Painted Garden Rocks

Today my daughter and I painted rocks for her garden as markers for the various vegetables she is planning to grow.  We chose several rocks from our back yard, made ourselves some tea, then set ourselves up with paints and brushes and scrolled through Pinterest looking for inspiration.  There were so many ideas (isn't there always on Pinterest?) that it was difficult at first to decide.

garden rocks in various shapes and sizes (wash and dry the rocks)

Finally we decided to paint all the rocks black as a base coat for a consistent look

We used acrylic paint

and tried to find rock shapes that suited our subject matter

Here is our final harvest of garden rocks.  

This was a really lovely way to spend a dull and chilly afternoon together.  It was a fun and easy activity that let us be creative with what we had on hand, without a big time commitment and only a few paint brushes to clean up afterwards.  Within a couple of hours we had everything completed and her garden will look pretty all summer long. 

Thank you for stopping by My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing each of you a beautiful day,

Sandra

Shrinking and Expanding

Outwardly my world (and probably yours too) has shrunk, I have less freedom and limited interactions, my days are spent at home.  What could feel like the constraint of a too small itchy wool sweater, actually feels snug and comforting, like the swaddling of a baby, safe, snug and cocooned.  While the outer parameters of my life shrink, inwardly I have time to stretch, to breathe.  I have spaces in the margins of my days.  

Prayer shawl in progress

This is no small joy.  With time to meditate regularly, to pray more deeply and to improve my yoga practice, my inner world is expanding.  There is no fixed schedule, no rushing.  Our meals are all home cooked, we've made our own bread and homemade ice cream.  We expanded a small garden for vegetables and have sewn some masks for our family members.  We have story time after breakfast most days and sometimes we nap after lunch.  There is time for ourselves for sitting and thinking and there is time for one another for listening and sharing ideas.  Last night my granddaughter taught me some dance moves and I showed her how to do the Twist to Chubby Checkers' hit song.  There is time to laugh.

One day the quarantine will end, schedules will fire up and restrictions will be watered down.  My daughter and her children will return to school, I will return to work, I will finally be able to see my daughter who lives in another province, it will be a time of rejoicing.  Those on the front lines will finally have the rest and freedom that they deserve.  May I never take for granted everything they have done to keep us safe.

Eventually the quarantine will be a memory woven into the fabric of our lives.  Do I want it to be over? Absolutely, but until then I believe there are many gifts to be discovered, unwrapped and appreciated right now that would never have been possible without these current circumstances.

Thank you for stopping in at My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

May your day be filled with beautiful gifts,

Sandra

Chalk on a Sidewalk

A couple of weeks ago my grandchildren were chalking on the sidewalk in front of our home.  They were leaving messages to encourage our neighbours to "wash your hands", "smile", they drew rainbows and hearts.  I picked up a piece of chalk and wrote out, "Be kind, Be patient, Be good to yourself and to others" on a section of sidewalk. 

Two mornings later I stepped out early to walk my dog and found a note in a plastic sleeve on my balcony (see below).  I was so completely moved by the note and the sentiment of how a few simple words, chalked on a sidewalk had impacted a mom and daughter. 

Later that day I saw a woman and young girl on my driveway who seemed to be peeking up at the balcony, I opened my window and said hello and it was indeed the woman who had left the note.  She explained again how the words had turned their day around and wanted to let us know.  Since my grandchildren are very close in age to her daughter we promised that when the quarantine is over we would get together.

What a lovely reminder of the impact that a few encouraging words can have on us and on our neighbours. 

Thank you for stopping by My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

May you have a wonderful day,

Sandra

Redeemable

I spend a lot of time on my knees.

 Yes, I am a woman who prays (on my knees) but my retail job also involves a lot of bending, climbing up and down ladders, kneeling to cut lengths of carpet runners and crawling under shelving to retrieve products that have toppled over the back side of the displays.
Its not glamorous but it does keep me active and flexible.

The work means that my clothing gets put to the test.  Recently my favourite jeans developed a hole on the knee.  Hmmm... annoying, do I  get rid of them?  I debated cutting them into shorts, using the scraps for some future project or maybe salvaging them by way of getting a bit creative.  I decided to redeem them, to embroider a flower and some leaves over the tear.  I liked the results and continued the vines, flowers, eventually little hearts up the leg of the jeans.

