Finishing touches in the dining room.

After finishing the chair pads, and table runner, the dining room table seemed to be standing alone in the middle of the room with the new fabric. Having nothing else in the room wearing the design, it was like the game we played in grade school....."and the cheese stands alone".

I made a simple pillow, and ruffle for the front of the iron crib that I'm using for a love seat in the dining room..... to tie the room together.

I don't want the new fabric to take over the room, because I am more of a shabby chic kind of gal...but I DO like a little "French" added to the mix.

I feel this is "just enough" for me.

As the winds blow in another blast from the frigid Siberian region, I'll be tucked inside...working on another project here at our little cottage at the lake. 
Have a great week!!
xoxoxoxo

Chair pads...crossed off the list!!!

I've been seeing spring blooms on some of the other blogs that I visit.

It gives me hope that all of this snow, and cold will soon end, and we too will see what is hidden beneath the frozen earth.

sigh.....

Okay.....this is so not me.

Color.

A friend of mine had a bolt of material, and was willing to share.

I've been wanting to make chair pads for the dining chairs ever since I got them.

I was planning on doing white covers.

However......the hubster is NOT a delicate man.

He is more like a man that lives in the woods kind of guy.

Needless to say, white was out!!!

I didn't really want ruffles, because I love the detail on the chairs.

So this is what I came up with.

The fabric is very heavy...like upholstery.

It's really stiff, so it's not laying on the seat quite right for now.

The ruffles on the table runner are also stiff!!  lol

I used what was left from the vintage runner used for the hearts (see previous post) on this runner for a little bit of a vintage look.

As you can see, the sides of the chair pads are not laying down because they are too heavy, and STIFF!!! Hopefully they will be okay with time.

I'm not sure I like this look, since I'm so used to "white".

I plan to make a couple of pillows for the crib, and also a bedskirt for it.  Maybe to tie it all together?

I just don't want too much color in here.  Ya know what I mean?

One more thing crossed off the winter to do list!!!  Yay!
Have a good week!
Debbie
xoxoxoxoxo

Inspiration from "Romantic Country".

Good Saturday morning to you!

While working on projects here at Lakehouse, I decided to take a break, and look through the latest "Romantic Country" magazine.

There were lots of design ideas in this issue.

The image on the left gave an idea for lace in place of a mirror on a vintage medicine cabinet.

I LOVE the photo, but what really caught my eye was the heart hanging on the knob of the cabinet.

Making hearts is not something I do very well, but after seeing the one in the photo, I thought I would give it a try.

Mine did not turn out as vintage looking as the one in the magazine, but I am okay with the end result.

I used linen from an old runner, a doily similar to the one in the photo, and some of the crinkled seam binding that is always tucked in a drawer here at the lakehouse.

I truly love the original heart in the magazine photo, and would like to give credit to the person that made it. The only names associated with the image are Fifi, and Mark.
So now I will get back to sewing the chair covers for the dining chairs.
Have a super Saturday!
Debbie
xoxoxoxoxo

"American Sniper" a dose of reality.

I awoke to sunshine this morning.

As I lay in my bed, with warm covers drawn close, I replayed the images in my head from the night before.

The Mister and I went to see "American Sniper".

I've never been to a movie that kept the audience so still....except for a few groans, and people catching their breath at certain scenes, no one spoke.

At the end, I didn't know if I should stand and salute, or just stay in my seat and weep.

You could have heard a pin drop.

No one spoke as we all left the theater.

No one smiled, or even nodded to each other.

We were all absorbed in our own thoughts about what we had just seen.

For me, it was reality.

As we trudged back to the truck in the frigid winter blast, we were silent.

When we walked into our house, the Mister said how blessed he felt to have a warm home to return to.

