a wee blog of things i love

Rag and Bone

2012-01-25T20:21:00.000-08:00

I just stumbled across this great ad campaign cleverly designed by Rag and Bone.

R&B handed a bag of clothing and a compact camera to10 different women, all models of course, and asked them to fill the film with self portraits in their coveted denim.
the results are pretty great.
I particularly like Sasha, Edita, Hanneli and Mina

http://www.rag-bone.com/

yesterday

2012-01-24T11:57:00.000-08:00

a beautiful afternoon spent creating these stunning images.

photographer-eric rose

makeup & hair-lindsay aveneti

hair-thad grace

styling-me(sarah van raden)

model-Adazoe

and a look behind the scenes...sweet baby lou by my side.

shot on my iphone-instagram app

a honey gathering for Kinfolk

2011-12-29T19:13:00.001-08:00

Honey Harvest from Kinfolk on Vimeo.

found on kinfolkmag.com

Notary in the Sunset Magazine gift guide!!

2011-11-29T14:18:00.000-08:00

for more great holiday gift ideas check out... 

sunset-holiday-gift-guide-calendar

thanks to the great staff at Sunset Magazine for including us in this issue! 

And aspecial thanks to the girls at the lovely Alder and co, forr recommending us!

for all of you unique and interestimg holiday gifts you mudt check them out at 

http://www.alderandcoshop.com/

on the mountain top

2011-11-17T16:32:00.000-08:00

natures wonder sera park by hong jang hyun for vogue korea november 2011

a very kind customer

2011-11-12T17:48:00.000-08:00

I recently received a Notary candlestick order from a very kind man in Amsterdam who was looking for just such a clean and understated centerpiece for his table. 

he was lovely and wrote me an email as soon as he received his shipment to compliment the items and tell me how much he loved them. made my day!

today i received a follow up email urging me to look at the images he had taken of the candlesticks in their new home.

I am now a very adoring fan of his tumbler site and quite impressed with his overall vision and photography skills. 

when you have a little moment pop over to his site and check it out!

http://firstsightdaily.tumblr.com/

pinch a piece of pepper

2011-11-06T16:13:00.000-08:00

a few new items added to the notary website.

I am so excited to be slowly growing this beautiful line!

please pop over and check them out when you have a wee moment :)

http://notaryboutique.bigcartel.com/

patterson's curse

2011-10-28T18:17:00.000-07:00

http://www.russhmagazine.com/fashion/shoots/2010/11/24/pattersons-curse/

my dream hair

2011-10-28T17:15:00.000-07:00

for most of my life I have sported some sort of short or very short hair cut. 

i was raised in the country and my parents had a strict "no fuss" rule when it came to both mine and my little sister's hair. 

the thought was that we would be free to be creative, imaginative, and to think about everything except our hair and the way we looked. 

for the most part, it worked. 

I didn't care to have long hair until i was about thirteen, and upon growing a shoulder length mane I promptly cut it all off into a very un-styish bowl cut as an act of defiance. funny as it was probably pleased my parents to no end. 

each important event in my life- prom, my wedding, the birth of my baby.... i have decided to grow my hair out. yet, after each of these events the most freeing and liberating decision is to walk into a barber- its true I usually have it cut in a funky old barber shop, not in a fancy salon as I feel like the experience is more genuinely me- and lop all those locks into some form of my 10 year old pixie cut. 

after having my daughter 3 months ago, and sporting long hair for the majority of my pregnancy and her first few months of life, I might be ready to lop it all off again. 

these pictures just may be enough incentive to march right into that barber shop and make my day. 

photos- Russh Australia

RUSSH

2011-10-27T17:25:00.001-07:00

russh magazine

2011-10-27T17:10:00.001-07:00

kinfolk video dream

2011-10-12T17:12:00.000-07:00

loire valley from Olivia Rae James on Vimeo.

via kinfolk magazine online

off to work i go...

2011-10-12T16:56:00.000-07:00

I am headed to Santa Barbara for my first job since Lou was born. I am excited and nervous and happy to be going towards the sun...even if I will be in the studio for the majority of the day.

my lovely mother will be traveling with Eloise and I making this a ladies trip including three generations. I will be taking plenty of pictures by the beach as we have our first encounter with the ocean since lou's birth. 

i am hoping our trip looks something like this....

