Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for bedroom

Miscellany on Tuesday

February 11, 2014 at 8:25 am by Claudia

lightonquilt

Oh, this bed. I love it. Although I have to say it’s strange having all that square footage to myself. Poor Don. The bed in his apartment sort of dips in the center. He finds the sofa more comfortable and he’s been sleeping there a lot.

And much to my surprise, I absolutely love this golden coverlet. I felt more than a little trepidation when I ordered it online. It was half off for one day (I think Garnet Hill was discontinuing this color) so I grabbed it. The whole time I was waiting for the bed – and we know that was a long time – I worried whether it would work in that room. I made back-up plans to order some other coverlet in aqua when I had some spare cash. But I love this color. I love the way it looks any time of day but especially when sunlight is pouring in the room. It just goes to show you that moving out of your usual color preference comfort zone is sometimes a very good thing.

In other news,

scoutdoinglaundry

I’m training Scout to do the laundry.

She’s a Border Collie, after all. She’s very intelligent.

Actually, Scout has developed this habit in the last year. She has to go into the bathroom several times a day to check things out. I call it ‘going on her rounds.’ She checks out the bathtub. She checks out the trash. She checks out the toilet. And when there’s laundry? She must check that out.

She’s missing her dad. She’s right by my side most of the day and I know it’s because she can’t understand where he is. Poor girl.

woodpeckerontree

I was standing at the sink the other day and saw about 10 birds flitting from branch to branch in this tree. There were two woodpeckers: one had black markings and the other was this one – a red bellied woodpecker. I ran for my camera but only managed to catch a glimpse of this guy. I wonder if it’s our friend Guthrie? I wrote a post about him that you can find here. Hello Guthrie, old pal.

I’ve been watching the Olympics like everyone else. I seem to be a bit more detached about them this time and I’m thinking it’s because I often see the results before I can watch the event. This time difference is tricky. Being on the internet is also tricky. It’s hard to avoid the results, as they seem to be everywhere.

I’m holding my breath about this approaching storm. As it moves up the East Coast, it could really wallop us. It all depends on the track. I’m praying it tracks further out to sea. I don’t have Don here to help me and I’m worried and already overwhelmed by all the snow and ice around here. I’m trying to stay in the moment and appreciate the beauty of this winter, and it is beautiful out there, but it seems to be harder to do when there’s already 15 inches of snow on the ground and there might be a lot more coming.

Winter, I love you for many reasons. But I am so looking forward to Spring.

I have two giveaways going on at the moment. Stop by my post about the Target Cartwheel app to be entered in a $1000 Target Gift Card Giveaway. And stop by my post about Suave Professionals® Moroccan Infusion Body Care to be entered in a $1000 Gift Card Giveaway.

Happy Tuesday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

 

Filed Under: bedroom, birds, Don, Scout, snow, winter 40 Comments

Re-Thinking the Studio/Sewing Space

February 6, 2014 at 9:08 am by Claudia

Over a foot of snow on the ground here with more coming on Saturday.

My head is spinning. February, you are a cruel mistress.

Thanks go to our neighbor who, as we were sitting in the house getting ready to tackle shoveling, started to snow blow the entrance to our driveway. You know, that place where all the heavy and impossibly hard to shovel snow plow build up is. What a lifesaver! Then he proceeded to do a bit more of our driveway as we shoveled the top and the paths to the doors and the shed. Even with his help, we were out there about 2 hours. Sore backs all around.

The bed? Oh my heaven. With tired bodies and the aforementioned aching backs, we sank in to that pillow top and slept blissfully.

I’m in love.

