Thursday, March 10, 2011

Vintage Romance


We are born at a given moment, in a given place and, like vintage years of wine, we have the qualities of the year and of the season of which we are born. 

Carl Jung

Orchid from Santa Barbara Orchid Show
 
 When we moved into our home, it was decorated in two colors. If beige and tan are two colors.  To make this home our own, we have slowly introduced the colors from nature that we are drawn to on a pleasingly emotional level.

 Our master vanity area is completely open to the bedroom. The cabinet is creamy white on one side and completely open on the other. In theory, the drawers hold the make up, and the woman of the house dallies on a dainty chair to groom. In real life, it was an ugly useless hole under one side of the counter.

Has anyone ever had too much storage? Given time in residence, the most spacious home tends to shrink to 25% less than needed.  Under our counter, wheeled crate corralled bathroom supplies. Useful, but ugly.

Garden colors are romantic- especially appropriate in the bedroom

The scalloped curtain panel was a half measure. 

The arrival of the  snake hatchlings this week arrival sparked some primal neuron that reminded me I own a sewing machine and a leftover bit of fabric from a long ago project.  It felt like a good day to take a break from gardening):-

As this cost NO money- my husband was all for this idea.


Simply mounted on a tension rod, the laundered panels were laid across the 100% cotton upholstery yardage. There was not an inch to spare. One mistake, and I would not have enough to complete the project.

To replicate, simply cut the fabric so finished bottom and side seams match the curtain. Front sides facing the same direction, sew a straight seam just below the rod-pocket.

Voila!  No more ugly storage.  The solid fabric layer chanted the ambiance from utilitarian to romantic. 

 All that I needed to finish the ambiance for the evening was to light a lemon verbena candle.



Friday March 11, 2011 9 AM - 5 PM

Saturday March 12, 2011 9 AM - 5 PM

Sunday March 13, 2011 9 AM - 5 PM

Today's wildlife sighting was flock of  ducks. They appear to have decided they would rather spend the weekend in Newport Beach than Chino Hills):- 






9 comments:

  1. Beautiful post..how soft and romantic!..you got a lovely blog :)

    Hugs,
    Sanghamitra.
    http://rainbow-thecoloursofindia.blogspot.com

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  2. Lydia,

    Very nice! That was something so simple and lovely that I am surprised that you are just now doing that. Sewing machine??? Oh yea! I have one of those too. It's under the counter in the hall cabinet and that's where mine will stay, :)
    Love the orchids!
    If I was looking at the time correctly, you posted that it was 8:00 pm? You said now you had to go fix Gerry's dinner. He must have had a late lunch! :)
    Hugs, Trisha

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  3. Hi, Trisha. It was really easy.

    We're waiting to hear how nephew in Japan is. He's on active duty. Imagine even if no damage, he is going to be very busy with clean up after earthquake.

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  4. Hi Lydia,
    I loved your sewing project. It reminded me so much of the aprons we made in Home Ec long ago, from a yard of 45"-wide calico. They were deceptively simple to make, and fit just right -- just like your vanity skirt!
    Joan

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  5. Joan- as you were long-time publicist for the Santa Barbara Orchid Show- I want to thank you for helping so many people fall in love with orchids.

    Ah- Home Ec. I've been thinking about making some aprons. Most of what retailers sell are fine for heavy duty work or are too futzy. Aprons are like garden gloves or shoes. You need to wear what suits the occasion.

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  6. Lydia,
    Your repurposed vanity skirt is beautiful and I'm sure it felt good to make the casings on your sewing machine. I dusted mine off today for mending some spring outfits that it will soon be time to wear.

    Thanks for stopping by the cottage today to leave a lovely quote
    Rosemary

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  7. Dear Rosemary- Thank you for stopping by. Visiting the cottage online leaves me hungry for a room with floor to ceiling bookshelves.

    Until next we visit each other- Godspeed and Good fortune.

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  8. Adore that quote.........never read it before.

    Garden & Be Well, XO Tara

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