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

Sew-Licious Home Decor