Friday, December 23, 2011

Happy Holidays!

ChristmasCard_2011

I'm looking forward to staying warm by the fire with my family for a few days.  I hope you are doing something as equally enjoyable with the ones that you love.  Thanks for keeping company with me during 2011.  Looking forward to a spectacular 2012.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Brush, Brush

Source: flickr.com via Aimee on Pinterest


I came across this image on pinterest last week and now I'm completely enamored with bottle brush Christmas trees.  I don't have a collection yet, but I think i might have to keep my eyes open.  I may have something new for the mantel next year.

Here, someone has amassed quite a collection
I love all the color


And the ones without color too!


And the ones that are flocked and have their own ornaments are beyond sweet


I've read grumblings that I could easily pick up a few at Michael's or Hobby Lobby that could be turned into something.  Maybe if I'm feeling crafty (oh, holiday knitting, will you ever be done???) I might try to create my own magical forest....they do look so cheery all grouped together. 

ETA: apparently I have the start to my collection already!  I just went downstairs and look what was sitting on the mantel

Sparkle little tree 

Thursday, December 15, 2011

A View from the Party

The Husband and I had a gig last night at The Jefferson Hotel here in Richmond, playing for a company Christmas party.  I snapped a few pics of the festivities before things got rolling too much.  Let's take a look at the party in progress:

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dessert!

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My view from the stage
My view from the stage.  I could look straight out the doors to the big tree and across to Mr Jefferson on the other side.  The stage was set up in front of the meat table which made the Husband very happy.  He could gaze upon the roast beef and pork all evening!

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my view overhead while on stage

Ooh, Shiny
ooh, Shiny!

Blond Betty on a Break

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Multiplying Like Bunnies

Over the weekend I made one of these. (thank you Rebecca Danger!)

Bunnie Nugget!

I needed a little gift for my knitting students' last class (they're all 8 years old.) So just like bunnies do, they became this little herd.

Multiplying Bunny Nuggets

And I don't know if I can part with them today or not.  The cuteness is overwhelming!

Bunnies from the Back

I am offically a Bunny Nugget fan (or as the Husband likes to call them Nuggy Bunnets!)

Sharing the cuteness at Savvy Southern Style.  You can check out everyone else's fab Christmas goings-on.

Friday, December 9, 2011

A Friday Sneak Peek

Here's your pretty for Friday! Last night I went to a party for a client.  I finally got to see her finished kitchen and bath.  She was such a lovely and sweet person to work with. We had such fun shopping too! It was so nice to see her grinning from ear to ear after having to cook her dinners in a microwave in the laundry room for the last 3 months!  Here's a sneak peek of the new bathroom and kitchen.  I will do a more in-depth post in a few weeks when I have real pics.

Client's new bath sneak peek

Peek at a client kitchen

Happy Friday everyone!  Hope you have a great weekend.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

A Little Holiday Cheer with some Thanks!

Thanks to my ever-resourceful Aunt Nancy I have these beauties making the house festive.

Red berries in the kitchen
red berries in the kitchen

Joy on the mantel
joy on the mantel

 She had a bouquet of red berries picked and a boxwood made for each of us before we even got to Grandmother's over Thanksgiving day.  They are definitely making things more merry & bright around here. 


Monday, December 5, 2011

Shabby Apple Giveaway winner!



We have a winner to the Shabby Apple Giveaway!  Using random.org to select the winner, I can now congratulate the winner: Larc

Larc I will contact you to get your info and soon you will have this lovely watch/pendant for your very own.  Thanks again to Shabby Apple for the wonderful giveaway.  And as a reminder Shabby Apple is still offering 10% off for the next 23 days to all of my readers (great for holiday shopping!) Just enter THEFUNCTIONALSPACE10OFF for the discount. They really do have lovely things.  Go check them out.




Friday, December 2, 2011

Friday Inspiration

Happy Friday!  This room makes me very happy.  It's warm, cozy and inviting without being too perfect. Hope your day feels like this too.


Don't forget about the Shabby Apple Giveaway!  Get your entry in by Sunday for the big win.  Winner will be announced on Monday.

Have a great weekend!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

White Tree!

White Christmas Tree!

The tree is up and this year it's a white one!  I've always wanted a white tree.  I found a really inexpensive one and decided to give it a whirl.  I thought I was buying a tree with white lights but when we unboxed it they were colored. After a little freak out I've grown to like it. The lights really work with all the sparkle-ly balls and snowflakes. 

Don't forget to sign up for the Shabby Apple giveaway.  It's open until Sunday.  You could be the winner!

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Deep in the Fabric Hoard

It was like being in an episode of Hoarders but with fabric!! 


