[ turning everyday into holiday ]

ONE OF MY favourite ways to decorate for Christmas is to give the everyday a festive feel. And this home does just that.

By simply combining fresh chartreuse patterned bedding with a couple of raspberry pillows, and hanging up a simple boxwood wreath, a holiday feeling is implied without a Santa in sight. Remove the wreath after the holidays and in a flash, the holidays are over.

Gifts wrapped in simple chartreuse paper with the addition of red toile bands, feel festive even though there's nothing distinctively Christmas about them.

And this tablescape feels festive, even though no holiday-motif patterns are used. Again a simple boxwood wreath and Christmas tree add the holiday feel, but come January, ditch the tree and the wreath and this tablescape would work any time of year.

How do you decorate for the holidays? Simple festive touches to the everyday or all-out Santa theme?

lisa

[style at home]

[ kaleidoscope ]

DO YOU suffer from pattern phobia? Like the thought of combining too many will make your head spin? Well, this should cure you...

A kaleidoscope of pattern! And yet for some reason, my eyes aren't scrambled looking at it. I wonder if I could do this in my own home... could you?

lisa

[via myblackbook.free.fr]

[ taken with transferware ]

THERE'S SOMETHING about transferware that brings to mind simpler days and old-fashioned goodness. I think many of us have grown up with transferware at some point - whether a platter for the turkey, grandma's pie served on dessert plates or maybe that special teapot for afternoon tea.

Not only do I love the idea of a wall of these beauties on display, I also love the idea of using them everyday just to add that little bit of pretty to the table.

Do you have any treasured transferware? If you do, what colour do you have and do you use it?

lisa

[via pinterest; maisondecor8; country living; rosegardenromantic; unknown;

warrengrovegarden; theinspiredroom; birchandbird; acountryfarmhouse; leah-theinsidestory]

[ flower power ]

CHARMING LITTLE flower prints have been a strong trend this year both in fashion and in home decor and I'm loving these rooms that really mix them up and show off these pretty blooms. If too many prints are an overload for you, just adding in a couple of flower cushions with plenty of white gives the same effect but is a simpler approach. Sometimes I think it's nice to be girly and embrace some prairie flower power.

lisa

[1,3 house to home; style at home]

[ nook love ]

A KITCHEN nook is often one of the most-used spots in a home and I fell in love with this one. Rather than a large kitchen table, the space is divided into 2 functional areas...

a cozy spot for watching tv (or blogging!)...

{how fantastic is that fabric and the built-in shelving for cookbooks, a tv and serving dishes?}


and a little spot for brekkie...

{wouldn't that orange table make you smile every morning?}


Not only is this nook pretty, it's so practical too - high shelves over the windows carve out extra storage but keep the space feeling open.

Even if you only had space for one of these areas, how fab would that be? Do you have a kitchen nook?

lisa

[country living]

[ what's new pussycat? ]

LEOPARD is one of those patterns that just never seems to go out of style. I think every wardrobe can use a touch of leopard - it goes with everything and always looks chic.

I've been on the hunt for some leopard flats and finally found the ones! Cushy comfort and pretty tortoiseshell detail makes these Coach flats a winner. They may have cost more than I was intending to spend, but to me, they're a classic and worth a little bit of investment.

It seems that leopard flats are popular with the celebs too...

What do you think? Are you sporting any leopard this fall?

lisa

[ light & cheery with a pinch of glam ]

HOW GORGEOUS is this room? I came across this room and just had to share - the cheerful yellow touches in the floral panel and velvet cushions, paired with that grey & white trellis pattern... swoon! I love the mix of furniture styles, the mismatched lamps and of course, a pretty chandelier is never a bad choice to add a bit of glam. Stylish without looking stuffy or overly done, don't you think?

lisa

[adore home]

[ a hankering for hankies ]

I'VE ALWAYS had a love for vintage hankies - perhaps it's the images they conjure up of ladylike olden days. I come across pretty ones every so often at antique shops and flea markets and it's such a shame to hide them away in a drawer or box.

How about making them into something so they can be admired? 

maybe some cushions...

or a table runner...

framed art...

or grouped as a headboard...

some pretty bunting...

a tablecloth or quilt...

a skirt...

or even a dress...

some lavendar sachets...

to decorate a party...

joined into a lovely scarf...

or charming curtains...

even if you don't sew, you can tie them like this...

So are you as smitten with these lovely girlie hankies as I am?

lisa

[nanasaidsew; martha stewart; country living; poppytalk; bellemaison23; etsy; 

polkadotchair; pinterest; thefabledneedle; skiptomylou; williamwedding; 

darbyharden; jollygoodegal; 2.bp.blogspot; themotherhuddle; nana'shouse]

[ charming tin displays ]

I LOVE interesting little tea tins and how they look displayed together on a kitchen shelf. Their intricate, colourful patterns make a charming little display.

lisa

[bolig magasinet, design*sponge, apartment therapy]

[ smitten with spots ]

SO MY favourite store has now arrived here in Dubai ~ Kate Spade! I've been a fan for a long time but haven't had access to a shop to visit regularly {the first one I stepped into was in SOHO, NYC}.

On my recent visit, I couldn't help but SPOT all the spots...

Cute huh? I love polka dots ~ they're so happy and timeless ~ have they ever been out of style? Are you as smitten with spots as I am?

lisa

[kate spade]

[ a tova for all seasons ]

THE TOVA by Wiksten has taken blogland by storm and I can see why ~ a comfy top, dress or tunic that's easy to wear and universally flattering ~ and with no fussy zippers or buttons, it's easy to make. I decided to jump on board and I just finished mine. I think it's perfect with a pair of jeans...

I used a very light cotton sheeting fabric which was very easy to sew. I went through my fabric stash and decided to add a coordinating tiny floral fabric for the inside of the collar, especially since the collar sits open and is very visible. I'm really glad I did ~ I think it adds a special little detail...

The pattern is available from Wiksten as a pdf download which is super convenient. The instructions are thorough and easy to follow ~ just download, print, tape together and cut out ...

I made a couple of changes to my pattern:

1} I made the collar 1/2" narrower and rounded the top corner

2} I chopped off 2.5" off the length to make it more like a shirt than a tunic

3} I sewed the placket closed about 1.5" from the bottom so that I don't need to wear a tank underneath all the time

It seems that everyone who has made this top has made multiples and I'm already thinking about my next one. Here are some pretty examples from blogland done as various tops and dresses...

Aren't they great? I think my next one will be a solid or tiny print ~ maybe a grey. Wouldn't a soft flannel be so cozy for fall?

If you want to give it a try, pick up the pattern here and read through the sew along over at verykerryberry for some great tips.

lisa