abode love: a man's home is his wife's castle

lochlan is one, honey bear style!

2014-10-28T06:37:00.000-07:00

Hello abode lovers! Have y'all been loving your abode's like crazy in my blogosphere absence?! Sorry about that… to attempt to make up for my long-time leave, I'm sharing Lochlan's fabulous Honey Bear party. Put your excited pants on, you're gonna need 'em.

So, to avoid the emotional roller coaster that was my first child's first birthday, I crafted my brains out and put glitter on everything. "WAIT!" you say… "HE'S A BOY!" you say… that's right. Lochlan is a boy, but he must be okay with glittered birthday parties if he's going to be my son. Also, for those of you who don't know… I've called Lochlan, Honey Bear since he was born.

A BIG THANK YOU to Stefanie Warren Photography (my amazing-face big sis) for capturing the beautiful memories of the day… I was able to ENJOY myself and not worry about photos! (fist pump)

Let's go ahead and start with the cake. Thanks to my SuperMom, Lochlan had a full blown beehive as his smash cake complete with candy bees. Reason #29830944738 that I call my mom SuperMom.

I made the party hats for all of our guests using wrapping paper that I had purchased last Christmas. A little hand-cut tissue paper, fringe and glitter and we were set!

The baby bear had to have his own hat… duh.

SuperMom and I hand-made the pennants with letters on our vacation to Michigan over the summer… it was a fun project and adds a sweet homemade feel to his little party. I also made the birthday crown. Man, that was a LOT of work, I'm not even gonna lie.

I made the 'hunny' pots out of old terra-cotta pots that I had stashed in the garage. A little spray paint, glue and glitter gave me the drippy look that I was going for.

SuperMom and I stayed up too late the night before the party making these adorable and really yummy sugar cookies. Bears, bees , the #1 and 'hunny' pots were part of the assortment.

Yours truly in mad party-prep mode in the drink station.

I snagged these Nesbitt's Honey Lemonade's from World Market on Sale-- I couldn't believe how perfect they were for the party!

Yep, this happened. I was dying to get a photo of my little Honey Bear holding an oversized red balloon. His cuteness overwhelms me.

Here's little bear getting ready for his party, he's wearing a honey bee john-john and red and yellow bee shoes. We dressed for the theme, obviously.

I love this set up of succulents, roses and babies breath.

I took photos of Lochlan wearing his birthday crown and birthday outfit up in Michigan a few weeks before his birthday and I just loved the way they turned out!

I glittered clothes pins and used ribbon from my Christmas decor to hang pictures of Lochlan I took every month from his first year.

I was worried he wouldn't wear the hat that I spent HOURS on… but a big sugar cookie was all he needed to get his mind off the hat on his head. #sugaroverload

Singing "Happy Birthday"-- he LOVED it.

…he loved the cake more.

I removed the candy bees thinking they may be a choking hazard… and then he went to TOWN. Good gosh, this kid really knows how to smash a cake.

Remember that HUGE beehive cake… demolished. Proud mama right there.

I went all out for this little honey bear's first birthday party. I did so because I don't do well with time passing. When it comes to this baby growing up… I'm kind of an emotional disaster. I figured with enough crafting and glitter I would just be too busy to completely fall apart. Thank God there were no "ugly cry" moments at the party. Ha! Have a great day abode lovers!

…no joke

2014-04-01T14:01:00.004-07:00

Contact me about commissions, if they're purchased this week they're discounted as well! (I am also now offering ready to hang originals on wood panels). If something is sold out in the shop we can talk about making something similar to fit your style on WOOD or ROLLED CANVAS!

VISIT THE SHOP TODAY!

15% off Laurel Dawn Shop!

2013-12-13T07:03:00.000-08:00

Just a few more weeks until Christmas, so get your shop on and grab your 15% discount before all of the new paintings are sold out!

new paintings!

2013-12-05T06:05:00.001-08:00

Hello abode lovers! I hope all of you have had an amazing Thanksgiving, we sure did. Lochlan was held pretty much for 48 hours, which was heavenly for him! It's pretty amazing to have a family that loves my little baby so much.

So, I've been super busy painting and am so happy to introduce new paintings to my shop! Here is a sampling of the new stuff, just in time for Christmas! (I also gave my little shop a big face lift, so be sure to check it out!)

lucite framed flowers for jane 12"x12"

Yes, it really happened! I am offering framed pieces that are ready to hang! There are only a handful of these so get them while you can!

lucite framed magnolia and roses 12"x12"

lucite framed gilded clovers 12"x12"

lucite framed flowers for monroe 12"x12"

clustered clovers 26.5"x26.5"

Flowers for Molly 26.5"x26.5"

vertical candied roses 19.5"x27.5"

flowers for tristan 26.5"x27"

vertical neapolitan roses 19.5"x27.5"

vertical clovers 19.5"x27.5"

turquoise study 6"x6"

gold gilded mini 6"x6"

rose study II 4"x4"

lochlan mini 4"x4"

silver gilded mini II 6"x6"

And here are all of the NEW PRINTS available!

I have been so humbled by the response to my paintings and am so excited to finally share some new work! If you are interested in a commission of your wedding bouquet (or any flowers that you love) contact me! Have a great day abode lovers!

a little e-design nursery

2013-10-21T10:04:00.000-07:00

Hello abode lovers! I finished up a super cute nursery last week for an adorable Chicago family that's expecting a little girl and I just had to share it with all of you!

What I love most about this e-design is the combination of fabrics and patterns. My amazing client knew from the beginning that she wanted to use the oh-so-popular watercolor peony wallpaper from Anthropologie-- and since I had previously designed a nursery with this wallpaper, I was very familiar with all that it has to offer! The fact that my client loved this wallpaper told me that she wasn't afraid of color and pattern.... my favorite! Look at this mix of yummy color and pattern....

here is the PINTEREST SOURCE LIST

Here is an idea of what I've picked for the space... I completely adore it!

Board and Batten was a must for this space. The anthropologie wallpaper is gorgeous, but pricey, so I wanted to keep the paper to a minimum without looking like we were skimping. I mean, who doesn't love board and batten!? It feels so rich and totally timeless. I love that this way, the wallpaper doesn't overwhelm you and allows for art and decor to still play a large part in the space.

Here is one little vignette in the space that is scaled. The changing table is a piece that was used elsewhere in my client's home... the sconces were used instead of lamps so that her sweet baby could have all of the surface space for diaper changes without giving up the chance to add much needed lighting to the nursery. The art that I chose are actually folded greeting cards from Rifle Paper. It's great, CHEAP art! (I have a folded greeting card hung in Lochlan's nursery from Rifle Paper as well!) I also love, love mirrors in baby spaces... babies just KNOW they're cute and have to look at themselves whenever possible. I also love that large mirrors bounce around light and create the illusion of space-- they're great pieces that will grow with your kid too!

