Summer Slacking

While the season of Summer still has a few weeks to go, the reality is that Summer is quickly coming to an end.

School is starting, parents are out shopping for their kids’ new clothes and school supplies already, and college students are preparing for their annual return to campus.

What’s a person to do with the last few remaining weeks of Summer???

Jam in as much stuff as humanly possible before the reality of the Fall hits.

That's what!

My list includes, time at the park, boating on Lake St. Clair, hitting a few flea markets and tag sales, and the end of Summer street fairs.

Early Morning at the Pier Park.

Boating on the Lake.

Although I took the whole, entire summer away from blogging, I've been keeping up with all of my favorite bloggers. I'm so inspired and motivated seeing the cool projects you all have gotten done... I can't wait to get going myself.

I'm on to tackling house projects in ernest. These are my inspiration pics...

Via Hodge:Podge

I got some serious inspiration from Barbara, over at Hodge:Podge.

I spotted this fabric (Richloom's Lucy Eden) on her lovely blog

and was instantly smitten.

She graciously researched the fabric for me and sent me a link...

Thank you for your help and for the mention today... I am much obliged!

(And for those of you love a good DYI, you've got to pop over here and check this talented lady out!)

This is the vibe I'm shooting for in my Living Room.

I love the casual, colorful, comfy look of this room... it's totally my style.

Via Pintrest

I really like this one too... I love pink and I'm a total book nerd so

naturally, I'm all about this room!

Via Pintrest

WARNING!

I think you should all sit down before scrolling any further.

Because this is what I'm working with. It's a little rough,

but it's all mine!

I'm starting in the Living Room, which is connected to the Dining Room on the left side and connected to the Office on the right side.

Good blank slate... Right?

Uh, yeah... Removing the old window treatments, patching and painting

is first on my agenda... Then window treatments, light fixtures and

the floors after that... !!!

All in all, the Summer has been a great time to relax, recharge and re-organize my resources and my life. Not just my outside life, but my inner life as well. It was great to take stock in how things are going, what changes I'd like to make, and set the plan in motion for the fall. Because once September comes, all

h-e-double-hockey-sticks usually breaks loose and time once again becomes a commodity much in demand, but short in supply.

So until then, enjoy the rest of your summer and I’ll do the same!

What are your end of the Summer plans?

Let the Sunshine In!

Anyone who lives in the Mid-West knows that the weather has been dreary...

very dreary.

So I've decided that the only answer is to let a little of the sunshine in

by finding pops of yellow to inspire and energize

me and my home.

I think it's working!

Forsythia bush outside.

House Beautiful.

Domino.

I'm obsessed with this Jonathan Adler pillow...

Jonathan Adler.

Coastal Living.

Look what I found on Ebay... I could easily find a spot for these

Hollywood Regency faux bamboo caned chairs.

$199 for the pair.

Ebay.

I recently found this super talented textile designer named Holli Zollinger. This is one of the fabrics in her "Forsythia & Earth" collection. You can check out all the designs here at Spoonflower.

Holli Zollinger, "Forsythia & Earth" Collection.

Nothing says Spring to me like a lovely wicker purse.

I think I need this little Kate Spade bag!

Kate Spade, Eastward Avenue Quinn.

Perhaps I'm going too far now but

isn't this Chanel nail varnish in "Mimosa" yummy?

Chanel.

Even my toes are in on the action!

What do you do to bring the sunshine in?

Preserving the Past

Those of you who know me, know that my first love has always been history. More specifically, the Civil War era and the grandeur of the antebellum homes of the South.

While perusing my latest Garden & Gun magazine, I came across a fascinating story about a book called "Gone: A Photographic Plea for Preservation."

Photographer and architect Nell Dickerson began her exploration of antebellum homesteads with encouragement from her cousin-in-law renowned Civil War historian and novelist Shelby Foote. Her passion for forgotten and neglected buildings became a plea for preservation.

