Living, Loving and Creating on Lavender Hill.....

Latest on my hook.....

2012-02-25T16:40:00.000-05:00

I've been experimenting with crocheting rag rugs for a while now.

My first attempt was the one for the twinsies apartment:

That one is made up of old tights and stockings !

But, I really was itching to make a cottagey styled,

shabby chic'ish, old fashioned rag rug.

Wading through my stash of fabrics I remembered

the bolts of Waverly fabric I had left over from my

bedroom re-do after the twins were born - in 1990!

I schlepped them downstairs to the kitchen and started ripping.

I'll admit, it hurt to see that fabric torn,

but I knew I'd never use it for

anything else anyway... so why not ?

Using my ginormous crochet hook makes the hooking go fast:

And in a couple of hours I had a good start:

I've found some old lavender sheets in the stash too:

I'm aiming for a cute rug for the cozy sitting area in our room:

I'll update as it gets bigger !

Monster's Got a Blog ....

2012-02-17T15:50:00.000-05:00

This is my Monster:

He started a blog for an assignment at

where he's a Communications Major.

It's all about this place:

I bet he'd love it if you'd hop over and check it out:

La Esperanza: A New Hope

Valentines Day Coupons !

2012-02-13T13:05:00.000-05:00

I love this coupon craft I found on Delightful Order. The Last Minute Valentine Gifts post was chock full of ideas - just like all of her posts are !

I printed the coupons out on cardstock:

Then sliced them up using my nifty slicer thingy:

I punched a hole in the corner of each with my

handy dandy hole puncher:

Then slipped them onto a ring.

I know jute and natural fibers are all the rage these days,

but I'm more of a tulle and fluffy kind of crafter!

I left each coupon blank with just my signature...

I figured I'd let Mo fill in his monthly wish !!!

Happy Valentines Day !

Flurries in February....

2012-02-08T22:44:00.000-05:00

This has been one of the strangest winters I have ever remembered.

Temperatures have been in the 50's and even 60's for weeks on end.

We had a good sized snow storm in OCTOBER ....

It was actually heavy, set snow and we ended up

without power for nearly a week!

We had snow with leaves still on the trees on

Halloween!

Tonight we have some flurries and it is actually in the 30's !

Tomorrow they say:

Hi: 48°

Strangest winter ever on Lavender Hill !

2683

2012-02-06T01:09:00.002-05:00

29 Years....

Je T'aime

Hanging on by a thread.....

2012-01-27T19:10:00.001-05:00

an embroidery thread that is!

I've been craving some needlework lately.
I think it's the books I've been reading:

It's part of a Cozy Mystery series by:

Amanda Lee

While I always have something on my hook,

I used to be just as busy with

needlepoint, cross stitch and embroidery.

That is until these old eyeballs started to go down hill!

But the Cozy Mysteries got me thinking that maybe with

the magnifying light

the twins bought me last year I could stitch a bit again!

So, I pulled these out:

Yikes I have some mighty organizing to do!

This must be about 30 years worth of floss accumulation...

In my stitching stash I came across these

squares and finished one and started a second:

There are a bunch more in the pile!

I bought them before we finished our family

thinking maybe I'd have a girl someday....

Now I'm going to make them up into a quilt for:

ME !!!!

I'm linked up at:

Tuit Tuesday @

A Happy Valentine

Valentines LOVEliness !

2012-01-23T13:50:00.002-05:00

I LOVE Valentines day !

Not only do the colors match Lavender Hill,

BUT

We were married on February 6 and were on our

HONEYMOON

for Valentines Day !

New hooky banner for the LOVEly mantle:

Pink, Purple, White and Red -

doesn't get better than that !

The dresser in the living room got some

LOVEing too:

I got those blocks 20'ish years ago

on clearance for 99 cents !

And of course the Dining Room Table

got some floofing too:

I LOVE pulling out my decorations every year for each month...

It's like a trip down memory lane !

I linked up with:

Metamorphosis Monday @

Between Naps on the Porch

Happy Valentine's Tu'it Party !

TAG !

2012-01-18T14:33:00.000-05:00

My bestest internet buddy, the amazing JANIE, tagged me, so here we go...........

1. post the rules.

2. post eleven fun facts about yourself

3. answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create eleven new questions to ask the people you’ve tagged.

4. tag people and link them on your post

5. let them know you’ve tagged them

Eleven Fun Facts About ME:

1. I grew up in Wallkill, NY.

This was where the original

Woodstock Concert was supposed to be held.

I remember the concert and seeing all the

"hippies" walking through on their way!

2. My grandmother had nine children.

My mother and her older sister were born on the same day -

17 years apart.

My aunt/godmother was NOT the oldest and

my mother was NOT the youngest!

3. I am married to a twin.

He has twin sisters that are 3 years younger

(My MiL had 4 kids in 3 years!).

His grandmother had twin sisters.

I have twin boys.

I would love to have twin grandchildren someday.

4. I have long, red hair, spattered with tons of gray.

When I say long, I mean long - it grazes the top of my thighs.

5. I wear a braid down my back nearly every day.

I picture myself a bit like one of those "hippies"

from my childhood : D

6. My family owns a bread bakery.

My oldest son is the 4th generation baker.

It tickles me to no end to know this legacy is continuing.

I am a proud Mama.

7. In case you haven't noticed - I LOVE lavender!

True story:

My mother was sure she was having a boy

when she had me.

Out popped a girl so my amazing

godfather raced to the house and painted over the blue

nursery with pink paint and VOILA:

I had a lavender bedroom!

(must have been awfully cheap paint!)

my bedroom has been Lavender ever since.

