All Aboard for our Train Case Swap & FUN at Joy's House!

Missing in action????? I bet that's what you think!

Well almost...

We bought our house back in February 2013 & ever since it's been a crazy re-model & move merry go round.  In between trying to heard the goat rodeo of contractors & take care of "life" & work I've had my hands FULL!!!!!!  In June (this year) I got a pass!  "Daddy Darling" (that's one of hubby's nick names) said go play with your girls for your birthday!  He didn't have to tell me twice!  

One of the things we did while there was to do our Train Case Swap.  This started A LONG TIME AGO!  Back in January 2013 Joy Campbell came up with the idea & we all agreed.  Little did we know that of the 6 that started (Cindy Craine dropped out due to having the shingles) 3 of us would sell our houses & move.  Not only did we move we did HUGE re-models.  Needless to say the Train Case became a derailment!  18 months latter we got together to exchange the cases that traveled from California to Texas to Washington state.  Below is four of us with our finished cases.  Vickie Orlando was also in the swap but, she was out of town at The Country Living Antique Show back east when we got together.  She & Sandy had a pre-party for her to open hers.

Left to right is ME,  Sandy Navarro , Joy Campbell & Laurie Garcia.

The OUTSIDE of the cases!  We bought our own cases & decorated a little bit to develop the "theme".

 The case was then sent to the next person who put at least one personal touch to the outside & then we added 5 to 6 things that the receiver would possibly use to "CREATE" with.  Or something special you thought that she might like.

Since Cindy had not done a case we each gave her a few goodies & the adorable Doll Head Fur Muff was given to her by Laurie.  As anyone who knows Cindy knows... she is CRAZY about dolls/doll heads.  Laurie said she remembered having one of these as a little girl.  When she went to church (she lived up north) it was one of her favorite things to have as it kept her hands warm & was a toy to play with while sitting still.  IT WAS PERFECT for Cindy!

 The weekend was held at Joy's new home near Temecula.    BEAUTIFUL doesn't even begin to describe her home & the grounds around it.

 Dinner in her back yard.  Good dinner with AMAZING FRIENDS!

Above you see some of the fun....  Diana Salvucci Smith also joined us & you can see in the photo to the left we were doing chocolate cake shooters.  And Cindy/Joy messing around being silly.  With Joy doing a photo bomb on my case.  We had sooooooooooooo much fun!  THANK YOU JOY FOR OPENING YOUR HOME FOR US & FOR BEING AN AMAZING HOSTESS!

 On Friday we all took off to go to Vintage Market Place in Rainbow, CA.  Our sweet friend Cynthia  met us to shop & party.  We also ran into Jan & her husband Steve while we were there.

This was so cute but, I bought the Mermaid &  "Cocktail" sign all done in lights.  I don't know why I didn't take a picture of what I bought but, I guess I took this thinking I would add this cutie to the other things later & would need a gentle nudge to remember him.  I'll share my purchase when I get them hung.  Not much was purchased by me but, I can say I did my share of the HUGE shipping bill in size of the items.  Oh well...

I'll try real hard to be back soon to share our class that we did at Andrea's house.  The teacher was Robin Dudley Howe & we had a wonderful time.  Andrea's house is AMAZING & I took tons of photos of her studio.  Glad to be back in BLOGland.  I've missed you!

Art Glass in Seattle - Dale Chihuly

Do you LOVE glass like I do?  I have always been fascinated by it.   This Fall I was so blessed to go visit my friend Laurie that lives in the Seattle area (there's another post about her amazing house is you click HERE).  And while there Laurie & a couple of my friends (Cindy Craine &Vickie Orlando) & I went downtown to see the Dale Chihuly Museum  (Also click  HERE or on anything in blue for a link).  AMAZING!!!!  There beneath the Space Needle sits an EXPLOSION of color & design.  Anyone who love ART has to appreciate this amazing work.  The pieces above & below are displayed on the ceiling in one room (much like his pieces in the Belagio in Las Vegas).

The exhibit below was in a room with dark walls & the center of the room just filled with COLOR!

Below was an almost floor to ceiling (as you can tell by looking at the people standing next to it) piece & the colors were divine.  This room was called Sea Life.

A little closer up shows the detailed sea life done in GLASS!  Anyone who knows me KNOWS  I'm an Ocean/Sea Life/Mermaid Girl.

   
    People always ask me what my favorite color is...  I don't have one!!   I guess that's the Gemini in me but, I can't choose A favorite color.  I just love color!   GREEN is so beautiful to me so, this gorgeous swirling green beauty also spoke to my soul.

Just look at the detail!!!!  Some day I would love to take a glass blowing class.  On the plane a passenger I visited with gave me the name of a place in Seattle to study glass blowing...

Seattle Glass Blowing

Outside in the gardens the sculptures were everywhere in EVERY color you can imagine!

As I said, this garden sits right below the Space Needle.

To get to the garden you walk through a huge glass hall (I bet they have Events & Weddings in here... I can just see it can't you?)  Look at the beautiful glass hanging from the ceiling!

                                 
         This is looking at it from the outside on the other side.

Seattle is truly a beautiful place & this little piece of ART HEAVEN just makes it even more special!

I hope you enjoyed this BURST of color.  I'm in the middle of YET MORE remodel work in the house so, I needed something happy to look/post about because right now my world is workmen & dust.  And no money for travel.  But, I can reflect on my previous adventures & dream about the future ones!  HUGS!

Christmas Open House at Ann Perry's

JOY!!!

