The ladies and Glenn did a great job! We had sooo much fun this week painting mailboxes.......
Friday, April 30, 2010
Gadsden Hobby Lobby MailBox Class 4/29/20
The ladies and Glenn did a great job! We had sooo much fun this week painting mailboxes.......
quick question
LiveJournal Tags: house beautiful,elle decor
loving…
1. nate berkus for hsn. this dhurrie rug in particular.
2. and this ikat journal set also by nate.
3. this beautiful quote that i saw earlier this week on pink wallpaper.
4. this super-cute height chart. i saw it on the real living blog.
5. this suzani apron. saw it on the green door and she found it at magpie lovely.
have a lovely spring weekend!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Colour ME Happy!!!
{me & maria}
We got a visit from Maria Killam of Colour Me Happy this week!!! Maria flew down to DC (really Virginia) from NYC this week and we had such a great time! Maria is everything she seems on her blog and more: super-stylish, quick-witted, thoughtful, frank and so much fun. She's continually looking to grow & learn and is a natural teacher. This may sound cheesy, but she's a very wise, self-aware person. .
I got to go on a Colour Me Happy color consultation to see her in action and (of couse!) she's so good. I have no doubt her client will be thrilled with the results. She also picked out some colors for me at our house for when we get to those rooms!! yayyyy
{the perfect little turquoise vase she brought me}
Maria also filled me in on the latest color trends and one of my favorite descriptions was "Pretty Ugly." Click here to read more about it. I also learned that I'm totally in the stoneage as far as technology goes and have a lot of things to learn like twitter, snaggit and windows live writer. Maria is so generous with info and I have a mental checklist of all the things I need to get on like a Pure Style Home facebook page, etc. Anyway, it was awesome to meet another amazing blogfriend and we can't wait to see her again!! She's amazing!!
xoxo,
lauren
Throwing Caution to the Wind: The Surprising Results of a History Class Project
Randall Stephens
I’ve never been big on class projects. The careful, OCD part of me sees millions of things that could go wrong. I’ve also not been much of a fan of student presentations. Ditto from above. Imagine hours and hours of classroom time eaten up by: “Webster’s Dictionary defines the Cold War as . . . In this presentation I plan to try to discuss why Khrushchev was so mad at America.” Or: “Mr. Abraham Lincoln stood head and shoulders above his contemporaries. According to Wikipedia, Abe was best known for writing down the emancipation renunciation . . .”
In recent years, though, I’ve begun to let go of past prejudices. With the right prep work and with plenty of guidance, student presentations can be educational, if not top notch, and they can be a wonderful end-of-semester exercise. So, on to class projects, I thought.
Eastern Nazarene College is right next to the Josiah Quincy House (built in 1770). It’s a beautiful colonial home and a national treasure sitting right in our backyard. But none of the students in
my class even knew where it was located. So for my course on historiography, methods, and the practice of history I decided to have the students help me build a resource website for this storied home. The result was pleasantly surprising.
The students were interested in the project, if not wildly enthusiastic about it. We started with an early-March guided tour of the house. Eyes lit up when our guide Leah Walczak spoke of prominent visitors to the home: Benjamin Franklin, the Marquis de Lafayette, and, of course, John and John Quincy Adams. (The Quincys and the Adamses had a little rivalry going on, which added a dash of drama to the project.) The students invested considerable time in tracking down sources and finding out about this amazing colonial home and its remarkable history over the ages.
We tried to make the site a useful little guide for anyone who might be interested in the mansion and the illustrious Quincy family. So, along with some general information about the house and the Quincys, we've included architectural information; an extensive bibliographical page (the students went to town on this!); a JQ family line; hi res photos of the house; numerous maps, prints, and paintings; a video interview with Leah Walczak (chief curator); and a variety of links dedicated to local and regional history. We have also included links to as many full-text books, articles, and manuscripts related to the family and the mansion that we could find. I was impressed with student initiative. They were tracking down items and working on leads that had escaped me.
