Saturday Spotlight: Diane from Lavender Dreamer

Hi, everyone!  I and Kris from Junk Chic Cottage wanted to do a regular feature on our blogs, something unique that hasn't been done before.   So we came up with an idea to 'spotlight the real life behind the blogger' in a more personal way.

There is so much talent and inspiration in blogland, and we thought it would be fun to bring you a closer look at the person behind the blog.

Every week on Saturday we will spotlight a blogger and have them tell us a little bit about themselves and their blogs.  You will be able to see and read about each of the bloggers on both Kris's and my blog. 

Today I'm happy to introduce you to Diane from Lavender Dreams. Diane always has a positive, upbeat attitude that is infectious!  On her blog you will read her book reviews, see her adorable sewing creations, and admire her gorgeous photos from the hikes that she and her hubby often take. (I have to admit that I'm a tad bit jealous over the beautiful weather that she's enjoying right now!!)
Please sit back, relax, and enjoy getting to know Diane better!


Greetings from sunny Florida!

I’m Diane, the Lavender Dreamer.

(taken on my birthday in January at Canaveral National Seashore, temperature in the 70s, photo untouched)
I started my blog, Lavender Dreams about 6 years ago as a ‘creative blog’. I love to sew and make things and also like to collect, so I thought this would be a fun way to share my interests. Like so many others, my blog has ‘grown up’ and changed over time and now I blog about a little bit of everything. I’m retired and love life and I call it ‘happy blogging’.

 

(Ross Prairie State Forest, where we hike)
We retired and bought a home in North Central Florida about 8 years ago and are blessed to still have a nice home in the mountains of Western North Carolina, too. So we have the best of both worlds and enjoy spending time in both places.

 

(and yes, I have a lighthouse painted on my wall!)

I blog from my lanai so, ‘come on in’!

(my netbook on the sofa)

One of my goals in life is to take advantage of the beauty that surrounds me.

(a walk at the park with my honey) 

So I share trips to the beach and day trips to state parks. One of our favorite parks to visit is Canaveral National Seashore and we try to go there at least once a month.

I have a sweet husband that loves to drive and see new places so we are always on the go. I’m thrifty and usually pack a picnic and snacks to take with us.

(Another favorite spot near our home, Rainbow Springs State Park.)

I love to decorate and I’m addicted to thrifting. Here in Florida we have a lot of wonderful big thrift stores. It seems like a lot of people come down here to ‘downsize’ and bring too much stuff with them, so there are lots of great items in the thrift stores. I love anything vintage and buy things that look ‘neat’ to me. They may not have the most value but I like to surround myself with things I love.

(I love books, too!)

When I’m in the mood, I sew. And lately I’ve been making all kinds of cute ‘critters’. Bunnies have been multiplying around my house.

(before that it was mice! lol)

Thanks Susan and Kris for featuring me today. I had absolutely no idea what I should say…but you know us bloggers! We can always blog about something! And for me, it’s ‘happy blogging’!

Diane, thank you so much for sharing with us! I sure wish I was staying in your neck of the woods right now! :)  Please visit Diane at Lavender Dreams then head to Kris's blog to read about Cindy from Dwellings-The Heart Of Your Home.
Have a wonderful day!

Shabbilicious Magazine and Etsy

Good morning, everyone!  I have two quick 'announcements.'

First of all, I've been listing lots of fun new things on my Etsy site, including the items in this post...you can check them out here.

And secondly, I wanted to let you know that I'm thrilled to be included in the new issue of Shabbilicious, a fantastic magazine put together by Kerryanne of Shabby Art Design.

You can order the magazine in digital or print format here, or view it for free here.
Kerryanne does an outstanding job on this publication-I promise that you'll enjoy it!

Thank you so much for stopping by!

And if you're like us here in Ohio being hit by more snow and frigid temps, stay safe and warm! :)

Tray Chic

(Thanks to Revisionary Life for featuring this post!)

Hi, everyone!  When I start getting bored with my decor, an easy fix is to change up the top of our factory cart coffee table.  I usually do a more rustic vignette, but this time I wanted to create something a little different.

I left the grain sack as a 'runner' then started with this heavy, tarnished silver tray.  I like the juxtaposition between the rough wood and the ornate silver.

