A bouquet just for you! ♥

Cherish your visions. Cherish your ideals. Cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the beauty that forms in your mind, the loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts, for out of them will grow all delightful conditions, all heavenly environment, of these, if you but remain true to them your world will at last be built.

Quote source ~ As A Man Thinketh by James Allen

Great tune...enjoy!

Monthly Blog Swap

Hi everyone,

I hope everyone is well and enjoying the lovely autumn weather, I know I am.  Today, I am excited to be writing my September blog swap post about the lovely blog, Creating Wonderful Spaces which is written by Elaine. You can visit her blog here: Elaine's blog   This blog swap is hosted by Francine of Ethereal Plus What I love and you can visit her here: Francine's Blog

"Hi Elaine, I'm so pleased to meet you".

I popped on over to her blog for a visit and wanted to share with you a bit about her and her family. She is a mother of two, a son in the Navy stationed on Oahu, a daughter who lives near her and a stepson who lives in Florida.  She lives with five rescue animals (anyone who loves animals is a friend of mine :) loves shopping, photography and is also working on a book.  She is also currently working on several DYI projects for her daughter who just recently moved into an apartment.  (What a great mom!!)   Here are a few photo of two of the projects she has just completed.

This is a bench cushion...isn't it gorgeous!  I love the buttons.

She re-worked these pillows that came with a sofa her daughter purchased by removing the front side of the pillow and replacing it with this one...very pretty colors.

She created this pillow for her daughter who is also an animal lover of one cat and a three legged cattle dog.  How cool is that!

I hope you will pop on over and pay her a visit, I'm sure she'd love to hear from you.  I'm waiting to see what other DYI projects she has on her list for her daughters apartment.

Shades of Bleu

Here are some blissful images of bleu to soothe and calm you today   :)

Enjoy!

Image via ~ http://inspirationlane.tumbir 

http://furples.tumblr.com/post/23000986186/by-claude-lazar

Source ~ http://furples.tumblr.com/post/23000986186/by-claude-lazar

Source ~ http://inspirationlane.tumbir.com

Source via ~ http://inspirationlane.tumbir.com

Source ~ http://inspirationlane.tumbir.com via ~ Pinterest

Image via http://inspirationlane.tumbir ~ Original source http://madeinpersbo.blogspot.com.br/

Source ~ http://inspirationlane.tumbir.com ~ Originally pinned flickr.com

http://inspirationlane.tumbir.com

Source ~ http://inspirationlane.tumbir.com  Source ~ Pinterest

Original Source ~http://mistymorrning.tumblr.com/post/28291624459/a-little-blues-music via http://inspirationlane.tumbir.com

Original Source ~ http://chromo75.tumblr.com/post/27734757593  ~ Via http://inspirationlane.tumbir.com

Original source ~http://agirlsrighttodream.tumblr.com/post/27245870389/http-www-etsy-com-listing-95869250-vintage-1940s-glen  Via ~ http://inspirationlane.tumbir.com

Source ~ http://inspirationlane.tumbir.com

September 11, 2001

Let us never forget on the anniversary of September 11, 2001 all the people who lost their lives on this tragic fateful day.  My prayers and thoughts are with each and every one of you.

 

Guest Post ~ Jessica Phan Bookshelves

Today, I am thrilled to have Jessica of Phan a designer for Balsamhill.com a purveyor of high-end artificial Christmas Trees who has graciously written a post on arranging a bookshelf for all of my readers.  I don't know about you, but I can use all the help I can get when arranging my books and adding just the right accessories snuggled in between.  I found this post to be very helpful to me and I hope you agree.  Enjoy!

 How to Arrange a Bookshelf ~  Decorating a bookshelf is a common dilemma to many homeowners. The need to combine functionality and style so that bookshelves look organized yet chic is indeed a challenging task. For book lovers, it’s even more difficult as a large number of books need to be arranged in an uncluttered way. While there are no hard and fast rules to this design predicament, here are some tips to help you maximize the aesthetic element of bookshelves:

Start fresh ~
Often, simply moving books around and replacing accessories only magnifies a disorganized look. The best way to renovate an untidy shelf is to remove everything and start anew. Put all essentials (books and other items you really want to display on the shelf) in a separate pile. Make sure you have enough space for these before deciding on other accessories to add.


Consider functionality and practicality ~
Sort books according to preference, whether by genre or favorite authors. Place those you want easy access to on the lower shelves. Another factor to consider is to sort items based on size. For safety, place larger and heavier books at the bottom and lighter ones on top shelves.

Create balance not uniformity ~


When it comes to designing bookshelves, simplicity and random symmetry are keys to achieving balance. Avoid a cluttered look by using only a few but larger-sized accessories instead of numerous small one. Small accessories tend to get lost in bookshelves and placing too many only creates a disorderly array.