I plan to do it again. Next time around, though, we’ll be building a resource website on the now-destroyed second Josiah Quincy Mansion. That Victorian edifice once actually stood on
our campus. (It was leveled in 1969 to make way for a Cold-War-styled modernist religion building. Sorry business.)
But, in the end, what do students take away from such a project? What use is it? Well, they certainly seemed to hone their research skills. They also have thought about how best to present history to a broader public. We discussed the layout of the website, the order and title of subpages, and more. I have hoped students come away from a class like this with renewed curiosity. I have also hoped they will think more about how history connects to the world around them. Among other things, their work on the Josiah Quincy site, it seems to me, linked past to the present quite effectively.
I’ve never been big on class projects. The careful, OCD part of me sees millions of things that could go wrong. I’ve also not been much of a fan of student presentations. Ditto from above. Imagine hours and hours of classroom time eaten up by: “Webster’s Dictionary defines the Cold War as . . . In this presentation I plan to try to discuss why Khrushchev was so mad at America.” Or: “Mr. Abraham Lincoln stood head and shoulders above his contemporaries. According to Wikipedia, Abe was best known for writing down the emancipation renunciation . . .”
In recent years, though, I’ve begun to let go of past prejudices. With the right prep work and with plenty of guidance, student presentations can be educational, if not top notch, and they can be a wonderful end-of-semester exercise. So, on to class projects, I thought.
Eastern Nazarene College is right next to the Josiah Quincy House (built in 1770). It’s a beautiful colonial home and a national treasure sitting right in our backyard. But none of the students in
my class even knew where it was located. So for my course on historiography, methods, and the practice of history I decided to have the students help me build a resource website for this storied home. The result was pleasantly surprising.The students were interested in the project, if not wildly enthusiastic about it. We started with an early-March guided tour of the house. Eyes lit up when our guide Leah Walczak spoke of prominent visitors to the home: Benjamin Franklin, the Marquis de Lafayette, and, of course, John and John Quincy Adams. (The Quincys and the Adamses had a little rivalry going on, which added a dash of drama to the project.) The students invested considerable time in tracking down sources and finding out about this amazing colonial home and its remarkable history over the ages.
We tried to make the site a useful little guide for anyone who might be interested in the mansion and the illustrious Quincy family. So, along with some general information about the house and the Quincys, we've included architectural information; an extensive bibliographical page (the students went to town on this!); a JQ family line; hi res photos of the house; numerous maps, prints, and paintings; a video interview with Leah Walczak (chief curator); and a variety of links dedicated to local and regional history. We have also included links to as many full-text books, articles, and manuscripts related to the family and the mansion that we could find. I was impressed with student initiative. They were tracking down items and working on leads that had escaped me.
I plan to do it again. Next time around, though, we’ll be building a resource website on the now-destroyed second Josiah Quincy Mansion. That Victorian edifice once actually stood on
our campus. (It was leveled in 1969 to make way for a Cold-War-styled modernist religion building. Sorry business.)But, in the end, what do students take away from such a project? What use is it? Well, they certainly seemed to hone their research skills. They also have thought about how best to present history to a broader public. We discussed the layout of the website, the order and title of subpages, and more. I have hoped students come away from a class like this with renewed curiosity. I have also hoped they will think more about how history connects to the world around them. Among other things, their work on the Josiah Quincy site, it seems to me, linked past to the present quite effectively.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Eric Arnesen on Brinkley's FDR
Randall Stephens
Franklin D. Roosevelt was stricken with polio in 1921. From then on he could only walk with the help of others or the use of crutches. That did not keep him from thinking about feet and walking in politically metaphorical terms. "A radical
is a man with both feet firmly planted—in the air," he told a radio audience in the desperate year of 1939. "A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned to walk forward. A reactionary is a somnambulist walking backwards. A liberal is a man who uses his legs and his hands at the behest . . . of his head." Critics howled with disbelief. The federal government was treading all over regular Americans, walking up one side of the common man and down the other.
