I think you've captured whimsey quite well Ingrid, very nice results. :)

Thank you kindly, winker and ghostly vision. I suppose not everyone wants a whimsical bedroom or home, but since this is a rather private room I think not too much harm has been done. I just wish I was so much better at this sort of thing!

Love it! Ingrid, you bring such joy to this forum! I love that you aren't afraid to keep trying things.

Outside, your lovely compliment just made my day. Hugs to you and everyone else here; you all have such a nurturing and positive spirit and I feel blessed to be on the receiving end of so much kindness and support.

Ingrid- Love your room! And the lamp shades look really nice! Very fresh and cozy!

I love looking at your decorating because it's REAL LIFE decorating. Or at least for me it's real life because I can't afford some of the extravagances others here take for granted. So I like to look to see what you've tried next.

I love the lampshades! You did a pretty good job, I think!

I didn't see the last three remarks until now, so sorry, but thank you so much, everyone. arkansas_girl, I LOVE what you said because it's so true, I have a lot of old cheap stuff that I have to work with. We just spent almost $5000 on an adopted cat which in the end did not save her life but how much more precious is the time we spent with her than lifeless furniture. It will be a while before I buy something for the house but that's okay.

I'm reopening this thread since I attacked the lampshades again. Don't feel badly if you don't like it. When I was done my husband walked in and I asked him what he thought. He chuckled, patted me gently on the shoulder and as he walked out he said "Don't worry, there are any number of lampshades out there".

Actually I think the lampshades came out just fine. You have a unique item that no one else has, unlike pottery barn. And they look great in your room.

I actually like the addition of the blue. They weren't expensive shades so when you tire of those, you can just go buy some new ones in a couple years.

I like the blue too, very unique shades that add a handmade touch. And your husband is too cute. lol

I think the blue, cornflower-type blossoms are just what the shades, and your room needed. I love them!

I think it is all beautiful. You have lovely taste!

Patty, I'm thrilled that you're adopting the young kitty. She obviously desperately needs you, and it sounds as though you're ready for another cat in your life. Believe it or not, we're already thinking about adopting another cat. The shelters are full of them and they all need loving homes.

I love your lampshades and your early posts on your gilding! I am envious of your creativity and your bravery! I love your entire room its very comfortable and peaceful and I could just curl up in bed with a good book and be very, very happy in that room. I am very sorry about the loss of your cat.

Patty, what a lucky kitty you adopted, I know you'll never regret it for one second.

woodie2, thanks so much for your very nice comments. If nothing else they were fun projects, but what I really appreciate is that you've described the bedroom as comfortable and peaceful. To me that's the most important feeling that a room should give you, and after that comes beauty, in whatever way each of us would describe that.

Yes, I was going to visit the shelter and was considering adopting two, a brother and sister. When I made the move to Tx 8 yrs ago, I came with 3 middle age cats, all who have passed. The one I have now was also a 'found' kittie, 4 years ago. My bff back in IL has 22cats, and if it weren't for her large historic home w/2 garages also having living quarters, this wouldn't be possible. I support her 'shelter' by helping with vet bills and purchase extras on my 3 week summer visit. I think I was a cat in another lifetime. ;)

Ps....she's a little round in the tumtum, yet very thin. Also swollen nipples. When I take her to the vet this week I may find out she's 'with child/children', and I'm going to be a grandma. My 2-youngest grands came to visit today and are very excited about the possibility of kittens~they already have 5!

So sorry to hear about your dear kitty, Ingrid. At least you have nothing to reproach yourselves for. Sending hugs to you & your DH xxx

Think the shades look great, btw - very unique and perfect for your room!

Patty, hope your new puss is settling in :)

Thank you so much, dear raphaella, am sending grateful hugs back to you.

Looking at the pictures, I feel I should have let well enough alone before adding the blue flowers. Perhaps it would look more balanced if I added some green....

Patty, I'm so sorry that this young cat already seems to be pregnant. I get very angry at the thoughtless people who will not spay or neuter their animals, and discard them into the bargain. You and your sister deserve so much credit for what you are doing for kitties.

Oh Ingrid, I expected a carnival and found an even lovelier version of your room. Your lampshades are beautiful and make your room unique! I love the addition of the blue flowers, they look nicer than just the gilded version. You are so tenacious in your decorating that you inspire me to keep at it. I find that I get bored with the process before a room becomes all it can be.

Ingrid, husbands and cars! I think all of my DH's die cast cars are Studebakers. The Studebaker Coupe Express that Franklin Mint released close to twenty years ago was modeled on DH's. They came to his garage and took photo after photo of it. It's amazing how much detail they can cram into a model.

Holly-Kay, your remarks really made my day; I'm so glad you like the outcome. I find that I have to be in the right mood for these things, and somehow the purchase of a new wall to wall carpet for part of the house created a domino effect that has lasted for some months now and I was inspired to do so many things. After almost ten years I just craved change and you may not be at that change. It has to be fun and exciting, and if that's not how it feels then it's difficult to really get into it.

I read the part about your DH's Studebaker to my DH; that's really pretty exciting that your car was used for a model.

Ha! You're not alone Ingrid! When I built this house and moved in 8yrs ago, I had the majority of the decorating finished in the first year. I was really craving a change this last year, even though I still loved the 'original' decorating. I was bound and determined to use blue since it was in the design of the area rug, but not very obvious. I'm very happy with the change, but it *will* be only my spring/summer look. I really look forward to a little change around the house when the weather starts to change. You'll know when you're ready, Holly-Kay! It's sort of like an itch you just can't help scratching! lol

DH just corrected me. It was Danbury Mint that released the Coupe Express modeled after DH's. Ingrid if you all lived close DH would gladly give a tour of his small collection of antique Studebakers that he has restored.

