Easter in Tuscany - come join me.

I've got the destination vacation bug in me since we went to Paris for Thanksgiving!
I came across this wonderful farmhouse in Tuscany that is available over Easter!
Come dream a little with me.....

You can book the whole farm for 4 nights at your choice at a price of 460 Euros.  Which is equivalent to approximately $700.
Services included:
Welcome basket
Breakfast basket on Easter
Bed linen and towels
Heating for Villa 
Firewood.
 
Look at the green grass and the beautifully shaped trees! 
I wonder if it looks like this during this time of year?
This view is breathtaking.
View of the castle next door.
Love the path that leads to the pool.  What a great shape too.
I wonder who has walked this path?  Wouldn't you love to know who has lived here?
Peaceful gardens.  Great lawn for kids to do cartwheels.
Such character.  I would pull the chairs up closer to the fire and I'd be in heaven.
 I wonder if it's cold? 
 I usually love color on the walls but this white stucco is so clean and refreshing.  It also showcases the woodwork and tile on the stairs. 
I'd have so much fun furnishing this farmhouse. 
First thing to go would be the PINK love seat and green pillows.
Oh, this fireplace mantel could be so much fun to decorate.
Love this wine cellar. The stonework on the floor is beautiful. 
The bell on the wall is so quaint.  We use to have one at our previous house but left it hanging on the front patio.
I wonder if this bell is ever used? Who has it invited in for dinner?
Isn't the built in bench and the wooden bench so fun?
I wonder what is in the little cubbie hole?
The above image shows the external access to one of two bedrooms. This room is facing the garden surrounded by a large area of forest green Mediterranean. The picture shows the large glass window that separates the room from outside, is not visible because it was deliberately left open.
Beautiful brick work.  This is what all the faux artists try to copy in our "Tuscan" houses that we build here in the US.

Living room with such a beautiful view.  Can you just imagine this at night with the fireplace going?
The Lavendar on the table is probably fresh from the garden.
This rustic farm table is very similar to the one I use in my office as my desk.
Thanks for dreaming with me!
Ruthie

Bob the Builder is in the house

Progress has started on our back patio.  Yippee!!
Our gazebo has been started.
Here are a few sneak peaks.

Patio furniture has been put away and is getting ready to be refurbished by me and  "Miniwax" of course!
All 5 posts are up!
Deck has been put back together.
I like the view of the good looking guy that is building my gazebo.  Something about men and their tools. Luckily he's my husband or I'd be in trouble.
I'm shopping for flowers for the flower pots
 and can't wait to bring things back to life after the winter.
Goodbye old Gazebo, you gave us much pleasure!
Happy Weekend All!

Pillows can be the artwork in any room

I found this embroidered pillow about 6 months ago in a thrift store and thought it looked like it had lots of potential. I love the beautiful colors and the black background.  The zipper was broken and the tassels around the pillow were all tattered and abused but I knew I could revive it's soul.
I brought it home, cut the tassels off, found some left over fabric from some antique chairs that I had reupholstered and called my wonderful friend Kelly who sews. 
She put the pillow together for me and I think it turned out beautiful, especially since it is two sided now.  Thank you Kelly for doing this for me and for giving me the gift of your time!  The best gift ever.
Here are the chairs I had reupholstered
I love the distressed finish on them.  They have a bench that matches.
Antique Kilm Pillow - made from a rug
Pillows are such a great way to add a punch of color to any room.  I tend to love monochromatic fabrics and designs on my upholstery pieces.  This allows you to then add layers of colors with the pillows, lamps and accessories. 
Adding this Kilm pillow to the above antique bench would make it really come alive, don't you think?
Maybe even two pillows.
For a TOTALLY different look, something like these pillows would be nice on the bench too!  It would create more of a casual feel.  See how a pillow immediately creates the style!  The above burlap pillows are very popular this season as well.  I love them!
I added this decorative stencil to these chocolate brown pillows and it made them have personality.
My daughter's had the cutest denim bags when they went to pre-school that they carried every day.  When they started getting old and tattered, I had the bags made into pillows for their beds.  I think they are beautiful and now there is a memory attached to the pillow!  Very sentimental!
These embroidered pillows are one of my favorites that I've had made.  I found the embroideries at an antique mall and loved them as soon as I saw them.  I had them made into these beautiful pillows and now they speak volumes to any of my guests when they come stay. 

