Romantic Reflections by Karen B.

~Feminine Friday Finds~
~This is the second Friday I am featuring some of my favorite feminine finds.. This week ..vintage picture frames. I adore them.. I use them as art work, as my profile picture shows, to frame beautiful photographs, mirrors,or as below..a gorgeous tray .This was found at the flea market..I painted it a creamy white, I added the vintage damask wallpaper which was also a flea market find. Damask is my favorite pattern. The pink and aqua color combination caught my eye..I was lucky enough to have found four rolls of this beautiful wall paper. I have used it on so many projects. The tray's have wooden drawer pulls for feet. I had to add a piece of glass to the top. Sometimes you get lucky and find the whole ensemble. Most of the time you only find the frame. I sold several of these trays at the Willows Mansion Home Decor Show, using different frames of course. This makes a lovely serving tray, vanity tray to display perfume bottles, or to place in a kitchen or bath. My feminine find for this Friday.. Have a beautiful & romantic weekend.~

~Romantic Creations~
~Romantic gift tags made from a basic hang tag, dressed up in a gorgeous fabric I found at the fabric store. It has a vintage look to it, I adore the colors. Vintage flowers, buttons, & ribbon complete the look. They are stamped with R..for romantic. I am considering doing sets with each initial.If the interest is there, I shall..They will all be different in some way..I like having a pretty variety..it makes the items special..These are perfect to add to a gift, a memory/inspiration board, a dessert or cookie tray. They make a lovely calling card.The bottle is an old spice jar decorated with the same beautiful fabric, enclosed is a piece of paper, so many are doing a message in a bottle. These will have a beautiful saying or quote.,just for the lady who purchases it. It's nice to buy for others. But sometimes it is nice to have pretty things to place where you can gaze upon it, and feel happy that it is just yours..The pretty things in life are always what gives me the most pleasure..Don't you agree?..~

~ Embellishments~ Creating Romance~
~I am getting ready to do a few creative ventures in the next few months. Every year the town of Media, PA. holds a street fair at the end of April. Artisans & antique shop keepers come together to enjoy the beautiful weather,sell their wares, dine on local fare and listen to local musicians. It is a really great time. Every year I am just a visitor. This year I will become a vendor. I am excited about getting to mingle with the locals, chat & feature my romantic home decor. In addition to this fair, I am going to also sell at the upcoming flea market I adore patroning a few times a month. That is on May 2nd. I am thrilled to be venturing into this world. At the flea I have made many friends, and most of the regulars know me by name. I have found many many treasures there. I am looking forward to shopping & selling .So many have asked me to try it in the past. I am ready. I have been creating some new items, as well as gathering supplies to create old favorites. My embellished hand mirrors being one, as well as my trays made from old picture frames. I adore so many things, and have many ideas. I am going to feature some here tonight. I love creating beautiful home decor.The satisfaction of having someone see beauty in your work, purchasing it for their home, is so rewarding. Some will be heirlooms, passed down to future generations. My pieces are time worn, but timeless. Vintage elegance for your romantic home {TM}. Enjoy the next few posts & photographs.Have a beautiful & romantic day & night..~

~This is a very small vignette of some of my creations.. The memory board in the center was an old cabinet door, the crown pillow was created from a top I found at a consignment shop. They had two. I wear the other one. I love the crown design,the pink & brown colors caught my eye immediately.I knew I wanted to use the spare top in some sort of creative way. It is a favorite. The chenille pillow is adorned with a brown bow, a vintage pink rhinestone earring clipped in the center adds some pretty sparkle.I love using vintage jewelry on everything, even lampshades. The lampshades featured have pearls and a gorgeous pink & gold trim, the other is done in a Shabby Chic fabric. My signature vintage floral hand mirror, beautiful sachets done in elegant fabrics, the rhinestone appliques were found at the flea market. A very romantic variety of my handmade creations.~

~Cotillion Home~ & it's Proprietress..Karen B.~

 

 

“Love of beauty is Taste. The creation of beauty is Art.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~


~Hello..I'm Karen B..An interior stylist from Pennsylvania. I live in a suburb a few miles outside of Philadelphia. I specialize in hand painted vintage furniture, romantic home decor, embellished clothing & purses, vintage jewelry, & antiques,..All things romantic & beautiful....

