"Artsy" & Whimsical "Framed" Wallpaper

We all may have heard of displaying pretty wallpaper scraps in frames to use as art, but what about wallpaper that you can buy that has frames printed all over it for you to display your own art?

I found this really cool wallpaper and thought I'd share it with you. I think this is such a neat idea for an art themed room or kids room, or just wherever. It's wallpaper with "frames" all over it and you can paint within the frames, hang children's artwork or photos in them, tack recipes on them in the kitchen, paint or hang printed single words in them ...just so many possibilities. You can find the wallpaper online at Graham and Brown. It's $30 a roll, but I'm thinking just doing one wall would be plenty. (OR...if you're even the slightest bit artistic, you can try painting your own frames on a wall!)

From the site:

"Artists Wood and Taylor, designed Frames. It's a completely interactive wallpaper - you decide what you want it to be - whether you want to put up your youngsters art, paint directly in to a frame, or put up family photos - it's up to you!"

"I Wanna Talk About Me-Me-Me-Me"

i feel: pensive

i am a: loner of sorts

i am wearing: floral jammie bottoms and a tank top

i hate: the telephone

my best friend is: plural

i look: comfortable

i am often mistaken as being: put together

i am becoming: hot in this sunroom

the song that is playing right now is: just the sound of birds, cicadas, and kids

my favorite memories are: those of heartfelt talks with family and friends

my worst memories are: only memories

my favorite vacation place is: a cabin in the woods complete with a fire, books, music, and friends

the song that best describe my life is: All Four Seasons & Banana Pancakes

i want: more patience

i am making: goals

i want to be: reliable

i try hard to: be understanding

my fear is: losing touch with loved ones

my hopes are: real and wonderful

i enjoy: reading and creating

when i get older, i: am afraid I might grow up.

i am trying to decide: paper or plastic? j/k What to make for dinner...

the leisure book i’m reading now is: Sweet Apple Farm along with four other books...

little luxuries of mine are: coffee with whipped cream while checking my email, chocolate for breakfast, warm and fluffy towels from the dryer, a nap in my cozy bed, iced green tea on a hot summer day, staying up late and sleeping in, the smell of a bookstore, a homecooked southern meal, dining by myself at a restaurant - my only companion being a good book...

when i fall for like someone, i: think of them often

one of my weaknesses: not staying motivated

my favorite colour is: not pink

my favorite television shows are: about forensic science, home makeovers/ decorating, history, Monk, King of Queens, ugh...can't think of anything

a person i adore is: Do I have to name just one?

places i would go in a heart-beat are: North Carolina Mountains

the person that i’m thinking about is: Jeffrey

i love the way: my bird struts when he's happy

i hate the way: some things work out

a vexation of mine is: my laundry basket of mismatched socks

my favorite time of the day is: after dark

summer time is: hot and lazy

i try to block out: heartache, fears, and worry

my life is: full

my favorite season is: spring and fall

after school, i: dreamt for years that I was still *in* school and hadn't studied for that all important test

one thing i can’t be happy without is: my relationship with Jehovah

i’m trying to: be strong

it hurts when: I'm misunderstood

like my father always says: "You'll always be my little girl."

the hardest thing i’ve ever had to do was: make the right choices despite the consequences

before i go to bed, i: enjoy the silence of a quiet house

the first thing i do in the morning is: sigh

the best thing about life is: you get to start over each day

i never knew that: pigs could fly

my room is: restful and full of children's books (and a few toys scattered here and there)

i cannot: watch sports

i love going to: goodwill

i dislike: shallow people

i cry when: I feel helpless

it’s: going to be ok:)

i love the movie: A Beautiful Mind

i am feeling: hungry

i listen to: what people have to say

something that makes me smile is: an inside joke

something about a person that attracts me is: humor, selflessness, honesty, humor

love is: strange & complex

traveling is: something I look forward to doing in the future

it is time to: go get some iced green tea

i’m ticked off because: where did the day go?

Immersed

Lately, I've been keeping up with the household chores but I've put projects on hold. I've been nostalgic for a time that I never knew or experienced and it seems that every few months I get like this. Just a crazy, bluesy, sadness of sorts, a mourning over the fact that I can't go back to a simpler time. I was just telling a friend that I really need to be a hermit in the middle of nowhere...perhaps out on a farm or deep in the mountains. Just a little old quaint home and a garden and fresh air...

When my folks were visiting from California, I went with them to stake out some new construction homes...spacious and beautiful and perfect. They may be moving here in the next five years so they wanted to see what was available. What is wrong with me that en route to such lovely homes, I couldn't help but to do double takes when passing by all the sad little old, dilapidated, ivy covered, tumbled down and forgotten houses? I swear, it's nearly the same feeling I get when I stumble across a stray animal that needs some TLC. Someone help me.:)

When I visit big box stores, internally I grumble every time over the plastic and mass-produced era that I have to live in now. I groan about the shoddy "craftmanship" (can you even call it that?) of merchandise for sale. I sigh over the lengthy ingredient lists on the foods we buy, half of which are chemicals because I know that way back when, people not only could pronounce the ingredients in their foods, but they knew exactly what those ingredients were and probably produced them themselves. I wince when my children ask for some new fangled plastic toy (that holds their attention for about a day). I'm frustrated that I don't know how to make biscuits or pies from scratch, that I haven't a clue how to garden or can my own foods, that I wouldn't know where to begin making a quilt (or how to operate my own sewing machine, for that matter), that I don't have a woodburning fireplace, that I live on a semi- well traveled street, and so on and so forth.

