This weekend...

I waited tables and tended bar for YEARS and have been having restaurant nightmares almost every night lately. In most of them I just can't keep up with the number of tables or with demanding customers and, in some of them, I'm waiting tables without any teeth (one of my fellow waitresses was toothless at one classy establishment). These nightmares are usually an indication that I've been feeling a little overwhelmed and anxious. I also tend to have them when I've been away from the studio for a long time. So, my plan for this weekend is to slow down. No re-upholstering anything. No cleaning or de-cluttering after today. Back porch, long walks, red wine, good food, and stars...that's the plan. What's your plan for this weekend?

*photo by Hanna L.

Swap for good...

I saw this post on readymade and think it's a brilliant idea. I've been wanting to organize some sort of kitchen gadget/book swap, but wasn't sure how to get started. Swap for Good is typically clothing, but any items would work. You can read more about it here.

To do...

I've been talking a lot lately about simplified color palettes and have admitted that, although I like the theory, I always tend to dress our house in more and more color. When is it too much though? Our mish mash of furniture just isn't working for me anymore (not that I want all matchy matchy). I'm going to start off by upholstering the small ottoman and the couch in navy and go from there. I'm also going to do some de-cluttering today and hope that it'll make me feel a little less spastic. Wish me luck!

Cabinet of curiosities...

Found this great etsy shop called Miniature Rhino via the always awesome BROOKLYNrehab.

Giddy...

Sometimes I see photos of a house and spend hours trying to dissect the images and figure out exactly what it is that makes the house 'work'. Such is the case with the emersonmade sneak peek on design*sponge. Let's put aside the fact that they're clearly brilliant stylists and don't appear to have children yet. Their palette is so lovely and so classic; navy blues, wood tones, bright whites and golden yellows, along with pops of tarnished metallics sprinkled here and there. As I told my friend the other day, their pantry (above) makes me giddy. Truly. Please tell me that I'm not the only one.

Collected...

Antique trophies feel like a decidedly grown-up collection (unlike the scores of rubber ducks and bread bag ties that live at our house). This trophy collection belongs to Lynn, the owner of Paris Hotel Boutique. She collects a host of other shiny objects, including antique hotel keys (love!). Check out her flickrstream to see more. Interested in starting your own trophy collection? Head over to Lynn's store or try etsy.

Light bulb love...

These lights by tbDsf are so pretty. It may just be the light bulbs I'm in love with though. Remember this light?

Gratuitous baby shot...

Humor me. Kicky's already six months old! She's funny and determined and smart and she can rock a faux hawk...some great attributes for our little girl to start off with. PRH and I are madly in love with her. Her brother likes her most days too.

A solid...

I want to make a braided rug inspired by this solid colored braided canister from Mrs Ginther. Braided rugs are OK, but sometimes I think they can add unnecessary visual clutter to a space. A solid-colored rug may cut down on the busyness a bit. We suspect that Kicky is allergic to our wool rug (even with blankets on it), so this project is at the top of the to-do list. Has anyone made one before? Is it crazy time consuming?

Made...

Our friends were visiting from Florida last week and had to leave on Sunday, so we made them a little gift to remember us. We used recycled security envelopes to make small, pamphlet-stitched books. Then we added a couple of pencils and some stamps and put it all in a recycled bag. Our little friend liked it and it was one of the first times EZ E didn't have a meltdown after giving a gift to a friend. Want to make your own books? This is a good source to learn how.

Two second dj....

Who knew we'd be listening to the Rollins Band all day yesterday? Or The Cure? Or Elvis and Willie Nelson? Or The Sex Pistols and Depeche Mode? My in-laws gave EZ E a tape player on Saturday night and he spent the WHOLE day yesterday poring through a box of our old tapes, playing two seconds of each tape before he'd switch to another. The list of embarrassing bands* was seemingly endless. Oh yes, that is a Counting Crows tape you see. It's better than listening to the Wiggles (DAMN you, Wiggles!).

*UPDATE: Because I've gotten a few emails...of the list above, I'm only slightly embarrassed by my Counting Crows tape. I am not embarrassed by the Rollins Band, The Cure, Elvis, Willie Nelson, The Sex Pistols, or Depeche Mode. The other tapes we have, however, were too embarrassing to list. :)

In the kitchen...

Our friends are remodeling their kitchen and are looking for inspiration, so this post is for them (and anyone else who likes kitchens with wood floors). I've posted the top photo before; this kitchen belongs to Leah, the blogger behind house obsession. Below are images found via House Beautiful...


Living Etc....


Anna's tumblr...


Martha Stewart...


aphro chic (Jenna Lyons's house)...


and design*sponge...

Lived in...

