So much stuff...

going on around here. So sorry I have been away for such a long time. My camera was so full of pictures I had to stop and download them all so I would have free space. Then I realized that they were all pictures I could have been putting on my blog! So...in a nutshell...

Our trip to San Diego was great. We visited with some friends who live on the 27th floor of the Omni Hotel. Here is their gorgeous view at night. They have floor to ceiling windows on one whole side of their condo. They look out onto the water, the city and...

the field where the San Diego Padres play. They can look straight down and see the games and concerts that go on there, including the Rolling Stones concert!!

Here are my munchkins...they were amazed at the view!

We took a trip to Legoland which we had never done before. The day was a complete surprise to my boys. They had no idea where we were going. The San Diego Zoo? Seaworld? The Beach? No No NO...just sit tight and you will see when we get there. They never guessed Legoland because they didn't know it was close by. They were thrilled. Yes, most of the rides there were too "young" for my kids but we still found lots to do and we had a great day.




This Volvo was built from the basic frame and then covered in lego's. The windows...lego's, the doors...lego's, the handles and headlights...all lego's!! The tires were real.




I thought the best thing at Legoland was the cities they have built. This is a row of Victorians from San Francisco.



Treasure Island hotel in Las Vegas and check out the ships...they have a cannonball fight and one of the masts falls off the ship. Really amazing stuff.




This gives you a size perspective.



The Golden Gate Bridge. They also had NY with the Statue of Liberty, Grand Central Station where trains actually came in and out of the station. Washington D.C., New Orleans and more!

Ok, so on to Halloween! My little guy entered the cake contest at school and won 3rd place for his grade...out of 30 entries!

This is the 1st place winner for his grade.

And the grand prize winner for the whole school. It's a tree...

That's it for this post and sorry it's a bit harried...more later...but for now...

Peace Out!

The Lazy K House

It's Christmas!!

Well...not really... but it sure looks like it at the Lazy K House in Lafayette, CA.

Saturday, October 20 is the Christmas Open House at the Lazy K. These pictures are just some of what you will see if you stop by for a visit. Lazy K sits next to The Orchard Nursery. There are over 40 decorated trees at the nursery. It really is an amazing sight.

My gang of winter girls and Santas.

There is a seperate room that I call "the Penny room". The inspiration for this room comes from Penny McAllister's line with Midwest. Lime green, red and white are the colors and you can't help but feel happy when you are in there.

If you are in the area stop by for a visit. The hours are 9-5 daily. The Lazy K House is at 4010 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette CA. (925) 284-4474.

If you would like to see more pictures of my work at the Lazy K please click on the "Pieces Available" on the upper right side of my blog.

Procrastination or Not Enough Time???

Are you a procrastinator?? I'm not...no really...stop laughing...I'm not. Ok...well it does depend on what the issue is. For instance a while back my husband bought me this great little television for the kitchen.


I didn't procrastinate. I opened it right up, unpacked it, set it up on the counter and even plugged it in. Fuzz and static...Hhhhmmm...guess I need to call the cable company and get the cable hooked up.

That was Mother's Day. Procrastination? Guilty

I have this great jar I bought one day when I was out shopping with Donna.



I knew it would look fabulous on my island filled with something really cool. I brought it home, unwrapped it, put it on the counter and realized I didn't really have anything really cool to put in it. I'll have to work on that...so in the meantime I put these fabulous Easter cookies in there. So what if that was April??

Procrastination??? Mmmm...jury is out on that one. I haven't found that really cool something yet so why bother to take those cutie Easter cookies out? I wonder if they still taste good.

Ok...here's another one. Look at these fabrics. LOVE THEM! (the pic's don't do them justice...the ones inside the plastic are gorgeous) I bought them...let's just say "a while back". New duvet, curtains, pillows etc etc. Yep...the fabric still sits in the corner in my room. Procrastination? NO! Just not enough time!!


And this chair. I LOVE this chair.



I bought it at the flea market some time ago. Wouldn't it look great covered in white duck cloth? Ok...white duck cloth in my bedroom where my husband would for sure sit and read the paper...white duck cloth vs. newspaper ink...you get the picture.
Procrastination or not enough time???? Neither!! I just can't bring myself to cover it in white duck cloth and then have it be inked!

Aaaahhhh and back to the chairs at the island. I posted a while back about how my kitchen cabinets came out darker than they were supposed to so my island chairs didn't look good and I was going to paint them black...as you have probably figured out...that post was a while ago and I promise I haven't been procrastinating...look...I've made progress. I sanded, primed, painted and painted again, then sanded, antiqued and sealed this chair. So what that it was 2 months ago and so what that the seat still isn't recovered. HEY!!! Gotta start somewhere. I figure by 2010 I might be done. Oh...the annual holiday party you ask? Sure, I'll still have it. I'll just put that black chair out in the garage and noone will be the wiser.



Yah gotta admit though...the black does look good!

The one place I never procrastinate...

I have been busy!!


Ok...so this weekend. I'm thinking I will work on those curtains in my bedroom, or maybe I will take down the flowered curtains in my sons room (my old studio) and sew up those baseball curtains I promised I would make him. Maybe I will sand and paint another chair and maybe...

NOT!!

I'm off to San Diego for a weekend at Legoland, Seaworld and the Raiders game...I'll do all that stuff another day...can you say PRIORITIES????