I'm happy with the results.  I'm also reminded that when I have personally felt worn out and torn apart by some circumstance which is beyond my control, over extending myself or at times the result of my own lack of wisdom;  God never sees me as a lost cause.  He knows my limits, when I come unraveled and when I want to give up.  But He never puts me in the throw away pile.  He comes along, picks me up and gently stitches my life circumstances together one more time... in the process creating something unique and beautiful.  We are all always redeemable... no matter what.

I hope that you sense how much you are cherished and how worthy you are of being loved regardless of whether your life seems to be intact today or tattered, tired and unraveling.  Seek out the support of those who love you unconditionally, who are gentle and supportive, pray, or feel free to  connect with me in the comments section.

Thank you for stopping by my turquoise kettle life today,
Wishing you a day of love and support

Sandra

Beauty and Chaos

I've been working on an embroidery project recently.  The floss has become a tangled heap that I pick and tug at as I work the  pattern.  Pinterest seems aware of this chaos and regularly sends me helpful suggestions on how to neatly organize embroidery floss.

A beautiful mess
My Turquoise Kettle Life

But neatly arranged spindles of floss soldiers are not what I want right now.  There is something beautiful about this colourful and chaotic knot of thread, something unpredictable.  As I pull and remove threads, turning and tugging I am impressed with the kaleidoscope effect - one slight movement forever changing the landscape in the viewfinder.

Could there be a lesson in this tangled mess?   I generally lean toward simple, organized, predictable... I find reassurance in those places.  But life isn't predictable or simple (even when I try to keep it organized).
Maybe the truth is that even in the unknown, ever changing tangled chaos that life sometimes presents, there is a rich, beautiful mess and  that all I need to do is appreciate the beauty and welcome what I see in my viewfinder today.

Thank you for stopping by My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you a most colourful day,

Sandra

Super Quick No-Sew Birthday Banner

 I always look at those cute fabric triangle banners when I'm at Michael's but its not something I want as part of my everyday decor, I just think they're cute.  We are celebrating my daughter's birthday this weekend so I decided to forego the paper streamers and create a personalized banner with fabric scraps that coordinate with my kitchen.

fabric, twine, stapler, scissors and thumb tacks 

I used two printed fabrics and one plain white one.  I wrote my Happy Birthday  message on the plain white triangles using coloured markers.  I cut three triangles of each fabric (9 total), folded over the top edge (I ironed it down but you wouldn't have to) and then ran some twine through the folded hem and stapled the hem in place.  Use thumb tacks to hold the ends of the twine over a window, doorway or outside around your deck. Super quick and easy.

Thanks for stopping in at My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you a day worth celebrating,

Sandra

How to Whitewash a Table Top

I am the owner of what was once a roadside-abandoned kitchen table.  The legs are painted a gorgeous rich red but when it was rescued the table top had a hand-painted plaid motif down the centre.  I lived with it as such until my mom said "You should really do something with that table, paint it or something...."

It was true, I had become so accustomed to its ugliness, I no longer noticed it.  So over a year ago, when I was on a very high dosage of the prescription drug Prednisone, (I mention this because Prednisone can create in one a sense of... let's just say...."unabashed enthusiasm") I awoke very early one morning (very little sleep being another side-effect of the medication), grabbed some paint from the studio and repainted my kitchen table with large bold flower-like swirls.

table extension sanded and painted table top 

I still believe the flowers were an improvement over the plaid and I happily lived with it until the past few months when I began to hide it under various tablecloths.  So last week I dismantled the table, hauled it into the driveway and began the process of stripping, scraping and sanding (thank you Dad for the loan of the belt sander!!).

Stinky, messy, toxic stripper. This wasn't working for me.

Out came the big guns, my dad's belt sander!

Getting there, very slowly

Finally beautiful bare wood.

With the top down to bare wood (I'll spare you the details of how long that took), I decided to whitewash the top. I used a mixture of two acrylic paint colours: unbleached titanium and white. Mixing 2 parts paint and one part water I brushed on the paint using long strokes going with the grain of the wood, then with a slightly damp cloth I wiped off the excess paint to even it out and reveal the wood grain.

Unbleached Titanium Acrylic Paint

The extension whitewashed

Final result 

With the top completely whitewashed and dried I very lightly sanded over the entire top (220 grit sandpaper), moving in the direction of the grain. A quick wipe with a cloth and I was ready to put on the varnish: two coats of matte and a final coat which I mixed half matte, half satin finish varnish. Be sure to give each coat time to dry and sand lightly before the next layer.  I'm delighted with the result and won't be hiding it under a tablecloth any time soon!

