my home office reveal!

My little home office is finally done.

I think. Well, at least for now, if you know what I mean.

So today I thought I’d share a few final photos with you. But first I have to remind you about the BEFORE office, so you can appreciate my shiny new look. My old office had an ugly corner desk, lots of clutter everywhere and dark, scuffed-up floors. Even the soft gray wall color I once loved looked drab and gloomy.

So I went for a dramatic new look. I decided I wanted to have lots of creamy white around me and I didn’t want to see any clutter, anywhere. So I got rid of my decrepit, brown desk, threw out tons of paperwork, reorganized all my files and here’s the big one: I painted my wood floors white.

Yep, you heard it right. I painted my floors white and I have to tell you, I absolutely love them.

Here’s a better look. My office doors are right in the front entry. You can see more of my foyer HERE.

I moved these cream colored curtains from another room but they were too short.

So I added a black strip of fabric to the bottom of the curtains. You can see this project HERE.

And of course, one thing leads to another and I decided to add some soft color to the room with this feminine looking banner.

You can visit HERE to see this how I made this simple fabric banner.

When I’m sitting at my desk, this is my side view when my doors are open. There’s also a window in front of me that looks out at our neighborhood and faces west so I get lots of bright sunlight coming in.

I wish you could see how peaceful this room looks in the afternoon light.

Remember this wood and metal bookshelf that I got from Cost Plus and repainted? You can see what it once looked like HERE.

I finally have a place for my Papa’s typewriter; it’s one of the few material possessions that I truly value. My grandfather introduced me to the world of books and reading and even though he never got his own degree, he was my biggest fan when it came to my college education. He was self-taught, spoke three languages and was a voracious reader and lover of history.  This typewriter was always on his desk. 

Baskets hide my current work projects.

And all my files have a place now. Boy, I can’t believe how much paperwork got tossed out. It felt so good!

The “Write Fearlessly” art is my first chalkboard project and I had fun with it. I wrote a post with ten tips if you’re interesting in making your own chalkboard art. Just click HERE to see it.

I brought some of my favorite vintage art work into my office, a combination of found objects from thrift stores and antique stores. The landscape painting was an anniversary gift from Mr. Moss.

And here’s my favorite mirror of all time. I’ve fought the urge to put other things on the wall with it. Right now, I want this old, pretty mirror to have center stage.

 

OK, one last time, here’s a…

Before

and After…

And that’s it for now.

There’s still a lot of ugly wires that need to be hidden and I didn’t take photos of that project yet. But I’m feeling so grateful just to be at this point. The little things will get done eventually.

In the meantime, thanks for stopping by. And let me know what you think, I love to hear from you.

xoxo

Leslie

I’m linking up at these fun places:

• http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2012/11/wow-us-wednesdays-92.html
• http://elizabethandco.blogspot.com/2012/11/be-inspired-features-and-link-party-45.html
• http://cedarhillranch.blogspot.com/2012/11/cowgirl-up-linky-party-41.html?
• http://www.stonegableblog.com/2012/11/tutorials-tips-and-tidbits-22.html

 

Technorati Tags: decorating,home office,country chic style,cottage decor,white wood floors

women who put other women down …

 

Today I stopped by The Bottom of the Ironing Basket and read Simone’s post about her first ever blog conference and her curious –and disappointing—experience with Liz Jones, a writer and former editor of Marie Claire who was described in the BlogFest 2012 program as one of Britain’s most well known journalists.

Apparently Simone had been employed in the publishing world prior to becoming a stay-at-home Mom and a successful blogger, and has been a long time admirer of Liz Jones, describing her as an excellent editor and writer.

So you can imagine how it must have felt when Ms. Jones wrote this scathing article about the world of blogging and the 300 blogging “mums” she met at the conference.

Liz Jones had been one of the speakers on a panel entitled, “Private Lives on a Public Stage: how much should you reveal online?”