I’ve been making a few changes to my studio/sewing space. For quite a while now, I’ve felt it was too cluttered. What I found charming a year or so ago is now just plain too much. So, since we had to move some things to get the bed up the stairs, I used that time to to reconsider what I wanted in that space. I decided to clear everything off the mantel shelf and take everything off the walls. I’d already moved the bookshelf into the bedroom (it’s right next to my side of the bed.) While I was waiting for the new bed, I repainted the mantel shelf in a lighter shade of aqua and moved Mabel out of the way of the incoming mattress, which got me considering a new place for her to live.

studio8

Note snow on skylight. Makes for a rather dim photo shoot.

studio1

I wanted something more striking and graphic on the mantel shelf. One day I had the idea to create a display of some of my favorite egg cups, arranged in a straight line all the way across the shelf.

studio3

They always make me smile and their pastel colors look good on the aqua shelf. They are also a collection, variations of the same thing, and that makes for a more striking display. I bought that fifties-era print several years ago when I was working in San Diego. (I used that frame to display something else for a while but I decided to change it back. I missed it.)

studio4

Hello, cheery, happy egg cups! I’m glad you’ll be right by my side when I’m sewing.

studio11

Since I’ve been editing a bit in every room of the house, I had this pretty, but empty, frame sitting around. That adorable badge says Mockingbird Hill Cottage and I’ve always loved it, so I decided to hang it from the frame. I like it.

studio5

Remember those frames I was painting? There were from the dollar store – made of plastic, black and silver, the usual document type frame. I painted them the same aqua as the shelf and now they display the Studios Magazine and Romantic Homes Magazine features. I don’t know if you remember, but I had these in much larger frames before and they hung over the bookcase, which used to be on this wall. This is much simpler.

studio10

The little vintage spice shelf that holds The Lamb with the Party Hat has been moved to the right side of the sewing machine.

And I moved Mabel into the bedroom, where she remains, ready and waiting for a sewing session. The little table she was on just took up too much room in what is already a very small space. That’s the same reason I moved the bookcase. I wanted to make it easier for Don and I, especially Don, to maneuver around that corner.

Oh drat. I forgot about the Claudia program I just framed in the shadow box. I wonder if it should be part of this space?

I promise more photos when there’s light streaming in through that skylight.

Don leaves tomorrow. We’re already very sad but grateful, of course, that he has work. There will be two lonely girls here at MHC.

Don’t miss the chance to win a $1000 Target Gift Card. Visit my post on the new Cartwheel App.

Happy Thursday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: bedroom, decorating, Don, snow, studio 42 Comments

It’s Here

February 5, 2014 at 10:34 am by Claudia

A note: I have two posts today. Scroll down for my latest book review and a giveaway.

It’s here.

Somehow, between Monday’s snow and today’s massive snowfall (10 inches and counting so far) the delivery was scheduled for yesterday…the only snow-free day so far this week.

The delivery guys were a bit strange…no small talk with these rather unhappy, cigarette smoking delivery men. I liked the first two guys that delivered the wrong size bed better. Scowls from the first guy, hemming and hawing about whether he could get the bed up the stairs. (I always knew they could.) Don ended up helping them with the mattress and I helped them with the box springs.

itcame

And there it is. As soon as they left, Don and I fell on the bed, just like little kids. We love it. Although I always seem to take a couple of days to adjust to a new bed. This bed’s pillow top is such a contrast to what we had that it will take some getting used to.

I plan to make a slipcover for that headboard with the fabric that was on the old headboard. Wait and see.

Here it is, dressed in its finest. At least so far.

bed2

I got the coverlet from Garnet Hill – a one day sale at half off. That price was about $60. Though I had wanted something aqua, this was such a good deal that I went for it. And I find myself really liking the gold. The texture is silky and gorgeous. It warms up the room so beautifully.

I bought a longer dust ruffle, which I was afraid would be too long. But it works! Overstock, about $28.

bed4

bed3

The throw pillow on the left: HomeGoods, $20. The one on the right I already had. The quilt? You know all about that. My only complaint is about the sheets, which are Rachel Ashwell/Target sheets. I love that they are cotton and they are extremely cool to the touch, which makes this woman who runs hot very happy. The fitted sheet is great. But why the heck do top sheets always run small? This has happened to me more than once. I can barely tuck in it on the sides of the bed. This is a 12 1/2 inch deep mattress, but most beds nowadays are that deep. Maybe top sheet sizes should be rethought? Just a suggestion, Rachel Ashwell.

Delivery was around 3:00, so these photos were taken later in the day.

What do you think?

Happy Wednesday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: bedroom, decorating 83 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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