A Cohesive Piece

Wouldn't this screenprint, titled, Urns, by Wayne Pate, be another great way to bring all that we love outside, in?!
GRDN

Form

The structured pieces of this garden space are fantastic along side the free form of the hydrangea and other shrubbery. I'd love to have a closer look. I've been thinking about adding a few manicured boxwoods to my own flower beds to add layers and interest. I love the contradiction of the two together.

Things I Need

An adorable little clock for my desk top.
June the First, Clockwork Universe

Make Believe

I love the idea of a dedicated library space. If this one were *mine, it would take me the rest of my life to fill all of those shelves with books but I the room itself would hardly need a thing. It's so pretty already. So, I think I'd keep it simple with a yellow tufted couch, a vintage sign and rug, brown and cream canopy striped curtains and rather than a formal portrait above the fireplace as is typical in a library, this stately bird instead.

*I'd love to know how you'd choose to make it yours if you'd like to play along!
Location Works

Honestly

Today I have a headache and would really just like to climb back into bed (this one looks so inviting).
The Daily Bed

Fact

Faux bois just never gets boring.
Flor

Hitting the Books

My weekend plans are simple; research. With a term paper due Monday morning, there's not time for anything else. My topic is cultural dress of the Hopi Indian. There is much to sift through but it's all very interesting. I hope your plans are fun filled and a little more varied than mine.
New York Times

A Beautiful Disaster

Wouldn't you agree?
Hugh Stewart

If Only

If only a bigger clock meant more time in a day!
Image via Pink Wallpaper

A Seasonal Story

Our local strawberry stand opened last week, which in our family signifies the beginning of everything good. It all starts with strawberries, then cherries, then peaches and on through the spring and summer seasons with a new fruit or vegetable coming back to our table after a lengthy absence, one after the other. We are ready.

As far as strawberries are concerned, we are sustained between seasons by freezer jam. Our supply is low so I know that next week, with a term paper deadline out of the way, I'll be making freezer jam to replenish our dwindling supply.

My grandparents canned much more than jams and I've been wanting to learn for myself just how to do all that they did. The new book, Canning & Preserving, looks like just the reference to give me the confidence to get to it.
Design Sponge, Jayson Home and Garden via Elle Decor

Priorities

Please note-
Long table with room for big projects, mass amounts of library shelves for storing all reference and inspirational books, piano in the corner, gigantic dictionary on table top and drawers galore for storing all of those odds and ends necessary for creating. . .

I adore this space. Not only is it beautiful, but it also seems dedicated to creativity and learning
House Beautiful

Simply Stated

I'm a huge fan of lamp(shades) used in this manner.
Brass Petals, Tea for Joy, The City Sage

Shop Update

I've just added hand printed kitchen towels to my shop. I'm very pleased with how they've turned out. So much so that I decided that all of my kitchen towels should be bee towels.

Tools

The functional item is all the more beautiful because of it's usefulness in creating another even more beautiful item.
Is There a Shadow, Linn Photography, Jackson Street

Garden Talk

I've been too busy lately to get out into my garden (please note, the garden shown here, is not mine). I really want to put in the rest of the summer vegetables but it will have to wait. Sunday. I think. How about you, how are your gardens growing?
American Feast

Matter of the Art

With names like Gypsy Funeral and Organic Celestial Mandala adding to their charm, how can one help but to fall in love with these pinprick art pieces.
Luxury Marley

Saturation

Every square inch of this room has been covered. In this case, that really works for me.
Southern Living

Curiosity

I'm so very curious about what might be behind this lovely door and I wonder about the people who might walk through it each day. I wish it was me. I love it's beautiful imperfections.
Native Kee

Defined

Busy work- work that usually appears productive or of intrinsic value but actually only keeps one occupied.

Busy bee-someone who is always busy doing things.
New York Public Library

Wants, Needs, Desires

I need a spot like this. One dedicated to just being.
High Street Market

A Rebelion

Who says you have to use frames and what do they know anyway?! This looks good and much less expensive. Just head to the used book store, find a beautiful book of images and start tearing.
Zesty Nest, Southern Living

Things I Want

To be honest, this post should be titled, "Things I Want Terribly". The current dream I have for our main bathroom is to replace the simple sink with one just like this. I just know it would be perfect.
Ohmega Salvage

A Short Story

I love a good story and standing in from of a shop such as this, I'd be dreaming up elaborate scenes in which the items from the store window had grand importance in the history of another person. I'd dream of the conversation that was shared between a father and son over a small card table or just feel sure that a fur stole seen on a mannequin had been worn on a first date that led to long happy years of marriage with little to no heartbreak along the way.

I have so many things in my home that have had lives before the one they are living with us and it makes me feel connected to the past in such a nice way.

Might I Suggest

If it's not possible to garden outside, inside will do just fine. Or maybe both inside and out! I just love lots of plants grouped together and a variety makes it even more interesting. So many things can be grown indoors; sprouts on the kitchen windowsill, geraniums, even lemon trees.
Real Simple

Correspondence

Letterpressed delights. Here.

Interest: Texture

Such a pretty room. I'm most in love with the bedspread. The bedroom of my eldest is going through a transformation at the moment & this is just what we've been working on coming up with, a simple duvet with some texture for interest.
Skona Hem

Keeping it Simple

A chest of drawers is quite possibly the most versatile piece of furniture, useful in many rooms of the house. Today I'm headed out to see if I can find one to put the new TV on. Why it took me this long to think of that simple solution, I just don't know. Wish me luck.
Image via Pink Wallpaper

A Break in Our Regular Programming

I've never been a fan of April Fool's Day. Who wants to be fooled? Not me. So, last year when Meg from Pigtown Design suggested updating this holiday to be one aimed in a positive direction, April Food Day, I was more than happy to participate.

This is a topic that is near and dear to me. As a child, my father died when I was very young leaving my mother with 4 small children and no income. For a long time, boxes of food were simply left on our porch. My third grade teacher baked us cakes and cooked us casseroles regularly. We were taken care of by others when we were not able to do it for ourselves and so today, I try to return that favor by offering the same for others. Now, many days, life just goes by and I am so wrapped up in what is going on in my own household, that I forget to look beyond. April Food Day gives me a gentle reminder to do good.

While hunger is an ongoing social issue, it is one that we can affect positively. Today, I encourage you to make a donation large or small to Feeding America in the US (using this link), or to your local food bank if you are visiting from another country. Many people are going without especially with the state of our economy and it's no joking matter.