Finding Flair

The new office pics!

2011-11-18T16:36:00.001-08:00

Some close ups of the shelves:

My wedding stationery for purchase on Wedding Paper Divas:

Pretty things to keep me organized.

My Harvest Celebration invite on ShareHolidays.com

Inspiration!

Photography by friend Sara Patrick (Studio Sub Dio)

LOVE!

2011-11-10T09:23:00.001-08:00

Style Life Home

2011-11-09T07:59:00.000-08:00

Makes me want to get crafty!!! Styling by Simone Barter. Seen in Paper Runway.

Retro Folk Thanksgiving Set for Ellinée

2011-11-02T11:50:00.001-07:00

My Thanksgiving printables are now available for download!
See the Ellinée blog post here for link and instructions.

Check out additional photos (from the photo shoot I directed) here.
photography by Lia Griffith

http://pinterest.com/pin/17822683/

http://pinterest.com/pin/428909522/

http://pinterest.com/pin/428936629/

As part of Young House Love's Pinterest Challenge, here is the original pin that got me excited to create my own takeout labels in my Thanksgiving kit.

My new office/studio!

2011-09-25T15:29:00.001-07:00

for my office and stuff for styling... fun!

2011-06-24T14:10:00.000-07:00

Ruche

2011-05-17T16:39:00.000-07:00

Shop Ruche Home and Office
So many things I want. Giraffe toothbrush holder, strawberry paper clips, spoon rest, tape holders, picture holders... It's cheaper than Anthropologie but kind of the same flavor. I of course love the office stuff.

Wood type font from 18th & 19th century

2011-05-11T13:58:00.000-07:00

http://new.myfonts.com/fonts/hvdfonts/cheap-pine/
"When wood type became the technology of choice for posters advertising shows and trade fairs in the nineteenth century, specialized manufacturers cooked up some really weird and picturesque letterforms. But besides those wicked fat face, egyptian and ornamented letters, printers always liked to keep some normal-looking narrow sans serifs ready for those lines of text that simply had to be there without making a spectacle of themselves. That is the kind of wood type that HVD’s Cheap Pine is inspired by. The font contains arrows, hands, stars and other special glyphs available through the OpenType ligatures feature. You can use Cheap Pine Sans & Cheap Pine Shadow in separate layers to create colored shadows." (from MyFonts rising stars)

BHLDN by Anthro

2011-05-05T22:48:00.001-07:00

BHLDN line for Anthropologie! Have you seen it yet?
Check out the finds here.

Ellinée

2011-04-23T08:35:00.000-07:00

Our first sponsored post is up today on Style Me Pretty! More wedding sets and save the dates are on their way... Also stay tuned for sneak peeks of my bohemian inspired Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter sets! Below are the first three wedding sets available now on Wedding Paper Divas. Photography by our creative director, Lia, at Ellinée.

So far, the comments on the Style Me Pretty Giveaway Post (a chance to win 100 free save the dates!) are showing a strong favorite for Summer Sway in Bay (see first image below).

Birds of a Feather

2011-04-21T18:46:00.001-07:00

16 notecards by Susie Ghahremani
They are die cut and stand when folded below. Place to write on the back.
So stinkin' cute.
Bought at Presents of Mind

Aaaaaah. Cute!

2011-04-18T22:54:00.001-07:00

Free printables from Anna Bond (of Rifle Paper)
for Martha Stewart!
Seen here on Creature Comforts
Martha Stewart link here

Ellinée Blog Ad on Style Me Pretty

2011-04-01T09:16:00.000-07:00

Our ad is out there now in the blog world (see the coral colored ad below).
Links to here. See my pic!

Heather Ross

2011-04-01T08:41:00.000-07:00

Playing Horses, I and II: Limited Edition Signed Prints

I need these! Please make more, Heather, so I can buy them!!! (click image to go to link)

a quick crafty moment

2011-03-29T21:48:00.000-07:00

Sadie is in love with a big craft book I brought home from Goodwill. We did an impromptu paper doll bear and I was floored by the expression on the little bear's face. She makes me so proud!