I love using rustic, masculine pieces in a super girly space... when you have this many flowers on the wall, I think it's nice to create a balance. I have used metallic bins to fill this little industrial piece to fem it up a bit. Also, can't get enough of these fabulous poodle bookends...

Here is the dresser I chose for this little nursery... I have always been a fan of this West Elm piece. It's gorgeous. I love the simple, clean lines. I love that it will grow with this little gal until college! I love that it's not too feminine or masculine and that it has an artful look instead of just being a big ole hunk of wood. My client also had talked to me about using one of my pieces from my shop, Laurel Dawn to hang in the nursery... I love it.

So what do you think? I think I love designing nurseries more than anything in the world, they're just so darn sweet! Here is the full pinterest board with every piece that I have chosen for this space. If any of my abode lovers are interested in an e-design shoot me an email at laureldawndesigns@gmail.com and I can get you a quote!

West Elm.... it's here!

2013-10-09T06:32:00.002-07:00

This is happening tonight in Birmingham.... who's coming to the party!?

I entered to win a shopping spree for this grand occasion, and while it's not likely I'll win, I already have things picked out jusssstttt in case!

Marble Oval coffee table.... get in my belly. Er, uh, my abode. Since I have a new, little babykins, I think a coffee table with rounded edges instead of pointy ones is a good idea... I know my little honey bear would love this piece, he's got great taste already, I can tell....

Mid-Century Desk in Acorn & White

Don't you freakin' love this?! I do. I think the wood/white combo is to die for. I also believe that I would do really great work at this desk, so I think my return on investment would be totes worth it... just sayin'...

Chevron Tile Floor Mirror

Okay, I have wanted a pair of leaning floor mirrors for my master bedroom for WAY too long... this would fit the bill. I love the chevron patterned frame-- it's unexpected and "glammy" without being too feminine... the straight, harsh lines keep it a tad masculine in my opinion.

A blogger can dream, right?!? I'm going to win, I'm sending that out into the universe like Oprah says to do...

lochlan's newborn photos

2013-08-29T09:42:00.002-07:00

Hello abode lovers! Today I am sharing Lochlan Patterson's newborn photo session with Holland Williams. She's the bomb, she's a super sweet friend that took a TON of photos for us (and spent a TON of time at the abode doing it!) When sweet Holland came over I was in tears over who knows what... hormones, I swear. Anyway, she completely calmed me... she's precious and I'm lucky to call her a friend! Thank you so much Holland for these beautiful photos! (And for dealing with the most crazy, hormonal version of myself I have ever known.... I mean, it made the 7th grade version of myself seem sane... it was that bad.)

Here are a few (okay, a lot) of my favorite shots from that day... enjoy drooling over my perfect little lad.

Now... this is SUPER special. General Dad MADE this cradle. Yes, that's right. Shed a tear, I know you want to! My amazing SuperMom made the bedding... that's right, she dyed the linen herself and stitched that beautiful bedding by hand. We were inspired by the boucle cloud bedding from Restoration Hardware Baby & Child, I think my mom's version is even better! My parents are pretty much the most talented duo ever- I am so lucky to have them! (and so is Lochlan obviously!) Lochlan has been sleeping in this cradle in our bedroom... he'll move into his crib when he gets a bit older.

General Dad made a cradle for my mom's first baby and all 5 of us kids slept in it when we were babies. They stored the cradle in my room growing up and I kept all of my baby dolls inside. There's nothing more special than this cradle-- it takes me back to playing "mommy" all those years ago.

This blanket was lovingly stitched by Lochlan's great aunt... I LOVE it.

For some of my avid abode lovers, yes, that is new bedding and no, I have not blogged about it yet but will soon!

I thought Mister Husband was pretty off the charts good looking until I saw him holding our son... talk about a whole new kind of handsome, wowza. I sure do love these two guys!

This photo is one of my favorites, I love that my little lad's eyes are open and that he's got my hair wrapped around his fingers... precious.

This was certainly the shot of the day- Holland, you rock. I tell you what, we were hovering over these dogs like you wouldn't believe to get this photo. SuperMom, Mister Husand and myself were all inches away just in case the dogs got weird-- but all was good and I'm pretty much in love with this photo!

I hope all of you abode lovers out there have an amazing college football/Labor Day weekend! Mister Husband and I will be introducing Lochlan to the amazingness that is Auburn Football... we just know that he's going to love it. War Eagle Y'all!

my little lad's source list

2013-08-21T19:31:00.000-07:00

Hello abode lovers! My little lad is doing so great, aside from a few sleepless nights, and he's totes loving his nursery. Here's where you can get all of this amazing stuff! Also, some of you asked about a changing table... I am not including a changing table, I have never changed a baby's diaper on one neither has my SuperMom who has 5 kids. Instead, we have little baskets all over the abode with changing supplies. Also, I had many people question my placement of the crib as well as the fact that I have bumper pads. Chill out y'all, the double paned windows do not allow a draft in the room and the shade over the window has black out material behind it so that sunshine will not overheat my baby. As for the bumper pads, I understand that many of you are worried for Lochlan's safety, but it will be okay. As soon as he starts moving and scooting, I will consider taking them out... All baby stores sell bumper pads, and there are GOBS of people out there who use bumpers... I'm one of them. There WILL be changes to the nursery as Lochlan begins to grow and change. Also, as a side note, he's not even sleeping in his nursery yet, instead, he sleeps in a cradle in the master bedroom. I very much appreciate all of the kind comments about this nursery that I put tons of love and thought into! For all of my very concerned readers, please know that I do have my baby's safety in mind-- thank you for the concern.

Restoration Hardware Baby & Child augusta iron canopy crib that's now on FINAL SALE! Bedding via Serina & Lily and no longer available. Lantern via Overstock.com. Dupioni Silk Drapes in Platinum Gray via Pottery Barn.

Sheep Creek Needlecraft custom mobile made to look just like our pups, King and Lady! I ADORE this mobile and will cherish this gorgeous piece of art for the rest of time!

Custom wallpaper that can be purchased in fabric or wallpaper via Spoonflower. (More on this process later!) Frames via West Elm. Hanging Porthole Mirror via Wisteria. Go Get 'Em Tiger Card and Animal Alphabet Chart via Rifle Paper. Pug Eduardo Print via Holli. Where the Wild Things Are embroidery hoops via Makingjiggy. Zinc Prize Ribbon via Jayson Home.

