Back at It

Isn't this a great little girl work space? We're finally back to work on the final of the two girls' bedrooms in our house. I've taken a gigantic break from it as it's the bedroom of my two messiest. You have to physically clear a path to their beds at night to be sure they don't trip and fall in the dark if they have to get up.

I'm hoping for a miracle when it's all done, a clean(ish) room most days. We'll see.
Vintage Pleasure

Well Worn

Doesn't this look like a lovely kitchen? I'm a sucker for apron sinks and that worn in look on the cabinets.
Country Living

Green with Envy

I'll now be on the look out for this book illustrated by Charley Harper until it's found for $10 or less. I don't want to sell it, I just want to have it. I'm so envious of Pigtown Design and her monthly book thing.

Merry Christmas!

Enjoy!!
Flickr

Presentation

{Domino}

I called my mother to offer her the remainder of my gift wrap from last year because I won't be using it and she laughed. Apparently not everyone is concerned with the color scheme under the tree. I just can't imagine.

Spreading the Love

Upon seeing the January issue of Living, I became obsessed with Orange Marmalade for gifting. It was time consuming (Husband and I drove 45 miles to get the right variety of oranges and that's just the beginning) but it wasn't all that difficult.

I have to say though that I quite possibly spent more time today trying to decide how to present the jars than I spent making it.
BBC Good Food

A Head Start

I never know what I want until it's too late. So here's the start of next years' wish list.

Swooning

You may recall that I have a thing for Ikea and this is why. I get that it's been done but that just doesn't stop me

Working Hard or Hardly Working

Working hard for school. So here, I appear to be hardly working. More soon. Semester ends tomorrow.
1st Dibs, Jayson Home & Garden

Unsolicited Advice

This is not news but since it's Christmas time, maybe you'd like to know that this book is a great thing to add to your own Christmas list if you don't have it already. Even if it seems like a strange concept, trust me, it's great.

It's Begining to Look a Lot Like?

I mentioned to Husband, a civil engineer, today that I think he should build me some houses so I can make these. To my surprise, he got right on it so I will soon have an adorable, nearly free collection (or set depending on how long it holds my interest). I've been in a Christmas decorating slump but no more. Yeah!

If you love them and want to save yourself the trouble of making your own, my new favorite online site, Jayson Home and Garden, offers them prefabricated with free shipping and they're perfect.

Assigned Seating

Aren't these great?! I don't think I'd want the numbering permanently but I don't see why sticker decals on the black chairs we have already wouldn't be fun for awhile.
Pottery Barn

Beautiful Bedroom

There is so much to love about this room, the wall color, the ceiling, the bed. I think though that my favorite parts are that mirror and that lamp. Fantastic! It's all so simple and still refined.
?

A Little Bit of Holly

I love the photography for Holly Stalder's Etsy shop and her clothing line is just superb.

Ready, Set, Knit

Foggy day today, perfect for knitting. This year I vow to do something challenging, break away from the safety of scarves and blankets!
The Loop

Oh Christmas Tree...

I have a Christmas tree addiction. We have one for nearly every room in the house! All are faux and vary in size from 2.5 to 8 feet. Most are green but last year Husband added a vintage aluminum tree. This year it gets even better with a real tree with pretty, matching decorations to be added to the living room. It will be all my own. Oh, the possibilities.
Martha Stewart Living

Gobble, Gobble

Isn't this a great thanksgiving image?! Spent the day today the way it should be, with family and lots of great food. I hope that you were able to do the same.
Sarah Evertson

Fell in Love Today

with these. It's hopeless but I think I'll revel in it for a bit.

Foretelling

I can see a future, mature me with grey hair hidden beneath thoroughly convincing color, leading weekend guests to this room. All of the bedding is crisp because it's line dried and there's a subtle smell of lemon polish in the air. It's lovely.
Cottage Living

The Sure Way to

Long Life & Happy Song. If only there were a book on life like this that applied to the canary owner rather than the canary.

Beautiful

Oh, if only Husband would agree to a bedroom like this! Honestly though I don't think I would be brave enough to commit to the wallpaper but it's what makes this room. The headboard and those side tables certainly do their part too.
Sarah Story Design

At the Hearth of the Matter

I would love to have a fireplace in the kitchen, it adds so much. Isn't it fantastic how the white furniture looks on those dark floors and how the wire chairs don't seem to take up any space at all? I have that table. I use it as the desk in my office and it is perfect.
Domino

On the Calendar

Lots of calendar options going around lately. This one's my favorite. Just spotted it today on the Etsy front page, it's definitely worthy of front page status. Get yours here.

Pennant Possibilities

Aren't these pennants just adorable? Not to mention the zoo creatures they are styled with! When I saw them it made me think for a moment about redoing my sons room. But then logic returns and I realize it's been just over a year since I did that last and adding these pennants would also mean new bedding, new accessories, and on an on. And when it's time to redecorate again he will be heading into the teenage years and these would no longer be age appropiate.