8. I don't wear socks - even in the winter.

9. I HATE the heat.. I am a winter girl all the way.

10. I never liked Barbie - I thought she was a tramp.

I only played with baby dolls and my beloved doll house.

11. Much to my very women's lib mother's chagrin,

when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up

I always answered "a mommy!".

I have my master's degree and have never worked full time.

I was even a "stay at home" wife !

Questions for me from Janie:

1. Favorite chipmunk...Alvin, Simon, or Theodore?

The cute little one - Theodore I think?

2. Plastic tubs or cardboard boxes?

Plastic tubs - I think cardboard boxes are icky.

3. What's your best suggestion for a gag gift?

Hmmmm... never given one.

I think chocolate is the best gift of any kind.

4. Who is your favorite author?

Kathleen McGowan

5. Do you have a lucky number/letter?

FIVE, although I like three for the Trinity too.

6. What would your brother/sister say is your best quality?

N/A....

7. Do you paint your toenails in the winter?

Sometimes... but when I do paint them I like to do each

one a different color!

8. How old were you when you had your first date?

I married the only person I ever dated. I was 13 and he

was 15 when we went on our first "date". We went with our

moms (who were highschool buds) and his sisters to see

the original "Freaky Friday" movie with Jody Foster. We

sat together in a separate row and shared pop-corn!

9. If you were in the Miss USA contest what would be your talent?

Does crocheting count as a talent ?

10. Are a you a lover or a fighter?

Oooh, tough one. I am passionate about my beliefs and will

fight to the death for one of my boys. But I don't like conflict

or controversy.

11. Kardashians...friend or foe?

Who ?????

Now apparently I have to come up with 11 questions

for those I tag.... yikes!

1. Chocolate or Vanilla ?

2. What did you want to be when you grew up?

3. Who's your hero?

4. Who's your secret crush ?

5. Let nature take its course or cover the gray ?

[ this is a purely self serving question since I'm trying to decide]

6. Cats or dogs ?

7. Are you in your "forever" house?

8. Did you play sports or still do today?

9. Football or FUTBOL ?

10. What's your favorite hobby?

11. Do you have a dream place to visit someday?

Phewwww.... that was hard! Ok, so now, I have to TAG people:

Alisha @ Felt So Cute

Debbie @ Lake House

Kathy @ A Delightsome Life

Cass @ That Old House

Sharon @ Red Geranium Cottage

Elizabeth @ Indigo Impressions

I Got Some Magical Hooking Going On !

2012-01-12T00:04:00.000-05:00

I'm a HUGE Harry Potter fan.

I have read the books numerous times

AND

seen the movies over and over and over.

My motto:

Everyone needs a little magic in their lives!

I love to joke that my crochet hook is my "wand".

I flick one of these:

instead of one of these:

For Christmas my good friend Gina,

who just happens to be my Twin #2's Ballerina's mommy-

(did you follow that convoluted path?)

sent me this:

How cute is that ???

It's already hanging on my chair and filled with my latest project!

Thanks friend,

I LOVE it !

The House on Lavender Hill... in watercolor!

2012-01-05T00:42:00.002-05:00

Did you notice that new header picture up there ?

It was Mo's Christmas present from me!

Deb from

House Portraits by Deb

did an amazing job,

especially in trimming the Holly bush so we could see more of Lavender Hill!

Mo likes it so much he's committed to

giving it a MAJOR trim in the spring!

I especially love the touches of PINK...
My mother-in-law's wrought iron bench,
the flowers in the pots and
even the pinkish hues in the brick and stone work !

She framed it beautifully and even sent me a sweet set of

notecards featuring my humble Lavender Hill !

Mo hung it on the foyer staircase wall with the other

"housey" pictures in his collection.

Tinta painted the one in the white frame -

it was MY gift for Christmas '69!

I guess I loved houses even back then

because she painted it from a needlepoint

I'd done for her birthday when I was 7.

Deb has a great Facebook page:

make sure you click on over and "like" it...

Her profile picture is SPECTACULAR !

I'm linked to:

Delightfuly Inspiring Thursday

A Delightsome Life

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound

2012

2012-01-02T00:01:00.001-05:00

I've got skads of ideas for projects in the new year....

* Finish the cabana update

* Put together Monster's cave/lair/workshop

* Clean up the ~~dungeon~~ basement, paint and put in a new floor

* Put the guest room in order

* Finally paint the back porches

* re-do the driveway

* Get my Etsy shop some updates and some traffic !

* ORGANIZE everything that got put on the back burner these last five years

* ENTERTAIN again !

That's just a few of my resolutions and dreams for the fresh new year....
What are yours ?

2011-12-31T15:01:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year !

May 2012 bring

good health,

happiness and

pure joy

to all of your homes....

Merry Christmas .....

2011-12-23T21:33:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas

from all of us at

The House on
Lavender Hill...

What I'm tackling tonight..........

2011-12-17T18:17:00.000-05:00

These are some of the piles around Lavender Hill these days:

EVERYTHING was bought on line -

Even the yarn for the STINKERS !

(Which by the way are for sale in my shop !)

Tonight, I'm sorting and

If I get up the energy using some of this:

The old lady is in her usual spot...

"management" of course !

I downloaded these adorable tags at

MaryEnglebreit.com:

Tomorrow -

COOKIES !

December 15, 2011

2011-12-15T00:01:00.001-05:00

Four years ago today,

we learned that

MIRACLES

can come true,

when you

BELIEVE !

With love and prayers

We are grateful......

Please join us in

giving thanks

for the gift of life

and

in prayers for the donor's family,

as they are missing their loved one.

