Making a new List!

I never really thought of myself as a “List Girl.” I thought those girls were a little obsessive. You know, the ones who are always writing every little detail that goes on in their everyday life. I am not one that needs to have a list to remind me of the every day task.

I am, however, a girl that will make a list for special occasions where I might be doing things out of the ordinary. With that being said I have started a new list!!
I am an avid user of 3x5 index cards for my lists. They are the perfect size to put in my wallet and to carry around a  store.

My new list is things that I want to look for when I go thrifting!! You know how distracted you can become when there is so much to look at. I just started a new list and so far on my list reads:

1. Table for my porch-20wX25H
2. Coffee cups for Hubbies work buddies
3. Spooner for Bakelite knives(Like Ina Garten)
4. Restaurant silver tray and silverware
5. Large textural basket for center of my table
6. Interesting baskets for decor
7. Small oval white platters
8. wooden cutting boards

I will carry this with me when I go thrifting or Goodwill Hunting!! I am sure I will add to it as time goes by. At least I have a list and a focus now.

Do you all make list like these? What would be on your list?!

“Enjoy the Process” Of:

Keeping your thoughts organized!

Kathysue

Ina Garten Taught Me Something!!

We all know Ina Garten is a wonderful cooking teacher, but I learned something from her other than how to cook!!

Last Saturday I spent the day watching taped episodes of Barefoot Contessa shows, enjoying a nice quiet day.

Show after show I studied Ina’s kitchen. There were some elements that I absolutely loved. Her use of hotel silver, white platters and the way she has silverware housed in a clear glass holder on her counter. I love how she has herbs growing in white pots. I mean, after all, what is not to like about her fabulous kitchen?! What caught my attention and gave me some inspiration was her use of a clear glass holding silverware. Although this is not a new idea, or one that I have not seen before, today it struck a cord with me.

See the spoons in the clear glass jar next to the limes? That is what inspired me to do my knives in a clear glass container. You will also notice the small crocks with utensils in them. I like the look for Ina’s kitchen, but having my cooking utensils in a holder  is just one step too much for me. I know it is a very fine line with me!! I struggle with this fine line all the time. It is a personal comfort level for me. I think we all have one and I think it is important to realize where your own  personal comfort lies.

The inspiration hit!! I could bring in a touch of fall to my kitchen by adding my ivory Bakelite knives to a clear glass holder. I love the warmth that ivory Bakelite can bring to a table setting. I used it one year for a Thanksgiving table setting inspired by my friend Eddie Ross. You can see my knives in the below picture of my Tday table.

Putting anything on my counter can be real iffy for me because I like a pretty well edited counter top space. I got out a glass and put the knives in it, Hmmmm??!! I think I like it! Next I got out a solid white holder and Hmmmm??!! No, that is not it! Clear it will be.

My next step was to go thrifting to find the right holder. I knew it needed to be clear and at least six inces tall.

I found one!! It is simple and I like it. I am still going to look for a real vintage spooner, but for $2.99 I think I will enjoy this one just fine while I am still on the hunt!!

Inspiration can come in all forms and in all kinds of different places. Keep an open mind and when you see something that catches your eye, think of a creative way to apply it to your own space. I did! It is not spoons in a glass, but I chose to put knives in a holder and it works for my space and for my own personal design aesthetic!!

“Enjoy the Process” Of:

Looking for inspiration in your surroundings and applying it to your own environment!

Kathysue

My Porch Dressed for the Beginning of Fall!

I had so much fun planting the pots on my porch for fall. What kind of plants do you plant for the fall on your porches?

 Be sure and go to the end of the post to see the new cushions in black with white trim. I am loving them with the black and white striped curtain. It feels just like I wanted it too.

I always try to have something higher in the middle towards the back. This is a Lemon Cypress tree. They are often used to make topiaries, but I like its natural Christmas tree shape. When ever I use a touch of lime in plantings I try to add a plant with a touch of grey to its leaves for contrast. I find it more interesting to add different shapes and textures of leaf material in a planting mix. The best part is the Lemon Cypress really does smell just like a lemon!

This is very similar to the other gray urn, but this is a black pot. I love the way the very dark coleus picks up the blackish look. The other coleus leaves bring out the dark pink in the impatiens. Another element I like to add to a mix is a pop of white as seen in the tiny ethereal looking flower.

This is my black hanging pot which hangs to the right of my door. Here you will see a pop of lime coleus mixed with the dark velvety leaves of the other coleus. I also added a pop of whitish/gray with dead nettle. This is a great plant for hanging planters.

Next dressing will include adding the mums and white and green pumpkins but not until September.

 

Here is my porch with the new black cushions with the white trim. I love these cushions and the sharp look they give to my porch. I am still enjoying my morning coffee sitting in that little corner chair. The impatiens have grown and filled in the front planter and make a nice carpet of pinks and white.(would  you believe there is a boxwood hedge under all that pink and white?) The monster fern is still healthy and enjoying life!!

Oh I almost forgot about the white hydrangeas! They went in my backyard window box. Before we go back there, remember the back of my home is painted green with cobalt accents. I did this to keep a cool look for the summer heat around the swimming pool. Here are the white hydrangeas new home.........

“Enjoy the Process” Of:

Adding your own special touches to your fall porch.

Kathysue