Holly-Kay, that was the first thing my DH said, that he was only aware of Danbury Mint having that particular model. That company really has the most amazing cars

Regarding my lamps, I finally reached a final stage of lunacy and will be looking for "normal" lampshades. Behold the horror here.

Since our beloved cat passed away not long ago, my husband had been pining for another cat. This is Jason, who at 8 years old did not have a great chance of being adopted from our local shelter, and had not had a happy past life. We hope it will be a better one from now on.

Now Jason coordinates beautifully in that room. Just the perfect accessory, again unique to your home

Jason is quite the handsome kitty. I am so glad you adopted a senior cat. I always had cats that found us and most were older. My new kitties that I got from the SPCA last year were kittens and they are still a handful. At our age they probably be our last cats but if we ever do adopt again we will get an older one.

The best accessory you could have 'found'! The 'color' is a perfect match and Jason is a very handsome lad. I've also adopted older cats knowing they are usually the last considered as people don't want to take on current/future health issues.

The new little girl, who i've named Molly Brown, has been 'diagnosed' as being 'in a delicate condition'. The little ones are expected within a month!

Wow! Just that touch of gold you needed! He looks VERY happy!

Gorgeous kitty!

pretty purrty

I had to laugh! Not a single person commented on the lamps. You are all very nice and tactful people. Jason says thank you for all the lovely comments and he promises to be a very good boy.

Patty, I hope Molly will go through her delivery at such a young age successfully. I'm quite certain you'll make sure it's her last one.

Well, Ingrid, you can't post the pic of a beautiful kitty on a bed and expect anyone to notice the lamps! We did all think he was a nice accessory. The lamps look good, too!

Kitties > lamps. Bless you for adopting dear Jason. At 8 he's still in his prime. Also, good for you for filling the void sooner than later. Life is too short for a long mourning period and all kitties need loving homes.

Being in an animal shelter is like being in jail, although I know the people there do their best to care for the animals. If we're able to spring even one it's a good thing. Jason has to be a single animal in a household with no children, which limited his chances of being adopted even more in addition to his age.

Cat shelters are the most hopeless of all shelters. Having worked in one for 2 years I would see respiratory illnesses running rampant, as well as other diseases and infections. Cats are not seen as pets as much as dogs, and having them as 'mousers' on farms or even as outdoor cats, doesn't guarantee them a long life due to sickness/diseases they may have contracted from what their prey might have eaten. I have been a cat lover since I was a little girl having cats my entire life. My whole family are cat lovers, as well as *responsible* cat owners. My Molly will be spayed as soon as she is finished nursing, and the kittens will be *my* responsibility and also spayed/neutered when they are old enough. I may not keep every single one, but I won't take the chance of not having even one 'fixed'. I can't state the statistics of how many kittens a queen can have in a 5 year period, but coming into heat 6 times a year could possibly produce over one hundred, not to mention the toll it takes on her physically. As Bob Barker used to say, have your pets spayed and neutered! I'm pretty short, so I need to get out the ladder to get on my soap box. Now i'll climb down. Thanks to those who have taken the time to read this.

Sorry if i've highjacked your thread Ingrid.

I love what you've done in this room, Ingrid, and I adore your new baby! He's a true beauty.

What exactly are you trying to accent in the bedroom with the lampshades? I'm getting confused. Without reading all the way back onto an earlier thread I thought you got white shades to pick up the white in the bedspread and then added some blue to them, along with the blue in the new drapes, to further highlight the spread and pillows. Now my eye immediately goes to the gold.

peaches, that's a very good question to which I have no good answer, which is why I intend to get new shades and plant these in the trash can. In retrospect I should have stopped before adding the blue flowers.

Ingrid, I hope you didn't think I was criticizing. I was worried you might think that. I just was confused because everyone seemed to like the blue flowers on the gilded white shades and when I looked this morning they were gold shades! LOL. You sure keep us guessing. Why don't you wait till your shutters are installed since the wall will look different to you, and then and only then, think about lampshades. (-:

In my opinion, I felt the new white lamp shades looked great. If you go back and look at the first picture, the room is looking great. Not trying to criticize but they really did look best just plain but that's just what I thought.

Agree to wait until the shutters are in before you purchase new shades. Since you seem to value opinions here,why not give us a couple of choices as to what you like and take a poll rather than replacing them and then asking opinions. Naturally you don't have to take our advice, but at least you can get others' insights that might help you make a decision.

peaches, there was no criticism in your comments, and you have a right to be puzzled. I'm sure I would be if this were someone else's post. Waiting for the shutters is an excellent idea, as is the suggestion of soliciting opinions here before buying anything. Come to think of it I did the last time, and that's how I ended up with white shades. I may very well end up with white again, especially since my summer bedding, which I'm putting on soon, is black and white.

Ingrid, what wonderful news that you have welcomed the handsome Jason into your home! He looks to be settling in just fine and what a great match with your headboard too :)

More pictures of Jason please!

raphaella, of course I picked a cat to go with my decor! Just kidding, but we're happy to be able to give him a better life. It will take time for him to settle him, but he can take as long as he needs.

snookums, there will be more pictures. This is one of his first day here. You can see he's not at ease yet. Now I can't get him off the bed all day!

Aren't animals wonderful, they could not care less what the decor looks like. He DOES match though...HEEHEE!

He really is beautiful. I love the fur around his toes.

It is amazing, he looks good in every room, which I wouldn't have thought with his red fur. Jason says thank you to all the nice ladies.