Kay Ellen

Blessings to Celebrate

Hi Friends, 

Tickled to share the news~~~I am published in the Spring Issue of Somerset Life Magazine!

I am a pretty sentimental person so I decided to create vases embellished with heirloom treasures that belonged to my Grandma. A special way to keep her memory alive and share with my children about her life.

Jewelry, lace, buttons and silver serving pieces adorn the glass cylinder vases.

In the article I  encouraged others to make a vase filled with memories. A wonderful way to share and remember special times gone by.

I used my parents sealah no sew adhesive to adhere the lace and treasure's on the vases.

Another blessing~~~ this photo was published in the same magazine! A stack of special poetry books that belonged to my Grandpa Dean, he loved to read. 

A big thank you to Stampington & Company, Christen Olivarez and staff! I feel honored to be published in this beautiful magazine.  

My vases arrived back home safe and sound after their photo shoot. I decided to use them as our centerpiece on the Easter table.

I set the vases on a pretty tray and filled them with white ranunculus blooms. 

I added  special touches on the table... I purchased two yards of this light blue sheer fabric on sale $5.oo! and added my pretty pearls for an elegant feel.

Burlap, linen and a cotton print fabric are layered on the table to create a unique tablecloth. A  metal cross to remind us of the sacrifice made at the cross.

I used faux silver chargers, creamy ceramic dishes and a sweet birds nest in each bowl. 

Beautiful blooms and textures.

Spring blessings.

Happy Easter!

The spring issue of Somerset Life should be available soon at Barnes and Noble, Border's and Craft Stores like Joanne Fabrics and Micheal's. 

OK so let's celebrate~~

Leave a comment on my blog or facebook to enter to win the Spring Issue of Somerset Life a sweet birds nest and a variety pack of Sealah no sew tape and a Starbucks gift card! 

Have a blessed and joyful holiday with your family and friends,

He has Risen!

Luke 24

:Kay Ellen 

  

First Week of Spring

Spring has arrived in Southern California! 

My first week of Spring was full of blooms, celebrations and family. 

My son came home for Spring Break. I took this photo with my iphone out in the canyon near our home. The fields and trails are full of wild flowers right now. 

We celebrated my husbands birthday...Happy Birthday Mark! 

We also celebrated our 26th Wedding Anniversary!  

This is a closeup photo of the beautiful bouquet my husband gave me:)

We enjoyed an afternoon at our local botanical gardens. It is one of my favorite places to walk around in Riverside. You can really see signs of Spring arriving. The iris garden is just starting to bloom. 

Vibrant colors all around the gardens...If you live in the Inland Empire you should visit the UCR Botanical Gardens, you will love it! 

I took Friday off to hang out with my teenagers at Newport Beach. 

The water was chilly but the sun and sand felt so good to me! I loved spending the day relaxing, soaking up the sun and enjoying my kids. 

Our time together this week was full and also a blessing. 

I have to share with you all~~when I had surgery recently they took a biopsy to check for abnormal cells and my test results came back this past week...I do not have cancer! Hallelujah! I am very thankful~~~ a wonderful answer to prayer!

I have Spring fever~~~ do you? I am looking forward to brighter days headed our way! 

Hope you are too! 

We miss you already Kyle! See you at the end of May!  

Thank you for stopping by:)

:Kay Ellen

Wonderland Review

I had a wonderful time last weekend at the Grand Californian Hotel in Wonderland! 

Drinking tea and making beautiful crafts like this scrap book by Candice Carpenter. 

Beautiful tables set for 40 ladies!

Here is my table of creative friends. Our leader and amazing host Kim Caldwell, and the adorable Miss Scrappy Jessi, myself, dear sweet Jamie that taught the bunny bottle class~~~and a new friend kind Susan that let me borrow a few tools! The talented Holly and enchanting Christine that taught the fun and whimsy Mad Hatter class:) 

Pretty table top decor with lovely topiary trees and wire chairs filled with roses.

This was my first time to attend one of  Kim Caldwell's events. I did alot of chatting which I love and taking the three classes that were offered was delightful too! I met some wonderful new ladies and enjoyed catching up with my blogging friends in person! 

What fun we all had cutting, pasting and gluing. I love my mad-hatter hat I made. My Mom's sealah no sew tape came in handy on this project!

Look at scrappy Jessi's bunny bottle. I love the pink barbie phone she added! To cute! 

I made gift bags filled with goodies for my roommates. I decided to attempt a crafty paper and fabric project to add to their gift...Alice in Wonderland inspired of course:)

My roommates Cheryl, Jessi and I stopping to take a picture in Disneyland.

Thank you ladies for your friendship, kindness and oh I can't forget the gifts! I love my new "K" key chain and Mickey Mouse Ears!!  Bless you both! 

Kim Caldwell put on such a beautiful event for us all to share in. She has an amazing eye for detail and special touches.  Thank you Kim for an enchanting weekend. 

Look at the surprise at the end of the event~~a beautiful Tea-party Cake!! 

If you have been considering going to one of Kim's creative events I would encourage you to go! You will not be disappointed. 

Happy Pink Saturday friends~~~ I have alot of pretty in Pink on my post!

Stop by Beverly's blog to continue celebrating Pink!

