Lavender

Best Dress at the Oscars

Mila Kunis was a vision in this lavender Elie Saab gown.

This was my favorite of many great dresses at the Academy Awards last night.

I thought there were more beautiful dresses this year than any before but I loved

this lavender and lace one the best.

Which got me in a lavender mood, so I went searching for lavender inspiration.

But you know....it was described as lavender but I think it's really periwinkle and that

must be why I love it so...because periwinkle is my favorite color.

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Other great dresses from Oscar

Loved all the different dresses that Ann Hathaway wore during the show.

I read that Rachel Zoe dressed her for the show....oh dear...

that means we'll hear and see all about it on the next season of the 

Rachel Zoe Project.

I think I hate Rachel Zoe. 

But I still watch her show.

What was your favorite dress last night?

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Can You Help?

Zippy

Zippy needs a home. 

I'm hoping someone who reads my blog will either want him or know someone who wants him. 

He needs someone as soon as possible. 

He is not doing well where he is and needs a loving one dog home immediately. 

*** Zippy's Story ***

from the shelter worker

Zippy is a male Dachshund, approximately 3-years old and weighs around 11 lbs. 

Zippy belonged to an elderly woman who was admitted to a nursing home. Her family took 

Zippy to the local shelter, where he was deemed "unadoptable" because he snapped at one 

of the animal control officers. He was put in the "garage" to await euthanasia.

While waiting, a shelter volunteer started interacting with him and he responded very 

positively with her, so she pulled him from the garage, even though she had nowhere to take him. 

He was placed in a very temporary foster home, where he did well. We received an e-mail 

about him, found a foster and took him into our program. ( www.bestfriendsokc.org )

He was doing well at the foster's home at first, but when one of the puppies at the foster home 

started to climb on him, he responded negatively. The puppy was okay, but Zippy had to go to 

boarding, where he became depressed and very stressed out and snapped at one of the vet 

staff when she went to get him out of his kennel. Since the puppy that he had the problem with 

was adopted, the foster went back up and got Zippy out of boarding.

Zippy had been the perfect angel, until last night when he had another incident with a very 

small dog at the foster's house. Zippy is now needing to go back to boarding unless we can 

find a home for him today or a new foster home.

Zippy is very affectionate and is definitely a lap dog. He is very calm when he is the only dog 

in the house, or with bigger dogs. He is house-trained for the most part as he does 

occasionally have accidents, neutered, vaccinated, and heartworm negative. His adoption fee is $50.00.

He needs a very specific home environment that may be hard to find. Zippy needs to be either 

the only dog in the house or with dogs larger than him. Absolutely NO children either in the 

household or even ones that visit. He has an affinity for women, so a home with a single female would be preferred.

I know this is a tall order, but it really is Zippy's last chance as I'm afraid he will become 

depressed in boarding and refuse to eat, as he did previously. 
Please send this to anyone you feel can help or spread the word about him.

If you can offer a Zippy a safe forever home or a foster situation, please contact Michelle Ray at michelle@bestfriendsokc.org or Shelby0324@aol.com.

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I'm hoping someone that sees this will want him. I'm at my limit with four and Sally can be a 

little snappish herself so it wouldn't work for me to add him to my mix.

That said...if I could I wouldn't hesitate to add him. This poor little guy is just used to being the center 

of someone's world. He needs that again. I lived for 17 years with a little dachshund that would bite.

I loved her so much. But she would bite another dog that got into her space.

But alone with me....I never ever feared she would bite me. 
She loved my Mom, my sister, my friends...most of them and none of them ever worried about her biting. 

She did bite my ex....and in hindsight she knew more about his character than I did.

I should have listened to her that she did not like him.

Yes, she bit any dog that ran up on her when we were out walking. I warned all that she might bite. 

And only when dogs came running up off leash was there a problem.

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That said...this little guy is under stress...he just needs a good home and he'll be fine. 

Please if you are thinking of adding a dog to your life...consider him or pass his photo along.

He is in Oklahoma City.

