Family Wedding

My niece, Mary Ellen got married this past weekend.  

It was a beautiful affair.  Everything was well planned down to the 

rainfall that cooled everything off which perfectly arrived after

everyone was seating inside at the dinner.  

Here are a few photos...

The wedding was held in the garden at Highgrove.  Kissing balls of

hot pink roses lined the walkway.

  

Beautiful flowers in garden urns flanked the arbor where the bride

and groom said their vows.

My favorite decorations were the greenery and floating candles 

on the mantle in the banquet hall.   The table in front was for the bride and groom.  

Pink rose petals all around the base and covering the top of the table.

Here is a close up!

Congrats John and Mary!  May you always love have the 

sparkle in your eyes that you had on this beautiful day!  I love you!!!

Congrats John and Mary!  May you always love have the 

sparkle in your eyes that you had on this beautiful day! 

 I love you!!!

Why do people blog?

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I have had several friends ask me why I blog.  So I decided to do a post on this.
Those of you who understand blogging probably will think this is crazy but here goes...

When I first became aware of blogging, I felt like I had found this underworld 

of free information.  Everyone was so willing to answer questions and share

their resources.  This was so foreign to me in the design world.  So many

times if you ask a fellow designer for a resource, you might get, a curt,

"I don't share my resources"!  Now with everyone blogging, people are

so open and willing to share.  I love it!  I have always been of the

mindset, that if you share, it comes back to you.  

Now that I have begun blogging I understand that concept more

thank ever.  In the blog world the biggest compliment you can pay

to a blogger is to comment below their new posts. The blogger

really wants to know what you think and have a dialogue with you.

"Why do I blog?"

It's really quite simple!  I want to talk about design, connect

with others in the design field and also hear public opinion.

I am hoping to share many things with my blog.  I want to show some

of my projects once I really get back to work.  (As many of you know I have

taken a two year sabbatical since my son died, so blogging has helped me

 think about design again).

 Here are some other reasons I blog:

It forces me to read in order to gather ideas and input for my blogs, it is

a place where I can collaborate with others, and often times I get surprises,

when someone decides to leave me a sweet comment!

I have met so many people in the short time I have spent blogging.  

I have corresponded with Tobi Fairley(Tobi Fairley Design), had lunch with Emily Clark

(Emily A. Clark Design) and now work under Laura Trevey (Bright,Bold & Beautiful),

not to mention the many others I now communicate with because of my blog.

I am still trying to figure out my voice with my blog.  

It does take a little time, but I know once I develop my voice and what direction

I want to take with my blog, it will be less time consuming.  I haven't advertised
my blog because of this.  I wanted to give myself time to figure this whole
thing out and get some blogs under my belt before the entire
world can read my thoughts. When I was in design school our professor
would always make us "talk" about our work during a critique.  We couldn't use
words like cute, or sweet.  Our vocabulary had to relate to design.
I can remember freshman year, our professor Tommy would say
"you must develop a design vocabulary" to talk to clients.
I am finding that the same vocabulary is necessary when writing blogs.
Engaging the reader is another necessary part of blogging.
Sometimes it's harder than you think.

I am going to be sharing upcoming projects with you, as well as DIY projects.  

There is so much to share and so little time!!! If you have things
you want me to blog about please ask!!!

To Comment, all you do is write a comment below
 each blog in the "Post A Comment Box"!

Also, if you want to receive an email when I post a new quote

you can subscribe by email under the post box.

Let me know if you like my blog or if you want to hear about specific things!
(It won't work if you click "like" on my Facebook page even though I like those too)

Please share my blog with your friends by clicking on
 the share link at the top of my blog!
All bloggers want readers!!!!
Now that you know why I blog...go have a wonderful day!!!

Sugar and Spice...

Since I talked about boy's room yesterday, I thought I would share some

great girls rooms today...

I think most people are trying to create rooms the child can grow
into since it is expensive to decorate with good fabrics and furnishings.
Here are a few that I think fit that requirement.

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Large scale paisleys are a great choice for a hip, look that will grow with the child.

  The dresser by West Elm adds a clean look to the room and is also timeless. 
Who said a girl's room had to be pink?  The light blue wall is a nice break from the  pink.

Can't help but laugh at the hot pink scooter.  Can I have one, pa- lezze!

