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Finds: Bitsy Blossom Baby Shoes

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Cute soft-soled shoes for babies who are learning to walk are hard to find. Cute baby shoes are hard to find in general, I think. Well, I did some searching on Etsy and I found these adorable shoes by Bitsy Blossom.






I almost jumped out of my chair with excitement. So stinking cute

Finds: A Pinch of Lovely

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

I love when you come across a new designer or artist, don't you? A Pinch of Lovely is, well, lovely. I came across the bridal party brunch invitation pictured below on Pinterest and immediately followed the photo link to her blog.

Krystal Bennett is a very talented designer creating gorgeous custom-made invitations. These aren't just any invitations, these are invitations you will want to keep on your refrigerators long after the event takes place. She brings out the personality of the event, involving you in the entire process for everything from fonts to envelopes. Of course, you can also rely on her expertise and good taste.

Take a look at some of her creations:





Her blog is a fun read too. I'm definitely commissioning some invitations from her for some upcoming parties.

Finds: Bridal Hair Combs

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

How gorgeous are these bridal hair combs? They are perfect for a spring bride. I'm already wed, but I want to figure out a reason to wear one of these combs because they are so beautiful. Made by Alona Freeman.





Fiddle Leaf Fig

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

The Fiddle Leaf Fig seems to be popping up everywhere. The large houseplant with high-impact foliage is obviously a favorite of designers.









 All Images from my Pinterest

It's a great indoor plant, but it does require a bit of upkeep. I have one that I picked up from Home Depot on sale a while back. I did a bit of research into the care after I bought it. Here is the skinny:
The watering can, shears and planter are from one of my favorite stores, Terrain.

Finds: Spring Break

Monday, March 12, 2012

Ahh, spring. This weekend was the first time I could confidently say that spring was coming. Even with the mild season, it felt like winter just kept holding on.

We spent much of the weekend outside - playing on a quilt in the backyard, taking the baby for afternoon cocktail strolls (the cup holder isn't quite strong enough to hold a full beer though...), eating brunch outside. It was lovely.

I don't often miss school, but this time of year has me longing for a spring break vacation. I just need getaways after enduring winter, you know? Not in the cards this year. If we were heading south for a spring vacation, here is what I would pack.

1 /2 /3 /4 /5 /6 /7 /8 /9

Finds: Little Lady Dress

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Would it be aggressive to buy this dress in a size that is two sizes away? Hmmm. I think not. It's perfect, after all.


Affordable Art by Donna Walker

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

I often search Etsy for affordable art, which usually leads to some *interesting* art. Sometimes you find a gem though. I've found several over the years and I'll post them on the blog at some point.

Today, I'm highlighting Donna Walker. She is a painter from Fort Worth, Texas, and her art clearly reflects her setting. She paints landscapes, farm scenes, and animals with a modern twist. She says her paintings capture "Modern Americana." I love that.



Her beautiful paintings of animals and birds have an interesting ethereal quality. This one would be perfect in a nursery.


And her still-life paintings are lovely and slightly abstract, keeping with that modern, yet homey feel.


Her paintings come in a number of sizes and price ranges. She has a very affordable series of small paintings, so small she can complete them in a day. These paintings are about $55-75. She also has larger paintings that run up to $950 and many paintings in between.

Noted: Magnetic Chalkboard Wall

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Chalkboard paint is all the rage, and with good reason - it's fun. I love the idea of having a message board and a place for my daughter to be creative, but I also want some space to hang things like invitations, announcements and papers. Yesterday I was lamenting the lack of magnetized space as I was trying to squeeze a handful of invitations, a grocery list, some coupons and a couple of adorable birth announcements on our tiny bit of exposed refrigerator side (we have stainless steel appliances).

I think I found a way to kill two birds with two stones, maybe three stones. Primer Magnetic Paint + Chalkboard Paint + Top Coat(s) of Paint = Problem Solved.





Finds: Elizabeth Peyton Beach Towel

I have long been a fan of Elizabeth Peyton. She was the darling of the art world in the 90's, capturing the essence of that time's angsty, rocker youth in her amazing portraits.