Thank you for stopping in at My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Paint yourself the perfect day!

Sandra

Under the Influence

Hollyhocks - (Sandra)

Recently my five year old granddaughter has been painting with me in the studio.  We've talked about landscapes, portraits and still life. She is a free-spirit and has her own ideas about most things including creativity and painting so it was interesting when we tackled a still life and her work was very reminiscent of my own style.  Not surprising; we imitate and learn.  We are influenced.

Pink flowers in a blue bowl  (SJ)

I wondered if "influe" originated with the idea of in-flow and yes that is the origin of the word ( late Middle English: from Old French or Latin, "inflow".  Originally suggesting "influx, flowing matter".) If you adhere to the belief that all life is vibrating energy flowing and moving, you can picture how influence may work, other people's ideas, beliefs, behaviours and energy flow to us and through us.

So when Jim Rohn famously said that "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.", I can see how that may be true or at least how the general idea of that may be true.  We are sponges soaking in our environment, what we see, what we hear, what we consume (both physically and emotionally).  With awareness we can always choose to reject and release any negativity that we have encountered, but how much simpler and healthier to deliberately choose, when we can, to surround ourselves with what we do want to absorb, what we do want in-flowing and influencing us.

Since I'm highly sensitive, I'm particular about what I eat, read, watch and how I care for myself.  I try to surround myself with beauty and to choose people who are uplifting and positive.  Does it mean that we don't reach out to those who are depressed, ill, hurting?  Not at all, we are meant to give and receive help, comfort and connection; it is important though to strike a balance and perhaps to off-set a particularly negative, draining encounter with a rejuvenating one.  Sometimes however, a long on-going, no-end-in-sight situation calls for extremely difficult decisions; ending the relationship, changing jobs, moving and moving-on.

We are all "under the influence" of our environments and relationships.  What or whom is influencing you? What could be tweaked to fine tune your already wonderful, happy life?  Or conversely, if life isn't flowing as you would like it to, is it time to make those difficult choices and  "flush" a negative influence down the proverbial drain?  

Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you a most positive day,

Sandra

Jam Jar Door Bouquet

The art of welcoming.  We go all out to welcome our family and friends into our homes, we want them to know that they are cherished and appreciated.  But how do we welcome ourselves home at the end of the day?
What  could be nicer than a fresh bouquet of summer flowers to greet you (and your guests) every time you walk through your front door?

Jam Jar Door Bouquet

Materials list:
small jam jar
plastic pill bottle that fits inside the jam jar
picture hanger/nail
picture hanging wire
flowers/water

• Wrap the wire around the top edge of the jam jar tight enough that it won't slip off.  
• Leave enough wire to create a loop that will hang from the nail.  
• Drop the pill bottle inside the jam jar and fill with water. (I use a pill bottle inside because the smaller diameter requires less flowers and creates a "tighter" arrangement.)  
• Arrange cut flowers and leaves inside the pill bottle. 
• Nail picture hanger into door at suitable height (wooden doors only).  
• Hang your summer bouquet and change flowers when they begin to wilt.

If you don't have a wooden door try hanging your bouquet from the  mailbox
or your civic number sign

Last week I used forget-me-knots in my arrangement and this week its daisies.  I love the idea that the bouquet will change throughout the summer according to what is blooming in my garden.  Why not practice the art of welcoming yourself home, is there anyone who deserves it more than you?

Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Be good to you,

Sandra

DIY Christmas Tree

It isn't that I don't like a real Christmas tree, the look, the scent and all those decorations but this year I wanted to do something a little different.  I looked on line for ideas for alternatives to Christmas trees but nothing inspired me.  I stood in the middle of my painting studio and figured that there had to be something on hand that would serve as my tree this year.  Leaning in a corner were four simple wooden easels.  I took three and fashioned them together into a cone shape.  I love when an idea starts sparking....

Christmas Tree using 3 wooden artist easels
My Turquoise Kettle Life

I tied the easels together using twine, then strung the mini light around and wrapped several meters of white tulle over the lights.  The finishing touch was a star which I suspended from the ceiling to hang over the top of the tree.  Yes, its a little off beat but it might just be the perfect Christmas tree for an artist.