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Here is designer Tobi Fairley's daughter, Ellison's room.  A daybed is a great idea
if the room is small.  It gives the child somewhere to sit and also frees up the floor for play.
This is a very adult room for a little girl yet nods to femininity with the scalloped dresser,
pale lavender walls and monogrammed bedding.

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Super cute girl's room with pink and green!  The trundle bed

is a great idea for sleepovers. You can make your own

trundle if you chose a bed that is high enough off the floor.

This bed looks like an old bed that has been made new with the

addition of the bright green paint!  The oversized poster over

the bed adds an unexpected element to the room.

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Chic and sophisticated, any teen would love!  However, I almost fainted

once I discovered the rug in this picture is a Missoni Tappeti Fleury and costs 7,700!

Don't think I would be putting in a child's room.  I guess someone like 

Katie Holmes might put this in Suri's room but not in any of my projects...

I do like the way they used pendant lights next to the beds which frees up

the night stands for more important things like ipods and cell phones!

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Here is another example of a more sophisticated room with the lighting

hanging next to the bed.  The bright color lover in me wants to add

some color to this room.  I think I would paint the walls or mirrors pink or green!

The custom headboard is a nice touch!  What do you think?

Snips and snails and puppy dog tails....

It's really hard to come up with a concept for a boy's room

that they won't outgrow quickly. 

Here are a some ideas that work well.

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Love the way Janell Beals painted maps in her son, Max's room and 

 added a chalkboard stripe which not only creates design interest

 but also allows him to add a personal touch to his room.  

Max at his best...being creative!!!

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The monogrammed headboards give each boy his "own" identity.  

The stripes add interest to an otherwise simple room. Love the tall chest

between the beds in lieu of a typical nightstand!

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A little more "grown up" space with a play on alphabet letters. 

We get our kicks on Route 66!

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More horizontal stripes, this room has a younger boy feel!
Love the grey stripes and the lantern suspended over the bed.

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Great room for an older child.  Not just for sleeping, this room makes a great hang out.  

There are so many different ideas you can create for a boys room.  

The main thing to remember is to make it all about the boy!  What does he like to do?  

Any sports he is interested in?  Incorporate these interests into a room for him and you will have an instant hit!

You Make Me Happy When Skies Are Grey.....

Grey and Yellow were made to go together....

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The little peep of yellow & grey  makes this bed cheery!

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A pop of yellow & grey added to this otherwise plain chair suddenly 

makes this chair inviting!

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The yellow in the grouping of prints add just what this grey and white dining area
 needs to keep from being totally sterile!

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Don't you love the yellow interior of this grey bookcase? Instant sunshine!

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Another example of how yellow keeps a grey room from being dull.

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The surprise yellow ceiling makes the white and grey kitchen feel sunshine filled!

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The yellow chairs warm up the otherwise cool colors..

Don't you love the way yellow brightens up grey like the sunshine does

on a cloudy day?   If you look to

nature for inspiration for your design, you will never be disappointed.

More on that later......

Since it is Monday, here is a little motivation.....

"Never miss an opportunity to make others happy, even if you have to leave them alone in order to do it."  

~Author Unknown

More great looks with bamboopink....

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Three fabulous looks with bamboopink jewelry from my friend & fellow rep

Karren Haller!  Thanks Karren for putting these looks together!

As you can see bamboopink has jewelry for every occasion!

Click here to purchase any of the pieces from the style profiles above!

Hot,Hot,Hot...

It's officially Summertime!!!  My favorite time of the year!

Time to enjoy the beach, sun and fun!!  

Also time to freshen up the ole summer wardrobe.

Do you know what the hot new summer jewelry  is?

What if I told you coral?  

Do you have coral bling in your wardrobe?

If not, you need to get some asap...

I have just the way you can do that...

Here's a little sampling of great coral jewelry by

bamboopink which will update your oldest outfit or

pull together a great look with a pair of shorts and a simple tee.

Accessories really do make the outfit!

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  Summer wardrobe designed

by my friend and fellow bamboopink consultant

Karren Haller.  

If you would like to own some of this fabulous jewelry for yourself or buy for a gift

Click Here  If you would like have a trunk show and earn free jewelry, yes...I said free

email me at Lmende@gmail.com.  It's all about fun and bling!

