Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy New Year!


Wishing you a very sparkly new year filled with lots of inspiration and design-goodness. Hello, 2013!

Love,
Jillian & Mindy

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image via anemone letterpress; you can buy this beautifully letterpressed card here
a special thanks to danielle at loveleigh for the inspiration!

Friday, December 21, 2012

Happy Holidays!


Wishing you a very bright and magical holiday season! We'll be both relaxing and having fun this week while we gear up for 2013. See you in the new year!

Love,
Jillian & Mindy

*****

image via the Bloomingdale's 2012 Holiday Catalog

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Fresh for the Holidays

I always love fresh flower arrangements, especially during the holidays. Even if they are not traditional, fresh blooms and greens liven up a space and seriously make me smile.

Reading about Emily Henderson's beautiful DIY floral wreath yesterday was so inspiring, but I don't think I have enough spare time to try it myself before Christmas, so I'll bookmark it for next year. In the meantime, I plan to pick up some floral bouquets (I am obsessed with white hydrangeas right now) and create arrangements to enhance my holiday decor. Better yet, I could just order any one of these beauties...








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Winter Tulip Arrangement via Martha Stewart
Birch Vase via Terrain
Christmas Floral Arrangement by Couture Clay via Pinterest
Christmas Arrangement via Martha Stewart
Holiday Red in Paper Wrapped Vase via Jayson Home and Garden
Mophead Hydrangea via Terrain
Mixed Greens in Burlap Vase via Jayson Home and Garden

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Using Maps

While walking through Pottery Barn Kids last week, I spotted this. Pretty butterflies grouped together and framed. The prettiest part, though, is in the details. The butterflies are cut out from vintage maps!


I've seen some great photos of maps used in home decor, often as an overall wall cover, but check out this great idea – using a map as a mat for a framed photo.


I like the personal touch this matting brings. Newlyweds can use a map from a honeymoon locale, a map from favorite vacation destination would be perfect for that great family photo, or use a hometown map for baby's first framed photo.

*****

Butterfly Map Art photographed by The Pink Chalkboard
bottom photo via Martha Stewart Weddings

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Design Goodness from Kate Spade

There is no doubt in my mind that the people behind Kate Spade are brilliant, with fantastic design, delightful products, and great marketing campaigns. They seem to have thoughtfully considered every detail. Case in point? A promo card that accompanied my recent online order. 


It's just a little thank you/customer service card and it didn't have to be fancy, but it is (hello, gold foil stamping!), and even more, it is just so much fun. 

I wanted to take a moment and give a little shout-out to the marketing and graphic design team at Kate Spade. Love this concept! It symbolizes the brand perfectly. 

I'm actually going to hang this card next to our bathroom mirror in this frame (sprayed in my favorite gold color over the weekend). A happy dose of design goodness to greet me first thing in the morning!

*****

gold foil stamping on bright pink card stock by Kate Spade

Monday, December 17, 2012

Conversation Wallpaper

When I was in middle school, I happened to go to a friend of a friend's house one day and we were playing in the bedroom of this girl's older sister. Her room had something that I had never seen before -- writing all over the walls. And I mean all over. Colored markers had covered the walls with names and messages, notes and drawings by this girl and all of her friends. I never would have been allowed to do this in my house (nor dared of even asking) but I have to say it was pretty cool.

This wallpaper totally reminds me of that room.


The speech bubbles make a nice pattern and I actually like it just as is, but hand-written messages are bound to happen in here. 



These images from Custom Wallpaper Rollout make it seem like a teenager wrote on these walls but imagine using the wallpaper instead to document a child's early years. For example, as a toddler, a parent can write on the walls some of the funny and clever things the child says. Then as the child first learns to write his/her name, that would be recorded, too. More personal messages and drawings would be added in later years, too. It would be like turning your walls into a multi-year scrapbook!

Interested in other ways to personalize your wallpaper? Check out this post from last year.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Under the Tree

While I love decorating our Christmas tree, I also like to pay attention to the space under the tree. There are so many festive options for displaying your tree beyond the traditional tree skirt (and there are lots of varieties those too!), and this collection of images is inspiring me as I try to decide how to decorate under our tree.

It's always a good idea to cover the base of your tree with presents! So enticing.


But I like these other creative options too. You can go a little rustic like in the images below. 




I like the smaller scale of this planted tree.



And how cool are those pine cones? 

