A lovely quote and a lovely thought....

Rachel Ashwell - Shabby Chic.

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday January 17, 2010

Welcome to my Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday post. For over twenty-five years I have collected various spiritual and inspirational quotes and messages. My hope is that when you read these, you will pause and reflect. Perhaps you will share this post with a friend who just so happens to be in need of reading what I am sharing today.

Better health by losing weight, diet, and exercise seems to be a common new year’s resolution.  Blessings.  …susan

“You are what you eat.” Gillian McKeith

There are a lot of things in life I cannot control but I can control what I put in my mouth. Unknown

“If I knew I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself. “ Groucho Marx

“I am saving that rocker for the day when I feel as old as I really am. “Eisenhower

You stomach shouldn’t be a waist basket. Unknown

A moment on the lips is a lifetime on the hips. Unknown

“Our bodies are our gardens-our wills are our gardeners.”  William Shakespeare

“No matter who you are, no matter what you do, you absolutely, positively do have the power to change.” Bill Phillips

God Bless the people of Haiti!

White will be the colour of my year...

(At home with white)

I know some of you maybe thinking booooring but after living in a home with dark timber furniture and dark timber floors for so many years I'm dying to lighten things up for a change.

(Jacqueline Adams antiques)

Mum feels the same. She has dark furniture too that she's had forever and although she can't part with most of it she's going to lighten up her surroundings as much as she can too.

(Mari Eriksson)

My place already has a white tiled floor throughout most of it and white walls. The kitchen and main bathroom are also white. I just need to make a few modifications :)

(Sharyn Cairns)

I'd like to buy white furniture for my front living and dining room but of course my accents will have to include my favourite muted palette.

The front rooms will be soft and feminine and the back family room, although still with white floors and walls will also include hues of charcoal, french grey, red in winter and blue in summer.

There is also a garage conversion, now a rumpus for the kids and that is the only room I plan to darken a little to make it more cosy and comfy. A brooding teenage retreat haha.

Of course, will this all be completed by the end of the year? probably not hehe but It's definitely a work in progress that will keep me focused and inspired throughout :)

Redesigned architecture website and blog

We've launched our new website at Motionspace Architecture + Design PLLC and a new Seattle Architecture Blog. There's also a new Seattle architecture projects gallery with a number of new projects to peruse. Take a look and let us know what you think!

A new year...

And a new attempt at finding my way back to blogging. I hope this year will be more inspiring than the last. Reading all your amazing blogs though kept my heart fluttering. I am in awe of you all, seriously! Some of the posts you make literally take my breath away. Off the top of my head some of the highlights of last year was the incredible completion of Mz A-M's home, The divine transformation of Mz Giannetti's laundry and study and also the hugely anticipated release of Mz Ashwell and Mz Archers latest books. Both of which have become my new bibles and barely leave my arms.

My other favourite book purchases are Sibella Court's Etcetera, Josephine Ryan's Essentially French, Gail Abbott's Living With Light and another little Aussie gem called A Life On Pittwater by Susan Duncan. Heavenly reading!

Currently living together, my mum and I have spent many hours lolling around on the floor and couch immersed in our decorating books, sketching, list writing and overall planning the creation of her newly purchased home, currently undergoing renovations, as well as, once she moves out, the transformation of my new place of residence.

Basically, my marriage ended and I've spent the last year throwing myself into my work and trying to ease my children into a home without their dad. Fortunately they still see him all the time. My mum sold her lake house which was another emotional time for us considering we built it almost 30 years ago, but she's downsized into a lovely coastal home only 10mins from the beautiful beaches of Sydney. I can't wait to see her wave her magic wand and create something amazing :)

She is off to a good start, losing an unnecessary bathroom to open up the kitchen and a clean palette of white walls and white lime washed timber floors.

Once her home is done and dusted I can begin mine :) complete creative control! Oh let the fun begin hehe.

Oh p.s LOVED the new Nancy Meyers movie It's complicated. Just like a man seeing Angelina Jolie appear in her first scene of a movie I oooh'd and ahhh'd at that kitchen!! Hahaha

(please click image to enlarge)

Mz Meyers rocked my world again with that house and wasn't the movie hilarious? haha

I hope all my northern hemisphere pals are keeping warm and my southern hemisphere pals are staying cool :) I've missed you all and I wish you a truly wonderful new year xx

I will be back soon!

