a little white paint, and lots of Christmas

So a couple of months ago, during a rain storm, we saw water streaming down the walls of the vaulted entryway of our house.  The paint began to bubble up, and we put buckets under the upstairs dormers and under the entry leak.  After working with insurance reps, a reconstruction company, and contractors, we began repairs.  The roof's leaks were fixed, and flashings installed.  Part of the sheetrock of the entry walls was cut out, and then replaced, textured, and painted.  

I decided to cover the sky-blue entryway walls with my favorite white paint, Benjamin Moore's Regal Acrylic in Moonlight White, since they needed repainting anyway from the water damage.  It turned out so lovely!!  So clean and crisp looking.  Like I always say, it's amazing what a little white paint can do!

Now, the entry railing is wrapped in glowing green garland, and feels so festive.

We went to the local tree lot to buy a beautiful Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving.  We put up most of our decorations that weekend, between rounds of leftovers, naps, and Christmas movies.  But we keep adding to them almost daily, as new festive, pretty things are made or found or dreamed up.

Yesterday, the white snow began to fall outside, and seemed to paint the streets and trees with that glorious, pure white goodness, that makes the hearth and home feel even more warm and cheerful.

Stockings hang in a neat row from the mantle.

The fire blazes with warmth and comfort.

Green wreaths have been carefully placed in each front window and on the door (by a tall, daring, roof-climbing son), to welcome holiday visitors. 

Pandora Christmas music echoes through the house all day long and into the night.

And festive Christmas favorites are played at the piano and violin, being perfected and polished for upcoming seasonal recitals.

Christmas cards have been ordered, and are on their way to me for addressing and mailing.

The sewing machine and serger hum constantly, turning out mama- and little girl-made gifts and decorations.

The click-clack of busy knitting needles sound from two little hat-makers and one over-ambitious, sweater-making mama, as they work to finish their projects before the big day.

The festive fragrances of hot apple cider and steamy hot cocoa fill the house daily.

Ahhh, the sights, sounds, and smells of Christmas at our house.  I just want to breathe them all in.  

In the rush that is the holiday season, I hope to move slowly and enjoy every minute of the making and celebrating and doing.  But I especially hope to relish the opportunity to reflect upon Jesus Christ, who is our Savior and Redeemer, and whose birth we celebrate during this blessed time of year.  (I use the symbol of the Christmas tree to help me with this...read how here!)    

Oh yes my friends... 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here!

Columbus Day

First fall fire in the woodstove.

Feeling refreshed from an adult weekend away...in the Big Apple again.  Love!

A clean house, newly-learned guitar tunes, honed chess-playing skills, and 3 sets of stripey-cool painted nails, all because of some wonderfully talented babysitters.  Thanks, friends!!

Our very own reenactment of the Columbus story, dress-ups and all.

Taylor playing a mule, carrying sword-wielding Sarah as Christopher himself.  King Ferdinand (Romney) insisting on wearing a Darth Vader mask.

Older brothers pointing out countries and continents for little siblings on the map and globes.  (Wall map above from IKEA, butterfly chair from Urban Outfitters, pillow from World Market.  Basement redo still coming along...slowly!)

Listening to the children's recitation of a classic Christopher Columbus poem, and seeing even the younger ones work hard to memorize it in time for Family Home Evening.

Revisiting excerpts from Mary Poppins, Grimm's Fairy Tales, and Peter Rabbit during writing and grammar lessons.  And three little girls begging me to read the "real story" to them all day long.

Opening up a recently-arrived box of new math books, and the buzz of excitement that comes with anything new.  Just what we needed.

This quote:  "It was the Lord who put into my mind (I could feel His hand upon me) the fact that it would be possible to sail from here to the Indies.  All who heard of my project rejected it with laughter, ridiculing me.  There is no question that the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit, because He comforted me with rays of marvelous inspiration from the Holy Scriptures." --Christopher Columbus, Book of Prophecies.


Hope your holiday was great!

dress the part

Yesterday, I was gathering up the masses for a long morning of errands around town.  Because we're in project mode.  Again.  (I can't wait to show you the progress in the basement!  Finally!!)  I told little Sarah to go fetch her (rugged) Keen sandals to strap on, so her chubby feet would be comfortable for an inevitably lengthy perusal of IKEA, which was on the morning agenda.  She asked me if she could please wear her white Sunday shoes (tiny peep-toe slingbacks), but I told her no, because she might get blisters on her feet from all the walking.  Her reply struck a chord with this beauty-lovin' mama: "But Mom, they're so pretty and they make me feel happy."  She wore the white shoes on our errands, and didn't complain once as she clicked and clacked her way across the hard IKEA floors.