And following the event Ms. Jones shared her impressions of the women she met and mingled with throughout the conference.  Evidently, she was not impressed. In fact, in her article she seemed unable to contain her disdain for the “little women who instead of tapping away at the glass ceiling swap recipes and tips for getting a child off to sleep” on their blogs. The idea that some of these women were earning money to “post pictures of bars of chocolate” appeared to trouble her artistic sensibilities. After all, Liz Jones is a self described “gut-spiller” who is known for her controversial and confessional brand of writing that she readily acknowledges has “pretty much ruined” her life.

However she believes in honesty at all costs, even if it hurts or offends.

Which explains a lot. Because this is the perspective that Ms. Jones viewed the writing world that bloggers inhabit. This is why she felt entitled to judge an entire swath of women by the “queasy feelings in her empty womb.” And to share her stinging indictment of mum-bloggers as women who’ve been “duped” into thinking that real life revolves around the trivial burps of their children.

Ouch. Pretty cruel words and why?

Why would a fantastically successful woman with a job she loves so much feel compelled to put down so many other women?

Why the mean-spirited, biting comments if your life is so fulfilled? Well, maybe that’s the real lesson.

It seems to me that a woman who has achieved her version of success would want to extend her hand out to other women who might still be grasping at their own goals. Maybe offer a nod and an encouraging wink in spite of the many differences…

…because we’re all works in progress. Struggling, learning, evolving.

All of us are, but especially mean girls. I know this because Mindy taught me this lesson.

 

I met Mindy in my twenties right after I landed my first “real” job in the psychotherapy field and Mindy became my co-worker. It was one of those ironies of life. Here I was at my most vulnerable professional period, already feeling like an imposter because I was still a grad student, and I was thrown into daily contact with a classic mean girl who was sure I was an imposter who didn’t deserve to be there.

Needless to say, she proceeded to make my job miserable for months with her catty, malicious gossip and her destructive ways until eventually she wore out her own welcome. And I was left standing, quite stronger I might add, because Mindy had taught me a powerful lesson about myself, even as she exposed the true nature of women who need to put other women down and create cliques and exclude others and gossip.

MIndy taught me that ‘mean girl’ behavior happens at all ages. And if you happen to be the target of someone’s petty, mean-spirited ways, you should know that it’s not about you.

Because the truth is, mean girls never get to know you, not really. For whatever reason they see you through a distorted lens that somehow threatens them, blinds them to your whole person. Because despite their bravado, women who put down other women operate from a place of self doubt, down deep.

It’s something to remember as you allow people into your life. And it’s actually quite simple. Women who feel genuinely good about themselves don’t need to create a false world where they’re on the top and you’re beneath them. They don’t need to constantly measure their worth by comparing themselves against others.

Which means, they can afford to be kind.

via witanddelight.tumblr.com

So Liz Jones, on behalf of women bloggers everywhere, please realize that we’ve read your harsh, belittling words from a deeper perspective.

And it’s ok, really. We understand.

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…as always, I’m humbled by your visit.

Share your thoughts, I’d love to hear them.

xoxo

Leslie

 

linking up here:

• http://betweennapsontheporch.net/recipe-sharing-made-easy/
• http://www.commonground-do.com/2012/11/welcome-to-marketplace_12.html?
• http://50newblack.blogspot.com/2012/11/eliza-grays-secret-places-chapter-1.html
•  

 

Technorati Tags: mean girls,blogging

 

 

the rustic beauty of a wood pallet centerpiece

This is what happened. I was walking to my car minding my own business when I happened to see a woman unloading merchandise into her store. She had a old, wooden pallet leaning up against her shop window and of course I noticed it because, well I’ve been dying to try out this crazy centerpiece idea I’ve had…

only I needed  …guess what?

Yep. A wood pallet. And the older and scruffier, the better. 

