I haven't made an altered book in a long time.  The practical side of me argues with the artist girl.  We talk to each other in snarky tones... "This is junk" says the practical Eileen.  "No one will want this when you die, and it will land in the trash." 

The artist girl replies, heart on her sleeve... "No, this is me all over these pages, and my son will cherish them forever.  When I am long gone, these books will reach through time and tell him about his mama's heart and soul."

I let them argue, and continue painting, cutting, gluing and writing, peacefully, passionately.  I can't help it, it's all inside me and must come out. 

I pray you are safe and well today, and that you take time to create art ~ Blessings.

Eileen

This morning, when I let the kitties out to play, I could smell the snow in the air. 

It's a beautiful day ~ Blessings,

Eileen

... playing in the art nest, or riding my beloved Tennessee Walker, or snuggled up in my big chair knitting happily.  Instead, I have been parked at my desk setting up my new computer.  I love my new computer, its a rocket, but reinstalling all my specialized software has been an all day project, and it's just totally BEAUTIFUL out today.  [sigh]

We've had the most amazing fall, dry, crisp, lovely colors and the best sunny days.  So perfect.  This morning we had our first frost and I think the thermometer on the front porch didn't get above 30 degrees.  Still no snow here, but you just know it's coming any day now... and it will be so pretty when it does finally begin to fall and cover our city with silvery white flakes. 

Since I'm not yet set up to use PhotoShop and edit photos of new projects, I will instead leave you with another of my most favorite quotes, one I hope encourages you this day and in the week ahead.

Blessings ~

Eileen

It all started innocently enough.  My master plan for Sunday morning was to straighten up the kitchen and then go play with my horse the rest of the day.  However, part way into it, some hideous wave of silliness came over me and it quickly became The Project"... as in "The Project that should take three days but I am going to finish it in one..."

So.... here's the BEFORE picture.  Not bad, nice solid oak cabinets with black granite Corian counter tops and stainless appliances.  We plan to install vintage tin tile back splash and under cabinet lighting this year as our Christmas gift to each other.  The floors are a nice silvery-grey ceramic tile.  Circling the ceiling are 35 Bing and Grondahl Yule Aften plates, one for every year the DH and I have been married.  I began begging for him to stop giving me these about 10 years ago, but every year under the Christmas tree there's another one.  He tries to be sneaky about it, marking the package "from Santa", but I know what I know.... and this has Timothy Wayne written all over it.  Since it is entirely possible that we will be together for another 30+ years this plate thingy could become a real problem. 

Er... where was I?  Oh...I stripped everything out of the kitchen, including the cafe curtains, which really didn't take very long.  For the most part, I have always been a minimalist regarding counter clutter, and removing the small accumulation of necessities took only a few minutes.  The scrubbing and sweeping and polishing took a lot longer. 

Then, before the DH could stop me, I had gathered up the "stuff", anything, everything, that looked like it might work well as a counter decoration.  I pulled crusty old things out of cupboards and closets and stacked it all on the kitchen table...which quickly overflowed to the floor.  Somewhere in the excitement of gathering goodies a little voice (possibly the DH?) whispered that I should maybe slow down a bit, because, really, this had to be practical as well as blog-worthy. 

Oh dear, I think I did get a little carried away.  The DH was anxiously hovering in the background, worried that I actually might just be able to fit all this onto the counter tops and forever clutter up his kitchen, or move his pans and utensils around where he could never find them again.  I told him he could turn on the hunting/fishing/outdoor channel while I worked and this seemed to distract him!

Now here's the AFTER picture, showing the kitchen table and chandelier.  I hang tons of junk on the chandelier, vintage buttons from the 1800's strung on rusty wires and hung as though they were the finest leaded crystal, several tarnished silver pieces, a star made out of cut glass beads.  You can't see it here, but there's a big ceiling medallion, newly installed, that is above the light.   

