I MADE THE COVER!!

www.ottawaathome.ca

 Well, it's finally here...Ottawa at Home's October issue. And to my surprise I made the cover!! it makes all of my anxiety and stress about this day so worth while.

In this business, you really pour your heart and soul into every project. And when you finish a job a piece of you is left behind and to be recognized for what I do daily that usually go unrecognized is such an Honour to me. I worked with the very talented editor and chief of Ottawa at Home magazine Mary Taggart...who I like to call Miss Mary because she is such a kindred spirit. And I can not go without saying that everything looks so beautiful because of the incredibly talented photographer Mark Holleron who shot the photo's for both My Designer st Home shoot and the Home Reno shoot of the cottage I designed.

They were both incredible days and an experience I will not soon forget. Thank you to you both for all your kind words and support.....and most of all for thinking I was worth it

In the early spring I took the "Business of Design" seminar given by a very well known Designer who I am proud to say I know Kimberley Seldon. In this seminar we were to make a "Bucket List" of what we would like to accomplish........this was TOP of my list. Thank you Kimberley for all your advice and encouragement.

Below are some pics from the "Ottawa at Home" features. To see the full articles go to http://objmags.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx



Ottawa at Home -  "Designer at Home" feature

photography by mark holleron

Ottawa at Home - Home Renovation feature

Outside "before"

          

Kitchen Before

Master Bedroom Before

Daugthers bedroom Before

Bathroom Before

Visit Ottawa at Home - http://www.ottawaathome.ca/

These articles in full at- http://objmags.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

Birthday Wishes

Recently I was hired by a couple to renovate their log home. We started in the Kitchen this led to the living room, sunroom, bathroom and office. The project has been going on since March of this year and is still a work in process.

During this my client had asked her 10 year old daughter what she wanted for her 11th Birthday and to this question she said Mom all I really want for my birthday is to have Sonya design my room.....just like the rest of the house. The wish was granted and I started having chats with the young lady as to what she would like in her space. Before I could get another word out she said PINK.
Now the fact that this little lady was soon going to be a teenager I thought there is not possible way I can do her entire room in Pink....she would grow out of it within the year. What I decided to do is vamp it up a little...make it a little more funky and updated. I chose a very pale purple for the walls, brought in some white to brighten the room as there was so much wood being a log home. I then introduced her pink in a more grown up " Hottie" Pink and for the drama queen in her a big splash of black.


The end result....SHE LOVES IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Here are some Before and After....enjoy!
                                   

In The Words of my Mother

The most beautiful words I have ever heard were from my mother. They would be read and treasured by me whether they were within a card, a note, a letter, a story or just simply words that were said in passing and are still floating within my mind. She was the most beautiful, smart, talented caring person I have ever or will ever know.

My Mom always wanted to be a writer and in her late years even started taking courses on writing and enjoyed them immensely.My Mother passed away in 2002 from Ovarian cancer and never got to see those dreams come alive but her words and voice still sing in my ears are are just to beautiful to not share.
I have decided to devote a section of my blog just for her. I will post different things she has written over the years that I found inspiring and beautiful...some are from her journal and some are just from scrapes of paper .....big or small I will write it and I hope you enjoy as much as I do.

A Perfect Day (from her Journal)

There would be warm sun on my face all day & just enough breeze to bring the sweet smell of my flowers to my nose or the fragrance of my freshly washed laundry blowing & flipping on the clothes line.
I would be at home amongst all the personal treasures of my days here on this beautiful earth.

I would have prepared in my head all the meals for the day and be satisfied that they will be as imagined & good.

 I would sit out from time to time with a book, though probably not read but instead listen to the voices, inside of the people whom I love, whose love in turn sustains me & warms me past knowing.

I would listen to all the hustle & noise around me of life going on, being lived as God intended.... and every now & then a little chorus of birds & chipmunks & crickets would punctuate the message of Peace & Hope & Home.

I would water my flowers & smell them & if I’m really to have a complete & perfect day, over the air or around the corner will come the words that sooth my soul....”Hi Mom, Hi Nan or Hi Bette....that’s me, just me.....



Written by Bette McClelland-Thompson (Mom)

I recorded this song for Moms Funeral  ...from me with love Mom

Miss Gracie

http://www.daniellelynnphotography.com/blog/http://www.daniellelynnphotography.com/blog/

Yesterday my daughter Gracie was used as a model by a local and very talented photographer named Danielle Lynn Bernier. 

The session was styled by Danielle –She chose the locations, the outfit, props and the general ‘look’ of the session... The feeling was raw in nature and sent us time traveling back to bygone days. Here are a few of the shots...more to come

 I have to Say I realy love how raw and candid the shots are....nothing to fussy and the fact that Miss Gracie was having a bad hair day just worked into the look perfectly!

Danielle is very down to earth and easy to work with I would recommend her in a heart beat for your Children photography or family photos.

 About Danielle

Danielle is a Mom, Wife, Sister and a Friend. She loves Converse shoes, Lattes, comedies, vintage clothing and crisp spring mornings. She has been described as passionate, fun-loving, quirky and full of laughs.

"Photography is my passion and its more than just a job for me. What started as a journey to capture and preserve the precious moments of my own family and children, has now blossomed into something much more. I take great pride and enjoyment in capturing these unique moments in the lives of my clients and feel so blessed when I am chosen by a family to capture their amazing memories!"

Danielle works on-location and with only 100% natural light.



For more information visit her website at http://www.daniellelynnphotography.com/flash/index2.php

What's Your Style in One Picture Challenge

A friend of mine Kelly from Design Ties has sent out a challenge on Twitter to fellow designers that she heard of from Ally at From The Right Bank. This is Ally's third round of  What’s Your Style in One Picture Challenge. The challenge is to post one picture that sums up your design style.

 

Now this was a tricky one for me as I love so many styles and trying to nail it down to one was hard. But I always come back to this style of Farmhouse/ cottage style of decorating. The combination of the fresh walls and light furniture combined with the harder elements of the stone fireplace and the wood detailing always make me stop in my tracks and make my heart go pitter pat! I would live in this space in a heartbeat.

This Beautiful space was a within the walls of a Stone Country home that was transformed into a family   getaway that Sarah Richardson designed for a client on Design Inc.

ANTIQUES APPRAISAL DAY

www.wish4niko.com GET YOUR ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES EVALUATED!

Saturday June 19th from 10am to 2pm

At Gendron Antiques & Reproductions Big Red Barn

1145 Carp Road in Stittsville, Ontario

Come on down!

Here's a chance to find out what all that STUFF is worth and do a good deed at the same time!

Help them do something good for a little guy who really needs ALL your help.

Gendron Antiques is raising money for Niko!

This 4 year old boy and his family need our help. Niko recently had surgery for a brain tumor. Now, Niko needs to be in Montreal for his ongoing treatments. We are doing our part to raise money so his family can join him in Montreal to support him throughout his Treatment.

 Help us Help Niko 

Bring us your family heirlooms to appraise!

Meet the Antique Experts 

 Canadian Antique Road show appraiser Ross Wilson

Claude Aubin

Mike Cleary 

Mark Gendron

Lindsay Lambert

Scott Wallace

Kim Murray

Bring photo's of large items so you do not have to carry them. Verbal evaluations only and based on expert opinion.

$5.00 per item/ limited three per per person

Proceeds to Niko's Family

For more information go to www.wish4niko.com 

or contact Kim or Line at 613-831-2186

Designer at Home

Click here to view this photo book larger