My babies' Birthday !

2011-12-11T20:34:00.000-05:00

J and J turned 21 today !

These were the children they said I couldn't have,

the ones I laid in bed for 33 weeks gestating and

the ones that were born 7 weeks early.

These were my Christmas Miracles of 1990.

J and J

Daughter in Law the Princess sitting on her brother in law's lap

and J#2 with his girlfriend the Ballerina.

Blowing out the candles !

My beautiful children !

Decking the Halls.......

2011-12-07T22:33:00.003-05:00

Last week Mo did bring me up all the Christmas stuff from the basement:

But, truth be told...

I got a bit over overwhelmed

with it all and only managed to put up my creche

for the first few days:

This Precious Moments Nativity

was the first thing I ever bought

for Christmas as young bride.

The price tag is still on the box:

$100.00

That was A LOT of money

in 1983 !

I have been plugging away at all the decorating this week....

Last night, J#2's Ballerina helped me.

We put on some Christmas music and

put up the tree, did the mantle and the dining room:

She hung the balls from the chandelier -

so pretty!

My momi bought us the Christmas Clock

for our first married Christmas.

It plays carols on the hour !

My bf, Mary bought me this gorgeous plate

in New Hope. It's from a store called

Celtic Iberia.....

that's me - Gallega !

Tomorrow, Monster and I are going to tackle

the purple tree and the Snow Babies

in the gym and kitchen.......

So I'll be back with pictures of that tomorrow...

I'm linked to :

Inspiring Thursday @

Delightful Order

Holiday House Tour @

Hooked On Houses

Fabulous Friday @

Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust

On and Off the Hook .........

2011-11-30T00:35:00.001-05:00

OFF the HOOK:

I finished my bff's birthday present last week:

ON the HOOK:

I'm working on an off white cable stitch stinker

for my sister for Christmas:

I'm thinking of adding off white and peachy yarn

tassels on both ends...............

Monster had his FOURTH annual cath yesterday...

he got a perfect ZERO rejection !

We're so thrilled at the miracle that is our Monster:

With that weight off my shoulders

I'm having Mo bring up the Christmas containers tomorrow...

Let the decking of the halls commence !

I've linked up to:

Show and Tell Friday @ Romantic Home

Happy Thanksgiving !

2011-11-24T01:18:00.000-05:00

[www.maryenglebreit.com]

All of us at

The House on Lavender Hill

WISH

all of you a

Very Blessed Thanksgiving !

Hooky Progress....

2011-11-15T20:44:00.000-05:00

I got a little more done on the latest stinker:

It has wide stripes of a dusty lavender

alternating with a beautiful purple cable stitch:

Every once in a while I'll throw in a few rows of

variegated with an orchid insert:

To match the little pillow of course:

Nothing like a cozy afternoon hooking

with this old lady by my feet:

Christmas Hooky'ing

2011-11-09T16:39:00.000-05:00

I made this little pillow for my bf's birthday:

(which just happens to be today!)

It's going to be filled with lavender mixed

in the pollifil so it will smell yummy on her bed !

So for Christmas I'm making her a coordinated stinker.

I've made her many in the past, but,

there are NEVER enough stinkers in a home, don't you agree ?

That's the corner of my purple plaid flannel shirt...

I match !

This scrap of fabric was my inspiration.

It is just about 50 years old and was the fabric in my NURSERY!

My love for all things lavender goes wayyyyy back:

I wish I still had the quilts too. My grandmother made them.

I do have the pillows and valances -

it's the fabric I used in our motorhome master bedroom.

But, I digress.....

I sent the J#2 and his ballerina on

a quest for yarn the other night.

Michael's was having a sale PLUS I had a coupon !

They came home with this:

PERFECT !

So I've spent some time this afternoon starting the stinker

AND

catching up on all the shows I missed when we didn't have internet !

Old Stockings ??????

2011-11-08T16:36:00.000-05:00

During our recent

~~disaster~~

~~power outage~~

stint as pioneers,

I dug out some ideas for projects I've been wanting to try.

I had stored this in my "crafts" folder:

Tutorial -- T Shirt Yarn @ Polka Dot Pineapple

And a big drawer full of old tights and stockings

from when I had a life. I dumped them out

on the kitchen table and started snipping:

Even my scissor is Lavender - see it up there ?

I loosely followed the tutorial I'd saved

and started hooking:

Pretty soon I'd come up with this:

The colors will look perfect in the twins bedroom:

I've got lots more to go.....

but, it's quick and easy and a great way to

clear out Lavender Hill's bulging drawers !

Where I've been.....

2011-11-05T14:22:00.000-04:00

We've been running on generator most of this week, here on

Lavender Hill.

The N'or Easter that slammed Northern Jersey

last weekend was a doozy!

Lavender Hill ended up with around 8 inches of snow -

HEAVY, WET, SNOW.

Limbs and trees came crashing down:

Power lines - LIVE ones split and ended up all over our property:

The electric box got ripped out of the side of the house:

Taking out our power and our cable (and INTERNET!)

Right now, we're borrowing WiFi from our NICE neighbors

(not to be confused with the HORRIBLE nieghbors!)

I've read 12 books since this started -

no computer or TV here puts Kindles on over time!

Monster has been reading non stop too:

I'll be back with some fun projects I've been doing -

See ya when the internet comes back to Lavender Hill ...

hopefully SOON !

Snow on Lavender Hill !

2011-10-29T12:24:00.000-04:00

The last time we had accumulating snow

in Northern Jersey, in October,

I was a senior in high school.

It was 1979 and the Sister's called for a "delayed opening" !

