A Little Bit of Life

I mentioned that last week we were able to getaway for a few days {a much needed little escape} and go to southern Maine. Maine is definitely a fave place of ours to visit. Seth spent a great part of his years growing up there & it's a place my family would always go - sometimes we vacationed there and sometimes it was merely a stop on our way to, or back home from, another destination.

We met up with some family last week and walked around the old port in Portland. I love the cobblestone streets.

There are so many different shops to look in and on a nice day it's just so lovely to walk around and explore. We ate at a really yummy pizza place called The Flatbread Company. I would definitely recommend giving it a try if you're ever in the area. After we ate we took a quick trip over to Peaks Island to explore - such a cute little place!

The next day after a stop in Freeport we decided to visit Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth. It was a foggy day to begin with but as soon as we got there it started to rain. We still made the best of it though and even went around looking at some of the old forts that were nearby.

So you can see through the fog a little, here's a picture of it on a good day that I took back a couple of summers ago:

It really is a beautiful place to stop if you're ever passing through.

After our lighthouse visit, and a quick stop for some seafood at the Lobster Shack, the sun came out and we decided to head to the beach. Nothing was really open for the season yet, but we did go down and walk the beach for a bit.

There's even a little fair right along the beach.
Even though it was a quick trip it was still nice to get away for a few days.
Where do you like to get away to?

Hope you're all having a great week!

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Before I go, I'd like to thank C.R.A.F.T. for featuring my words & watercolour DIY earlier this week! I was thrilled to find out that my little project was featured. You can check out my feature along with some others here.

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Pull it Together

 Today I thought I would share a few tips that I like to try and remember when pulling a space together. Whether you are starting from scratch or merely refreshing & updating a space here are a few things to consider...

*Add Some Cozy - It's nice to have at least 1 cozy element in the space. It doesn't have to be over the top cozy in every corner of the room, but a bit of cozy can really say "welcome". You could do this by adding a throw blanket, pillows, or even a rug. If you don't have some of these elements in your space already, they can really make a big difference.  

*Have 1 or 2 Statement Pieces - This could be cabinet, table, chair, it could even be the light fixture. Something that makes the room pop {in a good way}. One standout piece can really make a space and hold the room together. 

*Inviting Furniture - You want to be sure that your furniture invites one to sit & relax. If a guest walked into your home would they be afraid to sit down? After all, sofas are for sitting on.

This couch is just begging to be sat on:

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*Add Some Texture - It's nice to have a mix of textures in the space. If everything in the room is more on the soft side, consider adding some baskets or a rustic piece to the space.

*Don't Shy Away From Mixing Patterns - Don't be scared to mix patterns in your space. Just because you have a striped rug it doesn't mean you need striped curtains & pillows & lamp shades & well, you get the idea. 

*Side note: this can go beyond pattern. Don't be afraid to mix it up with accessories etc. For example, if you are more traditional with your decor, try adding one contemporary/modern piece or accessory. 

You just might like the look*

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This is a great example of mixing up styles. A traditional chair, matched with a more modern chevron rug, and a rustic stool as a side table all go so well together!

*Personalize the Space - Make the space your own. A gallery wall of family photos or your favourite pieces, one big piece of art from your favourite artist, integrating a DIY project into the space - these types of things can really make the space more personal and keep it from having a cookie cutter feel. Just remember, it's your space, you have to live there. Make it a place you want to spend time in! 

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*Add Some Colour - Colour can be scary sometimes. If you avoid colour, or can't quite commit to paint your walls a colour, add a pop of colour another way. Perhaps through your accessories: pillows, vases, frames, a rug, art, etc. These things can easily be swapped out at a later date. I love the idea below:

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For starters, this kitchen is gorg.eous. That light fixture is definitely a statement piece {like I mentioned above}. Plus, this is a great example of adding colour. There isn't a ton of commitment involved with painting your chairs, and in the end you can always paint them back to a neutral if need be!

Lastly, don't forget that creating a space happens over time. Unless you have the money, resources & time to create/update a room in a week {I know a lot of us don't fall into that category}, creating & updating a space to what you want it to be can take a while. Sometimes a space doesn't come together the way you want for years. It's a journey. Our tastes change over time, we tweak & we edit. The spaces we live in are always evolving {well, if you're like me and are constantly moving things around}. Instead of getting frustrated that everything isn't how you want it right.this.minute, enjoy the process. It's fun to look back and see how far you've come!

Jo Jo Black

Perhaps you remember this post where I showed the lovely fabric haul that I got from Online Fabric Store. Well, I finally got to work and used some of it! Yesterday afternoon I finished up a little sewing project that I was doing for our church and it got me in the sewing mood. I didn't want anything too difficult so I decided to make a pillow cover {you can never have too many pillow options, right? Right.}. 

I referred back to this post when I made my first one. If you're looking for instructions you can find them here - they are easy, promise! Someday I'll try adding a zipper, but for now I stuck with the envelope style. 

I decided to use the Jo Jo Black fabric that I picked out & think it looks great alongside my No 1 pillow!

Now, what to do with the rest of my fabric? 

Don't worry, I'm saving some fabric for the chair project and it will hopefully come together soon. 

I'll keep you updated! 

Have you been creating anything with your sewing machine lately?

I would love to hear what you're up to! 

Have a great Tuesday!

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: Space of the Day :

Happy Monday, everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend! We were able to escape and getaway for a few days last week and just got back on Saturday. I'm looking forward to sharing some of our adventures with you this week sometime. Until then, I thought I would share this lovely laundry room with you. Take a look...

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Things I am loving about this little space:

1. How fresh & clean it feels with all the white & pops of colour.

2. It's pretty but also functional - love that counter top!

3. Lots of shelving for storage.

4. The tiled wall - it adds a different texture to the space.

5. It's organized! Everything has a place on those shelves and looks easy to find.

I definitely like this laundry space, what about you?

Hope you all have a great Monday!