I have been a fan of Lotta Jansdotter’s work for years now, and it feels as fresh as ever to me today. Are you familiar with her? If you haven’t seen her stationary, bags, or cushions, perhaps you have seen her lovely books? Each one is a little treasure, and if you enjoy hand crafting, I know you would love any one of these.
I just visited her website, and discovered that Lotta is currently teaching a small number of workshops in her studio in Brooklyn – if you live in the area, I am jealous because I would love to attend one of her classes! I am so inspired by the Scandinavian-influenced designs she is known for; there is something so relaxed and charming about the botanicals, seed pods, and other motifs from nature, don’t you think?
Just a quick browse through her shop led me to all of these little treasures, some of which are hiding in the sale section! You can visit Lotta Jansdotter’s website to see more of her designs, purchase books, and to sign up for classes.
{images: Lotta Jansdotter}
With the weather beginning to change soon, I am pining for lazy mornings on the front porch, sunny afternoons in the backyard with a glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade, and leisurely hours relaxing with friends in a beautiful garden. My thoughts are turning to the rich possibilities that our little yard holds, and even though right now it is barren and trampled from a long winter, my imagination is bursting with ideas to transform our corner of the world into a place I really want to be.
Coming from California, the outdoors have always been very important to me – as long as the weather agrees, I am happy to spend almost as much time out as in, reading, working, cooking and entertaining, or just hanging out. Which is why, when I spied the book pictured above, Garden Rooms by Rose Dale, in the bargain bin I was instantly drawn to it. This is an older book, and may even be out of print, but it is well worth tracking down! Even if you live in a small city apartment with only a fire escape to perch on or a postage-stamp sized shared courtyard, there are so many lovely ways you can enhance your space and make it a place that you enjoy spending time; and this book is filled with ideas that any of us could use! Let’s look at a few more inspiring images, shall we?
This is from Amy Butler’s Midwest Modern, in the last section in the book, where Amy explores some of her friends and neighbors gardens, often layering in swatches of her fabrics.
Here is another page from Garden Rooms, this time featuring a Moroccan-inspired courtyard complete with big leather poufs and a day bed – and notice how lush this little space looks, even though all of the plants are in pots and not a single one is in the ground!
Although we have had a few small gardens over the years, we have never planted our own vegetable garden – which is something I am aiming to change this year! Here, I was flipping through an issue of Jamie Magazine, imagining how wonderful it would feel to pull up crisp radishes and sweet little carrots from my own garden for a spring lunch.
More from Jamie, a summer day under the shade of a tree, ah…
The planning and dreaming stage is such fun, don’t you think? Letting your mind wander, imagining color combinations that excite you, comfortable little nooks to sit, and all of the many pleasures you hope to get out of your garden.
So tell me, do you have a garden? Is it a place you enjoy spending time? No matter the size of your outdoor space, I would love to hear what your wishes and dreams are for your corner of the world!
{All images Laura Gaskill; except last, from White Flower Farm}
Are you in need of a moment to just relax with a cup of tea and a slice of cake and feast your eyes on something dreamily pretty? If so, I have just the thing! So prop your feet up on that little overstuffed floral ottoman over there, pour yourself a fresh cuppa, and sit back with these inspiring images from the online portfolio of photographer Debi Treloar…
Debi Treloar’s body of work is filled with such charm and grace, her aesthetic sense really comes across in all of the varied projects she has been a part of – from working with magazines such as Elle Decor, the BBC, and on a number of books including two personal favorites of mine, Flea Market Style and Bazaar Style. When I was browsing through her website, I came across a list of books she has worked on, and now I am tempted to add them all to my wish list, because even sight unseen I feel sure that I would love them!
Cool silver and refreshing white, organza petticoats and vintage dresses, what treasures! I would love to step into any one of these photographs and make myself right at home. Couldn’t you?
You can see much more of Debi Treloar’s work in her online portfolio.
{images: Debi Treloar}
Aloha! We are coming to our last days in Maui, so I thought I would prepare today’s post with a bit of a tropical vibe, sound good? Our room has no internet or phone access (oh poor us, I know!), so I apologize if you’ve had any trouble with your comments showing up this week. I will be back in the San Francisco bay area on Monday, so I will be checking in with all of you then! For now, let me leave you with an assortment of fun places to click around this weekend…
1. Danielle of The Style Files may be out of these intricately crocheted bedspreads, but this bedroom continues to inspire me nonetheless! Isn’t that big star lantern the perfect touch? I love how it accentuates the pitched ceiling, and I am coveting those little silver slippers tucked in at the foot of the bed!
