Around the tudor...

With Travis working this turnaround schedule I seem to spend the majority of my time in the kitchen.  Not that I mind, I adore my little kitchen.  For such a small space it really is light and bright, and so easy to cook in!

Of course, the nicer the meal the more dishes you have to dirty!

I got my slipcovered chairs back from Lsslipcovers, and just like any other pieces they have done for me- they are divine!  I said the word "ball gown" for my vanity chair and they delivered!

Sara's gallery wall finally got painted.  Projects are at a slow pace right now, so getting this one wall done was the limit for the month...

I also traded in Mr.Darcy, my Mini Cooper, for Mr. Bingley, my new Mini Cooper.  I lease my vehicles because I love new cars and can't just live with one!  I upgraded to a bit larger car- the Countryman S.  It seats five, so it feels so much bigger!

Sara and I walked the Step Up for Down Syndrome this past weekend.  I love how aware she is of Down Syndrome and how confident she is in talking to others about what she is doing with her time now that she is out of public school.  She loves homeschooling and adores the classes she takes on Thursdays.

I did get a new rug for the living room- Dash & Albert rugs are my very favorite! I love how preppy this one looks...

Fall decorating is at a minimum this year.  Most of our attic things are still in storage, and we won't get to cleaning that out until Travis is back on a regular schedule.  So the kids and I picked out a mum and a few pumpkins and called it a day...

We are busy with classes, reading, painting signs and just being.  I don't really feel the need to change things around or shop- I'm just content to be here.  I am taking that as a sign that we are exactly where we need to be- wacky neighbors and all ;)

A lovely transformation...

Recently I had the pleasure of meeting with Laura Siebert of LSSlipcovers to design some custom slipcovers for my kitchen chairs and a settee that I have owned forever.

Laura is just as lovely of a person on the inside as she is on the outside, and she is a creative genius!  I have never had someone come to my home and custom design slipcovers, so I really didn't know what to expect.  She came in and talked to me for a while about the pieces.  As we talked I noticed that she was looking around the cottage and assessing my style.  I didn't really know what I wanted, so I told her to just get creative.  I handed her some vintage linens I had been saving as well as a bunch of painter's drop cloths- my go-to fabric of choice.  She cut the material for the kitchen chairs, loaded up the settee in her van and was off.

Two weeks later...

Laura arrived with my new slips and settee cover.  She installed the chair slips first.  She was meticulous about putting them on and arranging them just so.  She fluffed, straightened, smoothed and....

the little x's on the back of the chair are my favourite feature...

She could not have nailed my style any better!  They are just the perfect amount of farmhouse/quirky/ruffled goodness.  I adore these and they really kicked up the table a notch!

Then she installed the settee cover.  Oh my heavens to Betsy!  The girl outdid herself on this one.  Here is what the settee looked like before.  The dogs were constantly jumping up on it and little Violet decided that trim braiding was the bomb for snacking on...

I love that she used the trim from one of the sheets to outline the entire top and arms of the settee...

This is all hand embroidered...Seriously, I didn't even know people still knew how to do this!

More lovely embroidery...

And here she is- vintage linens, painter's drop cloth material, and lovely handiwork...

And as for the fur babies claiming it as theirs.  Um, nope.  Foiled!

The tin foil really works!

If you are looking to have slipcovers made I cannot recommend Laura enough.  She's professional, amazingly creative, listens, and was so quick to turn out these lovely slips for me.

I love seeing my old pieces with a new look!