My Mom has wanted to take me back into the Remnant Shop (in Galax, Virginia) for awhile now.  She kept saying "you won't believe the piles of fabric they have! You can't even get to 75% of it!"  Finally, during our Thanksgiving visit we were finally able to make it happen.  It didn't disappoint.


It was just like I remembered from my childhood except even more.  The little old man was still sitting in the same seat behind the counter.  The chatty wife was still grumbling and complaining around the stacks of fabric.  What I remember most about being in there as a little kid was that the owners HATED little kids.  My sister and I spent a fair amount of our childhood in fabric shops.  This was never one of our favorites.  But look at the possibilities now!


There was a bit of a path through the shop which made things still passable.  It was hard to see what was in the stacks beyond the first few layers though.


They also had a large collection of quilting/ cotton prints that were stacked everywhere too.

Though we didn't find fabric for Mom's new kitchen we did find some interesting stuff. If you are willing to dig there where some treasures to be found, and usually for a really great price too. I won't say that every bolt is a treasure but if you have patience I'm sure you can come out of there with something.




There was a crazy collection of pleather/vinyls.  Not usually my thing, but I have to say I really love this ostrich and crocodile patterns.  Wish I had something to cover.

 
They had a large selection of old school floral prints.  I also loved the green buffalo check and the navy polka-dot.  There was also a chicken toile that I forgot to photograph that was wonderful. Just imagine, Chicken Toile!

   
I also really loved this one.  It has a great graphic pattern and an beautiful woven texture.  I couldn't think of an immediate use so I left it all behind.  Now that I'm home though, the wheels are turning.... 
Do you know of any great fabric hoards?  Please share!

Don't forget to sign up for the Shabby Apple Giveaway.  There's still time and lots of opportunity to win!

Monday, November 28, 2011

Applesauce & Shabby Apple Giveaway

First, let me say that I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend filled with friends, family and food.  I got to spend the week with my family in my parents new home and have some fun things to share later this week.  My Mom also graciously shared a jar of my Grandmother's homemade applesauce with me.  Don't be jealous (though you really should.) 

Grandmother's Applesauce

The big news for this Monday is that the wonderful Shabby Apple is offering a necklace giveaway for you lovely readers!!  Not only will you want to own their entire collection of fab dresses but they have beautiful vintage jewelery too.

It was hard to decide but I really do love the White Rabbit's Time Keeper



My Dad has a few pocket watches that I wished I could carry myself.  Also, I've always loved the idea of a lady time piece that you can wear round your neck too.  I could pretend I was the school mistress or librarian from the turn of the (last) century. I would be able to wear lovely hats too! Too bad I can't be in the running for this beauty!  It really would be a great accessory (and functional too!) for your favorite dress or sweater and jeans. 

Okay, so here's what you got to do to make this baby yours:


2. Become a Follower of the Functional Space either through Google Friend Connect (it's on the right side of this page) or Facebook

3. Leave a comment on the blog to let me know that you've done numbers 1 & 2

*Bonus Entries - If you tweet about it, you can be entered again, just leave another comment letting me know about that too!

You must have a US shipping address to enter and there will be no exchanges for the winning piece of jewelry.  The Giveaway closes on Sunday December 4th.
Also, Shabby Apple is offering 10% off for the next 30 days to all of my readers (great for holiday shopping!) Just enter THEFUNCTIONALSPACE10OFF for the discount.
I'll announce the winner next Monday.  Good Luck Everyone! 


Thursday, November 17, 2011

Feeling Under the Weather & a Pretty Table

I'm just now starting to right myself from an icky stomach bug and a fall down the stairs earlier in the week (yes, I'm that clumsy & no, thankfully I didn't break anything)   Let's all think of something pretty to make me feel better.  In honor of Thanksgiving just around the corner how about a pretty fall table courtesy of Country Living Magazine

It's so light and bright.  I love the natural color palette of white and linen mixed with pops of orange, green and blue.  Now that I think about it I must really love this color combination. It's the colors of my living room!  
Are you setting planning to set a beautiful table for your big holiday meal next week? 

Friday, November 11, 2011

My First Sweater

Here it is!! 

 effortless_1

I can't wait for it to finish drying.  I might not ever take it off.  It took me over a month and there are plenty of mistakes in it, but I love it.  It's the Effortless Cardigan by Hannah Fettig a.k.a Knitbot

It's a happy Friday here at the Reslus Arms.  I hope you are having a great day too!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Sit Right Down Write Myself a Letter

Not only did I spend the weekend joining the 21st century (see the sidebar for links to facebook, twitter, etc) I also finished the last boxes from my Parents' move.  The last box was mostly letters written to me from friends and family during my high school and college years.  What I loved best about those letters were that they were mostly just snapshots of what was happening in my loved ones lives at the moment (my Mom having a cold, my Granddad's cows ready for calving, a girl friend's boy troubles, etc.)   I used to love getting letters!  I was never a great writer but I loved collecting and using great stationary and all that came with it.  (I had sealing wax and my own seal!)

