Whatever....the BLOG by Meg Duerksen

I am in blog love!  Big time.  I have followed her blog for quite some time and I just can't get enough.  I could look at her house pics all day long.  Her home is so charming, so lived in, and so awesome!  It is a big, old house, full of that old charm and nooks and crannies....love it!  They have done some awesome things with it-especially the kitchen.  Check out some of the after shots and also check out her blog "Whatever"- she just got back from Africa for a mission trip and has some awesome pics and awesome stories!  If you don't already know about her- I'm sure you'll be a regular now!

Relaxing Sunday

Ahhh...such a sigh of relief!  We had another busy weekend with company for friday night, a poker party on saturday night and a slew of fantasy baseball drafts for my husband today.(drab)  Whew.  So I am just taking it easy today, slowly working on a few pillows!  I picked my color scheme for my kitchen yesterday.  I am doing the top counters a creamy white/grey color, the walls a super light grey and the bottom cabinets a mediumish grey.  It is going to look awesome!  I can't wait to get that finished!!!  Well, while it is cloudy and drizzly here today, I will leave you with some happy pictures!!

all photos flickr

Blah Blah

 Blah....this is how I am feeling today.  Outside it is dark and gloomy and I think it is affecting my mood.  I feel like I just have SO much that needs to be done and so many things that I want to get done, but just don't have the time to do them.  I wish I had eight arms...or a clone.  I could get off the computer.  That might help.  But reading my morning blogs make me happy.  And I need my hapy place right now. 

Do you ever feel torn over two decisions.  Torn, like in a life altering way?  See, I LOVE my etsy shop and love making my pillows.  But before my etsy shop opened, I had gone  back to college.  And when I opened my Etsy shop, I was on the waitlist for clinicals.  Ok, this sounds confusing even to me.  But anyways, I can't do both.  My etsy shop is like a full time job, and clinicals would be as well.  My husband has left the decision up to me and I am having troubles!!  This isn't a decision that needs to be made right now...but in a few months it probably will be.  I just try to think of the future.  What is something happens to my husband.  Can I support our child and keep our house by myself with just my etsy shop?  What would you do?  Something secure that is pretty much guaranteed, or something that makes you happy?  I want to be happy.

Ok..my venting is done.  I am just in a funk today and need to snap out of it.  I found a picture that makes me happy.  Look at the chubby dog.  Isn't he the sweetest thing!!?

Front Porches

With spring right around the corner, I have started to think about our front porch.  Every year I have grand ideas of making it spectacular and then..well....don't.  I've always wanted to hang curtains on the one side.  Our porch is covered and a decent size and I always thought those outdoor privacy curtains would look good on the one north side of our porch.  I just want it to feel more like a "room".  A place to sit and relax and enjoy the summer days.  I don't feel like that right now about it.  It is more of a dumping ground for sports stuff, boots, ect....Once the weather finally breaks, I am going to get the floors out there painted.  They haven't been painted in a few years and are getting pretty shabby looking...and not in the good shabby chic way.  The gross way.  Anyways, here are some cool front porch pics I found on flickr.....they get my idea juices flowing!

It Was A Good Day!!

Yippee...today was good.  I got alot accomplished and got some awesome news!!  First of all, I called the lady that usually does my upholstering and asked her about the slipcovers.  Well, for some reason she cann't do them right now , but gave me the number of a new lady that just opened right in my town!  I called immediately and she asked me to bring in a picture of the chairs.  So I snapped a couple pics and off I went to show her it, and the pic in the Pottery Barn mag of what I want the slip to look like.  Well, she said she could make them and when I asked "how much"...I just about fell over.  In a good way.  75.00 bucks.  Yup- 75.00 to make a slipcover!!!!  Can you believe that....I hope she is good!  **fingers crossed**  She says she can do it and sounded like she knew what she was talking about.  She also said she does not do ALOT of slipcovers, but does do ALOT or re-upholstering.  So I hoep she does alright!  I did not tell her the other lady would charge over triple that! :)  I ordered my oatmeal linen today!  So excited!

The other good news is that my friend that works at a print shop called and said that her boss was getting rid of an old cabinet and if I wanted it I could have it!  She said it is sooo cool, with tons of those little drawers and cubbies!! She said it is four foot tall and about 5 feet long....I am going tomorrow morning to check it out because this other lady is interested in it and he said whoever takes it first, it's theirs.  He just needs it out of there!!  Wahoo....hopefully I get there before she does!   Isn't that evil of me! ;)  Ok...that's my good news, on top of selling 21 pillows today! (part of which was a large wholesale order).  Whew...my fingers are aching just thinking about it!

Well enough about me...I will leave you with some pretty rooms!!  Enjoy! *all photos flickr*

Living Room Sneak Peek

Ok, I got my living room painted this weekend...twice.  I hated the first color, that took me ALL saturday to do.  And then I woke up sunday morning, went and got different paint and re-painted it all!!  Here is a quick pic, as the room is not all put back together yet!