Photo Styling: Food Meets Paper Craft

2011-03-15T21:52:00.000-07:00

I can't stop staring. These food photos in the latest issue of online magazine, Sweet Paul, are so beautiful! I love the patterns in the fabrics. I love the paper craft addition. Maybe I love it because I have a 5 1/2 month old baby girl tasting food for the first time. But baby food never looked so sweet and appealing! Sabra Krock is the inspirational stylist and photographer behind the work. (The baby food article starts on page 118.)

Sweet Paul Magazine Spring 2011 (Issue 4)

Paul Lowe is a food/prop stylist and crafter living in New York. His online magazine is full of his styling which is equally as clever and sweet! (See below.) Check it out for yourself—four stunning issues so far.
Move over Martha!
IMAGES: Sweet Paul online magazine

Change is in the air!

2011-03-15T21:07:00.000-07:00

Lots of big news. I have a couple of wedding stationery designs launching on Wedding Paper Divas in a few weeks (two of which are my designs). I'll let you know when I spot them online so you can LIKE them on FaceBook. :)

Also, I am absolutely loving Holly Becker's e-course Blogging Your Way! (I highly recommend it to my blogging friends!) It's got me thinking...

Finding Flair has been a great place for me to express the lovely finds I come across both online and away from my desk. In a way it's an online catalog or journal of what I'm loving and what inspires me at any given time. But I've decided to make it something even more special. I've already got a Pinterest account for images that I like. It's time to start creating with my hands.

My current interest is photo styling. Leslie Shewring of A Creative Mint has been co-teaching the blogging course and totally flooring me with her color stories. I love photographs that have been styled beautifully. (See more examples of styling here.) As I continue on in my stationery/paper good design path I am finding I need a couple of things: I need to be inspired by color and mood boards and I need to photograph my work to show it off properly. So I am going to start experimenting with creating my own color palettes and mood boards and capturing these with a camera to share on my blog. Stay tuned.

IMAGE: Taken by Emily Crawford for the Blogging Your Way e-course

Letterpress on the iPad

2011-03-03T08:59:00.000-08:00

Cute for kids!

2011-02-12T08:15:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite illustrators, Julia Rothman, designed this paper Playspace for Mudpuppy. $10 here.

More love

2011-02-04T09:10:00.000-08:00

My Anthropologie mug with scalloped bottom and paint splatters. My tea bag rest (with sugar cubes) that I got from Goodwill a while back. My new soap dispenser from IKEA. A spoon rest from CostPlus and the tray from IKEA.

My beaver mug!

2011-02-03T14:36:00.000-08:00

My beaver mug (front and back) and my slide calendar. *singing* These are a feeew of myyyy faaaavorite things...

Groundhog Day!

2011-02-02T08:45:00.001-08:00

Groundhog day cupcake toppers. AAAAHHH, the cuteness!
http://www.thesweetestoccasion.com/2011/02/groundhog-day-cupcakes/

Japanese cuteness

2011-01-19T20:44:00.000-08:00

http://www.petitjam.com/

DIY hat anyone?

2011-01-19T14:32:00.001-08:00

hee hee

2011-01-18T21:05:00.000-08:00

i love doodle

I heart these hearts!

2011-01-14T15:23:00.000-08:00

http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/heart-print-embroidery-kits-by-prints-charming-136653

A Birthday Card comp

2011-01-11T14:49:00.000-08:00

Cute!!!

2010-12-31T17:53:00.000-08:00

From Homelife, an Australian website.

2010-12-29T10:18:00.001-08:00

Crafty Wonderland Fox

2010-12-12T19:47:00.000-08:00

Almost bought this crewel fox kit at Crafty Wonderland. Did buy a couple of items I've blogged about in the past, though. It was an awesome event. Will go again for sure. Next year.

Tape Swell

2010-12-11T09:11:00.000-08:00

Decorative Tape! See all of the patterns here. How to use here.

Felt Pinecones

2010-12-10T21:07:00.000-08:00

cute! here's how

Crafty Wonderland This Weekend

2010-12-09T11:51:00.000-08:00

At the Convention Center in Portland, OR this weekend.
http://craftywonderland.com/

pretty DIY gift wrap

2010-12-08T19:21:00.001-08:00

Of course I love this paper "quilt" homemade wrapping paper using patterned tape to piece scraps together...as seen on decor8

Cookie Exchange Party Set

2010-12-02T19:34:00.000-08:00

I created this Cookie Exchange Party Set and my extremely talented creative director Lia (at Letters and Arts) printed them up and placed them in a photo shoot. So darn cute! I'm floored.