I wish you and your loved ones a wonderful Christmas; a time of laughter and love; and may the spirit of Christmas reside in our hearts all year long.

Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life.

Merry Christmas,
Sandra

DIY Zipper Jewelry

Its December 23rd... two days until the Christmas gifts are placed beneath the tree.  I wanted to give you a sneak preview of my DIY zipper necklace.  For Christmas our family does a gift exchange which I love; it cuts down on the shopping and the gift has to be hand-made.  While some family members find the DIY idea challenging (and it can be depending on who's name you've chosen) I love it.  This year I stumbled across zipper jewelry on line and decided to give it a try.  I roughly copied one that I found at inspiration-of-the-nation.com It was quite simple and quick to make.  

There are several good videos on line that outline the various processes for making zipper jewelry from easy to complex.  I wanted something simple so I bought my zipper by the meter, cut away the excess fabric that runs along the size of the zipper teeth, swirled the zipper into circles and used a hot glue gun to hold everything in place.  The most challenging part of this project was trying to avoid the necklace from sticking to the work surface and not burning my finger tips with the hot glue. There is a black felt backing that hides all the raggedy edges and excess glue.  Jewelry joiners, clasp and ribbon add the finishing touches.  

Thank you for stopping by My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you a wonderful and creative day,

Sandra

How to Create Perfect Tabletop Displays at Home

I haven't written much lately.  I sometimes don't know what to write, what to share.  My life is in transition (who's isn't really?) and what I write one day may not reflect how I feel the next.  What I wrote about work a few years ago is no longer how I feel today. Today I'm deeply grateful that I work at an elegant home decor boutique, surrounded by beauty, meeting so many people and helping them to create homes that they love.  

Of course there is also the personal need to exercise restraint when I'm at the store... there are so many gorgeous items, I am constantly reminding myself that my own home and budget are not large. Thankfully the inspiration I find there is free and I can always bring loads of that home.  

Three is the magic number for displays

Simple displays or "vignettes" as they are referred to in the boutique are easy to re-create when you know the formula.  As many of you probably know 3 is the magic number in creating a display, also the concept of pyramid and triangle.  Three items displayed: tall, medium, short; don't line them up in a row, rather set them up in a triangular arrangement on your tabletop.  If there's too much discrepancy between heights, (such as when you have a tall lamp and two smaller items) place one of the items on a few stacked books to bridge the gap.  Try to choose either a common theme, colour or style to further unify your display.  Finally, re-purpose items; in the photo above that little vase is actually an empty pill bottle.  Poke around your cupboards, what items have you tucked away that could be used to create a pretty vignette?  

Do you have a favourite store, next time you're there really look at how they create their look.  What colours have they used on the walls, in displays.  A smart customer will often bring in photos of their room(s) and get personal advice on how to get a particular look for their home.  Don't be shy, sales associates are usually delighted to help you create the look you want for your space.

Thank you for stopping in at My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Have a beautiful day,

Sandra

Back at the Easel

This week my painting friends and I braved the cold and wind to gather at our shared studio and create.  I arrived uninspired and feeling rusty.  I brought an old painting, predominately blue in colour and turned it upside down to begin again.  I wondered where my brush would go and what my heart had to say (if anything).  As my painting began to take shape my studio mate chuckled, "Encore les circles?" (Still circles?)  What can I say?  Circles that bloom into more flowers.

Garden Party - 24" x 30"

Detail of Garden Party

Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life.
Wishing you a very happy day,
Sandra

Painting Flowers

Pot with Flowers.  10" x 12"  Acrylic, Graphite and Collage.

I did this painting several weeks ago and took it along to a small format show.  It never got a second look that day and I nearly painted over it several times since.  My good friend and fellow artist, Joan, saw it and loved it.  Suddenly I thought it had merit again.  Why didn't I trust my own instincts?  Why did I need outside approval?  

I have some work that I am so deeply connected to I don't care what anyone says about it; I know its good because I love it.  Some others I think are fine, but fall more deeply in love with as time goes by.  And then there are paintings I unearth in my studio and wonder how I possibly signed my name to them... ghastly.  Maybe paintings are like relationships: some are love at first sight and remain so, others grow on us over time and still others that were once lovely could now be recycled.

Thank you for stopping in at My Turquoise Kettle Life.