Photography by Carl Bengtsson

via http://carlbengtsson.com/

Notary on Design Sponge

2011-10-10T13:31:00.000-07:00

"When we were in Portland for the book tour, I was happy to stumble upon Sarah from Notary Ceramics who was starting her first day at work at one of my favorite shops, Alder & Co. In addition to being a new mom, Sarah recently started a new ceramics studio with her uncle called Notary.  Based in Portland, this talented duo designs beautiful stoneware  tabletop pieces like candlesticks and vases that would make lovely  holiday gifts or housewarming presents. Notary is currently available online and through Alder & Co., so if you’re interested in picking up a piece or getting more information, click  here to shop online or read more. Thanks, Sarah! xo, grace" via Design Sponge

thank you Grace! your blog is an inspiration and i couldn't be happier to see our line featured on your gorgeous site!  

Notary

2011-10-10T13:19:00.000-07:00

 Notary brand now includes this gorgeous line of stoneware pottery. the collaboration is between my uncle Jeff, the very talented potter, and myself, the designer. 

this line includes several high fired stoneware pieces that are designed to last, and to become treasured staples in your home.

images below from behind the scenes at the studio

my beautiful daughter, eloise in the arms of my handsome husband, paul at the studio

If you are in Portland, please do check them out at Alder and Co in SW. not only will you get the hands on tactile experience, you will also be tempted by all of their gorgeously curated collections...

Otherwise, please check the full line of pottery out at www.notaryboutique.com

papier mache issue 9

2011-09-27T14:50:00.000-07:00

my all time favorite children's magazine. I never tire of their gorgeous editorials! 

to see the whole issue please head over to http://www.papier-mache.com.au/magazine/

notaire becomes notary

2011-09-27T14:27:00.000-07:00

the line of scarves i created under the name Notaire will soon be part of a much bigger line. the new line will be called Notary~which is the English translation of Notaire.

for simplicity sake i hope that this name is easily remembered and passed along by word of mouth to all of those whom you feel might be interested.  

Notary is coming soon!!!!

sweet lou

2011-09-26T18:48:00.000-07:00

here are a few pics of our gorgeous girl

a french cabin for V. Bruno

2011-09-04T18:30:00.000-07:00

The gorgeous couple

vanessa bruno and partner Jérôme Dreyfuss at their gorgeous weekend escape.

article via T magazine for The New York Times

"There’s no address — the road has no name . . . it’s not even really a road . . . it seems like it’s in the middle of nowhere,” says the French accessories designer Jérôme Dreyfuss, explaining how to (possibly never) find the rustic country retreat he shares with his wife, the fashion designer Isabel Marant, and their 8-year-old son, Tal.

Surrounded by acacia trees on the banks of the Loing River in Fontainebleau, the tiny clapboard cottage is only 35 miles southeast of central Paris, but it feels worlds away, thanks to its untamed, verdant surroundings and lack of mod cons like electricity, heat and plumbing. (You flush the loo the old-fashioned way — with buckets of water hand-pumped from a spring.) The spartan setting suits the family just fine. “It’s surprising how little you really need,” Dreyfuss says. “The expression ‘less is more’ takes on real meaning here.”

There’s a strict no-fashion-talk policy in effect at the cottage, which is strewn with colorful old kilims, flea market finds and stacks of thick wool blankets for use in the winter months. “We barely have time to speak to each other at all during the week, so the last thing we want to discuss when we’re here is work,” says Dreyfuss, whose handbags are hot commodities on both sides of the Atlantic. Adds Marant, whose namesake cool-girl label enjoys bona fide cult status: “We don’t see friends in Paris anymore. We invite them to Fontainebleau. Especially the ones with children; it’s truly a kid’s paradise.” As if on cue, Tal takes aim at a nearby tree with a crude slingshot, using chestnuts as ammunition, and then attempts to vanquish an imaginary foe with a bow and arrow made from branches. “Our petit sauvage — that’s what we call him,” Dreyfuss says affectionately, as his son drags a kayak down to the water. “Half the time, we can’t even get him to wear clothes. And he never, ever wants to go back to Paris on Sunday nights.”

Looking around, it’s easy to see why. In addition to the kayak, a canoe and a surfboard for paddle boarding, Tal has a nifty treehouse, a tree swing, ropes for Tarzan re-enactments, a trampoline, fishing poles, water guns and numerous pup tents, which double as guest accommodations for his friends. A few minutes later, the youngster can be heard challenging a group of hapless kayakers, demanding a toll before they can pass. “He thinks he’s the boatman on the river Styx,” Dreyfuss quips.

Serendipity led the couple to their piece of paradise seven years ago. “We happened to see an ad in a free paper we picked up outside a bakery and called the broker immediately,” Dreyfuss says. “The first thing we noticed when we got here was the air — it’s pristine.” And blissfully free of the usual sounds of civilization. “Aside from people paddling on the river, you hear only nature,” Marant says.