Have I become so desensitized by what I see on the news, that I have lost touch with reality concerning what our men and women experience while serving our country?  I think so.
It's not only the physical pain for them...it's what goes on in their souls.
I NEEDED to see this movie! I needed a dose of reality.
Clint Eastwood pulls no punches with this movie. It will stick with me for a while.
There is a lot of strong language...but that's what keeps it true to life.
Debbie
xoxoxoxo

Mason Jar Light...LOVE it!!!

Brrrrrrr......another snowy day here at Lakehouse!

That didn't bother me today, though.

When Lisa, the mail lady, was at the door with three boxes, I was pleased as punch!

I've been waiting for the mason jar lamp for over the kitchen sink to arrive.

The pulleys, lamp, and bulbs all came at the same time!

I love the vintage cloth cord!

The Marconi bulb looks really neat inside the light fixture.

I'm happy with the way it looks next to the jars above the sink.

Another project crossed off the list of things to get done over the winter months.
I started to paint the guest room....but it's taking forever!!! Maybe because I keep stopping!!! ugh.
It's one of those projects that I just can't stay focused on. Why is that???!!!
Happy Valentine's Day everyone!
Debbie
xoxoxo

Phloofing....

Yesterday was a day of phloofing here at the lakehouse.

I took the last of the snowy twigs off the mantle, and replaced them with urns, and my favorite votive cups.

A chair was delivered on Friday, so furniture was moved around to make room for the new addition.

An ottoman was also delivered.

I made a cover out of an old grain sack that was saved for this piece....it's not professional...but it works here at Lakehouse.

After owning a shop, it's really difficult for me to NOT dress my home like a store.

I'm so used to having lots of "stuff" around me, I tend to decorate my home like I'm dressing a display window!!

I try to decorate tastefully, but sometimes the only thing missing are price tags!

When cutting back, it seems something else ends up taking up the space.

Like the iron crib.

Does it really need a garden bench in front of it?!

The wire cloche looks rather whimsical with the bunny, don't you think?

ugh.

(Notice the smaller wire cloche recently added to the shelf above the crib)....

I JUST CAN'T STOP MYSELF, I TELL YOU!!!!

Oh well, we all have our little problems....right?

What can I say, I'm a collector. Of many things.

At least I'm not a hoarder! I know that, because you can still see my floors! They are underneath all the furniture...and some dust, and cat hair.

Yep...life is good....maybe a little crowded, but good.
Have a happy week!
Debbie
xoxoxoxoxo

A "chili" post.

It's another VERY cold day here in the Great Lakes State of Michigan.

A great day for making a big pot of chili.

And that, my dears, is exactly what I did!

It sure warms you up on a day like today.

I think it even tastes better when you warm it up the next day!

The cough I had is getting better.

I get tired easily...but do feel so much better than I did.

I hope you are all well, and enjoying the longer days we are experiencing.

                                        Have a happy weekend!

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Some inspiration, and Valentine Decor.

My chalkboard might not be as cool as the others you see here in blogland, but I have fun using mine for each holiday, and new season that comes along.

I've seen some awesome artwork on some!!!

This is what you get with a "simple" person...if you catch my drift.

One of my favorite bloggers is Kris, from Junk Chic Cottage.

She inspires me every time I visit her blog!

Kris is one of the nicest people I've met here in blogland, also.

Her style is "one of a kind".

Recently she shared her little angel sitting in a chair holding a Valentine pillow.

I've been thinking about this rabbit I made a few years ago.

She was done all "country", and I wanted to do her a little more "vintage".

Seeing Kris's angel finally got me off my bum, and I got to work on my rabbit that's been stuffed away in a closet for so long.

I removed all the country clothes, and made some things from the collection of vintage doilies, and lace I have here at Lakehouse.

I even added some wings!

She looks kind of cute in her little babushka, and vintage brooch.

I don't usually decorate a lot for Valentine's Day....but I do like using the chalkboard to greet visitors as they come in.

I saved some vintage cards I gave my girls when they were young, too.

They decorate my farm cupboard every year.

I hope February brings joy to your home, and your heart!
Have a wonderful week.
Debbie
xoxoxoxo