Category Archives: Fun

Doggone Good Dog Designs for the Home

Whenever the subject of  dogs comes up, I think of the quote by President Truman, “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.”  I believe if you want a friend who gives you unconditional love, get a dog.  I have often thought there was a reason why the word God and Dog are interchangeable since they possess many of the same qualities.

Of course it is no surprise to see all of the products for the interior of the home with our furry friends adorning them. I’ve included a few . . .

It was easy for me to come up with my list of

50 Reasons Why I Love my Dog

Romeo and C.C.

He depends on me to survive.

He does not interrupt me when I am speaking.

He doesn’t care if I am pretty.

He doesn’t gossip.

He doesn’t like vegetables.

He doesn’t look at himself in the mirror.

He drinks the right amount of water.

He follows me everywhere.

He has good instincts.

He has gotten nicer with age.

He has never been mean spirited.

He has never said an unkind word to anyone.

He has unconditional love for me.

He is a tension reliever when the world has beaten me up.

He is always happy to see me.

He is an expert at getting what he wants.

He is comfortable in his own fur.

He is in a good mood when he wakes up.

He isn’t trying to sell me anything (maybe the need for a biscuit)

He kisses on command.

He knows how to have a good time.

He knows how to make the best of every situation.

He knows how to scratch his own back.

He lets me kiss him.

He lets me know strangers are near.

He lets me nibble his ears.

He licks my tears.

He likes everyone he meets.

He likes leftovers.

He likes me better after yoga class.

He likes people more than dogs.

He likes to dance.

He likes to eat as much as I do.

He likes to go for a walk.

He likes to play.

He likes to take naps.

He listens intently.

He makes friends easily.

He runs to see me when I hit the door.

He starts his day by leaping off the bed.

He thinks cats are strange.

He thinks TV is boring.

He twirls when he is excited.

He waits for me to come home.

His eyes are sincere.

His favorite ice cream is Cherries Garcia.

His tail is always wiggling.

I always know what I will receive from him.

I am his favorite person.

I depend on him for love.

Ballard Design Norwich Terrier Dog Print
Ballard Design Pug Dog Print
Anthropologie Best in Show Dog Dish Towel
Z Gallerie Ceramic Foo Dogs
Anthropologie Ceramic Dalmation
Anthropologie Good Dog Book
Duralee Delfina Collection Fabric
Noisy Dog Studio Portraits
Rosenberry Rooms Blue Kanine Geo Rug
Rosenberry Rooms Brown Metal Lamp
Thibaut Fifi and Friends Wallpaper
Spode Woodland Hunting Scene Dinnerware

 

Feeling Capricious

I cannot think of a place  more beautiful than the island of Capri, Italy.  Capri is in the Bay of Naples south of the city of Naples. We stayed in Sorrento when we were there and took a ferry ride to visit Capri.

What is there to love about this place?  EVERYTHING!

The surrounding Italian coast is gorgeous with its limestone cliffs, the Tyrrhenian Sea is a sparkling color combination of aqua, turquoise and lapis blue, Sorrento lemons abound ready to make Limoncella while the aphrodisiac scent of jasmine is everywhere.

Feeling inspired yet? If you cannot take the trip to Capri, Italy right now, perhaps you will be inspired by the lovely line of design products by Zinc Door.  Zinc Door is sponsoring the Vibrant Spring Color Design Contest on the mood board site Olioboard. Here is a link to the beautiful set of furnishings by Zinc Door:  http://olioboard.com/item_sets/44422-zinc-door-spring-color-set

This is my entry to the challenge entitled “Capricious!” 


 

 

 

 

 

 

View the Rooms and see A Room with a View

My friend Konstadina created this gorgeous moodboard titled Preparations for a Date on the Olioboard site recently. The background picture through the window is from the movie A Room with a View filmed in my favorite place Florence, Italy. When I complimented the room through the comments section on the site, she dedicated the room to me.  She is one of the many talented artists creating gorgeous boards on this site.

