GREEN IT: ga-ga over gustavian

am ga-ga over this gustavian vintage bed made from reclaimed douglas fir.

hand-planed + water-based stained and hard oiled waxed + gorgeous.

yep, fit for a king.

find here.

note it:

"black thumbnail" by kings of leon

(photo credit: viva terra)

GROW IT: rock + roll

check out this circular path of river rock and grass.

artistic, unexpected + groovy too.

just like the rolling stones....

forever cool.

note it:

"around and around" by - you guessed it - the rolling stones

(photo credit: cottage living, 2007)

TABLETOP TUESDAY - plum crazy

i'm plum crazy over this mid-century plaid pottery....

the frugalista in me resisted the unneeded purchase, even for $100.

sigh, crazy.

note it:

"crazy" by gnarls barkley

(photo credit: lissa lowe)

MAKEOVER MONDAY - shiny red apple

i actually have a bamboo bar cart.

what i liked about this one - as made over by eddie ross for house beautiful in 2005 - is the sultry red glossiness.

a flea market find, eddie sprayed it until it was as shiny as a red apple.

cocktail party delicious, i think.

note it:

"kokomo" by little feat

(photo credit: house beautiful, march 2005)

GREEN IT: kelly laplante

it's really befitting that these eco-chic images are from interior designer named kelly laplante.

near and dear to my heart, kelly is a big believer in upcycling, recycling and repurposing.

my takeaways:

repaint. totally love the artwork above that ultra fab lipstick red refurbished dining table!

strip. what a fantastic stripped down concrete floor that she kept in her loft.

collect. make you own "mix + match" set of china from

curate. artfully arrange your bookshelves. find books at library sales or thrift shops.

yep, second-hand is more than eco-chic. it's super smart!

note it:

"something, somewhere, sometime" by daniel martin moore + ben sollee

(photo credits: sunset)

TABLETOP TUESDAY - deconstruct

for dinner parties or even weddings, i love the idea of a deconstructed table.

a look like this one can run the gamut - like heirloom china + sterling meets mismatched plates + silverware from the flea.

hold utensils in jelly jars, mason jars, loving cups or jefferson cups.

rethink.

or better yet, don't think.

it's an easier way to set the table.

note it:

"everything i own" by ken boothe

(photo credit: essentially french)

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

the view from my morning run, just south of san francisco.

once again, mother nature shows her true colors....

note it:

"american honey" by lady antebellum

(photo credits: lissa lowe)

GREEN IT: milk it

so pretty...

save your bottles. makes for a lovely centerpiece.

or gift.

milk it for all it's worth.

note it:

"smile" by uncle cracker

(photo credit: lissa lowe)

STYLE IT: such great heights

fire + wine = fine.

note it:

"such great heights" by iron + wine

(photo credit: yikes, can't recall. i've saved this image for years...)

TABLETOP TUESDAY - a bag of chips

mmmmm....what i'd give for some dip and a bag of chips.

note it:

"milk shake and potato chips" by bob marley

(photo credit: lissa lowe, part of my collection of 1950s chip 'n' dip bowls)

GREEN IT: building blocks

in the mail today, i received a surprise package from one of my closest friends....so sweet!

even sweeter, she sent vintage children's blocks like these to me to remind me that i'm building my life in an old but familiar place. so very true.

in true southern style, she brightened my day.

i have these repurposed cuties proudly assembled on my studio desk, my new art from my friend with heart.

thank you, mandy b.

note it:

"a message" by coldplay

(photo credit: lissa lowe)

GROW IT: practical planting

i love the idea of an edible landscape.

why not incorporate vegetables and lettuces into your front yard or backyard design plan and let the design organically unfold?

looks + tastes good to me....

note it:

"i build this garden for us" by lenny kravitz

(photo credit: martha stewart)

TABLETOP TUESDAY - pop star

cocktail party (or tv tuesday) fare.

unexpected + tasty.

munch. crunch.

note it:

"fixing a hole" by lilly scott (tonight's performance on american idol while covering the beatles)

(photo credit: lissa lowe)

STYLE IT: the "write" stuff - part 1

yesterday i blogged about estilo weddings, the online shop that stocks such wonderful wedding goodies. within my post, i briefly touched upon paper.

so...today, i want to showcase custom designed wedding stationery suites and party invitations from eye design studio.

portland, oregon-based, shona lepis is the artist behind eye design studio. she is also a friend of mine.

very talented. one of a kind.

so should be your wedding day. importantly, the stationery suite sets the tone for your upcoming nuptials. it should be personal, personable and perfectly unique, i think.