Address Stamp

2010-12-02T11:03:00.000-08:00

I want a Return Address Rubber Stamp. Something like the following:

Thanksgiving Paper Chain

2010-11-22T14:26:00.001-08:00

Here is a cool DIY paper download for Thanksgiving. The creative folks over at Silverbox Design created these lovely Thanksgiving Printables which can be downloaded and cut into strips. Each has space to add something you’re grateful for and can be used as napkin rings, tags for tree branches or even a paper train. I can imagine that this could be a beautiful tradition that could be added to for years to come! (Seen on Twig&Thistle)

A design project for the holidays

2010-11-18T10:02:00.000-08:00

Here's a sneak peek at a project I'm completing. I love the textures and fonts in this piece and I'm really happy with the way it turned out. :)

A folded card (front and inside with small insert) for a church event.

2010-11-10T22:57:00.001-08:00

Voting is now closed.

Vote for my
design on minted.™

see more from Emily Crawford

vote for me!

Check out my competition in holiday photo cards and wedding invitations at Minted.

Free downloads

2010-11-07T13:01:00.001-08:00

So cute! Download gift wrap, gift tags and Christmas cards.
Click images for links.

Flora and Fauna 2011 Calendar print

2010-11-05T10:23:00.000-07:00

Designed with thirteen specimen found in the Pacific Northwest, featuring illustrations by Mossière and hand calligraphy from Kathryn Murray.

Pacific Northwest themed, printed in Portland. Frame-worthy after 2011 is over. Awesome! Buy it here. OR Mossière will also be participating in “Little Winter,” a handmade market on November 6th and 7th at The Cleaners at The Ace Hotel in Portland, Oregon*, if you want to pick up a copy in person.

Read more at Design*Sponge http://www.designspongeonline.com/page/2#ixzz14QimdhyK

Cute Cake Card

2010-11-05T09:23:00.000-07:00

Easy to make birthday cake. Purchase here.

Online Gifted Magazine

2010-11-05T09:14:00.000-07:00

Gifted, an online magazine by blogger Creature Comforts
Inside this magazine you will discover incredible projects and freebies dreamed up by an amazing team of contributors with heaps of gift giving ideas.

You can read about the behind the scenes making of the magazine here. Cool!

Click image below to go to link.

Winter Wonderland Paper Crafts

2010-10-28T16:03:00.001-07:00

This paper sculpture book is adorable!
Available to purchase here.

Personalized Christmas cards

2010-10-28T10:57:00.000-07:00

If I had a personal assistant and loads of cash, I'd get these to send out for Christmas this year. So adorable!

Desk calendar for 2011

2010-10-28T09:39:00.001-07:00

Loving this one. Buy it for me here. Just kidding.

Minted Wedding Challenge

2010-10-20T15:44:00.000-07:00

Vote for me!

wedding invitations - Two Hearts Knit Together

wedding invitations - Two Hearts Knit Together

wedding invitations - Scandinavian Folk

wedding invitations - Cabin Plaid

wedding invitations - Japanese Masking Tape Wedding Invitation

Awesome 2011 Calendar

2010-09-24T08:10:00.001-07:00

From Kate's Paperie. Each animal represents two months. Order here.

Color-in Wallpaper!

2010-09-02T17:08:00.000-07:00

Frames Wallpaper from Graham & Brown. Jon Burgerman wallpaper at bottom.
As seen on Wiley Valentine.

The Exquisite Book

2010-08-31T20:02:00.001-07:00

The Exquisite Book: 100 Artists Play a Collaborative Game, available now for purchase at Amazon. Read more about it at Chronicle Books.

Each artist was given the page that precedes theirs to connect their own image to. They needed to extend the horizon line of the last page onto their page. The book has a super unique format! It is ten accordion fold-outs bound into a single hardcover book. The horizon line that starts on the covers follows a path through the entire book through every artists page.

draw + cook = recipes I can follow

2010-08-20T19:09:00.000-07:00

http://www.theydrawandcook.com/

I'm a fan.

2010-08-20T17:15:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan of Emily on this season's Design Star. Originally from Portland, named Emily? A bohemian-ish photo stylist who worked on Domino? What's not to love? I found her blog called The Brass Petal. Love her even more now. Quirky writer and all.