Preparations for a Date by Konstadina

The site is so much fun to create whatever fantasy you have dancing around in your head into a virtual reality.  There are also ongoing design challenges featured on the site that anyone can enter.  I am always surprised at the amazing talent and creations continually presented on this site.  I became inspired this week to create a board for the country eclectic design challenge after seeing a friend’s photograph on facebook who is visiting her relatives in Vietnam. She posted a picture of her aunt’s kitchen. The kitchen is from a very, very different culture than ours in Arizona. The kitchen has a dirt floor, stacks of wood, and a wood burning stove all under a thatched roof complete with chickens and a pig. In honor of the chickens and pigs my board is called  called Greens Eggs and Ham.

I’ve listed the current challenges going on right now. I hope you enjoy looking at the many creative room ideas.

Green Eggs and Ham 

victorian living room challenge

    • Design a living room using Victorian elements. The style includes a plethora of floral designs that are feminine and lacy. The use of wallpaper (floral or formal), elaborate furniture carving, and rich trims and embellishments, with Oriental and Gothic touches mark the distinctive Victorian decor. Let’s see you put your own personal spin on this classic style!
    • spring swing entryway challenge

      Create an entryway incorporating elements of spring. Shed those winter blues with warm and inviting colours and spring inspired accents.

      ocean bedroom design challenge

      Use elements and colors of the beach and ocean to create a cool, crisp bedroom design.

      country eclectic design challenge

      Create a space for a person who derives ideas, style, or tastes from a broad and diverse range of sources with a deep love for the casual country style.

Pink Me Up

Heartfelt Thanksgiving

Inspired by the upcoming fall holiday of Thanksgiving and the darling things Etsy crafters make out of felt.


Needle felted squirrel with …

$15.00

Handmade necklace, autumn co…

$80.00

Cute Needle Felted Halloween…

$26.00

Yarn Wreath Front Door Wreat…

$39.00

Autumn Natural Table Set-Wal…

$28.00

Wool Felt Play Food – Turkey…

$49.95

Lady of the Harvest

$48.00

Needle Felted Balls — Autum…

$10.00

Tan Woolly Felt Acorn Earrin…

$12.00

Felted Slippers, ORANGE, RUS…

$48.00

Vintage Pumpkin Felt Skirt w…

$75.00

Vintage 1960s Frederick & Ne…

$54.00

Felted Soap Two Pieces of Pu…

$32.00

Felt Art Doll Hanging Orname…

$12.50

Autumn Harvest Pillow

$20.50

needle felted rat with pumpk…

$55.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Cabin Fever


Tricks are for Kids!

This is my entry in the Olioboard Alice in Wonderland challenge. 

I think a modern day Alice would be inspired by the whimsical style of Art Nouveau. Her dear friend, the white rabbit was the initial spark of influence for the board and the Art Nouveau tiffany lamp and Victorian tile initiated the design scheme.

Summer Cottage


Ultraviolet

Once the color associated with royalty, purple is a rich and regal color. Deep purple represents luxury with a touch of romance.  On the color wheel, purple is a secondary color achieved my mixing blue and red pigments.  The hue varies according to the proportions of blue and red pigments to either a bright violet or soothing lavender blue.

Analogous color schemes of red violet, violet, blue violet, blue naturally occur in nature and make for harmonious color arrangements.  Violet is the color associated with a meditative state and is represented by the third eye chakra. Lavender is fresh and visually calming and looks good paired with blues, pinks and white.

Hues of Purple

Designers Guild Textile

Designers Guild Textile

Designers Guild Textile

Floral Arrangement by CMC Design Studio

Color Board by CMC Design Studio

Olioboard by CMC Design Studio

 

 

 

 

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo

Even though Cinco  de Mayo—or the fifth of May—commemorates the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the French-Mexican War, it has evolved into a celebration of Mexican traditions and has become one big fiesta! However you decide you to celebrate this festive occasion, here are some things to inspire you to have a FIESTA GRANDE!




Here is a Treasury I curated on Etsy for the occasion:

Going to a Mexican Hat Dance by HappinNestHome on Etsy