Meet Our Bloggers
Penny
Penny is a mosaic artist with her own online boutique, Lavender Hill Studio. Working out of her home studio in the mountains of North Carolina, Penny enjoys repurposing old furniture, teapots, trays, old windows, mirrors and more into functional works of art for the home and garden. When not working in her studio, she spends her time flea marketing, antiquing, gardening and decorating her home. Penny believes the most important key to good home design is comfort and great lighting.
Lavender Hill Studio
A Mosaic and Vintage Lighting Store
www.lavenderhillstudio.com
www.lavenderhillstudio.blogspot.com
Recent posts by Penny:
I love to cook. I really love to cook when I have fresh herbs. They can be costly, if purchased at the grocery store and usually turn brown before you have a chance to use them all. So to have fresh herbs year round, I grow them inside and outside.
Posted by: Penny 4/25/09 at 8:00 am
I love this time of the year! It is time to get back into the garden. Every year, after our last frost date (April 26th for my area), I head to the local garden center and purchase new plants, mulch etc.
I love decorating the garden with flowers, of course! But another whimiscal [...]
Posted by: Penny 4/18/09 at 4:59 pm
I have this thing about Roosters. My decorating style is French Country Cottage. I love toile, transferware and Roosters! It seems I have gathered quite a collection of them. I have rooster statues, rooster pillows, rooster pictures, rooster glasses and more.
Posted by: Penny 4/3/09 at 11:03 pm
Where do you get your decorating inspiration from? Do you browse furniture stores? Head to a model home center and walk through the homes? Buy decorating books or magazines? I have done all of the above. Now I also add to my list of places to be inspired are decorating [...]
Posted by: Penny 3/28/09 at 1:16 pm
Hi Everyone! Welcome to the Ultimate Blog Party. I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Penny and I am a mosaic artist and a Home Goods Team Blogger. I own my own online boutique, Lavender Hill Studio where I sell my mosaics and whimsical lighting. My mosaics are created with [...]
Posted by: Penny 3/21/09 at 11:52 am
Sometimes, all it takes is a small, inexpensive change to make a HUGE difference. I have a collection of glass candle holders. Over the years I have picked them up at thrift stores, antique malls and flea markets. I love to group them together for a wonderful impact. Here are two [...]
Posted by: Penny 3/13/09 at 11:24 pm
While we all love to meet with friends for a great restaurant meal and glass of wine, most of us are trying to cut back on expenses. Why not invite your friends over to your house for some good old comfort food? Having friends over for dinner doesn’t have to be expensive. [...]
Posted by: Penny 2/28/09 at 9:33 am
Do you have an area of your home that has been decorated exactly the same for the last couple of years? Are you ready to shake things up? Is money tight? Have I got an idea for you! Make sure you click on the pictures to enlarge them to see the [...]
Posted by: Penny 2/21/09 at 12:02 am
Is anyone else feeling a little cabin fever? We have all been cooped up inside and I know I am getting a little antsy. I am ready to get out into the garden. Sadly, the garden is not ready for me, yet. It is still a little to cold to [...]
Posted by: Penny 2/14/09 at 1:02 am
On of the simplest and relatively inexpensive ways to change the look of a room is by recovering a lamp shade. There are several methods of recovering a lampshade. Here is the easiest way to do it. First gather some material that you want to use on the shade, scissors, a hot [...]
Posted by: Penny 2/7/09 at 12:42 pm
I don’t know about you, but this time of the year, when it is cold and dreary outside and dining al fresco seems forever away, I need a little comforting. One of the ways I get it is by taking a Saturday or Sunday and preparing a Comfort Meal. One that cooks all [...]
Posted by: Penny 1/31/09 at 1:01 am
Looking around my home today, I mean REALLY looking around my home, I found so many SIMPLE things that make me happy. There are so many little things that I have used decorating my home that makes me smile. Most of these little things cost very little. You can click on the pictures [...]
Posted by: Penny 1/24/09 at 10:04 am
Decorating with flowers is a inexpensive way to add beauty and freshness to your home. No matter your decorating style, you can brighten your home by creating floral arrangements and placing them about your home. I purchase my flowers at the local grocery store once a week. I personally like to buy [...]
Posted by: Penny 1/17/09 at 11:31 am
I am a jeans and t-shirt kind of gal. I wear jeans and t-shirts almost every day. Short sleeve tees in the summer, long sleeve tees in the winter. It is easy, simple and classic. But every once in a while this t-shirt gal wants to add a little glamour to [...]
Posted by: Penny 1/9/09 at 8:00 pm
Now that is is January, I noticed that alot of my fellow bloggers have been thinking about spring. Do you have a corner of your yard or patio that needs some sprucing up? It is never to early to start planning what you are going to do in your garden this year. [...]
Posted by: Penny 1/5/09 at 3:39 pm
Do you use the same bedding all year long? Or do you change it up for each season? Want a big impact for very little expense? Just follow these tips.
