Dear Anthro

Dear Anthro,
Sometimes I feel like you're one of the few who really get me. You know, really, really understand who I am and what I'm about. I don't even mind that you know how to use that knowledge to make me pine for things in your store like I do for no other. Why? Because I'm convinced. I don't want the product. I want the lifestyle. Book covered walls, butterflies haphazardly affixed to cardboard pieces, a bathroom consumed by plants. I mean honestly, I'm so much closer to this reality than a tidy space where everything has been planned to perfection. So anyway, thanks, it means a lot.

Patience

If only a beautiful hedge was one of those plants you could just buy small because it will shoot up in just a year or so anyway.
Bloom

Let's See

Looking forward to Emily Henderson's new show, Secrets from a Stylist, which premiers tonight. I love Emily's personal style and the fact that she's just a regular girl with really good taste who's made her way onto television. I'm very excited for her even though we've never met. Will you be watching?
The Brass Petal

Therapy

It's been a long week for me, if you feel the same way, maybe a little shop therapy would be helpful.

I adore these vintage clutches from A Midnight Dreary. The artist behind these pieces starts out with great vintage clutches and embellishes them with eclectic items (ruffles, feathers, brooches, & rosaries). The results are fantastic, see for yourself.

Decidedly

So much beautiful tufting in one place, it's absolutely fantastic.
Design Sponge

Question

Can a person just nail up planks of wood to their otherwise ugly walls and be done with it? I'd like it to be so. Anyone?
Coastal Living

It's in the Mail

A return address stamp doesn't get any cuter than this one done in custom calligraphy. Plus, just looking at the stamp, I can tell that it would be kinda fun to do. . .might encourage more letter writing.
Primele

Random

I'm a sucker for furniture pieces. Some girls have too many shoes, I have a harder time passing up a random chair or bed frame than a pair of shoes. I think it's safe to say that I see an old bed just like this one at least once a week at an estate sale and while I admire the original stained wood version, hot pink is so much more fun!

Monday Morning Mantra

This pleasant reminder can be found here.

Too Soon

It's too early, I know, but I've been craving a few drops of rain.

Instant Joy, ?, Studio Violet

Style

Such a perfect mix of high and low. That's my favorite style, one that looks effortless and a little messy but still has a glamorous feel (but as if he glam is wearing off).
Living Etc.

A Treat

I love these recipe cards! I think they make for a great little thank you treat. So, if you'd like a little piece of happy in your mailbox, leave a comment with your email address (if there's no link to your info) and I'll randomly pick a reader to send these off to on Friday.

Mimic

There are areas of our vegetable garden that are not proving to be very productive. I've decided that next year, at least one of those spaces will become a cut flower garden so that my kitchen might look like this one on occasion. Well, something like this one.
Elle Decor

Charming

Quite a bit of importance is put on the entry of the home. It's usually just a tiny piece of the whole but with a big job; this entry makes a great first impression. I'd love to see what else there is to his home.

Surprise

Oh my, classes start for me today! Here I thought I had until Wednesday.
Decor Pad

Interior Fashions

Like an empire waistline for drapery.

I'm Thinking

These would make the most wonderful bookplates!
May Third

Sharing

I love to learn how to do things, life long learning is an aspiration of mine. Last week I learned how to spin yarn from fiber. Actually, I think it would be more accurate to say that I started to learn because it will take quite awhile before I really feel comfortable doing it. I wanted to tell you though because I think you should know that it's kind of fun and you might like it.
Forest Bound via Oh Sweet Woods

The Power of Persuation

A pretty picture can almost convince me to change my mind about opinions I cling to fiercely. An example, high gloss paint, it looks amazing in this hall and even has a functional quality in adding much needed light. I must say, I'll still be hesitant to try it in my own home though, mostly because of the ever depressing orange peel textured walls I'm forced to live with forever. I do hold out hope that one day they (the orange peel textured walls) will be featured in a picture with just as much power to persuade as this one.

*By the way, the rug? Madeline Weinrib, of course.
House Beautiful

Building a Wardrobe

A perfect dress from Calypso; works for every season.

Commitment

I bought another chest of drawers, this one for the front porch. I'm having the hardest time committing to a paint color for this one or the other one I found recently for my bedroom. I guess it'd be hard to go wrong with a creamy white, especially outside, in a dark corner, in front of a grey wall. The hard part is that there may be a better choice that I haven't thought of yet.
White and Wander

Wants, Needs & Desires

As far as fascinations go, I should be over the feather one by now. . . but I'm not. Love this necklace from Alyssa Zukas of Two String Jane.

Gasp

These floors! BEAUTIFUL (with a capital everything).
Marie Claire Mason

Research

My youngest sister has big plans for a garden planted in old clawfoot tubs. They will be lined up in her backyard and planted full of edibles. She's working on finding them now. Until now, I've never seen a tub with this kind of painted motif. I have to say, I really like it and think it would look especially nice full of lettuces and herbs.

Work

Time spent with a friend and coffee at a worktable, talking about inspiration and/or creating can be so exciting. This room seems made for just that. If it were mine, the books on those shelves would be ones like Glue Gun Decor, Stitchery, Printing by Hand, Vogue Knitting, Upholstery Basics. . .
Style Files

Stitches

Hillery Sproatt's work was among my favorite things at the fair. Her work in print and embroidery is just detailed and interesting as it is pretty.

Candid

Renegade Craft Fair was fun. Here's some candid shots of my youngest sister and I at the photo booth they provided. Husband and our youngest were there too but we never made it into the booth. I wish we had, it's so fun that I don't even mind that I look ridiculous in at least two photos.

Note to self- do not buy another striped shirt. They are cute, but a person does not need three of them!

Late

I'm getting a late start this Monday morning. These beds look good enough to climb back into but what I like most about them is what's above. The gallery grouping of frames will work forever. Oh, and the little, brass picture light in this second photo, adored.
Marie Claire Mason, Canadian House and Home