A really graphic tree skirt placed under the tree looks amazing here. A pair of wire baskets is a great touch, too. 


Traditional tree skirts can be a really great option too, especially when unique designs take them to a whole new level.





I just have to say that I am currently obsessing over all things furry, and these sheepskin tree skirts are so on trend. This look is a definite possibility for me this year.



Ruffles are my first love though, so it's a tough decision.


And I just had to include this sweet image to end my post. Love the idea of tree cuttings turned into miniature Christmas trees when planted in vintage cups and jars. So cute!


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Garnet Hill catalog
Lantliv i Norregard via Pinterest
Country Living via Pinterest
Ballard Designs via Pinterest
Atlanta Homes Magazine via Pinterest
Pinterest via My Farmhouse 
Christmas Tree Blanket via Ferm Living
The Land of Nod via Pinterest
Artisan Overlapping Floral Tree Skirt from Horchow via Pinterest
A Life of Beauty and Grace via Pinterest
Ribbon Tree Skirt from Better Homes and Gardens via Pinterest
Shaggy Snow Fur Christmas Tree Skirt from Not Too Shaggy via Pinterest
Mixed Elixir via Pinterest
Ruffle Christmas Tree Skirt from Paul and Erika via Pinterest
Christmas Tree in a Pot from The Haystack Needle via Houzz

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Black and White and Polka Dots

I love Pinterest. I just went on there to find some images for an upcoming post on painted pianos (such a fun idea – coming soon!) and I came across this image


Loving the crisp and clean palette and the various patterns. 3 comments on this:

1. The stripe throw and black/white pillow are from Ikea. I have them both!
2. Anyone know where I can find the black/gray blanket? I've been looking for black, gray and white patterned blankets to add some oomph to my bedding but have been having a surprisingly difficult time finding things in that color palette.
3. Blankets and bedding aside, the best part of this room is that wall. I love those polka dots. I think they are just black stickers. Talk about a simple way to dress up a wall! Think about the fun options you could do, too – neon pink on a white wall would be great in a girl's room. Use a lot of stickers to create a wallpaper effect by arranging them in a decorative pattern. Or go crazy and put a smattering of stickers on the ceiling. Short on space, use the stickers to "outline" an interesting-shaped headboard. 

So many possibilities...all with a little round sticker!

*****

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

A Seasonal Display

Back in October, I showed my outdoor dresser decorated with pumpkins. Now that Thanksgiving is long gone and the cold weather is heading our way, I thought it was a good time for an outdoor update. Hello, snowmen!


These little guys are from my mom. She had quite a collection going for a while and now they have found a new home at my house. I like their smiling faces and the warm welcome they bring.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Succulent Wreaths


It is amazing to think that this gorgeous arrangement is hand-made with live succulent plants. Not only is this "living wreath" perfect for the holidays, but I imagine that it must so delightful during the cold winter months, when we crave fresh, green beauty. Here is a collection of my favorite succulent wreaths found around the web.







Here are some other very unique variations that are too good to pass up. For instance, there is this moss wreath with a succulent "bow..."


I love how the wreath is used as a centerpiece here...


and given my love for typography, I thought this was simply ingenious. Beth from Unskinny Boppy created a monogram succulent wreath. Love!


Interested in trying to make a succulent wreath for yourself? I found what looks to be a great tutorial from Better Homes and Gardens.

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Living Succulent Wreath by ProFlowers via Amazon
Mixed Green Succulent Wreath via Viva Terra
Make a Succulent Wreath via Better Homes and Gardens
Dwarf-Pagoda Crassulas via Flora Grubb Gardens; photo by Caitlin Atkinson
via Pinterest (Thanks for the inspiration, Mom!)
Viva Terra via Pinterest
Succulent Wreath via Viva Terra
Moss Wreath with Succulent Bow by Flora Grubb Gardens via Pinterest
Living Succulent Candlering via ProFlowers
Monogrammed Succulent Wreath by Unskinny Boppy

Friday, December 7, 2012

Letterpressed Cookie Cutters

'Tis the season for eating cookies. 

Why not add a graphic punch (or in this case a stamp) to your tasty treats this year? 


Use the full set to help children learn the alphabet or use just a few of the letters to create "monograms" for a newly wedded pair. Spelling out messages would be fun, too. The first message that comes to mind? 

Y-U-M, of course.

*****

product images found on Amazon
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