I'M IN FAMILY CIRCLE MAGAZINE!!!!!

I've got some great news!  I have a pillow in the April 17th issue of Family Circle!!  Yipppeee!! 

http://www.dedeetsyshop.etsy.com/

Pops of Green For St. Pattys Day!

Hey All!  Happy St. Patricks Day!  I thought these rooms were a bit fitting for today with the little bits of green and all!  How about those green chairs!?  Love 'em!  Although I would much prefer them in flax linen! :)  It is another beautiful day today in Michigan!  Above average temps.- very springlike!  I am loving it!  I just wish I would be able to get outside more- I am stuck inside with my sewing machine! :)   I do hear it calling right now....... :) :)  Have  a great green day!

Love Restoration Hardware

While I was in a half sleep mode late last night, I stumbled across the Restoration Hardware website.  I looked at it awhile ago, but not in depth.  Whoa...it woke me up pretty fast!  I am IN LOVE, deep LOVE with their new line of linen furniture!  It is soooooo amazing (but so expensive)!!  If I had an extra couple hundred thousand dollars, I would refurnish my whole house from top to bottom in some of these favorites..... :)

Nooks, Crannies and Clever Storage

I love the clever storage in these pictures!  Isn't this one below just fabulous!?  I love everything from the shelves, the colors, the shade of light lilac...It is so great!  Such a nice makeshift entry!

I also love these shelves!!  Very clever!

And how about these cubbies!  Soooooo cool!  I want that piece so bad!  And the flowers on top?! Fabulous!  I also love the display of black and white prints on the green wall!  So pretty! 

This is going to be a busy week!  I have talked (begged, pleaded) to my husband to help me paint the living room this weekend!  Wahoo!  I am going to go white(ish)!!  I have NEVER painted a room white and I am going to give it a try!  I think it will freshen up the room!  Also....I think I am going to get my pair of chairs slipcovered (sooner than this summer!) I am going to call my lady and see what some prices would be.  I hope it isn't too high!  Wish me luck!

Happy Monday!

Ughh....

It is a dreary, wet, damp, day here in the thumb of Michigan!  Yuck!  We have had unseasonably warm temps all this week- near 60!  And now it is back near 40.  Booo!  It is friday (yea!) but I do have a funeral to go to (boo!).  My friends husbands, dad passed away after a VERy short battle with bladder cancer.  It happened really fast and was quite a shock.  Please say a prayer for their family. 

On a happier note, my cousin is getting married tomorrow!  Unfortunately, it is out of state and we aren't able to go. :(  We have so much going on right now and a trip to Vegas just wasn't fitting in!  Yup- they are getting married in Vegas!  My mom leaves in a few hours to go, so I hope she brings back lots of pictures!  I will leave you with this fabulous picture of this lovely bed. (which is where I would love to spend the day!)  I hope you all have fun filled activities for the weekend!! :)

**image via flickr

Blog Love... Lola B's

I have a huge blog crush... http://lolabboutique.blogspot.com/  I am sure many of you have already heard about her!  Her blog is fabulous and her style is right up my alley!  She is having a great giveaway right now!  All you have to do it leave a comment on her blog to get entered!  So stop on by her blog!  Click on the link above! You will become addicted as much as I am! 

Laundry Room Love

I am loving these laundry rooms!!  Unfortunately, my washer and dryer are in our cold, damp basement, with no hope of it having a nice cute laundry room.  I mean, I could, but I would much rather focus and spend money on rooms that get use!  Our basement is used for laundry, cat litter boxes and storage of out of season things strictly.  There is nothing pretty about 40 Rubbermaid totes!  But anywho...these make me long for a nice, cute laundry room...as must have when we build a house!

**first pic country home

second pic urban grace

New in Shop

New in my shop!  Custom Name Burlap Banner!  This looks great in a nursery/childs room...or hung on any wall!  I can make any name or any word.  Ex. LOVE, HOME, PARIS, TEA TIME, HOPE, EASTER, JOY..ect...  just to name a few!  Check out http://www.dedeetsyshop.etsy.com/ for more info!

Chalkboard Walls

**images via flickr

How great are these chalkboard walls?!  I never thought about putting one behind the bed!  What a great way to send a message in the morning, or for those important early morning reminders!  I think it is a wonderful idea!  I also love the chalkboards within the frames, hung on the chalkboard wall!  How clever!  I am thinking I def. want to do one of these walls in my kitchen once it is done painted!! (which may be a couple more weeks!)  ahhh...we are so busy and just haven't had the time to bang it out!  Soon, I hope!

Well, I have a bunch of pillows to make today and get shipped out!  I am sooooo behind right now, I have some upset customers.....sorry!!  I am getting them out as fast as I can!  Hope you all have a great friday!