This morning I woke up to this:

Those are some big fat flurries and its starting to stick!

The weather folks are calling this a

N'or Easter......

4-7 inches over night and hopefully -

the sign of a snowy winter on

Lavender Hill !

Chalkboard Door Doodling !

2011-10-25T18:43:00.001-04:00

J#2's Ballerina has had fun with the elevator door !

We think it's adorable ...

Trixie is not impressed:

I'm linked to:

Show and Tell Friday @

The Romantic Home

Home and Family Friday @

Home is Where My Story Begins

Elevator Door Gone Chalkboard !

2011-10-23T22:07:00.001-04:00

I dreamt about it here:

chalk board inspiration

And now it's........

DONE - and I LOVE it !

I gave it three good coats:

And this morning I drew on it for the first time!

I love it so much I'm going to do the doors on the second and third floor too!

I figure the one on the second floor I can use for fun

because no one but Mo and I will see it...

Maybe love notes ?

And the twins door.....

messages for my babies of course !

I've linked to:

Metamorphosis Monday @

Between Naps on the Porch

Fabulous Friday Linky Party @

Faith, Trust and a Little Pixie Dust

A Little Foyer Fluffing:

2011-10-23T13:25:00.000-04:00

I rearranged a bit on the foyer bench:

The quilted Jack-0-Lantern was Matthew's

trick-or-treat bucket when he was a baby.

Love the purple and orange:

That's a Halloween Beanie Bear

hanging out with the subway art and some pillows.

I'll be back in a bit for the elevator door

gone chalkboard reveal for

Metamorphosis Monday !

Jumping on the Chalkboard Wagon.....

2011-10-18T20:16:00.000-04:00

I've been seeing lots of awesome

chalkboard projects

all over the place for quite a while now.

I think the idea is adorable and

would have definitely done something like this in the

basement playroom when the boys were little.

We had whiteboards in the classroom and

they LOVED drawing on them!

I found a bunch of cute ideas on Pinterest:

Today, Mo picked me up a couple of boxes of this:

And tomorrow I'm going to attempt to paint the

elevator door in the gym !

I found this:

TUTORIAL

on how to make your own chalk board paint

At "The CSI Project"

using only :

It looks reallllly easy:

And the results were nifty!

I may have to try this -

after I tackle the ready made stuff

for starters.......

I'll be back with the results !

Something Different from the Hook !

2011-10-13T23:31:00.000-04:00

I was flipping through the channels in the kitchen yesterday while

getting the kitchen cleaned up and came across this:

"Knit and Crochet Today "

On Create TV... who knew there was such a channel

or for that matter - such a show ? I sure didn't !

But it inspired me to try something completely different:

I put this very cute antique heart button on it as a closure:

Tomorrow I'm pulling out some red calico

and making a lining !

I'm linked to:

Show and Tell Friday @

Romantic Home

TV HOUSE TUESDAY..... Another Blast From the Past!

2011-10-11T00:01:00.001-04:00

My husband has had a not so secret

crush on MTM since

The Dick Van Dyke Show !

~~I am not that old so,~~

I remember the iconic

The Mary Tyler Moore Show !

Scrappy, single girl,

Mary Richards -

with the cute apartment in an even

cuter Victorian House in Minneapolis:

Mary had a studio apartment.

A really nice studio - complete with french doors

that lead out to the balcony:

The space was multi tiered:

Remember her "M" ?

When I put an "R" in our hall way,

Mo reminded me that ~~his girlfriend,~~

Mary Richards had the idea first !

There were nifty built in book cases

that surrounded the "sunken" living room".

There was also the cutest wood stove in the corner:

With exposed brick !

When we bought Lavender Hill,

there was a wood stove in the family room and

Mo said it was "Just like Mary Richard's!"

Sensing a theme here ?

Since there wasn't a separate bedroom,

Mary slept on a pull out couch:

And had a huge walk in closet through which she

accessed the bathroom - or so we assumed !

The kitchen was adorable!

It had enough room for two and a

stained glass pull down door to separate it from the

dining area:

When I did a Google Images Search

I found a blueprint for the apartment:

I also came across

Rhoda's Bohemian

attic pad:

The Mary Tyler Moore show was groovy...

Mary Richards was groovy.....

But, Rhoda - she was REALLY groovy !

More Porch Fallification...........

2011-10-06T14:19:00.001-04:00

Three little ghosts:

They're oldies but goodies from Dept. 56 and actually light up!

That's MY old pumpkin from trick or treating as a little girl !

I snuggled under a quilt out here yesterday afternoon -

with my Kindle of course.

The Halloween flag has THREE pumpkins...

That's the magic number here on

Lavender Hill...

3 babies = 3 magical miracles

So, I always look for things in threes !

I'm linked to:

Show and Tell Friday @

Romantic Home

Mum's the Word .........

2011-10-05T17:06:00.000-04:00

TV HOUSE TUESDAY..... A Blast From the Past!

2011-10-04T00:01:00.000-04:00

Here it is by popular demand:

The BRADY BUNCH House:

Growing up in the '60's and '70's this was THE show to watch.

It was on ABC, Friday nights, 8pm.

The Partridge Family was on at 8:30 - a pre-teen power hour!

The house is way too modern for my taste, but,

I'll admit seeing the pictures I found on Google Images

took me back to my childhood home on Orange Lake.

The blueprints:

Can you believe someone actually made these!

The iconic staircase:

"Mom said, don't play ball in the house!"

The living room :

Check out that avocado green couch -

my mother had one eerily similar !

