Tuesday, April 19, 2011

From the Pillow Archive

When I look back at this post I wrote last year, when all the Liberty of London stuff was in Target, it is obvious to me that I was buying a crapload of it because I'd just been diagnosed with breast cancer and I wanted something pretty.  I think I knew it then, in fact I even remember saying to my sister, around the time of my first chemo treatment, "It's like I just want to shop." I mean, look at this.

Liberty of London for Target

Hilarious. And there was more, much more.  People gave it to me as gifts. I wound up with nearly every darn thing in that collection. But I loved every bit of it, and it worked. All those pretty patterns really did cheer me up, and a year later, I'm still enjoying this stuff.  A few days ago I was down in the basement and I paid a visit to my pillow archive.  I'd had some black and white pillows on my sunroom sofa (my winter-into-spring transitional pillows, doncha know) and I felt it was time for a seasonal change. The orange and yellow floral pillows had yet to see the light of day, so I brought them upstairs where they could breath.

orange liberty pillows

I'm liking them a lot, but they are fighting a bit with that dark kilim rug. I'm ignoring that problem for now. Before too long I'll roll that puppy up for the summer. Also--and this will be in my upcoming book about photography styling--a single, mysterious rain boot, on a sunny day, and a banana peel, placed casually on the coffee table, are just the accessories you need for that lived-in look.

And look, weeks before, in an unrelated move, I'd brought this flower pot into this room.

liberty flower pot

Matchers!  So uncharacteristically coordinated of me.

So that's my jam. Are you Springing up your place?

18 comments:

Elizabeth said...

Sigh. My spring makeover consists of baseball mitts and bats taking over the porch, as opposed to basketballs and lacrosse sticks.

Veronica said...

I have that pillow on my couch too! Only, I have it there during every season, because here in California we don't have basements for pillow storage. I can barely find a place to put away my colander when I'm not currently draining pasta. ;-)

Amy said...

Oh wow, I am actually at this moment wearing that bra from the first pic! Thanks for letting me steal it last yr! It's purty.

I remain very jealous of your pillow collection.

delaine said...

Oh I really like those bright pillows! I think they look great. Don't you love late afternoon sun flooding a room? I sure do. That Liberty collection was great at Target. What's happened to them since? Except for a brief splash of John Derian they have not had a lot of pretty stuff lately. I do like to switch things around also. Very nice look for your sunroom. See you very soon.

Michele said...

Does wine motif placemats count?

I didn't think so either. Time to break out the Vera.

Michele R said...

Lilacs! And roses! And Irises!
I need to put away the blanket throws that we keep on the couch in the winter.

Maggie said...

I am so totally uncool I never switch anything out for seasons(except Christmas). I need to get with the program. Will you be my design guru????

My Kids' Mom said...

@Elizabeth: I have the same decor!

@Michelle R: I put away the warm throw from the sofa in an "It's spring!" moment. And then I got cold and got it back out.

Only big change I make here is when I take the turtlenecks and swap them out for shorts. My closet can't hold both in a way that I can reach them. So, yes! I made a change for spring!

Kelly said...

My Spring cleaning involves lots of purging! I am such a pack rat.

puncturedbicycle said...

Oh, me too with the purging. And cleaning! Cupboards have been cleared, floors have been scrubbed, wardrobes have been picked over, boxes and boxes have gone to the charity shop and I have eBayed so damn much I feel like I live at the post office.

I have never been very good at being a tidy and organised person. so I'm very proud.

Maggie May said...

I love the flower pot!

Star said...

What a lovely room and view. The view looks very peaceful, soothing, so green.

Amy said...

Wait--"pillow archive"? Are you still thinking about National Treasure? :)

Becky said...

Yes, did you not know that my basement was designated by George Washington as the National Pillow Archive? Nic Cage is down there with a treasure map. He's drunk.

Elizabeth said...

Drunk and conveniently in your basement? Hmmm. I'd do him. You could always blame it on the pillows, right?

Unknown said...

You made the right move. I'm still kicking myself for not buying the lamp shade I loved but didn't have an immediate need for because I have just the spot for it now.

Common Household Mom said...

I put away the winter hats. I hope that counts as springing up.

gretchen said...

I'm in the middle of a major home overhaul in preparation for the invasion of the in-laws. And I think of you every time I look at the pillow I bought in your honor!