I was even irritated at Joe Bob Shelf Stocker at Wal-Mart yesterday because he had never even heard of the Farmer's Almanac. "Farmer's what????" *sniff*

Where is that time machine when you need it most?

Oftentimes when I find that I need to "escape" to another world and time, I go to the library and check out many books of the same theme and bury myself in them for days and days. One of the books I checked out recently is called, "A Place Called Sweet Apple - Country Living and Southern Recipes" It was written in 1967 by a very prolific columnist for the Atlanta Constitution (she's been gone for quite a few years now) who discovered a deserted country cabin and fell in love with it at first site.

I knew after reading the first page that this woman, Celestine Sibley, was really me.

Someday I know that my world will be simple and wonderful and for now, I'll work hard be content with sustenance and covering. But, oh, isn't it wonderful to daydream about how things are suppose to be?!

Housebloggers Featured In Chicago Tribune This Week

I'm excited to report that in this weeks Chicago Tribune, a few fellow houseblogs along with One Woman's Cottage Life were featured in an article entitled True-life Confessions of the Weekend Warrior. Other houseblogs included in the article were House in Progress, Nightmare on Elm St., and Chicago Two-Flat. These and other great blogs are worth checking out if you haven't done so already:)

I wanted to also mention that though it wasn't posted in the article, lol, my husband is indeed the other "remodeler" here at One Woman's Cottage Life. Most of the time, I have the easy part which is coming up with more projects for him to work on:) He knows he's in trouble when I get that pensive look on my face and say..."You know, I've been thinking...." or "I just had a great idea!" I'm just waiting for the day that he responds by quickly turning on his heels and running away while sticking his fingers in his ears and declaring, "LaLaLaLaaaa! I can't hear you!!!!! "

Yet Another Backsplash Option - Tumbled Travertine

So first I wanted beadboard...and then I thought painted brick pavers would be really neat, but now, I'm thinking little one inch travertine tiles would look pretty, too! (And no cutting!) The travertine gives kind of a warm look to the laminate. Which backsplash would you use? The countertop shown is what we'll be installing...

Decorate Your Bedroom Like a Bed & Breakfast Inn: 10 Tips

Decorate Your Bedroom Like a Bed & Breakfast Inn: 10 Tips

By Kathryn Bechen

We all need a romantic getaway weekend now and then. Even if funds are tight and time is short, with a little ingenuity and creativity you can turn your own bedroom at home into a romantic and relaxing "Bed & Breakfast Inn" retreat for you and your mate.


10 Tips to get you started:

1. Clutter Cutter. De-clutter your bedroom when you begin your fluff-up. Nothing kills romance faster than a pile of dusty magazines and techno paraphernalia.

2. Maid Brigade. Next comes the dust rag and vacuum. Turn on some music and make it fun!

3. Sensuous Sheets. Purchase some colorful new sheets in a pattern you love with a thread count of at least 300.

4. Divine Duvet. Invest in a pretty new duvet cover or bedspread. It will freshen up the room instantly.

5. Pillow Pizzazz. Some new pillows and pillowcases that coordinate with your sheets and duvet will add softness to your bed.

6. Flower Finesse. Buy some fresh flowers and put them in a favorite vase.

7. Candle Cozy. A few flickering candles will add instant romance to your new B&B bedroom.

8. Music Magic. Now for some light jazz or classical music to set the tone for the evening.

9. TV Tune-out. Unless you and your mate purposely choose to watch a funny or romantic movie together, turn the TV off.

10. Tray of Delights. Bring in a wine and cheese tray with some fresh fruit, dim the lights, and you’re on your way to a lovely and romantic stay in your very own Bed & Breakfast Inn bedroom. Enjoy!

c2005 Kathryn Bechen. All rights reserved worldwide.


Visit http://www.kathrynbechendesigns.com for more free ideas and tips for decorating your cottage style home on a dollarwise budget and to sign up for Kathryn's free e-newsletter of decorating tips and resources. Kathryn is an interior decorating consultant and author who specializes in Cottage Style, Non-Toxic, and Dollarwise decorating.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathryn_Bechen

**photos above of One Woman's Bedroom

More Painted Subfloor Goodness & Hardwood Choice

When you're working on an ongoing remodeling project with lots of dirt and drywall dust, and you have two dogs that shed...AND you have a child with allergies (or you have allergies yourself), carpet is absolutely out of the question, or at least it is in our house. I'd rather have no carpet at all than dirty carpet and let's face it, carpet at it's cleanest is dirtier than we care to know:) We're holding out until the very end to put our wood flooring down but until then, we have to make do with subflooring. I painted it an antique white about a week and a half ago and thought I'd share a photo of what it looked like after one coat. I applied two coats but forgot to take photos afterward. If you want to do this as a long term flooring solution, I would prime first and use a really good quality floor / porch paint, or else use several coats of polyeurothane over your paint choice...(And do lots of other research first because I'm not an expert:)

Our couch and loveseat have been moved back in by now along with a giant sisal rug, and the tape has been removed from the wall. Our living room isn't big at all but is still very cozy and comfortable and adequate. Excuse the total lack of decor and window coverings. One of these days I'll get to that. As a side note, and I think I've posted about it before, hubs added the trim around the window earlier this year. This house had *no* window trim whatsoever except for some measley window sills. We still have a few more windows in the house to trim out, but that is a project for another time:) The sample in the lower right hand corner represents the wood flooring we bought. I think it will really add some warmth to the house:)

I know some of you may be wondering *why* I put time and effort into painting a subfloor that will be covered over. Good question:) First of all, I painted it to prevent the little ones from getting splinters and secondly...it just looks better, lol!