Vena Cava

Although I missed Vena Cava (one of my favorite team of designers) on the catwalk this past fashion week I'm super excited about their book coming out with the fall 08 collection. Just look at these beautiful graphics. These girls are sooo good.

my Amelie sopha

Ok, so I've had my eyes on this peacock blue Amelie sofa from Anthropologie for quite some time now. I even got to see it in person recently in their Denver, CO store - was a tad smaller than I thought (all of their furniture is actually much smaller in person). Well of course the price was way out of my budget (a grand total of $2,898.00, with $250 for shipping) yet I continued to drool just the same.

Well, recently I made the find of a lifetime. I was in a local Knoxville antique store, Nostalgia, and spotted this emerald green velvet beauty hiding beneath multiple miss-matched pillows and even a few end tables. The second I saw it my heart leapt and I raced over to see if it really could be as gorgeous and It appeared. In almost perfect condition (a few small tears on the back) and for only $250 (the prince of shipping for the Anthropologie sofa! and it's much longer!), I had to have it. Yes we are trying to save money right now but I've also learned that for me to earn more and create more art, sometimes I need a little more of an incentive than the lofty one of paying morgtage each month (Oh and I love how this follows my 2008 theme of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, etc.). I would love to recover this in a peacock blue velvet similar to the Amelie sofa above but for now I'm happy with the emerald. I'm super excited and ready to get back to painting!

DIY: Chilrdren's Place Mats

You can make these super easy but super cute children's place mats just by taking your favorite decorative paper to your local copy shop and having it laminated. Here I used 12"x12" papers from scrap line Bam Pop (one of my favs) and created 4 double sided mats - using 8 papers in all (I know some paper already comes double sided which would also work great). I love how these can also be used as a dry-erase doodle pads, play-dough/craft mats, etc. Aj loves to bounce his cars and animals up and down on these (which inspires me to create more with street and town scenes). If you wanted to make these for adults I would advise using larger decorative paper as scapbook paper is just too small for an adult size table setting.

Currently Craving: This Billabong Bag

Loving the hair on the model as well.

beautiful coats

Loving these elegant yet versatile light coats (especially the rosy gray color) from fall's 07 runway . Beautiful.

Recipe #3: Grilled Steak Bruschetta Salad

I now have #3 of my 30 recipe's completed. Tonight we had Grilled Steak Bruschetta Salad (recipe from BHG) and it was quite lovely. (I have to give Jon credit as well as he did grill the steak). I will say however that while it was appealing to our sophisticated pallete I am not sure this will go on our list of frequently made meals. When it was all said and done with everything was a tad overpriced (all the fancy ingredients and perfect cut of beef really added up). We had a great time with it though and still definitely recommend it.

Lovely Artist: Amy Abshier Reyes

currently inspired by the color and era of these works from artist Amy Abshier Reyes.

Branch photo holder

Loving this branch photo holder and want to make one myself.

Misiak Tea Set of my dreams

Ok, so I found a tea set that just might outshine the previous one I found and love. I don't know what it is about black and ornate but I can't seem to pull myself away from it. One major problem however? I can't seem to find out where this set is from. Sadness.

*Update: Thanks to Jessica I know have a link and might be able to get the tea set of my dreams. Check out all of Christine Misiak's other gorgeous tea sets while you are at it. Thanks again Jessica!

When Jon goes to the Oscars...

I'll have to invest in one of these lovely dresses.

Creature Comforts

Creature Comforts blogger and Wren Eleven founder, Ez, was kind of enough to add me to her design and style blog roll (and what a lovely blog roll it is!). CC just might be one of my all time favorite blogs so it's an honor to be a part of her fav's. It has also made me commit to taking this blog one step further and add all the things I've been wanting to for a while - so stayed tuned. Thanks Ez!

Oh the temptation...

Of course right when I make a goal to cut down on spending I find my dream rocker via Pottery Barn Kids "Designed by You" baby rockers. They have over 50 fabrics you can choose from-all of them gorgeous. Atticus has given me a test run for what I want in a rocker and I now know that a lot of sleeping (or half sleeping) takes place in the nursery so I want something comfortable yet still attractive. If only PB wasn't so spendy.

recipe journal

How cool would this recipe journal from Williams-Sonoma be fore my 30 new recipes I'm learning this year?

Lovely Artist: Cassandra Barney

Friend and artist, Cassandra Barney, whose work and and career inspire me, paid me the sweetest compliment on my Tuesday Mourning blog. I wanted to return the favor by introducing you all to her fabulous work (if you don't already know of it). Most of you have seen the limited edition print of Etta (in the above white frame) I have hanging in my home. I love it and am inspired every day I walk by it. You can find more of her work here. Thanks again Cass!

a darlin' apron for D-lyn

So here it is in all it's glory..my first apron and one of the first completely successful sewing projects I've done all on my own. My sisters and I have an apron exchange going on and I drew my sister D-lyn's name. She's an English Country Cottage/Romantic Vintage kind of gal so I think she'll really like it. I'm proud of myself for sticking in through and re-doing a lot of things just so they were right (however I did finally figure out what a narrow hem was after I'd done most of them incorrectly...oh well...D-lyn can change them if she likes :)). I'm especially fond of the little birdie on the pocket.

