Somewhere in the last number of years and the last thousand people in our home, somewhere along there, my leather sofa received a big ugly gash, kinda like a knifing. And nobody’s fessing up. At first it didn’t look too bad, but as time went on, little fingers became intrigued, fascinated, draaaawn to that gash. [...]
 Every time I walk in the door of my mother in law’s house these days I pause in the entry to take a sniff. Hmmmm, rose today? With a bit of lavender? Actually I have a terrible nose for deciphering scents which is why I’ll never make a sommelier, so I stop trying to guess and maker [...]  Long, loooong ago when we were house hunting in Miami it seemed every house we looked at was muted colors, tan, light brown, coffee, chestnut, hazel, beige, toast. The realtor opened one more front door walked in and said, “rambling beige,” and forevermore I’ve remembered that term. And I thought, “I will NOT have a [...]  I love antiques mixed with mid-century modern, color (which I need constant inspiration for because white is just too easy), bold patterns, graphic fretwork, contrast, a spot of glamor. I love House Beautiful and I enjoy other in-print magazines like Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, etc. Today it’s hard to make it in paper– so much [...] 
Erin, help! Do I want to buy this? I have been looking at several paper mache trophy heads and the ones you sent me from West Elm have been my favorite ones so far. I like the wildebeest or maybe I like it better because I go into shock at the price of the [...] Have you read the children’s books, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, or, If You Give a Moose a Muffin? The story starts with a simple little cookie given to a mouse, but as soon as that mouse gets a cookie he’s going to want a glass of milk to go with it, and [...]
What sets the tone of your house like the entry?
In these old row homes the entry is usually narrow and puts your directly at the bottom of the staircase. Some of the houses have a vestibule and an inner door which I love because it keeps the freezing or sultry air from blowing straight through [...] It just so happens that we have snow over here and quite a bit too. I love it. I would be happy if we had snow all the way till spring. Alas, we don’t get it that often but when we do I think it’s so cosy. We have been listening to lots of Harry [...] As I promised, a post on Anwyn’s bedroom makeover. If the room itself looks different- it is. We made some room changes so the kids could have a play room and what a great change that has been. All the toys in one room- phew. Most of the pink is gone as promised, but touches remain. [...] Winter is a great time for a breakfast with a little more substance. Zac and Caitlin introduced us to this humble breakfast kicked up a notch with a little bed of arugula . Yes, it is definitely for those watching their weight as it will stick with you almost until dinner. And even if it [...] What'll it be? Alison! You’re the winner of a box of 12 truffles from Arrowhead Chocolate, so go ahead and choose your fancy: milk or dark chocolate, or go for a mix! Enjoy!
I picked up a 1969 copy of Time and Life magazine and was bowled over by the advertisements. I didn’t realize how brainwashed I’d become to recoil at the site of a cigarette ad or an alcohol ad, never even mind being told to go ahead and eat WHITE sugar. Criminy! Anyone remember when smoking [...]
Here’s a great project for any time of the year, for adults or kids. My mother-in-law has been making gorgeous soap for a while now and came across the idea of felting soap. Basically you are creating a washcloth around your bar of soap that will shrink around the bar until it is all used [...]
Of late Anwyn has loved designing and coloring clothes, shoes, hats, bags and everything in between. Watching a few Project Runways with me has definitely fueled this interest. This fabulous little book Eric and I picked up in San Francisco at Anthropologie has been perfect.
This give-away is over. Sad, I know, but check the home page for other sporadic give-aways. Hooray, a give-away! My favorite chocolate shop is giving away a box of truffles to one of you lucky souls! See below to enter. . . .
Ever since this shop opened last winter I’ve been [...]  I can't imagine how long it would take me to embroider this by hand!
Jas is a far better person than me. As Christmas approaches he is genuinely more excited to give gifts than to receive, something I thought didn’t happen in nature. I, on the other hand, have learned to eke some joy out [...] My little mouse has been running around on a book so I thought I might get a real mouse pad for it.
If you are at all like me, I come across fabric I just love all the time. I hold it and think long a hard about just what it is that I would [...] Never say, “die,” Erin decided that really there was enough time to do one last crafty thing. Understand, we had just, as in, Erin and Tim were still in the car returning; we had just returned from our New Year celebration almost four hours away with Caitlin’s family. We had been sledding, shopping til we [...] |
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