An old ceiling tin covers the end of the island and sort of sets the tone for everything else.  The small counter at the left is where I drop my purse each evening and pull out the iphone and blackberry to charge them up - and keeps them handy if there's a work emergency.  Behind the small white door is a nice little pantry. On the counter to the far right is the coffee station, where I make french press with Starbucks Cafe Verona every morning. 

This is my favorite view.  I love the corner sink.  Wish I'd been able to talk the DH into a single basin, but his argument was "but how will we wash and rinse dishes without two basins?"  My reply was "WASH dishes?"  In the 6 years we've been here, only the dishwasher has actually washed dishes.  I think I'll be able to have that single basin in the next house... when we downsize.

I sewed new curtains out of this nubbly unbleached cotton, only $2.50 per yard.  I made dining room drapes too, trimming both in a coordinating cotton and some crocheted lace I dug out of the clearance bin at the local fabric shop.  These are so soft and the fabric hangs really nice.  I have smoked bamboo blinds that I would like to remove because they are such a bear cat to raise and lower, but they add nice texture as a header for now. 

Love the little black apothecary chest that I painted last winter.  A crusty chain and weight from a furnace damper hangs on the front, along with a bit of old tulle and a picture of a pretty girl.  My favorite lemon verbena soap and a wooden hand brush are ready to wash the horsey smell off my hands when I come in from the barn.  A French style candlestick and dark candle sit atop the little chest, along with a little green plant and water spritzer. 

A set of wooden trays, a funky bird cage thingy, two vintage mason jars, a set of old black canisters and a nice plaster frieze sits on top of the fridge.  I'm going to put the three piece plaster frieze above the french doors in the dining room this weekend, and will probably replace it with a nice green plant to make this vignette a bit softer. 

On the side of the fridge I hung this old silverplate tray on one of those handy 3M hooks, hiding the hook with a fluffy black tulle bow.  One of the handles was missing, and left two holes for me to thread the tulle through.  A scrap of ceiling tile gives me another surface to tack notes up.  I just need to make some cool magnets now...

My purse goes in a little basket on the counter, a couple wooden boxes hold my keys, and a bucket of trash, I mean, old crusty things, sits in front.  I love good trash.

Wire (you can't see it) and wooden candlesticks, an old silver plate and cake stand, Star's winter flowers, two crocks from Anthropologie, a mirrored dresser tray with a collection of old salt/pepper shakers sits on the kitchen island.  

Which reminds me, Star selected the winner of her winter flowers give-away and she picked Mary, a lovely lady who blogs at Mary's Meanderings.  Mary, if you will email me your address, your pretty winter flowers will be coming your way soon!

Ahhhhh... the coffee station.  A big bamboo tray, old McCoy drip cups, a silver creamer and sugar set, a basket of old spoons, a silly sign and transferware plate, a really nice old black oval frame, a scale that my son drug home from some garage sale (how thoughtful!), a little crock and an old lamp decorate this space.  In the picture frame to the far right I've framed a piece of nice scrapbook paper in a black/ivory damask print.  Just a bit more drama...

The mate to the picture frame is next to the sink, along with this pretty green clock I bought from the Pier 1 clearance rack last week.  Too good to pass up, and.... I have a thing for clocks. 

On the kitchen table a round wooden plate holds an old oval frame, a metal flower frog, a vintage silver serving stand, some moss, a couple elderly glass and ceramic knobs, and a nice candle.  Another little candle sits in a silver child's cup, and my cloth napkins are ready to use in the chippy holder to the left. 

Exhausted, but happy, maybe now I can go play with my horse?  Have a great week everyone! 

 Eileen
 
 

The house is feeling much more nest-like these days, a warm cocoon away from the cooler weather.   Since I've been back from my trip I've been doing even more fall/winter decorating, and with Halloween just around the corner, I confess to leaning a bit towards the Gothic with some of my furnishings and finishes. 

I love faded millinery flowers, vintage papers, tattered tulle, sparkly old jewelry, beat up silverplate and threadbare linens that have seen better days.  I love the drama of black accents in my home. 