So I'll share with you and keep them in my inspiration file and maybe someone will have a baby boy and ask me what they should do in his nursery...

All of these items can be found at Three Potatoe Four along with tons of other great vintage items but if you like them, act fast. Their products sell quickly.

Homework

Spent hours this weekend designing this fictional space for a class assignment . It seems so bare for all of the time that went into it. Two facing walls shown here (roughly). Tomorrow I'll make up the fictitious clients who will live here and put together a presentation board for their consideration.

InGenious

I've just stumbled upon the ingenious artwork of The Crafty Hedgehog. Be sure to take a look at Knitting in Biology 101. It's a fantastic series.

Study Tips

Does reading Domino magazine while following the election results count towards studying because I have a test on Thursday and the quatrefoil motif will be covered. The quickie quatrefoil history lesson from this months issue (November) has to help.
Domino

Do It!

If you live in the US, make sure you get one of these today.

I Must Have!

I'm obsessed with this scarf. The Sartorialist posted this photo in December of 2007 and I've had it on my mind ever since. When I first saw it, I immediately went to my knitting drawer and got to work making it's double. I'd get it finished, try it on and find that it was not tall enough, the edge rolled too much or in some other way, not quite right. I put it aside for a time, but the weather is getting cooler and I'm back at it. It's sad, I know, but I'm determined.

Rambling

I Suwannee does a great reoccurring post titled 'Bookcase of the Day'. This photo was featured last week and I just can't get it out of my head. The globes, the books the chair, the color combination. I could go on and on.
D. Sharp Journal

Winter Garden

I've had great success over the last few years with a summer garden. This year I hope to plant a fall/winter garden if it's not too late. As it is our summer garden is still producing pretty nicely and I hate to cut it short.

Supporting Education

You can see that I'm very much into organic art pieces this week. These are just too good to pass up. Not only are they fun to look at, they are exceptionally well priced. Find them at And Wabisabi's Etsy shop and support an undergrad in illustration design.

Potential

String art, it has such possibility.
String Art Gallery

Dreaming Again

I truly think that my life will not be complete until these are sitting on my white sofa complementing my zebra print chairs.

Seeing Stripes

Oh, this sofa! Velvet and those rich colors, I just love it.
Rolland Bello via Frolic

Simply Stated

Such a simple and glamorous room. Find the print here and be sure to check out the others.

Why Didn't I?

This is the kind of thing I see and adore and wonder, 'Why didn't I come up with that idea?!' New Roccoco chalkboards at See Jane Work. Two styles and so many possibilities. I'm thinking the office would be so glamorous with this addition.

The Bachelor

I've been assigned a fictitious client for Introduction to Design class. Here's some of the fun possibilities I've seen today for the great room of 'My Bachelors' new home on the golf course. . .

{Chair, Clock, Radio, Rug}

{City Sectional in Walnut}

{Sideboard}

tomorrow, who knows.

Decidedly Undecided

I though I was 'over' Pier 1. Now, I'm not so sure.

A to Z

Isn't this just fun? It makes me think of an eye chart at the doctor's office. Available along with more fantastic wall decals at Tasty Suite's Etsy shop.

A Bit of Contrast

I'm a bit excited by these chests of drawers. It's such a simple way to dress up a worn piece and a black and white scheme is always enticing.
Domino, Design Sponge

Dreamy Kitchen

I love the open space of this kitchen. I imagine it's huge with a farmhouse table just off to the right there. The table is tall and maybe the color of the shelves at the end and it's beat up from all of the use it's had but it's beautiful and each day the family that shares this kitchen sits down together to enjoy each other.
Country Home

In the Stars

{Dan Marty Design, found by way of Absolutely Beautiful Things}

I'm convinced that these lunar prints would be absolutely fabulous on a bedroom wall.

{Art.com}

Or for a little more fun, astrology prints. Hmmm.

It's About Time

Today I spent $39 to repair a $50 clock. Standing in the 'House of Clocks', amazed by the pieces there, I was reminded of the great gift of time.


When I was a girl, my grandparents had a grandfather clock in their entryway which was also the center of their home. I grew so used to it's chimes that I seldom used them to keep track of the time, the sound of the chime was a source of comfort. In their guest bedroom were wind-up alarm clocks, somewhat of a novelty to me as we only had digital at home. Their tick-tock put me to sleep when the night time in their mountain home was too quite for my city ear.

{babes in toyland-cuckoo's clock}

And so I developed a love of clocks. I have mentioned it before. In my adult life it began with a clock I purchased for my husband our second Christmas together and has grown quietly over the years. Last Christmas my middle sister received a Syroco clock from me as her gift. This year, my brother will most likely be getting a vintage Seth Thomas clock for his Christmas gift. It may be a banjo wall clock or a handsome tabletop alarm clock. Either way, I know that it will be a gift that I enjoy giving and he will appreciate receiving because each of the clocks that I have given as gifts have been as individual as their recipients which makes it so much fun.