DESIGN: Pretty Trees and darling ornaments!

image: Livingetc

The simplicity of this tree is just perfect in this living room! 

I am loving the lavender walls with the yellow shade, and

*swooning* over that lovely navy blue velvet sofa!

As the holiday is coming quite fast, I am in a panic!! Yes, I am in a panic!  I have taken my lights back twice to target, since I can not decide what to do for my holiday decor tick tick tock, tick tock, time is flying by! I thought owning a new home would inspire me, but I think the designer in me is on over drive!! I did how ever get my front porch designed, will post images later this week once I finish the wreath for the front door!

I am not sure what to do for the interior, I did end up with colourful LED lights to hang in the windows ... maybe.... but trying to figure out how I would like to hang them. (I do not have electrical out side, so I am unable to hang lights on my house... very sad!!)

Here are some on the images I have been pulling for inspiration! 

I just love Living etc. 

love the reindeer outside the window! This tree is awesome!!

image: Livingetc

Pretty glass ornaments on a vintage white faux tree!

image: Livingetc

I am truly smitten with this idea! 

a boat load of baubles bunched together and hung on the door!!

image: Livingetc

Recycled Wrapping!! 

so sweet!

 newsprint or left over wall covering 

with doilies and pretty ribbons

So, what is inspiring for you this holiday? Do you have a theme, or do you just add a few bits every year?

xx

callie

HAPPY FRIDAY: so cute!

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!! I am now in Christmas mode!!  I decided to make all my gifts this year or buy handmade only.  I have been searching great idea's so  I will be posting over the next week some of my finds.


Today, here are some really cute ornaments, that can be filled with treats. 


Supplies:
Wooden Box or Paper Mache Boxes 
festive ribbon
glue
small treats to fill box (cookies, truffles, small toys)

How to:

Use various sizes of inexpensive wooden Boxes. decorate them by attaching patterned ribbon around the bases and the lids with graft glue. (for a 3" wide box, glue 1" wide ribbon around the base) To create a strap for hanging the ornament, cut a length of thin ribbon and glue each end to the inside lip of the box lid. If using the ornament as favors, line the interiors with decorative paper cupcake liners and place candies inside.

How cute are these!!! 
You can also add numbers and hang them from the tree for an advent calendar.


I will post my project when complete:) 
Are you making any gifts this year?
xx
callie








all images & craft idea: Martha Stewart
search here for more ideas!!

HOLIDAYS are upon us!!

Originally uploaded by elseachelsea

small post today!
G and I today will be out being adventurous today:) (shopping for food the day before thanksgiving!!) I will be back on Friday.

I am excited, this is my favorite time of year!
All of you, have wonderful day!! AND Happy Thanksgiving!!
xx
callie

ps thought these reindeer where adorable! I am really into reindeer at the moment. I have a DIY project I will be posting next week with reindeer.... keep a look out!
(now I have to make it this weekend, since I have told you about it!)

WANTING: Dear Santa,

I have been a really good girl this year!! Is it possible to fit this in your sleigh?  I really really REALLY want one!!  found here 

and a few of these panton chairs, found here

oh, and this to please!! just one:)

found here

and one of these for the guest bedroom!

Bestlite found here

if not, I believe they ship!!

xx

callie

INTERIOR DESIGN: Convert Tudor Farmhouse

Country Glamour

Home of Karl and Catherine Haden

When I picked up this magazine, I had no idea how chock full of awe it would be!! When I got to page 82 and gazed upon this lovely living room with the amazing light fixtures, I could hardly  contain myself!!  That chandelier is stunning!! The entire house has a special little jewel of a light fixture, even the kitchen.  AND I do have to say that amazingly LARGE orange task light is AWESOME!!!! awesomely huge!

I really enjoy the use of modern furniture throughout.  My beloved Panton chairs! to the Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair (I so need one of these in my living room)  then that bedroom with the writing on the wall, {note to self, steal I mean borrow idea!} even the bathroom is inviting, cosy and warm with the wood slats and huge tub!  and the last bauble over the night stand, makes my heart sing!! 

The entire house is amazing, beautiful and just perfect!

xx

callie

all images: livingetc

Happy FRIDAY!

Originally uploaded by elseachelsea

I am so happy that it is Friday! I don't know about you but it has been such a crazy week! I over slept this morning so I am frantic, running about!!.

Anyway, I have a long list of things to do. I will be making these sweet little wands for my nieces for part of their Christmas gift! Chelsea over at Frolic made these for a wedding project and I thought they would be perfect to add to Claire and Lulu gift boxes!!

Are you making any holiday gifts? if so what??

Have a wonderful weekend!!
xx
callie

QUOTE: Style, from within

"Style... isn't something that you apply like hand cream. It comes from within, as an emanation from your own being...."

Jan de Luz

Katie Ridder

image: katie ridder

Suzanne Kasler

Image: Suzanne Kasler, Interiors

Renea Abbott

Image: Veranda Magazine

Just a few of my favorite interior designers!

xx

callie

ARTIST: Romaine Brooks

I have painted on and off most of my life. I haven't painted in a while but have been feeling the urge to paint coming a long.  I actually, pulled my paints out last weekend and this weekend the a large canvas!