Because everything has this lovely faded quality, Fall's bright colors inside my nest seem a bit off, too colorful, a touch too loud.  So, as usual, I took matters into my own hands and made something that felt just right to me. 

Star and I made bouquets of rumpled winter flowers, each bouquet has 6 paper blossoms in shades of sepia, old paper, deep brown and rusty black.  Made of scrapbook and vintage papers, gold foil and brown felted centers, rich stampings, vintage floral wire, a bit of silvery moss and tattered tulle, they look perfect in my old silver cream pitcher.

I'll be putting 4 bouquets on Star's Fault Etsy this evening, but I would like to share these lovelies with you dear ladies too, so it's time again for another give away.  Star, of course, will help select a happy winner. 

Do you bring out wool lap blankets, swap out summer's curtains for warm, lined drapes, or lay soft rugs on cool tile floors? 

Here is the reverse side of each blossom.  As usual, nothing is left unembellished, and even the backs of these lovelies have pretty details. 

Of course, Star "helped," right?  [sigh]  Now you know why our blog is called "Star's Fault."  Things happen when Star is in the art nest.  Her contribution to our art projects is always unpredictable, but completely wonderful.

Eileen

 

Some time ago I think I mentioned in an old post that I had washed burlap for an art project.  Since then, I've received several inquiring emails asking if I did anything special, you know, so that the stuff didn't disintegrate in the washer?

Nope.  Not a thing, well, unless you count the scissors part, or the lint part....

I'm going to make a big round table cloth, similar to one I saw online at Ballard Designs.  I love Ballard Designs... and Pottery Barn... and Restoration Hardware...

... but I don't love the prices, or the shipping.  And while I'm willing to pay $100 for a nice old frame and shabby box, I am not going to pay $75 for a burlap table cloth. 

A girl's gotta draw the line somewhere, right?

Binx, LOVES burlap.  I'd purchased 5 yards for the whopping price of just a smidge over $12.  I needed to make a round table cloth 84" in diameter.  I cut the yardage in half, leaving two 2.5 yard pieces. 

Binx approves.  She know this is her favorite burlap, but it's not exactly right just yet. 

"Mom, where's the GOOD burlap?"

"I really, really like the good burlap."

Okay Binx, let's get it washed and dried first.  Then it will be good burlap, and I will let you sleep on it and make biscuits to your heart's content, okay? 

This is what it looks like after its been washed.  This is still wet, and it's not ready to go into the dryer just yet. 

Those stringy ends have to be cut off, or it will get all twisty and knotted up in the dryer. 

Snip, snip.  I'm going to save these threads and use them in other projects.  Odd, yes, but I've used them for a ton of stuff and they add a really nice quality to millinery flowers, mixed media pieces, and just a couple more other things that don't come to mind right now.

Once the threads are all cut off, it leaves a nice fringe at the bottom of each piece.  Next it's going to the dryer where it will get nice and fluffy soft.  Oh, and I don't use any dryer sheets or fabric softener. 

When it comes out of the dryer it has this nubbly soft texture that I just love, and so do the kitties.  It looks like really heavy linen and has about the same texture and drape.  That pile of white fluff is what comes out of the lint basket in the dryer. 

Bitty's not so sure about it.  Maybe it bites?  A few whacks of her mighty paw, and the lint is terrified into submission.  Actually, it just continued to lay there, but Bitty was still suspicious.  So she circled it, hoping to detect movement from the other side....

Yep, it's dead... and the burlap is ready to be sewn.  I'm going to sew a seam down the middle, joining the two pieces to make a big square.  Then I'll fold it into quarters and trace a curved bottom to make a nice round circle.  After that, I'll sew a rich bullion fringe on the bottom. 

When it's finished, it will look a lot like this:

This is the one from Ballard Designs. 

Pretty, with this nice deep bullion fringe at the bottom.  I couldn't find 6" long heavy fringe, but found a good substitute for a price I could live with.  I did a bit of rough measurement in my head and purchased 6 yards to go around the bottom of my table cloth. 

