Kay Ellen

A Fun Getaway

Hi Friends,

Just back from a fun getaway. Can you guess where I went?

Great Cafe's...

Well, I wish I could have gone to Paris, France this summer... but The Paris Hotel in Las Vegas was a real treat to see.

The Eiffel and the architecture surrounding the Paris Hotel was beautiful.

Valet parking at the hotel has a smaller version of the Arc de triomphe.

A lot of sparkle inside the lobby where you check in.

I enjoyed looking up to see this pretty glass dome each day as I walked around the hotel and shops.

Great shopping and dining down the street at the Venetian!

The clouds on ceiling light up the entire mall . A wonderful shopping experience.

When I saw the canal I had to sigh, it's so romantic.

Across the street from the Venetian is the Mirage. I was thrilled to get tickets to see LOVE!
No photgraphy allowed in the theater but what an amazing cast. I highly recommend the show.
The creativity, special effects, props, performers and music were outstanding!

I had a special lunch at Caesar's Palace with Jackie Von Tobel at Spagos! What a delight to see her. I originally met Jackie at an International Window Covering Show last year in Georgia. She has a beautiful blog, just click on her name and it will take you over for a visit.

Thank you Jackie for sharing your drawings from your new book coming out in October and your amazing fabric line you designed.I am so excited for you!

So glad you stopped by for a visit, time to catch up on design projects and my daily routine.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures!

Here is my sweet Bunko girl friends I went on my getaway with...lots of laughing and special memories on this road trip.

Until next time...

Bye Bye,

:KayEllen

It's A Pet's Life

Hi Friends,

Happy Friday!

This is sweet Snowball pictured above. I am dog sitting for my mother in law while she is recovering from hip replacement surgery. He is so adorable and such a character.

My kitty Napoleon was a little put out when he first met Snowball, but a few days have gone by and he is fine with our house guest.

Miss Gracie my schnauzer was very stressed with Snowballs visit and needed some extra attention and love. Cooling off can help anyone right?! She is such a sweet dog.

My crazy cat has the longest tongue...he can touch his nose! I can't do that...

This is easier to do... Nose to nose :)

This is Barney. We are looking for a wonderful family to adopt him. My mother in law just can't keep him with her on going medical condition. We have a small yard or I would keep him in a second!!! If you live in Southern California and are looking for a dog... we would love for you to consider this beautiful Shepard mix.

 

Well, Gracie is back to her old self, my faithful companion.

Have a good weekend everyone...see you next week!

:KayEllen

Designing Details

Hi friends,

Another work week begins... 

I am making some detailed decisions for a clients home.

One of the choices I need to make is selecting new carpet. The new carpeting will be installed on the staircase, living room, dining room and office area. I have narrowed it down to this low pile patterned carpet shown above. This is a great carpet for high traffic areas. I love the diamond pattern in the carpet, it has the designer detail I like to find for my clients.  

The guest bathroom has a beautiful new vanity installed and we have running water!

When the vanity was first installed I felt like it was missing something...I decided to add a back splash to compliment the tile border in the shower. The color contrast in the back splash adds a custom designer detail.

This is the family room fireplace "Before" designer details were added. I had the contractor pull off the wood beam mantel and keep the used brick, and fire screen...great to recycle and re use when we can.

Here is the the "After" picture of the fireplace wall. After removing the blue carpet I felt like we had a clean slate to work with. We painted the walls first in butter cream, then added the warm wood floors. I selected new base boards and crown molding and had them painted swiss coffee. The mantel arrived last week. I couldn't wait to add the large art piece, it really pulled in all the colors and details of the room.  

Well I am back to work! A lot more designing details to complete and finish.

Can't wait to share more before and after pics with you:)

Until next time,

:KayEllen

Let's take a break

Hi Friends,

Let's take a break together and relax. 

I am growing strawberries this year. I love the baby green berries they are so cute!

A early summer morning with tea.

Enjoy!

Happy Pink Saturday :)

A easy pillow idea. Open weave cotton fabric , a piece of lace, two vintage clip on earrings and a broach.

Memories of old jewelry that belonged to my Mom and Grandma displayed.

Time for Tea.

Thank you for stopping by...
Off to relax,

:KayEllen

Finshing Touches

Hi Blogging Friends,

My summer has been filled with design work. The pillows shown above my Mom made. She has been sewing for over 25 years. I keep telling her she can't retire ... I still need her to sew for me! Thankfully she still loves to sew.

