Studio Sunday #1

A couple of weeks ago Susan, the store manager at Bolts in the Bathtub, and I took a drive out of town to visit a customer friends studio. With fall coming it it the perfect time to look for some design ideas.



Look how welcoming - a bathtub to make us feel at home.



The studio owner wishes to remain anonymous. She has a love for birds and has them perched in places about the studio. This one greets you as you step up onto the porch.



The studio is built at one end of old building on the property. I believe it was a chicken coop. The work was done by her husband, including building the furniture. She is truly blessed to have such a gifted mate. Their talents complement each other as you will see by the sudio design.



Shall we go inside?

Look she has lemonade and cookies for us. The ribbon holder in the background is one of two. There are beautiful shade trees outside that can be seen through the tea stained lace valences that let the sun filter the trees soft light into the workspace.

Don’t you love the large safety pin?



Below this countertop is a pull out cutting area.



On the other side of the door is her computer workstation. And yes, her husband built the desk and bookshelves.  It is angled to allow the door to open, but get the most usable space.



Some close ups of the computer wall.



Her screen saver is of Classic BERNINA machines.

Click Screensaver to find the zip files on the BERNINA Canada .website. There are five different screensaver styles to choose from.



A chair for hand work, looking through new books and magazines, or to just breathe.

She has photo copied all of her pattern covers so she may look through a binder to find her next project.



The chair is upholstered in a piece of vintage bark cloth. What is commonly called 'barkcloth' is a soft, thick, slightly textured fabric, so named because it has a rough surface like that of tree bark. (From Wikipedia).



Across the room is the sewing center. Her 820 is covered, maybe it’s shy around visitors. The pull out drawer holds some of her threads.



There are vintage details everywhere you look. The wallpaper helps set the mood.



She asked her husband to build a wooden frame for her BERNINA accessory case. Doesn’t it look different when placed in a wooden container?

The head of another huge safety pin rests slightly behind a miniature dress form. Birdie makes clothing as well as quilts.

 

Large keys  accent the area behind the chair. Notice how she painted the plug fixture the same color. It makes the fixture look like a design element.



Even the phone and fan match the vintage mood.



Of course there is a beautiful old machine on display.



This post has gone a little long, so come back next Sunday to view the next room, because there is more to this beautiful studio.



Stitch at you Soon,
Dawna


Linking to :
Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on teh Porch
Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House
Wow us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style

Space Shuttle Endeavour

There are many great things about living in the Antelope Valley, but one of the best flew over piggy backed on a 747 this morning.

The Endeavour Space Shuttle took off from Edwards Air Force Base for its last flight this morning. It is on its way to Los Angeles to land permanently. It will transported after a couple of weeks to the California Science Museum.

It is the end of an era.





With the chase plane against the mountains you can see the beautiful clear blue skies we have in the high desert. Another great reason to live in the AV.



After leaving the AV the Endeavour was headed to Northern California before returning to the Los Angeles area and landing sometime after 12:30.

There were lots of people lined up to see the last flight.  Along Sierra Hwy with Lockheed Martin in the background.



Up and down Avenue . It was very exciting to be there. 



Built in America with Pride




I love my GG (the husband) who called to remind me or I would have missed this historic event.

Stitch at you Soon,

Dawna

Peggy Went to Paris

On Monday I had a dinner party with the staff from Bolts in the Bathtub. The occasion? Peggy had been to Paris earlier in the year and was going to give us a slide show of the trip.








The candles are lit and the guests are about to arrive.






Three layers of Eiffel Tower plates and pink & brown towers on cream napkins.



There was a sneak peek at the napkins in my Napkins - Part 1 post last month. The silverware is set à la française.



A special dinner plate for the guest of honor. I only have six place settings of the tower, so this worked out well.

My friend Nancy B purchased it for me as a gift the first year she taught at Bolts. We love to look for Frenchie stuff together.







Of course there was a cheese plate.



Various desserts were laid out on the sideboard. Along with my pink Eiffel Tower. You can just barely see it on the left. I think I might be time to paint it black or white.