 

 

Pretty stacked Teapots...  

Smiling with the Cat! 

Mad-Hatter fun! 

Bye-Bye!  

:KayEllen  

Ladder Week

Hi friends!  

I am back to work... I had a wonderful time at the teaparty getaway...I promise to share photos at the end of the week! 

Off to the constuction zone... Here is the before picture just as the crew started tearing out things in my clients master bedroom.

Ladders everywhere and a messy place as the demo begins...   

A few days later the same master bedroom has made great progress.  The slump stone walls are gone, the new ceiling is almost completed and the old carpet has been thrown away!

At the other end of the house you can smell stain drying and saws cutting. The crew is working quickly to cut and install each plank of wood on the vaulted ceiling.   

Walking back to the master bathroom the tile and medallion have been installed. The tile installer will be back before the end of the week to complete his handywork with grout.

Here's a few helpful hints if you are ready to begin a re-model at your home~~~

When you start a re-model project you have to realize your house will be in disarray for quite awhile. Crews coming and going. Doors opening and closing, hammering, sanding and dust flying everywhere! Not alot of privacy.

Patience helps and also having a room you can go in and shut the door away from the mess is even better! My best suggestion is to take a little vacation while the construction is going on.  To trust that your job will be completed you need a licensed and reliable contractor and a hard working crew and someone like myself checking in everyday to make sure the job is moving forward.

Have a signed and dated contract for your job and pay in installments as the job progresses. Make sure your contractor gives you an approximate date of completion or at least tells you how many weeks it will take~~~ give or take a few days. That will help you and the contracter to keep the job on schedule. Before you know it you will have your home completed and peace and quite will return!  

Hope my handy hints helped.

Every week is ladder week when you are in the middle of a re-model~~~ but I thought it was kind of funny all my photos I took had a ladder in it. 

A very productive week and it is only wednesday!

See you soon and hopefully a little less messy on your next visit:)  

Almost forgot!!!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day to my Irish friends!

Here is my Irish inspired table-setting to share with you all~~~

Irish tea in the garden?!

Irish blessings to you!!  I just had to share some pretty dishes mixed with my messy construction and ladders right?! 

If you love dishes like I do~~ click here to see Susan's Blog:)   

See you soon,

:KayEllen 

  

Tea Time

I am getting excited~~~ Tea time is around the corner. 

The clock is ticking:)

I can't wait to join Kim and friends for this getaway and celebrate creativity!

Inspiring classes to take and special memories to make.  

Desserts to share and tea to drink.

Well, I am off to enjoy Wonderland! 

I hope to find Alice and the Madhatter at the Teaparty!

I will be at the Happiest Place on Earth for the weekend~~~

If you love dishes Click Here for more creative tablescapes ideas:) 

See you soon, 

:Kay Ellen

Looking Up

Hi Friends, 

Healing and resting this weekend I spent some time looking at photos I had taken over the past few months. This photo just jumped off the page. I started to remember why I loved this photo...

This was the day we were going to say goodbye to our son headed off to college. I was a little sensitive that day, well if you ask my family I was down right cranky. Butterfly's in my tummy and feeling out of control~~~ very natural for a Mother saying goodbye to her first teen to leave the nest.

We were walking around the Mission in Carmel enjoying the day and I noticed the sky was changing. I looked up and quickly grabbed my camera. 

A scripture came to my mind~~~ Psalms 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation. 

A peace came over me as I realized everything would be OK.  I have my assurance in the Lord not in my circumstances. He directs my path daily~~~and he will also be with my son where ever he goes even away at college!

I received an email from an on-line newspaper this week requesting to feature my photo. They posted it today on my husband's birthday:) 

Happy Birthday Mark!

Click here if you are interested in taking a look at the newspaper and photo:)

Thank you for your emails and comments...

I am feeling better, just taking things a little slower this week.

:Kay Ellen

Taking a Break

A cup of tea and a long weekend is in my future.  

Scheduled for a very routine"out patient" surgery in the morning. 

Time to slow down and take a break. 

Thank you for your well wishes and prayers!

See you soon :)

:KayEllen 

A week filled with Design

The design life can be complicated and gratifiying. It is never boring filled with lots of details to finalize each week. 

Examples of my week;

I ordered travertine tile and marble for a Master Bathroom remodel.

I love the rich dark color of this marble imported from Spain. It will be used for the counter top and for the bench seats in the walk in shower.

This morning I picked up this beautiful medallion for the backwall of the shower....the focal point of the shower "handcrafted in Turkey"

Across town I headed to another client's home to inspect the installation of some new window coverings. Finshing touches can really pull the entire designed space together. 

Close up detail of fabric on the valances. 

Off to another home to add citrus and decorative touches...prepping the house for company that is coming! 

I love living in a southern California and right now all the citrus trees in my city are filled with fruit and blossoms... a perfect addition to this mantle.

I am on the hunt for a rusty gate or an old door to hang above this fireplace...sometimes treasure take awhile to find~~~ for now my client seems very pleased with the decorative touches I added to the outdoor living space.

Deciding on seamless glass doors for this new shower. I love how the glass cubes bring in so much natural light.

Ok friends you see how my week gets filled up very fast~~~

Off to conquer another week of work!

 

:Kay Ellen