A blog tour: Come see some lovely blogs...

I must confess I am woefully behind on this blog tour.
Penny at The Comforts of Home (one of my all-time favorite blogs) very kindly invited me to participate in a blog tour. She featured my blog and in turn, I am to feature three blogs I love, answer a few questions, share a photo or two and then the people I feature repeat the process. The idea is simply to get a few people who may not have seen some blogs to go and visit ~ a very nice idea.
I was supposed to post this on Monday, as the tour works Monday to Monday. But life, as it does sometimes, got in the way badly. So I am a couple days late.
Since I am late, I will start with the blogs I would love for you to go and visit...

Brenda at It’s a Beautiful Life has what I think of as a very comforting, peaceful blog. It’s the sort of place you want to visit when you need a bit of soothing or a little pick me up. I just always enjoy my visits.

Catherine Nolin is one of my favorite artists. Her art is so vivid and colorful and full of life. She shares her work on her blog, Catherine Nolin Art Studio, and believe me, it’s worth a look.

Patti at Magnolia Cottage has been blogging for quite awhile, though she just recently took up residence at her Magnolia Cottage blog. She loves old things (like me) and her new blog is all about preserving memories. She shares some interesting stories I think you might enjoy.

Ladies, I hope you get a chance to keep this little tour going. And now the Q&A.

1. What am I working on?

I am working on finally finishing my sun porch. I know I keep saying it’s finished, and then I find something else to do with it. Here’s a sneak peek at my latest porch project ~ refinishing an old mantle.

This is going to go in that bare corner of the porch. Wait until you see the finished look ~ it’s fab.

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre? 

Since I chose to focus on my latest decorating project, I would say my decorating is a bit different than many because of my love and use of color. (In fact, the coffee table on the porch in that top photo just got that coat of lavender the other day. It used to be a lovely warm beige/gray.) There isn’t a single room in my house painted the same color, but it all works together beautifully. And I’m not afraid to decorate with pink. In the living room.

3. Why do I write/create what I do? 
Decorating, writing and photographing this blog, designing fabric and wallpaper and gift wrap ~ I do it all because I love it. Decorating and designing is my passion, my relaxation. Some people love numbers. I love making things pretty, which is also why I write about it here.

4. How does your writing/creating process work?
My creative process pretty much works the same, oddly enough, whether it’s writing or taking pictures in the garden or designing a new pattern or room. First, I just simply need to be in the mood to create, which luckily for me, I am frequently. And then the course my creativity takes tends to depend on what I’m feeling inspired about at the moment. Whether I am decorating or designing or writing, I do tend to have music playing. Sinatra, usually. Or The Great American Songbook. I love new music, too, but I tend to want classics when I’m working on a project. They seem to activate a different part of my brain.

I hope you’ll stop and visit the lovely blogs I shared. And do come back and see how the porch turned out.