I stacked 2 large decor books...

...and topped them with a white ironstone pitcher...

... filled with 'flowers' made out of old pattern paper and buttons as the center...

...then added a little silver pedestal dish holding my collection of small clock faces...

...and this vintage apothecary bottle...

...and voila...a new vignette!  Simple, but it's a fresh look.

Here's a better view of the factory cart.

I've mentioned before that Keith surprised me and stenciled the 'Dept No 3' on it when I was gone one weekend, because that's my favorite number! So sweet :)
(Notice the little photo bomber in the background?)

That's Bo, our latest addition.  He can't help himself when I get the camera out...he just has to be the center of attention!  (To see how much he's grown in the 5 months that we've had him, go here.)

Anyway, as I was showing you before I was interrupted (ha!) here are more pics of the living room...

 I hope that you enjoyed seeing my new coffee table vignette!  Enjoy the rest of your weekend :)

I'm sharing this at these wonderful blogs:  Revisionary Life
                                                              Knick of Time
                                                              A Stroll Thru Life
                                                              Have a Daily Cup of Mrs.Olsen

Saturday Spotlight: Angela from Number Fifty-Three

Hi, everyone! Every Saturday Kris (Junk Chic Cottage) and I each spotlight a blogger where they tell us a little bit more about themselves so we can get to know the person behind the blog.

Today I'm pleased to announce that my Spotlight is Angela from Number Fifty-Three!  Angela has a really fun, eclectic decorating style in which she mixes vintage with modern to create such a unique look!  She also shares a lot of thrifty tips and creative DIY projects, and wait until you see her amazing furniture transformations!
 Please sit back, relax, and enjoy getting to know Angela better.

 Hi everyone! I am so thrilled to be here today at Must Love Junk. A huge thank you to Susan for asking me to be a part of this wonderful series!

  

My name is Angela and I blog over at Number Fifty-Three.

You know what? I've kind of agonized over this post for the last couple of weeks. I've been incredibly shy my entire life and even though I blog, nearly every day, I don't entirely open up about myself. This has been a really amazing exercise for me!

I'm married to a guy that has completely let me take over our older home with constant redecorating and project creating and is super supportive of this crazy little life I've created for us! We've known each other for a really long time. He was even my prom date senior year!

I'm also the mom of two gifted boys that are equally awesome and challenging. My mom and I homeschool them. It has been incredibly rewarding and stressful being their mother. They both have special needs and a really rare vision disorder that makes our life a bit atypical. But, they are also a big reason for why Number Fifty-Three was even created. It's my little outlet that is all mine. It has helped me to hone in on my passion of decorating and to not always dwell on all those things that I can't control.

I also share my home with this little guy. If you've visited Number Fifty-Three before than you definitely recognize our rescue cat, Figaro. We've had him for a little over a year and he has been my constant companion. I think he is super handsome!

I've lived in Massachusetts my entire life and while I grew up in the country, I definitely feel more at home in the city. I'm an only child (which probably explains a lot!) and I'm super close to my Mom. She is an amazing decorator! (You can see her home here.) My Dad loved to cook and buy antique furniture (and I definitely got those passions from him). He fought cancer pretty much my entire childhood.  And, I still feel pretty robbed to not have him in my life. I've always been creative and have loved writing, art projects and painting. I honestly can still remember every single detail of my elementary school art room. It made that much of an impact on me!

In college I majored in English Literature with a minor in Psychology.  Soon after graduation I went back and got an MBA in Marketing and Management. I feel like my blog and furniture painting business actually let me use these degrees, which is such a great feeling!

Speaking of furniture, here are some of my favorite pieces I've done so far this year...


1/ 2/ 3/ 4/ 5/

So, the main focus of Number Fifty-Three is decorating on a budget. It's something I'm super passionate about. I know it's tough to have a high end wish list that's out of reach, but I achieve the look that I want by transforming dated thrift store purchases and some smart shopping.

I'm forever tweaking my home and it is an evolving eclectic mix of vintage, modern country and rustic glam.  Here are some of my favorite projects from 2014...


1/ 2/ 3/ 4/ 5/ 6/

 Thank you again for having me, Susan! Please stop on over to Number Fifty-Three. I would love for you to say hello!

