Worthing Court: July 2012

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

My Updated Living Room

I've been making some changes in my living room in an effort to give it a bit of an updated look. Seems like it took me forever, but I finally finished...for now that is!

I apologize for the lighting in some of these pics. This is such a hard room to photograph. The only time the room isn't dark is when the morning sun streams in through the front door and then it's blinding in pics!

You can see that I made some new pillows for the loveseat.

I love mixing unexpected patterns and colors within a room and pillows are such an easy way to do that. Plus you can switch them out on a whim and I have lots of whims - just ask Pookie. ;)

I added a new pillow to the chair too (opps - it's crooked!) and moved some pictures that were in my powder room to above this chair. (I've never shown you my powder room before. If you'd like to see it, head over to Debbie-doo's for my house tour.)

It's just a fluke that the fabric that I used on the red pillows mimics the stencil that I used on the back of the bookcases. You can see more about the bookcase transformation here.

I also replaced the lamp on the little table to the left of the loveseat and added a cute little cricket that I painted gold. An orchid in a turquoise pot was added to the trunk that serves as a coffe table in an effort to pick up the blue in the picture hanging above the loveseat.

I have plans to move that picture somewhere else in the house, but that's for another day! winkwink!

Here's the little cricket. Isn't he cute?

I changed the lamps and the vignette on the table in front of the windows. You can read more about that here.

There's been another change in this area too. Can you spot what it is?

Can't see it? Look at the before and after of this same area. Obviously, I removed the flag pendants from the drapery panels. What may not be so obvious is that I narrowed each one of the panels by about 18" and also added a deep red ribbon trim to the leading edge of each panel.

I showed you the little accent table that I added a couple of weeks ago.

It sure does help to fill that awkward corner.

Here's how the entire room looks now.

The left side...

...the right side...

...and the whole room all in one shot.

My living room and I party here:

Best DIY Project of July at Beneath My Heart
Before and After Party at Thrifty Decor Chick
Debbiedoo's Blogging and Blabbing

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Meet Me Monday at You Are Talking Too Much

Tuesday's Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Motivated Monday at Be Colorful

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Tutorials and Tips Tuesday at Home Stories A to Z

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

DIY by Design on Wednesday

Uncommonly Yours on Wednesday at Uncommon Designs

Show and Share on Wednesday at Southern Lovely

Tutorials Tips and Tidbits on Thursday at Stone Gable

Show Me Extroidinary on Thursday at The 36th Avenue

Grace at Home on Thursday at Imparting Grace

Open House Party Thursday at No Minimalist Here

Potpourri Friday at 2805

Share Your Creations on Thursday at Kristen's Creations

Tickled Pink Fridays at 504 Main

Flaunt it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

Feature Friday at Blissful and Domestic

Addicts (not so) Anonymous on Friday at Addicted 2 Decorating

Inspiration Friday at At the Picket Fence

Weekly Top Shot on Saturday at The View From Right Here

Overflowing with Creativity on Sunday at It's Overflowing

Sew Darn Crafty Sunday at Sew Many Ways

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming

Sundae Scoop Party at I Heart Naptime

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Sunday Worship

source

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says it like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does.

James 1:22-25, NIV

Friday, July 27, 2012

Southern Bloggers Conference - The Venue

Woot! Woot! Being part of the planning team for the Southern Bloggers Conference is a thrill!

But as much fun as the planning process is, the best and most fun thing of all will be meeting all of you! I. cannot. wait.

The SBC team recently toured the Raleigh/Crabtee Embassy Suites Hotel where the conference will be held. A beautiful setting with lovely accomodations!

Head over to visit Shirley at Housepitality Designs to see even more of this great facility.

We hear that rooms are going fast. If you even think you may go, don't wait to reserve your room! You can always cancel it later if you are unable to attend. Just contact the Raleigh/Crabtree Embassy Suites at 919-881-0000. If you prefer, you can make your reservations online at http://embassysuites3.hilton.com/en/hotels/north-carolina/embassy-suites-raleigh-crabtree-RDUCMES/index.html. Be sure to mention the Southern Bloggers Conference to receive the discounted room rate of $109/night plus tax.

The conference is open to bloggers and non-bloggers alike. I already know of a couple of hubbys who will be accompanying their special lady!

There will be sessions on loving and growing your blog, writing and organizing your blog, managing your social networking. DIY sessions including furniture facelifts and a surprise session still in the works.

Awesome speakers such as Rhoda from Southern Hospitality, KariAnne from Thistlewood Farms, Heather from At the Picket Fence and Kristen from Sophia's Decor - just to name a few!

Oh - head over to our new Southern Bloggers Conference Blog. We'll be filling it up with detailed information over the next few days. The itinerary was posted today!

Purchasing tickets is as simple as clicking on "Order Now" in the below widget. Hurry up because we will choose one random number between ticket purchaser 1 - 30 to receive a special price!

Event registration for Southern Bloggers Conference 2012 powered by Eventbrite

My Mind is On - Passementerie

Did I get ya with that big ole word? Do you know what passementerie is?

I didn't until not too long ago - I still struggle to pronounce it correctly!

Websters defines passementerie as this:

An ornamental edging or trimming (as tassels) made of braid, cord, gimp, beading, or metallic thread.

Think of all kinds of trims, tiebacks and tassels added to window treatments, pillows, furniture and other types of home decor.

Trims have come a long way, baby. We're not talking your grandma's (or your mom's) drapery trim here folks!

Enjoy some of these images that I found.

source unknown

All I can say is "Sssslurrrp!".

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

The Easiest Pillows That I've Ever Made

When Ms. JB (my daughter) and I were strolling through World Market one day, we came across a selection of some really cute napkins.

World Market

If you've seen the tour of Ms. JB's house, you know she loves color! The color citrine has made it onto her radar lately so she immediately zeroed in on the Ikat napkins in the upper left hand corner of the above picture from World Market's website.

These napkins have really cute jute trim around the edge. As soon as I saw them I knew they would look great made into pillows and would be sew easy. Sorry for the pun, but I just couldn't help myself! ;o)

The thing that made these pillows easy to make is that because of the finished edges with trim, they didn't have to be sewn together wrong-side-out, then have the corners clipped, turned right-side-out and hand sew the pillow cover closed after the form is inserted.

Using matching thread, I simply stitched around the edge of the jute trim closest to the middle of the pillow (hope that makes sense). After inserting a pillow form in the opening that I left, I just stitched it closed with my machine. Yay - no hand sewing!

This method left a flat edge all the way around the pillow that can open up just a little where the two napkins are joined. Kind of a dress maker detail that I really like!