Create movement and fluidity in your design by striving for an asymmetrical look. Even symmetry or matching items on both sides of the shelf lead to a bland and static look. Place items in an evenly distributed manner throughout the shelf, taking care not to match every item with a similar one on the opposite side. On each shelf, leave a breathing room or at least 10 percent of the shelf free. With casual balance, you achieve effortless style.

Choose a color scheme ~

Another trick is using similarly colored and sized items to balance each other. As much as possible, stick to one color scheme or at least use colors that blend well together. While some go as far as covering their books with craft paper to follow a theme, using accessories of the same hue is good enough.

A great way to unify all your pieces is to cover the back of your shelf with wallpaper or paint that is a different hue from the bookshelf. Doing so creates a backdrop that stands out in the room.

Add shape and texture ~
For a striking visual appeal, add interesting pieces of different shapes and textures. Accessories break up a pile or a row of books, keeping a sense of movement throughout the shelf. Vases, wooden boxes, ceramic pieces, and antique finds add personality to your shelf. Picture frames give a personal touch. Use a variety of pieces for balance. A globe, for instance, can be balanced with rectangular picture frames and candle holders.

Another tip is to place accessories off-center. If you have a lot of books, place some small accessories in front of them. If you have enough space, let large items like a framed painting or big figurine occupy a single cubicle for more impact. Arranging some books in stacks and others standing up is also adds texture especially if you have only a few books.

Play around ~
When you're working with different pieces, it's easy to lose track of your design and keep re-thinking your original plan. Step back from the shelf and survey your work from a distance to check if you're going in the right direction or need to make some changes. After adding a piece, try moving it around or replacing it with a different piece. Arrange and rearrange, add and subtract until you feel that the results are pleasing to your eye and reflect your personality.

The beauty about designing a bookshelf is that there are rigid rules to follow. Though this means you need to spend more time on this project, it’s a highly stimulating activity that lets your creativity flow and allows you to explore your inner sense of style.

Jessica Phan lives in the San Francisco Bay Area which is perfect for her because she has a wide range of interests, including Art & Design, Fashion, Photography, Painting and Thrift Store Shopping.

I hope you enjoyed the post!  :)

September ~ Heading Towards Autumn

Autumn is one of my favorite times of the year besides spring.  In the fall, as leaves are pushed off the trees and turn majestic colors of red, brown, green and golden yellow it brings to mind cozy fires, hot cocoa, mugs of hot apple cider, cups of tea, warm throws, good books and warm woolen socks, sweaters and hayrides. The smell of firewood burning, wheat harvested and the crisp morning air as the temperatures turn much cooler are a refreshing change from the hot and humid days of summer, especially if you've had a summer of extremely H~O~T weather.  The idea of making soups, banana and zucchini breads, comfort food will warm your stomachs and bring a sense of comfort.  I've selected a few images that I hope will bring you some pleasure and comfort as we head into the autumn of the year.  Enjoy!

Image via ~ http://onlymyfavoritethings.tumbir.com

Image via ~ http://j-countrycalling.tumbir.com

Image via ~ http://zsazsabellagio.blogspot.com

image via ~ http://october-glory.tumbir.com

Image via ~ http://circa.tumbir.com

Image via ~ http://inspirationlane.tumbir.com

Image via ~ http://j-countrycalling.tumbir

Image via ~ http://absolutelytangled.tumbir.com

Image via  ~ Pinterest

Image via ~ http://autumncozy.tumblr.com/

Image via ~ http://zsazsabellagio.blogspot.com

Image via ~ http://butterfliesarefreetofly.tumblr.com/post/5828303605

Have a great day!  :)

Labor Day

Image via Google

Labor Day is an American federal holiday always observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of the workers.  Below is a brief history of the holidays origin:

In 1882, Matthew Maguire, a machinist, first proposed the holiday while serving as secretary of the CLU (Central Labor Union) of New York.[1] Others argue that it was first proposed by Peter J. McGuire of the American Federation of Labor in May 1882,[2] after witnessing the annual labor festival held in Toronto, Canada.[3]

Oregon was the first state to make it a holiday in 1887. By the time it became a federal holiday in 1894, thirty states officially celebrated Labor Day.[2] Following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland reconciled with Reyes, leader of the labor movement. Fearing further conflict, the United States Congress unanimously voted to approve rush legislation that made Labor Day a national holiday; Cleveland signed it into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.[4] The September date originally chosen by the CLU of New York and observed by many of the nation's trade unions for the past several years was selected rather than the more widespread International Workers' Day because Cleveland was concerned that observance of the latter would be associated with the nascent Communist, Syndicalist and Anarchist movements that, though distinct from one another, had rallied to commemorate the Haymarket Affair in International Workers' Day.[5] All U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the territories have made it a statutory holiday.
( ~ Source Wikipedia ~)

As we celebrate this day at family picnics and other leisure activities, please take the time to reflect on the sacrifices made by everyday laborers in our nations history that have made this day possible.