The woman had planned on heading to the dumpster with it, so she probably thought I was crazy when I said I’d take it. And I couldn’t wait to show it to my creative partner and tool master, otherwise known as my Dad.

Originally I wanted a primitive looking planter box, but we decided to forgo the extra work of adding a bottom. After all, it was going to be on my table stuffed with pumpkins. Who would know?

What do you think?

I did end up sanding it and applying a little dark stain in some places, but that’s it.

I thought about painting it or putting words on it, but in the end I chose to keep it simple. Lately, I’ve been craving “simple.”

And since my bigger pumpkins are white, I decided to go for a contrast.

 

In keeping with the rustic farmhouse look, I removed my leopard chandelier shades and wound one package of natural raffia through my chandelier.

You can see my mantel in this photo.

Don’t you think it would look sweet with miniature orange pumpkins hanging from the chandelier arms? I saw that somewhere.

It’s hard to see the burlap runner in this shot, but it’s there.

Well, that’s it for now, and thanks to my Dad for all his help. Pulling nails out of wood is no fun. He usually shakes his head when I tell him my latest idea, but we sure have fun together.

Now I can cross off my fall dining room and move on to other things, like my book on Lincoln that I need to finish! The Steven Spielberg movie is coming out soon, and I can’t wait to see it. But that’s another topic for another day….

What projects are you trying to finish?

xoxo

Leslie

I’m linking up here:

• http://www.atthepicketfence.com/2012/11/its-inspiration-friday-no-89-welcome.html?
• http://www.commonground-do.com/2012/11/vintage-inspiration-113-christmas.html?
• http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2012/11/sns-161-trash-to-treasure-projects.html

 

Technorati Tags: fall centerpiece,rustic elegance,wood pallet,how to

have you made a banner lately? here’s mine.

 

via maddycakesmuse.com

Lately I’ve been seeing such wonderful burlap banners everywhere.

via 100layercake.com

And I’ve been looking for some inspiration because I wanted to make one to finish off my curtains in my new office.  If you remember, I have what I call a country chic look going on in there, with my white painted floors and my cream and black curtains.

via ohsobeautifulpaper.com

But I wanted to add a pop of color. And I decided that a small, feminine banner would be a perfect addition to my curtains.

via maddycakesmuse.com

So even though I loved this look…

When I saw this photo from the BerryAlaMode etsy shop, I decided the shabby chic style would be perfect in there.

Isn’t it pretty?  I’m so lucky to have my own home office and I can’t resist putting my own stamp on it. Especially since I live in a house of males. Hey, a girl’s gotta have her own special space don’t you think?

Yes. I knew you’d agree.

Anyway, I haven’t made a fabric banner like this before, so I needed some directions.

My Fall Mantel

The only one I’ve actually made was this one, a simple Fall banner using a piece of linen and adhesive letters.

So this is what I did. I found this great tutorial on YouTube.com which seemed like the easiest way to go. You can click here to see it. The key was using bias tape and tucking the fabric inside.

So I found gathered some fabric remnants and cut out my pennant flags making them five inches at the top.

I used half inch bias tape so I could easily pull the tape apart and slip them inside. I also put a dap of glue in there too.

Here’s a close up.

Once all the little fabric flags were inside, I ran a stitch across and voila! It was that easy.

I even added a strip of color to my lamp shade. I love that color blue!

There. I think I’m about done for now. And I hope I motivated you to think about making your own banner. Maybe one for this holiday season that says, Blessings or Gratitude.

via thenIgottothinkingblogspot.com

I know I like having those little visual reminders around me.

Have a wonderful day friends

and thanks so much for visiting me. I sure love your company.

xoxo

Leslie

I’m so happy to be linking up here:

• http://www.stonegableblog.com/2012/11/tutorial-tips-and-tidbits-21.html
• http://www.impartinggrace.com/2012/11/grace-at-home-no-34-welcome.html

 

Technorati Tags: fabric banner,how to,shabby chic pennant,DIY,office curtains