Sometimes, nature can be a little loud. “I came here with Tal right after we bought the place and woke up in the middle of the night to hear someone breathing heavily right outside the bedroom,” Dreyfuss recounts. “I was terrified and began plotting how I would make a run for the car with the baby. I fell asleep with him in my arms and a giant kitchen knife next to the bed.” In the morning, Dreyfuss discovered (rather sheepishly) that the nocturnal intruder had been a wild boar.

These days, most of the couple’s visitors are of the two-legged variety, and besides child’s play, much of the activity centers around food and drink. “I love to cook,” Marant says, “but never have time to do it in Paris.” She spends Saturday mornings at the market in the nearby village of Bourron-Marlotte, buying fresh bread, croissants, beautiful cheeses, meat, fish, eggs and produce. Perishables are stored in a little fisherman’s cabin embedded in the riverbank that is equipped with a vintage icebox. “I buy tons of food, because we never know if we’re serving 5, 10 or 25,” Marant says, as she prepares a platter of locally made saucissons, rillettes, cornichons and olives in the minuscule kitchen area. “Jérôme’s in charge of the barbecue, and I try to balance all the meat he makes with lots of fresh salads and seasonal vegetables.”

Lunches are always long, laid-back affairs that melt into convivial evenings lit by candles and kerosene lanterns and fueled by lots of good French wine. After the kids retire to their tents, the adults take out the tarot cards and sip brandy.

Dreyfuss surveys the darkening compound contentedly, pointing out his latest gardening feats (“I’m quite proud of my roses — they add that English garden touch”) and the sun beds he just finished making for the deck. “I’m always trying to build things out of wood,” he says. “It’s so much more inspiring than shopping for them in Paris.” Next up: a new treehouse for Tal. “He says the one he has is too low, that it’s for babies. He wants a big duplex. Now we just have to find the right tree.”

welcome eloise lorraine

2011-08-06T19:50:00.000-07:00

I apologize for my absence as of late.

i have been a bit busy!

my beautiful daughter was born on Sunday, July 31st at 11:45 am and i have done nothing but stare and marvel at her ever since.

she is a healthy little one weighing in at 7 and half pounds, and measuring 20.5 inches.

long summer days in the grass spent with my beautiful husband and my darling daughter are all that i am after these days.

what a little miracle she truly is. :)

a new find

2011-07-28T09:36:00.000-07:00

a stunning collection of images from my latest tumblr obsession http://firstsightdaily.tumblr.com

i love the innocence and beauty of the shots with her children, and the nostalgia that her photographs convey of childhood. 

now i want to make daisy chains, run through the wheat fields and pick wild strawberries.

a few garage sale finds

2011-07-28T09:10:00.000-07:00

one of my absolute favorite things about summer is garage sales. 

the other day my beautiful momma stumbled onto one such sale just a few blocks away from my house. she discovered that the elderly woman running the sale was selling many of her own baby clothes...things she had worn over 80 years ago. 

my mom bought several exquisite, hand made items and rushed home to show me. we quickly walked back to the sale to unearth a few more treasures, most of which were tiny vintage dresses and one incredible onsie with matching knee socks, all for baby Lou.

i have put some more pics up on my styling scores blog.

if you are interested head on over...

carl bengtsson for nygardsanna

2011-07-27T13:12:00.000-07:00

rugged perfection

all images via

http://carlbengtsson.com

for

nygardsanna

a modern pen-pal

2011-07-27T12:52:00.000-07:00

I recently received this beautiful package from a new friend. 

how incredible is the blogging world that you can meet and connect with people all over the world who have similar interests and aesthetics as you do? 

the talented and wonderfully kind Ana Degenaar from the inspirational blog Live and Enliven has recently become my penpal both online and in the age old world of real mail.

when she found out I was having a little girl she sent me the most exquisite package. in it was a darling little card, a beautiful bib and a sweet little lined bag for all things baby. 

while I hope that someday we will meet in person, I am perfectly content and happy to enjoy our daily interactions from across the world, and so excited to have a pen-pal from Brazil. 

a little home of her own

2011-07-20T15:04:00.000-07:00

the perfect doll house courtesy of .papier-mache. magazine

made by Sabine Timm

kinfolk magazine

2011-07-19T09:36:00.000-07:00

i was lead to discover Kinfolk magazine by the brilliant Jennifer Causey at Simply Photo. 

she was lucky enough to contribute some gorgeous photographs to this inspiring publication. and we are fortunate enough to be able to enjoy all of the beauty this magazine has to offer.

did i mention that it is free to view online?

run over right now and prepare to spend a good hour pouring over its perfectly edited pages.
also, the video's are breathtaking, and I have watched them over and over.

kinfolkmag.com

Kinfolk: Breakfast for Two from andrew+carissa on Vimeo.