I, too, feel happy when I take a few minutes in the morning to put on something pretty.  It usually isn't anything fancy or high-fashion, but if my clothes, hair, and face are in order, I feel more ready to take on the day's tasks...even if I'm only working inside my home.  I have noticed that when I feel good about myself, my overall attitude is more positive, and I can turn my focus outward, toward serving others, because I have already taken care of myself.  And truly, the atmosphere in my home is happier and more peaceful when I feel good.  When I wallow around in my pj's all day (which admittedly happens more often than I'd like it to happen), I feel mopey and sluggish, and don't seem to accomplish as much.

Don't get me wrong, I can shoot hoops with the best of them, and I love to throw on a hat and hike up into the mountains.  I don't wear make-up to the gym, and if you see me on a Saturday, I'll most likely be sporting my spandex bike-shorts, post-ride, or I'll be out with a big dorky sun-hat, covered in dirt, working in the garden.

(working in the garden photo, compliments of Sarah, who stole my camera for a spell)

However, I feel like it is important for me to embrace my femininity, and work at modeling that for my daughters.  I want them to see me in my pretty aprons, scrubbing the kitchen counters or preparing a meal.  I want them to be trained in the womanly arts of creativitiy and homemaking, and look forward to being a wife and mother.  I want them to know that a woman's role in the home is of utmost importance, and that it brings joy and happiness.  I want them to see me reading scriptures and good books and spending time studying history and writing, so they feel an excitement for education and learning.  I want them to realize that a world-class education will enrich their lives and enable them to be a powerful influence on others, especially those whom they will train up in their own homes someday.

So, we spend time cooking, baking, gardening, and cleaning together.  We read good books together...the kind that speak beautifully of motherhood and womanhood, such as the Little House series.  We also spend time learning how to wash and iron and care for clothes, how to sew and knit pretty things, and how to fix our hair and exercise and take care of our bodies.  These little girls often gather around, piled on my big bed, to watch me get ready for a date with dad or a dinner party.  They see me deliberate over what to wear, and help me choose a fitting outfit and accessories for the occasion.  They know that how we dress is an expression of our creativity, and reflects who we are.  They love to choose what to wear each day, and they know how to match colors and styles, and how to dress modestly.

I want these girls to feel beautiful and feminine, and to seek beauty in the world around them.  I want their outward appearance to reflect the divine beauty that they know lies within them.  I hope that no matter their body shape, or hair texture, or eye color, they know that God created them in His image, and that they are special...and that they should use what He has given them to find joy and gratitude, and to be an influence for good in the world.

So, on the topic of femininity and clothes...let's talk wardrobe.  (I had to photograph my newly-organized closet!  woohoo!)  Having a great wardrobe of wearable, comfortable clothes feels great!  Here are a few tips I've learned over the years:

1.  You don't need a lot of clothes and shoes to dress well and look great.  This is top of the list for me.  I'm definitely not a minimalist, though I strive to be one...but I've gotten pretty good at paring down when it comes to clothes.  I grew up on a rigid budget, earning my own spending money from the time I could have a paper route.  And then when I got married, my husband spent many years in graduate school while we were having and raising a family, so we lived on a tight budget as well.  Not to mention that we've almost always had small closets!  I've learned that if I had a few nice separates that can be mixed and matched, I can rotate them and dress well.

In my closet today:  I have a few pairs of strait-legged jeans (to wear tucked into boots, or cuffed with sandals), one grey and one khaki pair of linen pants (to be worn wide-legged or pegged and cuffed), a casual tan capri, a black pair of pants, and a pair of wide-legged chambray pants.  I have lots of tops to go with them, plenty of knits in whites and stripes.  And some classic cardigans, wool for winter and cotton for summer.  I have a few button-down blouses and fun jackets too.  I have a chambray and a white long skirt, a couple of pencil skirts, and a few flowered skirts and dresses for summer.  That's it.

And shoes?  I love, love, love cute shoes.  But if I buy good, classic shoes that won't go out of style, I don't feel the need to have a gazillion pairs.  I keep a nice pair or two of ballet flats, a couple of nice heels, a pair of leather boots, a pair of rain/snow boots, and some nice summer sandals (two flat, and a couple of wedges or clogs).  I find that if I buy a nice pair of shoes, it usually lasts for several years.  (This summer, I splurged on some Swedish Hasbeens...for those of you who asked, they were the red ones in this post.  And the nude ones in the photos below.  I found them marked down here with free shipping.  Don't pay full price...they're pricey!)

2.  Collect basic wardrobe staples that fit well, and make you feel great when you wear them.  Having six babies in ten years, I know the feeling great part can be tricky at times.  Everything in my closet doesn't always fit me well.  I still have a lingering 10 lbs. that I'm having a hard time shedding, so I have a box of smaller-sized classic clothes in storage.  But I like to have at least a few pairs of pants, a few shirts, and a few skirts that fit well, no matter my size.  If they are neutral/staples, they can be worn with any top and look great.  And basics can be so inexpensive if you find them on sale or at discount or consignment stores.  It really isn't hard to keep a few great looks in your closet!      

