Change of Heart
Although I usually tend to like a lighter color scheme, I was so taken by this incredible interior I found via Desire to Inspire. Hmmm, maybe I shouldn't be so quick to shy away from blacks and reds.
Decorating with Personal Belongings
I like my home to reflect my personality, my husbands personality and our life experiences. It is important for me to use mementos that are treasured and special to us in my decorating.
This is the windowsill where I grow my herbs. Mixed in are silver incense burners that my husband had when he lived in India for seven years. I discovered them when we were going through a box of his old things and I polished them up and displayed them in a fun, unexpected place. I now count them as one of my/ our most treasured belongings. What is your decorating style and how do you incorporate your most treasured possessions into your home?
Rian Rae Interiors & Gifts
Rian Rae Interiors & Gifts online shop feels like browsing through a carefully curated Parisian flea market. Each item seems to be one of a kind and the photography and styling is beautiful and tempting!
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Ann Lindberg
I love the range of photographer Ann Lindberg. Her pictures of interiors range from moody and exotic to light and airy. Not to mention her food and portrait shots are pretty amazing!
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Travel Plans
Today was a busy one- that is why I am posting so late. I volunteer on Wednesdays and afterwards, the days errands seemed to consume my time! Anyway, I have been wanting to write on the topic of travel for some time now. I have talked about my commitment to living frugally during this time that I am changing careers. The one area that we are not afraid to spend money on is travel. My husband and I both feel that it is so important to travel as much as possible before we settle down to start a family. Luckily, my husband travels internationally for work, and many times I should be able to tag along with him! Based on his work travel and our personal desires, this is our travel wish list for the coming years!
India, Greece and the Greek Islands (especially Santorini),Turkey, Morocco, Malaysia, London...What about you- do you have a "dream big" travel list? Read more...
Lena Corwin Goodies
The Lena Corwin Pattern Contest over at Design*Sponge has wrapped up! I am very excited to see the results and I do hope to win one of the five signed copies of Lena's new book 'Printing by Hand.' I would love to share some of the projects with you, my readers, and after my success with the radiator stenciling project, I would love some inspiration to start something new! I believe that the book contains the stencil for this amazing dresser below. This would look so incredible in a kids bedroom, but why let them have all the fun. A color change would make it perfect for our bedroom too!
Shop Talk: East Side Eden
Although my garden has proven disappointing this year (an attack by Japanese Beetles finished off the last of my tomato plants), I still love a good gardening store. East Side Eden goes above and beyond your typical gardening store, as is evident by their Rhode Island Monthly Magazine awards in two categories; Best Hostess Gifts and Best Urban Gardening Supplies . 
This store consists of a small shop attached to a large greenhouse. The shop stocks everything from jewelry to stationary, while in the greenhouse you can find an abundance of plants, succulents and gardening supplies.
Owner Alexandra Knott's story of how East Side Eden came about is very inspirational, especially for us creative types. Always an avid gardener, Alexandra pursued a corporate career for 15 years until she was biking by the abandoned store front and greenhouse and it dawned on her that it was the perfect spot for a gardening store. The rest, as they say, is history...
A few of my favorite things: I love the adorable silver bird measuring spoons from Beehive Kitchenware. The rows and stacks of beautiful pots would be a lovely addition to any garden, especially for those of us relegated to a porch garden.
I was also blown away by the beauty of something as functional as a gardening spade. The craftsmanship is just amazing and it's always nice to add a little luxury when it comes to tasks such as weeding!
This store is certainly worth a visit even if your thumb isn't the slightest shade of green. You are certain to find something to delight and inspire at East Side Eden.
East Side Eden1 Alfred Stone Rd.
Pawtucket, RI 02860
401-726-2700
**Many thanks to Susan for welcoming me to the shop and taking me through the interesting background of her life and Alexandra's path! Also note- there is an end-of-the-season, 50% off sale going on at East Side Eden, July 31st through August 4th!! Read more...
The New and Improved Decor8
If you haven't seen the newly redesigned decor8 blog, it is definitely worth stopping by! The new site is very user-friendly, with an easy-to-navigate side bar and bright tabs directing you to cool features such as a bookstore and a very colorful blogroll.
