint green table and that chandelier, Once again, I’m in love.

image borrowed from img4.myhomeideas.com

Love, love this cottage clean look, breakfast anyone? This room stirs up a hearty appetite for pancakes, eggs and sausage, mmm.

The following images are my shots of the kitschy cottage, by-the-sea, that I called home for one week.

 

This was my breezy living room looking onto a shell covered path to the beach, loved it!

 The perfect little dining nook with a view of the palm trees and screened in porch, complete with tiny geckos soaking up the sun.

 The guest bedroom was so darn cute, it’s a shame we didn’t have anyone to fill it.

I’m feeling a little cottage envy today, perhaps it’s because I’m off to work to help my customers pick out the perfect furniture and acessories for their cottage… sigh

Enjoy your day

xo-jj

Beneath a turquoise spell

A soft white blanket of snow is freshly planted outside and I am sitting snug and warm inside while nursing a cold. I felt the inkling of a sore throat coming on yesterday about mid-way through my twelve-hour shift- yearly inventory. Today will be a good day to catch up on my office work while enjoying a cup of hot and steamy. Homemade chicken soup sounds perfect right now, wish I had a wife or a husband who cooked.

 

For some strange reason I’m on a turquoise binge. I know most people go on food binges, drinking binges and even shopping binges (I’m guilty of the last one) but instead I go on color binges. In the past two weeks I’ve bought two gorgeous lamps in turquoise for my bedroom, a turquoise ring and a turquoise purse. I found this website called everything turquoise and fell in love with this.

Love the turquoise wainscoting and the yummy bedding, actually I’m spellbound by this room, I love everything about it! I can see myself snuggled deep within the covers with a pile of decor magazines along side.  A scented candle is burning the aroma of fresh air and coconuts while my hubby is busy in the kitchen preparing the chicken stock for his homemade soup. A girl can dream, can’t she?

also loved this from the house of turquoise. This room is so beachy and bright, I love the painted stairs decorated with little piles of  beach stones.This color soothes me but at the same time it energizes and refreshes me. It’s strange how something as simple as color can have such a dramatic effect. Perhaps I’m just craving bright blue skies and deep blue oceans instead of white on white with a few blades of brown grass peeking through and pale gray skies overhead. I’m so over winter!

 

 

I keep a little pile of beach stones on my night stand, right next to my turquoise lamp. Well, it’s time for another yummy cup of something toasty, perhaps even chocolately. Mmmm!

Take care…

xo-jj

What keeps you real?

Sometimes I get caught up in all the crazy things in life and forget the important stuff. It’s vital to give time and validation to the people who are most important in your life.  A simple call means so much to a sick friend and a quick visit can make someone’s day. I admit to being self-centered and completely unaware or forgetful of things and people at times. It’s important that I stay grounded and not let my mind wander too far off track. I’m the kind of person who needs time to wander both mentally and physically. I need to putter and create, take a rest and then get back on track. Maybe it’s my gypsy roots that navigates my psyche or perhaps it’s because I’m never satisfied with one hobby, one project or just one job at a time. Sometimes I exhaust myself.

I worked most of the day at Pottery Barn and then I spent my paycheck. Some days I’d be better off just staying home but then I’d miss out on things like this….

Do you love it, or is it just me?

How about this clean, crisp look, for spring?

I love these found soda bottles. They’re vintage and range in age from 60 to 100 years old. Good thing they’re available by catalog and internet only.

It’s great to work in a place you love as long as you can refrain from taking home all the merchandise 😉

love…

jj

Designer walls in the blink of an eye, I’m in love!

I’m so excited and wowed by the wall decals offered on Etsy, I just had to share. I love, love the designs and there are so many! I have an open wall in my entry that is screaming for something and I think I have found the perfect solution, well, almost. There are so many beautiful designs that I just can’t chose. I’ll probably go with something like the one above.

 

Is this flower girl motif, not, fabulous? I’m in love! I wish I had a room that she could take center stage in. There are so many fun and funky designs that I want to share with you.

 

 

This owl design is so fun and trendy, I love it. The wall in this image is close to my entry way color and I debated a bit between the branch with birds or the owl. I think the formality of the first design may look a little more at home there but I love this look.