And the dining room:

Mr. Brady's den-

which for one episode was Greg's Groovy Room:

The Kitchen:

Oh yeah.... avocado green and burnt orange... just like home:

Alice's bedroom was right behind the kitchen -

through the "service porch":

[ I NEED an "Alice" ]

The master bedroom:

The never seen bathroom and closets were behind the bed.

The girls room:

All fluffy and pink:

Right through the connecting jack and jill bathroom was

the boys room:

It had a wooden soldier motif in red, white and blue...

and bunk beds. Until Greg moved out.

To the much desired attic:

The back yard:

So, there you go - a house from my childhood and

the show that defined my television viewing !

All my friends had a crush on Greg Brady.

Not me -

I don't care for the clean cut look...

I was more the

David Cassidy AKA

Keith Partridge

type ......

How about you ?

BABY BOO PUMPKINS !

2011-10-02T17:19:00.001-04:00

Mo bought me home a mesh bag of little white pumpkins.

The tag said:

"BABY BOO PUMPKINS" !

Is that not the cutest name you've ever heard ?

I put them on a porcelain tiered server for now....

But I may need to paint some faces on them eventually !

And probably put them on a dark, cranberry glass dish...

you know to show off their adorable - boooooooo - ness !

I'm linked to:

Metamorphosis Monday @
Between Naps on the Porch

Today's Project......

2011-09-30T22:16:00.000-04:00

A PINK Hooky Pillow:

I was going to make a variegated and cranberry ruffle,

but I didn't like it so I ripped it out and stuck to:

PINK

I tacked on another vintage button from the

BUTTON BOX !

LOVE it !

Happy PINK Saturday everyone !

I'm linked to:   PINK SATURDAY @
   How Sweet the Sound

What I'm working on...........

2011-09-29T00:01:00.006-04:00

New hooky pillow in the works:

UPDATE:

Done:

Complete with an antique button from Mommy's button box:

I'm linked to:

Delightfully Inspiring Thursday Party @

Delightful Order

Shopping Therapy Thursday @

A Sort of Fairy Tale

Show and Tell Friday @

Romantic Home

Fabulous Friday @

Faith, Trust & Pixie Dust

Halloween Subway Art

2011-09-28T15:21:00.000-04:00

Subway art has been floating around Blog Land for a while now. It's been created and re-created in different versions, themes and color schemes. I found this one on Google Images:

Of course the PURPLE called to me!

I printed it out on orange cardstock:

And layered it on crinkly butcher paper:

It was a freebie since I had the cardstock,

butcher paper and old frame.

Not sure where it's going to end up,

but I thought it was a fun little project!

TV House Tuesday....Full House

2011-09-27T00:01:00.000-04:00

Remember "Full House" ?

It was the cornerstone of ABC's Friday Night lineup in the 90's

and my kids loved it.

I loved the house!

It didn't hurt that it was a San Francisco Painted lady:

While Googling for pictures of this now classic sitcom's house,

I learned that tourists search for this iconic street of

Victorian Row Houses....

And it's an enormously popular spot to have one's picture taken!

Not sure I'd be too happy to live on that block.

The majority of the show took place in the

cozy living room, with the perfect stairway for

great entrances and a balcony hallway for those

overlooking the scene shots:

Typical late 80's/ early '90's decor.

Scrubbed Pine, country blue plaid and wood panelling:

The kitchen was also typical of the era with it's

off white formica and bone appliances !

I actually copied the idea of hanging my

kids artwork on the back of the island:

The size of the house definitely did not match up to the number

of bedrooms the Tanner's had !

In classic TV fashion, the architecture stretched to accommodate

and they had four huge bedrooms,

and finished basement.

Uncle Jesse and Aunt Becky even squeezed

in a two bedroom apartment in the attic!

I even loved the back porch that faced the yard:

The Full House sitcom and the Tanner's house

is pure nostalgia for me. It represents the

decorating style, fashion and music of the years

when I had a FULL HOUSE

and was raising my own young family !

Added some FUN to my ETSY SHOP !

2011-09-22T17:05:00.002-04:00

STINKERS:

BANNERS

And a BOO - ti - ful PILLOW:

And I've just started a new

GRANNY STINKER

in sweet BLUE and

FLUFFY CHOCOLATE BROWN:

Click on the LINKY on the top left to

CHECK OUT the NEW GOODIES !

I'm Linked up:

Shopping Therapy Thursday @

A Sort of Fairy Tale

Show and Tell Friday @

Romantic Home

TV House Tuesday....Good Luck Charlie

2011-09-20T00:01:00.001-04:00

Yes, I watch the Disney Channel.
No, I do not have small children.

Ok - now that we've got my maturity level covered....
on to Good Luck Charlie !

The premise of the sitcom revolves around a young family with three teen agers, nurse mom and exterminator dad. And absolutely scrumptious, two year old Charlie !

The show is set in Denver and the house is ADORABLE !
Young, full of color, energy and unexpected fun details.

The exterior:

The porch has a funky park bench that has a mess of

chippy paint scrubbed off:

The living room is a combination of teals and soft greens:

I love the crisp white built-ins and the green painted stairs.

I'd worry the stairs wouldn't hold up to much traffic in real life:

Stacked stone fireplace.... drool:

The kitchen has lots of the same greens

with a pop of bright blue, a rustic table used as an island

and the coolest chalkboard refrigerator:

I wish I could have found a better shot of the vintage stove:

The Duncan kids have a fun basement playroom.

Mama Duncan is often seen doing the laundry down there too:

More chalkboard paint on the walls down there:

Although not very practical, the rope railing is a fun look:

Behind those humongous sliding barn doors

(in delicious aquamarine) is oldest daughter

Teddy's bedroom:

The lavender walls look so sweet with the pops of

bright pink, yellow and the signature teal.

