this and that...

I thought I'd use today's post as kind of a catch up one as to what's been happening in the past week.  On Monday, I taught my last Life Stories class at Scrapbooks, Etc.  It has really been a great class to teach and I wanted to say thanks to so many of you who took the class.  This last one was called "Down Memory Lane" and it was about creating vintage style layouts that are bright and happy and don't look like last week's leftovers.  I'm definitely over the "brown and only brown" stage in creating legacy layouts.  It was a good starting point but there are so many great colors that work well with brown and keep the layouts bright, fresh and interesting.  Here's one with turquoise...the colors are very stunning in person.  We had a chance to play with the new Tim Holtz crackle paints from Ranger...great stuff, especially when paired with the Distress inks.  We also used some of the clear vintage glass glitter (shards) from Art Institute Glitter...another great product line with glitter that's definitely a cut above the standard stuff. 

In case you're wondering what monthly class I'll be teaching at Etc. next year, it's called Totally Timeless: Classic Style.   The emphasis in this class will be the various elements of classic style-color, design, embellishments, etc.  Think of the classic little black dress and pearls...always in style and definitely not frumpy.  I'm having fun coming up with ideas right now.

Speaking of ideas, yesterday, I had a chance to scope out one of our client's brand new model home complexes.  It was good for me to get out and see these new homes...good client promotion for our service business and good personal inspiration for me in creative arts.

Here are some of the trends that I spotted:

*Paintings on the wall...like the one in this photo.  Not only were there collage paintings such as this one, but there were quite a few rooms that had hand painted words and quotes on the walls. 

*Asian, especially Southeast Asian, decor with darker colors, darker furniture, bamboo and rattan and painted furniture, as well as a Tommy Bahama island style in some of the homes.

*Lots of rag style area rugs in funky colors like aqua, pink and orange as well as ones in leather.

*Interesting wall treatments such as this rubber stamped butterfly on a bathroom wall.  The room was painted a creamy white, dry brushed with brown antiquing medium and then randomly stamped with the butterfly image...very cool indeed.  I think I may even have that same rubber stamp!

*The use of scrapbooking as a design element.  One of the girl's bedrooms was accented with all sorts of scrapbooking stuff...albums, a jar of fibers and ribbon, stickers, etc.  Another one of the little girl's rooms featured all sorts of paper dolls...like this darling enlarged one on a hanger...too cute.  You definitely know that paper arts is quite mainstream when it's incorporated into interior design.

Definitely fun for me to take this little inspirational field trip!

I've got a fun weekend coming up.  We're having Thanksgiving dinner at my sister-in-law's house.  Her plan for this year is to do a Cuban style meal...I'm looking forward to seeing what constitutes a Cuban style Thanksgiving meal.  Our contribution is dessert and Ashley volunteered to do that.  She tells me that if it has bananas, coconut or rum, it qualifies as a Cuban dessert.  I think she's planning to make a coconut cheese cake...never had that before so am looking forward to tasting it.

I love traditional Thanksgiving food...a smoked turkey, gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes and cranberry relish...so we're having a traditional meal on Friday.  Want to know the real truth?  I LOVE all of the turkey/side dish leftovers! My favorite!

I also start decorating the house for Christmas this weekend...I'm so looking forward to pulling out the old Santa friends and trying some new ideas for decorating with them.

What's on your agenda for this weekend?

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I just wanted to say thanks to all of you for reading, for commenting and for your emails...you are really the best and it's so cool to have you as friends. 

Just wanted to sign off with a little quote:

"Saying thank you is more than good manners. It is good spirituality." - Alfred Painter

Happy Thanksgiving!

Comments

[Jeanette]

I love to tour model homes and the ideas you captured are fabulous!!! Can't wait to see what you have in store for '08 in terms of classes. And I hope you share more on your Cuban-style Thanksgiving. I agree with you, I like the traditional foods associated with Thanksgiving. Am leaving tomorrow for Florida to spend time with my sister and her family. We are looking forward to it. And I hope traveling on Thanksgiving day won't be too much of a hassle.

Happy Thanksgiving to you, Vern and Ashley. :)

[Grace Palazzolo]

Sweetie Happy Thanksgiving to you and your Family! We are having 20 people over me and my parents get up early and start making away I make the "American Traditional" sides they do the Italian but still traditional. We used to make lasagna or soup before but between the appetizwers antipasto and the turkey and all the trimmings it got to be too much food. On Friday going to do a little cleaning and taking Christmas stuff down from the attic and then Saturday shopping early in the morning then coming home and decorating just not the tree yet. And also will work on my Christmas cards. Yay I finally am happy with my design. Have a Great Day and enjoy re-visiting with your Santas! Hugz Grace

[Debby Schuh]

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! How fun to do something different...Cuban...hmmm! We're going to friends' home. It's always fun to see different takes on Thanksgiving dinner.

[renee]

oh my goodness, so glad to find your wonderful blog! . . . and I will definitely try to get to Scrapbooks etc for one of your classes to finally get to meet you in person. mmmmm I agree the turkey sides are my favorite though I do LOVE the turkey as well. Happy Thanksgiving.
All the best, Renée