The first step to interchangable bedding is neutral sheets. I prefer white or ivory. They go with everything! The second [...]
Posted by: Penny 12/30/08 at 12:04 pm
(Click on any picture to enlarge for detail)
Today is Christmas Eve. I have spent the day preparing some foods for tomorrow. There will be six of us for dinner. I love doing as much as I can before the day of the party or dinner. It makes the day stress free. [...]
Posted by: Penny 12/24/08 at 2:23 pm
Do you have a friend or family member who loves to cook? Here are some great gift ideas for the gourmet. Aprons are all the rage these days. Pick an apron that fits the personality of your favorite chef. Add a rolling pin and wooden spoon tied up with a checked [...]
Posted by: Penny 12/18/08 at 1:30 pm
A great way to save money this holiday season (something I think we all are trying to do!) is to use nature to decorate. I am lucky in that I live in the middle of a forest. But even if you live in the suburbs, you probably have evergreens, boxwood or holly in [...]
Posted by: Penny 12/11/08 at 11:50 am
Are you having a holiday get together at your house this season? A Trim a Tree Party, Ice Skating Party, Cocktail Party or even a Formal Sit Down Dinner?
Now is the time to plan your party table settings. Do something special with your table. Create a beautiful holiday centerpiece, use festive [...]
Posted by: Penny 12/4/08 at 4:09 pm
Where do you get your Christmas tree? Do you use a real tree or an artificial one? If you buy a real tree, have you ever purchased one from a tree farm? For years we lived in Florida and bought our trees at the corner lot. They were lovely trees, shipped [...]
Posted by: Penny 11/25/08 at 10:19 am
This post could also be called “Nesting 101″. When the weather turns colder and the days grown shorter I think it is our natural instinct to nest. The same light and airy decorating style we used in the summer is just not working now. Most of us can’t afford the time or [...]
Posted by: Penny 11/17/08 at 12:30 pm
An easy way to get ahead of the game this holiday season is to start writing your Christmas cards now. This traditional part of the holidays can sometimes seem like a chore when the season gets busy. But if you are organized and follow this plan it will be easy!
Once you have purchased [...]
Posted by: Penny 11/10/08 at 12:27 am
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Do you have holiday linens? I don’t. I love to multi purpose. So I purchase basic white linens for my table settings. I do love colorful dishes and dishes with patterns. White makes the perfect backdrop for any style plate. Now, plain old white can be boring. So you need to jazz it up! If [...]
Posted by: Penny 11/3/08 at 12:57 pm
Fires in the fireplace, cozy sweaters and comfort food. Yes, Autumn is here! One of my favorite fall and winter comfort foods is homemade Chili. There is just something about homemade chile with a side of cornbread that makes it the perfect dinner for fall. I use a boxed corn bread mix to make things [...]
Posted by: Penny 10/22/08 at 4:01 pm
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Candles are the perfect decorating accessory. Especially now that the holidays and cozy winter nights are fast approaching. Shorter days and longer nights in late fall and winter are made for the warm golden glow of candles. Candlelight can be used to lighten up a dark corner, provide romance, decorate a holiday table and create [...]
Posted by: Penny 10/14/08 at 5:27 pm
The holiday season is fast approaching. Are you ready for your overnight guests? Now is the time to spruce up that extra bedroom. Have your ever stayed at a Bed & Breakfast? It is easy to recreate that feeling for your guest.
Posted by: Penny 10/8/08 at 2:32 pm
With it’s relaxed atmophere and casual wicker furniture, there is no better place on a summers day to relax in the shade than on your porch. But, the same place that we sat sipping lemonade this summer is even more wonderful in the fall! Start your nesting, by gathering up extra pillows, cozy colorful quilts [...]
Posted by: Penny 10/3/08 at 4:51 pm
Art adds so much to your home decor. A great way to add original art or prints to your collection is by attending local art shows, through art blogs or artist group sites on the internet.
Posted by: Penny 9/27/08 at 1:37 pm
There is nothing better when the weather starts cooling down than sitting in front of a cozy fireplace. A cup of tea, a good decorating book, a roaring fire and a warm throw sets the stage for an enjoyable afternoon.
Now is the time to take the summer decor off the mantel and dress it for fall. [...]
Posted by: Penny 9/19/08 at 2:49 pm
Hi Everyone!
I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Penny and I am a mosaic artist. I own my own online boutique, Lavender Hill Studio where I sell my mosaics and whimsical lighting. My mosaics are created with vintage china and stained glass. My lighting is created from vintage chandeliers. teapots, tea cups and prisms. [...]
Posted by: Penny 9/11/08 at 8:35 pm
Please join us in welcoming Penny as a new Openhouse blogger. Check back soon to see her first post!
Posted by: Penny 9/8/06 at 12:15 am
