Christmas 2011 Mantel

I adore the whimsical look of my frames on the fireplace mantel. Our fireplace is very large and...

Christmas Open House Shopping!

In Quincy, IL, there is a primitives and craft shop called Ohio Street Originals located at 10th and Ohio. And each December during the first weekend, they have a wonderful open house. It is filled with cookies and hot cider to sample, the smells of cinnamon and cloves and great Christmas crafts and decor all hand made at unbelievable prices. I am acquainted with the owner and asked if I could take you shopping with me. She said, you are welcomed.  So let's go to the wonderland of snowmen and santa's, twigs and dried flowers, primitive decor and awesomeness!

I just adored this framed art.  Maybe I will make me one.

Swag no more!

I purchased 5 custom made and unused swags at a garage sale for only $5 total! I knew that I could do something fun with them. This is one of the swags. See the pretty tassel trim? And the deep red fabric is very nice too.

I realized that they would make awesome pillows. It took a bit more than one swags worth of tassel trim to make an 18 inch square pillow. Which means that I was able to make four pillows out of the 5 swags with material left over for additional projects.

2011 Ornaments

Each year, I make ornaments for my family and this year I have taken on a MacKenzie Childs look. I hope they like them.

I purchased these wooden stockings unfinished at Hobby Lobby last year...after Christmas. Then I painted them this year. Do you think I captured the essence of MacKenzie Childs?

I also made the black and white check balls too and will share with you a tutorial on that soon.

I always put the name or initial of the person it is going to, the date on front or back and my name on back.

Wine What!

While on a shopping trip, I purchased this wine rack.

Bye, Bye Valance!

I made a pretty valance, for the bay window in my dining room, a year or so ago.

I decided to take the Christmas holiday as my opportunity to put up what I really wanted, a white wooden rod with rings.

Let The Dance Begin

Goodbye Fall...

Ready to go to the basement for another year!

Hello Christmas...

Client's Great Room ~ Coming Along!

My current client's

Great Room


is coming along nicely so I thought I would share what I have done so far.

Upon my first visit, there was only one thing in the room...a new leather sectional. Oh, and a ton of baby gear.  This is all I had to go on...

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Bunch of Before & Afters V

I decided to keep better track of my projects with combining each in a simple collage of Before and After. Here is a sample of past projects.

All That Glitters Wreath Tutorial

Don't you really love the long, wide mesh product that has been out on the market for the past couple of years? It is very glittery and it makes a beautiful garland for trees and other uses. And it's softer than it looks to the touch. I also think it's fun to work with and thought you would enjoy this quick tutorial on making a mesh wreath.

Step 1: Gather your supplies

Holly Jolly Tutorial

I finally did IT! I made a stencil with freezer paper. I had seen this on blogland and wanted to try it. My excuse...Hubby was out of town and I wanted to do a fast, fun and easy project.

Here are the steps to making a stencil.

Blogversary Today and Winner!

Today is a very special day for me. A year ago, I decided to share not only my voice, but my creations with you and started my blog. Today, my stats are:

904 Followers
432,930 Pageviews
250 Posts

That's more than one new post every other day!!!  I didn't know I had that much to share:)

I decided to give, to one lucky follower, this hand-painted tray, table scarf, teacup and various teas/coffees...

And the winner is: By using the Random Number Generator, it selected Gail as the winner! Gail has a blog called Gail's Decorative Touch and this is what she said,

Congrats on your one year anniversary Terry. What a lovely giveaway.

Thanks so much for following my blog and making this year so inspiring, you are all winners to me!

Dragonflies and Butterflies Anyone?

I have been working with a client on decorating her huge home. This post will only show parts of the formal dining room that I added decor to. There is much more to be done in this room.

The chairs are large and very nice but looked a bit masculine to me. So I made 8 lumbar pillows (12 x 18) with reddish fabric featuring dragonflies on the material. The background of the material coordinates with the one red feature wall in this room. The two end chairs are leather covered. I was hoping to soften the look with these pillows.

Blogversary GiveAway!

On November 14th, I will celebrate ONE YEAR of my Forever Decorating! blog website. I went from one follower to 897, over 430,953 page-views and 249 posts. I am so amazed at those numbers. And, it has been the sweetest year of gaining personal friendships with YOU.

