Spotlight: REAL LIFE BEHIND THE BLOGGER

  Susan from Must Love Junk, and myself (Kris) Junk Chic Cottage wanted to do a regular feature on our blogs, something unique that hasn't been done before.   So we came up with an idea to 'spotlight the real life behind the blogger' in a more personal way.

There is so much talent and inspiration in blogland, and we thought it would be fun to bring you a closer look at the person behind the blog.

Every week on Saturday we will spotlight a blogger and have them tell us a little bit about themselves and their blogs.  You will be able to see and read about each of the bloggers on both Susan's and my blog. 

I would love to introduce Lynn from Shabby Story.  I have known Lynn and her blog for over a year now.  When I first started to blog I was excited to find Lynn and her fabulous blog.  She spoke to my soul with her love of white, chippy, re purposed things that she re loved back into her home.  I connected with Lynn right away when I could see she got putting an old door or chippy window up on a wall .  I thought, wow, I found someone that would get me and I get her.  She has become a dear friend in blog world and I am always so inspired by her talent and decor ideas. Please read about the personal side of Lynn and then hop over to Susan's blog to read about Jill from Sew A Fine Seam.

hi everyone, I’m lynn from shabby story.

let’s see…

when I’m not blogging, I paint, sew, and decorate and paper craft.  I love taking pictures and working with photo shop.

I met my husband when I was 28, he was 23. 3 months later, we were married, ---that was 27 yrs ago.

he works as an industrial electrician, just 5 more yrs, and he can retire:) 

(my last job was 25 yrs ago, at a local high school}.  derek loves wood working, golfing, concerts, and is an awesome cook.

we have two wonderful sons,

jason, a railroad worker and his wife heather, a nurse.

ryan, a cvs manager, and his girlfriend, karin, a butler university student.

our bailey, an american bulldog

we built our forever home in our hometown, peru, indiana, in 1992,

but, fate brought us to avon, indiana in 2006.

favorite ways to spend our time together are gardening,

woodworking projects,

junking,

and traveling,--always near water:)

I love kris and susan’s idea for the saturday spotlight, and want to thank them so much for including me:)

Thank you Lynn for sharing the personal side of you.  I loved seeing the pictures of you and your family and Bailey is just adorable.  Be sure to check out Lynn's blog and also jump over to Susan's blog to learn more about Jill and her blog.  Have a great week end.  Kris :)

Door Hoarder!!!!!!

 I really think I need a "door hoarder" intervention!!!!!!!

I innocently went to my favorite shop yesterday, Tattered Tiques which I love and there it was calling to me this adorable door.  I mean I tried to walk by it several times and then it started to scream at me and next thing I know it was in my car coming home.

I am not sure what it is about me and old doors but I just cannot say no to them.  They are like those cute little puppies in the window.  Who can resist?!!!

So as I am driving home with my new treasure in the car I was thinking where am I going to hang another door.  I am so out of wall space.  I moved things in the living room and dining room and nope did not work.  Then I finally found a home for this sweet little door in my small guest room.  I still have some tweaking to do to it but I thought I would share the changes in that room so far.

This is my small guest room where I have two twin beds.  I have old garden gates for headboards.

Look at this sweet little skinny door.  How could I resist.  It had adorable vintage door knobs on each side too.

I had the hubster hang the door knob from the other side of the door so I could use both knobs for hanging things.

Just playing around with some things to hang on it.  I haven't quite got it the way I want yet.  Work in progress!!!

I love my little cottage for rent sign.  I have had this little sweet bird house and sign for years.

Here is the other twin bed in this room.  I have the old foot board/chalk board, I got at Tattered Tiques a while ago.  Susan from Maple and Magnolia' made this and sold it at Tattered Tiques.   I hung the little clothes line with vintage baby dresses and my vintage angel.  My little granddaughter sleeps here when she spend the night with us.

There you have it another door adopted by me.  I just cannot help myself when it comes to these old chippy doors.
Hope you had a great week.  The week end is almost here!!!
Please come back tomorrow for Saturday: Spotlight to see the next blogger(s) Susan and I will be featuring.
                                       Kris
                                        :)

Sharing with Debra and Be Inspired Friday

Back Home Chicago

We arrived home from Hawaii after a 8 hour overnight flight on Sunday.  It was a fabulous trip with my hubby's family.  I did not want to come home.   It was our first time to Hawaii and I have to say it is Paradise.  Just pure heaven.

Here are a few pictures to share with all of you from out trip.

We stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki   Just a beautiful resort.

One of the little greeters at the hotel.

The most beautiful beaches.

Beautiful waters.  The hues of blue in the ocean were so pretty.

Diamond Head

It is amazing what can come out of Lava and Rock.  

Our view from the balcony of our room.

One of the 6 beautiful pools in the resort.  This one is right off the beach.

Our reserved chairs on the beach!!! Heaven.

