In search of the perfect something...

With all the upcoming April birthdays, I feel like I've been running around like a madwoman searching for a suitable gift for each person.  If you guys are anything like me, it can be a bit stressful trying to find that perfect something.  Here are a few of my favorites I've come across while on the hunt:

Flowering Twig Pencil
7"l
carved from Mango Wood
click here for more info

Gulping Guppy Ring Dish
Brass

click here for more info

Fortune Cookie
holds placecards, notes, or small presents

Silver or Gold Plated
click here for more info

Lovi Heart Postcard

Wood

Assembly Required

click here for more info

Moleskine Pocket Plain Notebook

80 acid-free pages

Moleskin history inside

3.5 x 5.5 inches

click here for more info

Decision Maker

Metal 

3.5" Diameter

click here for more info

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Paper Me...

Something not too many people know about me is that I love, love, LOVE (like really LOVE) stationary products. I have a a million different notebooks, planners, thank you cards, holiday cards, and sweet little sentiment cards. There's just something about sending someone a personalized note or card in the mail that just makes me happy. Maybe it has to do with today's take on communication, between texting and summing everything up with 140 characters on Twitter, it seems no one takes the time to actually make a lasting impression or to delve into the intention or thought behind a given act. Everything is all business, we want it fast, we want it succinct, we want it NOW. Omit the extra flourishes. Get to the point and move on. Enter Heather Adams of wakeybaby. I had the pleasure of meeting Heather at the LadiesDC Spring Fling at L2 lounge in Georgetown. The event highlighted up and coming women-owned businesses that offer a varied group of goods and services. It was a great opportunity to network and learn about some really phenomenal products and services. I was delighted with all the ladies and their products and made sure to take note of several for future reference. Given my obsession with stationary products, you can imagine the giddy feeling in my stomach when I stumbled upon wakeybaby. Wakeybaby is a card company that specializes in making custom mommy cards, baby announcements, thank you and holiday cards, shower invitations and business cards. Heather Adams is the owner and designer and her designs (see photos below) are absolutely adorable and timeless. They are the type of announcements and cards that even after the event has long passed you hang onto because they're just too beautiful to throw away. I was so impressed with Heather's work, we're already in talks to design my next business card!

 

 

 

 

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Salt and Pepper Remix...

A cool and inventive take on the classic salt and pepper shaker:

"Balloon Shakers"

by Masayuki Kurokawa

Salt and Pepper Shakers but also used

for other seasonings (see image)

Handblown glass by Shotoku Glass Co.

Click here to purchase

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Mark Rothko

Today I am in an "artsy" mood, so I thought I would share a few works from one of my favorite artists, Mark Rothko.  It seems when it comes to Rothko's work, most either hate it or love it.  Maybe it's my love of color, but I'm of the latter group.  Check out the pics and decide for yourself. 

Mark Rothko (1903-1970)
born Marcus Rothkowitz
Latvian born American painter

classified as Abstract Expressionist although he rejected the label

his most famous works are considered to belong to a genre known as color field painting

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Scent-sational Vessels

Today I have yet another confession to make, I am obsessed with perfume bottles. Purchasing or receiving a new perfume for me is just as much about the design of the bottle as it is about the fragrance.  I'm not sure if it's the glass, the weight of the bottle, or if it's just knowing that inside that unique little bottle that fits in the palm of your hand is a fragrance that can turn you into whomever you'd like to be.  What's inside that bottle has lasting effects on you and everyone that you encounter while wearing it.  One whiff of a woman wearing Chanel No.5 takes me back to my childhood watching my mom get dressed for work.  Paris by YSL evokes memories of silk camisoles, thigh high pantyhose, high heels, and mom in the mirror putting on lipstick with a lip brush. But this post is not about the actual fragrance.  This post is an homage to the bottles that contain those fragrances.  I've decided to start a collection of my own personal bottles to which I add whichever new (and old) fragrances that are in my fragrance closet.  Here are a few bottles that I love: 

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Nothing "messy" about it...