What teenage girl wouldn't love a lair like this,

complete with a groovy platform for her bed :

I'm not sure why this house is so appealing to me,

after all it's absolutely NOTHING like Lavender Hill...

But it's just so much fun and creative -

its become another show to watch....

just for the house !

Apparently I'm not the only one obsessed with the

Good Luck Charlie House -

All these pictures and tons more came up with a simple

Google Images search !!!!

My Sanctuary

2011-09-18T17:29:00.002-04:00

My little tiny craftroom/office/computer room/sewing room is my favorite room in the house. It's where I feel safe and cozy. In my darkest days, those awful days when my boy was given no chance of survival, this where I escaped. This where surrounded by my fabrics, yarns and books, I found solace. It was on this computer key board that I researched and investigated how to save our Monster. Now-a-days, this is the room I find the greatest pleasure and stress relief. This is where I create my stinkers, watch my movies, do crafts and sewing and play on my computer. This is my sanctuary.....

That little frame on the shelf is a home made birthday card.

From my Sweet 16.

It has dried pansies - purple ones.

A few months ago I was given Tinta and Papa's dining room set, C 1937. It's perfect for this room !
The table gives me plenty of space to lay out a project and the breakfront not only provides storage but offers glass enclosed display area for my dollies and other goodies.

Originally this room was the twins nursery.

I took the closet doors off and put cabinets in the closet.

This side has a cabinet from our bakery...

These are the display shelves we give our customers.

This one got chipped during delivery and

fits perfectly in the space !

I use it to store scrapbook paper and

gift wrapping stuff, as well as cutters and pencils.

The top is a great space for wrapping and also holds

my sticker album and scrapping kits.

I hung some of my ribbons and little buckets with

odds and ends from the old clothing rod:

This side holds a set of plastic drawer units with a few shelves

in the middle. I have my Sissix cutter, a tool drawer and tons of

crafty goodies on top. But there's still plenty of room to lay

out a project or two. I keep my Disney DVDs on the shelf above.

The drawers and shelves hold a myriad of supplies, from ribbons to

craft paints, brushes and even a little spot to hang my garbage !

My bulletin board has a couple of special pictures -

Papa and Tinta's and one of Mommy and I when I was 21

and had just had my thyroid removed -

I even still have the bandages on my neck !

This is my 1950's Singer Sewing machine.

I'll snap some pics next time I open it up. The cabinet has lots of

drawers, a thread holder bin and even a place for patterns.

My mother bought it right after she got married and I learned to

sew on it as a little girl:

The right side wall is end to end shelves. They used to hold not only

our favorite fiction, but the gazillion texts and sources I used for homeschooling.

Now, it's filled with my favorites novels

( Kindle holds ALL the rest !),

yarn, my printer, decorating and craft books, patterns,

photo albums and stinkers. Oh and on the very top are my

vintage Bobbsey Twins books.

The stacked drawers hold even more crafting bits and pieces.

My old lady lamp has a built in magnifier ...

the twinsies bought it for me for Christmas and

it has been a God send for these old eyeballs !

I even have a pouf for Trixie when to lay on when she

graces me with her presence.

She's usually hanging on the third floor with the J's.

I call it her throne:

My sweet old lady, Bisquit

has a pillow to lay on too.

She's ALWAYS with me !

I have seen some of the phenomenal craft rooms on line.

Mine can't compare, I know.

But, I truly love this room. I love being surrounded by my things.

I love having a spot where I am comforted and cozy

and can let my mind go.

I always thought I'd gut the space one day and

put in all kinds of fancy schmancy accoutrements.

But this hodge podge is mine and I love it !

I'm linked to: Metamorphosis Monday @
Between Naps on the Porch

Experimenting with a little hooky pillow

2011-09-17T20:12:00.000-04:00

I was bored yesterday and started fiddling around with the idea of making hooky pillows to go with the stinkers. I came up with this:

I just used scraps that were left over from my scrappy stinker:

It's living on the couch in the living room right now.

Snuggled up to Big Sister Scrappy Stinker:

I think I'll be adding them to the shop !

Fast to make and so soft and snuggly =

win, win !

TV House Tuesday....Charmed

2011-09-13T00:19:00.005-04:00

All my life I have been fascinated with
houses, homes and decorating.
I was that weird kid that watched a show -
for the decor and architecture.

I've decided to start a little "series" of TV Houses.... on Tuesdays!

*******************

I've been doing lots of hooking lately and

the best way to hook is while watching a movie or tv show !

Thanks to Netflix, I've gotten hooked

(pun intended, because I'm silly like that)

on a few oldies but goodies.

Right now I'm watching "Charmed".

Which, for those of you who, like myself had never seen it,

is about three young women who find out they are good witches.

Cute story lines so far (I'm only still on the first season),

but the real draw for me is the HOUSE !

It's a deliciously Victorian,

Mauve masterpiece....

Complete with Gingerbread Trim !

The show takes place in San Francisco and

nearly all the homes featured are

just BEAUTIFUL!

I found a bunch of pictures on Google Images of the inside too:

The stained glass windows...

The moulding and trim....

the conservatory....

I'm telling you I could almost watch the show without the volume !

Some Internet Explorations !

2011-09-12T00:01:00.002-04:00

I finally got up the nerve to open my own ETSY SHOP:

Made With Love:

On Lavender Hill

I even put a little Linky Dinky Thingy

over there >>>>>>>>>>>>

I have a bunch of STINKERS for sale:

AND

I'm going to be putting up

all sorts of sweet

HOOKY BANNERS:

I'm old and not as savvy as the young'ins with this computer stuff.

