I went hiking in Tilden Park (in the East Bay) a few weekends ago, just as the fog came rolling in. It was right before sunset when these two people on horseback rode by, and headed up the path towards some burned out trees. I thought the pics turned out a little Sleepy Hollow-ish (maybe I should’ve saved for a Halloween post!) I love how the fog makes everything look so mystical—but am hoping for a warm, sunny weekend instead. Enjoy!
The Char-Bea collection for Urban Outfitters: I’ve been seeing this range of bedding, pillows and rugs on a lot of design blogs lately. And for good reason: they’re awesome! Created by Portland artist Ashley G., they’ve been an instant hit (the reversible duvet cover above is already sold out). She uses really interesting color combinations—and I love how these designs are both soft and bold all at the same time. Now anything that looks similar is catching my eye. So if you were lucky enough to grab this bedspread, or are planning on getting any of the items below, I’ve found some artwork and accessories that go with them. Perfectly.
(Top left: Circle collage by Esther Ramirez; Middle left: Painted ceramic vase by Shade on Shape; Above right: Painting by Zoe Pawlak; Below left: Paper collage by Coutrney Price; Duvet, pillows and rug by Ashley G.)
I came across these cool posters by French illustrator Mathilde Aubier on Etsy a while back. The restrained color palette caught my eye—it’s a change of pace from the bright, bold colors I’m normally drawn to. (I especially like these two of her cat Miko.)
Love these collage-y looking images too. And they have a real retro feel. (The top one in this series was done for Etsy’s twitter background: you can download it here.) And since I’m a sucker for a good collage—and anything vintage—this is one shop I’ll be visiting again.
I’ve got another busy week ahead—and it’s so important for my sanity to get up early for a walk and a dose of fresh air before getting buried at my desk. Whether you work from home, or commute to an office, it’s a nice way to claim some “me” time while transitioning into the work week. Here’s to the quiet beauty of Monday mornings. Before the madness.
I love these old photos of my mom (she’s the little one in the middle, above). I love old family photos in general, and I never get tired of looking at them. A few years ago I sent a bunch of my grandma’s old negatives (and original photos) to ScanDigital to be scanned and archived on CDs. Which I then copied to a backup hard drive, and sent to all my relatives—just in case. So now I have them handy whenever I need to access them (like for my Grandmother’s upcoming 100th birthday invite, for instance—will post more on that later). And now I feel better they won’t get lost or fade away. The more we go digital, the more precious these vintage pics become.
Photo: Ella Bella Floral and Wedding Design
With Mother’s Day right around the corner, I’ve been looking at a lot of floral pics. And I normally go for something fairly monochromatic, but I’m loving these arrangements that I found on Pinterest. They range from bright to muted, with the common denominator being the addition of succulents. This is a whole new approach I hadn’t really paid attention to before (probably because I don’t normally peruse the wedding sites—which always have the best references). I’ve always liked succulents grouped together in clusters, and now I think they look especially fresh mixed in with other flowers—like these soft floppy peonies. This is one trick I may have to try at home. Are you sold on succulents too?
Top photo: Christan P Photography, styled by Panacea Event Floral Design, via Style Me Pretty / Bottom photo Jose Villa Photography via Style Me Pretty
Top photo: Twig and Twine Design / Bottom photo: 2.bp.blogspot.com via My Dream Wedding Decorations
I wanted to get this Cinco de Mayo post together last week, but the weather in SF has been so amazing that I had a hard time sitting inside in front of my computer. So here it is a day late. But frankly, just because the official celebration has passed, doesn’t mean we have to put away the Tequila. From the salsa music, chaladas on the beach, bright colors, unique and affordable folk art, to the chips and salsa for breakfast, lunch and dinner (ok, maybe that last one is just me), there is no other place that brings on such a carefree, festive feeling. I have so many great associations with Mexico that I think every day should include a little something from south of the border. And here are some of my top Mexican party (or any day) must-haves:
These paper banners come in all sorts of themes and colors, and you can get them pretty cheaply. And the same goes for the folk art: I’m a big fan of the handmade coconut masks you see everywhere in Mexico, but anything animal-oriented does the job as well.
1 Multi-colored Papel Picado banners / 2 Red Papel Picado banner / 3 Red pig table decoration / 4 DIY Piñata eggs (photo courtesy of A Subtle Revelry)
And what’s a Mexican-themed party without a piñata? The eggs above are not technically piñatas (just inspired by), but they look so festive I had to include them. And check out the modern shape and gold color on the ones above.
Also, don’t forget to bring in the flowers: if you don’t have the yard space, or the green thumb, make your own out of brightly-colored tissue! Or stock up on these pretty hand-painted serving bowls, and use them for the salsa and chips.
5 Gold crystal piñata / 6 DIY gilded donkey piñata (photo courtesy of Studio DIY) / 7 DIY Paper fiesta flowers (photo courtesy of Aunt Peaches) / 8 Vintage painted wood serving platter
Lastly, grab a hand-sewn Otomi fabric to use as a tablecloth (or when the party’s over, a bed coverlet). They also come in a bunch of colors and sizes. I got my yellow one at a flea market in Mexico City for only $100, but you can also find them online.
9 Multi-colored Otomi table runner / 10 Blue Otomi coverlet/tablecloth / 11 Yellow Otomi fabric