To celebrate, I am giving away this tray that I handpainted with the word EAT, a rose teacup and an assortment of teas and coffees. Also a lovely vintage dresser scarf.

Buyer's Remorse To Buyer's Rejoice!

Have you ever bought something and had buyer's remorse when you had time to think more clearly? This happened to me about a month ago.

This and That at a Clients Home

I found this dark brown vinyl Laundry room art on Etsy. Then, I found the cute tan vinyl clothes pins from a different seller.  I ordered the two and combined them for wall art in my clients laundry room.

Anniversary GiveAway!

I would like to send each of YOU, my followers, a personal hand-written Thank You note and explain what you mean to me for this past year. I have had so much wonderful feedback from you on all my projects from little to large. It really feels good to know that others appreciate what I do and maybe I have even inspired YOU to do the same.

On November 14th, I will celebrate ONE YEAR of my Forever Decorating! blog website. I went from one follower to 877, over 424,500 page-views and 245 posts. I am so amazed at those numbers. And, it has been the sweetest year of gaining personal friendships with YOU.

Lucky Day!

I wanted to share a really lucky day that I had last Tuesday AND why it could be YOUR lucky day soon!

I went to my clients home to decorate but had to be at my local spa by 3pm for a discount party, since I was treating myself to a massage the very next day, I wanted it at a discount if I could...and I did.

Anyway, I was getting ready to leave after I paid for my purchases (make-up, massage and facial), when they told me to hang around for 5 more minutes because they would announce a give-away. Reluctantly, I stayed even though I was tired from my earlier day of decorating.  They called out a number and guess what? It was MINE! I had won $125 in products!!!  That was certainly worth the extra 5 minutes.

A Bunch of Before & Afters IV

I decided to keep better track of my projects with combining each in a simple collage of Before and After. Here is a sample of past projects.

Cherry Blossom Table

It's different




It's petite




It's oak




It's old

Think Pink ~ A sweet doll cradle

I am participating in the Go P.I.N.K., Oct. 30th...Are You Aware? Many of us Bloggers are helping spread awareness and standing to fight for this cause.. Breast Cancer! With blog posts that are dedicated to pink, you can view my post then go on over to the party and see what other pinks are out there.

A few years ago I was asked to paint a child's doll cradle. The only requirements were to also paint the words of The Fruit Of The Spirit;
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control found in Galations 5:22.

A Client's Formal Living Room

I recently shared with you a before and after of a built-in bookcase. Well, that is in a formal living room space that I have been decorating.


Here is what this space looked like when I was hired to warm it up and put personality into the room.

It had the basics, two sofas, two end tables and a coffee table...and a couple of wood side chairs.

Now I will step you through my decorating process. First, I borrowed the rug from under the breakfast room table because it looked like it would go better in this space and it was too small for the breakfast table.

Here is the room 90% complete.

Please Remove Your Shoes & A Clients Foyer

I can't say that this was my idea. I got the idea from Pinterest where there is a wealth of great ideas. I was initially overwhelmed with decorating a huge home by myself, but a friend that I helped decorate her new home recently told me, "You are the Queen of putting personality into a home!" (Thanks Lindsay) That is all it took to spur me on to this new project. So here is how I put personality into the foyer of this home.

Window Blues!

My friend Gail shared with me another project that she completed. Did I ever tell you that she is one talented lady? She is.


Anyway, she had an old window just hanging outside on her back porch for decor. It blew down in a huge wind storm that we had and Gail took the opportunity to change it up while it was down.

Here is the original window. Cool huh?

Lyre Back Chairs

Haley's Night Stand

It's funny...life.

Teacup Candelabra

My friend Gail shared with me the sweetest candelabra that she made with various teacups and crystals. Music to most of our ears...teacups and crystals!

A Clients Before and Afters

I just couldn't wait to share with you a couple of projects that I did today. I am working with a client on their new home. I am shopping for furniture, art, lamps and decor. It is all consuming and I can't believe the amount of time it takes to find things for their home. I guess if there were more than just me doing it, it wouldn't take as much time. I then am doing all the sewing, painting and decorating. I guess you can call me a one stop gal.
 

Week 26 ~ Diamonds In The Rough!

Diamonds In The Rough! is my weekly feature, where I show you the treasures that I find from garage sales, thrift stores and antique stores.