With all the creative ways to decorate your walls, i.e. mirrors, paintings, fabric, photos, sconces, paper, memory boards, sculpture, etc, there's no excuse for bare walls. Jessica Kestler of Messicakes gives you even less reason to have a drab boring space with her modern wall sculptures. These sculptures are hand painted acrylic with a glass smooth surface and are super cool! The company is based out of Indianapolis and the pieces range from upwards of $500 to as low as $65. I saw at least 5 pieces I wanted to order on the spot, now if only I had a bare wall to hang them on!

 

"Bumper to Bumper"

"Flashing Lights"

"True Blue Sculpture"

"Modern One Piece"

"The View"

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Just Because...

Just Because I Woke Up,
Just Because I Slept,
Just Because the Sun was Shining,
Just Because it Rained...

Just Because You Smiled,
Just Because You Frowned,
Just Because of Joy,
Just Because of Pain...

i am happy today,
Just Because...

Just Because I Have a Voice,
Just Because I Have a Vision,
Just Because I Feel Free,
Just Because I am Sane.

i am happy today.

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Fab Find #2...

Today's Fab Find is something I'm super excited about...reusable shopping bags from flip + tumble!!!  Yes, I'm somewhat of a nerd and I don't care who knows it.  My reusable shopping bags make me happy!  Although often times, I find myself stopping at the grocery store only to realize I've left my reusable bags at home and then I spend the rest of my shopping experience feeling extremely guilty.  When this happens, I usually abate my guilt by stuffing everything into my handbag and/or carrying it all in my hands...insert kanye shrug.  With this latest find from flip + tumble, it will be much easier for me to keep up with my reusable bags as they retail a line of bags that roll into small cushy balls that I can drop in my handbag, stuff in my glove compartment, or if I'm feeling fancy, carry on my shoulder!  And they're at a great low price...allowing me to be thrifty, earth-conscious, and fashionable all at once! (Cue in happy dance)

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Valentinos, bows, and toes...oh my!

So if you haven't guessed by now, I'll go ahead and clue you in that I'm very much a girly-girl.  I love all things feminine.  That's not to say there's any love lost for that which is masculine but my heart speeds up at the thought of flowers, chocolates, and um, shoes.  Today's post is about a pair of lovely little Valentino rubber flip flops I ran across at Intermix while out shopping with a good friend last week.  They were a bit on the impractical side at $275 (gulp) but upon further research, I found a site selling them for $180 (woooooohoooooo!).  Warning: they're very girly! 

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A "Scroll" Down Memory Lane...

Last week as I was doing some research for a few new things I have in the works for my business, I happened to have a chance to browse through the latest Traditional Home magazine. To say that I fell in love with the CharityWorks Green House featured in the magazine would be an understatement--a serious understatement. Having flipped through the pages several times, I took a moment to actually read the article that accompanied the photos and to my surprise, well...not really, who should be mentioned as the lead designer of the project, none other than designer extraordinaire, Barry Dixon!

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Dixon at his annual holiday party in 2009 and I must tell you this man is every bit as fabulous and kind as anything you've ever read about him or any of his work you've ever seen. And his house!!! The house...is simply put, AMAZING, beautifully restored without taking away from any of the homes original vintage charm. I can still remember the anxiety I felt the day of the party as I was getting ready to, to...eh...how should I put this...I guess from the anxiety pit in my stomach I could say..."hold court with the King"...which with all the care I took in getting dressed, I surely must have thought he might proclaim "off with her head" should one strand of hair be out of place. But to my relief, that was not the case and we arrived to find Mr. Dixon at the door, graciously greeting each guest, all 500 of us, with a smile, a hug, and a handshake. I could go on and on about the Christmas decorations, the tree in each of the 7 (or was it 9 bedrooms), the food spread...the cookie room, the cheese room, the wine room, the meat room, etc...I could go and on, but I guess the best compliment I can give is to say I don't think I have ever been more impressed. Mr. Dixon is truly a class act. The use of color and texture in his work is brilliant. The "appropriateness" of his design philosophy is genius. However, I've never been one to force my opinions on others, so don't take my word for it, take a scroll and decide for yourself. Happy March!

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