the language of objects

... a few favorites from my out-of-control vessel collection – hmm, maybe I was a prop stylist in a former life.

I'm a little tormented by all of the objects I own; I swear to you that I don't own a ton but the things I do own can sometimes feel like a burden. The thought of ever having to pack it all up and move makes me quite nauseous.

white diamond-pattern cups: alder & co
white and blue porcelain cups: new moon studio
pale, pale blue ceramic cup: phillip ahnen

someday...

someday, this sofa from PINCH will be mine (but I think it's going to be a long, long time before that happens).

current crush

Love it... Thread by Thread pendant designed by Allison Berger

current crush

{ moon vases from cb2.com }

oh. happy. day.

I'm so thrilled that Roberta Freymann has finally opened an online shop for her Roberta Roller Rabbit store!

In the past, I could never just skip off to New York (or to California) so there was never a way for me to purchase from her shop... but now, cha-ching! Oh, the beauty of online shopping.

I love the patterns of her current online offerings. The tea towels pictured above are my current faves. I wish she had tea towels made from her MONKEY fabric!

We're still on a strict budget but when the nights start to turn cold this fall, I just might have to treat myself to one of her quilts. I shall call it an early x-mas present.

bold

If the man in my life could tolerate bold patterns, these chairs would be in our home. { image: urbanoutfitters.com }

homes and gardens northwest

I think it's fairly well-known that I'm a tad bit obsessed with interior design and home decor. So, imagine my delight when I found out that the condo belonging to a vivacious lady that I know (my lovely co-workers and I watch over her dog) has been featured in a local magazine! Check out the online version of the article here. Photos above: by Stephanie Yao Long

fantasy and reality

I pour over home decor magazines and salivate over images of perfectly styled interiors with perfect lighting. I would love it if my home could constantly match those professional images.

I definitely reside in a place called 'reality'. My funky plantation chair is usually a storage device for quilts, pillows and clothing. My floor is always littered with dog beds and with shoes.

I can't spend my days cleaning and organizing and putting fresh little floral arrangements on every available surface... but that doesn't change my absolute love of design and decor magazines. They are my happy place(s).

laundry day

One bright spot amidst the endless succession of domestic TO DO lists is when I get to fold my freshly laundered tea towels.

Tea towels are yet another material obsession for me – for some reason I get a weird bit of satisfaction out of folding them up and stacking them into a tall pile (especially when they're all warm and fresh from the dryer). Yep, I'm a laundry nerd.

I bought my very first tea towel ages before I had a kitchen of my own. I bought it as a gift for someone else but I decided I should keep it for myself. It moved with me from dorm room, to apartment and so on and so forth. I still have it and will probably continue to use it until it falls apart.

things left undone

I found this drawing while going through a box filled with my old illustration work. Gosh, I think I drew this over 5 years ago.

We moved into our house approximately two years ago and, sadly, I still need to unpack quite a few boxes that are in my office.

I should use the term 'office' loosely, because the particular room that should be my office is really just glorified storage at the moment. The boxes that are piled up in that room are full of beloved books, art supplies and a large collection of my old illustrations.

I have grand plans for my office space. The nasty carpet that was in the room when we bought the house has been removed but that is the only progress I have made. Maybe I will document the redecoration of my office on this blog... it might motivate me to actually get started.

my current crush

Lately I've been on a big Mossy Green + Silvery Grey kick in my illustration work (pictured at left). That particular color combo just clicks for me. It has a lot to do with my current home decor crush, my current design obsession: a Bargello pillow designed by Jonathan Adler. I adore the pattern and the colors, but I could never EVER justify paying $110 for a 16x16 pillow so it simply must remain a crush... an unrequited love. I shall never own that lovely pillow. *sigh*

Through a total fluke I was able to get an amazing deal on a different pillow in his Bargello series when I was in Montana (it's the 'chevron' pattern). We walked into a random store on a very quick walk through downtown Bozeman, and ta-dah! There it was, ON SALE. I swooped it up and brought it home and now, every time I look at it, I grin because I just happen to be THAT materialistic (that's not completely true; I try to lead a simple life). It really does make me smile, though. Good design can cheer a person up and those Bargello patterns make my heart pitter-patter!