Kinfolk: Dinner for Two from andrew+carissa on Vimeo.

a baby doll for lou

2011-07-15T15:24:00.000-07:00

this was a little project that I started several weeks ago as a sanity task to keep my hands and mind busy. it has gone through several phases, but I think that this little doll may finally be finished.

i like to imagine lou dragging her around the house by one floppy leg and slowly beating the doll up with love.

and finally

paul thought the x mouth was a bit creepy so i removed it. now she is a silent doll, which suits me just fine. :)

australian's do it best

2011-07-15T15:05:00.000-07:00

Bambi Northwood Blyth, Ruby Jean Wilson

for Harpers Bazaar 8/2011 Australia

home on the range

2011-07-15T15:02:00.000-07:00

it took everything in me to decide to document a few pregnancy portraits. 

number one, I despise having my picture taken.

number two, pregnancy portraits generally seem a bit contrived and uncomfortable.

three, I had to convince my husband to allow his portrait to be taken as well...this turned out to be pretty easy as he thought documenting this time in our lives was quite important. 

so, we had a friend come over and snap some beautiful black and white shots for us that turned out....quite beautifully. what a pleasant surprise! I give him full credit for that. 

we had to do a few funny pics as well, reminiscent of Appalachian barefoot and pregnant girls of days gone by.

while meant to be a bit silly, these ended up being some of my favorite shots.

photo credit- anonymous :)

vestiaire de jeanne fall lookbook....swoon

2011-07-15T14:52:00.000-07:00

in my humble opinion, this is the perfect lookbook

and I will be dreaming of wearing these summer dresses after I have my baby girl. 

all images via  

http://www.vdc-boutique.com

vogue china 8/2011

2011-07-13T12:16:00.000-07:00


								sasha pivovarova, august 2011, vogue japan

dreamy

2011-07-13T12:07:00.000-07:00

Bambi Northwood Blyth, Ruby Jean Wilson - harpers bazaar august 2011 australia

nothing better

2011-07-13T11:03:00.000-07:00

i am hyperventilating a bit over all of these gorgeous linens and housewares by french company le vestiaire de jeanne. the clothing is also beautiful and easy and has that perfectly rumpled look that only linen can achieve. 

oh and did i mention that they have a capsule collection of leather bags to freakin die over?! i would like this one for by birthday please! (oh yea, I already got my birthday present...) damn, guess ill have to be content just to swoon.

jump for joy

2011-07-13T10:45:00.000-07:00

some seriously cute and happy fashionista's jumping with joy at the Paris couture shows.

images via

http://nymag.com

a lovely Neest

2011-07-10T15:18:00.000-07:00

photos via

http://helloneest.blogspot.com/2011/07/blog-post.html

HelloNeest is one of the most inspiring blogs I have found to date...and rightfully so has been featured in French Glamour. 

enjoy the pics and dont forget to check out the blog itself at http://www.helloneest.com/

the remodel begins

2011-07-10T14:17:00.000-07:00

this was our bathroom as we knew it. a darling room in its own right, but there were certain things that we have always wanted to change. 

number one, the tub, as i have longed for a clawfoot bathtub since growing up enjoying the one my parents owned.  we also very much wanted to take out the vanity that was in the room when we bought the house. it is a rebuilding center special made up of particle board and a linoleum counter top. yuck! there are a few things that we do love and want to retain. one of which is what we call the 'wart cupboard' and it is that square little wall hanging cabinet that paul has had in his home since he was a little boy. it was the one thing he asked his mom if he could have when we bought our house. 

it is squat, old and perfect. 

the other thing that we love is the old mirror above the vanity. i found the scuffed up frame in a dumpster outside of a barn sale in hillsboro. it was quite beat up and falling apart but my mom and i glued it back together and I had a new piece of glass cut to fit the frame. 

it has been in every house we have ever lived it, and i am excited to see it in our newly transformed bathroom.

 we took everything out of the room on saturday morning...it was strange to see it looking so naked and bare. 

