New living room photos

I may not have been blogging much lately, but I can't seem to stop tinkering with the house - I do it almost unconsciously!  One day I feel the need to change up the mantel, another day I am switching pillows around.  Our friend and babysitter came over on Friday after having been away for a while and couldn't believe how many changes I had made.  Because I have been doing them bit by bit and been so distracted by my work and business course, I really hadn't taken in the cumulative effect of all my little tweaks.

The boys went out for a hike this morning and I set to work on the computer.  But the sun was pouring in the windows and kept tempting away from the screen. Suddenly I found I couldn't resist the opportunity to tidy things up and take a few photos - that is a form of work, isn't it? It was so amazing to sweep away the layer of toys and paper and yoga mats and STUFF that piles up when I am not looking.

Plus, I enjoy taking photos and I haven't been doing much of that lately either, someone seems to have put a limit on the number of hours in a day...  I have done a few more encaustic samples - you can see one I left out above of my mother- and father-in-law on their wedding day in Prague.  I wanted a bit of a change from all the kid photos I had been doing, and I liked working with the black and white.  This is also one of my favourite photos, I just love the expression on Diana's face.  Hmmm...apparently dusting is on the list of things-I-haven't-done-recently... ahem... funny how you don't see things until they are in a photo...

So, the rug is the one I had in the bedroom from that estate sale.  One day I decided to try all our rugs in different places...and threw out my back in the process.  But I kind of like this one here.  I also replaced the blue sofa with this white Ikea loveseat from Craig's List - after I sold the blue one, this guy cost me all of $75.  I switched some of the artwork and moved that square photograph of New River Beach taken by my photographer friend Martin Reis into a more prominent spot.  (To refresh your memory on all the previous iterations of this room, you can check out the House Tour button above.)

I showed you the brass shelves I scored at my first garage sale of the season.  To be honest I don't love them here, they are just a little too angular I think.  Now that I look at it, most of my stuff is soft, rounded, or organically shaped, maybe that is what seems out of place with these.  They are also the wrong size for the loveseat.  Maybe I can find another place for them (perhaps switch them with the smaller sideboard in the dining room?), and if all else fails I can put them on Craig's list!

The dining room is much the same, although the armoire is definitely crowded by the brass shelves.  Gosh, that silver needs a polish, eh?  Yikes.  This taking photos business seems to be making more work for me.  The little painting is a little practice piece I did - cause I don't have enough on the go, I thought I would take up a new hobby... :)

Anything else you notice that I forgot to mention or that you would like to know the story behind?  I think pretty much everything in here has some sort of meaning to it, Nate Berkus would be so proud. :)  Also, if you have any ideas of stuff to change, let me know, I would love to have a different perspective!