I haven't finished it yet, but I'll post photos when I do.  It's going to go on the table between the two huge leather armchairs in the great room. 

However, at this precise moment (thanks to the magic of Typepad and the ability to calendar a post), I am actually in one of the gulf states traveling on business.  I should have had my fill of good, no... GREAT Southern food and have already begun berrating myself for succumbing to temptation.   I just hope my jeans still fit....

Be safe, hug your loved ones, have a wonderful week, make art.  I'll be back at home Saturday and will have this tablecloth whipped out in no time.  Photos too!
 

Eileen

Yes, it really is fall time. 

I notice this not because of nature's most obvious signs, less light, a chill in the air, a bit of rain, Johnnie's newly fuzzy coat, or all the lovely yellow birch leaves everywhere.  Mostly, I notice fall because my fingers itch to knit. 

Something, anything, I just want a soft ball of yarn in my lap and the clicking sound of needles making perfect stitches.  Someone told me once that knitting was a healing art.  I believe it.  I am calmed by the task, hours flying by in perfect peace.  Binx, who loves anything made of yarn, usually manages to find her way onto my lap, and is happy to curl up for hours, purring softly. 

Right now (which is actually Friday afternoon, thanks to Typepad's ability to calendar ahead posts), I'm not knitting, but I will be tonight.... from about 1am until sometime late tomorrow afternoon, I'll knit and watch movies on my ipod while I fly south on the red-eye.  I love that late flight.  The plane is so peaceful and quiet, and they turn the lights down low so everyone can sleep.... except me. 

I'll be gone for a week, off to Washington DC, then Mobile, Vicksburg, Gatesville, ahhhh next is Huntsville, Chicago, Seattle and back to Anchorage by next Saturday.  I've been told that I have to go to Bone Fish Grill in Huntsville, and a friend gave me a coupon for bang-bang shrimp.  [sigh] Between the Po' Boys, sweet potato fries, serious barbecue, biscuits, chicken fried steak and pan gravy, and pralines - oh the pralines, bang-bang shrimp is the last thing I need. 

Seriously, if I was in the south too much I would be twice the woman I am today.

I often find myself praying when I knit, and sometimes ,just as the item is finished, someone will come to my heart and my little project will become a gift instead.  You never know who will need a new pair of sturdy hand made socks, or soft mittens, or a warm scarf....

...every stitch made with love. 

Eileen

My favorite room in the house, without a doubt, is my bedroom. 

It has that "sanctuary" feel to it, soft, cozy, a quiet enclave anytime I just want total seclusion and peace.  It's not so big, as far as bedrooms go.  Oh, there's a really nice walk in closet, and en-suite bathroom, but there's no sitting area, which is so popular in today's homes.  It's just a bedroom, well... and a sewing room, and a great place to knit, or read.

I am a huge fan of Susan Susanka's "Not So Big" series.  Have you heard of her books?  While some of her designs and interior shots are a bit modern me (she doesn't appear to be a fan of crusty old stuff) she articulates an aesthetic that helped me understand why I don't really feel comfortable in big, showy houses.   

....how people really are drawn to intimate spaces within their homes, like my bedroom.  I just love it's soft creamy furnishings, and the heavy oak bedroom set.   

This Spring I blogged about a pretty garland I made for the bedroom.  Crafted out of puffy coffee filters, cupcake papers, lace and scraps of old music, the DH thought it was less than wonderful, but I loved it. 

Winter's decorating scheme calls for a little change, and so the garland, blogged about here, has been taken down in favor of some shabby candle sconces. 

Yeah, I'm liking this, and I only had to pound three nail holes to get the two level......  I'm big on the whole "eyeball" part, which makes the DH absolutely nuts.

French doors lead out onto a small deck, and when the curtains are open on the doors, this lovely light just floods the room, making it such a sunny space, even in the winter. 

I love that my sewing is up here too.  It gives me another excuse to spend time in this haven. 