Love this print!

2010-08-17T08:48:00.000-07:00

Click image for link to Etsy

expansion!

2010-08-11T16:19:00.000-07:00

One Heart Weddings is getting off the ground and the boss loves it. We are now working on assignments for the baby site and even holiday. Soooo happy!!!

I'm a bit baby minded these days, as I approach my due date next month, so here are the announcements I've created the last few days. All made up names and stats, of course.

I need this!

2010-08-03T17:38:00.001-07:00

I'm in a food rut. Possibly because my stomach is too small to have an appetite. All baby, you see. So I'm sharing this post from decor8. I'm totally going to get this meal planner printed and hung in my kitchen!!!

Preorder on Amazon

2010-06-17T08:57:00.001-07:00

"Paper crafting is the hot new craft, and in this delightful book, Minhee and Truman Cho—founders of popular stationery company PAPER + CUP—offer 25 unique paper projects: vintage-inspired frames, hanging bird mobiles, pretty flower hair clips, personalized place cards, and many more. Each project is presented in a few easy, illustrated steps—all crafters need to get started is paper, scissors, glue, and a dash of creativity. With simple instructions, lovely color photographs, and downloadable templates, Paper + Craft makes it a cinch to turn a blank sheet into a pretty paper treat."

"In this delightful book, Eunice and Sabrina Moyle, the founders of Hello!Lucky, join forces with stylist Shana Faust to bring you over 50 gorgeous projects. Whether you favor a modern, classic look or a retro, homespun flavor, you'll find plenty of crafts and inspiration suited to your taste from vintage-key save-the-dates to delicate paper wreaths to silhouette bride and groom signs."

Click the images to go to the Amazon pages.

Fun

2010-06-15T12:35:00.000-07:00

As seen on Design*Sponge

One pot indoor herb garden

2010-06-10T16:14:00.000-07:00

How to make a One-Pot Indoor Herb Garden
(originally seen here)

Pot and tray - $21

1. Pot and tray - Buy a large, deep plant pot. This one is at least 7 gallons. Make sure there is at least one small hole in the bottom for drainage. If you have easy access to some stones or gravel, put a few inches of stones at the bottom of the pot to promote drainage.

Also make sure you buy a plastic or ceramic tray for under the pot to keep drained water from dripping on the floor.

Herbs - $9

2. Hardy herbs - Choose a variety of herbs for this pot. We chose cooking herbs - sage, sweet basil, and caraway thyme. We liked the different sizes and heights; sage grows tall, while basil is more bushy. The thyme is a creeper that grows flat to the ground. It has a tendency to take over its environment, so we will trim it back regularly.

Choosing herbs: We had a hard time finding herbs until we went to a nursery. They had just a few hardy specimens left, including the sage and thyme. Sometimes Trader Joe's has basil, too.

We used three small basil plants, one tall and leggy sage, and a small thyme creeper. This may have been too much; if they start crowding each other and pruning doesn't help we'll pull out a basil. The caraway thyme has a wonderful fragrance, by the way, and it may bloom with tiny pink flowers later in the year.

Potting soil - $5

3. Soil and water - Fill the pot up with soil, stopping about 3 inches from the top. Moisten the soil lightly but thoroughly with water and mix it until evenly wet. It shouldn't be dripping wet - just loosely muddy.

Dig a small hole, deep down. Remove one of the plants from its nursery container. Gently loosen the soil around its roots. You don't want to tear the roots apart - just loosen them up a bit. Put in the hole and pack about an inch of dirt over top of the root ball. Repeat for the other plants, giving them several inches of room between each other. Water again when finished.

Water when the leaves look droopy.

4. Water and sun - Put the pot on its drainage tray. Place anywhere it can get full sun. You'll need as much weak winter sun as you can get. Don't overwater; pour in a cup of water wherever and whenever leaves look droopy.

For cooking, cut leaves and stems off the tops first - not the sides.

