Mixing Old With New

I'm obsessed with this house I found on a belgium website, I'm not sure who the architect is because the website is not in english but I just had to share, I love how it mixes the really modern pieces with very traditional elements like the brick walls and wood beams.  

Duffy & Partners

I first learned about Minneapolis based design firm Duffy & Partners when I was in design school. As one of the best design firms in the midwest it would have been hard not to know about them. And through the years, after school, I continually find myself looking back at their work and finding inspiration in their beautiful packaging and branding. Also fun trivia fact, did you know that Genevieve Gorder of Trading Spaces fame was working at the New York Duffy office when she was tapped to do the TLC show?

Swimwear Inspiration

Ok I know swimsuits are probably the last thing on most of your minds lately, but I'm currently planning a winter escape to Puerto Rico in early February, so I've been swimsuit stalking lately and I was so smitten with this suit from the Rosa Cha resort lookbook, I had to share.

Friday Etsy Round-up

I hope everyone enjoys their holiday weekend and yummy leftovers! I plan to go Christmas tree shopping and decorating this weekend which I'm really excited for, I'll try to remember to take pictures and share next week. And now I leave you with my Friday Etsy round-up, where I compile a list of the best handmade and vintage items I've found while scouring the corners of Etsy, so you don't have to. (Links below image). 

1. Ivory Knit Headband $35

2. Citrus & Spice Wreath $99

3. Smoked Little Pot of Gold $90

4. Geode Slice Ring $154

5. Bourbon Pecan Caramel Bar $7

6. Large Brass Doe $39

Black Friday from the Comfort of your Couch

Since there are so many great sales and give aways going on around the web today I thought I would do a bonus post with a few of my favorites so you all don't miss out. Personally I love deals but hate crowds so to me this is a much better way to celebrate Black Friday (in the comfort of my own home) But don't worry I will still be doing my Friday Etsy round-up this afternoon.

1. Everyone knows how much I adore Chronicle Books, and they are currently having a Friends & Family Sale of 35% off and free ground shipping! Wheeeee!
2. Poppytalk has a great list of black Friday & cyber Monday deals, all on handmade items.
3. The super hip Need Supply Co. is having a black Friday sale worth 25% of sale items
4. Apartment Therapy (and their sister blogs) are having some great holiday give aways.
5. J.crew seems to always have great sales and today is no different, get 25% off order of $150+
6. Need some sexy undies for the holidays? one of my all time favorite blogs is featuring a give away of Simone Perele Lingerie
7. Many of the items I've been eyeing on West Elm are included in their Thanksgiving weekend sale
8. Fawn & Forest is currently having a 30% sale on DwellStudio items!!
9. Shopbop.com is also having a big sale, so big it's called "The Big Event"

Evan B. Harris

I'm very drawn to the storybook style of Oregon raised Evan B. Harris. His work reminds me of fables I read as a child mixed with traveling circus artwork of the 1920's. Using his rural upbringing as a source of inspiration I feel I can relate strongly to his work because of a similar background. You can find prints of his work at the Sebastian Foster Gallery website for purchase.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Since I'm out of town today and won't be able to do my regular posting I thought I would compile a list of my favorite recent posts from fellow bloggers. There are so many great blogs out there, this list should keep you entertained while you lounge on the couch post meal.

• Get ready to be totally jealous! Best Job Ever: Aya Akazawa, Senior Designer at Chronicle Books
• Need some economical holiday dress choices? The Most Festive Cocktail Dresses Under $100
• If you want to laugh your thanksgiving meal off check out my friend Maddie's Blog: Madeleine Davis Aims to Please
• A fun craft project to do on a long weekend: diy project: Paint-by-number hex symbol coasters
• Want more comic relief? look no further: 10 Things you May Have Missed On TV This Week
• A great recipe round-up, might be too late for Thanksgiving but you can always start planning for Christmas: What's Cookin'?!
• A great post about artist Maira Kalman at Anne & Electra: And the pursuit of...
• Overall great blog: Graphic Exchange
• A wonderful interview with one of my all time favorite illustrators: Julia Rothman Interview
• One of my most recent Selby faves: Eileen Peters and Mark Wiesmayr
• Make sure to check out all of the holiday giveaways over at Apartment Therapy: Holiday Giveaways
• And of course don't forget to enter the Chronicle Books Happy Haul-idays giveaway

Open Interiors

Lately, especially with the holidays upon us I've been really inspired by interiors with open floor plans, the kind of spaces where family can all be together, cooking, playing games, making crafts, reading or just lounging after a big meal. I compiled a couple of my favorites for you to lust after this holiday.