shona's artisan creations not only articulate but showcase great design. collaborate with her and you'll want to frame every piece custom created for your big day.

she, well, has an eye.

if you live in portland, you're even in more luck. she will be making an appearance at the "2010 vintage bridal show" the weekend of february 27-28 held at the historic queen anne mansion from 11 am-6 pm (rsvp here). focusing on sustainability and affordability, this show will feature beautiful gowns as well as ideas for an eco-conscious + cost-conscious wedding. stop by (or call or email) and say hello.

she has "the write stuff."

note it:

"all you need is love" by lynden david hall (your time on earth was too short. you are missed. read more here)

(more of shona's designs here.)

STYLE IT: the "write" stuff - part 2

(part 1 + more of eye design studio's work here.)

GREEN IT: token of "green" appreciation

a friend of mine - the lovely maria ryan - is both the brains and beauty behind the wedding site, estilo weddings.

she has such great stuff in her shop. clay flowers, japanese lanterns, twinkly votives.

she is also the queen of green by incorporating thoughtful, economical, ecologically smart products into her mix.

stopping by her online shop tonight, i found these great "green" things:

~ chicago CTA token necklace - repurposed and near + dear to my heart, i love it! makes a fab bridesmaid gift - or why not wear it on your wedding day if the city is significant to you two lovebirds. add matching cufflinks too (also available: new york and san francisco). in fact, i plan to order this cutie for myself!

~ 4" color pencil "twig" bundle - cute wedding favor. perhaps add a clever little tag like "the write stuff" with the names of the bride + groom included beneath. trimmed from a tree, each pencil is hand cut and sharpened with no harm done to the tree. it speaks to me.

~ navy + white eco-friendly garter - ribbon woven from recycled plastic bottles. something blue + simply darling.

~ peonies "go tropical" clay flowers - made of modeling clay to create lifelike flowers nestled in a 2" glass cube. so eco-chic! this floral alternative would make a sentimental keepsake year-after-year.

what's more, maria writes a wedding blog. she covers style, inspirational ideas, party planning tips + more. it's worth a read if you're in matrimonial mode.

thank you, maria, for marrying style and savvy with creativity (her cause: women of vision).

every girl's dream....

note it:

"hey, soul sister" by train

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

i'm a binder junkie.

seriously true.

i actually create pretty covers + spines for stock binders from office supply stores by using handmade, hand-painted, recycled or specialty papers. many of which i've found at paper source (like these below).

for those of you who want colorful coordinating sets or for those of you who don't have time to make your own, these "signature pattern binders" from russell + hazel fit the bill.

save time.

then maybe you can work 9 - 5.

note it:

"9 to 5" by dolly parton

(photo credit: ad/russell + hazel; 3 binders/lissa lowe)

GROW IT: spring is in

bring the outdoors in by clipping shrub or tree branches + placing them in glass vessels or colorful vases.

affordable + cheerful.

spring is in!

note it:

"i'm into something good" by the bird and the bee

(photo credit: domino/online)

TABLETOP TUESDAY - tea time

these vintage tea tins would look great repurposed as plant containers (just place a smaller pot inside).

they would also be lovely grouped as a vignette atop a coffee or side table or mixed with books on a built-in bookcase.

they could hold all sorts of goodies!

despite their old age, notice how the patterns, palettes + metallic accents are really in style right now. really great.

whenever i see soulful things like these, i wonder the home from whence they came....and where they will finally land.

as i ponder posterity, pass the tea, please.

note it:

"honey and the moon" by joseph arthur

(photo credit: lissa lowe)

STYLE IT: am feelin' it

in honor of super bowl XLIV, i thought i'd post about pigskin (although footballs are really made of cowhide which brings me to my double post....).

tonight i learned some pretty cool facts about footballs by watching an interesting video from wilson, the makers of the official NFL game ball. shot at its factory in small town ada, ohio where 150 workers - many who have been employed for over 20 years - follow the traditional method of football construction.

and while i watch the Big Game primarily for its commercials, this back story speaks to true american heritage + craftsmanship...and the love of the game.

americana is something to talk about.

on the décor front, i think this recycled leather rug is FANTASTIC!

an exclusive design by eileen fisher home for garnet hill, it's textured, unexpected and beautifully crafted. how? made from reclaimed upholstery leather + trimmed with cotton binding, it's a sophisticated twist on the rag rug.

wouldn't it be great to have underfoot?

note it:

"turning point" by buckwheat zydeco