Original piece of Laurel-Dawn artwork, prints now available in the shop!

The Clovers for Lochlan print is available here!

Serena& Lily, Mirimar hair upholstered in Turquoise Diamond. Deer Wreath Pillow via Coral & Tusk. Julian Apothecary Lamp via Ballard Designs.

Jameson Wide Dresser via Restoration Hardware Baby & Child. Ceramic Table Lamps via West Elm, no longer available. Great Britain & Ireland Vintage Map via Emperical Style.

Industrial Baker's Storage Rack, tall via Restoration Hardware Baby & Child, iPhone Gramaphone via Restoration Hardware. Deer Herd Plotter Paper Poster via StevenBeckly. Stripes Around the Floor Bin via Land of Nod.

Drum Side Table, no longer available. Pierre the Bunny via BlaBlaKids. Goggle Plate via West Elm. Leather Pouf via At Home Furnishings.

Please let me know if you have any other questions about the items in Lochlan's Irish Hunt nursery! I will reveal more about the process in the next few weeks so stay tuned! Have a great Thursday abode lovers! I am SO glad to be back in the blogosphere!

lochlan patterson, best diy to date

2013-08-19T08:32:00.000-07:00

Hello abode lovers, well... I did it! I had that sweet baby and my life has completely changed in every way possible. I am so in love- crazy love. There's nothing like having a baby... everyone told me what it would be like, but there's no way to know how much it affects and changes you until it happens. Lochlan is doing so well and I am doing the best I can to sleep and stay fed... life sure changes when you bring home a newborn!

My birth story starts in the hospital, where I left all of you with my last post. I was getting a pre-induction with the "balloon" to work on dilating a bit more before the actual induction-- some of you commented that you got to experience this lovely tool... it hurt, BUT it worked for me! We went in at 4pm on Wednesday, July 24th and Mister Husband and I were supposed to sleep at the hospital to give the balloon it's best shot, instead we stayed awake talking and being nervous. I'll spare all of the details, but after an hour of painful contractions and tears (followed by a shot of Nubain to ease the pain) and a LOT of fear for what was coming... my body did what it was supposed to. I got about 45 minutes of sleep and was awoke around 4:30am by the nurse telling me that I needed to be checked... I was at 5cm! The blasted balloon worked, I couldn't have been more thrilled and relieved. I was under the impression since before I was pregnant that it would be very likely that I would have to have a c-section due to some scar tissue on my cervix, so the fact that the balloon worked felt like a major miracle. I honestly couldn't have asked for a better birth story.

By 6 am my awesome doctor came in and broke my water, that was also quite the experience, thank goodness it was quick, because that too was painful! I got started on pitocin immediately and then followed up with an epidural. That epidural was the bomb. I tell you what, it was lovely and warm and tingly and amazing. I didn't feel any pain after having my water broke. My two amazing nurses and doctor all thought that we should expect Lochlan to come into the world around 2:30 or 3pm... well, Lochlan had other plans. About an hour or so after getting the pitocin I got to 8cm... and then an hour or so later I was ready to push. I had told my nurse that I was feeling a really odd sensation and that I wanted her to check me... everyone that was in the room was in disbelief that I could already be at 10cm! Thank goodness I got the epidural so early, if I would have waited I probably wouldn't have been able to get it! Mister Husband and I couldn't believe it when the nurses said it was time to push, we thought we would have HOURS to prepare mentally and physically for this baby-- I think we both expected to take a nap before we met our son! Instead, Mister Husband and I prepared ourselves for this miracle... he held my hand and I pushed for about 5 minutes-- then the nurse told me to STOP! She said we had to get the doctor in there ASAP, and that this baby was coming NOW... holy cow. I swear, it was the most amazing thing-- my doc came running in, literally, and I pushed for another 5 minutes... and then he was here. My perfect, beautiful baby Lochlan was taking his first breathes and screaming like a champ. I was completely overwhelmed and so surprised that he bounded into the world so quickly. About 10 minutes of pushing total and my baby was here... it was a miracle. It was also only 10:58am, hours before we thought we could expect our little lad. Life is good, God is good, we are so very, very blessed.

Here is Mister Husband and myself, SUPER PREGNANT, and leaving for the hospital...

Getting settled in for the night...

I know this photo is blurry, but it captures our sleeping arrangement so well... I tried to talk Mister Husband into climbing into my bed to go to sleep... but he wouldn't do it. I think they should make those beds bigger to accommodate the husbands, I wanted to have one more night of spooning before we were a family of 3!

Here we are the next morning, and I'm getting ready to PUSH! Do you see the nurse prepping Lochlan's little station? That's when things started to feel really real... I did my best not to cry through the entire experience, but it was hard! I don't think I've ever been more emotional-- I was so excited, scared, nervous, thankful, you name it, I was feeling it!

and there he is...

here we are meeting our perfect, beautiful son for the first time...

...so happy I could burst!

Mister Husband was amazing through the entire experience, calm and super sweet. He knew just what I needed to hear, thank God for this man!

I mean, abode lovers... look at my perfect baby! I think this is the best DIY so far... Lochlan Patterson is the yummiest little baby I've ever laid eyes on.

Here is Lochlan with his twin cousin, Lottie-Monroe that was due 8 days before him! She was around 2 weeks old when she came to meet her cousin, Lochlan in the hospital! I love that she climbed into his little box to take a nap with him! Having a baby with your sister is so fun, a bit stressful, but the most amazing gift ever!

And here is Lochlan with his best friend, Gray from The Good Stuff... they really hit it off, obviously.

Here we are getting ready to head home to the abode! I really didn't want to leave the little bubble of living in the hospital, I was really enjoying the experience and didn't want it to come to an end!

Mister Husband and I getting Lochlan ready for his ride home. It takes two when you're new parents!

The all powerful SuperMom... she was in full force that week... super, super, SUPERmom!

My darling little angel, all bundled up and on his way to the abode.

Thank you all so much for your well wishes, thoughts and prayers. I can't wait to share more and more of this little lad with all of you-- he is perfection! I will be sharing the source list for Lochlan's nursery this week, so check in a bit later! I hope all of you have a great Monday!

lochlan's irish hunt nursery reveal

2013-07-24T19:27:00.000-07:00

Hello abode lovers! I know, it's been forever... I have been busy being pregnant and super lazy. I'm officially at the hospital, that's right, I'm blogging from my hospital bed and literally having contractions while I type. Mister Husband and I checked in this afternoon to get the ball rolling... there are some interesting things going on with a balloon as we speak, I'm not sure how much I want or need to go into that... but, it's happening y'all, it's really happening. I don't know how so many women do this and then act like it's totally natural and normal, this is insane abode lovers... amazing and insane.