3.  Assess what you have in your closet at the beginning of every season.  I like to look over my entire closet, try things on to see what fits well at the moment (see #2), and take an inventory.  This usually keeps me from making impulsive purchases, because I have in mind what pieces I need (or would like) for the season, and what I already have that works.  I generally make a few purchases to update for the season, or to fill in gaps when something doesn't fit right or seems worn out.  I rarely shop in stores.  Who has time?  But when I need something, or see a great sale online, I take a virtual look at my favorite shops.

4.  Give away what you don't wear.  If I haven't worn something in over a year, I give it away (unless it's a classic, and I don't fit into it well...in hopes of losing weight and wearing it later, it goes into the storage box.  sigh...)  This keeps my closet from crowding up, and cuts out the work of caring for mass amounts of clothing.  Plus, someone else gets something new in their wardrobe!

5.  If you can't find it, make it!  I know not everyone sews, but this has been super fun for me.  If I need another skirt or top or dress, and can't find one that fits well, I love to make one!  There's something special about creating something from start to finish and then putting it to use.  Plus, it usually saves money...especially on dresses, which can be expensive at retail stores.  Sewing skills can also come in handy when something needs to be hemmed or taken in or refashioned.

6.  Accessorize.  It has taken me a while to get used to accessories.  I only own a few pieces of jewelry, and besides earrings (the same pair every day), I'm usually too lazy to put them on!  But lately, I've tried to collect a few belts and scarves to dress up my classic look.  Target has some darling scarves for a steal right now!

So, these tips aren't rocket science, nor do I profess to be any sort of expert on the topic of wardrobing :).  But I do feel better in all aspects of life when I take a few moments to put myself together and dress the part!  Happy wardrobing to you and yours! 

And just for fun, this was me yesterday, on my way out to lunch with my man.

Shirt from World Market, pants from JCrew Factory.

And we  found a cool hair tutorial link on Design Mom.  The girls and I played with those elastic headbands all morning yesterday, and I rather like the simple, twisty 'do...not a single bobby pin!

(photos of me by Sam)

more white home love

Welcome to our living room.  It's where we spend the most time...gathered around the fire, reading and studying together, watching a good movie, playing board games, or just relaxing.  It's my favorite place in the house (my new studio a close second!).  

With all the stuff we have crammed into this very functional room, I think the white walls make it feel more open and less cluttered.  The white also gives it a peaceful, serene feel...which, with eight of us wandering in and out, is a good thing indeed.

 Living room before we moved in:

Living room after recent re-do, with Benjamin Moore's Mellowed Ivory on the walls:

Living room with Benjamin Moore's Moonlight White on the walls, the way it is now:

Happy weekend to you all!

white

First of all...

thank you for all the sweet comments and emails about my new studio!

I'm so glad you love it too!

Now...

Let's talk white.

I have a little obsession with white.  Okay...a not so little obsession.

I'm over the moon crazy about white.

I love it

on my walls, 

my wood furniture, 

my kitchen cabinets and shelves, 

my mantle, 

my bed, 

and even my patio.

It has become the foundation for my decorating palette.

And here are some of the reasons it works for me:

1. A monochromatic scheme is easy on the eye, and gives a peaceful, airy vibe.

I am, by nature, a visual person.  My mind puts things together through physical and mental pictures.  When I look over a room, I enjoy seeing a sense of fluidity and cohesiveness, where all of its pieces flow together.  This doesn't mean that everything needs to be matchy-matchy or mathematically placed.  On the contrary...I love texture and whimsy in a space.  But I also need to feel that visually, everything ties together in some way.  With whites and neutrals, items in a space easily flow together, and feel tied to one another, giving a room a completed, finished look, for a calm, fluid feel.  Visually soothing.

2. White makes a space seem larger and more open than it actually is.

Look at my kitchen before we moved in:

And now: 

When we bought the house, we had new flooring put in, and I painted the cabinets white.  (Benjamin Moore's White Dove in oil.  Oil paint is painful to work with...long drying times and tricky clean-up, but I'm glad I went with it, as it holds up well in a kitchen area.)  The white on the cabinets brightened everything up, and made the kitchen and eating area seem more open and roomy.  

I recently painted the walls white as well, which brightened everything up even more.  (See the former blue/green walls here.)  For the walls, I used Benjamin Moore's Moonlight White in a Regal satin finish.  It's the perfect warm white--used also in my studio and living room in a matte finish.

