Sep 15, 2009

Whites



When I am asked what my favorite color is I always say pink and white. I love white! I was so excited when Kathleen, Faded Charm, started to host White Wednesday! Make sure to stop by to see the list of participants in this fun weekly meme. I am always amazed by not only the gorgeous collection of whites, but by the ingenious way so many clever women find to use and display them in their homes.

I looked for months last Fall and Winter to find the right lamps for my newly decorated family room. I really wanted vintage or at least lamps that looked vintage, but I needed floor lamps. I think that's a difficult combination to find. I love my husband dearly, but he just doesn't have a clue when it comes to decorating! And he would be the first to tell you that. He doesn't even care what I do in the house or where or how I find it, as long as it looks good in the end and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg. He just says, "do your thing". He happened to be with me one day when I wanted to stop at Home Goods. He's a pretty easy going guy and happy to please, so we stopped to look one more time for lamps. I quickly walked through - and past - the lamps with a glance. Nope, nothing again. I wouldn't have thought that my sweet man had even heard me chatting away for all those weeks about lamps and vintage and color and fabric. Evidently, I was wrong! Sandy called me on the phone in Home Goods and said, "I found lamps. Let's go." I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw these gorgeous white wrought iron floor lamps with a vintage flare. They came with shades, which were also perfect - sage green with dusty pink roses. They were perfect lamps for our new room and I learned something new about my husband. He hears me!


I am hanging on to summer as long as I can! I really do know it's time to pack away my seas shells and put out the acorns, but I just can't do it yet! It feels like we missed the entire summer at home this year due to our sons wedding and lots of necessary traveling. I don't think we've been home for three straights weeks all summer long. When you live in Michigan, you CHERISH every single day of summer, because they are far and few between! So I've decided to enjoy my summer decorating for a while - haven't decided yet for how long...I might have to replace my shells with Santa this year!

One of the things I love about white is the many shades of white. Nature provides the most gorgeous samples.


This little white bird serves a double purpose - it hides a key in it's tummy!


A gift from my daughter, this white dried hydrangea wreath hangs on our fireplace all summer.


Last summer when my friend CeeKay, Thinkin' of Home, came to visit us for a month we did lots of shopping - surprise, surprise! We visited one of my favorite shops in town and found a gorgeous wall hanging that we both fell in love with. It was a framed wreath, which was filled with lovely vintage items. I had just redecorated our guest room and one wall remained unadorned. Both C and I had the same thought to make a similar wall hanging for my guest room. We took a picture of the original and kept our eyes open for vintage items to use for it. I found this gorgeous little white beaded hand bag, a damaged but still beautiful white hankie, white cotton gloves, and a precious little white hat. I placed the items in an under the bed storage drawer and forgot about the project! Now that I have revisited the storage drawer I'm going to find an appropriate frame and complete my project. I'll post the finished project - that will keep me on track to get it finished!


Finally, I want to show you what a talented daughter I have! For Mother's Day she made me this precious white cotton nightie. She has always loved smocking and decided last Winter to try her hand at it. Well, who knew? She's found her niche'! She BUILT her own wood pleater, bought some patterns, and started smocking. I believe this nightie was the third item she made. She made her girls each dresses first - simply gorgeous! So many people have asked her to teach them and to buy some of her creations that she started her own web page, Izzy Bee Baby and has been invited to teach hand smocking for Joanne Fabric. Stop by to see Julie's site.




Have a wonderful week, ladies!

17 comments:

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Wow...you were ambitious! Lots of yummy pictures here. Yes, I remember that project. Snap to it woman!! I need to see if I have anything white, oooooh, I think I just thought of something. Yeah!

Kim said...

Hey, I have that same bird!!!! I LOVE the vintage purse - I collect them. Great post! Thanks! Kim

Rust: Vintage Inspired Design said...

Gorgeous Wednesday whites!!! Happy day!!
xojanis

pam said...

Beautiful...that purse is really fun. I will have to go check your daughters site out...I don't understand smocking AT ALL...but I love it.

A Hint of Home said...

Kathy, you have so many beautiful white things. Love the little dress. It is so sweet. I have always loved that white guest room.
Enjoy your day!

Heather said...

love the new lamp! and i love how you have displayed your sea shells. very pretty. and that nightie! oooh so pretty.

cindy-stitches-n-stuff.blogspot.com said...

OMG this is one of the best blogs today. What amazing things, I really can't get over them. I've got to go back and look at them again.

I love the smocking. I've got to learn. I don't think I have enough patience, but I want a nightly so bad. I'll let you know if I do.

cindy@stitches

Peonies & Magnolias said...

Gorgeous lamps, lace, gloves, purse and nightgown. Just perfect.

Sandy

Lady Pamela said...

Your lamps are gorgeous. Your DH did a good job.
-smiles-

Rebecca said...

Hello
Thank you for stopping by
Wonderful whites today
Blessings
Rebecca

aspiritofsimplicity said...

you have so many beautiful white things. I love the milk glass!

Lori said...

Kathy, thanks for visiting me...i love all of your whites...the beaded bag that you have is just gorgeous...i love the nightie that your daughter made for you...the smocking is just so sweet...she really is very talented!!!

Pink Slippers said...

There are so many thingies you shared that are precious. I love your picks of white. The purse...gorgeous.
Wendy

Mimi said...

I have been following your blog for awhile and love everything about it ~ I checked out your daughter's site and LOVE her smocking! The gown she made you was beautiful. I'm getting ready to finish a guest bedroom and had thought about all white; now after seeing yours, white it will be ~ beautiful!! Also would like to share my daughter's site for her embroidery "store." It's found at themonogrammonkey.blogspot.com ~ hope you enjoy looking and will share it with any of your friends who have children/grandchildren. We have 5 granddaughters and my daughter and I both love to sew ~ that's how the business came to be (becaise of many requests from friends for outfits like all our girls). Anyway, love your posts and I'm sure your daughter will do great because her dresses are just beautiful. Also love the post about your trip. We've done that with all but the youngest 2 of our girls and there's nothing like it.

Lisa said...

Kathy,
Love your WW post. Love your whole blog! I want the beautiful smocked nightie hanging up in the photo. Thanks for reading me, I'll be following you too. Lisa

Sue said...

Hi Kathy,
Love your Wednesday Whites, your daughter is so talented, and I plan to check her site out,
I read your post on taking your granddaughter to Disney, so enjoyed it. We have been with our two youngest grand daughters and had a blast, there is something so wonderful about seeing Disney through the eyes of a child, I guess it is because we are still children at heart too. lol
Blessings,
Sue

storyteller said...

You are one talented gal! Love all your whites ... especially that little dove. Beautiful smocking reminds me of my grandmother's handiwork.
Hugs and blessings,