Anyway, I've been super busy in preparation for this baby, I tell you what, nesting is REAL! Today I am so excited to reveal my son, Lochlan's irish hunt nursery! It's been a labor of love, with a TON of help from my Super Mom-- I. Just. Love. It!!!! I am so nervous but super excited to welcome our first baby into this crazy world. I'm sure his first thought upon his arrival will be, "so mom, where's my super fab nursery that I've been hearing you yap about for months?!?" and I'll be all, "oh just WAIT until you see it babe, it's amaze." Mister Husband would totally not approve of this imaginary convo, but that's just how I see it going...

I shared the inspiration board HERE, and now you can see it in the flesh. Oh, I'm so in love y'all.

The nursery is in our old office (which has been moved upstairs to the Man Mountain, more on that later!) It's a small space, but it's the closest room to our master bedroom and I think it's the perfect size for our little lad!

The entire nursery centered around this custom made fabric that I used as wallpaper. I have always adored the Lady of the Manor wallpaper that Anthropologie USED to sell.... I was CRUSHED when they stopped selling it as soon as I got pregnant! After making countless calls and being very disappointed, my Super Mom (hence the name) told me that I should make my own version, print it on fabric and use liquid starch to stick that stuff to the walls! It's better than my inspiration but has the same feel as the original Lady of the Manor wallpaper. My Super Mom drew every little animal, Spoonflower printed the fabric, and Super Mom spent HOURS hanging it while I hung out and kept her company. I tell you what, that is a HARD job and I wouldn't suggest it to anyone who's not fearless and incredibly patient. Aren't y'all jealous that she's not YOUR Super Mom?!? To check out the Lady of the Manor wallpaper refer to my post a few months ago.

For information on pricing for my custom wallpaper/fabric check out Spoonflower here.

I painted the clover piece that hangs in the center of Lochlan's gallery wall. I figured that he needed an original Laurel Dawn of his own! If you'd like to have a Clovers for Lochlan print, you're in luck, I'll be selling them soon!

So what do you think? Will our little lad, Lochlan, like his space? I can't wait to share more details and Lochlan's first days in the world- it won't be long now! Thank you abode lovers for being so awesome and giving me a nice maternity break from blogging, I promise I'll be back more regularly over the next few weeks and beyond!

april is wedding month III: happy anniversary to me!

2013-04-25T07:09:00.000-07:00

Hello abode lovers, I know, I know, long time no see huh? Well, my brain is still being consumed with pregnancy-- so I'm just about useless in all aspects of my life, especially anything creative! Why is it that my sweet Lochlan is zapping my creativity and motivation? WHAT is that about? I'm hoping that I'll go back to normal soon, I'm basically a couch potato as of now, and that's really not my style.

Anyway, April is usually wedding month here at Abode Love but since this month I am pregnant and super lame, it's just not happening. (Just FYI, many people told me, including Super Mom that pregnancy would make me hyper creative... I guess I missed that boat, big time.) However, it IS still my 4 year anniversary today, so let's reminisce a little.....

Thank you to Stephen DeVries for my AMAZING photos that I still love dearly 4 years later!

For more details on THE DRESS, check it out here, it's a good story...

Super Mom and General Dad

Mister Husband with my baby brother

Michael + Laurel-Dawn from Kinora Films on Vimeo.

I am making some serious headway on the nursery and can't wait to share all of the details with you! I am hoping to get a few photos taken over the weekend of my progress. I hope all of you abode lovers have a great day!

irish hunt nursery plans

2013-02-27T06:21:00.000-08:00

Hello abode lovers! I'm still alive, I swear, I'm just pregnant and totally not myself. I'm this uncreative, tired zombie person who can't make a decision.... I hope I go back to normal when I have this baby! I'm missing my old ideas, complete decisiveness and personality!

Today I wanted to share the design board for Lochlan Patterson's little nursery! I'm calling it the Irish Hunt Nursery... You see, the wallpaper is clearly a little English fox hunt, but since we are having a "McBaby" with a super Irish first name, I'm changing the theme to an Irish Hunt... Also, green is the main color I'll be using, so, you know... it all makes sense in my super weird preg brain, if it doesn't make sense to you... then don't worry, it's me, not you.

The entire plan for the nursery is centered around Anthropologie's Lady of the Manor wallpaper that is no longer being sold. Do I have this wallpaper already? Nope. I wish. So, since I've been obsessed with this wallpaper for YEARS, I'm going to try my best (with a TON of Supermom's help) to make my own version by changing a few things to customize the print and make it my own. I'm going to add our dogs (King & Lady) to the wallpaper, take off a few horses and add leaves and tiny shamrocks instead of using the roses that are on the Lady of the Manor Wallpaper.

I was devastated that this wallpaper was no longer available, but my mom and I are going to do what we can through Spoonflower's new custom wallpaper option and this way, it will be custom, which is pretty fun! Spoonflower's wallpaper is also removable, which is great for resell purposes! We are also now toying with the idea of getting Spoonflower's printed fabric option and hanging fabric on the walls-- (also removable, and perhaps much cheaper!) More on this subject later...

Here is the design board for the nursery space:

1. Pottery Barn Silk Dupioni Drapes (from Pottery Barn outlet, had these for years) 2. Augusta Iron Canopy Crib, Restoration Hardware Baby & Child 3. Mobile, Sheep Creek Needlecraft 4. Marlo Serena & Lily Nursery Bedding 5. Drum Side Table, Restoration Hardware Baby & Child 6. Mirimar Chair in Turquoise/Putty Diamond, Serena & Lily 7. Deer Wreath Pillow, Coral & Tusk 8. Julian Apothecary Floor Lamp, Ballard Designs

Where will the nursery be located? The office of course! Mister Husband and I are going to have to do some serious finageling to move his entire office to his Man Mountain... You see, we never thought in a million years that we would still be in our little abode when we had our first child, so I didn't plan very well for the future when buying and placing furniture around our house. The booming housing market has kept us in our little abode, but we love it, so everything will be fine! (It might just look a little cramped, ugh, skank.)

Another nursery detail that I've been obsessed with for years for a boy or girl is the Marlow bedding from Serena + Lily.... which is also no longer available, but I purchased it before finding out the sex of the baby on CLEARANCE! Wahoo for me! I was able to snag the bedding at HALF price... major high five. Major. I'm honestly not usually a fan of any "bed in a bag" but I loved how neutral it was and all of the embroidery is so lovely. The price was also a major selling point and it's really hard to pass up a bargain when you have other big ticket items in the same space.

