Take your cues from nature

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I remember during a class in design school, one of my professors talked about finding color palettes in nature and if it works there, why not borrow the same schemes for our own projects. I've always remembered that and appreciated a winter landscape of gray trees, bare, caramel colored fields and a frosty blue sky. Wouldn't those tones make a sophisticated combination for an interior space? The image above by floral shop Saipua, makes me think of a room with charcoal and chocolate foundations and little pops of the palest pink and citron green. Here are other images that could set the scene for a beautiful room...

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Friday Finds

Today's loot comes to you from the Good Will. The store wasn't brimming with cool junk today but I did grab these sweet little punch glasses with white ivy painted on them and a pretty gold rim. I'm thinking ahead to May and the first Horseshoe Market of the season. I had great success selling vintage pieces their last fall and I'm hoping this spring will bring the same good fortune. Don't you think they'd be pretty holding some pink lemonade?

I just love the Good Will. Don't you? You never know what you will find or who you will encounter. When I pulled up into the lot, a woman, probably in her early 70s, who looked like she'd had one too many unfortunate face lifts came out of the store wearing loads of eye make-up and hot pink lipstick to match her hot pink stilettos. Me-oh-my. Her  chocolate colored spandex top was about 3 sizes too small, bless her heart. Where are the fashion police when you need them? Once inside, I heard a woman with a thick eastern European accent shout "are you threatening me?!" Apparently there was a bit of a brawl going on between three woman regarding a lamp. I just kept hearing "she ran into my cart. She always does this."Apparently, they've been down this road before. Ah the Good Will. It doesn't always live up to it's name but it's never short on strange people and lots of drama.

Have a lovely weekend friends.

V-Day Pretties

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 My love affair with Etsy continues! There's a plethora of treats to be found to assist you in all your Valentine's Day needs. The needle felted hearts would be sweet tied to a package and the buttons and twine would make lovely additions to valentine cards. Those pin wheels would be festive tucked in slim milk glass vases and grouped as centerpieces on a table.

Winter, I'm over you

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Saturday night, after a healthy, homemade dinner, Ike and I went on a dessert run to Whole Foods. After failing miserably at staying gluten-free over the holidays, I've been much more disciplined lately and thus headed straight for the GF aisle to choose which sort of mostly satisfying treat I wanted. After the Mr. selected his dessert of choice, we checked out and headed toward the door. It's impossible (for me anyway) to get in and out of Whole Foods without getting hung up in the floral section. They really know how to reel a girl in. Walking through the floral department is like 60 second therapy - especially in the dead of winter. The daffodils were in fine form - and smelled so nice. The tulips, all bunched in tightly together, looked so cheerful.

If I wasn't ready for spring before our trip out that night, I am now. I'm officially over winter and my exceedingly dry skin and wearing 19 layers of jackets and scarves and still being so darn cold every where I go. I'm weary of scraping chunks of snow off the windshield and trying not to slip on virtually invisible sheets of ice the sun never hit. The daffodils did it and I am done. 

Friday Finds & Giveaway Winner!

This week's estate sale finds weren't quite as glorious as last weeks, but that's ok because it keeps me guessing and going back for more. And honestly, for a sale in a house from the Santa Fe style filled with brassy lamps from the 80s and mountains of old VHS movies, it could have been worse. For not much moolah, I snapped up a bright but nicely broken-in vintage clutch and some funky strands of beads. I little embellishing and voila - these babies will be ready for a spring market coming up in May.

And now, let's get down to business!

The winner of the CSN $35 gift card is....

Mallory!

Thanks to everyone who entered and Mallory, I will be emailing you soon!

Have a dandy of a weekend everyone!

Winter Day Giveaway!

Good Monday friends! It's high time Fern & Flora hosted a giveaway, don't you think? This is my third giveaway in partnership with CSN websites and one of the reasons why they're so nifty is because one can pretty much find anything one's heart desires through their many websites. From swing sets to dish sets, you want it, they've got it.

I'm currently loving the above home goods by designer Thomas Paul for All Modern.com. The curious, botanical, natural and architectural items seen in the tray, dishware, pillow and storage box above are right up my ally.

