:: a library table & etagere

Hello sweet friends. I've been missing for several days now, I've been very busy working.

Well, I always work...but right now I'm actually working for someone else for a change.

Now that everyone's back in school, and our schedules are becoming routine I am

back at work decorating my friends home...so lots of shopping has been on the agenda this week.

Don't get me wrong, I love shopping....but do you ever have those days when you find n..o..t..h..i..n..g.

Very frustrating, especially when you are trying to get a job done...

of course I know that soon I will hit the mother load,

that's just how it seems to go....for me anyway.

Actually today has been a very productive day, and I feel like I'm making some headway. Yay.

I've been hanging curtains & art, and of course more shopping.

I can't wait to be able to share some pictures of her spaces with you.

For today though, you have to settle for a shot of my house.

Above is the view into my living room from the foyer.

Sorry the shots not so clear, I have a really hard time photographing my spaces.

Anyhoo, this is my library table in the foreground. 

I love library tables....and books....oh my, I can never get enough.

Books make me feel happy and surrounded by coziness,

I use them as decoration all over my house.

Here I have books & magazines all stacked on this round table.

I love this table, it serves multiple purposes....right now it's a library table.

During holidays it's set for more dining as it is directly adjacent to the dining room.

The best part of all though is that it's Libby's house...her ugly wire kennel fits perfectly below.

This makes me very happy because I hate when things feel out of place & that thing is definitely that.

I splurged a little while back and purchased the burlap fringed tablecloth from Ballard.

That's definitely the most expensive tablecloth I've ever owned....but soooo worth it I love it.

I loved it for a very long time before I finally took the plunge and committed to it.

The table underneath is just a pop up I purchased from an office supply store online.

The tables at Ballard were a little too expensive for me, and this one was just right...

now I just need to invest in the glass top to finish it off.

The etagere on the wall came from a favorite furniture store that has since gone out of business : (.

I really like the details on this piece, and the fact that I have someplace to display things.

The artwork flanking either side is my own photography from a trip to London, England...

it doesn't get any less expensive than straight from my printer into ready made frames.

Below the artwork is an old pair of violin back chairs found at Goodwill for like eight bucks,

someday I'll get around to painting them and recovering them but I'm ok with them now,

they are perfect for pulling up as occasional seating when we have larger groups.

Well, there you have it another little snapshot of my home.

Sorry for all of the babble, you may not even care about my awesome tablecloth ; ).

I really do love it, and that's the most important thing of all about things....you must love them.

Hope you all are having a wonderful week so far.

Now I have to go and spend some time with my awesome 12 year old...

BIRTHDAY BOY!

Take Care

{peace, love & hugs}

Carrie

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:: back door herb garden

Hi, I want to share my back door herb garden with you before the season ends.  I meant to share when I made it and all the plants were cute & small...but time & the plants have gotten away from me so better late than never.

I had an idea to use different sized galvanized containers to create a tiered herb garden. I have the perfect corner for it right at the backdoor leading to the deck from the kitchen. All I had to do was go to my local Tractor supply to pick up a few extra buckets, I already had the largest tub that held my Christmas tree this past Christmas.  I'll have to get a new one since I punched holes in this one for drainage. You can't see the middle bucket in the picture above, but I promise it is there, as well as the small pail on top.

Here it is a little earlier in the season...

One day while my sister was visiting she helped me with this little afternoon project.  Using a large nail & hammer we simply punched six drain holes in a row about 2" up from the bottom of each of the containers, {working from the inside out works best & doesn't dent the buckets}.  We filled each bucket with potting soil, and simply stacked them on top of the lower buckets soil as we went. The holes allow the water to trickle down from each of the buckets into the one below.  We then set out my herbs to decide where we wanted things to be according to their size, and as you can see they've all grown quite large....some more so than others. I've even had to do a little plant rearrangement along the way.  I have had an abundance of fresh herbs right outside my door all season long. It's been so nice having it right outside the kitchen door, I just pop out and snip.  Together with my tomatoes we have had lots of lovely fresh pasta dishes.

Next year I may lay out my plants a little differently, I would love to add it to a stand or add one more tier for a little more height in this corner.  I have loved this project, and it's so nice to see the pop of green outside my door when I drink my morning coffee.

So what do you think?

Would you give this project a try?

Do you already have a backdoor herb garden? 

I would love to see your herb gardens so leave me a link and I'll take a peek.

Since fall is surely on it's way, I'll soon be saying goodbye to this little garden...

I can't wait to start again next year.

Did you know that you can start some herbs inside by simply placing a cutting in a container of water...it takes a few weeks & you'll see it's roots.  I've started rosemary, oregano, marjoram, basil & mint too, i've created several new plants this way.  I've been taking cuttings and rooting them for replanting inside, I'll start them in pots soon.  Remember all of my little cuttings on my windowsill, I love the look...they all graduated to plantings, and I have several more going now.  Give it a try if you haven't already....it's super easy, and hopefully you have a sunny spot for keeping them indoors this winter.

I'll have to let you know if mine make it indoors.

Hope you are having a great week, can't believe it's almost over....but Yay anyway.

:: peace, love & hugs ::

Carrie

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:: the emperor & a mosaic

More butterflies... first is the Tailed Emperor { Polyura pyrrhus }, 

doesn't it look grand, the name fits it perfectly.

Secondly I painted the lovely Mosaic butterfly { Colobura dirce } 

I love how different the two sides of this butterfly looks, I just had to attempt the zebra stripes.

So, what do you think?

Like the colors?

I promise no butterflies tomorrow ; )...only

because I was out thrifting today and had no time to paint... hee hee.

Hope you all are having a wonderful week so far.

{peace, love & hugs}

Carrie

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