3.  White is a blank palette, inviting any array of accessories and textures, while maintaining a clutter-free feel.

I love beginning with white walls, and adding accent colors and pieces.  It's much easier than trying to match everything in a room to the color of the walls!  And I think a room looks cleaner and less cluttered, when collectables, art, and furniture are up against a white background.  This is very helpful for me in our relatively small rooms...I feel like I am able to fit more into a room, without the room feeling too crowded and cluttered.

For example, the storage space in our kitchen is limited, so I store much of my stoneware, dish collections, and other items on open shelving.

  

I think the white dishes blend in with the walls, and make it seem as though I have fewer items on display, with a cleaner feel.  But really, with a neutral background, any color dishes would look great!

We also keep vegetables and fruits in baskets on our butcher block unit.  These add color to the kitchen, but do not look too busy or clash with surrounding features, because of the neutral palette.

Even a stash of not-so-attractive cookbooks lined up on the counter blend right in:

And how about a black vintage mirror?  I think it's a charming contrast to the white walls and the bright window light.

So, in a room that's necessarily crowded with lots of dishes, supplies, books, art, knick-knacks etc, go for a neutral backdrop, and it will feel much less cluttered.

  

Even when a room's utilitarian accessories need to be family and farm-friendly...

like this old pail, which holds leftover food for the chickens and goats:

And these boots and lanterns, which are big players in morning and evening animal chores, and must be easily accessible.

(Note: messy floor and baseboards not included in design scheme, just a by-product of the living that inevitably goes on in designed spaces...in case you were wondering!)

4.  A neutral palette is easily freshened up with seasonal attire, or new accent colors.

Since I love to change my surroundings with new colors now and then, a neutral foundation makes it simple.  When I want a new look, I can sew up a few new pillow covers for the sofa, add some curtains or a pretty rug, or display seasonal accent pieces around the house.  New textures, fabrics and colors will always fit right in, without changing the entire space around.  

( I needed to put this one in writing--I have been know to change a room's entire layout and color scheme on a whim, in order to add in a new piece of furniture or accent piece.  I'm purposefully counting on that waning a bit, with the newly arranged furniture and freshly painted whites all over the house.  I hope my dear hubby reads this--surely he has his fingers crossed, after this recent fury of painting and remodeling!)

So, there you have it.  Why I'm digging a monochromatic design scheme in my home.

What sort of design palette are you loving in your space?  Leave a comment and share!  

Soon, I'll show you a few photos of the other rooms I've recently freshened up around here.

But first...

I'll introduce you to our brand new baby farm friends, currently residing in the garage, under a heat lamp.  Cute little things!!!

See you tomorrow!

studio tour

Here's a final look at the completed studio.

Antique sewing table (below).  

I've always wanted one, and I think it looks beautiful next to my modern IKEA sewing desk.  It adds a sweet sense of nostalgia that I love in a room.  

And as a bonus, if we have a long power outage (have you read Alas Babylon?), I just might be able to use it...it seems to be in working order!

Love the detail on the drawers...

Queen Esther (one of my heroes) and Sarah's Easter dress from a couple of years ago.  

Too small now, but too precious to pack away.

The pattern was the village frock, from the amazing ladies at Sugar City Journal.

Lamp love.  

Purchased at a Salt Lake consignment shop.  

I'm crazy about the vintage industrial look.

It's tall sister stands over the wicker chair in the corner.

Warm, natural wood...

Dark, vintage wood...

Sewing desk.  Fabric.  Yarn.  Etc.

Darling Sarah Jane print that says, "just stay little."  

To remind me that they don't.

Idea board...

Antique desk, now an art island.  

I found it a local consignment shop, and fell in love.

There's something beautiful about dark, worn wood accents in a fresh, white room.  Love!

Folded fabrics housed in a wire basket from Sundance Catalog Outlet.

Dress form from local Nordstrom store renovation.

Cute ironing board cover from IKEA.  

I wanted to make one, but for $4.99, I couldn't pass this one up.

Braided storage baskets from West Elm, on sale now!

This one holds mending and projects in the works.

Hooks from World Market, for art aprons and smocks.

Vintage ash pail for maps, art books, and magazines.

Thrifted vintage sewing basket for sewing supplies, tools, and odds and ends.

Our second piano sits in the corner.

On top, an array of blank canvases for painting, and other pretty things.  

Our piano teacher closes the french doors during lessons, to keep the household noise at bay.  And I often close the doors during practice hours to keep the piano noise at bay...don't get me wrong, I love to hear the kids practice, but with two pianos going at all hours of the day, it is quite noisy!

Hope you enjoyed your visit to my new studio!

Now...can't wait to sew, knit, draw, and paint!

But first, I need to finish preparing my presentation for BYU Women's Conference.

My topic is Gathering in the Kitchen: Healthy Eating and Happy Memories.

It's going to be an amazing event, and I feel honored to be a part of it!

If you're going to be there, come and say hello!