Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Sunshine Day Afghan and Higgins Glass


Just wanted to show you where I am on the Sunshine Day Afghan   I think I have to fiddle around some more with the color on photoshop and I don't love the weird angle in this photo but oh well... I am still getting used to my relatively new camera.

These colors are a kind of curious mix of mid-tones and pastels with a bit of dark navy thrown in .... and I'm very smitten with this Debbie Bliss' cashmerino aran wool in silver.  It lightens the color palette up and unifies the blanket.  That is probably what I liked so much about the original designed by  Alicia Paulson of the blog Rosy Little Things   See the  completed blanket and pattern  here. ... Before seeing her blanket I would have done all the bright and pastel colors and skipped the neutral.    I know it sounds a bit silly but I've had this bunch of wool on my mind since last February and now I think I know why.

Growing up in Michigan,  my parents had a  friend who was a decorator for J.L. Hudson.  Occasionally we would visit her in her very modern beautifully "appointed" ( why does that word make me laugh? ) house in Birmingham, Michigan and I was always in awe of a hanging of round and square glass that covered completely the huge plate glass window in her front entry hall ... It must have been 16ft high. This gives an idea of what it looked like though these photos aren't ideal.  Can you see the similarity with my squares above?
These fused glass pieces were designed by the  Higgins Glass Studio.    Founded in 1948 by Michael and Frances Higgins, they are credited with  rediscovering the ancient art of glass fusing which preceded glass blowing.  Glass fusion is a much for labor intensive method of creating glass pieces. This hanging is  referred to as rondelay and can be used as a wall hanging, window hanging or room divider.       I definitely have Higgins Glass rondelay envy!!  I hope to have a place one day to hang one of their works.

Just a close-up to end the post.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

A Binky for baby too good not to share!!

Is this kid chic or what?  Fwench of course!  Lunettes Lytot



I found these SUNGLASSES/PACIFIER on line via les nouveaux papas.    I couldn't resist showing them. And we are wayyyyy past the binky stage in this house!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Is this of Pinterest to you?

go to www.Pinterest.com where the boards are much bigger and fun to look at!!

This is a pretty cool new website I discovered.  A couple guys in California came up with this great idea of creating your own inspirational  or mood"boards"  as they are called in the industry.   It's a kind of visual cork board out in cyberspace.  The name of their venture is  Pinterest and it's definitely pinteresting!  The idea is that no matter where you are on the web you can "pin" any image onto your "boards" you've created on Pinterest.   They've made it super easy by offering a marklet that you add to your toolbar...  Take a look at my mood boards if this is of pinterest to you :-)

  It's also possible to see other pinner's pins and "repin" them on to your own boards.  Pretty cool .  A lot less paper mess compared to tearing sheets out of magazines. And tons of people with good taste!!!    I can't remember how I got on but at the moment it's in beta so I think you have to be invited.  If you'd like to do some of your own pinning then send me your email address and I'll invite you to be a member.   They are open to suggestions too. I've sent the guys several emails and they've gotten right back to me.

It's a fun way to just dream of things you'd like to see everyday or to actually plan a new way to re-do a bedroom or a patio or your wardrobe.

The Pinabilities are endless!!! 

OK I've used enough of that pin word all over the place.... Have a pintastic day (can't help myself)   and I'd love to hear how you plan on using this latest from the web

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Magazines to inspire....

I haven't been able to write on my blog lately.  Too much back-to-school stuff with my kids, catching up on paperwork ignored over the summer and following an e-course (Blogging Your Way) with Holly Becker  of decor8blog.  

Anyway I was recently on Holly's blog and read her post House Beautiful + Expat Thoughts on Decorating 
 For her, House Beautiful is the go-to magazine to see  American- style  interiors and decorating trends now that she lives as an ex-pat  in Germany.  It's also a kind of way to lessen her occasional homesickness for the U.S.  At least that's what I read into it....
 
I thought it would be interesting to make it a kind of conversation.... Hopefully Holly will read this and hopefully you will read my posting as well as hers.... So here are my go-to magazines.  I keep every issue of each of these subscriptions because I find them to be such great references and each time I look I find something new that I missed the last time.   If only I had saved all my Domino and Blueprint issues as well!!   These magazines  are also great when I've been so immersed in day-to-day living and forget to give myself some to time to do some of my own thinking, day-dreaming and creating.  They somehow push me along and get me motivated.

Top of my list:
World of Interiors





World of Interiors covers a wide variety of subjects. Not just Modern Design- Design throughout the Ages.  I've  gotten color palettes, discovered artists and architects and even inspiration for  great craft ideas from this magazine.  Sometimes an old issue will feel totally "new".  I hope that isn't the alzheimers speaking!!  

Next on my list: Milk Magazine  This is a French magazine about Children's fashion which I love but what really caught my eye is their attention paid to interiors.  There is almost always a section on somebody's living space  and the interiors are so creative, homey and effortless looking to me.   Something to aspire to!
.


The magazine is great for inspiration and ideas. Now I just have to follow through and create a room like this for my girls!

Lastly, after  BluePrint and Domino folded I had to find some sort of replacement and Living Etc.
is filling that gap.



Can you guess who is on the front cover???  I love this magazine. It's the British point of view which is also effortless, creative and quirky at the same time.
They also have a fun blog you might want to check out http://lifestyleetc.co.uk/

What are your favorite magazines?   Are there some that bring you back to earth or maybe away from it ? Make you think about different ways of doing and seeing things?  Inspire you and boost up your spirits?

 Hope this gave you some ideas as well.  Time to run off to bed. I tired!
xo Suzanne