Another item I'm BEYOND pumped about is the mobile. I swear, this is going to be my favorite part of the entire space. I'm commissioning Andrea from Sheep Creek Needlecraft to create a custom felt mobile of King (our lab) and Lady (our cocker spaniel) that is reminiscent of the mobile seen above. I LOVE the colors and cannot WAIT to see our pups made out of felt! It's a splurge but it's the only thing that will hang above the crib and I see it as a piece of art... so it's totally worth the cash to snag such a beautiful piece. I still need to get on the ball and send Andrea photos of our pups so that she can get started... one of many things to cross off my "to-do" list.

There are TONS of other items that I'm in love with for this space, and I'll discuss the decisions about each piece as they start to be delivered...

So- what do you think of my vision for Lochlan's Irish Hunt nursery? I have been so excited to share this plan with all of you, and also nervous-- I can't wait to share the progress with you as we get started on changing the office to our sweet baby's space!

I hope all of you abode lovers have been well, I have missed all of you!

our little lad...

2013-02-05T06:21:00.000-08:00

Hello abode lovers! That's right, I guess Mama's intuition was RIGHT! (and Daddy's intuition for that matter) We've decided to name our sweet baby boy Lochlan Patterson McBurney-- it's super Irish, and we love that since we are a McFamily after all...

Super mom made the ombre style blue cake... loved it! She also rigged up the "babykins" sign and hung the mobile that she made well over 20 years ago for me before I was born!

Mister Husband and I couldn't be more thrilled... we were so happy to see our sweet babykins kickin' like a champ (a soccer champ that is) and waving to us with his tiny fingers... sweet Lochlan melted my heart! Way to give your mommy and daddy a show...

So... now the planning begins. Our little lad will be here at the end of July and he needs an amazeballs nursery... so I MUST get on it ASAP! Here are a few pieces that were already purchased before knowing the sex...

The Augusta Canopy Crib

This puppy was certainly a splurge, but I'm confident I'll use it for every baby I ever have... all 8 of them... or maybe just 3? Anyway, I snagged this bad boy right after Christmas when they were running one of their deals... I got this crib on sale, thank God! It's not due to arrive until April, good thing I ordered it so early!

I am planning on placing this beautiful crib in front of a large window, so I knew that I wanted a crib with some visual weight OVER the crib... I love this piece!

Serena + Lily's Marlo bedding. (I've loved it for years for a boy or girl) It's no longer being sold, but again, I snagged this bedding right after Christmas when it went HALF OFF for the first time EVER and is now GONE for good! We won't be tying little bows on the spindles... I will be tying very masculine knots so that Lochlan knows that he is in fact a boy :) Although, I don't mind the sweet touches of flowers and little bugs... babies are babies, and I love this bedding!

No worries abode lovers... there will be plenty of masculine touches in the room and color that will help "boy up" the space... this is just what I have so far! I can't wait to share an inspiration board soon!

Thank you so much for all of your kind comments and well wishes-- this is such an amazing time in my life and can't really wrap my head around the miracle that is happening within me, but I know that I'm excited! I hope all of you abode lovers have a fantastic day and Hip! Hip! Hooray! for BOYS!

little lady or little lad?

2013-01-29T06:49:00.000-08:00

Hello abode lovers-- I know, I know.... it's been a while, again. I am SO disappointed in my lack of blogging as of late. I mean, who knew pregnancy takes it out of you like this? I'll be 15 weeks Thursday and have been feeling much better. Thank you all for your kind and super encouraging messages! This gal has been in skank-town-USA without any clue of how to get the hell out of there! But after nausea, sinus infections, and er, other.... infections.... (thank you pregnancy) I finally feel like I'm coming out of the woods.

I didn't mention this in my last post, but it's SO exciting. My sister, Nene, not her real name, that lives in Atlanta with two boys is also expecting a sweet baby 8 days before me! We're 19 months apart, so we've always been super close and I feel so blessed that I get to walk through this experience WITH her! She also found out last week that she's having a GIRL!!!! I die. I literally die of excitement.

This Friday, Mister Husband and I are taking a little trip down to a 4-d ultrasound place to find out what we're having EARLY! Why are we doing this?? Easy. Two words. NURSERY PLANNING!

Now, some of my long-time followers might be thinking.... "WAIT! You already designed your nursery, like, years ago".... and you would be correct. BUT things change, AND unfortunately, some items stop being sold. So, while I still adore my original nursery plan... there have been many fun and inspiring changes that have made me SUPER excited to get started!

Here is my plan from way back in September of 2010. It's gender neutral and I still think it's super sweet... however, I have had some major changes going on in my head that I cannot WAIT to share with all of you! (But I've GOT to know the sex before I really start diving in)

So, truth be told, I'm positive I'm having a baby boy. I mean, positive. Mister Husband also thinks he's a boy as does my amazing OB. So, what do YOU think it is??? I LOVE wondering about it and would just explode with happiness with either sex-- but I do have that "motherly instinct" that I'm dealing with a super tough boy in my belly. (He's given me a lot of hell... so I'm just thinking it's a boy that's hard headed and full of passion and life- just like my precious Mister Husband!)

Now, I know that wives tales say that being sick=girl, but that's never been correct with my family and friends... so I just don't buy that! Chinese calendar says boy on one version and girl on another.... so, a big thanks to the chinese, you're of NO help. Heartbeat has been fast both times we've heard it (which is by the way THE most amazing and magical sound) but again, I don't buy that theory either! My super mom brought home her first daughter to a blue nursery and airplane sleepers because my sister Nene had a slow heartbeat!

So--- I need predictions. We can only guess and wonder what it will be for a few more days (although it feels like an ETERNITY)! So abode lovers.... lady? or lad????

oh babykins!

2013-01-07T06:21:00.000-08:00

Mister Husband and myself have been blessed with a BABY! That's right abode lovers, I'm pregnant with a precious little babykins! I know that I've been absent from the blogger world since well, Thanksgiving (eek!), but that's because this baby is making a statement. "How so?" you ask.... well, babykins' mama is sick, sick, sick.

I am almost done with the dreaded first trimester, this Thursday will be week 12! We are expecting this sweet baby to arrive July 25, 2013!

Here is our little babykins at almost 8 weeks. Isn't he/she just precious and perfect?!? Mister Husband and I are already in love with our sweet babe.

The photo says 6 weeks 6 days, but come to find out I was a bit further along than I had expected! Which was a relief for how terrible I was feeling at this point!

