Tuesday, February 28, 2012

sneak peak project

I couldn't wait for a proper post to share this little glimpse of our newly designed and built table:

I'll provide a tutorial once its complete. I'm ever so grateful to Rich, my right hand man, for pulling it off so beautifully:

Monday, February 27, 2012

still life 99-- twine

Twine reminds me of the simple life--that pure, casual calm that I often find myself dreaming of in the midst of my busy days. Aside from using it in various home projects like my sisal pendant light, it is also my gift wrapping accessory of choice, and--for better or worse--it happens to be a favorite item of my children who use it to tie up everything (although thankfully not each other :) in our home....it's common to find a whole slew of toys tied chain-gang style. And like every other useful and attractive thing that I plan to feature as a "still life 99," it looks beautiful even when out of place!

**still life 99 is my visual catalog of the idea that we don't need a lot of things at home, but what we do need should be beautiful. They should be worthy of being noticed. I'm guessing that I have at least 99 around my own home to share.**

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Favorite Quotes In Decor

When I was in middle school I spent hours filling a little notebook with my favorite quotes from books and songs and famous people and friends and saints, and I've realized that I still like them incorporated into my life in other ways.

I'm not much of a "live, laugh, love" in 12 inch swirly type kind of girl, but I do like visual reminders of beautiful thoughts that help me to refocus as I go about my day. I think that when they are done well--meaning they are authentic and heart-felt--they can be beautiful and personal, not trite or insincere.

Quotes and candles sounds like a recipe for a cheesy commercial, right? Well, I really like the Paddywax Library candles that West Elm used to carry. The one I have in Saf's room (above) has one of my favorite quotes by Tolstoy: "All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love"--so true my friends!

I also like reading them in other people's homes because I think they can say a lot about who lives there. My in-laws have a little poem in their bathroom that my mother-on-law inherited from her grandmother. I think it sums up how their family lives, and because of that, it's precious and personal.  I love it so much that I've incorporated it into my own home too, appropriately stamped on the wall of our "small means" room, the one that we made-over with $50 :)

I think I've shared it before, but it's William Henry Channing's My Symphony (which I might have written off as cheesy if I hadn't met a whole family who totally lived it out):
To live content with small means; 
to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion;
to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not, rich; 
to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; 
to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; 
in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common
this is my symphony.

So friends, what about you? Do you cringe at the idea of quotes in homes? Do you love it? What are your favorites?

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Sweet and Simple Valentine's Day

As much as it pains me to admit, I'm not very good when it comes to being a thoughtful friend. I routinely forget birthdays, often take months to send thank you notes, pick up hostess gifts on the way, and and and..the list could go on I'm sure. It's my life's resolution to amend my sad ways.

However, when it comes Valentine's day, I'm inexplicably on my game. I think it's because my mom, who rarely made a big deal out of birthdays or big holidays, always did something special for my sisters and me on Valentine's day. She never forgot. She would make beautiful homemade watercolor valentines for us and usually have a little treat too. Thankfully, and however illogically,  it's trickled down and so we've been Valentining for the past couple of weeks. Nothing fancy, but definitely sweet. Simple things like
teaching Madds to sew
 and baking with friends
and enjoying the treats that have come our way

I hope your day is lovely.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

now and then

I just came across the baby photo on the left, and instantly thought of the one I had snapped at Christmastime this year.

We are quickly approaching the age when it probably won't be cool to snuggle with your cousin, but I hope these two will always be close.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Moss

There are a lot of things I love about my husband, but next to his winning personality, his name was certainly a selling point. Joking, joking...but seriously.

There was no hesitation about sharing his last name, no deliberating whether it would make me a less liberated woman :), no mourning over relinquishing the impossible-to-pronounce-French-Canadian maiden name printed on my diplomas.  It was a happy moment when I discovered that my favorite person had something in common with my favorite natural element.

My girls might not have such an easy time deciding though, as they seem to have taken to moss as much as their mama...

 


oh and ps- if you are interested in seeing a little before pic of this room this client room that I showed you before, I did a before & after for Apartment Therapy today. Check it out here.

After:

**all photos are my own
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...