Oh... and I've been sewing a new tablecloth out of this yummy, soft burlap, adding a deep bullion trim to the bottom.  I saw one in ballard Designs for about $75, but mine will cost me less than $30.  

In the meantime, while I'm finishing up my new tablecloth, tell me about your favorite room in the house.  I'd love to hear about it, and why it feels so special to you? 

Have a lovely Wednesday!

Eileen

Star had the silly rips this morning at 6am, racing about the great room like a mad kitty, scurrying over the winter area rug, leaping from pillows to drapes, bouncing off the furniture and knocking over stuff. 

I don't know what got into her, but maybe she just likes change out to the winter decor.  Me too. I love the rich winter drapes especially. 

Here's a view of the great room from the landing on the second floor.  It has 20' ceilings, just like the foyer.  When we built the house 6 years ago, we had the builder really feature the fireplace wall with this rather dramatic custom built-in.  It's 13' tall and 12' wide.

I drew up a simple sketch and handed it to the cabinet maker, a kind Polish gentleman, and asked him to draw it up on CAD before he began building.  He gave me a quizzical look and advised that he did not use a computer, but that he would build me something lovely.  I trusted him.  I think he did a wonderful job. 

Above the big crown molding and fluted trim is a nice large display area on top.  I've always had a fairly small floral arrangement and three really handsome, tall French candlesticks. 

However, the stuff I put up there never did feel grand enough for the space, but inspiration didn't really hit until I finished my foyer and had that "aha" moment with the whole dark branches thingy. 

On boy, I've gotta get out the big ladder for this.....did I tell you I'm terrified of heights?  It's true, I'm a total coward.

Knees knocking and HGTV's Design Star on the tele to keep me distracted a bit, I climbed the ladder and hauled down the current display, gently, carefully, up and down the ladder with each piece.  Then I dusted... oh my, there was this layer of fuzzy dust up there.

I wanted something that would occupy the space better, but not obscure it, and I needed to create more visual complexity that would hold the eye for a bit longer.  You know, something "interesting." 

I knew that I couldn't do MORE flowers, because I think that would come out too fussy and overdone, and wouldn't match the rest of the decor anyway.  So, I set three containers side by side and selected the center one, a huge 5 gallon crock that we used to make sauerkraut in many years ago.  I think we might have also used it for wine making.... hmmmm... maybe a glass of wine would help with the knocking knees?

I cut five big, dark, twisty branches from an old, overgrown birch tree down the road, stripping off the last leaves from the branches and arranging them in the old crock.  I took a grocery bag and tied the branches together at the bottom and sat them in the crock.  That works. 

I grabbed the old mossy branch from the original arrangement, then stuffed scrap craft foam in the center and around the branches to stabilize the whole thing.  Several layers of soft pillow moss from the woods out by the stables went down next, along with a bit of pale green Spanish Moss.

Silver.... now that's an idea.  I have some silver branches in another cupboard, so I'll go get those. 

Yes, I like that too.  

Okay, I think I'll stop there.  Oh dear, back on the ladder with a MUCH heavier pot and a MUCH bigger arrangement to handle.  I should have had video of this......I had my son come over and hover below me so that if I fell and broke something (other than the crock), he could call 911 between fits of laughter. 

I added a long shelf made from old architectural trim and a vintage tin ceiling tile, plus another of those nice old black grates for some dark balance on the left of the display to move the eye from the candlesticks.  Notice how the total arrangement is taller on the right side, and "moves" over to the left, where it's shorter and kinda sprawly?

This asymmetrical arrangement turned out really pretty and I just love it.  Since my office/blogging space is on the big bridge on the second floor, I look out over the great room and this is what I see.  Well, not always the dappled sunlight, but you get my drift... !

Eileen

The last few days have been a whirlwind.  The Dear Husband brought home his moose Sunday night and all the hunting gear, dirty laundry, assorted man camp stuff, and well, things just got really busy from there, and I have only this evening been able to get back to my computer. 

