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Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Share a Book, or Two, or Three...

Earlier this week, I did a portfolio review with one of my clients... the only client whose home I go to, to meet with her. Mrs. W is 79 years old and she is handicapped. Her husband became my client first. A robust cowboy, "born and raised" right here in south Texas. Two years ago, Mr. W passed away from cancer, leaving Mrs. to fend for herself. She has a couple of adult children, but they both live out of town so she doesn't see them except weekends. I think she spends a significant amount of her time alone. I see her about every 6-months. Each time I arrive at her home, she's already unlocked the door; so I knock and walk in. She always has an opera or a symphony playing one of the great composers... her favorite (and mine) is Debussy. I think she plays Debussy when she knows I will be there.
This week, she was complaining that she hadn't been to the library in several weeks because her children didn't come on Saturday... they came Sunday instead and the library isn't open on Sunday in her small town. I asked her what kind of books she likes to read, and whether she prefers the written page or an audio version... "Oh I like to read everything, especially if it's full of murder and mystery!"

Lucky for Mrs. W, that's just my kind of book too! I've got stacks of books that I've finished... stacks in the living room, stacks in my office, stacks in the bedroom... Ricky frequently makes suggestions on what to do with the stacks of books, "Why don't you take those to the Goodwill?" or "Why don't you sell those on eBay?" Both of those are fine ideas... but for some reason, I could just never bring myself to part with my treasures in either of those fashions...

Tonight I told Ricky... "I've decided what to do with those books... I'm going to give them, a box at a time, to one of my clients who likes to read but doesn't have the money to buy, nor transportation to get to the library"... Ricky thinks that's a great idea! (I didn't have the heart to tell him that Mrs. W promised to get them back to me as soon as she finished reading them...).
Looking for ideas on sharing a book, or two, or three... down here in French Lique...

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Wordless Wednesday - Books (and authographed by the author at the Rodeo!)

If you'd like to join Wordless Wednesday, here's what you need to do...

1. Post your picture on your blog - today's subject "BOOKS" .
2. Add the Wordless Wednesday logo (on my sidebar) to your post so others know you're participating.
3. Add a link on you post back to French Lique. (You're directing traffic).
4. Add your permalink and your name to Wordless Wednesday via Mr. Linky below.
5. Post a comment here...
6. Visit other Wordless Wednesday participants. (leave a comment for them so they'll be sure to come and visit you!)

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"BOOKS"







Sunday, February 1, 2009

Organizing the books...

Metamorphosis Monday is hosted by one of my favorite decorating bloggers, Susan at Between Naps on the Porch... If you'd like to see more of Metamorphosis Monday participants, link here to visit Between Naps on the Porch... I'm working tomorrow morning, so I thought I'd get an early start...


In the beginning, my books were crammed into this little flimsy bookcase and one other similar in my office... the books also resided on the floor, stacked in piles around the room, in the closet... well, you get the idea... though they were loved, they were certainly not cared for...

So, the first step... get the books to the dining room table and sort them... first by subject matter and then by size... and here they stayed for a couple of weeks...
until Ricky put my two large bookcases together... purchased at Target on sale for $80 each... a good buy considering the alternatives... Then I put the books on the bookcase in similar order as they were on the dining table... awaiting their next transformation...
I found a lovely idea in one of the many decorating and organizing magazines I consume each month. For the life of me I can't find the original inspiration; but when I do I will certainly give them credit here... In the meantime, just know that I was inspired by someone else's work...

I have found that in decorating, like the rest of my life, I'm very eclectic. In the bedroom, I like the serenity of Traditional; but in my pink bedroom, I like Shabby French...
In my office, I tend to lean more toward Traditional with a little French flair, lots of clean lines and organization... and so...

The book project.

You're going to need one of those craft cutting sheets made for a rotary cutter, a rotary cutter, a long straight edge... mine is a metal yardstick... and vellum by the roll. Oh, and of course, some books... lots and lots of books...
I found it easiest to measure the book's dust jacket, and then stick with the same size book when cutting the vellum...
be careful cutting... those rotary cutters are sharp!
I managed to get a little less than half of the books covered before I ran out of the two rolls of vellum. This is going to be a little more expensive than I had originally thought... but look!
Pretty books, all covered in vellum... I can still read most of the titles, but the books... they look so pretty and organized... I like this... I really really like this!
Hobby Lobby is closed on Sunday... good thing.. that means I don't feel compelled to run into town and buy more rolls of vellum! It can wait a few days... There is much more to be done in getting my office redecorate/declutter project finished... down here in French Lique!

ps.. if you missed the completion of the door morph... read on to the next post...
and a P.S.S.....
Precious just dropped by to see what all the goings on were... she must have noticed the camera flash.. and she hates it when Roxy gets posted on the blog and she doesn't...

With all the organizing and decorating going on in my office this weekend, my little Roxy has had to stay out. Tonight, I looked down and there she was... laid out on the Flokati rug with her head on her little toile pillow... What a life! I think she missed her mommy.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Greetings from Amazon.com

I get emails from Amazon and Boarders a couple of times a week. They are so kind to keep me abreast of new offerings in print that I might enjoy. I like Amazon the best; their prices are better and you get free shipping for orders of $25 or more... so I never-ever pay shipping!

A week or so ago, my friends at Amazon sent me an email... "Hello Dixie, We thought you might enjoy these..." and they were right.

Yesterday my printed treasures arrived. I haven't had a chance to do anything but a quick flip through, but I'm so excited that they are here... I thought I'd share at least the covers with you today... more later on the inside...
oooooh-la-la... what inspiration may I find in here?!

I can hardly wait to have some time to see what I can create... wearable art... the best!


and this one... a Valentine from me to me... I LOVE reading LOVE Letters... I've already peeked, and I'm thinking... cozy chair, poodles, blankie, cup of tea... and thee...

The joy of new books being celebrated today, down here in French Lique...