Create Space #1

This is going to be a long drawn out process, but I have been imagining my new "Create Space" for the last 10 years, since my beloved son moved to college, but has been "in and out of the nest" and always welcome, so I haven't wanted to disrupt his familiar nest.  However, when he married this last summer, I knew it was time to move from imagining to creating.  Opps, just when I thought it was safe to create, we had house guests who were in between homes (blessing to be able to assist), so the room went to them for the last three months. As of February 1, the room was FREE, so at long last, it is vacant, and speaking to my creative spirit. Ahhhh.

  I'm not proud of the first pictures, but here they are.

The best is yet to come.  Pinterest board about my "Create Space" have kept me nurtured and focused, but at last, I'm getting started!  Yeah!!!  On your mark, get set, GO!

 New desk from World Market, campaign desk. We bought two, one for each side of the room.  Lots of space to move the desk between sewing machine and laptop.  Sewing supplies sorted in mason jars for easy finding. They won't stay on the desk, but will hopefully be housed in a future wall unit or china cabinet painted black.  Researching/pinning ideas now!

 I can't wait to share more about this project.  Dream on!

Lucky China

Coveting Susan's cutout chargers, led me on a eBay search that ended at shopgoodwill.com with the winning lucky bid on these sweet salad plates and one dinner plate.  The mark on the back says Lucky China, and so they are my lucky plates!  I've been thinking about them for a couple of weeks, dreaming of ways to use them.  Yes, this is how I spend my dreaming hours.  So this morning, this pink and green table was born.  I also wanted to use some of my aluminum with delicate cutouts and chiseled flowers.  Sort of Valentine's Day appropriate for the week.  Makes me smile, and feel a little cotton candy giddy.  And as Alycia Nichols at TableTwentyone, recently posted about her pink tablescape, " I remember feeling all girly and giggly and size 6. Yes, ladies, pink can actually DO that for you!"  Lucky indeed.

 I love the delicate lacey rim, and hand painted flowers.  Oh, lucky me for finding these!

The pink napkins are an eBay find, heavy and soft.  The napkin rings are a thrift store find, 8 for $5.  Flatware hail from World Market.  But oh, my Lucky China Salad plates from shopgoodwill.com.

 I love this old punch bowl.   My husband and I found it while antiquing along the Kern River, California.  We both gasped when we saw it sitting on the shelf.  You know that feeling, don't you?

Pink Alstroemeria flowers floating are cut from last week's tablescape.   Love how long these blooms last!

 Homer Laughlin Georgian plates with deep burgundy edge sit atop a simple silver charger, adding some shine and masculine weight to all the pink.  The burgundy brings it more to a size 10, and that's still ok.

 Red goblets (that really look pink) and hammered aluminum tumbler, delicate and chiseled, sort of opposites attracting.

Butter, jam, and condiments 

  The one dinner plate I could find, placed on an aluminum tray.

 For sweeping crumbs off the table. How gentile is that?

Previously displayed collection and post on collecting hammered aluminum, the "poor man's silver."

Happy Valentine's Day on February 14th and any day you're with your love, or loving yourself in or out your nest.  

This week I'm partying with inspiring and creative partybloggers.  Thanks for hosting and posting!

 Seasonal Sunday at http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/

 Tabletop Tuesday at http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

 Tablescape Thursday at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

 Feathered Nest Friday at http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

New Gardenia Friends

I believe in the Girl Scout song, "Make New Friends," so when I saw this dish set at Target.com, clearance, I knew it was time to make a new friend.

Make New Friends

Make new friends, but keep the old
One is silver, and the other's gold. 

 

A circle is round that never ends,
And that's how long I'm gonna be your friend. 

This weekend we are celebrating my husband and my new daughter-in-law's February birthdays, plus it is Super Bowl Sunday, so we are having a Super Gardenia Birthday Party, the perfect occasion to invite my new friends to dine.  Joining us are an iron birdbath filled with eggs (borrowed from the kitchen), a Bauer vase, and cupcakes from the local bakery.

Inexpensive flowers from the market and boxwood clippings from the yard.

Bought this at a school sponsored boutique not knowing where or what I would do with it, but knew it needed to be mine.