Here are more photos....

He's a cute little all black boy and he's little - only 11 pounds.

I can't imagine anyone taking him to the pound after their parent goes to a nursing home.

Just the other day, I promised my Mom who is doing super great. She's far more active than I.

Anyway, she said that she realized she is getting older and perhaps should not have dogs after 

the ones she has now for fear she someday will not be able to care for them.

I told her my gift to her is that she can ALWAYS have dogs without worrying.

I will care for them if something should ever happen. 

She will NOT ever have to live without a dog.

I can't think of anything worse...being old and NOT having a dog.

So unfair that this little guy just got taken to the pound.

See how sweet and loving he is?

He just needs a special home.

Please email me if you are interested and I'll send you the information on how to get in contact with 

the shelter worker that is trying to find him a home. 

I can tell you...my first thought was....maybe I can bring him into my house. 

But I am at my legal limit and Sally will fight if another dog even growls at her. 

Yes....hard to believe but Sally isn't perfect.

So, I just can't and besides it sounds like he really needs to be on his own. 

I hope someone out there can open their heart and home to Zippy.
I think about what if my Newman were at the pound and no one helped him?
Heart wrenching....

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Unexpected Color

Great Color Combos

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oh I love this yellow damask sofa with the pink wall

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yellow and aqua...like lemons and a summer sky

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pink and zebra stripe with a little chinoiserie thrown in for good measure

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teal walls and pink chairs done formally

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and finally turquoise, gold and greige

I think I love you best.

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Batchelder Fireplace

Up Close and Personal

Everytime I do a post in which I show my fireplace, I get lots of emails asking me about it. 

I did a post about creating it early in this blog but it was before I had a good camera, 

so I thought I'd do an update on it with new photos and show the details up close.

This fireplace began with the center antique Batchelder tile. 

When I first saw this house, I realized that it had once had a fireplace in it.

You could see where the hearth had once been. Thank goodness previous owners did not bother to patch it properly. 

They simply removed the hearth's tile and left in the wood border fitting new wood planks into it.

There was an obvious outline of where the hearth had been.

The previous owners also did a bad patch job on the plaster walls too.

I could clearly see where a fireplace had once been on the wall.

Which was actually very helpful because then I knew exactly what size to make my fireplace.

So, most of the fireplaces in my neighborhood are made of arts and crafts tiles from the 20's and 30's.

I first thought I'd use new tile that looked similar but was not finding any that looked like I wanted. 

Although there are many more options now. 

I built this five years ago.

As I was saying...after checking out new resources and reproduction sources...I started searching Ebay.

One day I found that center tile. It was an original unused arts & crafts Batchelder tile from the late 20's.

I soon learned Batchelder was a major tile designer and manufacturer during this time period. 

I could not have bid faster on it. 

It measures 6x6. The same seller offered me the smaller floral tiles too.

There is more information on my tile fireplace on this early post.

Anatomy of a Fireplace

I found online old Batchelder tile catalogs with illustrations of fireplace designs.

I used this as reference to create the design of my fireplace.

After checking out new field tile sources to see what was available, 

I designed the fireplace on the computer in Adobe Illustrator.

I determined I needed 18 of the small Batchelder tiles.

The field tiles are hand made new tiles I bought through a tile store.

The serpentine tiles which create the columns on each side were a closeout. 

I felt lucky to be able to order the last of them to use in my fireplace.

I ordered the wood corbels from 

I faux painted them to blend with the serpentine columns.

I love Van Dyke's. It's so full of the materials you need for great restorations.

I had a local wood shop build the wooden mantel that tops the whole thing off.

I stained it myself using Minwax stain with the finish in it. 

I sanded and then used steel wool between coats. 

I highlighted the details of the wood trim with white paint dry brushed on and 

then more stain/finish over it...for a very subtle detail.

If you want to learn more about art tile fireplaces check out my other post -

Anatomy of a Fireplace

I can tell you I had a blast designing and building this fireplace.