Angela http://numberfiftythree.blogspot.com/


Angela, thanks so much for sharing with us!  Please visit Number Fifty-Three then head over to Kris's blog to read about Julie from Restyle Relove.
Have a great day! :)

A Dose of Spring

Hope you're having a great weekend!

It seems like the main thing on everyone's mind lately is the weather, namely this brutal winter.

While attending an antique show this past week I spotted these pages of botanical prints out of an old 'Biblical Natural History' book.

Their fresh, spring images really spoke to me.

I wasn't sure what I was going to do with them, but I bought 3 pages anyway.

When I got home I noticed my large chippy frame that I had moved to a different wall was empty. Hmm...

For a quick, easy solution to adding these to the frame I simply hung 2 sheets with a couple of torn pieces of white masking tape.

Now if you're the kind of person who likes things to be done the traditional way, or if you crave order and neatness then I'm sure you're cringing right now!

But to me this ensemble is perfectly imperfect.  My kind of artwork.

The tape is meant to be 'whimsical' and to show that I don't take my decor too seriously! :)

And the soft colors and beautiful images give me hope that spring will eventually arrive!

So this is my easy fix for a dose of spring.

I'm wishing you your own 'dose of spring'!

Thanks for stopping by :)

Saturday Spotlight: Robin from Happy At Home

Hi, everyone! Every Saturday Kris (Junk Chic Cottage) and I each spotlight a blogger where they tell us a little bit more about themselves so we can get to know the person behind the blog.

Today my guest is Robin from Happy At Home. On Robin's blog you might find her showing her newest vintage finds, giving a step by step guide for her fun  craft projects, or decorating her lovely home.  I love Robin's bright and cheerful style (you have to see her living room!) and always enjoy seeing what creative thing she's up to next.
Please sit back, relax, and enjoy getting to know Robin.



Good Morning Everyone!

I am beyond thrilled to have been asked to share a little about myself today.

Thank you Susan for inviting me over.  

Hopefully I do you proud!

Let's just jump right in . . .

I was born in the great state of Washington in a Army hospital within Fort Lewis.  As luck would have it, the identical army hospital both my mother and grandmother were also born in.  This little tidbit of information was always very fascinating to me when I was a kid.

By the time I was almost two, my dad was transferred to the army base in Fairbanks, Alaska where we lived until I was almost four.  Since I was so little at the time I really don't have very many memories of Alaska, much to my aggravation.  However, three events stand out as my first memories and I have been told by my parents they all happened in Alaska.

# 1.  I remember looking at a buffalo through a split rail and wire fence.  I'm told there was a large field on the other side of our back yard fence that sometimes Moose not buffalo would roam around in. Whether there were moose or buffalo is always up for debate.  I remember buffalo, my parents insist on moose.  Regardless, I was apparently fascinated by them and would get very excited when they would appear.

# 2.  I remember a group of people, including my parents playing a game of badminton at like twilight.  I'm told, my parents and their friends would sometimes take advantage of the very long daylight hours in Alaska on the weekends and play badminton until the wee hours of the morning.  

# 3.  I remember a large white polar bear standing on it's hind legs.  Apparently, the airport in Fairbanks has a very large stuffed polar bear in the waiting area which I was completely infatuated with.  I remember being terrified, yet amazed at the same time.  That polar bear to this day is still my most vivid memory.  I can remember standing in front of it looking up at it's paws outstretched with it's huge claws and then looking up even further and seeing shiny teeth.  Scary - - and cool too!  I wish my parents would have taken a photo of me by it, but how on earth would they have known it would be my most vivid memory!  I often wonder if the bear is still hanging out at the airport.  It would be so fun to go back and get a photo with it now don't you think.

By the time I was four my father was out of the Army and we had moved back to the mainland and settled in Wisconsin not far from the family farm my dad spent the early years of his life living on. Not long after we made the move to Hudson, Wisconsin where we lived until I went off to collage.

Life in Hudson had a wonderful small town atmosphere that was beyond amazing to grow up in.  I have so many fond memories of my time there which I won't get into now.

