{burlap and ruffles}

I am a lover of {pillows}. Toss pillows, small or large are generally an inexpensive way to dress up a sofa, change up a bed or soften a porch swing.




Today I made this luscious beauty!
The added touch of silky {peonies} was such a lovely contrast to the burlap.

Recently I made these two pillows for a friend of mine ... I loved the mix of burlap and muslin, but wanted a pop of something a bit {dressier} for my own pillow ...

... on my newest pillow, the ruffles of shabby white muslin give the flowers so much added punch ...

 ... by extending the burlap over the end on the back side of the pillow and adding long tie closures the pillow has lots of extra {ruffly fluff} at one end ... which I {love} ...

... the floral center of the pillow is bordered with a vintage gauze like trim in a {fold-and-pleat} style ...

... the mix of textures is a great love of mine. The coarse burlap combined with soft muslin and a silky fabric just makes me want to reach out and touch it ...

... one day while I was in a fabric store I grabbed a bunch of this wonderful {silky} material. I am kicking myself for not making a note of what it actually was, because I know it was NOT silk. The price tag alone told me that. I think it may have been some sort of liner material. Whatever it was I love it and I will be hunting for more.

... the burlap was a different color. I usually gravitate to the natural brown color, but this day I found a shade just between brown and green. Not quite olive. It was lighter, interesting ...

... I am thinking of making a few more pillows similar to this to coordinate. They would make a beautiful {trio} on the sofa ... maybe one or two for the loveseat as well ...

... I used a candle to melt the edges of my {peonies} ...

... I love the way it makes some flowers darker and a bit shinier on the edges. It gives them character, much as you would see in nature ...

... one thing that I didn't really love about this project - sewing with burlap on my newish sewing machine. Those little hairs and loose weave make for quite a mess! 

... enjoy !

{ I will be linking this up to some great parties here}

{i dream of white}

I had a lovely dream last night...

...Miss Sophia's Room was mine.

 { I have always wished her room was mine, in all of its' dreamy whiteness}

I told my little Sophie about the dream.
    

           She said she would share.

     {i love you Sophanella}

{a pink tree for sophie}

My Sophie {LOVES} this time of year! She is always just bursting at the seams to decorate her room. This year was extra special as she just had this awesome room redo! {see it here}This  year she has a {PINK} tree that was upcycled from some {OLD} things her Mimi was getting rid of...

...she and her Mimi decorated it and it looks super sweet in her dreamy white room!

Miss Sophia is as happy as a clam with it and falls asleep to the twinkling lights each night...

...pictures to come of her {NEW} {OLD} curtains that were also upcycled from a friend...

{a special thank you to those of you who read faithfully...even these days when it is so very difficult to find the time, the energy or the creativity to blog at all...thank you... i love you all}

Home Again

...sometimes it's not about where you are going, but where you are now...

My oldest daughter came home today from a one year stint as a live in nanny, and although she was only 45 miles away, it may as well have been a million miles for as often as we got to really spend any quality time together. She was devoted to her job and she did it well...but she soon grew to realize that it was not just a "job" but a "life." She left a big, nowadays even huge, family of seven thinking it would be cake...watching two little kids would be nothing after the pitching in and hauling around and chasing the tails of the four siblings she left behind. I told her, of course I told her, that it would not be easier, just different...maybe even worse. Wouldn't she miss the ones she loved and lived with all these years. Couldn't she just stay home and do her online art courses? Why did she have to leave home to work? It was an adventure to her...

...well her year ended yesterday. One long year of learning and looking back. She left four devoted and worshiping siblings for two tired and clingy little ones. She left a room & bathroom shared with a sister for a big lonely one all her own. She left chaotic sit down dinners for seven and crazy schedules for strict routine and two very different dinners for two very different kids. She packed all of her things up and into my one big old suitcase and headed to where the grass is greener.

...and then she woke up one day and realized she missed home. She missed the chores and the obnoxious game nights and me dumping half my day on her, begging her to help me out... She didn't want to "run" a family, she wanted to be a part of one.
She missed "the nest."

And I am pretty sure she missed us all too.

And I even think she might be glad to be back home.

For now.

(and I am happy my NEST is one child the fuller again)