I picked up a dozen donuts, made a pot of coffee and left four of the best men I know to demolish our only bathroom just a handful of weeks before our baby is due. 

and then...eight hours later

and on our porch, awaits our new tub!

i am so grateful for the opportunity to get to remodel this little bathroom of ours, and I am a bit anxious about the short amount of time in which we have to complete it. 

please cross your fingers for us that little Lou comes at least a few days after our renovation is completed. until then, I am taking it very easy and willing her to cook just a few weeks longer. 

happy sunday!

odette via the makers

2011-07-08T13:34:00.000-07:00

a lovely new post by Jennifer Causey of the gorgeous and inspiring Makers Website. 

for an interview with Odette designer Jennifer, and many more beautiful images do go to The Makers...and be sure to check out all of Jen's past posts as well. each one is gorgeous and captivating in its own right.

our very sweet chicken

2011-07-07T09:58:00.000-07:00

a gorgeous picture by photographer Eric Rose of our darling little bantam chicken Winnie.

she has the sweetest personality, lays tiny pale pink eggs, and has fluffy feathers on her feet that look absolutely ridiculous when she runs. 

i am in love...yes, with a chicken. :)

sasha luss

2011-07-07T09:45:00.000-07:00

gorgeous new shots of model Sasha Luss by photographer Lev Efimov

he never fails to capture an exquisite moment with his subjects.

a beautiful place to lay your head

2011-07-06T20:59:00.000-07:00

http://www.marikagiacinti.com

swoon....

a birthday suprise

2011-07-04T13:48:00.000-07:00

image via my website

my darling husband has surprised' me (a bit early as my birthday isn't until july 23rd) with the most amazing present!
i used to wander down our dirt road every so often to steal a peak at the most darling little cottage situated behind three ancient rose bushes, a giant tulip tree and some dwarfed maples. sadly, last year the sweet elderly woman who lived there had to vacate the property and ended up putting the cottage up for sale towards the end of the autumn.
i would often walk down to sit on the porch, peer in the windows at the pretty old hardwood floors, and tiny layout, and in the summer I have taken to 'pruning' the burdened rose bushes as they have been heavy with blooms.
the house sold months ago in a bank foreclosure but the new owners have not been present around the home at all. we found out that the foundation of the house was completely rotted, as well as most of the support beams, and the roof was no good at all. the verdict was that the house would be torn down and something new built in its place.
somewhere along the way i ended up in the house for a small impromptu photoshoot before its demise.
the pictures are beautiful and haunting and will forever remind me of the times that i have spent adoring that quaint cottage.
in the midst of the cottage coming down i began to think about the old claw-foot tub that was in the tiny bathroom....wondering what would happen to it. Paul and I walked down one morning to speak with the construction crew about it and were told that the new owners planned on using it in another one of their homes.
c'est la vie..
not so! Paul followed up with the builders after we noticed that the tub was still sitting in the vacant lot once the house had been demolished. without my knowledge he convinced them to sell it to him in order to give it to me for my birthday and before our baby is born!
so I am now the proud owner of a gorgeous tub from a magical cottage!
we will spend the next several weeks planning and remodeling our bathroom around this darling tub and hopefully have the whole thing finished before little Lou is born.
i will keep you updated on our progress and share images of the before and after with you along the way.

for now here are some inspirational pics that are getting our creative juices flowing...

image via google images and annesage

my darling husband has surprised' me (a bit early as my birthday isn't until july 23rd) with the most amazing present!
i used to wander down our dirt road every so often to steal a peak at the most darling little cottage situated behind three ancient rose bushes, a giant tulip tree and some dwarfed maples. sadly, last year the sweet elderly woman who lived there had to vacate the property and ended up putting the cottage up for sale towards the end of the autumn.
i would often walk down to sit on the porch, peer in the windows at the pretty old hardwood floors, and tiny layout, and in the summer I have taken to 'pruning' the burdened rose bushes as they have been heavy with blooms.
the house sold months ago in a bank foreclosure but the new owners have not been present around the home at all. we found out that the foundation of the house was completely rotted, as well as most of the support beams, and the roof was no good at all. the verdict was that the house would be torn down and something new built in its place.
somewhere along the way i ended up in the house for a small impromptu photoshoot before its demise.
the pictures are beautiful and haunting and will forever remind me of the times that i have spent adoring that quaint cottage.
in the midst of the cottage coming down i began to think about the old claw-foot tub that was in the tiny bathroom....wondering what would happen to it. Paul and I walked down one morning to speak with the construction crew about it and were told that the new owners planned on using it in another one of their homes.
c'est la vie..
not so! Paul followed up with the builders after we noticed that the tub was still sitting in the vacant lot once the house had been demolished. without my knowledge he convinced them to sell it to him in order to give it to me for my birthday and before our baby is born!
so I am now the proud owner of a gorgeous tub from a magical cottage!
we will spend the next several weeks planning and remodeling our bathroom around this darling tub and hopefully have the whole thing finished before little Lou is born.
i will keep you updated on our progress and share images of the before and after with you along the way.

