COFFEE BAR WITH A UNIQUE TWIST

 Welcome to Tuesday TLB friends!

I hope you all had a great Labor Day weekend. Hubby and I welcomed a much less hectic schedule and enjoyed some down time. Our neighbor hosted a small party for those of us that have moved into our homes with about 6 couples attending. It's nice now to be able to put a name with a face as everyone passes by.

Leading up to the weekend I had been focused on organization. It was terrific to get things out of boxes and into cabinets, however, where I place things while unpacking is not necessarily the best place to store them. I do a lot of rearranging once we start actually living in our home. Certain traffic patterns and convenience dictate where items will end up.

I started in the kitchen and defined a Coffee Bar area as quickly as we moved in. When my sister unpacked all of the coffee mugs we designated the cabinet above the area their space. But after living here for a bit I decided to try something new......

LIGHT, BRIGHT & CHEERY!

After attending my first COUNTRY LIVING FAIR I couldn't wait to get home and unload my goodies that I had purchased. Today I'm sharing with you one of my most beautiful purchases from Betsy Olmsted of Print & Repeat Design. (www.betsyolmsted.com)

I was like a kid in a candy shop. I wanted to buy everything that Betsy had displayed but settled on a Vintage Dresser Scarf. At the time I had a million places to display it, however, because it is so beautiful I wanted to display it where everyone could admire it too.

I decided the sofa table needed a new look. Starting with Betsy's work I added a soft flowing fern in my soup tureen. I had a dark brown wooden candlestick nearby that caught my eye and the golden candle in it that blended nicely with the golds in her design. Finally, some colorful books with a great red spine and an artichoke filled with wine corks that ironically had stained ends that were a burgundy color. The corks added a nice texture without taking away from the beautiful dresser scarf.

Here are my results-

Thanks for joining me today....it's amazing how one small change of something bright and light can bring such cheer to a room. I hope I have inspired you to look around to see what you can add to do the same in your home.....think, light, bright (like sunshine in the Summer) and cheery!

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!

Kathleen

***Thanks for stopping by. See you on  WEDNESDAY! 

CELEBRATING THE LAVENDER BOUQUET'S FIRST YEAR & VISIT TO THE NY COUNTRY LIVING FAIR

I hope you are all having a great week! I've been busy playing catch up after taking last week off. 

A few weeks ago I had been browsing the pages of Country Living magazine and came across an ad for the Country Living Fair being held in Rhinebeck, NY.  We used to live in an area not far from Rhinebeck so we were pretty familiar with the region. I asked my husband if he was up for a trip and we ventured to NYS.

As we entered the gates the cutest mini trailers were set up. I must admit I am by no means a country decor aficionado, however, we had a really great day exploring all of the booths and buildings. We loved the "glamping" area. These trailers were all decorated so beautifully, a far cry from when my family went camping years ago. There was no crystal in our trailer! 

Vendors set up their booths arranging them with beautiful vignettes to sell their wares. My husband and I reminisced more than once after seeing something from our childhood. I fell in love with that glider below.....seems like I remember someone we knew as a child that had one of those. My brother remembers everything......I bet he could tell me who it was.

My husband had to photograph me at my first Country Living Fair. (below) In the photo on the right, is artist Betsy Olmsted. (seated right) Her work caught my eye initially because I love watercolor painting. As I walked closer into her vignette my heart skipped a beat. I saw the detail on the whimsy like florals, with squirrels, and hummingbirds to name a few. Her smile is contagious and her sweet demeanor carries through into her work. Please drop by to check out Betsy's beautiful work. Of course I took a piece home!!     http://www.betsyolmsted.com/about.html

               More of the beautiful items for sale at the fair.

Ironstone is so hot right now.This display was too beautiful to pass up.

Most of you know of the Fabulous Beekman Boys from the Cooking Channel. What a delightful couple. Two guys from NYC who bought a farm and we all know the rest is history!  Check them out here...... http://beekman1802.com/whois1802/us/

I am always up for a little chocolate, especially meticulously crafted chocolate. FRUITION CHOCOLATE's maker, Bryan Graham is as delightful as his chocolate. He was voted one of the TOP TEN CHOCOLATIERS in North America in 2013! He crafts small batches of his chocolates with slowly roasted and stone ground cocoa beans. Of course we sampled and purchased....Crystallized Ginger with Matcha Couverture, and a Toasted White Chocolate bar.  For more information on where to purchase this delicious chocolate......http://www.tastefruition.com/

  

AND FINALLY IN HONOR OF OUR ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY WHICH SLIPPED BY ME LAST WEEK, JUNE 3, 2014, I would like to THANK all of you for your support and constant reminder of why I love writing this blog.  

To my family and friends that have encouraged me from day one to move forward with something they knew would help me flourish. And those new friends that give me a reason to explore, and push myself into a whole new world....CHEERS as we move full speed ahead into year two!

                                            Kathleen

****Thank you so much for stopping by.