 

 

 

 

This motiff looks amazing, it adds a designer touch to this room.  The look is quite modern and clean. The decals have a matte finish and look painted. They are easily applied and totally removable. Well at least that’s what the disclaimer says. I guess I’ll have to find out for myself.

 

 

They are all stunning including this wall of birches with woodland creatures. I have to think about it a little more before I make my choice. I can’t wait to try this out for myself!

 

Busy day today, interview this morning, gymboree with the princess this afternoon and then an hour and a half drive to a planning committee thing, tonight. If you happen to visit the Mid-Michigan area today I’ll be the crazy chick driving around in a super girl cape, if only, I could really use one of those today.

 

I’d like to say “hey” to all the first time visitors from OWOH. If you haven’t done so yet scrool down to the previous post and take a ride on the magic carpet.

Enjoy…

xo-jj

 

A little chit chat on a slow Thursday

I’m thinking about making a change with a pallet of  seaside colors. My house is painted in Tuscan hues and it suits me well but lately I’ve contemplated  somthing a little more Zen for my master bedroom and bath, colors that resembles a spa-like atmosphere.  A hint of sand and a whisper of turquoise might do the trick but I don’t want it to stick out like a  chicken with lips. It has to blend with the rest of the house. That might be tricky.

The little vintage chair in the picture above is my inspiration for the room. I found it at a garage sale for 3 bucks. It has been partly stripped which left fabulous layers of ocean blues and sea greens over a base of sandy  brown. The shift in colors are subtle and light and just perfect. I bought it and left it as is. I’ve paired it with a creamy white vanity, accented with a green vase of peacock feathers. I love the look but not so sure I can fit it into my decor on a larger scale, any ideas?

If I were to go on a total splurge I’d buy a new bedroom set in creamy white and paint my walls in the lightest sky blue, new paintings, new duvet cover,etc. $$$  I don’t see that happening any time too soon.

No matter…. it’s the people and pets that make a house a home, right?

On that note I thought I would update you on the beautiful Manx cat I dreamt about before he showed up on my door step and adopted me. Ricky-Bobby has gone from a frequent visitor to a full-time resident. He still spends much of his time in the woods and meadow that surround the house but comes inside to eat and sleep and kill my Canary but that’s a whole other story. I needed a new pet like I needed a new hole in my head but I’m a sucker for a sad face and somebody out there knows it.

The other kitties (only 2 left)  that followed him here are still wild but we spent the time and money to capture and neuter them. Mr. Java has the bite marks to prove it. They peek in the windows and sneak through the doggy door to sleep in the garage when it gets too cold. Remember how Mr. Java had such a fit because I was feeding them? Guess who feeds them now, he caved.

Well, thats all for a slow thursday. Hey Deb guess what? The suns out. Thanks for sending it my way. Now how about those lemons? he hee…

xo-jj

It’s time to refeather the nest

Shhhhh, don’t tell the big guy I’m having a spring fling! Don’t worry it’s not what you think.

A January frost is nipping at my toes which makes me a bit restless and a little, okay a lot, cranky. So I’m indulging myself in a little creative therapy.  I’m creating a few colorful niches, designing some interesting wall art, reorganizing, redecorating, fluffing, refeathering and well you get the picture.  ….and I love it!!!

The big guy is out-of-town and who knows what he’ll think of my creative spurt. It’s a little unusual and a bit on the  girlie side. Mr. Java is little more main stream and a lot more conservative than I. There are times when I wish I were a little more inside the box but no matter how hard I try everything I do comes out a little quirky.

The shadow box in the first pic had a orginal plan of being  filled with a cute little nest of eggs in front of a traditional bird print. But instead I added a Juicy Couture ad from an old vogue magazine and a little sea tree I found on the beach during last years trip to Captiva Island. Then I added three turquoise eggs, which according to Pantone is the color of the season, a few soft feathers and some vintage jewelry pieces. 

 

The fashion picture was created from poster ads for Nordstroms department store and a couple scrapbooking flowers that I layered together and added vintage pearls to. The zen pic was created  for my bathroom to add a feeling of spa luxury. It’s a computer generated print thrown on a canvas with a little paint and homemade flowers.  A crisp white cabinet with glass panels went into the bathroom as well and I added a new throw to my bed.

The shadow box piece is my favorite and I have a yellow Canary just like the one in the print as for the hair- I wish. It’s been fun but now that the big guy is on his way home I’m getting a little nervous about his reaction, like it, love it, hate it, or tolerate it. Do you care to venture a guess at which way it will go?

