9/29/2008

My Very First Blog Award!


"Blogging Friends Forever Gold Card"



Susan at Between Naps on the Porch gave me this "Blogging Friends Forever Gold Card"! Ohhhh my...I'm just so excited because this is my very first blog award! I feel so honored that Susan thought of me....she is such a dearheart! Thank you my friend, you are such a blessing to me!!!
PS....and just look at the expiration date...this is the best part...it's good until "Forever"!


There are three rules attached to this award: 1. You may only choose five people/blogs to give the award to. 2. Four have to be dedicated followers of your blog. 3. One has to be a new follower of your blog or live in another part of the world.

I'd love to present this award to some of my BFF's as follows:

Mary Ellen at Mary's (megardengal) Meanderings
http://megardengal.blogspot.com/

Rose at A Santamaker's Journey
http://santamakersjourney.blogspot.com/

Terrie at Terrie's Lil' Piece of Serenity!
http://terriedj.blogspot.com/

Gloria at Happy To Be
http://wwwhappytobe.blogspot.com/

Sally at Salmagundi
http://sallyssalmagundi.blogspot.com/

Susan, BFF!, thank you so much!!! You're the best!!!

If you haven't ever visited with Susan, please stop by her porch...she always has some of the most interesting and inspirational articles and photos!!! http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/


9/26/2008

The Tea Rose Bedroom


"Ahhhh...tis so sweet the scent of a tea rose"!

Welcome to my Tea Rose Bedroom! This room actually serves a dual purpose...it is my step-daughter Danielle's room when she is home and it also serves as our guest room. Danielle recently turned thirteen years old and it was time for the "Hello Kitty" theme to go. Yes, we just adored that pretty little kitty...the walls were bright orange and pink and I had even painted a "Hello Kitty" mural on one of the walls! Yes, I know...it was a bittersweet process...it's never easy when our children begin to grow up, however the time had come for a change and I was on a redecorating mission!

When I began thinking about this bedroom redo, my first step was to establish the room's purpose. I wanted to give Danielle a pretty, feminine bedroom and at the same time, I wanted our guests when they were visiting, to feel as though they were staying in a beautiful Bed & Breakfast! The perfect solution: A Tea Rose Bedroom!!!

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Okay, I need to back-up just a bit (hehe!). I must admit that doing a Tea Rose bedroom didn't just "pop" into my mind. To begin the redo...I needed a point of inspiration! Since this is a bedroom and the bed is the main focus...that is where I started! I began shopping for bedding...I shopped and shopped and shopped some more. Oh my, such tiring work...wink! I knew from previous experience that when I seen the perfect piece...I would know! I never "just settle"...when doing something of this nature, it has to really speak to my heart! That is when I found this beautiful bedding called "Tea Rose"! Ohhhh...you should have seen me do the happy dance! I just knew that this Tea Rose bedding would be perfect and I had found the inspiration and focus point for this decorating project!!! I also purchased the pretty scrolled iron bed...after all, that bedding needed the appropriate pretty frame! For those of you who share in the passion of interior decorating...you know that what I'm about to say is soooo true...first it was the bedding, then the bed frame...and then that led to the pretty "crown like" corona. This decorating process definitely has a "domino" effect...hehe!

I used a pretty "garden green" paint for the walls. This room was really beginning to take on a life of its own...tea roses, garden green, creamy whites, pinks & pale buttery yellows, it was soft and sweet, and romantic! Remember the movie, "The Horse Whisperer"? Well...if you listen real close...your room will begin to whisper to your heart...exactly what it needs!!! Decorating doesn't have to be a difficult or confusing process...just listen to your heart/room! Over time a certain style seemed to emerge in this Tea Rose bedroom...one I like to call "Garden Chic"!

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A close-up view of the Tea Rose bedding. I recently added a pale yellow matelasse coverlet and a few more decorative pillows! I like the mix of fabrics and patterns...I'm not one for that "matchy...matchy" feel! Mixing fabrics and patterns is really easily done...just keep things in the same color hue and be careful to not let one pattern over-ride the other...they should "build upon one another"....compliment one another! I also brought in a breakfast tray...just for a little Bed & Breakfast ambiance!


