Come Sit Down...

I am calling the New Orleans living room finished! My To-Do list is getting shorter and my project drawers are getting emptier! Only two more rooms and the landscape board to go! Hey, now that there will be empty drawers, does that mean I can start planning a new project?!? I know! I know! Back to Earth, Jodi! You still have the cottage to finish!!! :o)

I'll catch you up on the last two weeks... First, I got out the sewing machine to make the throw pillows for the sofa. I ended up with two passable navy ones and two passable gold ones. Don't look too close, just pay attention to the beautiful embroidered pillow by MiniArtHouse!

I also made a memory pillow for Russ from one of his Uncle Pat's shirts. Before he passed, he used to wear it in the garage to work on sand rails with Russ. It has a lot of sentimental value, and it made Russ cry happy tears when I gave it to him.

Big sewing is so much more forgiving, but I tried my mini luck again by making a reversible bed cover, too. I'll wait to show you more of that when I finish the bedroom. I am a bit more comfortable with the machine now, but lord!!! I still suck at mini pillows!

After that, I went back to something that I've had lots of practice at... Flower kits! I needed six arrangements for vases, so I made hydrangeas, gladiolas, asters, carnations and azaleas. Finding complementary colors in a predominantly teal decor was a challenge! But as always, Susan's kits were a real pleasure to work with!

Next I needed more plants. I had some kits from Mary Kinloch for a few years, and truthfully, I was intimidated by them. They stayed in a drawer, forgotten. It took a few days to work up the courage to give them a try. I ended up finding examples of the plants online and just dove in. I used alcohol inks on the leaves, and thickened up the wires on the Parlor Palm with tinted Mod Podge layers. They convey what I was after, so even if they are not completely accurate palms and ferns, I like them.

I modified a HOM table to narrow it up a bit, and added a back piece so the books had support. I added another lamp to the room which meant drilling holes and running the wire under the house. This house is just too heavy for me and caused a few panicked moments as I lifted and attempted to prop it up. From now on, if I can't lift them, I don't want to do them!

Here's the entry vase in place. I think I need to make a little basket for keys.

It was challenging to figure out what to put where, but I am satisfied with the arrangement. The lighting doesn't look so yellow in real life. I wonder if a better camera would help.

Here's the overall finished living room. My policy is that if I can't decide, do nothing! :O) That is why there is no runner behind the sofa. The lady of the house is just getting ready to enjoy a glass of white wine and a good book. I hope she doesn't mind sleeping on the sofa for a couple more weeks while I get her bedroom ready!

First photos with lights on...

And lights off...

I hope you enjoyed the tour, and find the colors, textures and patterns cohesive!

Next up, the hall of mirrors and the bedroom. Hope to be back soon!

xo xo,
Jodi

The Creative Process...

I'm sure it's no surprise when I tell you that getting to the decorating part of a project is not only exciting, it is also chaotic, messy and leads to all manor of rabbit holes! I had planned on completing the exterior of the New Orleans, but while I waited for the weekend to arrive and for Russ to come home with my perfectly cut piece of plywood, I still had momentum and wanted to keep going. I thought I might as well make up the sofa kit, a decision which opened Pandora's box. Before I could argue with myself, I had opened the "New Orleans furniture and decor" drawers and had bags and boxes everywhere! It was delightful, as many of the things I saved were purchased over three years ago when I bought the kit and began planning. It was like a shopping spree in my own stash! And after all this time and faded memory, I still love the colors and themes I'd dreamed of so long ago! What you see below could be called a mess, but I like to think of it as The Creative Process.

Since I started with the sofa, I had to get out the living room chairs and the coffee table for a test arrangement. I am so happy that the pillows I purchased two years apart from the sofa fabric (which reminds me of Hubble telescope photos) are a match made in the heavens! I still have to make the sofa pillows, probably navy blue and gold, and decide on one of four test rugs to print on fabric. I also have to put another two coats of the metallic paint on the unfinished coffee table. Then I can make and load in all the decor items for this room.

I was really excited to begin working on the kitchen. I had all kinds of neat stuff saved to go in it for so long and couldn't wait to see it come together. But because the dining room can only be accessed through the kitchen, I figured I'd better get that room's large furnishings decorated and put into place first. I still have to test some rugs for under the table, raise the chandelier a bit, then make a floral arrangement centerpiece for the table. I did make up three plants for the bay window sill.

With the dining room well on it's way, it was finally Kitchen Time! I wanted to have a center island, but the original piece I'd planned turned out to be too big. So instead, I dug through my kit drawer and found a wine table kit I'd picked up a long time ago from Menutmon on Etsy. Again, bummer he's not still in business as he had some really unique pieces. I was able to add square silver beads to the legs and make a larger butcher block top from 1/4" x 1/8" strip wood. That made the perfect height and length so that my fleur-de-lis stools could be utilized. I am so happy to have discovered using alcohol ink on fabric, as I was able to just dye the stool cushions indigo to match the island base and the main theme color of the kitchen decor. I also adjusted the shelf height to accommodate the stand mixer, leaving just enough space for the wine bottle rack.

I had a large chinoiserie tea set as well as a navy blue set and some cobalt glass pieces to mix and match for the kitchen. I also had a square dinner set from my Shapeways store and some unfinished bisque pieces to add to the lot. I painted them in the same blue acrylic paint as the island - a cheap basic Joann's brand I've had on hand since 2008!!!

I picked out some delft fabric online and then used it to print out towels, apron, rugs and a roman blind for the kitchen window. I know some of you have mentioned on your blogs that you do not like things to match, but I find myself most at home where there is symmetry, and prints and patterns in the same color just make me feel happy! I'm sorry though if it just isn't your cup of tea!!! :O) I made up some plants and herbs, some Louisiana cookbooks, a knife magnet, some utensil crocks and a chalk board sign. I will save some space for future food scene and wall art inspirations.

I always have trouble with my camera and lighting situation, so I've taken photos both with the lights on and off. My camera tends to read the lights as intensely yellow, but with the naked eye they just look like warm household light. I have made some editing adjustments using the computer's software to try to compensate for that a bit.

Stove Side

Sink Side

Entire Kitchen

It is so fulfilling to finally see this kitchen as I had dreamed it so long ago. That feeling is intensified by the fact that I had let this poor kit languish, half done, on the shelf for so long. But gleefully, inspiration has returned and it feels like I am keeping a promise. I can almost feel the forgiveness and gratitude radiating from the New Orleans with each piece I add.

Are you waiting for inspiration to return? Do not fret, for I have learned that waiting can be The Creative Process, too!

xo xo,
Jodi