Talk about the perfect room for a rainy day. This place looks warm and inviting...lived in. The yellow doors and stacks of books are great. Add a game closet and we'd be all set.

*photo by Lynn Karlin

Who the...

My love for you... is quickly becoming one of my favorite blogs. She posted this incredible mural the other day. I'm not sure who the artist is, but wow! Does anyone know who the artist is?

I'd like to know...

Today is Monday, so that means it's time for I'd like to know, a weekly post dedicated to talented artists, designers, etc...all people I'd like to know and who I thought you may like to know of too. Today I'd like to know Tara Tiel. So f-ing rad! I can't even begin to tell you how much I like these installations. Although I do think 'so f-ing rad' sums it up quite nicely. You can see more of her work here. Happy Monday, my dears!

This weekend...

I'm not looking forward to this weekend only because we have to say goodbye to dear friends who've been visiting this week. On a more positive note, I'm collaborating on a fun project with our friend Rachael and EZ E appears to have mastered potty training. What are you doing this weekend?

*This barn is by my parent's house. The patchwork roof and slew of handmade ladders are so perfectly ad hoc.

Repurposed...

PRH and I have always wanted to buy a barn and turn it into a live/work space. This one from Blackburn Architects is pretty incredible. You can see more of their projects here.

Book lovers...

I saw this tumblr via automatism and couldn't resist sharing it with all of you here. The title is 'book lovers never go to bed alone', which I totally love. The quote at the top of the page is great too:
A little library, growing larger every year, is an honourable part of a man's history. It is a man's duty to have books. A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessaries of life. -Henry Ward Beecher
The only thing I would change in that quote is the word 'man'. Ladies like books too, Mr. Beecher! Thank you very much.

A little less country...

Done the right way, I really like ticking and think it can be a timeless fabric choice. I'm not a fan of the tea-stained, country variety, but I do like ticking when it's used simply. I found a few examples on etsy and thought I'd share. The bag above is from bayou salvage and below are pieces from infusion...


yahees place...


ticketty boo...


my sparrow...


and folding chair designs...


I especially love that golden yellow next to the blue and white. It's one of my favorite color combos lately.

Safety first...

How rad are these old workplace safety posters from vintage goodness? I like how the bottom one yells at you: smother grease fires!

Collected...

My best friend and her husband had their wedding reception in an old camp building. All of the walls were covered in carved and sharpie-written messages from former visitors. You know the kind: "so-and-so was here", "so-and-so loves so-and-so", etc... I'm a sentimental sap and totally love the idea of walls representing previous visitors. The greatest collections are usually built over time and this photo by Emily Andrews* reminded me of that.

*found via desire to inspire

Fascinated...

Speaking of rock collections, EZ E's collection is growing. I think that the land our house sits on used to be a creek bed, so there are tons of fossils everywhere. EZ E is fascinated and so am I. I forgot how cool fossils are. Oh, and it's not really cold here...EZ E just wants to dress like it is. Yes, those are the infamous Judd Nelson gloves.

Sleeping porch...

When PRH and I first moved in together, the apartment we lived in had a sleeping porch and we loved it! There's something sort of perfect about sleeping outside on a hot summer night. Isn't this one gorgeous?

*photo found via desire to inspire

Hearts...

A pretty collection of heart-shaped stones to start the day! Rock collections are the best.

*photo from rebranca46

Simplified palette...

I like the sound of gravel underneath my feet. This is from my 'dream garden' folder (originally from lonny). A driveway that looked like this would be beautiful too, but the reality of gravel and winter around here...not so good. Our house has an overabundance of color, so that's probably another reason why I like this image. I always think I could really live with a simplified color palette, but then I go and buy something orange...and then blue...and then yellow! The grass always seems to be greener, right?

Builders...

We've had a busy morning making forts. I obviously really like orange. On a side note, EZ E has been saying lately, "I'm going to rip out my voice!" in an apparent reference to The Little Mermaid. Today I think I'd be OK with that as long as it stopped the whining.

Sunny...

More photos from that house that I posted yesterday*. Those windows make me die.

*from Cottage Style 2010

Subtle and clean...

My friend Ken (hi, Ken!) sent along photos of his amazing farm house this weekend. It's seriously gorgeous, but he's looking for some ideas. I found these photos in Cottage Style magazine (2010) and thought they'd provide a bit of inspiration. There are some subtle, genius elements in these rooms*. That row of frames is such a clever way to unite disparate artworks and I love the red metal chair acting as a nightstand between the beds. The little framed note in the top photo is too great and the cutting boards...sigh. I just love this place! The horizontal beadboard is a great way to cover yuck walls too.

*I don't think that painting your walls white is the only way to make something work, but it does help in this case.