Sunday, August 24, 2008

Going Scandinavian

My dear friend Sue gave me this book a few weeks ago, knowing my enjoyment of Scandinavian decor. It has inspired me to do some redecorating. Nothing like yard sales to pick-up some new pieces to achieve the look I love.....
The past couple weeks I have had great success at yard sales - found this charming wall shelf for $2.00 Sat. A bit of white spray paint over it's cream and gold gilding and it was good to go!

Sue, does it look familiar? I have always admired yours and was so thrilled to find one for myself. Now have to search for another one for Sarah, as she is coveting mine for her newly remodeled bathroom!

A collection of my recent finds - the .50 tissue box, which was a brown basket with unpainted wooded tops; the floral trivet, which also had stained wooden trim - $1.00; the fabulous hydrangea print (it's from Paragon) - $10.00; my fave the shelf; and my .50 tray with the watercolor florals I cut from a $1.00 book. All to be added to my "in the process" redecorating schemes.
My family room before was done in reds, greens and yellows. Lovely colors, but since this is the room I spend the majority of my evenings in I decided to fill it with the blues and pale greens that are so Scandinavian and sooo soothing to me. You can see the new Hydrangea print, a couple more floral prints "stolen" from the guest bedroom, a teacup vase from the master bedroom and blue floral plates from the china cabinet.... Just turned Sarah's beautiful quilted throw over to it's gorgeous blue background backside and a couple pillows from the sun room....
The shelves have been transformed from red and green to much lighter shades of blue and white with a bit of majolica.... the prints that Sue gave me (she knows my taste better than I do!)
Yes, I even covered the black speaker with blue & white checked contact paper - still trying to figure out how to disguise the cable box.....

The shelving on the other side of the fireplace.... I really don't mind the brick of the fireplace, tho would like to cover a portion of it with 6" white trim.....someday......




Thursday, August 21, 2008

Sinclair Girls

Yesterday mom and I traveled to Benzonia for a visit with her sisters. What a wonderful day filled with laughter & love. Cousin Susie hosted us with a luncheon at her home on Crystal Lake. It is sooo beautiful and what a setting. I grew up visiting this area and all my relatives. Here Aunt Wilma & Susie are listening to Libby relate something evidently very interesting!
A view from the sun room overlooking Crystal Lake. Aunt Mary is the youngest sister and she's 80 something......

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Project update....

Most of the flowers have been cut - still have to put a couple more coats of paint on the tray and decide what trim to put on the edges and then the decopodging can begin! It's been a fun project to work on in the evenings while watching the Olympics.
I moved my farm table into the open space in my family room for a craft table...
and my table from the kitchen into the sunroom, which I like so much better with my french chairs from Patricia Wood's shop....
....in the meantime my daytime project has been the scraping and sanding of the shed in the backyard. Now just have to work up the energy to slap the paint on! Guess I'd better go get busy.....

Monday, August 11, 2008

Week-end finds...

My friend Cheryl and I hit the garage sales on Fri afternoon (10 or 12 in all!) and I found some treasures. This tray for $.50 - which I took outside for a quick sanding.
Found this beautiful book filled with these watercolors of flowers - perfect for browsing or using for a decopodge project! Yes, it is difficult for me to cut up such a lovely book, but occassionally one just calls out for a new purpose..... It was $1.00.....
The tray has it's coat of primer and the first of many flowers have been cut out with the
exacto (sp) knife....many more to go, but a fun project for a rainy week-end and many evenings yet to come..... I also found a few other books including a biography of Florence Nightingale, which I'm finding really interesting. Another amazing determined woman from history who changed our lives for the better. Along with Vol. 1 Eleanor Roosevelt (Vol. 2 has arrived - it will be next), I've also read "Founding Mothers" and "Ladies of Liberty" by Cokie Roberts. I find these biographies of women who faced such hardships and made huge strides for women inspirational and along the way I learn much about the history of our country! It makes me appreciate all the blessings we enjoy and sadly sometimes take for granted. I recommend any of these for anyone who wants to learn more about some extraordinary people.

Friday, August 8, 2008

after the storm...

This photo was taken last night after a storm passed through my friend's Cheryl & Jim cottage.
Isn't is awesome...and yes that is a Tiki Bar here in Michigan. A place where many fun afternoons and evenings have been enjoyed!

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Cousins Gathering

Saturday was our 29th annual Sinclair cousins party.
We gather here at my grandparents home, now owned by cousin Tom & his wife Lynn.
They have graciously provided their home every year for us - thank-yous are hardly enough!

We welcomed our newest member to the Sinclair clan, Winston Nieman Call, son of Warren and Marina and little brother to Sophia. Not even one month old!

3 of the Sinclair girls stopped by - Aunt Marjorie and Uncle Royal pictured above.

Oh the stories they can tell about growing up in this home!

Cousin Jeanne's 3 "kids" - we remember when they were the little "tow heads" running around the yard......

Our host Tom firing up the grill for hot dogs and hamburgers and Michael "supervising"...

Our day began with a trip to Crystal Lake beach where Brandon, Samantha and Emma braved the cool waters of the north....
Back at the party Samantha and friends found a blanket and a shady spot to play....
Cousin Marsha bonded with her granddaughter Ella.....
.....and Emma developed a crush on cousin Calvin.
Scott helped keep our "fire man" Steven (in the hat) company. He started the fire early so we would have corn on the cob for dinner. Always a highlight for all of us!

This is the fire much later in the evening - and the log tunnel fire Steven created once again .....
Cousing Alan entertained us throughout the day and night by changing his t-shirt every half hour or so....
...til finally late in the evening his stash was raided and a group of 10 or 12 cousins showed up to surprise him by wearing his tee's!
A champagne toast was offered to cousin Jeanne and Matt, who announced their engagement!
Congratulations and welcome to the family Matt!
Cousin Michael proposing the toast as we all gathered around


The YaYa's were there in full force and all had on our sandals we had bought at our gathering in April. Great minds think alike!!!
A few of the faces to go with the feet.....
Dr DJ Dan spinning our tunes. He set-up a professional system and had us dancing the day and night away....thanks Dano!
Me thinks this is the twist....
....and the dancing went on and on.....til next year.....
What a blessing we have in each other!!!




Friday, August 1, 2008

Sidewalk Sales

Our annual sidewalk sales were this past week-end. Above is a photo of my friend Sarah at her "craft" booth. She makes the most beautiful aprons and not surprisingly sold many of them over the course of 3 days! She is soooo talented and meticulous!
A sidewalk chalk artist came from Orlando to share her talent. This is her rendering of "Girl With the Pearl Earring". Quite remarkable!!!
Another local artist joined in the fun. My mom and I strolled through the streets just soaking in the atmosphere of fun and community.