Recipe's 1&2: an afternoon of cupcake making

I now have 2 of my 30 recipes completed. This afternoon I decided to get into the Valentine's spirit by making Magnolia Bakery cupcakes with butter cream frosting. So yummy! (although the frosting doesn't look as good as I'd like. I think I could have added more powdered sugar). If you are coming to craft night tonight you will be able to enjoy these with me.

Loving the Hair and the Menswear

I've been trying to re-create this tossled, casual curl look on my own hair. I haven't gotten it perfected yet but I will prevail. Love the menswear look too.

Today I am: Wired Inspired

Loving all things wired inspired particularly Bertoia chairs and vintage 70's gym locker baskets.

The Aries

I find it funny that out of all astrological descriptions out there my husband gets super excited and begs me to come and look at this one:

ARIES - The Daredevil (Mar 21 - April 19 )

Energetic. Adventurous and spontaneous. Confident and enthusiastic. Fun. Loves a challenge. EXTREMELY impatient. Sometimes selfish. Short fuse. (easily angered.) Lively, passionate, and sharp wit. Outgoing. Lose interest quickly - easily bored. Egotistical. courageous and assertive. Tends to be physical and athletic.

Hmm, does anyone else think this is exactly me? Wow, if only I'd known that I could blame it all on my astrological sign all this time ;).

30 things I want to do the year I turn 30

1. create a daily schedule for Atticus and myself
2. create a weekly and monthly cleaning schedule
3. learn 30 new recipes (I know…sounds ambitious but I’m thinking that these can be simple to elaborate)
4. start a themed meal schedule (like Friday is taco night, Monday chicken, etc.)
5. get food storage/emergency preparedness in order and up to date
6. learn how to cook meals from food storage (can go along with my 30 recipes)
7. go to the gym at least once a week ☺
8. do sit-ups and arm curls every day
9. sew on Sundays
10. enjoy the outdoors more (go outside with Atticus at least once a day. I know…it’s sad that I even have to have this goal…but hey, I’m a rainy day artist, ok ☺)
11. learn one new song on the piano
12. plant something and watch it grow
13. paint more
14. write a children’s story
15. build something with wood
16. visit flea markets
17. trust my instincts
18. spend more focused time teaching Atticus new things
19. hold Family Home Evening regularly
20. create a budget that I can realistically stick to ☺
21. laugh more
22. be a glass half full kind of gal
23. create prints of my artwork to sell
24. sew clothing and toys for Atticus
25. always be in the middle of a good book
26. research and pursue new and creative outlets for my art
27. live closer to the spirit
28. be at peace with myself and others
29. early to bed, early to rise
30. give birth to a second child ☺

Reduce. Reuse. Renew. Recycle. Relax.

This year instead of New Years resolutions I've decided to have a theme, or slogan, for the year 2008. Reduce. Reuse. Renew. Recycle. Relax. This article from Home Companion really seems to go along with my theme. A general breakdown of the 5 "R's" goes as follows:

Reduce: spending; the need for material abundance; time spent on frivolity; screen sucking (i.e. countless hours on the computer/internet and watching TV)

Reuse, Renew, Recycle: things found around the house, in thrift stores and in flea markets instead of purchasing "new" items. Focus on renewing and reviving things of the past that have a history.

Relax: work on spending more time relaxing and playing with my son; taking time out to enjoy my surroundings and the life I'm living.

On Style!

Yesterday on Style, (a style show on Knoxville, TN local WBIR/Channel 10 news station) my segment aired and I couldn't be happier (although I will say that the camera does indeed add 10 pounds ;)). April Lamb came over to the house a few days ago and interviewed me for this and we had a great time. You can take a look at the video and story here.

These are a few of my favorite things...

...from 2007. Inspired by a list that my good friend Julie Elton gave me of her favorite things from 2007 I thought I'd share some of mine. These are from my interior and craft files. Hope you enjoy. Here's to a great year past and to an even more exciting one to come!

Handmade Stockings

I was so happy with how my handmade stockings turned out. Thanks Cally and Mandy for all your help on craft night. It was so fun to be able to make the stockings the way I wanted to instead of having to go with what was in the stores. I really love Atticus' corduroy stocking with the apples in the middle.

Winter Layering

inspired by the creative layering of Casch.

New Tour Pics

We just got more pics from the tour that one of the ONK board members took (who obviously has a much better camera than me :) ). Enjoy.

These make me happy

Winter Make Up

This winter I've decided to really embrace my fair skin. Thanks Prada eye wear for my winter make-up inspiration of nude lips and slightly smokey eyes (appropriate for daytime). I even have similar black glasses. Too fun.

Vintage Village

Too sweet to pass up.

Project Vintage

Fabulous Etsy clothes on the cheap! I just found this Etsy shop, projectvintage and I love it. I can't believe how affordable and adorable her clothes are. Will definitely have to shop here in the future.

Landscaping

Here are a few shots of the amazing landscaping that our good friend and professional landscaper Daniel Hart designed for us. Looks even more magnificent in person and will be so lovely come spring with colorful hydrangeas and rose bushes.