this simple step

Hello, hello. It's been a while, hasn't it? I've been kept busy tying up lose ends. Yes, it's more house stuff but today, unlike most other days, there are pictures to share :) 

So, I'm done painting (at least until the living room tells me what it wants to be) and have begun hanging up pictures. This simple step always has the effect of grounding me in a space. I'm not quite sure why, but adorned walls are the icing on the cake. Finally, it's starting to feel like home here. Who knew pictures could make such a difference. O.K. i knew. But still. 

Anyway, here's the latest space to make the transformation from someone else's house to our home 

There is still a lot of wall to fill but there's no hurry, we've got the rest of our lives to clutter up walls with junk art. 

While at it, I remembered I haven't shown you my stocking stuffer...

a tree coat/hat stand which works beautifully as a shawl stand too.
The tulips, a present from Heather's recent trip to Amsterdam, hang out with our other travel mementos. And as we've been to Amsterdam I've no qualms compunction (oooh there's a good word. reminds me of gumption!) about displaying it. 

Incidentally, this picture captures the present final colour in the hallway perfectly: light grey with a hint of purple. Neither feminine nor masculine, that's a balance I strive for. Sometimes it's easier than others, with bedding for instance: florals in strong or masculine colours appease both parties. A little trickier with walls though. 

In knitting news, I'm almost done working up a pair of mitts for a dear, dear friend. 

They're a quick knit (or they would be) but I can't seem to find 2 minutes together to work on them. I hope to complete them in a day or two so I can sent them off by the end of the week. I know the recipient will LOVE them. 

I just hope I remember to take photos of the set (+ hat & cowl) before mailing them to her.