How to: Farm Kitchen

Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize.

Pretty

There are HUGE strawberry plants at Lowe's (3 for $10) right now that will be perfect for putting together an inspired center piece for Easter. I always prefer to use live plants as decoration whenever possible. Being that strawberries are just coming into season here and that we will be eating Grandma's traditional dessert, they are the perfect choice this year.
Design Sponge

Furthermore

This vintage zodiac image would fit into a neutral bedroom oh, so, well.
NYPL Digital Gallery

Change of Heart

I'm not typically a neutral kind of girl but the serenity that these spaces promise has me reconsidering.
At Swim Two Birds, Apartment Therapy

Direction

Which way are you headed today? This adorable vintage compass is a meant to be pinned to your clothing which if you are anything like me, could be tremendously helpful for keeping on track. Find it along with many more interesting items at Fuzzyra.

A Bike with Flowers

Is this practical? No. Do I want to do it anyway? Yes.
Weekend Host

Character

Old furniture often has such character and then the things that can be done to give it even more. . . it just amazes me. It's almost impossible for me to consider buying new anymore.
Livable Machine

Aspirations

This is like a dream to me. A perfect place for nigh time card games, Sunday morning brunches or even just a mid-week lunch break.

Today I'm heading out to my yard to enjoy the sunshine and to continue the work that will someday turn my space into it's own state of perfection.
The Bottom of the Ironing Basket

A Color Story

Purple was my first favorite color. I loved it so much that I wanted to be enveloped in it. I dreamed of a bedroom that would be all mine; walls painted lavender, and smelling of grape Hubba Bubba. This one would have suited me well.
Domino

Naturally

I've been curious about bee nests and more specifically about housing one in our backyard. I love the idea having a special place in our yard for these pollinators and these nest are especially beautiful. I am a little sceptical only because bees do sting and we have neighbors to consider as well. One house I am certain should be added to our yard is the Toad in a Hole, which houses toads of course and their main diet includes slugs and snails!
Kinsman Company

Print Adoration

This print is so summer and fits in well with the obsession I have this season. The print will be available on placemats and tea towels April 1st from Hammocks & High Tea. I've already added them to my wish list.

Thought of the Day

My thoughts on old painted wardrobes used as kitchen storage; ideal. Not only do they provide versatile storage but also add interest and give the space such a homey feel. I recently convinced a friend to get one for her kitchen. When it was first brought in, it seemed huge but once the shock of it's size subsided, it was obvious that it will be perfect. And really, the amount of storage it creates is amazing.
Cafe Cartolina, Red Ticking

Bold and Beautiful

Here's a great way to get a little bit of that spring feeling inside quickly and in an affordable manner!
Image found via Eileen Kathryn Boyd

Pretty

I love this print by Alicia Bock, titled Marche aux Oiseaus. Lately, I've been thinking about getting some birds and keeping them in a pretty cage on the front porch during the days and then bringing them in at night like they do at my favorite local nursery but I just haven't found the perfect cage.

Spring

Spring arrives on Sunday. The weather has been perfect and has me dying to make kites as beautiful as these and then get out and enjoy it.
Something's Hiding in Here via Poppytalk

Finally

Finally, here is my dress from last semester. The zipper still needs to be corrected which will make the fit better so when you look at it, just imagine that it's a photo shoot done by a professional, tucked in all the right places, and not a 15yr old taking a picture of her mother in the hallway and it will become perfect.

Library

Beautiful new covers for must have classics.
Random House as seen in BHG

Process

Just when I'd decided not to listen to my ideas anymore (they make me crazy), I went to the fabric store yesterday. Fell in love with two fabrics. One silk, one lace. Both a blush color. Didn't buy either. Came home, opened file with images of interest for Project #2 (cocktail dress for Intermediate Industry Sewing class). Wracked brain about how I could use these two fabrics together, in a way that would end up just right. Worried that my sewing skills were not adequate enough for the ideas I have. Worried that my ideas were too ambitious and would take too long leaving me behind (as usual). Worried that ideas were not exactly cocktail dress like but more summer wedding guest-ish. Decided I didn't care. Searched internet for images. Found one that's just what I've been thinking. Fell in love. Kept fingers crossed until class.
Cymbeline via Nibs