Holiday Gift Guide - Week 2

Ahhh, how fast a week goes by. It is time for the 2nd in my 6 week series on holiday gift ideas. Every wednesday morning leading up to Christmas i will be doing a round-up of things I've found that I think would make wonderful presents. My goal is to include everyone you might have to buy for, from your niece to mother-in-law and at different price-points. Hopefully it will give a little inspiration for those hard to buy for individuals. (Links below image)

1. Cambridge Cable Shawl-Collar Cardigan $88
2. Sweet Sunshine Necklace 
3. Wriggly Wrap $98
4. Spout Tpot Large $140
5. Textured Gold Earrings $40
6. Magno Wooden Radio $250
7. How To Book $9.99
8. Hoplite Ring $110
9. Italian Riviera Bag $69.99
10. Amish Made Scooter $245

Pinterest

Recently I've become obsessed with the new social cataloging site Pinterest. It allows you to pull items from all over the web into one place and organize them into different themes, like online mood-boards for anything you can think of. For someone like me who uses bookmarking to a sickening degree (yes I know the key command) it's a perfect site for my fiendish online habits. Check out my boards here.

Gorjana Holiday Collection

I've been a fan of Gorjana's jewelry for a couple of years now, she makes those everyday classic pieces that go with any outfit. I especially like her holiday collection and corresponding lookbook, it is pure girliness, and I always love feathers.

Anna Bauer

I love the photography of Anna Bauer, she is able to capture people in such a human and intimate way you instantly feel connected to her subjects. She also did a series of backstage photos from the 2008 Milan Fashion Week for T Magazine blog, that I would suggest checking out, very cool.

 

Sophie Toulouse

I love discovering the work of a new artist, I always get a little giddy feeling inside When I happen to follow a link that leads me to an artist like Sophie Toulouse. I love how her work is very dreamy and mixes the realistic with the fantastical in such an effortless way. A great Monday morning find.

Friday Etsy Round-up

Well it's the end of the week again at last! I hope everyone has a lovely weekend and don't forget to check out the Chronicle Books Happy Haul-idays give away. Also I just added some new holiday themed cards to my etsy store, so if you are in dire need of more holiday cards, go check them out. And now I leave you with my Friday Etsy round-up, where I compile a list of the best handmade and vintage items I've found while scouring the corners of Etsy, so you don't have to. (Links below image)

1. Black High Waist Trousers $35

2. Windsor Smith Riad in Dune Pillow $110

3. Egyptian Cuff - Hammered Copper $29.75

4. Long necked animals themed onesies (set of 3) $25

5. Draping Gold Drops Necklace $40

6. Night House Print $24

DesignSponge Sneak Peak

One of my favorite features on my all time favorite blog Design Sponge is the sneak peaks Grace Bonney shares with her readers every monday. The one below was one of my most recent favorites and it chronicles the lovely Brooklyn home of Mike and Emma of m+e. Their home is beyond inspiring, I especially like the tomato red wall and all of the fun prints around the house.

What Katie Ate

With the holidays coming up I've been poring over my cookbooks and cooking blogs to find recipes and inspiration for the many feasts I have planned in my head. One of my favorite resources to find inspiration is at What Katie Ate, a food blog by Sydney based stylist and photographer Katie Quinn Davies. The imagery on her blog is incredibly tantalizing and most of the posts include corresponding recipes or link to where you can find them. Highly recommend visiting if your feeling stressed out about your own holiday cooking plans.

Seventy Tree Giveaway

Today I have a little bonus post featuring the wonderful giveaway over at Seventy Tree, in honor of her blogs 2nd birthday Kerry Layton is giving away one of her adorable prints, I recommend checking it out and entering here.

Cat Lauigan

I've been a fan of Bay area artist Cat Lauigan, for a couple years now and I find I never tire of her intriguing images. She has a very distinct style that is at the same time strange yet relatable.