Wishing you a day of quiet joy,

Sandra

Painting Flowers

Sometimes I get "stuck" on a painting theme.  Right now it seems to be flowers.  I may tell myself I'd like to do a landscape or a figurative painting, but the only thing that wants to be expressed is flowers.

Title: Four Vases
30" x 30" Acrylic and Mixed Media on Gallery Canvas

I chose to repaint over a former abstract work that I wasn't in love with.

What it looked like "Before"

"After"

 You can see that the new painting was "sketched" directly over the old one.  This is a fun challenge because you have to work with what is already there.  (The colours in the before photo, taken a few years ago with a different camera, are more vibrant but the second is more accurate in terms of colour intensity. ) 

I wanted to keep the painting loose and not overly "worked".

Detail from Four Vases

I used blue tissue paper to add areas of interest and a watercolour pencil to outline some of the flowers.

Detail from Four Vases

Diluting acrylic paint with a little medium creates some transparency, which reinforces the unfinished, loose, undefined feeling.  A brush helps to create outlines but using a spatula prevents the painting from being overly controlled.

I hope you can find something creative to put your hand to this week.

Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you a beautiful day,

Sandra

Out of Hibernation

It's nearly mid-March.  How long have I been hibernating for?  Months in fact.  Months and months of pulling inward away from the world, away from the darkness, the cold and life's winter storms.  Weather patterns can be so unpredictable.  So when life's storms arrive on your door step I hope that you have your survival kit in order.  Mine contains: kindred spirits, a quiet corner, prayer (if you can manage it, and on the worst days you may not be able to), a dog to curl up with and mugs of tea.

With the arrival of March the sun is stronger, the sound of melting snow trickles to the sewers and the smell of mud reminds me that it is time to come out and play again.  That is how I found myself back in my painting studio after months of inactivity.  I tried to paint intuitively choosing colours and shapes that pleased me without giving myself any restrictions.  My goal was to play, to be happy again.

Title: Happy Flowers
40" x 40" Acrylic Mixed Media on Canvas

Detail from Happy Flowers

Today is sunny and the mercury has climbed all the way to 5 degrees Celsius; and tomorrow?  Fifteen to twenty centimeters of snow.  Oh well, today is lovely and I have decided not to let tomorrow's flurries dampen my happiness today.  I'm on my way out the door for a sunny walk with our dog.

Thank you for stopping by at My Turquoise Kettle Life today.
Wishing you a most happy day,
Sandra

Nesting

Before I begin this post let me confess that I am not a very well balanced woman.  I don't mean that I am in any way a risk to myself or others; however my tendency is to become completely consumed with an idea or project and to immerse myself in it often at the peril of other interests and even responsibilities.

Over the past couple of months our home has been my obsession.  In July I took a critical look at our home, it was a moment of truth.  (Not unlike the day when a woman stands naked in front of the mirror that she has been ignoring for months or years, and takes an honest inventory and decides that the time has finally come for action). I think of our home as a patient and loving protector, strong, sturdy, humble and unassuming.  For twenty years she has provided our family with a safe environment in which to raise children, deepen our marriage, welcome and love friends, family and neighbours.  She has never demanded expensive repairs or shocked us with sudden "conditions".  She's had a few aches and pains which we have tended to and in return she has continued to embrace us.



Living Room during "facelift"

What I felt was a deep desire to create a beautiful environment that expresses where I am and who I am at this point.  I created a long list, mentally walking through each room. I allowed my imagintion to run from the obscure to the practical making a dream list for each room.  I sketched little diagrams in the margins and visited Pinterest for ideas.  I visited shops and second-hand shops looking for bargains and inspiration.

And of course I got down to work.  The kitchen you already know about.  I painted the living room, hallways and entranceway of our home.  Moved furniture, sewed pillows, changed drapery rods, found vintage linens, quilts at yard sales, bought candles and changed light fixtures.  I garbage picked (a coat rack and a gorgeous pine armoire!!) and I did a little decluttering too.  I took out the china and mixed it in with the everyday dishes and use both together.  I learned how to build a floating deck (thanks to my husband, my dad, You Tube, and a library book) and built it by myself and yes, I used the "big saw" and still have all my fingers!