Time, not including shopping: 20 minutes
Cost: $35-$50, depending on the cost of the pot and amount of plants

Fabric Roller Shades

2010-06-09T20:19:00.000-07:00

How to from Design*Sponge (click here)

What You’ll Need

heavy-duty roller blinds (including necessary hardware to hang them)

medium-weight fabric (determine how much you’ll need in Step 2)

all-purpose thread to match your fabric

measuring tape

sharp scissors

L-square or yard stick OR cutting mat, rotary cutter and straight edge

iron

sewing machine

double-sided tape (optional)

1. Choosing a fabric

Sturdy, medium-heavy fabrics (such as light canvas, cotton twill or decor-weight cottons) work best for this project. A somewhat stiff fabric is preferable over something softer, as the stiff fabric will roll up more successfully than flimsier choices.

If you have your heart set on a lightweight fabric, I’d suggest lining it with fusible interfacing to give it more body and stiffness.

Although I haven’t tried it, stiff sheer fabrics (like the sheer panels sold at Ikea) would probably work well here too.

2. Hack, Install, and Measure

One important thing to note is that you should choose a heavy-weight roller blind (sometimes labeled “maximum light blocking,” or similar). The spring mechanism in lighter blinds isn’t always strong enough to support the weight of a fabric shade, so I suggest playing it safe and going heavy-duty.

Install the original (pre-hacked) blind in your window following the manufacturer’s instructions. Note the direction the blind rolls (ie, with the blind rolling from the back or the front of the roller), as well as which end of the roller goes to the left and right. You’ll need to plan your blind so that it rolls in exactly the same way.

Remove the vinyl shade from the purchased roller blind and reserve it for another use. (I gave mine to a friend who is going to use it as a drop cloth when painting.) Also remove the dowel or plastic bar from the bottom of the blind, and set it aside (you’ll use it later).

Measure the roller bar from end to end, just inside the caps on each end. Add 1″ to this length for measurement A.

Also measure the distance from the roller bar to the spot where you would like the blind to fall, and add 9″ to this length for measurement B.

3. Cut the Fabric

Cut a piece of fabric that’s as wide as A and long as B.

It’s important to cut the fabric straight and even, so that the blind will hang straight. This is probably the trickiest part of this project, so take a little extra care to be sure you’ve got it really straight.

To get a good, straight cut, use the selvedge edge of your fabric as a guide — you can count on the selvedge edge to be straight, so if you work from that line, you’ll be on the right track.

If you have access to one, I highly recommend a rotary cutter, cutting mat, and straight edge for this job, as these tools make it really easy to cut perfectly straight lines and right angles. If you don’t have these, you can use an L-square or a yard stick to mark straight lines.

Make the first cut along the selvedge edge, then measure from that line to make the remaining cuts, being careful to cut right angles so that all edges will be straight.

4. Sew the Sides

Turn under the long side edges 1/2″ and press. (Note: only turn the fabric under once, not twice as you would normally do. It’s best to avoid extra bulk in the seams so that the blind will roll up neatly, and a double-fold would case more bulk. This does mean that the raw edge of the fabric will be visible on the back side of the curtain, but what the heck, live dangerously!)

Sew along the side seams, stitching close to the folded-under raw edge.

5. Hem the Bottom

Next, turn under the bottom edge 1/2″ and press, then turn it under another 1 1/2″ and press again. Stitch in place, sewing close to the interior fold. (Note: the sides of the hem will stay open, which creates a sleeve for inserting the dowel at the bottom of the blind.)

6. Attach the Blind

To attach the fabric blind to the roller mechanism, place the fabric right-side up on a work surface. (The cutting mat works great here, as you can use the grid lines to be sure you’re aligning everything evenly.) It’s important to be sure the roller is aligned perfectly straight at the top edge of the fabric, so that the fabric will roll evenly. (Also take a moment here to be sure your fabric will be rolling in the correct direction, as you noted in Step 2.)

On the blinds I purchased, there was adhesive left on the roller from where the vinyl had been attached, and it was strong enough to hold my fabric panel. If that’s not the case for you, apply a strip of double-sided tape to attach the fabric to the roller.

Then simply roll the fabric onto the roller.

7. Hang the Blind

Pop your blind back into the hardware you installed earlier.

8. Insert the Dowel

Insert the dowel (which you removed earlier from the hacked blind) into the pocket and you’re done!

Return address stamp: Calligraphy!

2010-06-03T13:06:00.000-07:00

I want this! From Etsy

Letterpress Bear Hug

2010-05-29T09:41:00.000-07:00

By Blackbird Letterpress

Old Business Cards

2010-05-29T09:39:00.001-07:00

featured on "oh, hello friend"

One Heart Weddings is live!

