Beautiful Bookcases and Art

Love the vintage steel bookcases.

And, the large dot artwork is one I saw in a Martha Stewart Living magazine years ago. I loved it so much that I researched it at the time and discovered it to be permanently out of my price range. I had completely forgotten about it until now. I wish I could even remember the artist or name of the artwork.

Found on desire to inspire.

Map Scrap Art

I love this Map Scrap Art at the Bombus shop on etsy.

The map pieces are from various times and locations. The finished piece is 17.5 x 17.5cm. And, as for me, I have no idea how big (or small) that is.

Maybe I should do something like this with some of our Italy maps from last summer...

Artsy Clutch

Last week, I used Amy Butler fabrics from my overflowing fabric stash to make a little Artsy Clutch from Amy Karol's Bend the Rules Sewing book.

It was easy and done in less than an hour. Seriously easy (and I'm not super fast nor an accomplished seamstress).

Charm City Cakes

Belle and I just finished watching the Food Network's Ace of Cakes show. Charm City Cakes, a company based in Baltimore, makes the most amazing cakes I've ever seen. I seriously couldn't figure out which photos to post so here are a whole bunch.
They can make anything you can dream up. I wonder what I would choose... I know my hubby would choose a snow skiing one like this or a waterskiing cake.

Isn't this cake just so beautiful? I love the different shade of green on each layer and the delicate flowers.

Just monkeying around.

M&M madness.

In addition to this Candy Land cake, they also had a Scrabble cake.

So whimsical and fun. And, I love anything with polka dots.
How fun would this be for Father's Day?!?

Modern Planters

I love love love modern planters like these from CB2.

Now if only I could keep my plants alive...

What's not to love?

Is there anything that Restoration Hardware makes that I don't just love?

The answer is no.

Always classic, refined, and just beautiful.

Sewing Inspiration

Last week, my husband bought me a great new Bernina Activa 230 sewing machine. I've been so inspired to work on a whole lot of new projects from these books....
Amy Karol's Bend the Rules Sewing has great ideas and suggestions. I'm going to make this artsy clutch on the cover with I have on hand as well as a few baby bibs for friends that are going to have babies. I think I may add a little appliqué to the bibs too.This pattern book has beautiful projects. I used their letters as a guide for a special phrase I appliquéd on a quilt for a friend. I'm planning to make their Diaper & Wipes Quick Totes and try their Bib ideas as well.
I love Amy Butler's designs and this book is no exception. I'm planning to make quite a few projects from it starting with a new pair of pajama pants made out of her Olive Lacework and Linen Full Moon Polka fabrics.

Great ideas in both of these "Last-Minute" books.

I don't have this book...yet. I really want to make that little purse on the cover but the library doesn't have the book. Guess I'll just buy it but I wanted to glance through it first.

Sew & Stow... a title and description that intrigue me. I'll have to check it out and let you know if it's as great as it seems.

Do you have any favorite sewing books or patterns?

I love Room and Board.

I love Room & Board. It's worth checking out their website, ordering their catalog, or making a stop in their showroom if you're in one of the major cities where they have a showroom.
I put a stop at Room & Board on our list of things to do in Chicago last November. I loved this sofa - classic and yet so refreshingly simple and tailored. I love the pillows too. I just wish my pillows would always look so nice on our couches.
My dream outdoor furniture is modern and from their outdoor collection. Beautiful and simple. Love it.

Green Inspiration

I love this glass bubble knob. This is my favorite color. Ever. I could design a whole bathroom around these knobs. And, the pink ones are just perfect for a little girl room.

From Anthropologie.

Another beautiful kitchen

Apparently I'm collecting photos of beautiful, white kitchens. The backsplash is Cararra marble tile. Stunning. And, how would it be to have a low bookshelf for my cookbooks?!?

From HGTV.com.

Clean, Fresh, White Kitchens

There's something about a white kitchen that just seems so fresh, clean, and classic.

I can see me and the kids in here making lunch. I love the high small cabinets with glass doors.
I love the wood accents and the loads of light.

Both photos are from Desire to Inspire.

A Bigger Kitchen Remodel

I'm not one to frequent yard sales but a perk to early Saturday morning runs is sometimes, I spot the PERFECT little something at a fresh yard sale. Such was my luck on Saturday when I found this little cream hutch and stove.

I stopped and asked the woman how much they wanted for the hutch.
Really nice woman: "We're asking $10 but we're willing to take less if you think that's too much." (not much of a negotiator)
Me, trying to hold in my shock: "Um. That's fine." (not much of a negotiator either)
Really nice woman: "We have a stove too for $7."
Me, still trying to sound normal: "Um.... I'll take them both."
Then, I hurried home to get the kids and the car. I had to get back before someone else discovered she's asking barely anything for such cute things!
They are perfect with our first kitchen purchase on the right. After we refinish all three pieces, we'll have a cute little kitchen set for $29 plus supplies! And, the hutch came with a surprise: it was filled with adorable dishes, including the totally retro "Tupperware Toys" pictured in the hutch above.

