Ballard Designs styled by Suzanne Kasler

I love the bedroom Suzanne Kasler did for Ballard Designs.

My own bedroom is in need of some serious help.  Maybe I'll get lucky and win this from Caitlin Wilson Design!

Topiary Love & DIY

I love the way topiaries add a little green to neutral spaces.

(Cottage Living)

In pairs they are a great way to give a space height and symmetry.

Lee Ann thorton via VT Interiors

Sally Steponkus via Delight by Design

Canadian House and Home via Delight by Design

I thought making my own little version would be really easy and it was - it only took about a half and hour from start to finish! 

I already had the urn that I had spray painted white awhile ago, but I hadn't ever found anything that looked right in it.  I picked up the styrofoam ball, disk, and pins in the floral dept of Walmart for about $5 total.  I had the natural moss (from Hobby Lobby) and Spanish moss (from the Dollar Tree). 

Then I found the largest, greenest pieces of the natural moss I could find and wrapped them around the ball, pinning down as needed.  I probably only used 10 pins and tried to fluff the moss around them so you couldn't see them at all.

I cut a small tree branch and ran it almost through the ball and into the disk.  I ended up using two small sticks because one wasn't strong enough to hold the ball straight and it drooped like Charlie Brown's Christmas tree. 

Then I just hot glued some Spanish moss to cover the styrofoam disk in the bottom of the urn. 

So easy!  I will be on the lookout for a matching urn so I can have a pair.

Caning

I found this image from Domino and was just blown away all over again.  I really love the styling too - how the mirror reflects the tile on the opposite wall and the pink book just waiting to be picked up by its reader (Dostoevsky no less).

Domino via VT Interiors

I was kind of curious about the pattern because it seems like I have seen it everywhere lately.  Woven cane began being used for chair seating in England during the second half of the 17th century (source).  Obviously, since then the six-way pattern of weaving has become an icon of design way beyond its original functionality.  Jonathan Adler utilizes the design a lot in his products.  Here are a few more...

Style at Home

Jonathan Adler

Atlanta Homes and Design via Delight by Design

Lee Anne Thornton via VT Interiors

Williams-Sonoma Home

Kate Spade

Waverly Fabric 

(it's Indoor/Outdoor and I think it may be perfect for new patio pillows!)

Wonderfully Wacky Friday

(Chair by Tord Boontje, available at Anthropologie)

This chair, in the March 2010 Anthropologie catalog, is - in the words of Rachel Zoe - BA-NAN-AS.  It is not my taste at all, but wow.  The world of Anthropologie is one wildly wacky, wonderful place.

Sometimes things just don't work out...

I have a vision of a beautiful entry table with two lamps either side - something like this stunner

(Odi et Amo)

When I found these two lampshades at the thrift store for $5, I thought it was meant to be.  I didn't really know what I wanted for bases - maybe a pop of color, maybe something with an interesting shape.  When I saw these at Target, on sale for $19.99, I thought - yes, pretty good.  I liked the color contrast and the curvy base with the barrel shade.  

First sign things weren't going well...

The shade needs a harp to attach to the base.  The base does not have a place for a harp to attach.  I should have known then.  

So out I go to Lowe's to purchase this handy-dandy item:

This just clips to the bulb, securing the shade without a harp.  I was so excited - perfect console around the corner (well, not really, but a step in the right direction).

Does the shade look a little LARGE to you?  Maybe it's just my imagination...

My lampshade is swallowing my lamp.  

Well, I liked you, but I don't love you.  Back you go.

Ready for spring!

I really love a cross-body purse for summer.  They are so great when you are a farmer's market or doing anything where you want to have both hands free and not be hitching up a purse on your shoulder the whole time.  Here are a few of my favorites:

    

Marc by Marc Jacobs    

 

  The Sak     

                             

Orla Kiely

            

          Anthropologie    

Twelfth St. by Cynthia Vincent 

(top: Rebecca Minkoff)

Blush and Bashful

I am loving the new nudes for spring.  Dusty pinks and grays, and the most bashful of all colors, beige.  It's so dreamy and ethereal.  And there's the fact that I love and have always loved beige.  There, I said it.  Beige in all its incarnations - the warm beige of camel, the pale beige of cream.  Tell me I'm boring, I don't care.  It is neutral and goes with everything and you will never regret buying a pair of shoes, a sweater or a couch that will go with everything.  

The nude shoe is something I learned long ago will add leanness and length to your leg.  If they are cut really low on the foot too - it's like an optical illusion miracle!   For those of you who are looking to add a little nude to your life - these capture two huge trends for spring - wedges and grey - and they're a steal!

(above: Chanel Haute Couture via Million Looks, S.R. Gambrel)