Smoke and mirrors

From my colorful quilt shots and small vignette photos, you might have a mental image of my house.  You'd probably be wrong.  I haven't really settled in very well in my new location, even after a year and a half.  We moved from a 1920s colonial to a newer open floor plan home and although this was intentional...just what we were looking for!...I have been somewhat paralyzed since moving in.  Part of this is because I need to replace furniture that we milked through the college tuition years, and I'm finding myself resisting pieces that would look best in this spacious house.  In the old place, it was so easy to mix old and new.  With its funky built-ins, covered radiators and little broken up wall spaces, it provided wonderful display areas.  I loved mixing quirky antique and flea market finds with contemporary craft pieces for surprises as you came around a corner or into a small entryway.  Here, there are great expanses of blank wall that are difficult to break up without largish furniture.  I think we were so *done* with all of the repair and upkeep issues of an old house (with 38 original wood windows, an 80 year-old groaning asbestos-encased boiler & 'critters') that we jumped at this house with its fresh paint and air conditioning.  After 18 months, I've come to realize that I'm really much more of a cottage person.  (A small cottage with a large, modern studio. *grin*)  For the time being, however, I'm here so I'm trying to snap out of it and make the best of it.

One of my challenges has been to find a foyer rug, something with a fresh look that would work with my antiques and my folk art and hold its own in a large open space.  I finally found it while taking a shortcut through a little shop in NYC in May.  Being me, I had to think about it, but finally ordered it in June.  After several days of deliberation, I've removed the post-it note reminder *DO NOT WALK ON RUG YET* and have decided I love it.  A smaller version for the doorway is backordered.  Now, on to the walls! 

True color shot

That wasn't the only fun mail that's arrived though!  On Saturday, the mailman handed me a large, unexpected package and although I recognized the return address, I still didn't guess its contents.

A pine cone forest

Before we moved, Molly and I had a huge garage sale at which I sold two bags of large pine cones that I used in my holiday decorating.  Of course, as soon as Thanksgiving arrived that first year, I was lamenting the fact to my sister, who regularly spends time in northern California.  Don't worry, I'll just send you some! she said.  Well.  These are some of the most gorgeous pine cones I've ever seen.   Perfect 7-8" specimens...more in the box!  I love a surprise.

And speaking of fun mail, this is a section of some luscious hand dyed fabric that Susan sent last week.  It's impossible to capture its luminosity with my little Kodak camera, but trust me, this is going to light up whatever project(s) it ends up in.  Her blog, art esprit, is always a fun and inspiring read as she writes about her adventures as artist/gallery owner and introduces other interesting art folk.  Thank you, Susan.  I can't wait to use it!

A few interesting links before I go call the sprinkler guys to find out why they're two three hours late.

• Kathy and Sarah at Material Obsession have had some fun quilt posts recently.  I think this (scroll down) is a great use of the recently popular sock monkey fabric.
• Speaking of sock monkeys, Anna Dilemna's geisha version has to be my all-time favorite!
• I'm hoping my new, improved glasses arrive at the same time as the new Interweave Knits issue.  I'm impatiently awaiting the instructions for Evelyn Clark's Swallowtail Shawl. 
• Mandarin Design is a mesmerizing site of seemingly unending cut-and-paste tricks you can use to enhance (or junk up) your blog.  Like

floating text in a violet... well, you know.

Comments

[Carole]

I have always lived in old houses. And I think I want to live in a new house someday. You know, with closets and floors and walls that are actually square, and more than one bathroom! But maybe I wouldn't be so happy after all, eh?

[Anita]

You have pegged my personality exactly! I think we might be twins. :-) I love mixing old and new, quirky and elegant. It keeps things more interesting.

[Melissa]

Jan-you have perfectly captured all my decorating problems. The huge wall. What are you supposed to do with it? Especially when it's next to the front door and a huge piece of furniture just doesn't work there. All it does is clutter up the walk way. You walk in my door, you're in the living room. But I have 10 ft of wall to do something with and right now my husband says the stuff on it just looks dumb. So there ya go.