I decided to do a little virtual shopping via Etsy to see if anything caught my eye today, in case I wanted to put a stamp on it and send a letter the old fashioned way.  Here are a few things I found: 

Animals seem to grab my attention,



I LOVE letterpress too!  How could you not, really.




And for those of you who get weak in the knees for anything with a chevron pattern, check this out


And if you are looking for something more personalized what about these



And because I can't find my sealing wax and stamp, this pic is a good stand in (if you think I was pretending to be in 1811 instead of 2011 you would be right)


If anyone wants to write me an old fashioned letter I'd be happy to receive it.  I could send one too, I need an excuse to buy some more paper!

Monday, November 7, 2011

Check out my Sidebar!



 I'm not what you would call an early adopter.  I am usually very slow to accept new ways of communicating in particular (did you know that I've only reluctantly started texting a few months ago when I got my iphone?  I still think it's an odd way to communicate most of the time.)  That being said check out my sidebar!!  The Functional Space now has a Facebook page! I tweet! You can easily follow my current obsessions on Pinterest! And if you are crafty minded you can check out what is currently and/or has been on my knitting needles via my Ravelry page.  It's a brave new world people and I still don't have a compass.  Let's take that leap together though.  It should be a fun time.  If nothing else you'll get a good chuckle at my expense.

Come on, click those buttons.  You know you want to...

Friday, November 4, 2011

Friday Inspiration

It's a cool and slightly drizzly Fall day here at the Reslus Arms.  I've been looking for a bit of inspiration to make me feel warm and cozy.  I think this pic from Traditional Home might do it.


traditional home via pinterest

I love a great overstuffed room with lots and lots of layers.  Here, the neutral color palette helps it to feel cozy without being too overwhelming.

Happy Friday everyone and have a great weekend!!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

More Treasures from the Past

I'm still digging through my childhood junk mementos that my Mom sent home with me after a visit a few weeks ago.  The latest boxes had lots of letters from family and friends that I got thoughout my high school and college days. (Remember when people wrote actual letters?)  It was so nice to relive those moments from their lives all over again.   I also found one or two things to share that are actually decor related!

First up, a piece of the wallpaper selected by me and installed by my mother when I redecorated my room at the age of 12. (so sorry about the lo-fi quality of the iphone pics!)
My little girl wallpaper

I loved this paper with it's delicate blue flowers on a twisting vine with pale pink pinstripes and gold dots.  How could it not be awesome.  Seriously, considering it was selected by a 12 yr. old during the 1980s I think it's a pretty nice choice.
In general, I've always thought it was a bad idea to do any major decorating at such a pivotal age. To paraphrase Brittany Spears (I can't believe I just typed that, ugh) "I'm not at girl, not yet a teenager."  I was more than ready for more of a room that looked like me but I also decorated every surface and wall with teddy bears.  By the age of 15 I was BEGGING my mom to get rid of the dainty wallpaper and all those teddy bears.  I have some of those bears in a box downstairs if you really need proof.

I also found these ceramic book ends, made by my next door neighbor and gifted to me around the same time as the wallpaper and all those bears.

A to Z

They're keepers, right?  I think i like them.  I don't know where they're going to live but I'll find somewhere, eventually. 






Tuesday, November 1, 2011

November Needles

I haven't jumped into Fall decorating this year.  I don't even have a pumpkin.  I keep meaning to pick up some gourds, or find some colored branches for the mantel.  We did go on a walk in the park with the Puppy and I was taken with all the Fall color.  this little acorn made me smile.

A little taste of Fall

Instead of trolling the pumpkin patch for the perfect gourds, or lining up at the garden center for the best mums around, I can't seem to pull myself away from the knitting!!  After a month of doing almost nothing else, I only have the collar left of my very first sweater.  I'd show you a pic but I'm going to have the big reveal once I'm actually done (hopefully withing the week).  Here's the sweater I'm making though.

I am also teaching a knitting class that starts today!  It's a class for 3rd and 4th graders and I can't wait to get started.  We're going to start out making these:

St Catherine's Bracelet Test Run

They are super easy and I'm hoping will give the girls some (almost) instant gratification for their new skills. After bracelet making we will move on to making a little bag.  (I seem to be all about accessories for this class)  It will be knitted up like this.

Little clutch before felting

Then we are going to felt them into this:

Little Clutch felted

It still needs a button for the clasp but you get the idea.  It would be really cute with some embroidery or embellishment too.  I have yarn on the brain people and I just can't stop myself.


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