Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Scene of the Blog Featuring Gilion of Rose City Reader!


I first became aware of Gilion's blog, Rose City Reader, through LibraryThing. Gilion and I have a similar problem with lists of books: we love them. If we were waiting for the "surprise" visit from Publishers Clearing House, we'd both probably be making new book lists.

More than anything, I love the content and the eclectic mix of books Gilion shares with everyone. If you haven't ever visited Rose City Reader, I certainly hope you take this opportunity to do so. Please say hello to Gilion while you're there!

Gilion contacted me shortly after I began Scene of the Blog to let me know that she was interested in participating. However, she and her husband had just begun work on their new library, and she wanted to wait until the room was finished. I think you'll agree that it was worth that wait.

Before I turn the reins over to my guest, I thought I'd remind you: if you'd like to see any of the following photos full size, just click on them. Over to you, Gilion!



The pink chair is where I sit with my laptop and do most of my blogging. This room was a bedroom that we converted to a home library. It's my favorite room of the house and where I would spend all my time if I could.  

The shelves to the left of the window hold "hobby" books -- travel, gardening, house stuff, scrapbooking, needlepoint, etc. The big basket at the top is full of stationery, cards, stamps, and pens to write notes. The blue vase on the bottom shelf is full of maps. The shelves to the immediate right of the window are full of my non-fiction TBR books, in roughly alphabetical order.  The shelves on the other wall are Hubby's books, which are 90% non-fiction, mostly history, shelved in chronological order by subject.



This is the wall I look at when I blog.  It's inspiring because the shelves are filled with my fiction TBR books, in alphabetical order.  That is, except for the horizontal stack on the bottom, left shelf.  That's my stack of "guilt list" books that I've received from publishers, authors, and LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program. I'm working on that stack.

The kittens are Ella Fitzgerald (on the table) and Billie Holiday (on the bench), collectively referred to as the Jazz Cats.  Before the kittens, I used that table for jigsaw puzzles, but kittens and puzzles do not peacefully coexist.




I've been known to blog when I am at work (don't tell my partners). My desk may look like a bomb went off, but the scene of the Willamette River is peaceful.  Well, it's peaceful in a Portland gray, industrial kind of way.  




As I told Gilion when I emailed her to let her know that I'd received her photos, I think I'm in love! There is something about the blend of colors-- the wood, the fabrics on the chairs, floor and windows, the baskets and other accessories-- that I find very evocative. Gilion's blogging haven revs my imagination into a higher gear, and I can see myself curled up in that room by a roaring fire (the fireplace is complete with a fender) while rain lashes at the windows. See? I even invent the weather and room details that aren't there!

And... who wouldn't love the names of her cats???

Thank you so very much for allowing us this glimpse into your creative space, Gilion-- it's beautiful!

There will be no Scene of the Blog next week due to the Christmas holiday. Mark your calendars as a reminder to stop by Wednesday, December 29, when you'll be able to peek into the creative space of another book blogger. Happy Holidays!



26 comments:

  1. I love the library! A booklover's dream room :-)

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  2. what a lovely room..a dream room.
    all those wonderful shelves, all those books, that so comfy looking pair of chairs...my, my.

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  3. I agree - Gilion always post about the most interesting books and I can see why - what an inspiring and gorgeous room!

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  4. Wow, what a fantastic room! It was definitely worth the wait to see these pics!

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  5. Cathy: Thank you for letting me participate in this fun event. I always like seeing the other bloggers' lairs -- it's kind of funny being on this side of it. :)

    Too bad there is no fireplace like in your imagination. That would be wonderful! The rain lashing the windows, though, we have that. Plenty of it.

    Mary: Thanks! It is this booklover's dream, that's for sure.

    caite: Yes, I could hole up in my library for days at a time. I hate it when real life interferes!

    bermudaonion: Thanks for the compliment! That's big praise coming from the most eclectic blogger around!

    avisannschild: Thanks for waiting. :) Your cat looks like my Billie. I'm now crazy for tabbies now that we have the two Jazz Cat kittens.

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  6. Sure wish my home library looked like this lovely room. Instead it looks like a hurricane went through. You did a great job of redecorating for that special library feeling. Thanks for sharing.

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  7. Rural View: Right now, most of my house looks like Santa's Workshop exploded in it. I try to keep the library tidy so I have one sanctuary in the chaos.

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  8. Gilion sent me via Twitter--love this reading room (aka library) and am inspired for when the kids finally move out! Scene of the Blog is a very cool event--glad I discovered it.

    I also love the painting Headed over the Pass--I am v nostalgic for train travel days, and live in Colorado so have imagined this journey myself.

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  9. What a lovely room!! The prospect of being able to create a room like this is one of the things keeping me sane as I prepare for my empty nest over the next couple of years. A room full of books and cats...I can think of nothing better!!

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  10. OMG - I am simply DROOLING over that room!! Lovely! Thanks for sharing :)

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  11. Jane: Glad you found Scene of the Blog. Fun, isn't it?

    Peppermint: Funny how books and cats seem to go together.

    A library was definitely at the top of our list for feathering our empty nest. Like I said, it is my favorite room in the house.

    Wendy: You make me laugh.

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  12. That is the perfect library room... cozy and inviting. Now I'm going to show the pictures to my husband and tell him that's what I want! He's already built shelves for me in the family room and my office but an entire room for books would be heavenly.

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  13. I love the library!!! It's so great to see others convert rooms to libraries too.

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  14. Wow, what a gorgeous library! Definitely worth the wait to see it!

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  15. Leslie: Glad to inspire your Honey Do list!

    Kris: Thanks. Converting a room to a library was an easy decision. It just means my guests have to go to the attic to find a guest bed. :)

    Amy: "Gorgeous" -- THANKS!

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  16. Oh my goodness I think you own my dream library! I am drooling over here! Thanks for sharing your home with us!

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  17. Erin: Thanks! And thank you for coming to visit Rose City Reader too.

    Amused: You are sweet to say so! It is my "dream library" because now all my TBR books are in one place, instead of multiple rooms, hallways, boxes, etc.

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  18. I looked at that room and thought it must belong to someone in a cool climate! What a gorgeous cosy inviting library. I've only been to Portland once but I have a good friend who came from there. I loved Powell's and the city was so pretty. One of the nice manageable ones of the world.

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  19. Beautiful! I love the cat names!

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  20. Incredible library! Wow. Now I'm missing Oregon ... I lived in Eugene for a couple of years.

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  21. Absolutely gorgeous! I'm so envious! ;)

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  22. JaneGS-- Headed Over the Pass speaks to me, too. My husband and I have spent some fun days traveling on old trains here in Arizona.

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  23. whisperinggums: Portland is a manageable city, that it a good description and what makes it a charming place to live. For all that it is a cool climate! Cold and wet. A cozy library is a must for me!

    Shelley: Thank you! The Jazz Cats have good names, I agree, but they stubbornly refuse to learn them. :)

    Beth F: I didn't realize that you have an Oregon connection. How interesting.

    diaryofaneccentric: "Gorgeous" -- thanks! Although I don't want to inspire envy!

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  24. Cathy -- I didn't mean to forget you. Thank you so much for hosting this event and for letting me participate. This was a lot of fun!

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  25. Gilion-- I didn't feel left out a bit. I'm glad it was as fun for you as it was for me! :)

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Thank you for taking the time to make a comment. I really appreciate it!