R & R

Wow...I've been away from blogland for a short week (plus a day or two) and I missed so many things. I missed the Bloglandia Ball ... Fifi has been tying up and gagging her alter ego's ... Donna started dating Paul McCartney (was that real life or in her dreams?) ... Sandra Evertson...well you just have to visit to see what she has going on there...un-believable!! Oh and one last thing...I stopped by Sylvia Anderson's blog and she has a picture of an out-of-this world papier mache piece that will knock your socks off...I saw him in person at A Cottage Boutique last Saturday where there were so many talented artists selling their wares. Pop on over to Sharon's blog and see the goodies she purchased that day. Really great stuff.


So I am taking a couple of days off for a bit of relaxation. Twice a year the hubby has work retreats and I tag along. While he has to sit in on work meetings with doctors and administration, listening to blah blah blah...or is that wah wah wah waaaahhhh (think Charlie Browns teacher) I get to do some shopping, hang out by the pool, etc etc. Sometimes I even take a nap but ssshhhhh...don't tell him.


This weekend we are dragging the kids along (much to their dismay)


to the Silverado Resort in Napa. We will leave right after school gets out to avoid the crazy traffic and get there in plenty of time for dinner...oh there are the most amazing restaurants in Napa. Saturday morning will be breakfast and then a quick trip over to Halloween and Vine. I haven't been in ages so it will be fun to see it all.

After that, back to the hotel for a little...

And then get cleaned up for dinner at Artesa Winery (adults only thank you very much!)

Sunday we will hit the winery of my FAVORITE wine...Laird's. I have never been there so I am really looking forward to seeing (and tasting) it.

Have a great weekend...I'm going to!

Say it isn't so!!!

It can't be time to start working on Christmas...it's only September 17 and it already feels like the end of the Halloween season. It's time to put away the orange and black (well not all of it as I am always working on Halloween) and get out CHRISTMAS!!! aaaahhhkkk...what a scary thought...but to be able to meet those Christmas orders...it is time to shift gears.

Here is a glimpse at a few of the pieces I am working on finishing up.

HO HO HO...

The King and Queen of Haunted Houses

I met Sally many many Harvest Moons ago. It was one of my first shows and I came across her table and about died when I saw her Victorian pieces. She had gorgeous cones made from beautiful fabrics with vintage rhinestone buttons and the most exquisite laces and trims. I fell in love with her vintage tea cups filled with old sewing bits and bobs. Of course I had to have one of those, and a couple of cones...oh and a jewelry box...

~

Yet it is only recently that I acquired the most exquisite piece of all...


Sally spent countless hours working on this piece. It is meant to be matted and framed and as you can imagine...it needs a VERY special frame. I will be on the lookout at Antique stores and flea markets until I find the perfect one.


Sally creates pieces like this all based on color. I told her I wanted soft colors. She layers the fabric and sews a random stitchery pattern thru the layers to hold it all together. She then digs into her amazing stash of vintage buttons, trims, and ribbons (let me tell you...it is an amazing collection...I have seen it with my own eyes) and starts hand sewing all these pieces on. It's a true labor of love. Not all of her pieces have this much "bling". She did this one this sparkley at my request.




So now let me show you what Sally does the rest of the year...

HAUNTED HOUSES !!

Sally and Dan...the dynamic duo...the king and queen of haunted houses they are! Look at these amazing structures. Dan makes each house by hand. Cutting every wall, every stair to every staircase, doors that open and close, stained glass windows. He makes the pieces of furniture inside the houses. From leather, he cuts out each shingle on the roof and painstakingly applies them to complete the roof.

He installs the lights that light up the inside and outside of the houses. Once he is done building...Sally starts decorating. Pumpkins, skeletons, wicked witches...you name it these houses have it somewhere on them.

Yes...he made the coffin too!

And here is Bonnie and Clyde!!! If you would like to see their work, it is now showing at the Lazy K House at Orchard Nursery in Lafayette, Ca. See my sidebar for the address. If you want to reach Sally and Dan you can email them. Happy Halloween!

I'll Admit It...

I love Ikea...No no no...not the "I want to furnish my house in it" type of love... but oh how my mind wanders when I go to their "downstairs". So many containers and drawers and cubbies (I lust for cubbies) the organizational possibilities are endless.

When my boys "promote" to middle school I take them over to Ikea and they get to pick out a desk for their room. Middle School is serious business and the ceremonial shopping trip to Ikea right before school starts helps them understand that.

Yes, I would LOVE to decorate the boys rooms like this...

But that ain't gonna happen!! I'm realistic with how much I can pull off in my household.

So...we opt for this...

Not pretty...but practical.

As I mentioned earlier... I do take the time to browse thru Ikea's "organizational area" as I call it. I picked these up this go round...

I am going to paint the wooden drawers a creamy white and cover the front of the drawers with some old wallpaper. I will probably keep old photographs or millinery in them.

With the jars...

Glitter at a glance!!! What a bargain...4 jars for just $2.99!!

Now if you long for a boys room that looks like the pictures above, pick up Carolyn Westbrook's decorating book called "Home". This book has photographs of her amazing home in Texas. Oh how I would love to own a home like hers...but in California??? Well that Ain't Gonna Happen!!

p.s. If Carolyn's name is ringing a bell to you and you just can't figure out why...her studio is on the cover of the book "Where Women Create"...just fabulous I tell you!