To enter for the $35 gift certificate to be used on any of the CSN websites:

1. leave a comment telling me how you winterize and cozy up your home for the long winter months once all the holiday decor has come down.

2. Let me know you're a follower of Fern & Flora or become a follower and do the same.

3. Blog, tweet or facebook this giveaway and leave the link.

The winner will be announced this Friday 1/21.

Happy MLK day to all and good luck!

Friday Finds

The husband played hookie from work for two hours (he was almost at 40 hours this week before Friday began so he earned it) and joined me at an estate sale this morning (so nice to have you along, my dear). He scored a sleek black vintage case of poker chips and I scored four nesting tins that I may keep or sell... 

 ... Two roughed up little wooden trays with vintage liquor labels decoupaged on them that I may keep or sell...

And my biggest find of the day - this fantastic mannequin form with an adjustable stand. I call her Mavis.

She will be perfect for dressing up and using to displaying pins and necklaces at shows. Plus, she just looks cool in her simple muslin dress.

(please ignore the crap in the background. see my previous post about cleaning up the basement room)

Thinking About Stuff

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I'm just getting back in my groove this week. With all the holiday travel and post holiday travel that filled up the last two weeks of December and the first week of January, I feel like 2010 slipped away with little reflection on my part and 2011 slipped in the same way. Just in the last few days I've had some time to sit and evaluate and ponder....

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This year, I'm going for projects as opposed to resolutions. Maybe they're the same thing but "project" sounds less intimidating to me. So one of my projects will be to gather good family photos and display them. This sounds pretty simple, but it might take some time to find the ones I want and group them nicely. It's shocking that save the one engagement photo of the hubby and I upstairs, our house is completely devoid of framed family photos. This will change!

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Other goals include:

- cleaning up the basement room by getting some sturdy shelving, throwing junk away and good-willing the rest.

- Stop being late to things.

I don't run ridiculously late but I'm generally 5 - 7 minutes to late to virtually everything. I'm trying to get to the bottom of it and do better at leaving those time sucking tasks like sweeping the kitchen floor behind when it means I'm leaving a friend waiting. I'll keep you posted on this one.

- Mindful eating.

Less dinner in front of the t.v. and more peaceful meals at the table is what I have in mind.

Additionally, I want to focus, when possible, on what my food actually tastes like as well as when I'm full. There's no need to plow through dinner (unless of course, I'm running late - see paragraph above) and go for stuffed when I could stop at satisfied.

Of course there are more things on my list, but who really wants to hear them all? Plus, the more I actually post, the more I'll have to actually work at, so I'll stop there.

Are you pondering your life or being introspective right now? Any resolutions you'd like to share?

I'd really like to hear them. Helps me know I'm not alone in my long list of desires for self betterment.

Gee It's Good to Be Back Home Again

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After traveling in one form or another since December 22nd, it's lovely to be home again for a good while. There are no pressing engagements, craft boutiques, parties, church events, family gatherings, dinner dates or annoying obligations to speak of and although I'm generally one to seek out social and familial merriment whenever possible, this girl just wants to stay in. I'm  looking forward to doing some laundry, some cleaning, some meal planning and some crafting this week. As if that wasn't enough, the snow is snowing and the wind is blowing. I don't need anymore reasons to just stay at home sweet home.

Back in the Saddle

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That's right friends, this girl just got home from holiday trips to the midwest and southeast and now it's off to the southwest with the rest of the fam for a wedding this weekend. I can't deny that a weekend at home to take the tree down and catch up on sleep sounds pretty darn nice about now. As they say though - you can sleep when you're dead and a family wedding trumps everything else which is as it should be. The nuptials will be a small and cozy affair with a homey feel that will no doubt include late night game playing, lots of food and late morning coffee with oodles of siblings and friends. Congratulations M & S. So glad to have a quality woman join the brood.

How are you? I feel so out of the blog loop right now. Do you have any new years thoughts, insights or resolutions to share? I do and I will be sharing them next week....

Out with the old, in with the new

Here's to peace, hope, contentment, health and love in 2011.

xo friends.