Playing with textures...

Hello!  I'm back...my computer died on me and I finally had to face the fact that I was going to have to buy a new one...it's not that my old laptop was ancient or anything, I just bought it last July, but it's been a "lemon" ever since I got it.  Good riddens!!!  So now that I have a working computer again, I'm back to trying to tackle Photoshop!  All I can say is, if I didn't have the help of my uber talented photography friend Traci, I would NEVER...let me say that again...NEVER be able to use Photoshop!!! It's tough!  I have a long way to go before I know what I'm doing, but here's a few photos I altered with textures...

{carnations in vintage teacups from my home}

{a "carte postale" overlay on a photo from Halen's room...this one is fun to play around with}

{adding an old polaroid effect to one of the photos from the berry picking excursion from last Fall}

Enjoy your weekend...hope you find a little time to create!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tracey

Awaiting Spring...

Can you tell the long Chicago Winter is getting to me???  I've finished another vignette in my dining room and I'm still sticking with the "infuse Spring wherever possible" motto!  Somehow it really does seem to help!

Thank you to my mom for making me these cute little burlap sacks {wish I could take the credit, but you know I don't sew}...I can already think of a dozen things I want to do with them!

Well that's my quick post for today...if you're wondering about all of the vintage French flash cards, I'm not using them just because I'm a self-professed Francophile, but because I need a little practice...you see, I'm  finally going to live my dream of going to France...my husband and I head to Paris the second week of April...for one whole glorious week!!!!!!!!!

Now for some good news for all of YOU...if you haven't already, swing by Dreamy White's blog to enter Maria's fabulous giveaway...while you're there, look around a bit...you're going to LOVE it, if you don't already!!!

{Dreamy Whites}

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Tracey

Musical Furniture...

Well, that's what it feels like sometimes around here, since I seem to need to change and rearrange almost daily!  I took a few pictures yesterday in Halena's room...the last of the switcheroo results...the small dresser that is now the side table for her bed used to be in the {old} dining room...when I switched the rooms, there was no longer a spot for it...but I'm happy with how it looks in her room (for now!)...

If any of the pictures in today's post look a little "funny," it's because I was playing around in Picnik...just trying to keep things interesting...I kind of like the "fuzzy" look for some of the photos...gives it a vintagey feel.  I'm actually getting ready to take the plunge and try and learn Photoshop...yikes...I think it will be able to do more of what I'd really like to do with my pictures...my friend Traci has generously agreed to try and teach me the basics - thank goodness for friends!

I have been going around the house adding fresh flowers here and there to try and infuse a little Spring into our home...hydrangeas for Halena's room...

{same picture as the first one, just more sepia added}

I feel a little lost without a big project looming over my head...much to my husband's dismay...maybe it's time to head into the inspiration files and see what triggers an idea! :)

Hoping all of you have a really wonderful weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tracey

Bathed in Light...

I could've called this post Switcheroo Part II, but what fun would that be?!  I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and enjoyed their Valentine's day with those you love most in the world!

This room does in fact get an amazing amount of light all afternoon!  I played around with my camera settings a bit, thanks to the fabulous tips from my resident photography friend, Traci ...and I am loving the results!  I didn't do any editing at all this time around and relied only on what the camera could do...thank you Traci for the tips and the help!!!  Who knew all of those buttons actually did something important :)

The "bones" of this room are pretty much in place, but I still have some vignettes to work on...no inspiration was coming to me in some areas of the room, so I thought I would just wait it out...gives me something to blog about in another post, right?! :)

I had the privilege and the joy of meeting some truly kindred spirits this weekend at Jen's Bloggy Girl's Get Together!!!  How wonderful it was to spend time meeting fellow bloggers...everyone was so kind and fun and I loved every minute of our get together!!!  And Amy...you were a fabulous host and we all so thoroughly enjoyed your home and your hospitality!!!  Looking forward to the next one girls! :)

...wishing everyone a happy new week!  I'm off to watch a movie with my sweetie...

Tracey

A window to Spring...

On Saturday I was able to go to a mini flea market...I was practically giddy with excitement, as I was starting to go through serious flea market withdrawal!  This gorgeous, chippy, peely, grey and cream colored old window was one of the lovely items that came home with me...

I still had a corner in my {new} dining room that needed some inspiration...and this window did the trick!

Along with the hyacinth bulbs...my little babies...that finally bloomed.  Can I just tell you that when you walk in the house, you can smell these incredible flowers even though they are 2 rooms away!!  It might be snowing up a storm outside, but in this little corner...it's Spring!

I am in love with this window...

It will be a fun spot to change out from month to month (you know how much I like to" redo")!

...vintage gardening papers from the 1800's...

I'll be back on Monday with the rest of the dining room.  Thank you for taking the time to come by my little blog and see what decorating projects and crazy rearranging I've been up...I am forever grateful for all of your support and kindness!!!

You girls are the BEST!!!  Enjoy the rest of your week...

 

Tracey

Cafe...

Well it's no Starbuck's, but it is one of my favorite spots in the house...this little corner is one I didn't show you when I photographed my {new} living room/creative space last week.  I needed a spot for all of those white cups that were on the bottle rack, so I started putting them on this little iron shelf and somehow it all morphed into a mini cafe idea...

I must say, sitting in there with the sunlight streaming through the bay window, magazine in hand, sipping a latte is pure heaven...too bad it doesn't happen very often...ha!...seems those little ones are ALWAYS in need of something :)

...homemade vanilla sugar anyone?...

...how about a fresh muffin?...

I'm still working on the dining room part of the switcheroo, hopefully I'll finish that up this week.  We've been dealing with taking my son to the allergist and trying to get him back to healthy...seems he's developed allergy induced asthma...so I'm a little behind on everything, including visiting all of you...life sometimes throws you a couple of curve balls...right now we just want our sweet little boy back to healthy!

Have a great start to your week everyone!!!

Tracey

Winter Party

Recently, my dear friend Susan, of Hometown Girl, featured a Winter Party table setting on her blog...well, to put it simply, I fell in love with this gorgeous table setting and asked Susan if I could feature her beautiful work on my blog as well...graciously she agreed!

Take a look...

Don't you just adore this antique table??  Especially against the white snow?!!!

I love all of the elements that Susan used...

milk glass dishes

vintage silverware

old sheet music

a touch of fresh greenery

...and *sigh* I had to have her make me one of those dreamy burlap table runners...thank you Susan!!! 

Did you notice the party favors at each place setting?  Susan bought white fleece scarves and then made those lovely pins to go with them...she even used one of my favorite things in making them...mother of pearl buttons (really, there is no end to what you can do with those vintage white buttons)!  It's all perfection in my book!

You can find more of Susan's beautiful work in her etsy shop Paperhill...just maybe she'll make you a creamy burlap table runner too :)

And for a little SHOP news...the next issue of Jeanne d' Arc Living magazine is up on my website for pre-order right now.  It is due out by February 26th.  I'll leave you with a little peek at it...to get you through the rest of the week! :)

Enjoy your weekend my friends!!!  And thank you so very much for all of the incredibly kind and encouraging comments you left for me about my Switcheroo...you girls are the absolute best motivation to get things done around my house!!! You help my creative spirit to soar...thank you for making me feel so good!!!

{images 1-5: all styling and photography by Susan Duane, images 6-11: Jeanne d' Arc Living}

Tracey