for now here are some inspirational pics that are getting our creative juices flowing...

papier mache magazine

2011-06-28T11:13:00.000-07:00

Papier Mache Magazine

issue no.7 is finally available!

i say finally because I have been waiting with bated breath since they released issue no.6 and I read it cover to cover a hundred times. :)

great lengths

2011-06-28T10:31:00.000-07:00

above images via the sartorialist

above images via 1am magazine

image via garance dore

image via altamira

image via carolines mode~stockholm street style

i am in the home stretch of my pregnancy and am finding that there are only about 6 things in my wardrobe that I can still squeeze myself into. my favorite amoung them are my wee collection of maxi dresses. i have a few that cling, one or two that float, and one that used to float but is starting to get a bit clingly for my liking. luckily for me the weather in portland remains cool and i am able to stay relatively comfortable in long dresses and oversized sweaters. this season the maxi dress has been a key player in many a stylish girls wardrobe. I am grateful for a trend that lends itself to those of us who need a bit more length these days in order to cover up our expanding bellies. :)

image via google

milk magazine

2011-06-23T11:40:00.000-07:00

I picked up issue 31 of french children's magazine Milk before our trip to Arizona in April.

i have since read and re-read it about 100 times. finding inspiration and beauty on every page and feeling the excitement that comes along with knowing that soon I will be joining this little club of mothers. 

the newest issue looks divine and I am now on a hunt to find it.

as it can be tricky to locate this publication I suggest trying Borders first as that is where I had success. 

such a pretty publication is rare, and I promise it is worth the $12 price tag. :)

one more tip, you can find some past issues available to view online at issuu.com

Milk Magazine editorial images via Isssu

APC sale on now

2011-06-23T10:49:00.000-07:00

a few of my favorite from the APC sale rack...if only

zara beauties

2011-06-23T10:39:00.000-07:00

a small collection of street pretties from Zara's relatively new People Campaign.

it is so nice that they publish these photographs of real customers wearing Zara clothing. the website even includes a link to the wearers blog or website. hours of fun!

anya summers

2011-06-23T10:12:00.000-07:00

a beautiful new face from Avant Agency Russia

these photographs are so simple and raw and gorgeous. 

photography by; Jurij Treskow, Lev Efimov and Dmitry Maximov

green house

2011-06-23T09:50:00.000-07:00

my affinity for plants began at a very young age.

i loved watching my mother in her garden and helping to pick out new plants each spring to bring some color and new life to our home.

my first real job was at a floral and garden store, which was preceded by a job at a nursery, another floral shop, an urban garden store and finally at a garden nursery and gallery.

since transitioning into fashion styling i have not lost my love for all things green and make a point of filling my home with as many plants big and small as I can provide light for.

one of my favorite pastimes is searching for and collecting interesting containers to grown little bits in. and while I get some grief from my husband and neighbors, i adore finding unique weeds growing in our neighborhood and transplanting them lovingly into vessels around my home and garden.

i unknowingly planted and encouraged a voracious vine weed last year that ended up taking over our fence and our neighbors! oops! we spend several days this spring trying to dig it all out as it is an invasive species that has literally ruined our forests around portland. :)

i have replaced that vine with a pretty hop vine that is finally beginning to flourish.

my favorite houses are always the ones that are overgrown with plants and half consumed by the vines that have made their way into each nook and crevice.

do you have any favorite houseplants or garden plants to share with me? I will let you in on my favorite...and it is particularly special as it flourishes inside and out. it is also quite gorgeous as a topiary if you have the patience for that.
it is called a wire vine, also sometimes it is called an angel vine. I love this particular plant so much that I was sure to work it into my wedding bouquet.
this year I found I new variation on my prized plant that boasts larger leaves yet still possesses the same delicate beauty of the original.

via http://www.jillruth.com/

and some beautiful images to demonstrate just how profound an affect these lovely green bits can have in and around our homes.

photos courtesy of; hello neest, bloesem, primoeza

sisters

2011-06-20T09:35:00.000-07:00

images via The Sartorialist

an ode to my own lovely sister, i adore how their styles are different yet equally chic. 

such gorgeous relaxed women, is there anything sexier than this kind of confidence and ease? 

i think not.

and here is an editorial i saw on my beautiful sister's blog this morning. if you have never visited her blog, Scriptical, be prepared to get sucked in for hours, find endless amounts of inspiration and beauty and fall a tiny bit in love with her. :)

samantha harris for antipodium via Scriptical

resort 2012

2011-06-17T11:05:00.000-07:00

favorites from Chloe Resort 2012 via Style.com

favorites from T Alexander Wang resort 2012 via Style.com

oh my gosh i love resort. it is often such a wearable collection for the lines that can often feel a bit too fussy or polished or over done. 