So, I'm sorry I've been absent for so long, and I'm disappointed that I wasn't able to paint a bit more before the holidays, but I felt as if I could hardly function!

I'm now battling a cold- which is hopefully just that, a cold-- and not something much worse like strep or a sinus infection. But I sure am ready to feel better and a bit more motivated! Anyhow, I've been so excited to share the news with all of my abode lovers out there! A nursery will be in the works soon!

little-bitty mini originals

2012-11-26T05:39:00.000-08:00

Hello abode lovers and welcome back to reality! Did anyone else enjoy their time off as much as I did? I spent time with family, Mister Hubbs, saw movies and painted! Fortunately, since I was able to do some work over the holiday weekend, I now have a few little mini originals to share with all of you! I wanted to introduce a new item to the shop, Laurel Dawn, just for the holidays and these are my answer! A little-bitty original painting. They're small enough that they can sit nicely on a table top like a picture frame.

Bowtie Mini 5"x5"

Peachy Mini 6"x6"

Gold Gilded Mini 5"x5"

Silver Gilded Mini 6"x6"

Rose Gold Mini 5"x5"

Spring Mini 6"x6"

And to follow up last weeks sneak peek, here is the new Abode Love 11"x17" print!

I hope all of you had a fantastic Thanksgiving break- these mini's will go fast so make sure if you have your eye on one for Christmas that you snag it quickly! Have a great Monday back at work abode lovers!

new things coming!

2012-11-20T06:25:00.000-08:00

Hello abode lovers, we're only a few days away from Thanksgiving! Wahoo! I mentioned yesterday that I've been super busy with paintings and other projects and today I'm sharing a few sneak peeks of new things to come in the shop, Laurel Dawn!

I'm working on a new print that will be released right after Thanksgiving-- here's a little taste of what I'll be offering!

... and these pint sized originals will also be available after Thanksgiving in the first few weeks of December. I have several more that I'm working on, but these are just a little preview. These tiny babes are just as bright as the large originals but super compact and super affordable. I'll let ya'll know when they're available for purchase at the shop, Laurel Dawn!

I'm excited for these new projects to roll out in time for the holiday season! I feel so blessed and beyond thankful for the opportunity to paint for my readers, it's been the BEST! I've had quite a few commissions in the past few weeks since the launch of Laurel Dawn and am excited to paint more large pieces in the next few weeks after I tackle all of the commissions!

If you're interested in getting a commission completed by Christmas, contact me asap!

thanksgiving inspired spaces

2012-11-19T06:08:00.001-08:00

Hello abode lovers and Happy Thanksgiving week! I am SO excited to relax for a few day and stuff my face! I painted and worked all weekend (and saw the new Twilight movie of course), and this Thanksgiving I'm planing on putting my feet up in a big way. Here are a few gorgeous spaces that make me feel like Thanksgiving. I imagine these spaces smell like apple cider...

These warm, copper drapes are such a nice contrast to the upholstered dining chairs. I also really love the amber toned bottles in the window-- don't you want to sit under this shaded chancy and eat a turkey leg?

This wallpaper also feels like Thanksgiving to me. The warm auburn background with creamy flowers and birds is simply gorge. I love, love the soft brown branches in this floral pattern. I also really love the slick, black lamp base in this space. It's a great contrast to the soft, upholstered headboard spotted with nail heads. The side table is the perfect marriage of elegance and masculinity- I love a good two-toned piece of furniture.

I love a well styled nook. This little area is so warm and rich. I love all of the black accents in this arrangement and I'm loving that lampshade!

I just LOVE what a copper, hammered pendant light can do in a space. Can you imagine this kitchen without them? I think not. They're so warm and feel rich and super glam-- they really elevate this space and make it so much warmer.

Holy hell. How do I get a bathroom like this? As if a claw foot tub isn't gorgeous enough, they added a tufted bench and a gorgeous marble-topped vanity to make me super jealous. (or totes jel as my little sisters say)

I have always loved this space-- there's nothing like a gallery wall of fine art. Look at those landscapes! I also love the warm, mocha wall color and the pale gold chair and lamp shades. Anyone else dying over that sconce? So dreamy right?

Wowza. Check out the wall treatment! Grasscloth with nail heads-- stop it. The walls really make this space feel warm and special. I also love the wood and glass cabinet in this space-- it adds a timeless quality to the room. I'm also dying over all of the green velvet tufting- geeze. The oversized lantern is a really nice touch- and the abstract art elevates this space to a younger look-- without it I think this space would feel completely different.

I'll never get enough of this living space. I love it. This room may be one of my favorites of all time. I LOVE the symmetry and all of the antique touches mixed with the super modern, furniture. I love all of the clean lines mixed with the gold, gilded pieces throughout this space.

Check out that mirror detail. Wowza. I love the layered mirrors and all of the trim details. The wall treatment is SO lovely and is paired so well with the burnt orange area rug. The mint and orange color combination is so nice and totally unexpected. Ya'll know I'm crazy about mixing patterns and infusing a ton of color into spaces, so this space really speaks to me. LOVE it.

I really love this living/dining combination. I love the color is the painting over the fireplace as well as the traditional mirrors flanking either side of the fireplace. The light fixtures go really well together but aren't matchy-matchy which I appreciate. Also, those chairs are gorgeous. Don't you want to have Thanksgiving dinner in this space? I do.

This space feels like Thanksgiving to me because of all of the family photos climbing the wall. Nothing says Thanksgiving to me like family. It's the time to treasure every person in your life and take note of how much you have to be thankful for... when I do this, I think of my huge, growing, crazy family.

In a fabulous and pretend world, this is totally my dining nook. That tufted banquette, the floral pillows, the lanterns, need I say more? Nope, this totes has my name all over it.

I'm pretty sure I've blogged about this kitchen/dining space at least 5 times. I love it, that's why I keep revisiting it! I love, love the antique chandy, the french styled chairs, the warm color palette and the kitchen pass through.

This seems like a great place to finish up Thanksgiving day... sitting out here by a fire with family and a big glass of wine. Doesn't this outdoor space look heavenly and totally perfect for the fall season!?! I think so.

I hope you guys have enjoyed my Thanksgiving inspired spaces-- they're all so pretty and warm. Which space speaks to you? I hope all of you abode lovers have a fantastic Monday!

emily a. clark giveaway

2012-11-14T06:02:00.004-08:00

Hello abode lovers and happy Wednesday! I am so excited that Emily A. Clark is holding a Laurel Dawn print giveaway on her blog-- it's open until FRIDAY! So go get your comment on... you might just win a free print!