2. I spied this adorable handmade tea set on Sparkling Ink, and now I can’t get it out of my mind! I love the organic shapes, and that shade of pale aqua blue is my favorite :)
3. Luscious, richly colored vintage silk is used to wrap wooden beads in this necklace from Viva Terra. I am completely smitten.
4. Wouldn’t it be cute to pin a few small, old photos to the cork shade of this lamp? I love the texture of the cork against the recycled glass base – it’s so beachy!
5. Oh, I don’t know how I would ever choose a design from Pink Loves Brown, because I love them all! Here are two of my favorites (but seriously, I do love them all!): Overlap (on the left) and Myrtle Topiary.
6. The new Torch Ginger bedding from Anthropologie is so over-the-top tropical and fun, I would love to put it on my bed this summer!
7. And finally, a drop-dead-gorgeous outdoor living room, spotted on Coco + Kelley – mm, if only all of our backyards could look like this!
That is all for today, friends! I hope your week went well, and that you have something fun planned over the weekend! I will see you back here on Monday, okay?
{images: linked to individual sources above}
Do you remember when I mentioned that I may be organizing a little blogger/maker meetup this year? Well, that got me to thinking about how important it is at events like that to have a little something to hand out, so that all of the lovely people you meet remember you! Yes, I am talking about business cards. And I just found some very smart options from Oh Smile…
The color choices and designs are so bold and unique, you would never guess they cost a mere $28 – $38 bucks for 300 cards, now would you? The Moroccan tile-influenced cards above are some of my favorites, but I really do like all of them! Oh, and then there are these, maybe they will catch your eye…
All of the cards from Oh Smile seem tailor-made for creative businesses, don’t you think? And just out of curiosity, I would love to know if you currently have business cards. If you do have cards and are happy with them, feel free to leave a link in the comments to point us towards a new source!
{images: Oh Smile}
Spring is right around the corner, and with it comes a yearning to freshen up our homes and do a bit of celebrating – can you feel it? And oh my, as I have learned since moving to the east coast from California, never does this feeling arrive with more vigor than after a long, cold, and bleak winter! So let’s begin dreaming a bit about the backyard parties and fun get-togethers with friends and family to come. Ready?
Clockwise from top left: Debi Treloar, Martha Stewart, Selena Lake, Mark Lund
The first little set I put together focuses on pretty pinks and lilacs with plenty of white to ground the arrangement and a few hits of lemon or marigold for contrast. I adore the cushy white pillows and giant Moroccan lantern in the outdoor dining area top left, and the colorful tiles used as a runner on the table top right. I haven’t been very good about this in the past, but I think it is wise to choose a color palette you love for your tabletop and then always keep one eye out for new (or vintage!) bits to add to your collection.
Clockwise from top left: Sunday Suppers, decor8, Sunday Suppers again, Grace Bonney’s wedding via Martha Stewart
And the second set of inspiration images draws together rough natural materials like linen and burlap, simple flower arrangements in deep plums and lavender, and perhaps just a hint of luxury with real silver or pretty vintage china on the table. Something about blending the homespun with the elegant gets me every time! I think a look like this would be quite breathtaking at a spring brunch, and not too fussy to create, either!
What are your thoughts on setting the table? Do any of the images in this post inspire you to try something new?
{images: linked to individual sources above}
Good morning! Today I would like to show you a little glimpse of the changes that have been going on in my home over the past month – I still feel like there is a long way to go, but we have made some progress! Oh, and in case you don’t remember what it looked like before, you can see it here. Okay, are you ready? Please, come in! Right this way…
Ah…here is our new dining area. I love having this big table to spread out on, and the pair of mirrors (on clearance from Crate and Barrel) really open up the space, don’t you think? I got the idea to hang a pair of large, square mirrors above the dining table from our favorite cafe down the street – and besides, two mirrors this size were much easier to find and hang than one super-giant mirror! And moving along, here is the living area…
The sofa and coffee table are the same, the rug is from West Elm, and the armchair (which is so comfy and cushy!) is from Crate and Barrel, where we were lucky enough to have a gift card. The dining table, chairs, and the credenza all came together in a major Craigslist score that I must thank my sweetie for spotting! It took lots of patience (i.e., daily scouring of several local Craigslist sites for a month) and a truck rental so we could haul back the furniture ourselves, but it was so worth it. We could never have afforded to purchase anything like these pieces new! The next steps in this room will be to hang art (including an art wall above the credenza), and make and/or buy new cushions for the couch, armchair, and possibly for the dining chairs as well, all of which should add some color to the space. Oh, and one last thing…
I thought you might want to see how the belly is progressing! Well, there it is! :) Oh dear, and in the background of this shot you can see our ugly front door that I want to paint, and the coat rack which I am going to move to another room and replace here with a simple peg rail hung on the entry wall. Now that really is it! Any thoughts on accent colors?
