Spring /Free downloads

I'm SO ready to  Spring forward!

Did you know you can get free downloads from Flickr? I downloaded the picture above from here.

Wouldn't a grouping look nice on a wall?

Spring is Here!

My tulips finally came out this week suddenly. They'd been teasing me for days. It makes me realize Spring is really here, which means we'll probably get a snowstorm next week! :)

I never did get around to starting those seeds. I'll have to buy the real plants this year again. Maybe next year......

Updated April 23 2:12 PM: I think I jinxed myself. Here are my tulips now:

It never fails! Snow on my tulips every year!

Spring it On! Some Spring Changes at Home

I made a few little changes to my home for Spring, hoping the weather might follow! For my entryway, I brought up my blue and white vases from the basement, and added some forsythia branches with my existing branches. Here's my new entry way:

Here it was during the Fall season ( I forgot to take a picture during Christmas, but it wasn't much different as it is here). I finally threw out that white pumpkin - it was the everlasting one! I hope I can find one like that this year. My family room mantle always gets a switch up. Here it was during the Winter:

I painted a new painting with some of this salmon and coral color that I love. Since the orchid blooms on my real orchid have all fallen off, I decided to paint some orchids: Here's a "mini-me" of the larger painting. I have put this one on etsy. Click here to view "Orchid in Salmon" on etsy.
Another orchid in blue and grey. Click here to view this painting on etsy.

Here's another painting, this one is called "Blossoms". Click here to view on etsy.

I made some other little Spring changes I'll post soon. For now, our family is off to a transitional homeless shelter where we are sprucing up a room for a family. I'll post on that too later.

We have Spring break this week, filled with tons of activities. Have a great week!

Freshening Up

Look, my Cherry blossom from my previous post has started to bloom! In preparation for Spring, I have been busy freshening things up around here. I have been busy sewing, painting, and re-accessorizing. I needed a change from my heavy drapes and my Winter decor. Here is my Winter fireplace mantle and built ins:

Here is my new Spring mantle and built-ins. I spent very little money. I just re-used items I had in different parts of the house, with the exception of the painting which I painted recently and posted about a few days ago. I'm planning on making some new pillows. I would love to make new slipcovers as well, time permitting.

Here are my heavy Winter drapes:

Here are my Spring/Summer curtains. They are unlined muslin I had in my basement. See my Cherry branch near the window?

Below are the Winter velvet drapes in the library:

Now, my Summer unlined linen curtains. Notice my new Ampersand pillow I purchased from Ness?

My dining room Winter drapes:
My new unlined linen:
And, a little whimsical addition in the dining room to keep things from being stuffy. My chalkboard I made out of MDF and chalkboard paint. We've been trying to use the dining room once a week. The kids love to write the menu on it! (I wrote this one, though!)

Soon, I will show you my bedroom pseudo make-over. I hope you all are having fun springing things up in your home!

To see some more transformations, go to Between Naps on the Porch. I love to see before and afters!