book review: rachel ashwell couture prairie and flea market treasures

Sigh. Finally an evening that finds me awake enough to sit at the keyboard and compose a blog post! I had intended to write about my book party, a festive event that exceeded my expectations, but will save that for another time. Tonight I must share about a recent acquisition ...

Upon my request, I received a review copy of Rachel Ashwell's hot-off-the-presses book Couture Prairie and Flea Market Treasures and it is phenomenal.

Rachel Ashwell is like The Beatles to me with her own Earth-shaking British Invasion of style. Self-made, talented and inspiring, her pretty stamp on decor is without question. Rachel and I share a publisher in CICO Books (!) which means by one degree of separation, I could know her (and gee, if Rachel knows Paul McCartney that makes just two degrees to bringing my Beatles analogy full circle).

As you've probably guessed by now, this isn't going to be your everyday sort of book review. There's no real journalism happening, not even a Q and A with Rachel and many of the images were taken in a dimly lit Girlie Office. Allow me to explain ...

For me the very best decor books are the ones I don't get to read -- or can't read -- because the ideas presented are so very wonderful and motivating they cause me to leap from the couch even after dark to do things and try things like forage closets for forgotten rolls of wallpaper and then wander through rooms contemplating and visualizing.

Note this beautiful and yet very attainable idea of unframed watercolor paintings posted to a delicate background of vintage wallpaper. Imagine creating a similar effect with an assortment of note cards or even inspiration pics torn from magazines?

What I love so much about Rachel's signature style of dusty pastels, worn finishes and charming florals is that it's truly design within reach. One doesn't have to scrimp and save and long, one needs only visit a flea market or keep their eyes open for curbside treasures and voila, Shabby Chic decor can be yours.

 

This favorite page shows an unexpected stacking of GASP-inducing furniture and as you can see, I'm using the top dresser as color inspiration for an old wooden chair on which I plan to give a deliberate treatment of distressed white over a sort-of dirty pink. {Paint shown: Chalk Paint by another CICO Books author, Annie Sloan; source: Sea Rose Cottage}

I'm tickled to see these stockings "made up from scraps of last season's fabrics" (p. 158) because when I visited Shabby Chic in London in February, I purchased two over-dyed cloth napkins in the most charming print and they are the two fabrics displayed!

As a writer and author I know how important the words are to even the prettiest book and I know I will enjoy reading each and every word someday but for now, Couture Prairie and Flea Market Treasures has me tying ribbon on horseshoes, trolling antique shops for chipped furnishings, and daydreaming of a visit to The Prairie by Rachel Ashwell in Round Top, Texas.

xo
elyse

book party prep

Tinkered Treasures Book Party

Hello! I am busy getting everything ready to celebrate my first book Tinkered Treasures on Thursday! This is the first time I've coordinated something like this for myself in years (no superheroes or laser tag here) and I hope it all comes together as envisioned!

Using my own book as my resource, I've been making favors like these pretty and easy-peasy bookmarks

and tinkering cans aka desk tidies to serve as vases (to be filled with flowers by party sponsor Blooming Blossoms!) ...

 preparing items like pretty clothespins, gathering supplies for the Craft Buffet spread ...

Ballerinas courtesy of Speckled Egg

and making cupcake flags to festoon sweet treats that include macaroons, cookies and more!

Wish me luck! And if you're in the Providence, Rhode Island area, please attend! Warmest appreciation to all party sponsors (see below) and to Anisa, Pernilla and Line for their enthusiasm, support and energy!

xo
elyse

TREASURED PARTY SPONSORS

Kreatelier

Kidoinfo

Blooming Blossoms

Campus Fine Wines

Ellie's Bakery

Seven Stars Bakery
Speckled Egg 

Whole Foods University Heights

tinkered treasures giveaway and book review at the graphics fairy

My long-time blogging friend Karen also known as The Graphics Fairy has posted a lovely review of my book Tinkered Treasures at her blog. Her site is such a go-to source for thousands of images, inspiration and projects. Hurry over because the post includes a giveaway of my book!

Visit this link to enter! And if you don't win, I hope you'll consider buying a copy for yourself. I think it's a real ... treasure! {tee hee}

xo
elyse

ps
I am currently proofreading BOOK 2!

Hello! Are you new to The Graphics Fairy?
Welcome, I’m so glad you’re here! Browse around to find thousands of Stock Images that you can use in your projects or designs! I post new Vintage images every day, as well as projects and DIY’s too!  You can subscribe via email so that you don’t miss a single post, just click HERE to sign up! Need more info about my site? Try my FAQ page. - See more at: http://thegraphicsfairy.com/craft-book-giveaway-review-tinkered-treasures/#sthash.y4Hp0r5x.dpuf

Hello! Are you new to The Graphics Fairy?
Welcome, I’m so glad you’re here! Browse around to find thousands of Stock Images that you can use in your projects or designs! I post new Vintage images every day, as well as projects and DIY’s too!  You can subscribe via email so that you don’t miss a single post, just click HERE to sign up! Need more info about my site? Try my FAQ page. - See more at: http://thegraphicsfairy.com/craft-book-giveaway-review-tinkered-treasures/#sthash.y4Hp0r5x.dpuf

field trip: sea rose cottage

Today I took myself on a little field trip to beautiful Bristol, Rhode Island to visit a shop called Sea Rose Cottage. My best friend Cindy discovered it while researching chalk paint and once I visited the website, I knew I HAD to go ... today's schedule allowed and I was off and running!

Located in a historic home on a street that leads right to the water, Sea Rose Cottage is part-studio space and part-retail shop, filled not only with paint and supplies but furniture hardware, vintage finds and Dash & Albert rugs.

In the short time that I was there, the shop was never empty. Women ready to embark on rehabbing furniture and more were there to buy paint and ask questions, and owner Nancy was ever-ready with helpful tips, information and encouragement!

Brand-new to chalk paint myself, I had lots of questions and left with a bag of Annie Sloan paint and soft wax and even that small Dash & Albert rug you see on the counter (I've wanted one for years).

Sea Rose Cottage is furnished smartly, equipped with bookcases and cabinets, some even brand-new from Ikea, all painted in a muted palette using varying finishes from "simple vintage" to "smooth modern" to illustrate variations of decorative paint results. Nancy's spacious desk is topped with toile fabric under glass and taffy-pink roman shades add fresh pops of striped whimsy to tall, stately windows.

I entered the shop thinking I wanted to paint a few old wooden chairs but now all kinds of ideas are brewing. Nancy and I are also brainstorming about a possible tinkering event. How fun would that be?!

For more information on Sea Rose Cottage, please visit the website where you can also find the shop's various social media links, workshops, and more.

Avoid perfectionism! The distressed look isn't difficult to achieve, 

and by nature it's not supposed to be perfect."

~ Annie Sloan

Fun fact: Annie Sloan and I share the same publisher, CICO Books!

xo
elyse