When I was twelve years old during a routine school scoliosis check it was determined that I had scoliosis.  My parents took me to a specialist where we were told because of the severity of the spinal curve and the predicted growth I would experience over the next couple of years that I would need to wear a back brace to help fix the problem and prevent it from getting worse.

For the following two years I wore a hard plastic brace that covered me from my hips to just under my arms.  It was highly uncomfortable and not exactly a confidence booster for any middle school student to say the least.

Unfortunately, the brace did not give us the projected results and by the time I was fifteen the doctor decided that surgery was our next step.  Basically, they used a metal corrective rod that was attached to my spinal cord to keep it straight, I'm sure their is a technical name for it but I can't remember it.  After one week in the hospital, and two weeks bed rest at home I was good to go.

In 1992 I graduated from High School and went on to get a degree as a Administrative Assistant.  In 1997, I was married my best friend Jonah and soon after we moved to the Twin Cities area of Minnesota.

In 2000, we were delighted to have our first child.  We soon decided it would be best for me to become a stay at home mom.  This was a big adjustment, since I never had considered it before.  As it turned out, it's perfect for me and something that I enjoy very much.

In 2002, we delighted in baby girl number two and then again in 2005 baby girl number three joined our family.  Here is a photo from last Christmas of my girls.

Most of my life now revolves around growing my family.  

I currently have a 13, 11 and 8 year old.  As they are getting older more and more activities are added to our daily lives.  In the fall, two of my girls play volleyball.  The past two years I have been a coach for one of their teams which I really enjoy and will most likely continue to stay involved with.

During the spring and summer I'm a Lacrosse Mom.  This year my two youngest will both be playing which starts in March and runs through July.  My youngest wants to try track and tennis this year also so we will try to work that in.  Here's a shot from last year of me being a good Lacrosse Mom on the sidelines.

My oldest will start High School next year which is so scary for me I won't even begin to get into.  Let's just say with registration/class picks being due this week for her first year of high school as me freaking out a wee bit!!!  I'm trying to play it cool!

During the school year, juggling kid activities and homework keeps me very busy along with projects and blogging about them.

In the summer I love to spend time in my garden along with bike rides and hiking with my girls.  

We also love to go camping and ATVing.  

I grew up camping and I am so pleased to share this adventure with my kids now.  We try to plan two different week long camping/atving trips each summer with a handful of quick weekend get-away's also.  Normally both my parents and my sister and her family come along which make things even more enjoyable.  In the past few years we have added kayaking into the mix too.  Our days are filled with all sorts of outdoor activities.  Here's a shot of our little caravan heading out on an adventure, not a very good photo, but I'm in the caboose car behind three campers each loaded down with trailers filled with either ATV's or bikes and kayaks.  It's quite a sight, that never fails to make me giggle in anticipation.

We typically ride our ATV's in the morning while the dew is still on the trails to keep the dust down.  We'll got out for an hour or two then head back to the campsite to send a group out kayaking.  Then lunch is packed and we all head out to the beach for the afternoon.  Dinner and campfire time follows.

It's the most amazing family fun.

When we're not camping we love to go to my parents cabin as often as possible.   The  cabin itself is off the grid completely, no electricity, no runny water . . . No road access.  We load up ATV's with all stuff we need and drive into the woods a mile or so to the cabin.   It is so pretty and peaceful at the the cabin.  We fill our days up with running around on the ATV's, cooking over the open campfire and of course there is always a dead tree somewhere for Grandpa to cut down much to the delight of the kids.  We then haul it all back to the cabin for firewood.  When we get a little too overheated we head down to the river and splash around for a while.  No matter what we decide to do it's always an adventure in the big woods and I enjoy every second of it.  If I had a choice I would be at the cabin every weekend without fail.

This past January I hit a milestone of sorts by turning forty.  

It took me by surprise (swear I've been 32 for years) and I wasn't sure how to feel about it.  So many of my blogging friends encouraged me not to sweat it.  So I'm taking their advice to heart.  Now I'm excited to see where the next ten years will lead both myself and my family.

I'm sure it will be an adventure!

Bye now,

Robin

Robin, thank you so much for sharing your story with us today!  I learned so much about you!  Please visit Robin at Happy At Home then hop over to Kris's blog to read about Susan at Evelyn and Rose.
Have a wonderful weekend!