Eric Arnesen reviews Alan Brinley's biography of FDR over at the Chicago Tribune. He begins with the words of one vociferous critic, who worries that Big Government boots are going to walk all over liberty.
Eric Arnesen, Franklin Delano Roosevelt
By Alan Brinkley
Oxford University Press, 2009, $12.95, 129 pages
At a time of crisis in the American economy, one critic of federal programs charges the administration with stumbling “into philosophies which lead to the surrender of freedom.” It is a “false Liberalism that interprets itself into government dictation,” poisoning “political equality” and “equality of opportunity.” The policies pursed by the administration constitute “the road not to liberty but to less liberty.” What is needed is the “release of the dynamic forces in initiative and enterprise” which “are alone the methods by which these solutions can be found and the purpose of American life assured.”
What had so exercised this critic? The rescue of AIG, the financial sector, and the domestic auto industry? The health care bill that recently emerged triumphant by the narrowest of legislative margins? President Barack Obama’s recess appointments? And just
who was so exercised? The Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele? Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin? A libertarian activist? A tea party-er?
This time, President Obama is off the hook. The contemporary ring of the attack notwithstanding, this denunciation of liberalism and federal authority and celebration of free enterprise is over seventy-five years old. The critic was former President Herbert Hoover; the year 1934. And what so agitated him was President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal. Just as Obama has his political enemies to the Right, so too did Roosevelt.
Along with Washington and Lincoln, political historian Alan Brinkley observes, Franklin Roosevelt remains for most Americans “part of the triumvirate of our greatest leaders.” The only political figure to be elected president four times, FDR had his work cut out for him: he not only presided over the nation’s most severe economic crisis ever but he successfully led the United States to victory in a bloody world war that threatened to extinguish democracy around the globe. His legacy during “dark and dangerous years” was “extraordinary,” Brinkley reminds us. “No president since the nation’s founding has done more to shape the character of American government.”
Not surprisingly, then, FDR has attracted considerable attention from historians over the decades. From Arthur M. Schlesinger and James McGregor Burns in the 1950s to Conrad Black, Jean Edward Smith, and H.W. Brands in the early 21st century, the 32nd president has been the subject of numerous biographies, some multi-volume and many extremely long. For all of the thousands of pages – tens of thousands, actually – devoted to exploring his life, Roosevelt remains, Brinkley argues, an “enigmatic man” who has “defied the efforts of so many people who have hoped to understand him fully.” read more >>>
Franklin D. Roosevelt was stricken with polio in 1921. From then on he could only walk with the help of others or the use of crutches. That did not keep him from thinking about feet and walking in politically metaphorical terms. "A radical
is a man with both feet firmly planted—in the air," he told a radio audience in the desperate year of 1939. "A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned to walk forward. A reactionary is a somnambulist walking backwards. A liberal is a man who uses his legs and his hands at the behest . . . of his head." Critics howled with disbelief. The federal government was treading all over regular Americans, walking up one side of the common man and down the other.Eric Arnesen reviews Alan Brinley's biography of FDR over at the Chicago Tribune. He begins with the words of one vociferous critic, who worries that Big Government boots are going to walk all over liberty.
Eric Arnesen, Franklin Delano Roosevelt
By Alan Brinkley
Oxford University Press, 2009, $12.95, 129 pages
At a time of crisis in the American economy, one critic of federal programs charges the administration with stumbling “into philosophies which lead to the surrender of freedom.” It is a “false Liberalism that interprets itself into government dictation,” poisoning “political equality” and “equality of opportunity.” The policies pursed by the administration constitute “the road not to liberty but to less liberty.” What is needed is the “release of the dynamic forces in initiative and enterprise” which “are alone the methods by which these solutions can be found and the purpose of American life assured.”