Emily framed the Flowers for Reese print and it's now living in her kitchen! I think it looks GREAT!

I hope all of you abode lovers have a great day, and don't forget to enter Emily A. Clark's Laurel Dawn print giveaway!

mister husbands dream room

2012-11-13T06:19:00.002-08:00

Hello abode lovers, today I'm sharing a space that I was scared to show Mister Husband. "Why?" You ask... well, because I thought he would never be able to let it go. The space that I speak of is the perfect man room... I mean, perfect. It's from the 2012 Ultimate Beach House. This gorgeous abode is designed by Erika Powell of Urban Grace Interiors. I am sure all of you have swooned over every every detail of this gorgeous home, but I keep revisiting this particular space. This fellow Auburn girl got this space right!

Mister Husband would love nothing more than to host his gang in this space. He told me once that he wanted more places for his friends to put their feet up. Double wide orange chaise lounges would definitely do the trick!

Goodness gracious... I would want to host a girlie slumber party up here and watch Pride & Prejudice on repeat... with Mister Husband's blessing of course.

I love the drapery door panels. What a soft and lovely touch!

As if this space isn't fabulous enough... there's a friggin' candy bar. That little detail certainly won over the Mister.

If you haven't checked out this GORGEOUS home, you're missing out. Do it. You will die. It's totes gorge. I hope all of you abode lovers have a great Tuesday!

a giveaway brought to you by S+S!

2012-11-09T06:01:00.000-08:00

Hello abode lovers and happy FRIDAY! We made it ya'll. SO-- today I have exciting news... Sadie + Stella by blogger Lindsay is doing a Laurel Dawn giveaway! Run on over there and enter to win a FREE PRINT or $65 gift certificate to go toward a commissioned piece or an original painting! Wahoo for Friday giveaways!

In other news... Here are a few fabulous pins that I came across this week.

Wow. I love this little nook. Usually, leather sofas don't speak to me-- don't get me wrong, I love leather, and I love sofas.... but most of the time they don't look super comfortable or inviting. This sofa breaks the mold for me. I want to sit my behind on that sofa and read a book. I also LOVE the painting and the picture light makes it feel even more special than it already is! Also- don't you just love that flirty, feminine pillow paired with the tartan throw? Yes sir.

This room makes me want to have ~~a set of twin boys~~ well behaved twin boys that are always clean and love design. (I am aware that my statement above is much like creating a space for a purple unicorn, but hey, a girl can dream!) Anyway- I adore the scale of the jenny lind syle beds and the little loft space is really special and really well done. Don't you just LOVE the two doors that flank the small staircase? Those porthole mirrors are delicious.

This is a GREAT DIY that I ran across on the blog, Gorgeous Shiny Things. I got totally sucked into this blog last night... so many great DIY's! I LOVE the fringed look of this oversized convex mirror. Ya'll know I'm a sucker for a convex....

I saw this space and was jealous immediately. I would LOVE a studio like this to paint in.... wowwie zowwie ya'll. Also- love that juju hat... I've had my eye on one of these guys for years now... will I ever bite the bullet and buy one? OR will I copy Gorgeous Shiny Things and pull off a great convex mirror DIY that is reminiscent of this juju hat!?! Decisions, decisions.

As usual... dogs are part of my post. I love dog art. I mean, love it. I have painted one pup in my day... but I really want to paint my doggies one day. I love the wallpaper in this space as well as those gorgeous chairs. The slipcovered seat is SO pretty-- Don't you just love the whimsical quality that the pup painting brings to this space?

and speaking of dogs.... I added this amazing coffee table book to my Christmas wish list. Maddie on Things MUST come to my abode. She would fit right in.

And of course I pinned this... of course. Who knew this kind of cuteness even existed!?!

I hope all of you abode lovers have a great Friday and an amazing weekend! Make sure to stop by Sadie + Stella today to enter into the Laurel Dawn Giveaway!

getting your vote on

2012-11-06T06:12:00.000-08:00

Hello abode lovers and happy VOTE FO YO MAN day! It's a big one-- regardless of where you stand-- this is a big and exciting day for our country (hopefully it's just a DAY and not a month of counting and recounting). I admit, I haven't been sleeping well after watching the news for ~~just a few minutes~~ entirely too long before I'm supposed to be getting my much needed shut-eye. Anyone else feel like Anderson Cooper is your new husband? Is it just me? I'm ready to get back to my regular life of watching E! News instead of the real stuff. I'm ready for normalcy people... please don't judge.

Here is some super 'Merican eye candy for you today in honor of your vote! Love of country is cool in my opinion. Growing up a military kid, General Dad always made sure a flag was flying in our front yard. Get. Your. Vote. On.

This is my favorite patriotic moment in my little abode. This american flag seen in my china cabinet in my living room was a gift from General Dad a few Christmases ago. He made the display case and this particular flag flew with him in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. It's a piece that is very dear to my heart. My dad came home after months of being gone the DAY before I graduated from high school.

Here are a few great spaces that just scream, "I LOVE 'MERICA!"

Don't you just LOVE this flag!?! It's gorgeous. If I had a flag like this I would display it like it was my job. I love the gold fringed trim.

CUTE! This sweet boy room knocks it out of the park- I adore the color palette and the obvious love of country in this household. Isn't the upholstered daybed so rich and luxurious? I also love the super classic and simple drapes in this space. The gold hardware, sconces and lantern really elevate this kid room to such a lovely and sophisticated level. God Bless America.

Here is another precious boy room rocking out the American style! The plaid walls are precious and here again, the upholstered daybed will have a long life. What a great piece! I'm also kind of dying over the star carpeting... perfection. I wonder if you stick your kid in a room like this, he or she will grow up to be the President of the United States? Hmmmm....

Pretty. I love the simple drapes with the touch of red trim that compliment that gorgeous red chair.

Now, this is a GREAT space from Peppermint Bliss. It's AMAZING. The light fixture, the cornices, the RED BUILT-INS AND ALL TRIM--- who does that?!? How the heck did she know it would work SO WELL!?! Amazing. Also, are all of you abode lovers dying over the mini Eames furniture? I mean, stop it.

Best kid play room in the entire world.

Since we've seen a few boy rooms in red white and blue- I thought I would share a perfect example of how to pull of this color combination for a girl! Don't you love those drapes? The pop of pink is welcomed in this color palette-- I also love the robins egg blue that's used here. I think I love this room so much because of the super layered patterns in the space- I'm crazy about patterns.

This is just lovely. Really, really lovely. I love the swag of the flag and the simplicity of this hallway.

