Goodbye 2012

This year I am taking 2 weeks off for the holidays and it has been so nice.  

2012 was a great year, full of growth and exciting opportunities; but it was hard work and on many levels exhausting.  It has been nice to recharge and I really look forward to what 2013 will bring.  Happy New Year to each and every one of you.  I hope 2012 was great for you and I hope 2013 will be even better.

xx,

Marianne

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Quiet Time

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I'm back...

I've been having trouble coming back to blogging after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School...   I'll be honest that every time I try to write something, I can't because the things I write about here are mostly frivolous & pretty inconsequential, and it seems ridiculous to be writing about those things like everything's okay when it isn't.

I know so many of us feel this way and that the pain won't ever fully go away for most of us...  And that's okay because it means we love and we care.

There are times when I look at my profession- decorating houses- and feel like what I'm doing is crazy when there are so many more important, life-changing things that need to be done.  There's been a stirring in me for a while now to use it to help others more.  I don't think there's any greater pain than losing someone you love and I know I want to somehow try to ease this pain for others.  Dave & I have been doing a lot of talking about it over the past few months & have some ideas cooking...

I've also heard that the students at Sandy Hook will be returning to school in a new building after the new year & that they are trying to turn the new school into a "winter wonderland" by filling it with thousands of paper snowflakes.  You &/or your kids can make snowflakes & send them to the PTA for them to hang.  Here's the write-up I read: "When school resumes for Sandy Hook, it will be in a new building. Parent-volunteers are working to ensure that the students are welcomed back by a winter wonderland with the entire school decorated with as many unique snowflakes as possible. We encourage senders to be as creative as possible, remembering that no two snowflakes are alike. Please make and send snowflakes by January 12, 2013." 

{image via here}

Please send all snowflakes and donations to:  
Connecticut PTSA 
60 Connolly Parkway 
Building 12, Suite 103 
Hamden, CT 06514

It's a simple project that can hopefully make some of the kids feel a little less frightened when they go back to school...

So...  I probably won't be talking about it much & I'll continue to write about the frivolous little things in life, but it will always be with me...  I won't ever stop praying for & thinking about all of the families in pain and I'll always worry a little more about my own babies.

{Our Christmas Eve snowfall}

I hope you had a happy holiday & this year, Christmas was really special for our family...  I'll be back after the New Year & am taking the time with my family & trying to savor every minute of it- and also to keep my eye from twitching when I look around at the mess that is my house.   ;) 

{My littlest one- Luke or "Louie" as we call him-sorry kid!!;)-  all tuckered out from the Christmas excitement}

Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to read my blog {and for not emailing me about the constant typos that I know are present ;)  and for coming along for the ride.   I truly value your time & your encouragement.  My very best to you & yours.

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Merry Christmas

 From our family to yours, we hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,  "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2 9:14

First two photos, Emily Joy Designs.  Last picture- Henry and Santa hitting it off.

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Quiet Time

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Almost Time...

 Last weekend before Christmas, I hope you have a wonderful one!

Images Traditional Home, Here and Here?

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i'm officially signing off for Christmas break to go hang with the ones i love.  i hope y'all have a very merry christmas!!  

xo- Pink Wallpaper

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Final Sale...For Now...Rustic Mirror

 After today the sale will stop for a while...but there are always more goodies waiting for a home in our office so you never know when something will pop up.  Today, sadly, we are selling a raw wood, distressed mirror with very pale green accents (although the green could be sanded off if desired).

Dimensions: 35"H x 23"W x 2"D

Sale price: $119 plus freight if outside Birmingham, AL

e-mail me @ mstronginteriors@aol.com if interested

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it's unfathomable that someone would do such a senseless act to our innocent children....

*images courtesy of jessica rose, quae satis, an invitation to hang, coffee and vogue

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Heartbroken

 

 

I don't really have words for Friday.  I don't think many do.   

 

We've been holding our babies especially close and my heart truly breaks for the parents who can't. 

 

 I feel immense pride in the heroic teachers & administrators who died to protect the children, and it hurts so badly that these all of these beautiful lives are gone.     

 

Please take care of you & yours.

~Lauren 

image via here.

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The Sale Continues- Ceramic Garden Stool

A great accessory, especially as a side table next to a chair.  18"H x 13"Dia.  $99 plus freight from Birmingham, AL.

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Quiet Time

There are no words for the sorrow and devastation I, we all, feel for the families of Sandy Hook Elementary.  Our prayers and thoughts are with you.