I was, however, very, very... [sigh] VERY bad while he was gone. I felt so guilty that when he pulled into the drive I met him with a big hug, a spotless home, fresh baked bread, supper ready on the table and chocolate chip cookies for dessert, hoping to distract him from the obvious evidence that I had done something that was bound to cause a fuss. 

I had, er, bought, ahem... "firewood"...

I'm so bad.  I have absolutely nothing to say for myself.  I'm sorry.  Honest.  I was totally seduced, suckered in by something so incredibly delicious that my willpower finally, finally, gave way... and it only took about four trips to my favorite antique store for it to evaporate completely. 

I tried to fight it, really I did.  Each time I went in I prayed that someone else had purchased this, thereby protecting me from further temptation.  For two months I stalked this old frame nailed haphazardly to a primitive crate, hoping that each time I saw it my foolish crush would fade a bit. 

I was in love.

Admit it, you love it too. 

For two months I wondered why no one ever bought this lovely assemblage.  With a bit of TLC, it would make such a sweet little shelf.  Well, actually, I had noticed that there was this teensy problem with it, a hurdle that only someone truly in love would be willing to overlook ....

OMG, whatever you do, DON'T TELL MY HUSBAND I PAID $110 FOR THIS!!!

A bit of cleaning, some pale gray paint rubbed on randomly, a scrap of old wallpaper, a few odd balls of string and cord, a little old photo, and now my phone table looks ready for the fall/winter season. 

Oh, this just makes me happy....

... and speaks to my soul in ways no "new" furniture or decoration ever could. 

The best part?  He said it looked "very nice"!

Eileen

Sometimes I cook.  Actually, when I was younger, I was quite the cook.  Now that I am all grown up, my food choices are more limited due to my slowing metabolism and good Irish genes.  I asked my doctor for his recommendations, and he offered, so kindly ..."parsley, no sauce."  He's in his 70's, healthy and vigorous, and says he has "fond memories" of foods he used to eat, like bread....

and butter...and homemade raspberry jam [sigh].  

This is a new sourdough starter bubbling happily on my kitchen counter.  It has been growing and building for the last couple weeks, and a cup of it will be used this weekend to make yummy bread... which we'll have with lots of good butter and homemade raspberry jam.  I am feeling very rebellious. 

Would you like to bake with me?  My starter is really simple, Two cups unbleached flour and about 1 and 1/2 cup warm water - you're going for the consistency of really thick pancake batter, so add more flour or water if you need to.  You can't mess this up, so be brave!  I put mine in a big glass jar so I can see it working.  Set this out on the counter for several days to capture the wild yeasts in the air.  I cover it with a light dishtowel or cheesecloth to keep the critters out.  Don't bother it, and after about 4 days it will begin to bubble happily.  I like to keep my starter in a warmish spot in the kitchen away from direct sunlight and cold drafts.  Too hot or too cold will kill it. 

Then you're going to take out about a cup of the batter and toss it, replacing it with a cup of flour and about 1/2 cup or so warm water.  In a few more days it will bubble nicely again.  Take another cup out, toss and replenish with another cup of flour and about 1/2 cup warm water.  A few more days and its really bubbling.  Once you have this nice layer of "foam" on top, it is ready to use.  It usually takes a good week or two to make a good flavorful starter, and after a while your nose will tell you when the starter is just right for baking.  It should smell sour, but not like.... well, home brew.

I think I'll make a french bread this weekend, or perhaps a rustic cinnamon raisin bread.  I'll share my recipes and pictures of the finished product, butter, jam and all. 

Happy Wednesday!

Eileen

I think I've just fit the square peg into the round hole, metaphorically speaking, and may have finally solved a decorating puzzle that's been bugging me for the last 6 years, and it all came together when I found this little black chair and pretty bushel basket. 

As usual, I've jumped to the end of the story.  I do that a lot, I'm sorry, it is sort of the story-telling version of eating desert first, isn't it?  But I'm just so happy with finally fixing this wonky ledge above the entryway closet that, well... I couldn't wait to tell you. 