Living Room - still in progress but with new paint and accessories

Pulling together "forgotten" items from other rooms to create a new grouping

I haven't finished everything yet but I am taking a little break to come up for air and to catch up on some of those other chores that I have conveniently ignored for weeks.  With the cold months approaching and the need to spend more time indoors it seems like the perfect time to create an environment that we can snuggle into in the months ahead, while at the same time nurturing our humble home as a way of saying "You are beautiful and we appreciate you."

Thank you for taking the time to visit My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you a day full of comfort,

Sandra

Recycling Inspiration

A recycled bedspread creates subtle texture and colour as a cover for a bench and pillows.
S. King-Allikas

 

 

This short post is just to inspire you to think outside of the box when it comes to throwing or giving away old linens, throws, spreads etc.    I've just spent a couple of hours snipping and sewing a bedspread that my mom was giving away.

 

We have a six foot long white upholstered Ikea bench in our living room (a Kijiji find!).  I absolutely love white upholstered furnishings, but with a mud-loving dog, relaxed life style and my easy-going attitude about cleaning, I loathe taking off those Ikea slip covers and washing them. 

 

BEFORE: Ikea upholstered bench with white slip covers
 

 

My solution, thanks to my  mom's donation, was to sew two made-to-measure covers for the upholstered bench (while one is being laundered I have the other to use).  The scalloped edges  create a soft effect and with the left over fabric I recovered two pillows. 

 

AFTER: Easy clean cover and pillows

 

Now I have the beauty of white furnishings with the ease of washing nothing more than a small cover. 

 

Thank you for stopping by at My Turquoise Kettle Life.

 

May your day be covered with possibilities,

 

Sandra

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Kitchen Window Seat - Simple and Easy

Here is the 1930's buffet that we converted into a kitchen window seat. This idea worked beautifully it was frugal, simple and easy.

Kitchen Window Seat - former buffet

 

 

When we were given this buffet a year ago, the legs had already been cut off, a 1960's alteration to give the piece a sleeker more modern look. I removed the handles and sanded off the heavy varnish finish, leaving most of the dark stain. Using semi-gloss latex paint intended for doors and trim, I streaked on two coats of paint, rubbing off some spots to give it a weathered look. I rummaged up some old knobs that had been on our kitchen cabinets years ago to replace the originals, which now looked too large and heavy on the white finish. Two vintage quilts folded soften the seat and a few throw pillows finish off the window seat. By the way, can you believe I picked up the hand stitched quilt complete with cross-stiched details at a neighbour's yard sale for $3!!

This cozy corner has become my (very) early morning spot. For the few minutes that it takes for the kettle to come to a boil, I sit in the darkness and listen to the chirping of the crickets and marvel at the deep blue of the pre-dawn sky. The cool air wafts in and the world seems like a sleepy, peaceful place. That is a nice return on a project that cost a total of about $35.

Buffet - free
Paint - on hand
Quilt - $3.
Pillow forms and fabric $30.

Thank you for stopping in at My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you a peaceful place in the world today,

Sandra

Falling in love with a Fabric

A fabric store is really a visual and tactile feast; when I need to "fill the well", as author Julia Cameron of The Artist's Way explains it, I trot myself over to the fabric store and soak it all up. That's exactly where I was a couple of days ago. I didn't have any intention of buying fabric but they were having a "buy one meter and get two more free" promotion. Well doesn't that make the visit more interesting?

I always begin at the back of the store at the discount wall and work my way to the front. When something catches my eye I begin to visualize what it might become. It is like a huge buffet for the imagination. About half way through the store I found "it", a fabric so beautiful and so perfect that the ideas of where and how I could use it began to gush to the surface of my imagination like a geyser. Within minutes my mind had my entire home upholstered in this beautiful floral Waverly fabric.

Waverly floral fabric

 

I bought my one meter and got two free. I cycled home with the fabric in the basket of my bike so that I could admire it on the way. At home I discovered that I had a half meter of plaid fabric that coordinated quite nicely. Yesterday I recovered the cushions of my wicker furniture.

Here are the before and after photos:

Before:

Before reupholstery

Before: Faded and tired looking.

After:

Newly upholstered in blue Waverly fabric

 

A fresh and summery spot for relaxing

 

I still have one meter left and I've spent the morning draping it over tables, furniture, pillows and windows. Some people have theme music; I think this may become my theme fabric, the fabric of my life. In that case, perhaps I should get a few more meters.....

Thank you for stopping by My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you a day brimming with ideas,

Sandra