It literally took me ALL day to figure out how to do any of it !

In other Internet News....

[see how official I made that sound ?]

I have a Face Book Page,

well, actually TWO of them:

and

The House on Lavender Hill

There's a couple of cool buttons
over there >>>>>>>>>

Friend me, like Lavender Hill, do BOTH !

I've linked my little computer know-how metamorphosis to:

Metamorphosis Monday@
Between Naps on the Porch

I know that today is Pink Saturday, but I need to remember..................

2011-09-10T14:12:00.001-04:00

This is a repost from last year.
But I don't have better words in me to describe the worst day in our recent history...
to describe the horror that we all felt...
to describe the grief that we still feel.

Ten years.
Ten years of sadness.
Ten years of uneasiness.
Ten years of many missing their loved ones.

This date will forever be engrained in my heart and in my mind....
Because I don't ever want to forget.....

I hope everyone takes the time to remember....
not just on 9/11....
but everyday....

God Bless America and may we live in Peace.......

****************************************************************

I remember that stunning September morning with gorgeous blue sky and puffy white clouds. The kids were excited because the week long Church carnival that Mo and I had run for many years, would be set up that afternoon and the rides were already arriving. Perfect.

I remember watching the news while I was getting dressed. I waiting to call my bf Mary who was going through chemo and had an appointment down-town that morning. I remember waking her up and simultaneously watching the first plane hit the towers. And at the moment we knew that having cancer had saved her life - her office was gone.

I remember wondering what the hell was going on and then the next plane went in and I didn't have to wonder anymore. I knew that we would never be the same again because now we were a country that had been attacked and people were jumping out of windows on live television.

I remember the incredible fear I felt because my Mo was delivering bread at the Empire State Building that morning and "they" were speculating that building could be next. I didn't know where he was and I wanted him home. He called me, but we lost service as he was paying the toll to cross the GWB.

I remember hearing about the Pentagon on the little TV in the kitchen. The painter was there and when they made the announcement he dropped his paint brush and began to cry, explaining that his son worked in the Pentagon.

I remember talk of several planes "missing" and then one went down in Pennsylvania.

I remember thinking of my Mommy, who was in Spain and I knew she'd be worrying, but the phones didn't work and I couldn't call her. And of my Aunt who worked in the WTC and of the many friends we knew who worked there too.

I remember walking the kids down to Church and sitting in the Rectory with our beloved Father Ashley, trying to digest what was happening on the television..... and seeing them carry his best friend and frequent visitor to our Parish, Father Judge, on a chair, lifeless and covered in soot, live on ABC news.

I remember the eerie silence that "filled" the air, pierced by the occasional siren heading toward the GWB.

I remember helping to cook up all the food from the now cancelled carnival and using our bakery trucks to deliver it to the volunteers at Ground Zero.

I remember sitting in Mass a few days later and all the people who stood up when Father Ashley asked who lost someone .... they just kept standing up and calling out names. Friends, neighbors, students.... so many names ...

I remember the stench that filled the air during the following weeks - a burning, rotted, horrific stench that I never want to smell again. And of sitting in the back yard trying not to think of what I knew was the cause of that stench, when the phone rang and I could hear my Mommy screaming " Where is Peter ?????", because she still didn't know that Mo had gotten home safe - nearly a week before.

I remember seeing all the flags waving and the patriotic upswing and being so sad that this is what it had taken for "us" to remember that America had always been "beautiful".

And now, it's nine years later. Tomorrow morning our local news station will broadcast live the ceremony from Ground Zero and the names being read.

I remember.... I always will...... Will you ?

May God Bless us ALL.... so that we never do forget.

Linked to: Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound.

Cozy'ing Up the Bedroom ......

2011-09-07T23:04:00.000-04:00

We (ok, Mo and J #2, really) brought the loveseat back

from the cabana since I'm changing things around in there.

It went back into the sitting room area of my bedroom.

I'm all ready for the cooler weather,

my Kindle and a cozy afternoon !

I LOVE Old Things..

2011-09-06T14:13:00.001-04:00

I seriously LOVE old things (and not just my Mo!).....

I love things with history....

I love things that other hands have touched and lived with.

BUT, I don't like random old things -

they have to be a part of MY history.

[ Self- centered much ? ]

Here's the thing: I love to surround myself with the things that belonged to those I loved,

so that their energy, their essence stays with me...

weird I know, but I need to FEEL things.

This old frame held my mother's wedding picture.

When Mommy sold our house up in NY, she asked me if I wanted it and

of course I said "YES!".

For many years it's hung in my foyer, but when we did the reno,

someone knocked into it and the glass broke.

I stashed it with the other frames I have in my craftroom,

just waiting for the right idea:

The other night (while watching True Blood!),

I brushed on some dark teal craft paint:

I watch most of my shows online -

so there's the keyboard in the background !

The frame is solid and HEAVY.

Mo weighed it and it's over 30 pounds !!!

So to hang it safely when we can't find a stud - I used this:

These little wonders are a cinch to use and really hold !

I centered one of Tinta's hand embroidered doilies:

We think these were from her hope chest -

Circa 1930.

I hung it on the wall in my bathroom.

Something special to gaze upon when I'm soaking !

I'm linked to:
Show & Tell Friday @
Romantic Home

My September Mantle

2011-09-04T18:38:00.000-04:00

Still Fallificationizing around here.....

like how I just made up my own word ?

The living room got some love:

A new hooky banner

made in a few soft September colors:

And a couple of ceramic pumpkins with

a little button scarecrow hanging out:

I love this huge basket !

