Tuesday Musings

 

thehouseofsmiths.com

Waiting, waiting, waiting for my bespoke lampshades to ship! Ordered the beginning of June knowing it was going to be 12 weeks out! Trying to have them in the studio, to take orders off of, before all the ladies head back south. The timing could have been perfect for next spring delivery! Oh well!

slipcovermakeover.com

I tried my hand at making slipcovers for box cushions, everything was fine except I am the worst at putting in zippers . I need to push myself to practice, instead of hand sewing my cushions closed, including the pillows that I make! You would think that if I can sew an envelope back I could put a zipper in!!

vogue.com

This dress is me! 100% me! Socks and sandals not me but close! I love that todays style is allowing us to wear shoes and socks with dresses. 

quadrillefabrics.com

Fresh and blue, crisp and clean! This would be a great Florida bedroom. Just add green palm fronds in the corners and a real live parrot on a perch! 

thebasketcase

If I didn't have full log walls I would paint my living room this color! There are a lot of windows and in the summer it is all green leaves outside and the winter it is all white with snow. It would be a dramatic contrast winter or summer! 

rockler.com

My crafty little husband has taught himself to weave chair seats. He also does caning and wicker repairs as well. He has finished several sets of chairs and wicker furniture pieces and his customers loved them. 

stylemepretty.com

Valances use to be the thing! Shirred onto a rod and hung at the top of the window for a little color and softness. Now it is roman shades. Faux romans, full length romans and my favorite, relaxed romans. Just another way to decorate with color, texture and shape.

Well there you have it! Blogging with Pinterest!

Having A Little Garage Sale

 

So I am having a little garage sale. Trying to anyway! I have had the tents set up for a few weeks but between rain days and beach days I  have been open sporadically. 

Bits and pieces of stuff! The red metal cone on the left is a fireman's bucket. I use it to plant Impatiens and hang them from a hook. I have several boxes of upholstery fabric swatches which are great for making pillows or totes. 

A little bit of everything! The silk roses look real enough to water!

Christmas is coming! Pretty decorations in pastel colors. I would stuff the little buildings in-between the branches of my big tree. They snugged in quite nicely with lights around them. Quilts and bed skirts, I have several from beds bygone.

Decorative pillows to put on your sofa and a picnic basket for the French "Yogi and Boo-Boo" in your life!

The good stuff! Le Creuset and a killer roasting pan. A covered casserole dish to bring for Thanksgiving dinner, loaded with your favorite sweet potato recipe. 

I will open, again, next weekend if the weather cooperates! If you see anything that you would like, e-mail me at, shop@anchorcottage.

Time to close for the day!

What Didn't I Do This Week!

Started the week, sitting on the beach, on Sunday. The water was pretty warm compared to the air temperature. But we didn't go for a swim. Regretted missing the last swim day of the season. Did manage to cut Birch logs, for a customer's Florida fireplace, to length. Arranged and numbered them so she can place them just so!

Searching fabrics for a customer. 

Placed fabric orders. 

Shopped English, Ironstone plates, for a customer, up in Elk Rapids on Tuesday. 

Dropped a Jeep load of design elements off at the studio. Worked at my new favorite furniture store, The Comfort Center Garfield, on Wednesday and Thursday! 

Managed to glue this platter back together. I was thinking of edging the garden with the pieces, but, since I had the stand, I am going to use it to set potted plants on, in front of the kitchen window, this winter. It's already broken so I won't worry about water stains at this point, but it should look really pretty underneath a couple of Orchids!

Yes, "Design Matters", in all aspects of home décor! Whether I am in a customers home and she is looking at color matches for headboard, bench and rug, or I am at the Comfort Center selling sofas and recliners! Laying out a bathroom in a guestroom or sitting on my porch. "Design Matters" just ask Schumacher!  

It's Saturday and I opened the garage sale for a few hours and then I am going to the beach!! It is suppose to be 77 with winds out of the south west. Hope it's a swim day!!

And this week's a wrap!

 

Through The Eyes Of My Intern

What fun to see my decorating studio through the eyes of my intern! I took the photo, above, through the eyes of my heart! I love this little gal and her puppy, Piper! 

My intern spent about an hour shooting these photos of the showroom. Interesting what caught her fifteen year old eye! She liked the antique corbels because she liked the "Found" tags. 

She found the wallpaper book, opened to this page, and the Annie Selke bedding swatches. Looks dynamite together!!

More Annie Selke bedding teamed up with wall paper. Gorgeous, very attractive combination! 

We really have some beautiful wallpapers to work with. 

Piper's Prints, with a paw print signature! We are doing it!!

This was just the best grouping of bedding, fabric and wallpaper!

Lucky me to have spent the time working with a girl and her dog! 

 

"No!", Said The Bride, "No Bows For Me!"

Got a call from an old friend, that I had not seen in a while. He asked me if I would help his sister set up a wedding for her daughter. "Of course, I would be delighted too help!" "How many bows do you want me to make?" As I pulled up to the family cottage, on Sunday, I knew that this was to be a blessed day.

 

Our special, neighborhood flower farmer, was there with her husband and armfuls of flowers in vases. Omena Cut Flowers, no wedding on the bay can go on without them! 

If all is white the flowers set the stage with their pops of color gracing the center of the reception tables. 

The blessing of the Birch Trees, a tree of beginnings, new dawns and promise, the alter of the wedding vows. 

The shared efforts of family and friends, creating a truly special celebration of love on this beautiful Sunday morning on the bay. 

We all worked together to set a pretty table. 

A party of eighty eight friends and family! All who, yes they did, carry the chairs back to the tables after the ceremony. 

It was just like in the movies!!

Mother Nature at the weather controls, she's a pro, could not have been a more beautiful day! She even threw down a moon rise for the special couple. 

A thousand Origami Cranes hung from the trees. A Japanese tradition, symbolic of life, longevity and happiness.

Life, Liberty, Beaches and Pies! Oh My! Treat bags from Cherry Republic for the guests!

The mother bought the pots of Daises and we put them in the wrought iron baskets, then lined the aisle with small white mums for the bride. 

How could I not have enjoyed helping? The scene was peaceful and serene on this Sunday morning, over looking the water. 

Clever seating chart! 

The floral arrangements were nestled into a spread of Cedar and polished beach stones.  Symbolic of Lake Michigan! 

The brides friends created an arch of Cranes over the alter....

....and hung the garlands of cranes all through the tent. Gently swinging in the breeze.

We used satin ribbon to line the railing for the bride. Her mother snugged the Mums around the bottom of the stairs. 

"No bows", said the bride! The wedding turn out to be extremely elegant without all the fuss!

Even the outhouses were given some attention. 

Flowers everywhere!