Great Gift Idea!

Okay, I get a moment to brag.

My kids gave me the best gift this past Mother's Day.
Inspired by stories of my childhood on the West Coast,
 the garden my parents had and my love of succulents and cactus,

they conspired to give me the gift that keeps on giving.
I think it is a lovely present. 

This may be given for so many occasions,

(i.e. housewarming, hospital, birthday...keep going)...

They came up with this idea on their own.

I cannot take any credit for it.

Every day when I look at it on my desk, 

I think of them.

They bought the bowl at TJ Maxx,

 the cactus (cacti?) at Lowes,

the pebbles at Target!

What do you think?
I love my indoor, desk sized garden!

An Abstract Backdrop!

An abstract backdrop with a curated setting.

The paintings,

"Splurge" & "Beaucoup De Colours"

 are from my shop,

this is what they look like

enlarged on canvases.

Contact me for pricing at my Etsy Shop.

1. Raindrops Mirror  2. Cowhide Rug   
3. Room Divider 4. Side Table
5. Love Seat  6. Wall Sconces 
 7. Coral Throw Pillow  8. Blue Stool 

9.  Sequoia Coffee Table  10. Turquoise Vase   
11. Tray  12. Tangerine Lamps  13. Stupa Vase  
14. Schumacher Chiang Mai Dragon Pillows

Can A Dorm Be Stylish On A Dime?

Here are some fetching ideas for dorm rooms

 I have been collecting on Pinterest.

The first room has pretty elements that could easily 
be found in a thrift store or consignment shop.

The white mirror, brass lamp, and accessories all full of character.

I love the graphic element behind the cliche' dorm bed.

Notice the covered bulletin board for jewelry. 

via Pinterest - Kara Paslay Designs

So, what are some items to be looking for?

1) Vintage finds that will add charm.

2) A cozy rug (hide that dorm floor).

3) Floor pillows for comfort and friends.

4) Paint your cork board.

( for a full tutorial here).

The Happy Home Blog

5) A pallet (Paint it. If you cannot hang it, prop it up)

6) Lots of photos of friends and family, display liberally!

via Pinterest

7) Commando Hooks!  Love Commando hooks!

(Hang purses, backpack, hats, pictures, scarves...think outside the box.

8) Keep the bedding simple and take a warm throw, 

maybe down...

(that way you can change accessories and change the look).

9) An inexpensive swag light from Ikea adds light and ambience.

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

So, there you go.

Some simple tips, a little different than what you find on every

college list.

See how you can make your dorm, look like the next best thing to 

home. 

Playing with Pink Florals!

Soooo, I find myself playing with my "style" in watercolors lately.

I guess it is like exercise, trying to stretch myself.

For me the beauty in the painting with this medium is the unrestraint, 

the way it runs and bleeds,

or pools and saturates with color.

Then it dries.

 I have worked with them for a while

 and

there is still degree of mystery with watercolors.

What do you think?

The Power of White!

Andrea Hurley Photography

Tinn Lily

Vintage Home Decor

ART by Marchell Piery

Hideminy

Sara Hand Bendrix

via Pinterest

Shop Fun Soap

A Few Blogs I Love!

This morning I had a dear friend send me a link to a blog that she follows.

She shared it with me because she thought I would enjoy the read.

She was soooo right!

I follow it too!

I had to smile.

So, I thought today I would give you 5 blogs,

 in no particular order,

 that I enjoy.

I will continue to do so from time to time. 

If you have the chance, stop by and check them out.

 If there is a "Must Read" for me,

you think I should go see,

don't forget to leave it in the "comments" below.

My French Country Home.

Unpretentious, beautiful photographs leaves you with the feeling you have travelled to see an old friend in the French Countryside.  Love this!

http://myfrenchcountryhome.blogspot.com/

Bright, Bold & Beautiful

Fun and Bright, just like it says.

I think I first saw Laura Trevey's blue crab at an art festival a few years back.

Maybe in, Chesapeake, VA or Fairhope, AL...

I'm not sure, but I like her art and was delighted to stumble across her blog!

BrightBoldBeautiful.com

Marcus Design

I follow the author of this blog on both,

 her blog and Pinterest.

It is clean, current and youthful.

Marcus Design

Centsational Girl

This column is full of tips, how to's, home improvement.

Everything she does is stylish and creative.

It is an inspiration to get going,

on that project you have been putting off.

Blue Gray Dresser	Peacock Blue Bamboo Chest	Silver Leaf Vanity Chair	Browse All Furniture Makeovers

Centsational Girl

A Cup Of Joe

Witty, humorous, trendy...

This is the one both my friend and I read!

You will like it too!!

A Cup Of Jo

Soooo, don't forget,

if you have a blog you think I should see,

leave the link in my comments.

For today...

Happy Reading!!

Bring the Beach Indoors!

Aqua - Spring - Entrance

Go to the Beach without ever leaving the City...

or

Make it work at the Beach House!

Mix it up,

Add some books,

A pretty box...

Ahhh... :)

Limezinnias Designs

Pottery Barn

Pottery Barn

CB2

Neiman Marcus

Neiman Marcus

Light in A Worm Hole

Turquoise Abstract!

 Here is a new turquoise abstract painting I will be adding to my store!

It would look lovely in so many settings...white, turquoise, lime.
Because it conjures up images of water and gardens I have titled it,
"Watergarden"

It is the perfect way to welcome spring.

Where would you put this new art!

Limezinnias Design

via "A Thinking Life"

Limezinnias Design

Layla Grace

Living Room

Limezinnias Design

Trio!

Here is how they all look together!

A trio!