2010-05-26T09:36:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to announce that the last few months of wedding stationery design is online in updated form! The previous website (WeddingDNA.com) is now OneHeartWeddings.com. It's still in "testing"mode, so there might be a few kinks to work out, but for the most part, it's ready. And I'm too excited about it to wait to tell you. Enjoy!

Artwork I want

2010-05-19T17:59:00.000-07:00

I want this to remind me of my trip to Charleston. Here.

I want all of these for my kitchen. Local artist!
(Old School Stationers)

I want

2010-05-19T13:13:00.001-07:00

Hello Sign (from WilliamDohman on Etsy, only $34 plus $9.50 shipping)

Printable Alphabet Bunting

2010-05-14T16:17:00.000-07:00

Print your own flag letters here.

Each letter has a colored pattern background and there's a heart spacer for between words. Fun!

Free Printable Giftwrap to Download

2010-04-29T08:41:00.000-07:00

Here are some patterns available on the site:

Also available for download are matching cards and tags.

My wedding stationery looking pretty!

2010-04-22T16:05:00.000-07:00

modern green dots

vintage pink and copper

Citrus Aqua and Yellow

Modern Bracket Red, Orange and Blue (Thank You)

sneak peek

2010-04-22T15:37:00.000-07:00

I was like a kid in a candy shop, assisting with the wedding stationery photo shoot yesterday. These were styled by our art director, Lia. She is amazing. I just stepped back, watched and learned!

Soon to be revealed—before and after...

things that are round

2010-04-17T15:10:00.000-07:00

These are letterpress coasters you can purchase here.

or poster version

seen on design*sponge

TEA

2010-04-17T15:03:00.000-07:00

I just think this is beautiful.

http://www.caravanstyle.com/

bedroom inspiration

2010-04-13T10:39:00.000-07:00

I love this room. I think the orange print bedding reflects my personality, as I have the IKEA version currently on my bed. I like the wall color, too, and I think our room could pull it off. Also IKEA has a round mirror with the basket weave frame that I think would really enhance our wall. Our old mirror fell and broke so I've been hunting for a replacement. I'm keeping this photo in my inspiration file! I need a headboard. The one in the picture doesn't look too hard to make... Hmmmm

now that's motivation

2010-04-13T09:15:00.000-07:00

Motivation to do the dishes, that is. This is a tea towel design from To Dry For.

As seen on Design*Sponge. Available for purchase here.

vinyl headboards

2010-04-12T17:05:00.001-07:00

As seen on Decor8. Available for purchase here.

ideal bookshelves

2010-04-09T08:21:00.001-07:00

I want prints of these for my kitchen and baby girl's room. So cute! Artist Jane Mount paints these. See the whole collection here.

As seen here on Design*Sponge.

For Sarah S.

2010-04-09T08:15:00.000-07:00

These made me think of you. Click the images below to link to Amazon.com.

You can read more about these books here.
Seen on Design*Sponge.

Crafty Sale May 1 + 2

2010-04-04T08:55:00.000-07:00

Oh, I want this.

2010-04-02T05:31:00.001-07:00

Buy it here.

Yes!

2010-03-31T19:11:00.001-07:00

found here

lovely cups

2010-03-16T19:07:00.000-07:00

I saw these featured on design is mine. They are so cool!

See more here. When will these be available at Presents of Mind on Hawthorne? That's what I want to know.

coming together, ampersands galore

2010-03-11T07:32:00.001-08:00

Font Aid IV is a designers’ initiative to benefit the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. The font consists entirely of ampersands, representing the idea of people coming together to help one another.

Coming Together contains over 400 glyphs and is supplied as a single, cross-platform OpenType font. All glyphs are accessible using OpenType-savvy applications, Unicode-savvy utilities, the Character Map utility on Windows, and FontBook on Mac OS X.

Nearly 400 designers contributed to “Coming Together.”
See all the glyphs here.
Find it here.

cool tile stickers

2010-03-02T14:33:00.000-08:00

These tiles stickers are available at the Scandinavian Design Center. What a cool and inexpensive way to update your kitchen/bath without a lot of work!

An 8-pack is less than $20.