One of the neighborhoods.  The homes are right on top of each other and are built up but who cares when you get to wake up on this beautiful island each day.

They had the cutest little places to have lunch and dinner on the island.

We took a tour at the Dole Plantation.  The Gardens were gorgeous.

I love the Bird of Paradise plant.  The flowers do look like little birds.

There are over 200 varieties of pineapples.  I did not know that!!!!!

They just grow right out of the ground.  It takes 15 months for a pineapple to get to it's full potential before it is harvested.

Ha! Ha! my husband Terry as a Dole Pineapple.

Here are my in laws.  My father in law is a stitch and so much fun to travel with.

Terry and I hiding in a pineapple patch.  It was fun taking advantage of the props!!!!!!

They also grow chocolate and coffee on the Dole Plantation.

Here is the gang on our last night before we had to leave this beautiful Island.  It was a wonderful trip.  The sunsets were gorgeous and the beaches so heavenly.  It was a beautiful trip given to us by my wonderful Mother and Father in Law.  They are simply the best.
Just wanted to share a little of my trip with all of you.  Now it is back to reality!!!!! I have a ton of laundry to do!!!
Have a great week.
Kris
:)

SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT: Carol from Art and Sand

Spotlight: REAL LIFE BEHIND THE BLOGGER

  Susan from Must Love Junk, and myself (Kris) Junk Chic Cottage wanted to do a regular feature on our blogs, something unique that hasn't been done before.   So we came up with an idea to 'spotlight the real life behind the blogger' in a more personal way.

There is so much talent and inspiration in blogland, and we thought it would be fun to bring you a closer look at the person behind the blog.

Every week on Saturday we will spotlight a blogger and have them tell us a little bit about themselves and their blogs.  You will be able to see and read about each of the bloggers on both Susan's and my blog. 

I would like to introduce you to a very special blogger that Susan and I have come to know in blog world.  She is not only talented but also a very special teacher that recently retired and lives with her talented artist husband Steve in a sweet little beach cottage in California 

Hi, I am Carol and I write the blog Art and Sand t and Sand.

I was flattered when Kris at Junk Chic Cottage asked me to write a post for her blog.

But, then I was totally at a loss - what would I write about?

She said to make it personal - write about our beach lifestyle and our creativity.

Let's see, 

I AM A SCHEMER

I plot and plan until I get what I want and usually make my husband, Steve, think things are his idea.

In 1997, I wanted to live at the beach so our daughter KC and I went house hunting, without telling Steve.

We found this house

 and we talked Steve into looking at it because it was 7 houses from the water and he could check the surf from the driveway.

The plan worked, but buying that house didn't work out - thankfully!

Instead, we bought a little 1928 cottage - mullioned windows, 6 inch molding, French doors, arched porch - on the same street, 14 houses from the water.

MOVING 1 MILE CHANGED OUR LIVES 

We live on the best lane in Pierpont and life is one big party.

Beach people spend most of their time outdoors - sitting on the beach, socializing, walking dogs, watching the sunset . . .

 A quick story to explain life on our beach -

For fourteen years, on New Year's Eve, Brunswick Lane has held a Progressive Dinner with sometimes as many as 100 people - non street people are welcome.

Last New Year's Eve, a guest was chatting with me and said it was amazing that so many of us wanted to be together on New Year's Eve.

Our neighbor, Craig, jumped into the conversation to say, "It isn't just New Year's - we get together on Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, birthdays, retirements, graduations, anniversaries, etc. Brunswick Lane is family!"

So, we live at the beach with our large family and share in each others joys, sorrows and celebrations.

We ski together, go to concerts, eat dinner out and watch sunsets.

Craig documents our Brunswick family and on New Year's Eve we watch a video of the past year.

We could not be happier living in our little piece of paradise.

WE ARE CREATIVE CREATURES

Steve was not always an artist.

That is not exactly true - he was an artist who did not do art.

Moving to the beach provided him time - he no longer spent all weekend looking for surf.

With that time, he went back to his childhood love of art.

In 2002 he began taking art classes, in 2003 we built a studio onto the house, in 2006 he left the corporate world to pursue his art full time - and the rest is history.

I on the other hand, am not an artist.

I never was an artist, but I am a creator.

My fingers must always be busy - I play games on my iPhone while Steve drives or I fall asleep.

For the last 19 months I have blogged and because I blog,

I sew  . . .

I paint on boxes

and fabric . . .

I make books and cards . . .

I garden . . . 

I do not sleep . . . there are too many things on my lists to complete.

I guess this all makes me a scheming, creative blogger who loves the beach.

As of last month, I can add the adjective RETIRED to that list which means I can do any and all of the above all day long if I want.

Or, I can just play on the beach - want to join me?

Now if you loved reading and getting to know Carol from Art and Sand please hop over to Susan's blog and read about Mary Alice from Chateau Chic.