Sewing Up a Storm : Part III

There has been a lot of sewing going on around here. 

First this pillow and then this one.

Using my favourite black and white striped fabric from Ikea, I stitched up this one:

{I love taking photos of the house, you get to see the space through different eyes and realize how much more zhushing the place still needs - see my end table? Blank space. And that mirror niche - who the &*%$# designed that? One of the drawbacks of renting - can't tear that out. Wish I could....}

And ....

I also whipped up this one:

But that isn't all....

I have a few more to share. 

Maybe in a few days? 

Don't want you to get sick of seeing pillows.

XO Barbara

~Touches of Fall~

I am not much for frou-frou decorating when it comes to fall.

 I strive for simplicity.

That's my way of saying I can't be bothered {or maybe just plain lazy}. 

It seems like too much work to make Hallowe'en sparkly "boo"signs, spray paint branches black (might try this though) or hang leaf garlands over the house. 

But I do decorate the house with small touches that I like to call 

farmer's market chic.

Throw in some cute little pumpkins and my daughter's artwork to create a fall inspired mantel.

A few touches around the house.

Love the shape and colours of the squash I found at the market. The colours pop against the elongated ebony "bowl" my sister brought back from Tanzania.

All the squash around the house has me craving some yummy curried squash soup! 

Linking to:

Fall Mantel Party @ The Nesting Place

Falling Up Party @ Cottage and Vine

~Coffee Table Love~

I am back!


 We finally resolved the internet issues {my husband to the rescue}. Felt like I was in withdrawal - not being able to get my daily dose of blogs.


Today you can join me at a linky party over at one of my favourite design bloggers



It's all about coffee tables.

Check out her coffee table, an amazing Craigslist find! Aren't her bookcases so chic? Also a Craigslist find.

She wants to know how we use our coffee tables.


So.... 

 Let me tell you a story.....

At our home we have two coffee tables, one in the living room and a well used ottoman in the family room. The coffee table in my living room is one I love dearly.

{This is usually how my table is styled - bare and sad}

 Can you love a piece of furniture dearly? 


Despite it's shabbiness: I can.

{Sad photo: raining outside - dark sky-north facing room - photographing  black indoors - really tricky - tips anyone?}

 It is a Danish mid-century style teak coffee table that my parent's had in their living room while I was growing up. {They have a lot of amazing teak pieces} I inherited the table when I married but after many years of abuse by my children, husband {yes dear, you must use a coaster} and a dog, it needed to be resuscitated.

I tried to refinish it....

 Sadly, it wasn't solid teak and couldn't be refinished so with Benjamin Moore to the rescue, it was painted with a solid oil-based ebony stain.


Funny story: While I was waiting for a coat to dry, my dog decided to eat my latex glove! When I went for a walk with him later I {uhmmmm} "discovered" it.

My coffee table is one of those hand-me-down pieces that I can't let go. I remember jumping off that table as a child, having Viennese coffee with my Czech grandmas, watching my daughter pull up and dance to Abba's "Dancing Queen" when she was 10 months, watching shows performed on top of the table by two toddlers dressed in swimsuits and tutus, even my dog got in on the action while breaking in his adult teeth on one shelf.......the list can go on.

Never thought a piece of furniture could hold so many memories. Now is sadly sits in our rarely used living room. My assortment of coffee table books along with a hurricane vase sit atop with the occasional flower arrangement. 


I tried to have a plate of shells to decorate it a bit
 but....


 my dog ate them.

 It's life in the living room may be limited though, not sure if it will stay here. I find that room is too dark with many dark finishes.  I might move it upstairs in the soon-to-be designed games room where it can be abused a bit more.

In the meantime, put your feet up and join me at Emily A. Clark's coffee table linky party to see how coffee tables play a role in others' lives!