~About the lady..I am 43 yrs. old and the mother of two beautiful daughters.. Devin is 13 & Lauren is 11..I have been in retail for 25 yrs. My passion is decorating & design.I have taken several classes..but like Rachel Ashwell..I have educated myself through my work in retail, and my love for beautiful things..Her way of balancing single motherhood with her craft & love of beautiful living is such a talent.. she is definitely an inspiration & a mentor..My love of decorating and antiques lead me to co-own a space in an antique co-op in Chaddsford, PA. next to the Brandywine River Museum. At Town & Country Antiques, The Ivorygate specialized in the Shabby Chic style of decorating,romantic home decor & antiques..My hand painted vintage furniture, using different paint techniques, new & vintage fabric, vintage wallpapers..are one of a kind..I also transform vintage finds using paint, fabric,laces, trims, buttons,millinery flowers, vintage wallpaper, chandelier crystals, vintage jewelry, and other pretty notions into romantic home decor...My hand made creations have been sold at several juried home decor shows. The Willows Mansion here on the Philadelphia Main Line being just one..I have sold on Ebay and will now be featuring my work & finds on Etsy..It seems like the place to be at the moment..I am hoping to launch my on-line boutique/blog/website by late spring/early summer "2010"..
Romantic decorating is my personal preferance & style..Pink is my signature color..I love lace{Battenburg is a favorite}, white washed furniture, silver accessories, vintage china, old photographs,flowers{ Heirloom pink roses, hydrangeas, and peonies are favorites}. Pale pink in a woody muted tone is the color I choose when accessorising at the moment..I am beginning to desire an all white color palette..I have always been drawn to rooms decorated in shades of white..By mixing a few of my favorite styles.Romantic Cottage Elegance is what I would call it..Ethereal and dreamy, worn & weathered, french inspired vintage pieces, with the comforts of a beach cottage..This would be my ideal home decor..
I adore flea markets, estate sales, yard sales, and a great bargain..I have a very skilled eye, and a great sense of the styles both past & present .I have been employed at Pier 1 Imports as the store design consultant, HomeGoods, a store called Homestyle as a sales consultant & visual display artist, and in several linen departments. My first job at 17 was with the Gap..I prefer wearing romantic clothing & vintage jewelry. I am an avid reader of decorating magazines, and I have many decorating & design books.I love gardening, I am limited at this time to container gardens, but am again hoping to aquire a beautiful space in which to have my own version of a small Giverny..; )..I have yet to travel to France, but I have been to Europe{Munich, Germany}..My travels have also taken me to Hawaii, New York, Florida, and the lower east coast..Saving my favorite for last, California. Both LA & San Francisco were amazing..But I truly left my heart in San Fran..The architecture was magnificent..the shops quaint & friendly..& brimming with my favorites..The Palace Of Fine Arts was a vision..I WILL go back..
I love what I do..I am passionate about everything.Music & art since childhood have held a very important place in my life..I also have a talent for writing and enjoy telling my stories as well as offering & sharing ideas, beautiful thoughts through quotes and poetry..even at times through song lyrics or a line from a favorite old Hollywood film..I have many friends, and my children are my world.. I choose to live a romantic & creative lifestyle..I hope I can & will inspire you here at ~Cotillion Home~ through my blog..~Romantic Reflections~ by Karen B.I will be sharing many beautiful thoughts, memories, & ideas ...If you have any questions or comments..Feel free to email me at-
[email protected]
Have a beautiful & romantic day..& night..; )
Karen~

~Please join my groups.."A Little Romance" "Flirtatious" & "Indulge" on Flickr..http://www.flickr.com/photos/romanticvintagehome/


~Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.”