So, I'd been re-doing my foyer for the fall/winter season, moving out the more colorful decorating I blogged about here last January.  At that time, I was bravely attempting to introduce more color into my decorating, but have since realized that I truly love a more primitive, neutral, monochromatic, vintage French country feel to my home. 

I have a lovely leaded glass front door with two matching side lights.  The door itself has a vintage lace panel that provides privacy without blocking the great light that comes into the space.  The foyer is fairly generous, and leads into the great room.  Off to the left are the double doors to the art nest.  The wall color is a soft chamois.  All the trim in the house is a very light ivory, and there's deep crown molding throughout the house.  The ceiling in the foyer is 19' high. 

I've always had this nice bench and side table, changing out the pillows, cushion cover and flower arrangement for each season.  I love to shuffle things around the house, so I stole this pretty espresso brown and ivory rug from the dining room.  The "mirror" is a vintage dressing table tray, and the tiny picture to the right is an old postcard from 1910.

A length of burlap, washed about 4 times until it was super soft, covers the bench, it's fringy edge left unfinished.  Two new pillows add a nice finishing touch.  A basket underneath the bench keeps my favorite scarves handy for those chilly mornings. 

I had a fat quarter of a really nice toile fabric, so I cut it in half, sewed it into a long length for a skinny pillow, used ticking for the back, stuffing it with a down alternative fill.  It's totally yummy, but it had this seam in the middle from piecing the toile, so I repurposed a decorative sleeve that I'd had on another pillow to hide the center seam on the toile. 

The sleeve is a vintage upholstery fabric and has this rich embroidery design in a dark rose.  It covered the seam in the toile perfectly.  A tiny pillow with a fall theme adds a silly little accent.  I love ravens and crows. 

I looked everywhere for winter florals that would work in the big urn on the side table, but I found nothing that made me happy, so I made my own out of vintage papers. 

Now this I like.  I made about 40 of these, and will be posting bunches of them on my Etsy site tomorrow morning, er, just as soon as I can get pictures taken and posted! 

In the corner next to the bench is this nice coat rack that the DH bought for me years ago.  I painted it black last winter, and my favorite coat always hangs on it.  I just love the charcoal and white pattern to the material.  Hanging next to it is this cute handmade primitive child's dress.  It's rustic and rusty, and I bring it out every year around Halloween.  Sweet. 

Okay, now here's the challenge. 

On the opposite side of the foyer is this nice generous closet.  It's a big blank wall really, and so the space always feels out of balance to my eye.  You know, too much furniture on one side of the entry and a big flat nothing on the other.  Eesh...

Even more frustrating is this wonky ledge above the closet.  What's up with that?

The DH's contribution to the decorating scheme are these moose antlers.  I'm not a fan, but it does fit well in the space and it has a nice graphic/dramatic element.  I love the chandelier above and the ceiling medallion.  The double windows let in more light, but they feel bare with nothing around them.  No personality, you know?

Then I found this little black chair at my favorite antique shop.  Inspiration really took hold when I also discovered the bushel basket on the clearance table for $5.

The bare tree branches were free, cut from the old birch outside, and added more black balance to the space. 

You can't see it very well, but I covered one side of the high foyer windows with another vintage lace panel, tying the extra length in a knot and resting the knot on the ledge, a bit left to drape over the edge.  An old grate decorates one side, adding a bit of black to carry the eye to the windows.  Now there's something to see and makes the windows feel a bit more special. 

An old transfer ware plate hangs above the entry door. 

A handmade applique pillow with an adorable squirrel adds a bit of fall color to the chair, and a sweet primitive doll sits quietly beneath. 

I confess, I'm loving this time while DH is out at man-camp hunting, and I've been making all kinds of little changes throughout the house.  This unrestrained nesting is addictive, and I've been sewing, shuffling, crafting and tweaking to my heart's content. 

Wait 'till you see what I've done to the great room.  Oh my, there's another decorating challenge.....

Eileen