I WISH you could have had the JOY of being with Cindy Craine & I when we headed south (a couple of weeks ago) to Ann Perry's Christmas Open House!  

 It was a COLD/RAINY day with the fall color surrounding the area.  

Ann's Gazebo tucked back in the yard & her flowerbeds lined with old sewing machines.  Such a cute & unusual border!













Walk past the statue on the porch (Mary never looked so beautiful standing watch). 

 And doesn't everyone put vintage plates in their window box?  WELL... WE SHOULD!

Come in the front door of this tiny but, oh so precious cottage!

 I loved the pillow with the sweet little pocket for stuffing old papers/letter, photos & a HAND!

   A window so old & so many stories to tell!!!  An old picture frame hung on the wall with a sweet little something in place of the photo.

A Dinning Table all dressed for the party!  I ADORE the slip covers!  It's like your furniture dressed up for the party!  So changing the look of any room!

Fresh greens such a beautiful touch!

  The Living was hosting beautiful flocked tree that glowed a golden glow over everything!  I have been wanting a flocked tree & this was the kiss of death for Hubby.  At Market this year I WILL be buying a flocked tree for next year!

                          Beautiful angel wings on the mantle.

Even the sweet little coffee table was wearing her finest skirt!

I'm borrowing a photo from my dear 
friend Teresa from Garden Vintage Antiques. She is such a dear & was selling there.  You also know her from selling MANY places (especially know at Warrenton during the Famous Round Top Antique Festival twice a year). It shows the door between the dinning room & kitchen (every time I tried to take one people were in the way).

Even the kitchen cabinets were adorable!  Decked with a wreath, lights twinkling above, & treasures peeking out. 


Below you see the treasures set out under the cabinets.  Sweet little vignettes everywhere!  My friend Joy Campbell would have loved all the old Iron Stone.

Thank you Ann for such a magical time.  I hope you'll come back soon because in a few days I'll post her feminine bedroom & some treasures from the sale!  Enjoy these beautiful days before Christmas.  The beauty of all the decorations & the feelings of LOVE abounds!   HUGS!

A Visit to Laurie's House Gig Harbor, WA

On September 29th Cindy & I headed out to start our visit with our friend Laurie.  It just happened to be Cindy's birthday & Laurie had this yummy cake for dinner after we arrived from the Seattle Airport.  Her home was decorated for Halloween & I don't think I've ever seen so many adorable/interesting pieces of ART!  Upon looking around I decided I couldn't choose a favorite...

 These stunning blown glass pumpkins were from a company called Cohn Stone Studio & if you click on the link it will take you to their site... One more beautiful than the next!!!  The colors & textures so lush!  Next fall the Art Sisters are going to plan a Field Trip & I can assure you I will be bringing a few of these beauties home to Texas!

 While at Rogers Garden (see my last post) I saw pumpkins designed by this same designer as those below but, I think Laurie's choice of display/colors were better than Rogers Gardens.  The eyes on these pumpkins are so real!

 This fellow was so cute in her living room.  And he's HUGE!!!

 The devil sits behind Laurie's hubbies desk.  Hmm I wonder if there's a message there?  LOL!  He is made from fabric & all of his face is painted.  So clever!

 The views out Laurie's windows were divine!!!! The house looks out over Puget Sound. 

 The play of the water, the sky & the trees made for such MAGIC every time I looked out! 

Below is one of the guest rooms with that stunning view in the background...

The beautiful bed & chandi that she/hubby chose/hung right out of a storybook castle!  The paint on the wall behind the bed was stunning!  This photo doesn't do it justice!!! It was a Martha Stewart paint that looked like silk fabric.  The sheen was beautiful.  Laurie said the process was tedious but, worth it indeed.  First you pint the paint on the wall  & then you have to use steel wool & DRAG it down the wet paint to achieve that texture!  A PAIN I'm sure but, so worth it as it was AMAZING!! 

Even in this beautiful room Laurie added her Halloween Art pieces!  Below is another pumpkin guy with those realistic eyes & TEAL colored Cohn Stone pumpkins!  Everything just seemed made for each room.

Below was the witch she had for the guest room.  The velvet fabric for her dress was beautiful.  And again, she was BIG & really made a statement!

In the kitchen she had some FUN felted fellows!  I want to learn to felt.  I need to find some good online classes I think.  But, again the artists out did themselves & Laurie has such a knack for decorating & pulling it all together.

LOVED this white pumpkin below!

And I fell in love with her buffet by Hooker Furniture!  I came home & told hubby I NEED THIS!!!!!

Laurie used more Cohn Stone pumpkins, leaves & gourds to do a vignette across the top of the buffet that was stunning!   Don't you LOVE the colors?  I DO!

One afternoon Laurie suggested we all go into the old Port Area of Gig Harbor & eat at a darling little Pub on the water.  By this time some of the other Art Sisters had joined us in Gig Harbor (Sandy Navarro, Joy Campbell & Vicki Orlando)& we so enjoyed the charm of the harbor, the boats & seeing some of the other houses along the water.  Sooooooo different than Texas I can assure you!  LOVE THIS AREA!

THANK YOU Laurie for a very special time in your very SPECIAL home.  I love all the beautiful touches you have added.  It is like a Show Home & we were all so lucky to see your MAGIC!  I hope you enjoyed the beginning of the tale of this visit to the northwest.  I have soooooooo much more to share.  Next post will be about the visit to the Dale Chahuly Art Glass Museum & downtown Seattle.