Hi! Wishing you a belated Merry Christmas and a belated Happy New Year!  My intentions were to continue publishing posts on my blog throughout Christmas and New Year’s.  However, traveling, spending time with my grandbabies, a couple of new projects needing my attention, and dealing with this bitter cold interrupted those intentions.

This coming week is packed full of demands on my time. I am hopeful I will have a Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday post ready next Sunday and I will be back to my design posts next week. 

May you be filled with blessings in 2010 and beyond!  …susan

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday December 13, 2009

Welcome to my Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday post. For over twenty-five years I have collected various spiritual and inspirational quotes and messages. My hope is that when you read these, you will pause and reflect. Perhaps you will share this post with a friend who just so happens to be in need of reading what I am sharing today.

Memo From God

…I already gave you the Ten Commandments. Keep them. But follow these guidelines, also. 

1. Quit Worrying          Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit and worry. Have you forgotten that I am here to take all your burdens and carry them for you? Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little thing that comes your way?

2. Put It On The List            Something needs to be done or taken care of, put it on the list. No, not your list. Pit it on MY to-do-list. Let me be the one to take care of the problem. I can’t help you until you turn it over to me. And although my –to-do-list is long, I am after all, God. I can take care of anything you put into my hands. In fact, if the truth were ever really known, I take care of a lot of things for you that you never even realized.

3. Trust Me          Once you’ve given your burdens to me, quit trying to take them back. Trust in me. Have the faith that I will take care of all your needs, your problems and your trials. Problems with the kids? Put them on my list. Problem with finances? Put it on my list. Problems with your emotional roller coaster? For my sake, put it on my list. I want to help you. All you have to do is ask.

4. Leave It Alone          Don’t wake up one morning and say, “Well, I’m feeling much stronger now, I think I can handle it from here.” Why do you think you are feeling stronger now? It’s simple. You gave me your burdens and I’m taking care of them. I also renew your strength and cover you in my peace. Don’t you know that if I give you these problems back, you will be right back where you started. Leave them with me and forget about them. Just let me do my job.

5. Talk To Me          I want you to forget a lot of things. Forget what was making you crazy. Forget the worry and the fretting because you know I’, in control. But there’s one thing I pray you never forget. Please don’t forget to talk to me- Often! I love you. I want to hear your voice. I want you to include me in on the things going on in your life. I want to hear you talk about your friends and family. Prayer is simply you having a conversation with me. I want to be your dearest friend.

6. Have Faith           I see a lot of things from up here that you can’t see from where you are. Have faith in me that I know what I’m doing.  Trust me, you wouldn’t want the view from my eyes. I will continue to care for you, watch over you, and meet your needs. You only have to trust me. Although I have a much bigger task than you, it seems as if you have so much trouble just doing your simple part. How hard can trust be?

7. Share          You were taught to share when you were only two years old. When did you forget? The rule still applies. Share with those who are less fortunate than you. Share your joy with those who need encouragement. Share your laughter with those who haven’t heard any in such a long time. Share your tears with those who have forgotten how to cry. Share your faith with those who have none.

8. Be Patient          I managed to fix it so in just one lifetime you could have so many diverse experiences. You grow from a child to an adult, have children, change jobs many times, learn many trades, travel to so many places, meet thousands of people, and experience so much. How can you be so impatient then when it takes me a little longer than you expect to handle something on my to-do-list? Trust in my timing, for my timing is perfect. Just because I created the entire universe in only six days everyone thinks I should always rush, rush, rush.

9. Be Kind           Be kind to others, for I love them just as much as I love you. They may not dress like you, or talk like you, or live the same way you do, but I still love you all. Please try to get along, for my sake. I crated each of you different in some way. It would be too boring if you were all identical. Please know I love each of your differences.

10. Love Yourself          As much as I love you, how can you not love yourself? You were created by me for one reason only—to be lvoed, and to love in return. I am a God of Love. Love me. Love your neighbors. But also love yourself. It makes my heart ache when I see you so angry with yourself when things go wrong. You are very precious to me. Don’t ever forget that! With all my heart, I love you.  GOD

This was an email forward I received December 28, 2003. I don’t know who sent it to me nor who wrote this.  I just like it!  Blessings.  …susan