My parents also developed and invented a clear adhesive tape that works great for embellishing draperies, pillows, throws and more.  Even though my mom is a seamstress she really saves time adding finishing touches with her tape. She decided six years ago to share her tape with drapery workrooms and interior designers and started traveling the United States, demonstrating how easy it is to use her products.

Because of her traveling she was blessed to have her products published in several magazines.

The sealah no sew adhesive tape works great for applying heavy fringes too! It is an amazing product and a wonderful help when you have a deadline to keep with a client. A real time saver.

My Mom is a New Blogger and she revamped her Website with the help of a dear friend Claudia, another amazing seamstress!!!

Please stop by and leave her a comment and welcome her to the world wide web!

We would also love to hear any testimonials you would like to share using the sealah no sew adhesive products.

Thank you for stopping by.

See you soon:)

:KayEllen

Colorful Pottery

Hi Friends,

Do you love pottery? The vibrant colors? One piece of pottery can add that pop of color you may need in your home.

There is a great Italian Pottery store in Laguna Beach. You can see it on coast highway as you drive into the city.

I have always been attracted to colorful hand painted pottery. Even as a teenager I would walk into this store and dream of purchasing a piece of Italian pottery ...

Now as a designer, I enjoy helping clients select kitchen pottery to add to there homes. A little goes a long way with this type of pottery. The platters and bowls alone are just gorgeous on an easel in your kitchen. Choose a piece that is functional as well as pleasing to the eye to display in your home.

I have to warn you this pottery is imported from Italy so choose wisely when you decide to purchase a piece. I did see a few pieces with red tags on them marked down!

Sometimes you can find Italian pottery at a TJ Maxx and More or Home Goods. It disappears pretty quickly because people know the value $$$ of the pottery. Keep your eyes open you may find a treasure!!!

Here is my little piece of Italian pottery that I just love. I found it a few years ago at an old thrift store.

During the summer I pull out my colorful glass hurricanes and put my pretty pottery on my patio table.

OK, so guess how much I paid for this? It was sitting up high on a shelf with some old pots and pans...

 Did you guess?  One dollar? Well, that's what I paid! I remember when I turned the piece over and saw Italy carved in the clay... I got goosebumps and had to have it!!!  A special find and treasure I will keep forever.

If you are discourage about having to spend a lot of money on pottery or any accessories...remember to take your time when you shop and be on the look out for that treasure among the pots and pans!

Be inspired and have fun shopping! 

:KayEllen

Red, White and Blue Celebration

Happy Fourth of July to you all!!!

We are so blessed to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Enjoy the patriotic inspired pictures. Let's celebrate with red, white and blue! ...and a few pink touches too!

Happy Pink Saturday friends! Thank you Beverly for hosting another amazing Saturday celebration.

with the beach air close by...

 <<<<---- This way

A beautiful day to be at the beach...

Flags flying high to honor our country and the men and women who serve to protect it.

A favorite destination I enjoy visiting... Balboa Island.

Charming beach homes decorated with red, white and blue for the holiday weekend.

Red door, white shutters and blue hydrangeas...aahhhhhh

A patriotic bunny!

Colorful starfish, so pretty!!!

Wonderful patriotic flags waving across the Balboa Island bridge.

A welcoming gate with personality.

Yummy salt water taffy close by.

I bought a new hat.

Long distance friends enjoying time at the beach together.

Balboa Ice cream Bars are a long time tradition with my family.

I have to confess I personally order a frozen banana every time we visit.

How about a Ferris wheel ride?

Or a ride on the Auto Ferry?

Have a fun time decorating!

Add a patriotic touch to your holiday table.

Or a blueberry muffin breakfast to start the day...

I added red rose petals around the muffin for fun!

From spending so much time walking around Balboa Island, now I am feeling creative! Let's make something patriotic.

OK, let's start with a 5 yard roll of sealah 1/8" no sew tape and a checkered napkin.

Add the tape to this cute red ball trim...

 Peel,press and stick to the napkin!
Here are all the items I am using to make a special front door creation.

I put the cute napkin in the wine basket first. Next I added a drinking glass.

I pushed the glass down tight and pour water in the glass...

Here is my red, white and blue creation...hanging on my front door!

Hope you have been inspired to create something for your 4th of July celebration!!!

Have a safe and blessed holiday friends!

If you are feeling crafty and would like to buy some sealah no sew adhesive tape... please visit my parents website....   www.jodeesinc.com  or click on blog with Dee for some creative ideas!

Celebrate!

:KayEllen