TABLETOP TUESDAY - charcoal for yule?

i like these beveled charcoal votive holders. not sure how i'd incorporate them yet, but got me thinking about holiday color schemes nonetheless....

the price is right: pair on sale for $19 from $69! get yours now at brocade home. also available in a bright-ish berry. that could be fun too. at this price, maybe a bunch of them in each hue lined up on the tabletop, sideboard or fireplace mantle mixed with low lying votives too (see these). a thought, hmmm....

COOK IT: sunday clear out

i am in the midst of clearing out the cupboards. 

in the spirit of using what's available, i first grabbed a nearly empty box of aunt jemima pancake mix. 

opening up the refrigerator, i then spied a half empty jar of muirhead pecan pumpkin butter. 

what did i do next, mix it up!

the pancakes were super yummy (especially with these cute halloween molds!), a bit sweet, we ate them with only a dab of butter. 

i highly recommend this trick - yum!

(photo credit: williams-sonoma)

chilly charlie

it has been raining all day we are chilly! this blanket would be a great addition to charlie's room.

the "lumberman" in blue/green plaid by pendleton, it has whipstitch binding and is made of 100% pure virgin wool woven in the company's northwest mill. available in red/black check, red/tan plaid + charcoal broadway plaid, a camp classic that can be passed down for generations....

p.s. with the holidays around the corner, it would be a wonderful gift too.

(photo credit: pendleton usa)

PILLOW OF THE MONTH: pil-ahhhh-tes

this spring, i was working on a styling prototype for a pilates studio. as a starting point, this image really spoke to me back then...and still does now.

throw some oversized lounge-y pillows on your floor + breathe.

(photo credit: can't recall)

COOK IT: scream your head off

i bet these are screaming good....

get the recipe here.

(photo credit: food network)

skull soup

really dig this: skull soup.

get your bag of 12 skulls at plum party.

slurp....

(photo credit: plum party)

SATURDAY'S SPOONFUL - a small dose of sugar, spice + everything nice

girly but tough. i like it. 

handmade in kansas city (mo) by lusterbunny, this necklace sports a porcelain charm with a scary-ish image of a skull fused onto a sweet floral background. it's hung on a 16" wire chain.

gets yours for $35 at chicago's renegade handmade.

(photo credit: lusterbunny)

sew lucky this halloween

with halloween right around the corner, i figured today was a good day to kick off a miniseries of "skull" posts. 

first up, i fancy this 8-10" hand screened pillow with super cute vintage button eyes handmade by sew lucky girl.

really love the retro black ball fringe! 

not just fab for the upcoming spooky holiday but also works year round in home, dorm, lounge or playroom.

a little bit pink + a little bit punk - and every bit of cool.

am sew lucky to have stumbled across her work.

see you tomorrow....

BOOK IT: art school girl

everyone needs a date book. 

why not this super cute, old-fashioned calendar from chicago's art school girl?

produced with a limited run of 300, each dark brown soy-based ink on recycled paper (50% bamboo) calendar is hand-colored in school bus yellow.

artist amy rowan's charming one liners accent modernly vintage vignettes. see some of my faves below....

eco-friendly, handmade, functional wall art. 

oooh - me like.

get yours here.

(photo credit: art school girl)

tiny post

let this tiny photo intrigue you...

cota street studios in santa barbara reminds me of a modern day "melrose place...," for the less melodramatic that is.

click here to see much more!

TABLETOP TUESDAY - take me homeware

the other i stumbled across the wonderful work of ceramist may luk.

creator of take me homeware, her pottery of various designs (this one is "brooklyn chinoiserie") is handmade and hand decorated. she also designs hand screened tea towels and eco-friendly totes.

what really struck me is that she offers a wedding registry. how cool is that? in an era of mass production, you could amass artisan "china" for your tabletop.

take me homewares.

(photo credit: may luk)

TABLETOP TUESDAY - i "wood" like this....

autumn is in the air. comfort food beckons....

this morning i baked a healthy + delicious peanut butter banana breakfast cake (adapted from "deceptively delicious" by jessica seinfeld, i used pear puree in lieu of carrot/cauliflower, added penzeys' cinnamon, vanilla + a dash of freshly grated nutmeg.)

if friends had come over for brunch, this woodsie cake stand would've looked fab on the table!

it would also make for wonderful fall wedding décor.

order yours from san francisco's bell'occhio.

