Thursday, January 3, 2013

Finding My Identity

If someone asked me my decorating style, I would be hard pressed to answer.

I just do and use what I like, even if it isn't in style.

Two incidents occurred recently that made me sit up and think about how others might describe my style.

Someone posted on their blog how to see what photos of yours have been pinned on Pinterest.

http://pinterest.com/source/your website here

I was surprised to see a photo of my dining room and even more surprised when I read the pinner's description.

LOVE the cheerful, laidback, bohemian vibe of this house.

Bohemian?

Me?

I always think of myself as so straight laced.

The second incident was our home being featured in Ventana Monthly, a local magazine.

I was intrigued when I read Lisa Snider's description of my blog.

"Carol's work has also spilled over into crafting handmade books and cards, which, in addition to her designs and decor for the home, are all detailed in words and photos on her whimsical blog."

If anyone asks me my decorating style, I guess I now have to say

Whimsically Bohemian.

Or, is it

Bohemian Whimsy?

Either way, I chose to embrace it yesterday when I started my second project of the new year.

I bought these little stools when we had our dining room table built.


Originally I had a stool at each end of the table and a bench opposite the window seat.


Steve hated the arrangement because he sat on the bench and preferred having seating with a back.

I gave the stools to JP and he recently returned them to me.

They move around rooms -

sometimes in the kitchen

and sometimes in the closet so I can stand on them to reach high shelves.

Lately, we have been using them in the living room while we play games around the fire.

I also have a taller stool Steve uses to hold his can of gesso when he is prepping a canvas.

It was covered with globs of paint,

I wanted to "liven up" the stools so I grabbed Steve's electric sander, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint from the garage, some brushes and I was in business.


I wanted to paint stripes, checks and dots on the legs, but I am not a very good painter so I settled for just doing each stool in two different colors.

My supply of ASCP consists of my color palette  - red, yellow, green, blue and white.

All day, I thought about how to make them more interesting.

Numbers would be easy, but I have sort of overdone it on numbers lately

and

I just order these galvanized number boxes today from Sav On Crafts.


So for the taller stool, I decided to write the word SIT.


I typed SIT on a power point slide using the stencil font and created my own stencil.


I decided on the alphabet for one stool.


I used rub-on letters and it was much more difficult than I expected.


Some rub-ons are easier to use than others.

And, when I waxed the stool I wasn't careful and some of the letters got smooshed (is that a word?) and I had to use a black sharpie to fix them.

My plan had been to use rub-on words for the final stool, but after waxing the alphabet stool, I was afraid it might not turn out.

So, a simple question mark adorns the final stool.


I created a stencil for the question mark also.


With a bit of paint and a bit of wax, I have three much improved stools.


One little stool sits in the kitchen so I can use it to reach the top cupboards.


The other little stool is in our spare bedroom so I can reach things on the closet shelf.


The tall stool is sitting in front of my work space telling me to SIT and get creative.


I will embrace my new identity in another project tomorrow.

Whimsical?

Bohemian?
................................................

I'm linked up at

Jennifer Rizzo - Fabulously Creative Friday

Savvy Southern Style - Wow Us Wednesdays

Rooted in Thyme - Simple & Sweet Fridays

The Charm of Home - Home Sweet Home

Redoux - Link Party

Romantic Home - Show and Tell Friday

No Minimalist Here - Open House Party

Shabby Creek Cottage - Transformation Thursday


23 comments:

  1. Isn't that something? Having people describe your look/style. It's kind of fun! I love your stools! They are funky and cool! Or, bohemian and whimsical :)
    Karen

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  2. so cute!! your own original style.
    x

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  3. I would say your style is Bohemian cottage, but still mostly cottage :-). Wait until you're starting your own online business and you need to describe your style on your website. That really has made me sit down and think about how others describe my style.

    Cute stools!

    Goedele

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  4. Love your stools! Pretty colors and everyone's an original... pretty cool!!!

    Have a nice weekend
    Jutta

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  5. How about "Whimsical Bohemian?" My house is decorated in "Early Murder, She Wrote." I am not ashamed.

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  6. Those stools look so fab together! I wouldn't pick bohemian to describe your style either. And tho you do have a bit of whimsy I don't think it's that either. I think you defy categorization. That's a good thing!

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  7. I love what you have done to your stools, they are so colourful and unique! I love your style but I wouldn't know how to describe it.
    Sarah x

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  8. Your blog is lovely - love your cottage! Ive just added your blog to my Grow Your Blog party - so you are all set - updates on my blog - see you on the 19th!
    Vicki

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  9. CUTE, cute stools!! Other people's perception of us is always intriguing to me.
    Mary Alice

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  10. These are brilliant! And so is the word 'smooshed' !!

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  11. Oh I just love your stools. They are just awesome. I would not think of your style as Bohemian. Maybe a bit of whimsy with cottage folk art and pop art accents. Whatever, you are very talented, creative and totally classy with your designs.
    Love those stencils.
    Have a great weekend, Hugs, CM

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  12. They are lovely descriptions of your style. You seem very creative and imaginative. Those stools look wonderful! Rx

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  13. Whatever your style is I think it reflects YOU. I love the stools. You always come up with such good ideas. I always look at blogs and just enjoy what people share, never think of trying to put a name on it but I think Whimsical Bohemian seems to fit.

    Do you ever read the blog A BEAUTIFUL MESS? They had a tutorial the other day of making your own chalkboard paint. I want to try that.

    I've retired now (as of Dec. 30) and have so many plans, ideas and thoughts running through my head of what to do next. This week has been just packing up Christmas tree, decorations etc (boring).

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  14. I love many different styles too.....and while I was looking at a blog on my "list", your blog picture stood out to me and I came to look.....and I love your style !!!!!

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  15. Oh, your stools turned out SO cute!! I'm never sure what to call my style, I like so many different ones! But I can see both bohemian and whimsical in yours...whatever you wanna call it, it always looks great!! :)
    Susan

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  16. I would have to agree with whimsical!Those stools are so cute! LOVE the different styles and colors!
    xx
    Anne

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  17. Those turned out so cute! Thank you for sharing them at SHOW-licious Craft Showcase!

    Happy New Year,
    Marti

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  18. Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful post at Simple & Sweet Fridays. You have such a cute blog. New Follower!

    Jody

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  19. Cute stools! Thank you for joining Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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  20. I would call it Whimsical Boho Cottage. By the way, I would still like you even if you were a wino. The new stools look very whimsical, but not bohemian at all...

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  23. Wow - I am absolutely in love with your decor and your husband's artwork! I have always liked neutral decor, but am now wondering if I am really a COLOR person.

    ReplyDelete