Fall Mantel Before...Fall Mantel After

At 1:30 this morning, while the rest of my family were sleeping and the hubby gone, I was changing up my mantel.

Keep in mind, this is the mantel that was only decorated for fall a few weeks ago.

It's also the mantel that I kept looking at and thinking how much stuff was on it and that it was keeping my eyes way too busy looking at all that stuff.

I told you...I am simplifying.

I want to show you the before mantel (which by the way, I think I have misspelled in many other posts...sorry...yes, I am a homeschool mom and didn't spell mantel correctly) 

This was the mantel before...

Oh my, why didn't you tell me that it had way too much stuff going on?

And, this is the after...

It still has plenty of pretty on it but in a much more understated way.

It may still have more than some of you like, but I'm thinking it's working for me this time.

My eyes, at least, can rest a little when I look at it.  Know what I mean?

The mantel wasn't the only thing that got changed up in the middle of the night last night, it's just the only thing I have the energy to show you right now.  Five hours sleep does not work well for this girl.

Pray for me as I am preparing for an eight year old slumber party tomorrow night. 

We are hosting a 50's party for six little girls.  And what 50's party would be complete without a Soda Shop/Pizza Parlor?

So tomorrow night at 5:00 pm, Lil Bit's Soda Shop will be open for business with pizza, and all flavors of milk shakes being served.

Heading over to The Shabby Chic Cottage for Transformation Thursday and Somewhat Simple.

Our Adeliene Dress and Tutus Featured on GLAMOUR MAGAZINE's website!!!!!

Last month I did a post on the Lassen wedding that featured our Adeliene Dress, tutus and silk rosettes. The wedding was absolutely stunning. Well, this afternoon I got an email from the bride, Chelsea, saying that their wedding was featured on Glamour Magazine's website! And several people were wondering where the dresses and tutus were from. Needless to say we are quite excited. Congratulations again, to Mr. and Mrs. Lassen, and thank you so much for letting us be a part of your special day!

To read the feature on Glamour's Website click here.

Winner Of Demijohn + Vacation

Thank you to everyone that entered my recent giveaway.  I so appreciate all the support and kindness I receive from you each day.  Even though we have never met I consider all of you my friends!

The winner of the demijohn and patchwork pumpkins is:

Judy @ Gracious Southern Living!

Judy is a southern gal just like me!  She has a beautiful blog where she shares her lovely home and life in Alabama.  Please stop by and say hello.

Congrats Judy!

Hubby and I are off to beautiful Destin, Florida on Wednesday.  This is our first trip "home" since we moved  to Richmond two years ago.  Our house there is rented so we are staying in a condo. This will feel really strange...not being able to sleep in our own  house. We do consider ourselves very lucky to have a good tenant  though.  With the real estate market so slow, especially on Florida beach property, we decided to rent the home rather than sale.  Our daughter, her family and my MIL will be coming from Auburn and one of our sons and his family lives close by.  It will be a fun week!

xoxo,

Sherry

Giveaway Ends Tonight + Misc Stuff!

The giveaway for a demijohn and patchwork pumpkins ends at midnight.  You still have time to enter here.

GIVEAWAY

I would like to thank Home And Garden Craft Gossip  for featuring my Ballard Knock-Off   on their site and to Digital Collage Sheets  for also featuring this project in an upcoming issue of their newsletter.

I was the winner of these darling crown magnets from Molly's giveaway at  Fleur de Bee.

Thank you so much Molly!  

This will be the home for my new magnets. The mirror turned  chalkboard  is now being painted with magnetic paint and then I will go back over it with chalkboard paint so it will be dual purpose.

Thanks for visiting.

xoxo,

Sherry

 

Meeting Charles Faudree + Giveaway

What a fantastic day and a dream come true for me!  Not only is Mr. Faudree the most amazing designer but also the kindest, most charming person you could ever imagine.  If you didn't read my previous post about the event you can read it here.

I arrived early to The Day Of  Design so I could grab a good seat.  Mr. Faudree came out a few minutes later and started making the rounds and introducing himself.  I was lucky enough to spend about five minutes chatting with him about antiques, his dogs and his trips to France.  I can't even begin to tell you what an honor it was to meet this man that I have idolized for so many years.

He did about a one hour presentation with slides of some of the gorgeous rooms he has designed.  I have to tell you that he has an amazing sense of humor and had us all cracking up with his stories. You have all seen his beautiful King Charles Cavaliers in photos. It is so obvious how much he loves his dogs and has even tucked images of them in one of his new fabrics called Toile Cavalier.  Faudree said this home is really the dog's home and they just let him live there!