I was lucky enough to see the Live Forever exhibit at the New Museum in NYC. I have a long list of artists I plan to invest in when I have 'made it,' and she is at the top of the list. Strangely enough, she has popped up during my morning coffee-in-hand internet browsing, not once, but twice.



The first, the beautiful book, Live Forever, is on sale at One Kings Lane. (Coincidentally, another 'Made It' list artist has a book on sale at OKL too - Sally Mann.)


Then, she popped up on ShopBop when I was scouting a new watch (more on that later). I mean, really? An Elizabeth Peyton beach towel? That's both crazy and awesome.


 Not sure I can stomach spending $105 on a beach towel, but if I could, that would be the towel.

Finds: Pearl River Goodies

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

When I lived in New York, I was very poor and Pearl River was my go to store. I would get everything from Christmas gifts (the small blue bowls below are always a huge hit) to bamboo blinds and cereal bowls.

Today, I still check in on the store.You can find some great accessories, and even furniture. Let's see a few of my favorites right now, shall we?

 A Perch Bar or Counter Stool. $225.

 Which, by the way, is quite similar to the one from Anthropologie, though is $173 more at Anthro.



I honestly can't tell a difference, can you?

A Stripey Bowl for your Tabletop or Bathroom. $7.95. I use these bowls to contain everything from cotton balls to fruit to jewelry.
Ceramic Garden Stool (many colors and styles available). From $65.
Tortoise Tone Bamboo Bench. $60.

Finds: Chanel Constellation Scarf

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Etsy is such a treasure trove of fun and exciting finds. I recently stumbled across this gorgeous Chanel constellation scarf.

Which, of course, made me think of this picture of Thomas O'Brien's constellation print.


Plus my previous post on framed Hermes scarves.


 You see where I'm going, right? I think someone should make that happen. Maybe me?


Designer: Jeffrey Bilhuber

Monday, February 20, 2012

I'm a big fan of Jeffrey Bilhuber. I love his use of color and the way he creates a beautiful lived-in space that clearly reflects his client's style. As I was perusing Architectural Digest this morning, I came across a lovely home by him for Trey and Jenny Laird. Gorgeous.


I love the John Baldessari in the teenage boys room. The wallpaper is perfect too.



Shrub Wishlist

Friday, February 17, 2012

It's supposed to be at least 60 degrees today on February 17. It has me thinking spring, which isn't hard considering we had an almost nonexistent winter. I must not be alone because my local garden center is having a sale on trees and shrubs. That has me making a list of what I need for our yard revamp, and boy do we need a revamp.

My wishlist:

Winter Flame Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea)
It's important to think about how your garden looks throughout the year, and the Winter Flame Dogwood won't disappoint in the colder months. This is a showstopper in the winter when many of your shrubs are brown and leafless. The red and orange stems are dramatic, especially when set against snow or evergreens for us warm-winter folks. Plus they are great in flower arrangements. It needs full to part sun and is fairly drought resistant once it has established. The new growth has the most intense color so it should be pruned hard every year. It will grow 4-5 feet after it has been pruned hard.




Double Knockout Rose
This is a valentines gift to me. I sent my husband an email that read "I would like a double knockout rose bush for Valentines day." I'm so subtle. These roses are tough as nails. They are drought tolerant, pest resistant, and self cleaning. They are also prolific bloomers, producing blooms from spring through the fall. I plan to put mine behind the mailbox. They are also good for containers. They like full sun and grow to be 3-4 feet high and wide.


Endless Summer Hydrangea
We might be the only home in the south without a hydrangea bush. I plan to remedy that this year. Hydrangeas are a favorite of mine. They are gorgeous in the yard, beautiful in flower arrangements, and you can make them change colors. They like sun, but not too much, and they like moist soil, but not too much. It's a balancing act, but definitely manageable.


Steeds Upright Holly
Probably the least exciting of my selection, but a much needed plant to help improve the look of our foundation. A Steeds Upright Holly is something of a workhorse. It's easy to grow, has a moderate growth rate, and takes on a pleasing columnar shape topping out at 6-8 feet tall and 5-6 feet wide. Perfect for screens or foundations.

Also on the docket in the coming weeks: put up a new fence, build my raised beds and plot my garden!