Coconut macaroons in an antique covered crystal, it had belonged to Stephanie Slater, a sweet and loving woman who passed away years ago. The salt & pepper shakers on the table were also hers.



A trio of sweet bites from the freezer section of Trader Joe’s. Vanilla meringues under glass and Ferrero Rocher chocolates await the dessert hour.



Macarons à la  parisienne in the shadow of the pink Eiffel.





One of Peggy’s slide show pictures. A beautiful day in Paris.



Stitch at you Soon,
Dawna

Parisienne cast :
Dinnerware - 222 Fifth, City Scenes, TJ Maxx 2 yrs ago
France Plate – TJ Maxx – 3 yrs ago
Dessert Plates – Anthropologie clearance 5 yrs ago
Stemware – Monroe Aria – Wedding gifts
Flatware – Farberware
Votives – Hand painted by a local artist
Towers – Home Goods & TJ Maxx ages ago
Flower Vase – Longaberger Master’s Series

Linking to :Cuisine Kathleen - Let's Dish
Between Naps on the Porch - Tablescape Thursday

Greeting Fall

I love the fabulous illusion of this Susan Rios piece. Here it looks as if the woman in the photo is reflected in the mirror. With the hair and style of dress it looks as if it might a reflection of myself.



When the artwork is actually propped against the mirror in the front hall.



A candle to illuminate the entryway.



Some dragonflies for good luck and harmony.




The pumpkin candles for show. I’ve had them for years and can’t bring myself to light them.



"Tradition has it that if you catch a ginkgo leaf as it floats to earth, you'll have good luck," But you must be there at the right time as gingko trees drop their leaves within a short time frame. Sometimes as quickly as a couple of hours.



Videos of Gingko Leaves Falling.



May you have a fall filled with much good luck!


Stitch at you Soon,
Dawna

Linking  to  :
The Lettered Cottage - Fall Table Decorating Ideas French  Country Cottage _ Feathered Nest Friday
A Stroll Thru Life -  Table Top Tuesday

GORDIE

Tomorrow September 16th would have been my Dad’s 87th birthday. He was a man who personified integrity, dependability and love. He lived by the golden rule and he was never too busy for a hug.



As his children we were blessed; he could make us laugh, taught us to work hard, and how to enjoy life. He and my Mum were there to support us even if we didn’t always accept advise given.

He didn’t really understand my obsession with fabric. I remember the first time I entered a quilt in a local show. I didn’t win any ribbons, but the following Monday at work he presented me with a hundred dollar bill and told me I was winner in his eyes.

He lived by the golden rule and he was never to busy for a hug.



He and my Mum had a marriage for us to emulate. Their love surrounded us and showed us that marriage is a friendship and a partnership. But that a couple is made up of two individuals. that may not always agree. You should - “Stick and stay and make it pay.”

He loved hockey and soccer, which stemmed from his growing up in Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada. He was proud to have become an American citizen, calling it the Excited States of America. What we in the family refer to as a Gordism. A quote or saying by Gord.

One was “When in doubt, strip(throw) it out.” We were in the magazine distribution business and covers were returned for credit. It is a perfect quote for today when so many are trying to simplify their lives.

 Here are some of our other favorites :

• “Charm, Good Looks, Personality, Credit Cards - I'm Good To Go.”  
• “I've Got a Good Memory, But It's Short.”  
• “Do You Need to Sharpen Your Skates?” (Visit the bathroom before leaving the house). 
• “Infatuation Comes and Goes” (Said to my sister and her husband when they announced they were engaged). 
• “George in the  Sky” (Jack in the Box).  
• "You’ve  Got to Get Up Pretty Early in the Morning to Steal This Much Money.” (Driving past high rise condo on Wilshire Blvd.).

         

• “You Irishmen are All Alike”. With his Mum and Dad who were from Belfast and his older brother Harry.

And the question he always asked when he talked to you on the phone. – “How’s Your Car Running?”  It’s in the shop Dad and I love you too.  

Thank you for being my father. I miss you so very much,

 Love, Dawna.