I did hire a carpenter to build the actual wooden box that was the framework for my fireplace. 

He then covered it with hardibacker cement board. 

If I'd had the correct tools I could have done this myself.

I'm working on my dining room. 

I'll be so excited to have another spot in the house to do revolving displays. 

I know you are probably tired of seeing my fireplace so much. I would have shown the whole 

living room this week but there are odds and ends everywhere from the dining room.

I'll be so happy when the dining room is done and I can show it.

I also came up with an idea for fixing the backsplash in my kitchen to be to more of my liking.

Remember, I hate the black tiles...I want all white.

Well, actually I'd like to have carrera marble subway tile but I can't afford a redo like that right now.

Even though you can buy that tile at Lowe's now for a very reasonable price.

I needed a solution that would get me by until I could afford the carrera marble.

And it's not so much the cost of the carrera marble as that if I did a new backsplash, 

I'd need a new stone countertop. And if I did that...I'd have to freshen up the cabinets. 

And if I do that...I might as well change the cabinet fronts to a style I like more. 

And if I do that...I might as well have the cabinets I really want. 

And if I do that...I might as well get the appliances I want.

So a new backsplash would lead to a complete kitchen overhaul.

I know I've been told by Jill that I could do this for $3,000 but I don't have the $3,000.

Jill's Kitchen

Instead my little fix is costing me $17.

I hope to do it next week.

Cross your fingers that it will work and make me fall in love with my kitchen backsplash.

Have you seen this kitchen?

It's Linda Merrill's of Surroundings.

She did this kitchen redo for $500.

You can read about it in her online magazine here -

Surroundings

Isn't it a knock out?

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Majolica for Spring

Early Spring Mantel

It was time for a new display on my fireplace mantel.

I decided to get my Majolica out that's been packed away.

The white finial came from Hobby Lobby several years ago.

I have quite a bit of Majolica which is an antique pottery from the Victorian era.

It's known for its botanical themes, shapes and bright, shiny lead glazes.

A very common pattern is the begonia leaf.
I have about eight of them and wouldn't mind having eight more.

I only decided to use the Majolica on the fireplace when I was emptying out the buffet in the dining room to paint it.

I placed a few pieces on the mantel and decided I really liked it.

There is currently more of it stacked about the room...since the dining room is all a mess
because of my painting project.

I especially like the turquoise and green but there are bits of pink and yellow too.

I've always loved the colors in these glazes and they have inspired my decorating 

color scheme for many years.

Majolica was very much in high style...the in thing to collect in the late 80's, early 90's....
but has since dwindled in popularity.

But I still love it and I think it's perfect for spring with it's bright pastel colors and nature themes.
Everything comes back in style eventually.
I remember oogling over pages in the design magazines that showed shelves stuffed with the stuff.
I wanted hundreds of pieces. But I've learned I don't need a lot of something.
Ok, I take that back...I didn't learn it....I've got lots of mercury glass.

Anyway I  have a nice Majolica collection (perhaps 40 pieces) but I'm not sure where to display it all
since moving in this house.
So lots of it has been packed away.

I used to really be mad for it. I still love it but have been leaning more towards 

silver sparkly things of late, hence the mercury glass.

In my search for a terrarium...I found this small cloche at TJ Maxx last month.

The little butterfly and bird's nest inside came from Michael's.

I still have not made a terrarium. I haven't found any nice small plants.

But this little cloche with the faux stuff inside seemed to fill my need for a bit of green under glass.

I'm loving the simplicity of this display and the bright pastels.

After all the pink I had out for Valentine's, I'm enjoying the change.

I was in the mood for turquoise and green.

I'm ready for Spring!

**Big News - Just In**
I've been asked to participate in this year's

Parade will run April 4 - 8, 2011

Click on the logo above for more information.
Andrea at Poppies at Play is holding open two wild card slots...so you can send her some photos
of your home and you might also be on the tour.
There will be 20 homes with four different homes be highlighted each day over the course of a week.
I was so honored to be included because there are really some super fabulous homes on this tour.

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