Pattern your world

2010-02-19T21:31:00.000-08:00

Bold patterns for Target by Liberty of London. Download the patterns to your desktop or iphone for free!

teapot $12.99 online only

As seen on decor8

wisdom

2010-02-18T18:57:00.000-08:00

This was thought of the day for design is mine.

"Google before you Tweet," a fabulous poster from I Love Typography. This should be hanging above everyone's desks. ($15)

Chevron stripe

2010-02-16T22:01:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty hip. Heh heh. If you know me, you can laugh freely. But I did catch on to the whole chevron stripe thing before it was blogged about on decor8, and I can prove it! I created a Valentine menu for MustHaveMenus.com last month as seen below. And I got the idea from some post-it notes from my husband. I think he got them at Target. So I guess I'm not that hip, just alert? Here's another blog regarding the trend.

Valentine

2010-02-13T08:21:00.000-08:00

I saw this cute card idea on inchmark. Easy to create, fun for kids (they get to draw arms, legs, eyes and mouth). Candy for the recipient. Awesome!

More about window treatments

2010-01-29T09:04:00.000-08:00

I'm still researching curtains and window treatments. I picked one of my favorite bloggers to study. I love Nicole's curtains in her house and I love that she labors over her curtain decisions. Below are images from her home and what I love about the choices she made.

A soft color and delicate pattern brings a sweet, feminine feel to this room. Perfect for a sophisticated nursery. (What? No Disney wall borders?)

Using a double rod, sheers and curtain panels are paired together. The rods start at the ceiling, which visually elongates the wall. The panels pool slightly on the wood floors, so there's no high water effect. The two fabrics complement each other by using similar natural material. The outer panel is treated with special attention using nail head trim and a tieback.

Here a panel is paired with fabric roman shades. Alternative: Instead of having two separate shades, one wide shade, attached outside the window frame at the height of the curtain rods. The shade would need to be lined, so you couldn't see where the wall ended and the window began. It would create an expansive, more dramatic effect.

I love this pairing because it blends a heavy drape with a patterned sheer. Not easy to do. The large pattern works here. I'm trying to duplicate this look for the house I'm advising on. Unfortunately the period of the house doesn't lend itself to this treatment. The windows are short and wide sliders (think 1950's ranch). Still working it out. Thinking blinds are really the answer in my case.

Love this fabric shade. Makes such a beautiful focal point in the kitchen where fabrics are typically towels. I am a huge fan of this look and even made my own fabric shades for my kitchen. Thankfully I had enough foresight to line my shades. When the sun streams through, you only want a transparency effect for sheers. All other fabrics look best when lined. It puts less emphasis on the hems and window behind it.

Inspiration and images from Making it Lovely

Citris Trends for 2010

2010-01-28T15:50:00.000-08:00

From Colour me Happy:

Curtains!!!

2010-01-28T15:45:00.000-08:00

After browsing for a houseful of window coverings, I discovered this post. So helpful for how to properly hang curtains and pair them with shades. I learned a lot!

From COTE DE TEXAS: (see rules below)

1. Use either two or three widths of fabric depending on the size of the window. Always err on the wider amount. A small window will probably take two widths just fine. Do NOT go by standard measurements – or else you will end up with one width of fabric panels, which will look skimpy and cheap. It’s better to use an inexpensive linen than to skimp on an expensive silk! Consider using the more expensive fabric on a pillow instead – curtains require a lot of fabric!!!! Double width on a regular height room is approximately 12 yards of fabric.

2. Have the seamstress add wide hems on the leading edges and at the bottom. This way, the lining on the side will be sure not to show.

3. Be sure to order NO IRONED OR TACKED IN pleats!!! Very important – or else you will end up with two stone concrete columns of fabric.

4. Always use lining and interlining unless you are using a sheer. I use either bump or blackout linings. If the fabric is dense, bump may be all that is required, but the blackout lining adds so much. First it creates a heavy weight which makes the curtains drape better and second, the sun doesn’t come through blackout lining – especially important when using silk and see through fabrics. Tip: I also ALWAYS use blackout lining when making skirted tables and bedskirts for the same reasons: weight, draping, and sun rays coming through. I like to see the fabric, I don’t like to see through the fabric!