Documentation

There are some life experiences that need paper documenting. Things that you want to have a tactile experience with when you read and relive the memory of. The "Mini Book and Letter Hybrid" from Miniature Rhino seems well suited to documenting travel adventures. The back cover is a small envelope which would nicely store mementos and souvenirs from trips. Each book is 12 pages long; perfect for including all the pertinent details with a label on the front. Perfect.
Miniature Rhino

Ag

I love pictures in multiples and natural motifs so for me cows in the kitchen are a lovely idea. I especially like the muted colors in the prints along with the brown and white canopy stripe fabric on the bench. It's all so unassuming.
Image via Brabourne Farm

Planting

Who hasn't dreamt about window boxes? Today I'm planting one full of strawberries (that I've removed from another flower bed in our yard just yesterday) for our kitchen window where I can look out and enjoy them and maybe even remember to pick them.
Country Living

Adored

Large woven baskets, especially in the kitchen. Someday I'll have them, full of onions and potatoes freshly dug up from our kitchen garden.
Sadie Olive, Robert Stilin via Brabourne Farm

Stitchery

If you ever come across a copy of this book, Stitchery; Free Expression by Ann Woelders, grab it. I found my copy last summer in the free pile of a garage sale. I couldn't wait to get it home. This book is great because the approach is very encouraging of the reader to be creative and to explore the possibilities of fiber art through embroider and applique. There's also much education offered about fabrics, technique and design in a very organic way. It's not your typical embroidery book, it's better.

Weekend Goals

I like to make my goal lists long that way I am bound to get at least one of them met. When the list is short, I failure by not getting any of it done. So, practice embroidery stitches, garden, read, finish recovering couch, garden, transplant ugly plants to backyard and replace with pretty new plants. Do each of these things with the help of the children so that they will enjoying these things when they grow up and we will have long lists of things to talk about forever.
Image via FFFFound

Fate

I am determined that these two belong together somehow.
Anthropologie, William Sonoma

Garden Wear

A little bee necklace, the perfect piece for any gardening gal.
Alona Lahav Handmade Designs

It's Time

My favorite time of year, time to start planning the summer garden. Over the weekend I worked in the "Constant Garden", adding to and improving the asparagus bed and weeding around the artichokes. The winter garden has some small and promising progress so I'm hoping that the onions and celery will wrap up their cycle soon. In the meantime, I'll review the successes and failures of last year's summer crop and plan accordingly so that next month I'll be ready for planting. Yeah!
Sunset

Natural Wonder

There are many hawks in our area and I am fascinated by them. I've *spotted an amazingly large nest belonging to a hawk on the route I take to school. Each day, either as I'm headed out or on my way home, I anticipate what might be happening at the nest when I drive by. It's so exciting when I see it occupied by it's owner and I'm certain I'll see babies one of these days. It really is one of those little things that makes life so interesting.
House Beautiful

*I wish I could show you pictures but my camera is no good.

Hmm

Today I find myself wondering if it might be possible to simply and inexpensively create the look of this island.
erin gates

Sharing

Friday was fabulous, thank you for all your good vibes, they worked wonders. I have to tell you that one of my favorite things happened that day, I was introduced to a new, lovely plant, the Staghorn Fern. This plant is new to me. I had never noticed it before but upon walking in to a friends patio, and seeing the most interesting plant, I asked her, "What is the plant you have here that looks like antlers?" As you can see, it is very appropriately named. What's even better is that her husband is going to start one for me so I'll soon have my very own. Plants are my favorite things. Especially when they are shared by friends.
Poppytalk

While Away the Day

Friday's are my day off from school this semester. The rest of the week is so busy, that it's very tempting to just stay in bed all day. There are good reasons to get out and about though. Things like coffee with friends, long overdue hair appointments and maybe even a lunch date with Husband followed by some estate sale adventures.
Images-unknown

In Multiple

What is the saying? "If one is good, more is better."
Atelier Eva Juliet, Inkpainter, Still Life with Wallpaper

A Lead

See the orange tent on the right? That would be just perfect (if it were a little wider and not so deep) for my space. Doesn't this just look like so much fun?
found via A Lovely Being

Maybe

If a person's kitchen spoke of who they were, I think that a person with a kitchen such as this, understands that life doesn't need to be complicated and may be more enjoyable if it is not.
via Design is Mine

Nicey Jane

The Nicey Jane Fabric series is so pretty. See more here.