Chloe and Alexander Wang continue to be two of my favorite labels, and this season does not disappoint.

andreas ohlund

2011-06-17T10:34:00.000-07:00

andreas ohlund for Cover Magazine via Fashion Copious

smallable

2011-06-15T14:20:00.000-07:00

all images via http://www.smallable.com/fr/

this is a small sampling of my favorite pages from the gorgeous french kids magazine Smallable.

and if the magazine wasn't enough to torture us, there is an entire website and web shop determined to take your money while you will be unable to resist their utterly adorable wares.

oh yea, and there's a blog http://www.smallable.com/blog/

have a good visit!

Amica July 2011

2011-06-13T20:13:00.000-07:00

nothing better than black and white

Marlena Szoka for Amica 7/2011 Italy

a monday pretty

2011-06-13T11:42:00.000-07:00

i love this pic via http://mila-loveology.blogspot.com/

summer with Sweet Paul

2011-06-13T10:50:00.000-07:00

i have fallen in love with new online magazine Sweet Paul.

it is a gorgeous magazine featuring exquisite photographs, recipes, DIY projects and so much more.

it is hard for me to pick which images to show you, so you must head straight over to Sweet Paul to flip through the whole issue yourself. give yourself a bit of time to linger over this gorgeous publication.

all photos via sweet paul magazine

yumiko of fog linen work

2011-06-12T14:51:00.000-07:00

images via designsponge 

gorgeous images from the home of Yumiko Sekine- the brains behind the incredible line Fog Linen Work. 

if you live in portland be sure to drop into Alder and Co. which is an exquisite store that stocks this line among so many others. 

i was recently given the last Fog Linen Work Book by my very sweet friend Rebecca and haven't been able to put it down. 

the pictures and profiles of the people who are living and working with FLW are so incredibly inspiring and this book has been the perfect remedy for my disdain of taking it easy and putting my feet up. who knew all it took was the perfect book!

i love carl bengtsson

2011-06-12T14:36:00.000-07:00

all photos via carl bengtsson.com

i am so inspired by his photographs, and i am constantly waiting for him to post new images for me to swoon over.

nygardsanna spring 2011

2011-06-12T14:22:00.000-07:00

Nygardsanna is far and away my favorite line of clothing, styled in the most incredible way and shot by one of my all time favorite photographers Carl Bengtsson

photographs by Carl Bengtsson via We Are Selecters
this beautiful line is designed in Sweden and it seems to me that each collection is better than the last.

there is no where in Portland that I have found to buy this line, and it is such a shame because sometimes pictures just aren't enough, you need to feel the clothing, see the colors and touch the fabrics.

some snapshots

2011-06-11T15:23:00.000-07:00

a few snapshots from around my home. all taken with instagram on my iphone

some lovely baby things...i am having a lot of fun documenting some of the super special items we have waiting for our new little one.

a new book, Undecorate by Christiane Lemieux...full of gorgeous images, inspiring people and a lot of pretty ideas for making your home individually outstanding.

lastly, a snapshot of some bits on my inspiration board. I found that ad featuring old photograph in a weird baby magazine and am absolutely fascinated by it. I seem to glance at it many times throughout my day and get a sense of peace and comfort from it.

a weekend project

2011-06-11T15:17:00.000-07:00

ive been busy resting ;) and working on projects that i can do sitting down. this is something that I just started working on and am having so much fun creating.

it is a whimsical, haphazard, quite funny little project and I am eager to show you the end result.

any guesses on what I am making?

happy saturday!

zinzi edmundson

2011-06-10T14:16:00.000-07:00

i love the dreaminess of these photographs capturing musician Zinzi Edmundson

article and photos via .refinery29.

