Off to the Funny Farm!

I'm heading back to the farm this weekend for a wedding. If only the homestead looked like this...

 

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Amy Helfand

I've always had this desire to open a boutique hotel and have each room be black and white plus an additional, different pop of color. I think instead I will design each room around these rugs by Amy Helfand, with each room featuring a different rug. How could you pick just one?

They were featured on Ink + Wit yesterday and I just had to share. It was hard picking only these few to post...definitely check out Helfand's web site for more!

 

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The Enchanted Barn

I may be jumping the gun a bit but I found the perfect place to get married.

The Enchanted Barn is an old barn located in Northern Wisconsin about 15 minutes away from where I grew up. I had never heard about it until I randomly came across it today. It is beautiful. I love everything about it.  

Now, all I need to do is find my husband. No problem!

Let's Go For A Ride

Love the combination of colors in this ferris wheel. Wheeeeeee!

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I think I'm craving cotton candy now.

ivanaart

These banana yellow resin earrings featured on Etsy today caught my eye. They would be the perfect pop of color for many of my all-black outfits!

 

The artist is from Croatia, probably my favorite vacation destination, and so I just had to post about her stuff! But don't worry, I'm not posting about her jewelry just because I hope she will read this and then tell me that her family has a vacation rental on the beach just waiting for me. Wouldn't that be fabulous? I really do love the combination of the colored resin with the silver in really simple shapes that she creates. So modern. And so my style.

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Add This To the List

Have you visited the Herman Miller blog? I spent some time on it today...great stuff. Recently they featured the home of Dana Hughes, an Australian interior designer and blogger. I decided I am going to add this funky little wall "thing" to my DIY list.

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Backyard Bedroom

I took an impromptu vacation day today...so that I could mow the lawn. I'm serious. It was finally a sunny day and the grass was about 5 feet tall. Ok, slight exaggeration.

Though I spent almost six hours mowing, weeding, and planting it is so worth it. And I actually like doing it. I have a blast doing anything where I can see the results of my work. My yard looks much better...though it's nothing compared to my neigbhors gorgeous lawn. If only!

Now, all I need is this in the yard to hose off....

And this to take a nap. Then life would be good. Real good.

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White Hot!

Perfect white linen dresses to beat the heat.

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What I Love: Leah Duncan Textiles

During my Twitter mid-morning coffee break yesterday I saw that Ellie over at the always fab Mint design blog posted her Favorite Three blogs for June. Being the blog-consumer that I am, I had to check 'em out!

One of the blogs featured was size too small and a few days ago Mariah, the gal behind the blog, posted about Leah Duncan textiles.

This, my friends, is why I love blogs. I find out about so many great things... many links and many hours later (I'm not kidding, it's a problem. And don't lie. You do it, too!) I've added 73 new blogs to my Google Reader, I've found so many more DIY projects I must complete by next week, and I've found a bazillion shirts, dresses, shoes, pictures, vases, dishes, prints, etc. that I just MUST buy. Oy. I should really put myself on a strict blog diet ;)

I digress...back to Leah Duncan textiles. Moral of the story - they are great. I've posted a few of my faves but you can find more of her creations at her Etsy shop. Oh, and don't forget to check out her blog. Because, well, I know you probably need more blogs to add to your Reader...

Petri Dish...Soap?

Isn't this the coolest soap ever? Does it remind you of your your Chem 101 class?Yeah, sorry about that!

I have a thing for petri dishes and I'm not quite sure what it is. Maybe it's the name...I do want to name a puppy Petri. But I think it is also how something that is really thought of as being disgusting (hello, gross diseases hanging out in a small dish) can create a great design. For a long time my screensaver at work was from our Chemistry Department's site....it was an amazing series of eight petri dishes at different stages. All I could think about when looking at them is how it would make a great print series or how I could use them as inspiration for jewelry.

Well, Cleaner Science, a soap shop inspired by science, beat me to the punch with these soaps! And that's ok. I love them. Who doesn't want to clean themselves with a soap called Salmonella?

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Hey Chap

You've probably heard of Factory 20, right? It's one of my dream sources for my future "urban farmhouse." Yep, that's what I would consider to be the future style of my dream home....well, at least one of my dream homes. I've got plans to have 3-4 so that I can stay in multiple cities (hello fabulous European city and hello lovely beach home) and decorate in different ways. What can I say, I like variety. Oh, and I have a very active imagination.

Anyway, there are too many amazing things currently on the Factory 20 site. If I lived in the VA (it is for lovers, you know) I'd be hitting up this place. I tell you, anything that is rusty or worn will be loved by me and they've got it all. I couldn't help but post this picture of the chaps they've got. Yes, chaps. Who doesn't need a pair of these? I know I do since one day I'll be living on a sprawling ranch somewhere in Montana...

Goodbye Coffee??

This might make me switch to tea!

When I do drink tea I always struggle with where to put the teabag. I usually end up with a puddle on the table. Yes, yes, I know I should have a plate (or is it a "saucer") but I never do. This teabag coaster solves my problem!

Designed by Yuree S Lim and Jleun Yang, the teabag coaster reveals an image when a soaked bag is placed on it. 

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Summer of Dresses

Once upon a time I mentioned (err, maybe proclaimed) that I was going to embrace my so very not tan skin this year. So far I haven't been doing a very good job! But I'm working on it. After a wee bit of color (seriously, it's going to happen. I just know it) I'll be busting out every dress in my closet. But I should, of course, add just a few more to the mix. Here are some lovely little numbers up for grabs in the latest Gilt Groupe sale. Enjoy!

Alice Ritter

Ok, so this last one isn't a dress. Even better, it's a romper! 

 

Leyendecker

PAWLING Print Studio

Another simple but oh-so-lovely little something I need want. Actually, I do need a new lil' notepad to carry around to capture ideas. I always seem to have great ideas (at least I think so!) at the most random times and in the most random places. Does that happen to you?

Made for you and me to enjoy by the lovely sisters known as PAWLING Print Studio. I'm not sure how I came across their studio but I am so glad that I did!

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One of their tote bags made the rounds on the blogosphere the past few months and it, along with everything else they've created, really is fabulous. It's funny how something as simple as a few lines and circles can create just the perfect design. I love it.