First, I will share the items I purchased at a deep discount at auction...Yet another chair to fix up.

A sewing cabinet that I had never seen before...full of vintage sewing supplies that I have yet to go through. The top drawer opens normally, the bottom drawer pivots around to expose areas to put spools of thread. Wouldn't this look fun painted?

Little Toile Stool & Funny Ad!

I have re-vamped a little stool with paint, tassel fringe and bird toile fabric. I think it turned out really cute and reflects my taste and style.

I originally purchased the material from Ballard Designs on clearance for either some pillows or a to make a new valance for my bay window in the dining room. However, when looking for something to use to upholster this stool, I decided to use

Fun New Home Decorating!

For the past five weeks, I have been helping a friend and client with pulling her new home together for a more cohesive look. I have blogged about this new home in July when they allowed furniture stores and decorators to come in (before they moved in) and use the house as a way to gain more funds for the Advocacy Network for Children. This tour was over and they moved in their own furniture.
This is where I came in...

I will show you areas of each room that I decorated.

First up, the formal dining room. My friend (the owner), purchased these triplicate art canvases online. I hung them on the wall, marked off a border area and a smaller outer boarder and taped it off. Took the pictures down and my friend painted the wall area the same brown as the alcove in this room. I then switched the area rug from the living room and we had professionally made drapes hung. The rest is all decor that we found at Hobby Lobby and other places in town. I also repainted her metal art that is hung in the alcove.

From Baby to Little Girl Room

I have been helping a friend and client with pulling her new home together for a more cohesive look. In their little girls room, which she painted green, I put a huge vinyl tree on the wall, purchased on eBay.

Initially the baby bed and dresser was lost in this very large room. (This is just one tiny corner, below).

Week 25 ~ Diamonds In The Rough!

Diamonds In The Rough! is my weekly feature, where I show you the treasures that I find from garage sales, thrift stores and antique stores.

This week was light in treasured finds until one particular sale. I will show you that at the end of my post. On to the treasures...

This globe is missing the base, but imagine this with part of the bottom cut away and made into a

A walk on the Wild Side!

A friend and client of mine has a new home that I have blogged about HERE. Originally, I showed you the house when it was staged for a tour. That tour is OVER and they moved all that 'stuff' out and now what you will see is all their personal furniture and decor.

She asked for my assistance in pulling her house together. In the living room, she had purchased new leather furniture. She already had the tables.  I felt that a bit of color was needed in the space, so I pulled in the rug from another room. I found the red pillows at Bed, Bath and Beyond. And then I talked her into living on the wild side...

Wall Flower Art

These plastic Wall Flowers are popular right now. Have you seen them?

I have a client that had these on the wall in her little daughter's bedroom. Since I was decorating this room, I needed this wall space for something else (I will share more on that in another post).

These flowers stick on the wall with peel and stick tape and it is very hard to get it off the wall without any wall damage. They can be purchased at Bed Bath and Beyond.

Sailing Baby Room

I have had a recent request to show children's bedrooms, ones that I have decorated or come across cute rooms via friends.


This bedroom was not decorated by me. I did make two canvas art pieces and a child's chair. However, I thought you would enjoy seeing this cute room.

I suggested to the mother that she should hang the quilt on the wall instead of using it on the bed. As you can see, she took my suggestion. I used this quilt as inspiration for the two canvas paintings that I did for her.

You may remember them from a past post HERE.

Week 24 ~ Diamonds In The Rough!

Diamonds In The Rough! is my weekly feature, where I show you the treasures that I find from garage sales, thrift stores and antique stores.

This week, I was so fun and I have so many small stories to share. As I always find that fall garage sales are some of the best ever!!!

Now is my time to share with you these treasures and stories. This first item is an old typewriter. The old guy (about 75ish) said that it had been his in college and he typed all his papers on it. I offered him $10 since it wasn't priced and he took it. My Hubby loves to collect, restore/clean these and display them in our home. So far we have six so he says that he will get rid of one that I will take to my booth. Only so many typewriters we can display, don't you think?

A Bunch of Before & Afters III

I decided to keep better track of my projects with combining each in a simple collage of Before and After. Here is a sample of past projects, Chapter 3. For past Chapters, look in my archives for Before and After.