One of my lifelong friends gave me this one and I adore it!  So true!
Someone spent hours on these masterpieces.  The colors are stunning.
This pillow was plane Jane until I added this fur blue fox broach that was on a coat.  It adds so much pizazz now and is one of my favorite pillows because of the addition.  I'm constantly on the look out for broaches to add to pillows.
This is one that I found this week.  I adore the bead work and the mink fur!  I wore it on one of my jackets this week and got lots of compliments.  Wouldn't this be beautiful on a pillow.  Now I just need to find the pillow.  I know it's out there somewhere with my name on it.  I'll post it when I find it so you can see how small things like this can add so much character.
I have this "Springbok" skin that I brought back for my husband on my last visit to Africa.  I'm not too crazy about seeing the animal shape so I'm having it made into a pillow.
This is what it should look like when it's finished.
I wish I could have it dyed red, I love this one!  Maybe I still could?
This embroidery use to be a pillow.  My husband's grandmother made it.  I loved it and had it framed.  Sorry for the glare!
There are all kinds of options out there for pillows.  These are from Ikea  and they just zip right over your existing couch pillows.  What a great way to add a stylish update to a room without having to change out the whole couch.  I added the above pattern to my kids sofa upstairs.  Made it look more fun!
Pottery Barn has these wonderful bird pillows.  Aren't they perfect for changing things up for Spring?  Bird fabric seems to be all the rage this season.  I love how they have displayed these white pillows with such a great rattan headboard, adding so much texture and the feel of the outdoors.
Here are a few from Wisteria that I've fallen in love with!
Beautiful Spring colors.
Blue's are making a big comeback this season too!

Adding leather makes a room so fantastic!!!!  I love everything about leather!  Perfect for adding a masculine feel to any room.  Also adding leather pillows to a formal room can really make it feel more comfortalbe and less stiff.  These are found at Restoration Hardware

Round pillows do wonders too.  Find different shapes that add some style and interest.
Don't get STUCK with square!
I ALWAYS, ALWAYS buy pillows that are down filled.  They are so much more comfortable to lean against and look so much softer and classier.
It's time to make some simple changes for a big impact.
See what "you" can do with pillows.
Ruthie
One more thing......Don't you think I NEED these pillows with the key!!  Wow, this has inspired me....maybe I need to stencil a vintage key next.
Participating in Metamorphis Monday

13 is a good number!

I can't believe that my oldest daughter is turning 13 this week!
It's a bittersweet feeling.  Can I freeze her right now?
I'm planning a party for her and am trying to figure out what might be fun for these 8 girls to do at the party.
Here are some thoughts.
My mom found these wonderful forks.  Each one has candle in it.  Aren't they adorable?
Won't the kids go crazy over these?  Thanks mom!
So much fun for each girl to get their piece of cake and then light the candles for each to blow out!
Go here to see their website.
This is a wonderful sparkly bracelet that I've used as a napkin ring.  The leopard scarf they can take home.
My read for Spring Break!
I used a 12"X12" cork board as the place mat. Wouldn't it be fun to take pictures during the party and let the kids print their pictures and pin them to the cork board. They can then take them home. Each cork board has a sticky on the back so they can hang them in their bedroom.

Have a great week.

Hotel Avalon Baccara, Cancun Paradise

I love quaint small hotels that have character.  I've had the below hotel on my list to visit and haven't heard a bad review about it.  The hotel use to be an estate and they sold it and made it into a hotel.  Looks so intimate, relaxing and full of inspiration for someone like me!
Two doors down from the Governor’s Mansion and a world away from everything else, the Avalon Baccara Cancun is like nothing you’ve ever experienced. Intimate, exclusive and totally private, this beachfront, boutique resort is truly Cancun at its finest.
These urns are the back of a fountain in the pool.
Perfect!
Love the palm trees.  Aren't these vibrant colors fabulous?  So cheery and fun!
Beautiful mosaic tile work in the pool.  I wonder if I could make a stucco platform for my chairs around my pool.  I can smell the tropical sun tan oil already.  Can somebody please bring me a rolled up fresh crisp white towel to my cabana while I sit sunbathing by my pool?  I love hotel towels.
Look how close you are to the beach.  A hop, skip and a jump!  I don't think this is just the photography?
Brunch calling my name here, Ruthie....Ruthie.....  Love the bamboo ceiling detail.  The detailed arch window adds great architectural interest looking out to the white sand.

That view!!!  Imagine it at night!  Not too crazy about the sunflowers but I can overlook that for the view.  Maybe they put a white table cloth on at night? 
How romantic to be RIGHT on the beach!   Looks like a great place to relax and get away from the world.  When I go on vacation, I want my design magazines, a good book, my ipod and the sound of the beach to take me away! 

Look at the color of that water!!!
There is that "ice blue" I keep referring to.
 Pina Colada please cabana boy!
Awesome stucco walls again with more of the bamboo ceiling.  Love all beautiful tiled rounded archways too.  Large terra cotta pots for all the palm trees "indoors".  Plants make everything come alive, especially indoors.  The brick floor is stunning too.  Easy maintenance for a hotel.

Again, love the detail on the ceiling.  Not the fanciest room but looks comfortable and has a beautiful view.
Very soothing lobby.  Nothing over the top but looks like a spa.
How welcoming!  
Pull up the  limo please!
Throwing the diet out the window and I'm packing my bags. 
 I'm sure my man would be game too, wouldn't be the same without him!

Oh, I wish we looked this good!
Happy Weekend Everybody.
Ruthie