Added a silver dish filled with yogurt covered raisins just because they matched the color scape.

 

Birthday cupcakes - carrot cake, smores, red velvet, white chocolate, and devil's food.  Yum! 

 Happy Birthday old and new friends!  In any event, eat cake!

Dishes - Savinio Designs Earthenware, Target.com

Flatware - Bamboo handle, Neiman-Marcus

Water Goblets - Home Goods

Napkins - yellow cotton, Home Goods

Napkin rings - wood rings, Dollar Store

Rattan Chargers - Santa Barbara Goodwill

Vase - Bauer Pottery, eBay

Iron Bird Bath - PTA boutique

Silver dish - eBay

Cake plate - gift from my son year's ago

This week I am linking up at these fun parties, join me!

 Sunday Par.tay at http://my1929charmerblog.com/sundays-best-par-tay-17/
 Seasonal Sunday at http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/

 Tabletop Tuesday at http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

 Tablescape Thursday at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

 Feathered Nest Friday at http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

20 Products I Can't Live Without

20 products I can't live without list (impromptu party from Susan at Between Naps on the Porch). Great idea!

From start of the day to the end of the day, I must have the following:

Intuition Plus Schick Renewing Moisture Razor, seriously the best smoothest shave ever.  I was always nicking my ankles, shin bone, on and on. Then found these. Love them.




Short and Sexy Hard Up gel product
Must have this to add height and fun to my hair.  Starts my day with bounce!

Alcon Naphcon A Eye Drops
I hold my stress in my eye, and also wear my contact lens for too long, then rub my eyes (I know, I know.  Bad.)  But when my eyes get red, this is my go-to over the counter, better than perscription product.

Kajal Kohl Liner Pencil
Walgreens price, stays all day, easy to apply, no smudging.

Angel Parfume
My signature scent, the only scent that stays on me all day, and makes people say, "What are you wearing?"  Love it.  The lotion is also wonderful and light.













Umcka Cold Car Chewable Tablets
If I wake-up and feel like I have a cold coming on, it's Umcka to the rescue.  Shortens duration & reduces severity. Just start taking it, and your cold is knocked out cold.  Amazing.  Nature's Way. I buy at Sprouts Grocery Store.  I used it one day this week, and it knocked out something that could have been bad.

iPhone - the most reliable computer, phone, calculator, all in one wonder.  I use it all day long for everything I do, from checking my email first thing in the morning, to listening to a book when I go to bed.  It has it ALL.

Covergirl Wetsticks AmazeMint Lipgloss $5.99 at Walgreens

Smells great, light cover.  Have them in every purse and drawer in my desk.  Quick pick me up.

Touch of Purple
Natural cleaner and polish
Found this at a swap meet, and now can't live without it!  I use it to clean/POLISH my eyeglasses, sunglasses, diamond ring, silverware, bronze, copper, computer screen and iPhone screen. Amazing.

Easy Spirit Traveltime Clogs
Like a tennis shoe, but also a clog. Can wear these all day, looks business casual, contemporary, and can be slipped off under my desk!  If my dog doesn't stop chewing them, I would have them forever.

If it is summer, must have Maui Babe.  I discovered this suntan oil and lotion while living on Maui, and now buy it for myself, and my very best friends. It smells like heaven on earth (like Hawaii), and delivers the most beautiful tan ever.  I don't tan easily, but when I want a little color (I know it is bad for me), this is the product that delivers.

S. Pellegrino

Sparkling water that adds sparkle to any fruit juices.  Great mid-day, after work, or with dinner.

Pour over ice into a beautiful goblet, your day is transformed with elegance.

Making soup for dinner, must have Cuisinart Smart Stick.  Quick, simple, and always delivers.  I keep mine behind my coffee maker, plugged in next to the stove, so I can pull it out and finish the soup, etc.  I don't have these cool colors, but how fun are they?!

Straws for drinking in bed.  I know that sounds silly, but I love a cool glass of water next to my bed, and love these fun straws for any party.

Floralies Honey Almond Bubble Bath
My son bought me this for Christmas, and it smells delicious, produces just the right amount of bubbles, and is the perfect end to the day!  Can't find it online, so will ask my son where he found it!

This was fun!  Thanks for hosting another fun party!