5. Measure the curtains from the top molding or ceiling to elongate the line.

6. If adding blinds – use outside mount and place the blinds right under the rod.

7. You don’t need to splurge on expensive rods – the thinner the better is fine in most cases. If you don’t like finials get a rod that attaches directly to the wall.

8. Go easy on the embellishments: contrasting tape is great on valances and in transitional settings. Trim is nice down the edges or the hem, but use a light touch – too much becomes goopy fast!

9. Don’t make your drapes too short. If you want them just “kissing” the floor, be sure you have a great workroom , measurer, and installer, this is very difficult to get exactly right. I usually order a 3” puddle which allows me to grab the hem, step back, and let the curtain fall gracefully in place. You might prefer just a slight ‘break” in your hem. Be sure to discuss the proper length with the measurer so there are no surprises. It’s always easier to fix a too long hem - a too short hem can be a disaster!

Designer Rules

2010-01-27T13:59:00.000-08:00

As seen on OneCoolPick.

turquoise

2010-01-25T16:59:00.001-08:00

The color of the year for 2010!

Where to buy what for the home

2010-01-20T16:42:00.000-08:00

Go to Sources!
Check out the list from Young House Love.

I'm keeping this bookmarked for future reference.

St. Patty's day downloadable invites

2010-01-10T19:26:00.001-08:00

Here are the St. Patty's day invites I created for shareholiday.com. So fun!

downloadable fun

2010-01-10T19:20:00.000-08:00

Here are my comps for kid's Valentine's day cards. I was given the artwork and I created the type and backgrounds to transform them into cards. In a matter of days/weeks, these could be available for you to download (4 on a page) on shareholidays.com.

more fun with downloadable templates

2010-01-10T18:48:00.000-08:00

These are the latest drafts for WeddingDNA.com. If you like them, you could be downloading them into your own Word Application in a matter of days/weeks.

First we have the layered flowers with the trendy yellow and gray color theme and a butterfly to top it off.

Then we have the ever so lovely modern medallion pattern and bracket design. I love the color combination. I am in love with these pieces. It looks so fresh despite the restrictions I have, designing for Word.

Cool Etsy chair pillows

2010-01-08T18:20:00.001-08:00

Upgrade your chair with a $35 pillow from SoapStudiooos.

seen on decor8

Layering patterns

2009-12-30T11:09:00.000-08:00

A great post from decor8! Tips to layering your patterns. No bed-in-a-bag for you!

Here are Holly's tips:

Use patterns that coordinate somehow, working off of the same color palette. Let’s experiment with three patterns in this example.
For your first layer, incorporate either a solid or a small understated print into the mix for a foundation.
For the next layer go for a favorite pattern, perhaps something floral or geometric. Make sure you have at least one coordinating color from your “foundation” pattern in this one. You can go as bold as you’d like with pattern or simple – opt for medallions, a check or a pin stripe. Look for a mid to large size pattern.
Now for the third layer, this is where you’ll play with scale a little. Look for a pattern that complements your second layer but on a smaller scale (at least 50% smaller).
Example: I like to start with my solids first, so a solid or tiny understated pattern on my fitted sheet. Next, either use the large or the small pattern for the top sheet, then add your pillows in the pattern that is left. I usually go with a large pattern for the top sheet and a smaller one for the pillows. But you can mix all of this up however it appears to you visually. You can even layer in four or more patterns with many different pillowcases and throw pillows.
I use solid color duvet on top, usually white or cream, with a floral or geometric pattern of the same color (white or cream so that it’s understated) or I find a cover with some texture – which I think makes the overall mix look pulled together and neat.

Picture from decor8.

Daily Drop Cap

2009-12-28T18:55:00.000-08:00

rom Jessica Hische, Daily Drop Cap. A new hand-crafted decorative initial cap is posted for your enjoyment and for the beautification of blog posts everywhere!

Just copy and paste html code into your blog. Go to www.dailydropcap.com.

Another unique calendar

2009-12-28T12:06:00.000-08:00

Write in your library book names and due dates.

as seen on design*sponge
sold on Etsy here

2010

2009-12-13T09:43:00.000-08:00

My 2010 desk calendar!!! The "winner" after my search.
I LOVE it! Get yours here.

The wood block is so clever. The cards are 4.5 x 5.5, which is a perfect size for my desk. I'm really drawn to the illustrated patterns and typography. Did I mention I love it? Merry Christmas to me.