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See this little desk? It had it's beginnings as a plain and simple desk in a wood finish. I recently painted it a creamy white (eggshell)...added rose garland embellishments to the two bottom drawers and added vintage glass knobs. I was really pleased with the end result! The desk chair is one of my "treasure finds" ($25). I just couldn't pass this little antique beauty up...it has the prettiest little scroll designs on the top of the inside back of the chair...the cushion is an old faded, olive green toile. The rocking chair is another "treasure find"...bought at a yard sale for $5. I just recovered it with a beige and olive toile fabric that I got on sale for $1.50/yd...I have a total of $8 in this little rocker! And....if you look real close, you'll see that I added a little crystal candlelier above the desk (thank you, Laura for sharing this beauty with me)!

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My Precious Little Tea Cup Lamp

Isn't this just the prettiest little tea cup lamp that you've ever saw? I like to call it my "friendship lamp"....because it was a gift given to me by a very dear, sweet friend! My friend Gloria makes these little tea cup lamps! She is such a talented lady and she's just as sweet and precious as the lamps that she makes! Thank you so very much, Gloria!!! Every time I see this pretty little lamp, I think of you my friend!!!


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Here is a close-up of the bed corona....I draped a long swag curtain over and around it. Why just look at those precious little cherubs....they are hand-painted from Italy. When I seen them...they whispered to me...I had to have them!!! I found this pretty grapevine wreath...made with soft pink magnolias...little pale green berries and crystal beads! I really like how this adds interest above the bed!

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My little Italian cherubs! Just look at the hand-painted details! They sweetly play music as they watch over your dreams!


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We have an old piano in this bedroom. Oh my, it's a bit out of tune, however the little garden cherub doesn't seem to mind! I had been looking for one of these masonary cherubs...they were all a bit too expensive for my "redo" budget...and then on one of my "antiquing trips" I found him ($15). He was green but I used a white wash over the top to tone down the green. On the end of the piano is an old ironstone pitcher filled with...yes, you guessed it...tea roses!!!

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Ahhhh...tis the sweet scent of a tea rose! Yes, the garden cherub has a tiny little tea rose in the palm of his hand...he's really enjoying the scent of it!


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Well my friends, I do hope that you enjoyed my Tea Rose bedroom! I think that this room is finished...at least for the time being...wink! Thank you so much for visiting!!!

Warmest wishes...Chari

9/09/2008


A Birthday Tribute


gr8friend


Happy Birthday to my Dearest Friend, Cindy!


I just love how God works...it seems that when you least expect it...He pours out a blessing into your life!!! I met my friend Cindy on Rate My Space. It seemed that from the very beginning we had a special connection...we share so many interests...the love for our families, the love of God, and even a love for interior design. Although our friendship has developed via the internet, I can honestly say that Cindy is one of my dearest and closest friends!!! I call her "Sis" because we really are sisters...soul sisters! Cindy has helped me through some pretty dark times...she has a great gift of listening...I have poured my heart out to her on more than just one occasion and she has always so gently held it in her hand!!! I just know that I could share anything about me with my Sis...she never judges me...but always has such words of wisdom...such compassion and healing!!! I know that she prays for me faithfully...her greatest gift to me!!! My Sis is the greatest...she's so beautiful and vibrant...she's so intelligent and wise...she's so loving and compassionate...and she is one of the most talented women that I know!!! I just know that she's a blessing to everyone who meets her...my Sis is the best!!!

Some people may call it "Serendipity" (...good fortune, luck, an aptitude for making a desirable discovery by accident) that Cindy and I met...but I know differently!!! It was no accident that we met...it was in God's divine plan!!! You ask how I know that to be so...well, it's just one of those things that you know...that you know...that you know!!!

So on this day...September 9th...I thank God for creating and giving this world such a precious gift...my Sis, Cindy!!! Happy Birthday, Sis!!! My birthday gift and prayer to you is...that the Lord return to you...all the blessings, joy, and love that you have given so freely to me and to so many others!!! May this be the best birthday yet....and may you have many, many more!!! I love you, Cindy!!!



Your Sis....Chari

9/01/2008


Happy Birthday Dearest Lynne!

My Dear Friend, I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you! You are just the sweetest and kindest soul! You are like a ray of sunshine...always brightening my days and the days of so many others! I count you as one of the blessings that God has given me and I cherish our friendship!

May your special day be filled with all of the things that you love and long for...May the Lord bless you with all of His richest blessings...

Happy Birthday, my friend!

Love you...Chari