It was part of a CHOCOLATE gift basket

Mo got from a vendor last Christmas !

I stashed my velvet pumpkins in it:

Slowly but surely ....

I'm completely ignoring the disgusting heat and humidity

that has engulfed Northern Jersey.

It's September - the calendar says so !

I've linked to:

Metamorphosis Monday @

Between Naps on the Porch

Let the FALL-ification Begin !

2011-09-02T18:07:00.002-04:00

September has always been the start of my favorite time of year.

Although not officially FALL, it's close enough !

I loved school as a child and

loved homeschooling my kids as a mom, so,

September heralded the best of times -

combined with a gentle cool down to boot !

To celebrate I did a bit of

FALL-IFICATION

on the porch:

Mommy's trike got surrounded by a few cute friends !

That trike is from the early 1900's -

it was my Tinta's, my Mommy's, then mine !

And it never fails that Matt Matt rides it each and every

time he spots it on his visits - crazy kid !

I brought out the fall pillows and a fleece throw for the swing.

Great place to sit with my Kindle and some tea !

Finally, I added a little hooky banner love to the railing.

Almost time to switch out the pots and put out some MUMS !

Have a wonderful weekend !

I've linked to:

Michelle's Fabulous Friday Linky Party @

Faith, Trust & a Little Pixie Dust

Show and Tell Friday @

The Romantic Home

How Cool is this ??????

2011-08-30T13:23:00.000-04:00

My sweet friend, Michelle,

Isn't she adorable ?

She has a zillion gorgeous kids AND is a granny!

Can you imagine ?

I think she's lyin' ... she looks wayyyy to young for that !

She has the cutest blog:

Faith, Trust, & A Little Pixie Dust

She recently nominated me

for this very cool award:

The rules state I must share 7 things about myself:

1. I have the most amazing sons on Earth

2. I am blessed to have stayed home with those amazing boys and homeschooled them

3. My braid reaches my tush

4. Living in a Lavender House means I never even have to give out my address to the pizza guy -

I just say "the lavender house !" and he knows.

5. I am NOT a morning person - midnight is the perfect time to start a project

6. I'm usually up 'til 4 AM reading - I read an average of one book a night

7. The House on Lavender Hill will forever be a work in progress because

I have more ideas than I do money and time !

I'd like to pass on this nifty award

to a few of MY favorite bloggers :

Janie Fox Talks

Janie is another HYSTERICAL, CREATIVE and WONDERFUL mommy and grandma !

Her gorgeous daughters all blog too and these ladies are such an inspiration and

just plain ol' FUN !

Red Geranium Cottage

Sharon's spot in Blog Land is amazing ! I drool over her fabulous quilting and stitching talents. Her adventures with Hunka are great fun and her home is an awesome showcase of her creativity and whimsy !

Felt So Cute

I recently discovered this sweet blog and I'm hooked ! Alisha and her Cuties are full of fun and adventure... and this mommy's love for her family is proudly displayed in each every post. What a great family and a refreshing spot to visit !

Thanks again, Michelle !

I'm thrilled to pass on the love !!!

Irene whooooo ?????

2011-08-28T13:31:00.001-04:00

This weekend in North Jersey was one of hype, 24 hour "storm" coverage on television and rain, lots and lots and lots of rain. Irene or her remnants really brought lots of water and some wind. I've heard that the shores got hit pretty bad,

but thankfully up here it was a big fat nothing !

It's still a bit breezy, but the sun

is working her way out this afternoon.

The view off my bedroom porch:

Just a few small branches and leaves scattered.

I went outside and checked it all out:

My August blooming Plaintain Hostas are looking good:

Te hot tub is overflowing and looking a little green around the gills !

All in all we were very lucky - Irene was a polite guest here on Lavender Hill

I'll admit, it's been a weird week -

one of Earthquakes and Hurricanes in Northern Jersey !

I'm linked to:

Metamorphosis Monday @

Between Naps on the Porch

Living, Loving and Creating on Lavender Hill.....

Latest on my hook.....

Monster's Got a Blog ....

Valentines Day Coupons !

Flurries in February....

2*6*83

Hanging on by a thread.....

Valentines LOVEliness !

TAG !

I Got Some Magical Hooking Going On !

The House on Lavender Hill... in watercolor!

2012

Merry Christmas .....

What I'm tackling tonight..........

December 15, 2011

My babies' Birthday !

Decking the Halls.......

On and Off the Hook .........

Happy Thanksgiving !

Hooky Progress....

Christmas Hooky'ing

Old Stockings ??????

Where I've been.....

Snow on Lavender Hill !

Chalkboard Door Doodling !

Elevator Door Gone Chalkboard !

A Little Foyer Fluffing:

Jumping on the Chalkboard Wagon.....

Something Different from the Hook !

TV HOUSE TUESDAY..... Another Blast From the Past!

More Porch Fallification...........

Mum's the Word .........

TV HOUSE TUESDAY..... A Blast From the Past!

BABY BOO PUMPKINS !

Today's Project......

What I'm working on...........

Halloween Subway Art

TV House Tuesday....Full House

Added some FUN to my ETSY SHOP !

TV House Tuesday....Good Luck Charlie

My Sanctuary

Experimenting with a little hooky pillow

TV House Tuesday....Charmed

Some Internet Explorations !

I know that today is Pink Saturday, but I need to remember..................

Cozy'ing Up the Bedroom ......

I LOVE Old Things..

My September Mantle

Let the FALL-ification Begin !

How Cool is this ??????

Irene whooooo ?????

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