{images: Laura Gaskill}
Good morning to you! By the time you read this, I will probably be in the air on my way to Maui with my sweetie :) And since I have travel on the brain, I thought it would be fitting to share some tempting new items from Amy Butler – all kinds of bags and luggage and even paper-organizing binders and folders to keep you pulled together on your next trip.
I am just so pleased that the talented Ms. Butler has expanded her offerings from fabrics alone to encompass bedding, towels, snazzy office supplies, and now even suitcases – because I don’t know about you, but her color palettes and nature-inspired patterns never fail to lift my spirits.
And these cushy wheeled suitcases may even sway me from my long-standing obsession with Orla Kiely’s travel bags – I mean, doesn’t that bag above look positively yummy? Let me tell you, I wish I had that beauty by my side right now instead of my ancient L.L.Bean duffel!
The lush and cool prints remind me of tropical getaways and carefree summer days…and the neat-freak inside of me really wants to collect all of the tidy little makeup bags, pouches (and a laptop case of course) so I can happily organize and reorganize my belongings as much as I like!
And then there are the notebooks, folders, binders, and files, oh my! Too much goodness, I tell you! You can find out all of the details on Amy Butler’s website. I have so much respect for this creative lady – tell me, do you share my love of all things Amy?
{images: Amy Butler}
It’s that time again – time to share seven sweet things from my wanderings around the web this week :) There is a gorgeous inspiration board, an artist’s creative home, a brand-new blog, some delightful weekend reading, along with a few other treats. So let’s go get ourselves something yummy to drink and take a little inspiration break, shall we?
1. First up, we have a dreamy inspiration board created by Bonnie of Going Home to Roost, a new-to-me blog that I am really getting into. Aren’t the colors and textures in Bonnie’s inspiration board just luscious? Spotted on Design Delights.
2. I have been a fan of Pigeon Toe Ceramics for some time now, but I am feeling especially drawn to their smooth, organic forms lately – the slick little pots and dishes seem just right for the delicate blooms and baby plants of early spring, which is right around the corner, thank goodness!
3. Did you catch this post on decor8? Oh. My. As soon as I laid eyes on the work and homes of creative duo Sidsel Gaustadnes and Line Juhl Hansen, I think I died and went to decor heaven. That’s Line’s home in Denmark pictured above, but you must go read the rest of the post to see more!
4. This cheeky trompe l’oeil tote from Anthropologie would be the perfect accessory for a rainy-day walk, accompanied by a chic trench, snazzy umbrella and possibly a little dog, n’est-ce pas?
5. Have you seen Carrying On? It is a brand-new blog from Ez of Creature Comforts, where she will be sharing things in a more personal, journal-like way. So if you are interested in a bit of behind-the-scenes Ez, I recommend you check it out – I know I will be following her there!
6. And for your weekend reading: the new issue of Lonny is out, and it is as smart and stylish as I have come to expect from this talented team. I only wish I could have a print copy, as it would be hands-down my first choice of reading materials to tuck into my bag and carry on the plane this evening! Which brings me to…
7. This cheerful San Francisco letterpress print from Lab Partners, which I had to include as the last item today because I am heading to the SF Bay Area tonight and I couldn’t be happier! I can not wait to visit my friends and family, favorite shops, taquerias, museums, restaurants, all of those places that I have been missing so dearly since my last visit over a year ago! And then on Monday it is off to Hawaii with my sweetie to enjoy our babymoon :)
So I am signing off, but I do have lots of posts stored up for you to enjoy over the next two weeks while I am away, and I will still be checking in and moderating comments – so I don’t think you will miss me too much! I hope you have an excellent weekend, my friends!!
{images: linked to individual sources above}
