cashmere dreams

How would you love to win a cashmere personalized pillow from Queen of Cashmere? Leave a comment here. I think I will dream "cashmere" dreams tonight! In my dreams I hope I win too.

collectibles

So tell me, do you possess the art of collectibility? Is there one thing that you are adding to your collection. Somehow all the soups that I have been making to brave the cold are crying out for a collection of deep pottery bowls. There is something about an all white or cream collection that makes me smile.

Love to know what you are collecting these days?

image from tumblr

sprinkle warmth

Nothing is better than having a cup of warmth in the afternoon. There is something so nostaligic to me about coming in after being out in the cold and having my own Mother warm me up with a cup of cocoa and some toast. As a child, that is what she would do when we came inside. I found this wonderful image over at Sprinkles.

Instead of sending flowers, what about sending some warmth with a cupcake and cocoa.

artistic scrolls to give

Artistic scrolls by Elizabeth Belliveau

The gift of art is always such a wonderful and unique gift. My dear friend Elizabeth has created some images that have been artfully produced on scrolls. The East meets West influence is a lovely and modern way of showcasing her work. The fine photographs are shipped rolled and can be hung in many settings. These are some of her works hung in her home.
If you are looking for an original gift or some art, please think of Elizabeth.

Some of us may still be feeling the after affects of the holidays, but what about giving this for a special birthday or graduation gift.

Art spans generations and can be just the thing to inspire a budding collection. Scrolls are shipped in an archival tube topped with an elegant bit of hardware that Elizabeth found to compliment her old world soul. Elizabeth has a blog here.

oh deer

You can imagine my "deer in the headlights" look when I checked not once, but twice and I had indeed deleted my entire blog love list. (Way to go, me.) Forgive me while I hunt and peck and roam to re-build my list of blog buddies. Has this ever happened to you? Do you feel my pain?

four-eyes

Perfect Autumn ensemble by pop pop portraits - found on etsy ( she looks like me)

My husband gave me the thumbs up on a new pair of glasses, well not the style, but the fact that we have money in the eye-glass department. So off I go for a new pair of spectacles.

Mis-match lady (Primary colors) found on etsy at pop pop portraits

Is it me, or do larger glasses look good again. I have had wire, tortoise, black, cat-eye, librarian, square, round, and now I am sort of excited by going a bit larger. Anybody out there have a favorite brand or frame of the moment. I found these ladies over here.

Glasses are just another accessory to me.

folksy

There is a certain element or thread that connects me to other artists, be it a kindred spirit or just knowing that the joy found in creating leads my eye to those who I admire for just being down to earth and folksy.

Meet Maija Isola. Now that you see her designs, you will probably say, oh, I know that marimekko pattern. I guess that is really all one would need, one folksy flower print to land them on the map. A folksy flower loved by so many.

As the New Year has opened with a fresh calendar, it seems everything jumps out at me to be "freshened up" and so I found this wonderfully crisp blocky print (Maija designed this too) shower curtain which will prompt me to give my bath a fresh coat of paint and liven things up with some "blue." I love all white, but feeling like a bit of pattern is now welcome.

I thought these towels were sweet too. I guess I need to thank Maia for causing me to want to bring some fun and folksy finnish patterns to my home.

Here she is later in life. I love her casual and effortless Scandinavian style. So tell me, are there any folks causing you to freshen up for the New Year?

in accord with

photo of Nina, by Leigh Bedokis - Bedokis here

Now how cute is she. According to Nina, she loves leopard and claims to be pretty spoiled, but not rotten. Tell me do you have a special place or "throne" that you like to spend time with your lap top? I am loving that red love-seat.

Happy weekend and spend some down time, off line. Put down the royal lap top now.

forgotten

I ran errands early this morning and when I came back home, there on the counter was the "forgotten lunch" - of one said child. Lunch time had come and gone. So I did a little search to find this clever bag. I wonder how many lunches are forgotten? It seems a rite of passage.
How about this sweet reminder to remember. I found this idea, just take a marker and draw a hand on a canvas lunch bag. Love the red ribbon reminder. Sweet, non. Do you have any clever ideas for helping the forgotten?

be happy

I stumbled upon this quote online, and thought it was "brilliant!" How often we focus on life without looking to find the "happy" place within. Be deliberate and choose to be happy! Once we understand that, it sure makes whatever else fall into place. Be happy.