Fine Art Photography Giveaway…

One of my favorite ways to deck the walls is with some beautiful fine art photography. I was recently contacted by Kaitlin Rebesco of the Etsy shop LaPaperie Print Shop and immediately fell in love with her work.

The photos of Paris were the first to catch my eye. Since I traveled there for the first time last January…I am still quite smitten with this magical city. Kaitlin has a unique way of capturing moments and street scenes so beautifully.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kaitlin has in interesting background as shared here…”Photography had been a long time hobby of mine and after college I moved to New York to pursue it professionally.  I took classes while building my portfolio and applying to full-time programs.  The streets of New York sparked an interest in documentary photography that led me to Spéos Photographic Institute in Paris where I graduated in 2012 with a concentration in photojournalism.  I have since moved back to NYC where I am currently working as a freelance documentary and fine art photographer.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was particularly fascinated with Kaitlin's philosophy on documentary and street photography as the “possibility to capture a moment which has never happened before and will never happen again”…brilliant!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am so excited to be offering my first giveaway here on Elegant Nest! Today Kaitlin is giving one of my lucky readers one free 8x10 fine art print!

 

To enter:

 

~ visit LaPaperie Print Shop on Etsy and leave me a comment with  the name of your favorite print

 

~ for a second chance to win…link this giveaway on Twitter or Facebook and leave another comment letting me know where you linked (Twitter or Facebook)

 

As an added bonus…Kaitlin has generously extended a 20% discount to all Elegant Nest readers who may not win, but still want to order a beautiful fine art print! Just shop LaPaperie Print Shop and enter the code ELEGANT20  at checkout. Valid now through Dec. 1, 2013.

 

One winner will be chosen at random. Giveaway ends on Saturday November 2 @ midnight PST. Winner will be notified via e-mail. 

 

 

Good Luck!

 

 

Giveaway now CLOSED. Winner to be contacted via e-mail and announced on Monday 11/4

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s up over here…

With my lack of posts this week…one might think that there is not much going on over here. Well, appearances can be deceiving…

This is what my upstairs hallway looks like right now! Yikes!

 

 

Several of my favorite bloggers are currently part of the ORC (One Room Challenge) party.

follow here

I have been happily following along. All the while I am in the middle of the TRC (Two Room Challenge) in my own house!


Room #1…

Plans – turn this room into a walk-in closet/storage

Room #2

Plans – turn this room into my art studio/craft room

 

I have been planning on doing this for a while now…like several years actually! The big catalyst for starting was when my son moved into his fraternity house in September. I was left with an empty room (and a bittersweet heart) and knew this was the perfect time to get started!

Unfortunately…the day after painting the room I tweaked my back while cutting up a birch tree! Yes…I actually cut up a tree for the free, beautiful birch logs to use as fall décor. See my post on Natural Fall Décor here. Well…that “free” wood has cost me plenty in chiropractor visits and my first MRI.

via Instagram

 

 

Good news is that I am on the mend…feeling much better and need to get back to work! My husband has been helping. Last weekend he sanded the hardwood floors in one room…and then got sick…slowing things down again.

 

Which is why I am still dealing with this organized mess…

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am determined to complete these two rooms…and soon! How am I supposed to pack for my upcoming trip to New York City? Yes, we are taking off for a few days of fun in the Big Apple in the middle of all of this!?! No complaints…it will all come together eventually, and I will happily show you all the results!

Stay tuned…

Hand Painted Table…

I actually completed this hand painted table months ago…

 

 

 

Mimi picked up two of these orangey oak tables at a garage sale and gave one to me to transform. It started out looking like this…

 

 

 

I decided to hand paint a tone on tone pattern inspired by the design on this plate…

 

 

 

After painting the table with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White - I traced the top of the table and cut out a paper pattern…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next, I freehanded the scroll design onto my paper pattern. Notice how I drew sections on my inspiration photo above? Creating these 4 sections helps keep the design to scale and balanced. Then I placed the paper pattern onto my white painted table top over a piece of newsprint and traced it. Fill in pattern with paint – I used more Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Country Grey. (sorry for the lack of photos of these steps…I think they got deleted from my camera…oops!)

 

 

Here is my finished table with a little fall style…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I waxed the paint with Annie Sloan Clear Wax and then lightly sanded over top. It is not perfect…nor did I want it to be. I like the hand painted nature of the design and look. I added a band of  Country Grey to the apron of the table top and around a band on the base.

I am happy with the way it turned out. Not entirely sure where this table will end up just yet. It just might land in my currently in progress closet/storage room makeover. Yes…I have an entire bedroom that I am turning into a closet!! You may have seen some sneak peeks if you follow me on Instagram!