What had so exercised this critic? The rescue of AIG, the financial sector, and the domestic auto industry? The health care bill that recently emerged triumphant by the narrowest of legislative margins? President Barack Obama’s recess appointments? And just
who was so exercised? The Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele? Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin? A libertarian activist? A tea party-er?This time, President Obama is off the hook. The contemporary ring of the attack notwithstanding, this denunciation of liberalism and federal authority and celebration of free enterprise is over seventy-five years old. The critic was former President Herbert Hoover; the year 1934. And what so agitated him was President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal. Just as Obama has his political enemies to the Right, so too did Roosevelt.
Along with Washington and Lincoln, political historian Alan Brinkley observes, Franklin Roosevelt remains for most Americans “part of the triumvirate of our greatest leaders.” The only political figure to be elected president four times, FDR had his work cut out for him: he not only presided over the nation’s most severe economic crisis ever but he successfully led the United States to victory in a bloody world war that threatened to extinguish democracy around the globe. His legacy during “dark and dangerous years” was “extraordinary,” Brinkley reminds us. “No president since the nation’s founding has done more to shape the character of American government.”
Not surprisingly, then, FDR has attracted considerable attention from historians over the decades. From Arthur M. Schlesinger and James McGregor Burns in the 1950s to Conrad Black, Jean Edward Smith, and H.W. Brands in the early 21st century, the 32nd president has been the subject of numerous biographies, some multi-volume and many extremely long. For all of the thousands of pages – tens of thousands, actually – devoted to exploring his life, Roosevelt remains, Brinkley argues, an “enigmatic man” who has “defied the efforts of so many people who have hoped to understand him fully.” read more >>>
April 27th Hobby Lobby Oxford Mail Box Class
We all had sooo much fun creating all these great mailboxes! They did such a great job!
April 22, 2010 Gadsden Hobby Lobby
We made a bouquet of clay roses in a vintage tea cup.....They did great!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
fun in east nashville
last week i was working on a job in nashville with some fellow designers and during some of our free time we explored the city. we wound up in east nashville which is somewhat of a cross between inman park and little 5 in atlanta. it’s very artsy and very cool. this was where i found the most adorable hot dog stand that i think i’ve ever seen. i’m not sure if adorable and hot dog stand should be in the same sentence but this hot dog stand was pretty stinkin’ cute. and, it had the best name…check out the weenie sign. i had already eaten by the time i found this little gem so i wasn’t able to try one. maybe next time.
the hot dog stand caught my eye and made me stop, but i was lucky to find an antique shop right beside it.
this antique shop had some of the best prices i’ve seen for mid-century pieces. the furniture they had was also in mint condition. no scratches or dings anywhere. unfortunately i didn’t have my camera with me. i did have my blackberry so i snapped a few shots. sorry about the quality of the photos.
i fell in love with this john stewart china cabinet. the 4” knobs were real turquoise.
i wish i would have taken more photos of the lamps, the jewelry and everything else they had but i was in such awe of the store i completely forgot. if you are in the nashville area you should definitely make a point to stop at wonders on woodland.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Just a Year Ago...
Today I'm joining the Poppies at Play Parade of Homes Tour! So if this is your first time stopping by- welcome & thanks so much for coming!!
... Just a year ago we moved into our new {70s} home. We've made so many changes to it that I thought a before& after post of the whole house would be fun. I'll put links throughout the post to the specific rooms in the house so if you've got any questions, check those post for answers, sources, how to's, etc. Also, the pics have been taken throughout the past year as we completed the projects which is why you'll see so many seasons in the different pics.
Our house had been vacant and on the market for about 4 years before we came along & bought it. (above) You can read the original post I did about it here. I was totally IN LOVE even though it was a bit sad-looking. We were told by numerous family members (and even one of our realtors!) what a mistake it would be to buy this house. Well, my husband & I aren't known for listening to others (Sometiems to our detriment & sometimes to our benefit!)... so we took the plunge anyway.