"Describe your daily uniform or the pieces you wear to work in most?
"I have to admit, the whole work-from-home thing is not inspiring me to get out of my pajamas—especially when I've gotten into the really terrible habit of getting up and immediately hopping on the computer and answering emails! I've been forcing myself to pull it together though. More often than not, I've just got on a t-shirt, cardigan, and my favorite high-waisted Acne jeans that my former boss handed down to me...and slippers. I'm trying!" ~Zinzi for Refinery 29

sounds mighty familiar to me! im always trying to figure out how to make pajamas look acceptable. ive found the best option is to wear old french linen nighties with a holey cashmere cardigan thrown over and puffy down slippers to keep the toes cozy. 

if you work at home what is your solution?

a moment of mine

2011-06-10T09:43:00.000-07:00

after a bit of a rest yesterday I found myself wandering around the garden, looking at all of the new buds, the fresh tendrils of growth on our vines and the bees buzzing around the blooms.

the chickens eventually took interest in my brightly painted toenails and we three had a lovely moment in the sun.

a daydream in french

2011-06-10T09:34:00.000-07:00

images via http://cocon-augreduvent.blogspot.com/

a beautiful blog from the makers of the gorgeous french line Cocon 

the photos on their blog include images of items from the shop as well as a glimpse at the maker's home life with her darling daughter. 

all images via http://eliottcerise.canalblog.com/

this frenchie blog is my current obsession. I cannot get enough of the images of this blogger's gorgeous daughter, who is always perfectly styled in darling little disheveled outfits made of linen, wool and cotton. 

not only is the blogger's life and eye intriguing, but her shop

Milk & Paper

is chalked full of beautiful wares for your home, your self and your babies.

prepare to spend a bit of time at these gorgeous sites...you have been warned!

goodbye Lyell

2011-06-09T09:24:00.000-07:00

love lyell... from lyell on Vimeo.

I am so sad to hear that the gorgeous lingerie line Lyell will be shutting its doors.

I have followed their path over the last few years and am always very impressed with both their aesthetic as well as their designs. 

be sure to head over to their shop to support them as they close. they are giving their customers 40-60% off as they quickly sell through the last of their merchandise. 

you will certainly be missed Lyell, thanks for the years of inspiration.

kate for opening ceremony

2011-06-08T19:15:00.000-07:00

 images via ~refinery29.com~

Kate Foley is a buyer from opening ceremony. in this article via Refinery 29 we get to see a glimpse into her apartment and a view into her wardrobe. 

i love being a little voyer, dont you?

a project with linen and cotton

2011-06-07T15:22:00.000-07:00

while trying to stay low and take it easy i am still managing to get my creative energy expressed. yesterday i made this blanket of linen on one side, cotton on the other and a fill of organic cotton batting. 

my hope was for this to be a baby blanket, but it was just too plush not use the full 2yards of fabric, so i ended up with more of a momma blanket....

it was nap tested yesterday and passed the cozy test.

lula #12

2011-06-07T15:01:00.000-07:00

ali michael for lula #12

thanks!

2011-06-07T14:59:00.000-07:00

thanks to the very inspiring photographer and creator of The Makers proect, Jen Causy for featuring one of the Notaire shots on her pinterest! i have only just learned what Pinterest is and have been having a lot of fun exploring it. If you havent perused it before you may as well start with Jen's pinterest here

all photos via here

dreamy street photos

2011-06-07T14:34:00.000-07:00

i love these pretty pics from http://carolinesmode.com/stockholmstreetstyle/

tuesday inspiration for the housebound

2011-06-07T10:31:00.000-07:00

i have been staying home quite a bit lately as I am quite far along in my pregnancy and have been told to slow down and start resting. 

i have found that this is harder to do than i would have anticipated.

who wouldn't want a bit of quality downtime to read, sew, watch movies?....well i have found that a day of these lazy activities feels great, then I want to be up and moving around. i have taken for granted the simple pleasures i find in watering the flowers with my heavy old watering can, collecting the chicken's eggs from their now very hard to reach nesting boxes, going for long walks on our dirt road, and feverishly cleaning my house from top to bottom before guests arrive. 

i am learning to take pleasure in the simple tasks that I am able to do without straining my body, and one of these is laying out our dinner table with simple fare, using all of my favorite dishes and napkins and vessels. 

these shots are great examples of simple, restrained styling...my favorite

images via opomme

the other thing i am missing is my wardrobe...

i am longing for my high waisted pants and shrunken sweaters and heeled sandals. feeling a bit tired of the stretch waist, hip slung sweats, maxi skirts, long striped tanks and birkenstocks that have become my daily uniform. 

i love these relaxed looks below and am eager to slip back into similar attire after my sweet girl is born.

but for now I am enjoying looking down at my brown bump and feeling the seemingly endless movements of our growing baby. :)

via helloneest

via .thesartorialist

lucky boy sunday

2011-06-01T12:04:00.000-07:00

as I await the arrival of our little bundle I find inspiration and day dream material in all things baby related. 

here is a new sampling of gorgeous images from lucky boy sunday