Don't you love the look of framed wallpaper used in the
pictures below?  I love the way it adds that hand painted mural
look to a room yet, doesn't cover the entire room which I think
can sometimes feel too heavy.  This is light, cheerful and elegant.
I just landed at my beach house and wanted to share a little
sunshine with you....

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The symmetry created by the panels, lamps and ottomans make a dynamic statement.

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I love the pops of yellow in the bookcases which repeat the color of the murals.
Really brings the entire room together.

I think I might have to try this on my next project....

Union Jack...

The other night while watching "MIllion dollar Decorator"(guilty pleasure), I noticed Martyn Lawrence Bullard had used Great Britain's flag  also known as the union Jack design in Sharon Osborne's apartment.  It made me think about how much I have been seeing this used in interior design projects and around the marketplace.    Why the sudden resurgence of the union jack?    With the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in 2010 and the royal wedding, this year, it's been good to be a brit!   I have always liked the design, since I first remember seeing it on one of my brother's matchbox cars.  There is something so graphic about it.  Did you know that it is a combination of the flags of England (the cross of St. George), Scotland (the cross of St. Andrew), and Ireland (the cross of St. Patrick)

Here are a few of the places good ole "union Jack" are appearing...

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Just one piece is enough to be "in on the trend".
May be just a throw pillow in a chair or...

Paint the design on that otherwise plain piece of furniture lurking in your attic,
 like Marian from "Miss Mustard Seed" did with this dresser.  

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Wouldn't this  be great in a boy's room or hallway?
When you get tired of it, you can always paint over it!

While very fitting for a British person, I would definitely use the

union jack design in small amounts.  After all, I wouldn't want our flag to get jealous!

 What about you?  Do you like the nod to the Brits or not?

Yankee Doodle Dandy...

Fourth of July is just around the corner...

Here are a few inexpensive ideas to put your family in the spirit..

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Make sure to hang your flags and your bunting!  Remember the flag is suppose to be illuminated at night!
Also, if you are hanging your flag vertically, make sure the stars are in the observers far left.

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Nothing says summer and 4th of July like red, white and blue flowers

planted together in a window box!

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Cupcakes are always a hit with the kids!

 Create a cupcake tower.  If you don't have  footed cake plates,

create your own display with plates and glasses stacked. Pick

up a few flags from your local party store for the top of the tower!

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 Make red, white and blue candles by coloring sand or rice and layering

in glass containers. Beverage glasses would work well for this idea.

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 Make the table festive by painting stripes or layering

plastic tablecloths and securing with tape.  

Last but certainly not least, dessert....

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 Banana Split cupcakes

Click here for recipe!

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Frozen Banana Split Cake by Paula Deen

Recipe here!

Fireworks

Make this holiday fun for your family!  Play games, shoot fireworks and have a blast!

Gather the kids for a family softball game or sack race!  Most of all be
thankful for the independence we enjoy every day of our lives!

If you have any favorite family traditions please share them!

Etsy for Art...

When I need art for a project I typically frequent the
local art galleries for original art.  If my client has a budget
and art gallery art is too expensive I check out online
sources like ebay and Etsy for better priced art.
If you aren't familiar with Esty, it is the world's most
vibrant marketplace!    It is a social commerce website where
 you can find everything from art, photography,
clothing, jewelry,toys, wedding items, custom products, stationery,
and many other things direct from the person who makes it!

Esty offers beautiful original art at great prices.

There is something for everyone.  

Here are few pieces of original art that I liked...

Original Still life with two pears by AQUADARwatercolors  10" x 12"  $95.00

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"On the Lake"  8 x 10   $100

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After the Rain original acrylic by Little Black Kitty Art

16 x 20  $125.00

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Karen Tarlton  "Summer Hydrangeas"

Original oil 16 x 20  

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"Looking at the Summer Rain" 18 x 24  $199.50

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"Gifts of Spring" by Linda Monfort    24 x 24  $255.00

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Stinson 28 x 22  $265

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"Old Rusty Wreck"  16 x 24  $195

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"Palampore Tree" by Andrew Daniel 36 x 44  $308

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Original Art Whimsical Tree by Karen Fields 

48" x 24"  $425.00

Go to www.etsy.com today and have fun shopping 
in the comfort of your own home!  There are so many
more artists and styles available.  You will get lost
in a world of creativity!