I can't help being inspired when I look at the artwork by Romaine Brooks.  Her chosen colour palettes are beautifully haunting.

Self Portrait detail

"Au bord de la mer" Romaine Brooks, 1914

 "Maggie"

1904 Oil on Canvas is

"Ida Rubinstein"

oil on canvas 1917

This has to be my favorite painting!

This is pretty much my colour palette in my home, probably why I love this painting so much!

"Renata Borgatti, Au Piano

Oil on canvas 1920

The piano is my favorite part of this painting, the black just shows such texture and gloss. Even in the photograph, the depth of the wood shows through. Amazing painting!

"La Veste en Soie Verte"

 Oil on canvas 1907

all images: Smithsonian

She has an distinct style of painting. Painting mostly portraits, her paintings are raw and express a harsh honesty with the dark muted colours in grays and black sometimes ocher.  Her paintings pull at my emotions. Her childhood was unloving, her mother forbid her to draw but she managed to draw in hiding.  *** She painted in such a stark reality with a touch of sadness, possibly expressing her own emotion from her unhappy childhood.

I love her work!
xx
callie

OBSESSION: Pretty Pretty Horses

I love photography of wild horses. I find them raw, sweet and amazing.  My niece lately has been obsessed about horses so for Christmas I bought her these pretty horses by Schleich:

The Lipizzaner horses.  Found here

They are so adorable, hand painted horses. I hope she likes them.

Then, I found these for me! pretty images!!!

I found all the photos of these gorgeous Icelandic Horses on this flickr site

I am so amazed that they live in such a cold climate.  

"The breed has lived in Iceland since the mid 800s AD, having been brought to the island by 

Viking settlers. Bred for centuries without the addition of outside blood stock they are ideally suited to the cold climate."  Skarpi

love this image!! my favorite of his series! Little love bites.

His images are completely beautiful!  

Are they not the cutest, sweetest horses you have ever seen.

What images are you obsessing over lately, please do tell!!

xx

callie

DESIGNER: Kara Mann, Crush!! hard!

Kara Mann ~

crushing hard on her work! 

antlers on the console! completely rocking.

completely serene!

The colour palette is stunning!

Love her work! 
my new designer crush, sorry Katie!

xx

callie


via coco+kelley ~~

Happy FRIDAY!

BALLOONS
Originally uploaded by danske

This week has been pretty busy, which is keeping me away! It is now 4:35 am and I am almost ready to leave for work, yes I am going in extra early today. Things to be done, like I said, "it is one of those weeks"

but
I am happy it is Friday, I will be getting my hair cut at lunch time! Then a fun weekend with my best girlfriends! They are coming over on Sunday for Brunch! so excited.

What plans do you have for this weekend?
xx
callie

ps I thought these balloons were very pretty and they made me smile, I want balloons with dots and marbling!! very cool!!!

QUOTE: Kelly Wearstler

"Each room deserves dignity, respect and a healthy dose of laughter"

-Domicilium Decoratus, Kelly Weastler

images: Kelly Wearstler

xx

callie

My Freedom: what was the price...reality check

Today, thinking of my freedom and how it came to be and is protected to continue I received an email from my cousin this morning with a link!

well, emotionally smacked!
I felt I had to share that video on a day such as today... to remember the price and what makes America. You and Me!







This girl is only 11! She reminded me to be thankful for all that was done for me!
Thank you to all those that have fought for my freedom. To those still across the oceans, continuing to fight and 
serve for this country.


Have a wonderful day!
xx
callie

The Sisters, Life Stinks! but it's a beautiful one!!!

Today, I slept in until 7:00 am and then took a long walk with my pup.  Frost was everywhere with the sun glistening of the thin layer of white!  It was beautiful this morning!!

As I was walking I was thinking of what to blog about today.... well, I met the most amazing women the other day at a "Bizarre" (craft & hand made good type faire for designers at the Mart in Chicago) well, anyway,
at the faire,
I spoke with Annie, half of the company "duggansisters"  This company is amazing.  These 2 women survived the odds and are an inspiration.  I won't get into all that because that's not how they represent themselves, as victims... they project themselves as... Hope, Resilience, a Natural way of Living and passionate, completely passsionate. But not dismiss their story, because is is important! so I encourage you to read theirs stories. It is uplifting and sincere. It has made them who they are today. They are a passionate inspiration of what they believe in and how life is really beautiful.  If you would like to read the story of how they got started with their amazing company, read here.

I would like to post about is an amazing product that they have produced and I have purchased!! I love how well it works and how easy it is to use and knowing that it all natural with only 3 ingredients: aluminum free sodium bicarbonate, tea tree oil and lavender oil makes me smile.  It smells awesomely good and it WORKS!!

lifestinks deodorant is the best things since sliced bread!!

it also comes cedarwood oil for men (or heavy sweater)

click here for their store

it comes with a refillable eco-friendly stainless steel sifter dispenser that is easy to use and the best part (besides that it really works!) is that it DO NOT stain my clothing.  I wear black most of the time and normal store bought  deodorant ruins my clothing since I can't get the white stains off at the armpit area!! This project doesn't do that, yeah!!!!

I am very excited to have found this product.... I hope you like it too!!

xx

callie