Create & Decorate lit house

This lit house was designed for Create & Decorate mag. Will be posting other published magazine designs soon along with some designs from books. Will also keep posted the kit I'm involved in with Sterling Innovations and Barnes & Noble due out on shelves Fall 09.

Look what Ty and Amanda created

Is this good design or what?

This picture was coincidentally taken on the anniversary of my dad's death.

I can see so much of my dad in his little face, the bright eyes filled with

love, that was dad. Gabe is the sweetest and happiest little guy.

Merry Christmas to you and yours

Ornament of Joy

The ornament, a gift from a friend. Friend's name: Joy!

Window Couture

Check out this link below. Tried to get a picture from it to wet your whistle but to no avail.

These windows always makes me want to move to New York to work on windows- BUT you'll have to check out Treasures of the Heart Windows 2009- always exciting and this year we've got some awesome ideas to bring to life- Can't Wait!

Must mention something is in the works for something quite extraordinary and exciting for Christmas- well actually 2 things way outside of my normal schedule of decor. Will keep you posted.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/12/27/fashion/20091227-street-feature/index.html?hp#

Look for Christmas (labeled: Christmas decor, Oct 2008, Treasures of the Heart) "and other displays from Treasures in future posts.

Returning home after Christmas decorating near Eugene, Or.

Southwest of Eugene, on a old country road to Lorane. Dec. 16, 2008
This old country road was not the road less traveled by.

. . . Apparently I-5 was, that came next.

Le tree

I will be giving tutorials in the future about decorating
your Christmas tree since people always ask for tips when I'm working in stores and homes.
I plan to cover lighting, using fabric, maybe doing a piece on
fabulous toppers. This one has an ornate shelf inverted for a crown-ing touch. Regal and humble Christmas...says it all.
Seriously, it's all stuff in the house. Granted I'm a designer and I have some great stuff
but I've used crazy things on the tree before with fabulous results. I will also be posting
some photos from a few clients' homes (anonymously for their protection of course)

Le Jesus under le tree

Love the vintage nativity baby Jesus found a few days before I needed to decorate my own tree. (the gift of eternal life is free but this little baby cost 4.00 at the local thrift store) I'm always so proud of myself for getting our own tree up. My husband would feel so slighted if we didn't have a decorated tree saying I'll do every other tree in the country side-not ours? what gives? I create ours on the fly and gather things from my studio, office, recycle or wherever. In my book Fresh Ideas in Decoupage (available Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders) there are notes regarding the things I've placed on trees over the years. Basically anything and everything is fair game.

lighting trees

I'm very often asked how I go about lighting a tree. . . from the bottom to the top or vice versa ?? It's one thing to be told, yet another to actually see a professional string lights. Recently someone requested I make a video of how I light trees for my clients. I will do that at some point. It is done differently for custom various purposes but the technique used for clients in general and how I learned at Macy's I will show in a video and will let you know when this is posted.

Clean Traditional Welcoming

This picture is a little dark. I'll be glad to get my new photoshop program.

There is so much about decorating in this home that I love. The clients are really great and I just love this house. They have this really sweet lab too that always greets me with restraint and kindness- no jumping like my Pearly. (One day I may elaborate on our obedience classes. Though at this point I think I'm content to block it out.)

And, this family actually has a working catapult- how's that for livin' large?!

A Wildlife Safari Christmas

Before adding in the raspberry ribbon.

Safari so good . . .

Above- lit spheres from Pottery Barn- love.
The bronze giraffes are stunning, don't you think? That floor lamp needs editing. . . :) not just from the room but from the picture. that's funny huh.





Above and below: Addressed Mantle decor differing perspective shots.

Home Christmas shot

Dec. 2007
There are so many great things about this home for Christmas Decor. When I'm able I'll post closeup and wonderful aspects to this home and their decor. The couple that live here have incredible taste and I love the look!

Where will love lead us?

Toasty impressions

This toasted bread became part of our thanksgiving day dinner. We have much to be thankful for. I'm so happy to have found a way of communicating my work as it inspires me. Thanks for looking and listening.

Wood you have Joy?

Chandeliers! Switch from Ceiling mount to Plug-in!

Instructions for changing your new ceiling mount chandelier to a plug will be posted early Feb. 09

As promised I'll be working on the how-to step by step photos showing you (yep you!) how to switch your ceiling mount chandelier to a plug. Love plug-in chandeliers- such a beautiful moveable feast - take it anywhere the mood hits you. Outside even.

The instructions will be clear and it's very easy to do, I promise! & You'll feel so proud that you've done it yourself without the help of someone with a heavy nasty ole toolbelt working on it, if'n you know what I mean. tee hee.

Cathedral of Dreams

Cathedral of Dreams blog begins.
Remember :

"It all begins with a dream"

See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them and God himself will be the action feast.

Conception Inception

after months of trial and error blog building with type.pad I finally got the hint (after getting my tail kicked, and, as they say, having it handed back to me.) I went with blogspot.

Blogspot had worked for me well enough early on with another blog so I decided to put here the ideas that had been gestating for some time. The process of posting and backblogging Cathedral of Dreams began sometime around Oct/Nov. 2008. Keeping fingers crossed but I'm pretty on track- Full publishing Feb. 2009-

Cathedral of Dreams (c) concept was born in 2007. (nts check dates)

I-feel so good!

This Eiffel Tower was featured in Romantic Homes as things "We Love" (!) This project comes from my book and one design from things from my manufacturing company called Off the Streets. This company (OTS) was created circa 2001 to provide help for my disabled sister who was facing homelessness. She is doing well and has become a volunteer herself. Sometimes things can go wrong in a hurry and all you need is someone.

when you embrace life everything follows

I have a little story.
A beautiful box came my way. I'm doing the dishes and look outside my window and there's this little box ". . . hum, what could that be? Could it be a birthday present? Nahhhh, that's not it..humm. Well, I brought it in immediately seeing it was from my kind and sweet & oh so talented Tonia. How cool is that, I mean seriously. My heart began to beat a just a little faster. Out slid the little folded paper with the sweetest little love note.

And then. I opened the box.

And then there was another- but this one was a purple stunner. ..hum???
Have you ever gotten goosebumps when opening a box? It's a most pleasant sensation and highly recommended.

". . . why, this is peculiar." I had just been thinking about Paris and then, all of a sudden I'm reading something from Paris with instructions on how to consume the lovely treats - from - get this- Paris!
"....hummmm that's funny?"

but "consume"? Never.

Well, ok, maybe just one. I swoon but wait- there's more. I could cry, the beauty of the timing and everything else.

Naughty naughty and oh so nice YOU are. Bless my soul? You sure did.
Sweet Love & Paris. What a fit.