Stay tuned…

Sharing at...Serenity Now, Miss Mustard Seed, French Country Cottage, Redoux,
Classy Clutter, The Dedicated House, Petite Michelle Louise,





Guest posting at Living Savvy…

Today I am excited to be guest posting over on the blog Living Savvy! Tiffany invited some of her blog friends to share their favorite ways to decorate for fall while she is away on vacation.

I always try to bring natural elements inside to celebrate the change of season. Hop on over to Living Savvy to see more of my favorite ways to decorate for fall…Naturally!

Finding Ironstone…

 

…at last!

 

 

 

I have been a long time reader and fan of the blog Miss Mustard Seed. Marion is so talented and I love how she describes herself as an “accidental entrepreneur”. She has developed her very own line of milk paint and is an incredible artist when it comes to re-finishing furniture, photography, decorating and more! Her talents are no accident!

visit Miss Mustard Seed here

 

 

One of my favorite parts of her blog is her collection of beautiful white ironstone pottery. I have been searching and searching my local thrift shops, antique malls, garage sales, and flea markets for pieces to start my own collection. Often with no luck at all! I was beginning to think that Miss Marion had scooped it all up!

Until last week, when I found this…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I filled my pretty white chamber pot with some favorite fall décor…white pumpkins and pomegranates. I love it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also found this pretty octagon shaped plate…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It has a pretty beaded detail around the edge. It was the only one…so I grabbed it quickly! I guess it would be just too much to expect a whole set of 12 just sitting there waiting for me?!

 

 

 

 

 

 

So for now, my collection has started! With a chamber pot full of natural fall décor and a white plate…waiting for company.

 

Thank You Marion for all of the inspiration and sharing your “accidental” talents with us!


Sharing at...French Country Cottage, Common Ground, Jennifer Rizzo, Classy Clutter,

 

 

 

 

Soup Day Update…

I last shared with you some soup recipes found on my Pinterest  board Fabulous Food. Today I want to share an update…

 

 

 

I made the Chicken Pot Pie Soup…and it is delicious! I made a few adjustments to the original recipe seen here. I added fresh diced carrots to my soup and replaced the baked pie crust strips with club crackers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients

• 2 cup chicken, cooked and diced – I boiled 2 boneless skinless breasts and shredded them
• 3 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 1/2 yellow onion, diced
• 3 celery stalks, diced
• 1 cup fresh broccoli florets, chopped
• 1 cup fresh carrots
• 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 3/4 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup milk (I used skim)
• pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1/2 package pie crust (I used Pillsbury), thawed – I used club crackers/easier and just as good!

Instructions


1. In a large pot, melt butter over medium high heat. Add onions, celery and broccoli and cook to soften about 3-5 minutes. Sprinkle with flour and cook an additional minute, stirring constantly. Slowly add broth, milk, cream, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Use a whisk to combine, then add in cooked chicken. Heat over medium heat until warm, about 10-15 minutes.
2. To assemble, Pour soup into individual ramekins and top with shredded cheese and club crackers. ENJOY!

I love a simple and delicious recipe…especially on days when you are feeling under the weather. Soup is one of my favorite comfort foods on cool fall days.

I was so happy to see my friend Lauren over at the blog Simply LKJ read my last post and decided to make a batch of soup for herself! She whipped up the Spicy Buffalo Chicken Soup recipe in a Gluten Free version.  See her full post here.

Looks delicious Lauren!

 

 

 

What are your favorite comfort foods for fall?

 

ps…you can spy my recent find – look at the white plate under the soup bowl – more details in my next post! Hint…I love Ironstone!

 

 pps...for those of you visiting from Pure Style Home...be sure to check out my GIVEAWAY this week and enter for a chance to win a fine art photography print! Perfect timing for the upcoming holiday/gift giving season! Click here or on my Home button above for details...good luck!




 

 

 

A perfect day for soup…

I am fighting a nasty head cold today…so I spent some time browsing my Pinterest board Fabulous Food for some soup recipes. Here are some of my favorites…

Pumpkin Soup with Sage & Bacon

 

 

 

Crock Pot Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup

 

 

 

Chicken Pot Pie Soup

 

 

 

Creamy Slow Cooker Tortellini Soup

 

 

 

Creamy Broccoli White Bean Soup

 

 

 

30 Minute Buffalo Chicken Soup

 

 

 

Looks like its time to break out the Crock Pot! Just add some crusty bread…or even a grilled Panini on the side…and you have an easy/yummy dinner. My son bought me this for my birthday a couple of weeks ago and I love it!

 

Off to the market to buy ingredients (and more tissue…sniff, sniff).

 

 

Happy Friday!