Here's our inspiration from The Land of Nod.

Paint all three white with red stove knobs. Maybe green on a few accents. We have chalkboard paint we could put on the hutch doors. The hardware will be silver. I'm going to see if I can get two 13x25 scraps of linoleum for new countertops.

So fun!!

My dream craft room

Someday, my dream home includes an inspiring space where we can all create in our own ways...
Here are a few creative spaces I love:

This is Amy Butler's creative work space.
I love the idea wall and would love to post ideas and inspiration on a wall.
Another photo where you can see her idea wall.

This fabric wall would be so amazing.
Imagine a small scrap from every sewing project attached to the wall.

And, last but not least, Martha's craft room is, not surprising, perfect.
Great natural light.
Great use of otherwise useless space in an attic.
Craft supplies organized neatly and where you can see them.
If I can see my supplies, I'm more likely to use them.

Ahhh... Someday. :)

A Great Playroom

I love this playroom. The colors, the storage, the magnetic and chalkboard cabinet doors.

So fun!

Beautiful Bathrooms

I'm not a bath person but this photo really makes me want to soak in the tub while reading a great book.

When we finally remodel our upstairs bathroom in the next decade, the look will be inspired by photos like this one. Isn't it lovely?

I've had these photos for awhile and can't remember where they are from.

Apparently I love pink.

When we drove home from California last month, I convinced Jeremy that we needed a bathroom break in Primm, Nevada so that I could shop at the Williams-Sonoma outlet. :) It wasn't until I was in the checkout line that I noticed everything I had in my basket was pink.

Pink apron, towels, dishrags, soap, and potholders. But aren't they all so pretty?

A Kitchen Remodel

A friend of mine is refinishing a beautiful child-size hutch for her little girl. I felt inspired so Belle and I searched the local thrift shop for a similar project.

We found this little treasure for $12.

She and Max have grand ideas about paint colors. They've decided to paint it green. I suggested white as an accent color. Belle informed me the stove top will be black like ours upstairs. I suggested we lose the heart that reminds me of 1988. Belle wants to paint the heart red. The kids will have the final say and we'll all do it together. We already purchased new handles.

It'll be a fun little project! I'll post photos when we are done.

May this home be blessed...

We were lucky enough to have my mom visit us a few weeks ago. She and I had fun shopping and she bought this as a gift for us.
The saying on it is exactly how we feel about our home and our lives.
I love it.

Read with me

After seeing these Sarah Jane vintage-inspired prints on DesignMom, I've wanted one for Belle. You can even specify the hair color and overall color. I'd buy one in pink with blonde hair.

So precious.

Vista Pavillion

Can I just put everything in this Smith & Hawken photo in my backyard (minus the pool)?!

The tall hedge, beautifully designed paver patio, amazing furniture, tall pots with boxwoods, pergola with fabric awning. I love it all!!

I love books.

“When I get a little money, I buy books; and if any is left, I buy food and clothes.”

- Desiderius Erasmus (1465-1536)

Walkways...

So, it's finally spring and we have a few projects coming up... One of these projects is a walkway from our side patio to our back patio. I'd love for it to be a brick patio like this one...I love the simple, traditional design. But, the price tag will (I'm almost positive) be out of our price range.

I love the brick work here and really, the whole house and yard. But, sorry the actual brick work is hard to see in this small photo. I did, however, just start getting this magazine and it's lovely.

This photo was taken at my Aunt and Uncle's house. They did a beautiful job on a really cool concrete walkway. This would look so great and, from what we hear, is not that difficult to do.
I love the small pebbles and large stones. But, Jeremy thinks Max would have way too much fun with the small pebbles. We may, however, do something similar to this on the west side of our house where we have 1) no need for grass, and 2) need to minimize the water in the area.

Hmmm.... We'll have to see.

Anna Tunic by Amy Butler

As soon as I get a new sewing machine, this Anna Tunic by Amy Butler is one of the first projects on my list of things to make.

And, I LOVE it in the Full Moon Polka fabric. Maybe I could make one for Belle in the Cherry color...

Bedroom Ideas

These bedrooms all have one thing in common...

A solid cover bedspread with only a few bold, symmetrically-placed pillows.
I love it all.

This is my favorite. I think I got it from Desire to Inspire.

I especially love the bolster pillow and the chair.
Design by Amie Weitzman.

I've been holding onto this child's room photo (from Family Circle magazine) for months and finally scanned it so I don't lose it.

Wouldn't it be fun inspiration for Belle's room? And, with only a couple of decorative pillows, she might actually make her bed...

Ekko Mobiles

Matt Richards, my high school friend and former back-door neighbor in Texas, creates beautiful mobiles at his company, Ekko Mobiles.

I must own one (or two, or three!) for my home.

Here's a favorite:It's called Leaves. Wouldn't it be perfect hanging in the corner of a bedroom?

It's always fun to see where life takes people. In high school, Matt was into all things sports cars. And, now only twelve years later, he has a successful career as a talented artist and entrepreneur.