Lives were not all that was lost during the Civil War. Many of the South’s grand antebellum homes that weren’t burned by Union troops were left to fall into decay. But Nell Dickerson’s new book manages to capture some of these culturally important structures—and the history held in their eaves.

House, circa 1859, Restored 2010, Bolivar County, Mississippi

Parlor, circa 1859, Bolivar County, Mississippi

House, circa 1843, Fayette County, Tennessee

House, circa 1861, Claiborne County, Mississippi

House, circa 1860s, Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri

House, circa 1859, Bolivar County, Mississippi

This circa 1845-1850 house was photographed a year before Hurricane Katrina in Hancock County, Mississippi.

Dickerson’s haunting photos depict trees growing through grand parlors, crumbling mantles, and ghostly columns standing silent. The images are accompanied by Shelby Foote’s “Pillar of Fire” (a fictional account of Union troops burning down a family home in front of its owners). The book ends with a plea from Dickerson: “Do whatever it takes to keep the stories alive. Our personal history is part of our national history, and we should pass it to our children with great reverence, because it is not just who we were, but who we are.”

I would love to find one of these structures and turn it back into a home.

Maybe someday...

Off the Usual Subject

I don't know why, but lately I've been obsessed with baby clothes.

I love shopping for my nieces and nephews and dressing them up.

Next to interior design... this really floats my boat!

Unfortunately, I don't know the sources for many of these pieces

but they are too cute not to share!

Little Mouse Mary Janes.

Hand Knit Button Front Sweater Dress.

Kids Moto Jacket.

Cloud Leggings.

Flapper Ruffle Dress.

Newsboy Cap and Kitty T-shirt.

Hand Knit Asymetric Cardigan.

Black Ruffle Front Button Down Coat.

Chevron Onsie.

Swingy Trench with Burberry Wellies.

Hand Knit Ice Skate Slippers.

Most of these things are from zulily.com

and some of the sweaters and slippers are hand knit

and can be found on Etsy.

If I figure out the sources, I'll update this post.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

May your home always be

too small to hold all your friends.

~Irish Proverb

Hand Knit Starmore Traditional

Aran Cable Blanket.

Restoration Admiration

The Spring 2011 Restoration Hardware catalogue is really something. My copy is worn, dog-eared and flagged. It is that good. Here are a couple of my favorite things that I can't live without.

Victorian Hotel Pendant Light.

I love the intricate open metalwork with the internal candelabra, in a

polished nickel finish.

Want one!

Professor's Leather Double Chair.

Covered in this buttery vintage cigar leather with

hand hammered brass nail head details.

Flatiron Collection.

These awesome handmade tables are solid reclaimed elm doors.

Each table top is selected, planed, sanded and finished by hand

for a warm antique, industrial patina.

L O V E !

Astoria Hotel Magazine Rack.

This magazine caddy is crafted with cast ball joints and

the gleam of old brass. Nothing ordinary

about this magazine rack.

French Academie Iron Bed.

I'm loving the use of industrial materials

and masterful finishing techniques,

this reproduction looks very much like it's

early 20th Century French predecessor.

Comes in all sizes, too!

Arc Bracket.

I'm all about this architectural ironwork...

Just like the stuff found in the grand

20th century train stations that

have inspired these shelving brackets.

Unexpected goodness!

And who knew that Restoration Hardware carried baby clothes?

Their pure organic cotton layette looks so soft,

it's got to feel great against baby's skin.

Everything is unisex and machine washable.

The prices are quite good too!

If you haven't seen this catalogue, you have to get your hands on one.

It feels like a big glossy design magazine of years gone by.

It's stuff like this catalogue that has me resisting

the on-line digital magazines.

Which do you prefer?

Valentine's Day

This Valentine speaks to me.

You can get it here at Owly Shadow Puppets

Etsy Shop.

So original and unexpected!

Totally LOVE it!

That one little word frees us of all the weight and pain of life.

You can never lose by loving. But you will always lose by holding back.

Happy Valentine's Day!

And remember to spread the love around today!

xoxoxoxo

-ME