I guess if I ever had time to actually piece a quilt that would be an option. I'm the world's slowest quilter.

[gray la gran]

cool rug! that's how i live, how you "lived". my apt. is in an 80+ yr. old house. the good thing is that it was intentially built to be separate apts, so there aren't any super-nonfunctional arrangements. only my bed/mattress and sewing cabinets are new items. all the rest is from the thrift store or roadside.
regarding the big blank walls ... that i have no problems filling, as i own at least one painting that is the size of a queen bed.

[joyce]

Ihave the opposite problem. Our house is mostly windows and doors and open area with very limited wall space. Everyone in the family (husband,4 kids and me the quilter)is an artist so we have tons of art in boxes,shelves,etc. I need more empty wall space. Our house is old but remodeled several times so our thrift shop furniture looks ok to me.

[Kristin]

I too have a foyer without a rug after 2 years of living here. I just saw something in an ad that I think I might like and it reminds me of yours. Same colors, though it's a bunch of circle designs. Anyway, you're not alone in have a hard time deciding what fits. We also have a big bare spot over the mantel, which is huge, because we can't agree on what should be up there!

We mostly have the same problem as Joyce though, because we have so many doors and windows that there is little wall space except for the hallway outside the kids' bedrooms. I've got more quilts in mind for that space in the future.

Oh, and thanks for the links too!

[Tonya R]

I love that carpet - it's beautiful and fun. Sorry about the walls dilemma. I love the look of a whole bunch of stuff on the walls. Framed art, quilts, clocks, whatever ya got. But I expect that could be trouble too if the wall is still toooooo big. Would one of your bed sized quilts look good up there? You could add plenty of sunshine!

[susan@artstream]

that rug is amazingly beautiful! it just pops. and on a dreary day wouldn't it be fun to look at it for a lift? yes! i think that it is wonderful that you found it and waited... we just did that too with a table in nyc which we will get in sept.
thanks for the shout out too jan. you are too kind!

[Monica]

That rug is fantastic!

If you want to drool on more rugs, check this out www.therugcompany.org

There are some insanely beautiful rugs in there. Don't bother asking the price though... unless you won the lottery that is.

[Sarah]

thanks for the boost! great blog... come visit us again sometime, we'll be back to see you :)

Sarah and Kathy

[Barbara Robson]

Jan, we are kindred spirits! I love the rug! We live in a 130 year old fisherman's house here in Nova Scoita, on the ocean. I thought we had lots of windows, 24. They are all being replaced as I type, we hated to do it but the old ones (and some are as old as the house) were just too drafty even with storms windows. I have a basket of those big pine cones too and we work in the same colour pallette. We must be related!
Barbara Robson in hot and humid Nova Scotia

[Judy]

I didn't know Kaffe Fausett made rugs!!??!! Looks just like one of his fabrics! Love it!

[Chris]

I would expect nothing less but bright and bold rugs for you! :)

[Kelli]

Jan, I love the rug and the sneak peek at your home. Very pretty. I think I try to find the same balance between new, antique, crafted and artsy. Ideally, I'd like Pottery Barn and Oliliy to crash into each other in my living room. That'd be divine.

Also, any ideas where I can get a sock monkey pattern? I'm going to make a couple of these for Christmas gifts.

[kathy]

I've always lived in modern houses and now I'm in a big old farm house. I love the house but some of my furniture just doesn't work. Maybe we could trade some pieces! One thing I've realized, well designed pieces fit anywhere. Your choice for the rug is beautiful. Such glorious colors to see everyday. That sock monkey quilt was too cute. I sent the link off to a few more fans I know.

[Leslie]

We live in an open floor plan home, and it is hard to decorate! Where does one room end, and the other begin? I love the rug...I would snatch it up and put it in my house if I could!

[Dawn]

That new rug is too fun! I love it!