We painted the cedar a dark gray and added a trellis with climbing jasmine and as many shrubs as we could afford. (Still planning on adding more :) Here's a photo I took "after" during one of the blizzards we had this year:
The entrance (below) was in need of some loving:
...And here's what it looks like now (errr on Halloween ;):
{Bright orange front door, new lantern, rug, paint, etc.}
{Before}
I wanted something interesting and a little "off"... and something that would have a big impact when you first walked in... so we hung a bunch of DaVinci sketches randomly along the walls:
{After: fresh paint, custom frames, new caged lantern, orange door & seagrass carpet}
The living room is one of my favorite parts of our house. We're up in the trees and it feels like a treehouse, especially with all of the windows open and a breeze blowing through. Here's a photo of it before with wall-to-wall carpet:
And here it is now (or last week; I've already rearranged since this pic, something I do all the time)..
{My husband, Dave, installed hardwood floors and we had a custom wool rug cut for a soft spot to play for our kids}
And here it is this week: (I promise I don't have too much time on my hands!! ;) ;)
Here's a view of the side wall before:
And here it is now:
{We added an a mantle with a mirror for a focal point on the once bland wall. Dave also did an awesome job stencilling the wall with an allover pattern... Excuse all the junk, books and dying flowers around... I snapped this pic this morning without really fixing as it's been a bit crazy around here lately... I did stash a bunch of toys and real "mess" just for you though!}
Here's the bookshelf we jam-packed with books & things we've collected over the years. The 2 lower shelves house toy boxes:
The dining room is smaller than it looks and is open to the living room. Here it is "before:"
And here is is now:
{After: New chandelier, furniture, blown-up 15th Century Drawing on wall... For details on the dining room click here}
Our kitchen met with its end the second day after closing on the house... Here it was before:
And here it is now:
{We removed the upper cabinets, added beadboard & shelving, painted the lowers, did hardwoods and painted out old fridge with chalkboard paint for fun}
Here's our little breakfast nook now:
{It's a great place to hang and I love our old-fashioned wallpaper... For details on our kitchen redo, click here}
Ok, now onto the bedroom! Here's our bedroom 'before' in all its glory:
{yum! yum!}
And here it is now:
{We found the brass headboard on the side of the road and it sort of guided the design of the room which is a mix of old & new, white and metallic.. for more details, go here}
I hung up some of my jewelry on the wall & I wear it so much more than I used to:
Our 2 year-old's (Christian's) bedroom is a tiny fun spot in the house:
We hung up pages of the Saggy Baggy Elephant on the walls (above) and turned his closet into a little play area with a chalkboard paint hill and a green vintage wallpaper lion:
We just finished decorating our new baby's (4 month old Justin) nursery. We went dark & a little nutty in here:
The walls are a dark navy and we made the canopy out of a stencilled dropcloth. we made sure to include a place for Christian to hang out in Justin's room so he feels included:
{Christian chillin in his reading nook}
Now onto the lower level. (And I'm only showing you one room down here because the rest are still in progress and are NOT pretty) Here's the space before, planned to be a combination family room and office:
{lovely linoleum}
And here it is now:
I love having this huge table to spread projects out on. We had wall-to-wall seagrass carpet installed and we love it. (It can't be hurt!!) I wanted it to feel happy & airy down here so the panelling got a fresh coat of aqua paint.
...So we knocked it all down & leveled it and it's now the TV/ seating/ play area:
Having a ton of hidden toy storage is key to keeping me feeling sane:
We've got an ever-growing collection of flea market paintings so up they go above the sofa:
And finally, here's another veiw of the family room before:
{Gotta love that 70s stone}
We debated & debated about what to do with the stone and the wood-burning stove but in the strangest way the stone started to grow on me and now I love it. The wood-burning stove was awesome & so cozy in the snow storms, so it's definitely staying for now:
.JPG)
{Lanterm, Ikea Chairs & Ikea ottoman with custom washable slipcover... For details on the lowerl level redo, click here}
...And that's about it for now!! We always have something going on over here so I hope you'll come back. (And everyone who is always here, thanks for bearing with me for all the repeats!)
Anyway, thanks so much to Andy for inviting me to be a part of the blogger home tour!! I'm honored to be included!! :) I hope everyone enjoyed it and now it's time to head on over to House
xoxo,
lauren