(photo credit: bell'occhio)

SATURDAY'S SPOONFUL - a small dose of sugar, spice + everything nice

i absolutely, absolutely adore this handpainted ribbon from amsterdam's LeiLiLaloo.

order yours here at her etsy shop. 

p.s. i just recommended her lovely creations to a friend to incorporate into her wedding. convo leililaloo, if out of stock.

need to relax?

what an artful bath. 

each element works so fabulously together. serene yet modernly chic. 

in fact, this design sensibility could be applied to a living room or bedroom. its simplicity is simply refreshing.

hey, can i come over? i could use some spa-ahhhh.....

(photo credit: point click home)

starry-eyed surprise

how would you like to vacation in one of these mini pre-fabs on a "green" vacation?

meet carrés-d'étoiles, a visionary idea in eco tourism now found in france. 

tiny + very green, this designer dwelling has bio-ethanol heating, recyclable wood + more.

the brainchildren: louis + nathalie blanco who have conceived of this new version of sustainable tourism.

the concept: eco-friendly accommodations in peaceful surroundings with the added bonus of high quality hotel amenities. each includes a flat screen TV, full kitchen with microwave, full bathroom with shower. 

each is equipped a telescope and a star chart. eco-chic + fun too!

wouldn't it be cool to live in one of these? yep, i'd pare down for some of this simple liv"inn."

(photo credit: dwell via treehugger and carres-d'etoile)

GROW IT: frugalista hostess gift

for $3, this house plant and glossy white ceramic planter from ikea make a fabulous frugalista hostess gift.

green saves green.

p.s. would be affordable + fun wedding décor too.

(photo credit: lissa lowe)

TABLETOP TUESDAY - inspired

was helping a friend with a color palette. am inspired by this gorgeous tablescape.

i think the interplay of textures, tones and global influences is very cool....

a perfect example of how you could take this imagery and translate it into an eclectic home styling plan.

(photo credit: elle decor)

MAKEOVER MONDAY - buttoned up

hot off the (online) press at martha stewart weddings: adorable buttons seal favor bags at design*sponge blogstress grace bonney's nuptials held in savannah.

custom made by busy beaver button company out of chicago, these are great! beneath each was a recipe for "shrimp + grits," a southern staple, with grits inside the bag - a terrific idea + nod to the bride's roots. (mine too!)

the entire wedding was, well, all buttoned up. artful, thoughtful and beautiful. cheers to the newlyweds!

(photo credit: belathée + posted at marthastewartweddings.com)

the small object

like me, sarah neuburger was born in the midwest and raised in the south.

she is a very talented designer with cute shop in savannah. she views it as her own little cottage industry to showcase her designs and other objects of everyday life. 

we think similarly too. i believe everyday objects can be elevated to be extraordinary; she believes artwork and objects can make something mundane even more wonderful. 

i am smitten with her style + the small and mighty charming wares in her online shop. i'm especially partial to her "quart quartet" canisters. how cheerful would they be in a kitchen or bath? 

thanks, sarah, for making the everyday fun, every day!

(photo credit: sarah neuburger)

SATURDAY'S SPOONFUL - a small dose of sugar, spice + everything nice

the other day i was visiting the home of a most interesting woman. while chatting, i noticed she had adorned her kitchen nook with some amazing handmade, hand-painted spanish pottery. 

since i am big fan of ceramics, i was struck by this affordable collection from wisteria. although not nearly as colorful as hers, this pottery was inspired by those patterns hailing from granada, spain. perfect for desserts, hors d'oeuvres, snacks, side salads, or tapas. would be very fun to mix and match on your table.

plus, this image transports me straight to andalusia....a place i'd be thrilled to visit.

(photo credit: wisteria.com)

diy this friday

hooray - fall has arrived!!!

DIY DÉCOR

i stained this inexpensive, unfinished pine table wenge and paired it with a vintage oval bowl and eames "eiffel" chairs from design within reach. by refinishing the table myself, i saved boat loads of cash + was able to spend a bit more on the kitchen nook chairs.

(photo credit: lissa lowe)

BIKE IT: freewheelin'

a modern day version of the horse + buggy, "freewheelin' farm" is such a cool - and forward thinking - concept for a CSA (a.k.a, community supported agriculture). 

three farmers have banded together to create this CSA where members (folks like you and me) purchase a "share" of the farm and share its harvest. food is transported by bike + trailer to reduce petroleum consumption too!

in their own words, "freewheelin’ farm is at the forefront of the growing movement towards community renewal, addressing issues of environment, health, and social equity in a simple and delicious way!"

seasonal goodness in oh-so-many respects....hopefully other farms + communities across america will develop similar programs. would be bountiful and beneficial for all.

p.s. if you live in northern california, check out the "4th annual freewheelin' farm art show" on october 24 that features local artists and fun food + music. shucks, i hate to miss it!

(photo credit: freewheelin' farms)