Paper + Fabric

Paper + Fabric, an equation that works out to equal perfection.

Life

{Cottage Living}

This kitchen makes me happy because it looks lived in. I really like a space to look lived in. We used to try really hard to keep our house tidy and clean then I got really tired of the fact that it's a giant circle of constant laundry and pick up and to what end? So, I started to let it go a bit and my husband followed suit (harder for him than me) and now things pile up a bit and bathrooms wait quite awhile between scrubbings.

Now when I see something left out in the middle of a room or when I am throwing shoes and all else into the appropriate (messy) bedrooms, I am happy to see these things out of place because it means that a family lives.

The Latest

Swing arm lights are my latest addiction. They're so sexy.
Desire to Inspire, Flor

Connection

{Sunset}

There something so beautiful about clothes hung out to dry. The benefits are so many. It gives a chance to spend time outdoors when we might not take the time otherwise. It can be such a quiet contemplative time. It feels like a connection to the past. So many generations before us have done just this same thing.
norfolk museum, sunset

Blah, blah, blah

On and on about the yard and all things related to it. I can't be stopped! Isn't this little tent cabin fabulous?

Over the weekend we dug garden beds out of the existing grass and got the veggies in. It's not beautiful yet but it's well on it's way.

Possibilities

Imagine the things that could be created with a machine like this. Seems to me like a machine to last a lifetime.
Urban Outfitters

A Simple Solution

I have a thing for fabric. It happens fairly often that I just fall in love a pattern. Sometimes I buy a bit not knowing what it might be useful for. Sometimes I reluctantly walk away. The pieces I do purchase usually end up being used somehow sometimes all I really want is just to be able to look at them. Here's where this simple, genius display from Purl would be a fantastic solution. Want some more direction? Go here.
Purl Soho via Design Mom

Inspired

I found this book yesterday on a trip to the fabric store and oh my. It's lovely. Full of inspiring French goodness. Coasters, heart shaped lavender pillows, an adorable pouf; I don't know where to start.

Yellow Stuff

{Honey Necklace, Block Party Press}

{Live What You Love, Hijirik Studio}

{Yellow Topaz, Night Star}

{Faux Crocodile Umbrella, jessjamesjake}

{Damask Tote Bag, Drawflowers}

All good stuff.

Anticipation

Read the review of this cookbook in last months House Beautiful and it seemed like one I would like. I've managed to win it on ebay for a reasonable price and am looking forward to it's arrival at the end of the week. I'll let you know what I think.

Backyard Beauty

All that layering, there's so much to look at. I bet there's a small pool with a fountain off to the right and a vegetable garden somewhere just outside of this shot. Wouldn't that be perfect? This space would work for for a Saturday morning breakfast with the family, midweek coffee with the girls, or Friday night dinner and drinks with friends. I love it.
BHG

Call Me Crazy

My family has a color theme for all major holidays. I know! But really how would it look on Easter Sunday if we were all (six of us) standing in the pew uncoordinated (as I typed that, the answer came to me- it would look like any other Sunday)? This year our theme is bright cheerful color and pattern. I've purchased these Martha Stewart hanging pom poms in pinks for the dining room. They're so much fun to look at!

The Art of Display

Isn't this fantastic?! Outside a hotel in Paris, of course. I love it when ordinary items are made extraordinary.
Flickr

On the Hunt

{Image from Desire to Inspire via Indierockets photostream}

If all the stars are aligned correctly today, I may just find a scale for weighing our harvest later this summer. If not, there's plenty more on my wish list and I'm certain we'll enjoy a day of sales and probably find a few smaller treasures. How about you? Anything in particular you are keeping an eye out for?

Ranunculus

{Sara Norris Photography}

I adore these blooms. They are so delicate and the variety of colors is amazing. I think I'm going to use them for my Easter Day Decor and then plant tons of them in the yard. I have one that I planted probably 4 years ago that comes back every year. That's the kind of plant I like.

Make a Change

This is not a joke -One in 8 Americans does not have access to enough food. That's only one of the statistics, find more information here.

Two visionary bloggers, authors of Pigtown Design and Easy and Elegant Life have teamed up to encourage fellow bloggers to make a change. April 1st will be April Food Day. You can participate by making a donation to Feeding America or your local food bank. Let's get together to do some good today.

Seamless

As a chronic multi-tasker, it is often that I am back and forth from the garden to the house and back again. As much as possible we like to really live in our outdoor space. It can be difficult to do though as the tempurature starts to climb. I think for the Spring and Summer months I'll see how I can translate this look to our inside living area to make the outside and inside seamless.
Better Homes and Gardens