Again with the layered patterns... love it. I especially love the small velvet looking pillows displayed on the bed. Also, isn't that chandy just gorgeous?

So- are all of you abode lovers voting today? Have you already voted? If you have or will-- do you wish that after you voted you could sit yourself down in one of these spaces and sing "Independence Day" by Martina McBride? Is that just me? Again? Wow... I think I really need some sleep. Hopefully we will have a president announced soon-- for all of our sanity! Have a great day abode lovers!

craving kantha

2012-11-02T06:51:00.002-07:00

Hello abode lovers and hooray for making it to Friday! Go ahead, give yourself a pat on the back... I am. It's been an exciting week over here at abode love with the opening of the shop, Laurel Dawn-- but I'm excited for the weekend! It looks like I'll be working on a super big commission this weekend, I can't wait to share more about that! Anyhow, last weekend I had the pleasure of going to a baby shower for Mister Husband's sweet cousin Kim from Modern Austen.... after the shower I showed all of the girls my paintings and Mister Husband's super stylish aunt had a ton of kantha textiles--- she brought them out to see how they looked with my paintings and we all kind of loved the combination!

Kantha is super hot right now... thanks to good ole wikipedia, I learned that Kantha is a type of embroidery popular in Bangladesh in West Bengal, India. The use of kantha is popular for saris-- love that. If you are like me and LOVE layered pattern and bold color, you will LOVE these kantha pieces. Since drooling over them last weekend I've been stalking all kinds of kantha tapestries and quilts online....

To me, this bedroom is pretty close to perfect. I adore the mix of patterns on the bed. The kantha textile at the end of the bed is really nice with the glamorous pink, tufted headboard. This is an eclectic space at it's best!

Here is another great use of a kantha textile... LOVE the calm serene space and bedding with a pop of color. This is a GREAT way to use kantha if you're a little more timid about mixing patterns.

Here a kantha textile is used as a runner for the dining table.

Another space with a gorgeous kantha bed covering...

Here are a few combinations of Laurel Dawn originals with gorgeous anthropologie kantha chairs! Anthro is typically pretty pricey, but these chairs are on SALE for a limited time-- they're 30% off and you get free shipping if you spend $100--- so the chairs are $138.60! I think that's pretty darn good.

I love the Flowers for Hannah original with the Overdyed Terai Chair, Turquoise $138.60 I love that the blue of the kantha chair is pulled out in small touches in the painting. As you can see-- this mix of pattern is not for the weary... you've got to love boldness and color (and ya'll KNOW I do!)

This combinations speaks to me... big time. So much so that I'd love to go out and buy a set of those chairs to sit in my dining nook! Goodness.... furniture is such a ridiculous weakness of mine. Anyway, I love the mix of the gold metallic and spots of deep plum and pale purple in the Flowers for Katie original... Am I crazy or is this combination just crazy good?!? The Overdyed Terai Chair in purple is a really great look- I love the touches of periwinkle in the seat of the chair.

Now, the chair above would certainly work beautifully with the maroon & mint flowers original- but I really love the Overdyed Terai Chair in Orange with this piece! I love the soft pumpkin orange used in the seat of the chair as well as the touches of deep maroon in the ikat pattern.

Here is a gorgeous vintage kantha quilt via Etsy. I LOVE how different each side of this piece is... the contrast is just so darn pretty and completely unexpected.

Here's a pretty kantha pillow and little baby blanket that I would totally use as a throw in my living room....

If you are all of the sudden diggin kantha as much as I am, search Ebay and Etsy for KANTHA and you will get eye candy out the whazoo at GREAT prices.... you will die. So- is anyone else loving all of this bright and bold pattern as much as me??? What are your thoughts on this Indian textile? Have a GREAT weekend abode lovers!

and the laurel dawn print winner is....

2012-11-01T06:09:00.000-07:00

MORGAN HUFFMAN! You are the WINNER of your very own Laurel Dawn print! Here is the print that Morgan will be receiving!

On a side note, I am blown away and feel completely blessed after the outpouring of love and support from all of you yesterday! I am so glad that my abode lovers are digging my work-- best. feeling. ever! Also, a big thank you to Kim from Modern Austen for posting a Q&A today with YOURS TRULY, head over and check her out abode lovers!

flowers for wende print 11"x14"

Here is a close up of the image...

So Morgan, give me a shout at laureldawndesigns@gmail.com and we will get your print in the mail to you asap!

As for all of you who entered, thanks again for all of the amazing support! If you're totally bummed that you didn't snag the giveaway, go to Laurel Dawn and buy a print or painting-- I'm sure your abode would love it! I hope all of you had a GREAT Halloween... gobble down that candy and hooray for Morgan!

laurel dawn grand opening and a giveaway!

2012-10-31T05:03:00.001-07:00

It's live! It's live! Laurel Dawn, the shop, is live and I couldn't be more excited to share this ever-growing body of work with all of my abode lovers! I have been painting for months now and couldn't be more excited and relieved that I'm finally sharing it with all of you!

Now for the fun part... giveaway time ya'll. So, if you are interested in winning a FREE 11x14 or 11x17 print of YOUR CHOOSING...

You must be a follower of Abode Love {if you already are, thanks! If not, just click the little "join this site" button near the top, left column}

======THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED======

1. Hop on over to Laurel Dawn and pin 4 of your favorite prints OR paintings to Pinterest.
2. Leave a comment below THIS POST with the PRINT that you would like as well as where you plan to hang your new Laurel Dawn print!
3. For an extra entry, share your favorite PRINTS or PAINTINGS on Facebook and link back to this post or to Laurel Dawn the shop.
4. For another extra entry, Blog about the giveaway and link back to this post.
5. For another extra entry, Like Abode Love on Facebook.

*Be sure to leave a comment each time you do one of the above! This giveaway ends at midnight Wednesday October 31st!

And now.... here are A FEW of the paintings/prints that are currently being offered at Laurel Dawn to see them all please go check out Laurel Dawn today!

flowers for alison 24"x24"

flowers for hannah 36"x46"

flowers for katie 46"x46"

flowers for lady print 11"x14"

maroon & mint flowers 46"x46"

abode roses print 11"x14"

nook flower print 11"x17"

rain 36"x46"

flowers for wende print 11"x14"

So- what do all of you abode lovers think? I have been so nervous and excited about this new venture and I am so thrilled and blessed to have such an encouraging group of readers! Go check out Laurel Dawn, I'll be adding more originals and prints every few weeks and DON'T FORGET TO ENTER INTO THE FREE PRINT GIVEAWAY!