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,

for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

for they shall possess the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice,

for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,

for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart,

for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice sake,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

-Matthew 5: 3-12

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Follow Up

I want to say a HUGE thank you for all the help yesterday regarding the lamps!  Y'all are good.  It seems that what I have focused in on is antique pottery lamps (of course because they are $$$).  The gorgeous and talented Greet of Belgian Pearls (such a beautiful blog) sent me some sources in Belgium.  This only furthered my suspicions that really I was meant to live there.  One of the stores Greet recommended is AM Projects and look what I found...perfection.

I have requested information from them but I would really like to find them stateside. So we shall see...

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Pretty Little Friday

Happy Friday!!  I wanted to pop in really quickly to say good luck with the holiday rush.  I try to periodically remind myself to appreciate the little things & so much of that for me (and I'm sure many of you ;) is about seeing the beauty in the every day...

Being able to sit down & share a meal with friends or family, having a moment to yourself, and yes, even appreciating the pretty produce at the grocery store...

{Would love to do a fabric based on these leafy clementines}

 

I am (as always) terribly behind in my holiday shopping (meaning I haven't done any;) but I've also learned that this is a time to be enjoyed & even savored.  This time wants to fly away.  The anticipation in our house full of boys is really cool and it brings back those Christmas-kid feelings I used to have.  Lately, life (although crazy-sort-of-losing-it-busy) has been exciting & special...  Full of lightning-quick days interspersed with moments where I notice something & really take it in...  and feel thankful for it.  I've been reminding myself to slow down and appreciate and I do think it's working.

Sending hugs & love your way and hoping you get some time to take the moments in.

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hello party people....i'm sorry i've been MIA this week....i don't have a great excuse....i wish i could say that i've been getting all of my christmas shopping done but that would be a lie.  i'm way behind and the thought that it's only a week and a half away is a little frightful!  are y'all ready?!!

*images courtesy of j crew, the coverteur, angie hranowsky, vogue

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Sale Week Interrupted..Lamp Help Needed

Sale week will resume tomorrow but I need help.  I am looking for a lamp similar to the ones in these pictures.  I am coming up empty handed.  Does anyone have a good source?  Is there a particular name I should be searching?  Any buzz words to Google?  Help!

 All images Belgian Pearls and Brigitte & Alain Garnier Antiques

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Sale Week Day 3

For sale today I have a favorite in the design world: one Circa Thomas O'Brien Bryant Sconce in Polished Nickel with a Natural Paper Shade with silver trim.

Dimensions: 14 1/4"H, 5 1/2"W, 8 3/4" Extension

Retail: $189, One time only price: $129 (does not include freight)

e-mail me @ mstronginteriors@aol.com if interested

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Sale Week: Day 2

Next up on sale is a brand new Jane Wilner, King Ivory Coco Matelasse with pink stitching.  Once again, it was a size issue so it has only been out the packaging for these pictures.  Jane Wilner is known for the exceptional high end bedding in amazing fabrics and colors.

The pink embroidery forms a scalloped edge along with a clean 3 line top design.

Of course with pink a girl's bedroom comes to mind but it could be beautiful in a master or guest as well as just a touch of soft color...

The details:

Retails for $399, price for this one only: $250, 80% cotton/20% Poly, King with 19"Drop on sides -great for a king bed but couls also be used on a queen for those who like longer coverlets.  Prices does not include freight.  E-mail me @ mstronginteriors@aol.com.

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Into Golds...

For a while now I've been noticing that gold tones have really been catching my eye.  I've always been into brass & the warmth that gold tones can bring to a home but I'm wanting it more & more in my own home in things likes fabrics & art...

 

{Loved the way Christian's hair matched some of the leaves this Fall}

I haven't been able to get this orangey-mustard beauty out of my mind since I saw it on my friend Seleta's blog, years ago for her Thanksgiving tablesettings:

I came across this gorgeous tree this Fall & it reminds me of the chandy:

I love the gold tones mixed with earthy & moody ones.

 I first became conscious of how much I was loving golds when I did the boys' room at my dad's lake cottage this summer:

 

 

There's something about those mustard throws that I couldn't stop thinking about.  (Yes, I know, other people have more important things to think about...  but I occupy my brain with ponderings of color ;)  Just thinking about this room since we left it makes me happy & in the strangest way, redoing this bedroom made us start thinking of moving this past July.  It was just a tiny itch, but with us, an itch can lead to a serious rash & we were off to a new place!

 

I came across this beautiful ancient Egyptian Wall painting on wreckorated.blogspot.com and am crazy about it:

 

 

 

Around the same time I did the boys' bedroom this summer, I finished "buttercup" and naturally, it was yellows & earth tones:

 

 

I'm really not one for "trends" & knowing what's "of the moment" but I do think I have my own little love affairs with colors & objects & themes in design.  I start to notice them in life & in photos & just ccan't seem to get enough of them. Whether they're current or not, I never really care or am aware, but they're right on for me. 

 

 

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