He not only has the new fabric line but is also working on two new books to be released in about twelve months.  One will be a coffee table book and the other will be named Details and will cover arranging vignettes and displaying your collections.

He told us he has owned twelve homes and says he is now in his FRP...final resting place.  It was a one
room log cabin when he purchased it and he has added a bedroom and a bath.  He showed slides of his home and of course it is fabulous!  He is a man after my own heart.  Faudrees motto's are " It's about the mix and not the match" and  "If it doesn't fit.. force it"!  See why I love him?

During lunch Faudree walked around the room chatting with all of us. I don't think the poor man even got to eat lunch. Later there was a panel with designers from the Symphony Design House and Faudree to answer our design questions.  We then toured the Design House and I'll be back later to post pictures.

I sat at a table directly behind Faudree and without knowing I was sitting with two of his very good friends.  Bob and Kathy are such a sweet couple and they told me stories about Faudree and what a wonderful friend he is. They previously purchased one of Faudree's homes from him as well as some of his furniture. They also became his clients and he completely decorated that home as well as their current home. I know they could tell how excited I was to be there and what a fan I am of Faudree. They graciously invited me to their home in North Virginia to see his design. How fantastic is that? 

I was very hesitant to post the next picture. You see, it was pouring rain when I arrived at the event and my hair is a disaster in this kind of weather!  The only thing I could do was slick it back with bobby pins. So, lets just pretend that my hair is fabulous. Since we are pretending...lets pretend I am 15 years younger and 15 pounds lighter!!  Anybody out there good at Photoshop?

This picture is going on my nightstand!  I wonder what Hubby will think of another mans picture in our bedroom?  He'll be okay with it...he knows how much I love Faudree!

My giveaway ends Sunday at midnight.  If you haven't entered yet click here.

I will be sharing my day at the following parties:
Be Colorful
My Backyard Eden
We Are That Family
Southern In My Heart
My Romantic Home

Have a great weekend.

xoxo

Sherry

Spend an Autumn weekend in your outbuilding or home extension

Hello to everyone! I know it’s already a week ago I wrote my last blogpost! I am so sorry for that, but it is a very busy period in business for me. I hope you will understand?!

Today I show you some images of the inside of beautiful outbuildings and home extensions!

AND AT THE END OF THIS POST, I HAVE A GORGEOUS VIDEO TO SHARE WITH YOU!!! I AM EXCITED ABOUT IT!!!

But before watching the video, I hope you will enjoy the images.

The outbuilding or home extension is one of the most wonderful places to relax, the enjoy the Autumn sun and beautiful fall colors! So, it is a nice place to spend an Autumn weekend.

Whether you love to be alone, reading a good book, or whether you love to invite friends for an Autumn meal, an outbuilding or home extension is a gorgeous place to enjoy your Autumn weekend.

Notice the Autumn sun falling in this room.

Even fall colored furniture.

So nice to have a fire place in your outbuilding.

Ready for your dinner with friends?

Beautiful fall colors.

AND NOW ABOUT THE PROMISED VIDEO !

I am sure that a lot you, my readers and blogfriends, will remember the images on below, seen in Veranda, a few years ago.

They are all of the gorgeous house of our Belgian couturier Edouard Vermeulen. His fashion label is called Natan.

The house is called the “Rozenhout” estate. It is an 18th century country house, or “gentilhommière, situated in a glorious parkland.

In close collaboration with the Belgian architect Raymond Rombouts, the original house was improved and a pavilion added.

Edouard Vermeulen - himself an interior designer before he made his name in the world of haute couture – took care of the interior decoration : a timeless and subtle color palette, in the same spirit of his exclusive collections.

This morning I watched the beautiful video of the house tour on a local TV station and I really wanted to share it with you!

It is a Dutch spoken video but you really don’t need to understand the Dutch language to enjoy this vido.

So, sit down, relax, click on the image below, open your computer on full screen and ENJOY !

I wish you all a fantastic Autumn weekend !!!

xx

images : Luc D’Hulst; Walda Pairon; Veranda

Spend an Autumn weekend in your outbuilding or home extension

Hello to everyone! I know it’s already a week ago I wrote my last blogpost! I am so sorry for that, but it is a very busy period in business for me. I hope you will understand?!Today I show you some images of the inside of beautiful outbuildings and home extensions! AND AT THE END OF THIS POST, I HAVE A GORGEOUS VIDEO TO SHARE WITH YOU!!! I AM EXCITED ABOUT IT!!!But before watching the video, I