Have a lovely weekend filled with a lot of inspiration and a little color….

xo-jj

Feeling kind-of groovy

 

There’s nothing like meeting an old friend you haven’t seen in over 25 years. We were high school buddies that lost touch after graduation. We hugged, we laughed, we shopped it was amazing, just like we picked up where we left off. It’s funny how we think we’ve changed so much until we go back in time with a friend and realize that “hey, I am the same person I was  many years ago but just a little wiser and calmer. ” Before the day was over we both promised to meet again, sometime soon and we will. 

Last night I got out a few holiday decorations and played around a bit. I love vintage looking bulbs and ornaments like bottle brush trees, mercury bulbs and oh yes I love, love my little blue deer. He is so groovy with his retro good looks and sparkly glitter and he has the tiniest bell around his neck. 

Some of you had a few questions about the book, “A Sea of Whispers”, well this started out as a novel that never got published.  I’ve now taken the idea in a totally different direction.  Instead of a story about a woman whose life didn’t turn out as she planned, it became a book of inspiration through images and words. How does a novel become a coffee table book of inspiration, well remember who you’re talking to, the girl who changes course in mid-stream at the blink of an eye.  Wink, Wink…   This book is self-published and I hope to sell it in my e-store. I have to say that the quality of this book took me by surprise, it was superb. I was so afraid that the images may turn out too flat or pixellated or that my choice of lay-outs wouldn’t look just right. But as soon as  I unwrapped it, I feel in love. It feels wonderful in my hands and the images and layouts are exceptional. I made a couple tweaks and added a thing or two and then back to the publishing company it went. It’s not a cheap book to print but then I couldn’t except anything but the best quality. As soon as it comes back from the printer I will take some pics and share. I’ll keep you posted. Writing a book and being published has always been a dream of mine and so I decided to take matters into my own hands and just do it. I can’t wait to share it with you!

 Well I’m off to get everything ready for my son, who is flying home from Oregon tomorrow. Yeah…. I hope he’s home for good. He ‘s a bit like his mother with stars in his eyes and wander-lust in his heart. 

Have a magical Wednesday!!!

xo-jj

 

Cozy incarceration

It’s quickly approaching the time of year when our thoughts turn inward. It’s time to cozy up our homes with a warm blanket or a new set of flannel sheets.  Freshly baked pumpkin muffins and a hot cup of tea  comes to mind as the perfect afternoon snack. I am not a fan of winter but I do enjoy cozy thoughts, like a big bowl of homemade soup, (wide egg noodles, chicken stock, roaster chicken, chanterelle mushrooms, fresh herbs and lots of garlic) a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream, or a pair of fuzzy slippers and a thick fury blanket.

I’ve begun the process of cozying up my home with a few softly scented candles and a new fofur sofa throw. I’m currently on the hunt for the perfect pair of cozy slippers and a new pair of woolen mittens. The long dark winter of cold and incarceration makes me feel as though I’m being punished, which initiates the sense of entitlement that forces me to treat myself to a few comforts along the way. I have yet to make it through a holiday shopping season without buying myself a new pair of warm pj’s and a fresh set of flannel sheets.  The notion that finding the perfect pair of boots and a few other toasty accessories will somehow make the winter a little more tolerable has been debunked but that doesn’t stop me from trying it again and again. So I’m gearing up for the up-coming months of hibernation but I’m trying to enter this season with fresh eyes and an upbeat attitude. A few months of cozy incarceration never killed anybody, right? If you said right, then I have to ask- how well do you know Junie? Cabin fever here I come!!!

xo-jj

a little off center

I’m still a little off center but hope to be back to my old blogging self very soon and pay a visit to my fantastic blogging buddies out there..  I did manage to dress the porch in fall attire. The rich colors of pumpkin orange with a splash of gourd madness is the perfect fall pick-me-up.

Did I mention how difficult it is to type this post while looking through the smudgey lenses of little tyke sunglasses. The demanding princess insists I wear them and every time I think it’s safe to take them off she twirls around with one hand on her hip, and a finger pointed in my face, saying “eyes”  I think she already has a mom eye in the back of her head. She’s not spoiled or anything -just too darn cute for her own good!

I hope to drop by your place soon- bear with me please.

xo-jj