Snow!

I just heard word from my girls (my sisters) that it's snowing in Chicago! CONGRATULATIONS! It's 60 degrees here in NYC and I could not be more jealous of them. Send some snow our way, we're ready for it. Isn't this little Snow House from the new Anthropologie catalog dreamy? From HERE.

In other news, my project for school is taking over life again and my professor now wants me to use a circular bed in the master bedroom because I mentioned curves as an architectural element. As you can imagine, I'm not happy with that idea, but I'm doing research to make it less "70's bachelor pad." Wish me luck!


In other other news, I made a successful sale from my photography show in Farmington, CT at the Millrace Bookstore! What did I sell, you ask? The photo above, Red Shadow.


Alicia B.

Our Fika Cups...

We promised these would be ready mid to late November. They are still not ready... The samples arrived and we approved them - they looked great! But when the stock arrived... the quality of the print was just not up to scratch. So, we decided to bin them and have the manufacturer make new cups. Quality is extremely important to us and although we hate to disappoint and not to be able to keep our word - we hope that our customers will bare with us. We sincerely apologise.

a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll

i want to go to the netherlands for christmas. they love the glitter, and the dyeing and the flocking and the crystals. they take nature and make it so wonderfully unnatural. my house is full of feathers and rocks and leaves picked up on walks. i have bowls of sea glass from fire island beaches, jars filled with shells from florida to connecticut. but come christmas, i'm drawn to dutch drama. behold the lotus pod, dried and somber adorning a blue juniper wreath wrapped with a grapevine bow, then behold the dutch lotus ,dressed up like the dog's dinner, shining up a ball of carmel "combo" roses and boxwood, perched atop a black urn. on my dining table, a tall clear vase holds a single branch of pine. at work, i 'm sparkle plenty.

on my mind

I'm in the CAD lab waiting for class to start so I can do my second presentation of the day then call it a day. Finals have been predictably time consuming but it has been a great semester. One more to go after a glorious long holiday break.

Thoughts in my blurry running on three hours of sleep brain:
I love Norah Jone's The Fall album. It's been on repeat on my playlist for a week now. Chasing Pirates is quickly becoming an all time fav. Check it out. The video is really cool too.

Travel. Lots and lots of travel. I don't mind that I've been bitten by some kind a travel bug, but it can be a little distracting sometimes.

Sleep. Lots and lots of sleep.

Gussied up Garland

If your like me-spending $40 or $50 on those grand pre-decorated garlands is a no, no-or a can't, can't. I buy the cheapest pine, bendable (thats important)garland I can.


Use coupons, shop after Christmas-just get it cheap. Then add your lights. I usually add the 100 set white lights, but there are also some fun ones out there with little "pearl-like" bulbs-I used those on the fireplace garland.




Now the fun part-add "fillers". Greenery pics, berries, pine cones, feathers, etc.

I found this fun "summery" fern garland at Michaels and used my coupon daily for 4 days till I bought up all they had.

It adds a nice "lime green" punch that I wanted. Dont be afraid to mix Summer or Spring-like garlands into yours-it gives it a natural look.







I also wanted a wreath for my stairway mirror but didnt want the pine-look. I found this one in the Wedding section at Michaels-its a box-wood style. I added some "bling" to it with a napkin ring (yes napkin ring) and a "Joy" ornament.


To the wreath on the top of the stairs I added white butterflies from a baby shower I gave years ago-then added my "signature" black & white ribbon. Im calling it my "signature" ribbon cuz it makes me sound "fancy" and I hunted high and low for that ribbon!


What I love is by shopping the house, using what you have in a new way-gets you that "designer" look without having to sell your children on E-bay (yes that thought has crossed my mind on days like today). So go dig through your attic, basement, closet,get out those picks, summer garlands, napkin rings, tooth brushes, whatever floats your fancy and in the words of Rhoda at Southern Hospitality, "beef" up your garlands.

Small Metal Cottage House Plan

Over the past year I have seen many tiny house plans designed by Architects. These plans are mostly experimental, intended to stretch the envelope and catch some buzz. I would however not be able to characterize most of these plans as live-able however. See my posts New Small House Plan Available Today! and New Tube House Lands From Outer Space! for instance.

But here comes a very small home design by Architect Toyo Ito and Associates that I might be able to see used as a second home, or a first home for a single or young couple. It is out there a bit with it's metal skin and modern shape. But inside is a workable studio plan that can accommodate living, cooking, eating and sleeping. The extensive use of wood really warms up the interiors. And an entire wall of glass brings the outdoors in.

By the way - if you are looking for real honest workable house plans check out the following:

small house plans

The Threee Kings

The Three Preussian Kings? Or Russian? Or... the Three Mogul Kings... Who ever they are they are happy and ready to enjoy the holidays!