Last Chance to Vote
Am I being too pushy here? You can be honest...!
Tonight the Design*Sponge Lena Corwin Pattern Contest wraps up. If you have not yet voted, click here to get your say before the results are tallied at 10pm EST tonight! Why am I badgering you to do this- because I am a FINALIST! So if you feel so inclined- VOTE FOR ME! I am crossing my fingers and wishing and hoping...
(photo courtesy of flickr)
Ramblings...
I have been a bit consumed lately, which is my excuse for the fewer number of posts. I have an exciting design project that I am working on now, part two of my earlier joy. It has kept me very busy this past week. That project is wrapping up and I am on to another project; preparing my writing for the week long Cape Cod Writers Conference that I will be attending in a few weeks.
A bit of background... I did quite a bit of writing at my old non-profit job, everything from online newsletters to 12 page grants to volunteer handbooks. What I learned from all of this writing was that I was a decent writer but hated that type of writing. When I had a chance to quit my job due to our our move, I thought that it would be a great time to try a career in freelance writing. One thing I was sure of, I didn't want to be doing the same kind of writing that I was forced to do at my last job. I wanted to write about the things that interest me. So along with this blog, which is my creative outlet, I spend my days working on a series of short stories, mainly dealing with the ideas of multi-cultural marriages and foreign adoptions. My husband and I are in a multi-cultural marriage- I am a white American, he is a Canadian raised Indian (although he is lived all over the world- Iran, Greece, India, USA). We are also very committed to adopting from another country. We have both worked in orphanages, myself in Ghana, Vijay in India. When the time is right, we will be exploring adoption from one of those countries. So these subjects that I am exploring through my writing are very personal and I am looking forward to critiquing my writing at this upcoming conference.
I guess I am rambling about all of this because it has me thinking of a larger issue, which is my purpose and path. I am a little lost right now as to how all of these ventures will pan out and if any of them will prove to be a suitable way to make a living.
I also can't help but wonder how I measure personal success. Is it career growth, income, career satisfaction, notoriety, personal fulfillment? I am not sure what the answer is, but I do know this: I am extremely satisfied exploring my creative side. I am also thrilled to answer only to myself. I set my own schedule, work when I feel inspired and have abundant time to enjoy my life and my marriage. Perhaps I have already reached a certain level of success...? I guess that as certain opportunities and projects fall onto my path, I need to embrace them, see them through to the end and not constantly question where all of this is leading me... What are your thoughts?
(all photos courtesy of flickr)Record of the Day
Record of the Day is a wonderful blog of daily collages. I love the simplicity of the twine and mason jars in this picture.
Honeypie Living
Honeypie Living's flickr page is so inspirational. She has quite a talent for photography, but she also has an eye for pulling together inspiration folders and creating mosaics. Just a little something to brighten your Monday!
Images of a Weekend
My husband returned from his out-of-town work conference with a fever and sore throat. See what being away from me does to him...?! Anyway, we are going to be laying low this weekend, drinking lots of ginger tea and resting. I hope your weekend is restful and rejuvenating! (photos courtesy of flickr)Joyful News with a Twist
Okay, so I can finally reveal the secret, the source of my joy earlier this week! This is only Part One, there is another part to this amazement, but that will have to wait! When my mom was visiting last week, I mentioned a little project that we created to enter into the Design*Sponge Lena Corwin Contest. I submitted the project pictures and thought that if I even received a reply, it would be amazing! Turns out I did a little bit better than that- I AM A FINALIST. And Grace (Design*Sponge founder) told me her team, "loooved my entry." Okay, so what, you might be saying...but this is Design*Sponge- the very first blog I ever read, my daily read, a source of great inspiration- and I, a two-month old blogger, am posted there, with my name up in lights! Actually, this is where the twist comes in! They put the wrong name with my entry...They have "Catherine's Patterned Radiator" instead of Christine's- oh I could cry...
Anyway, dear readers, if you think my entry is worthy (oh, you do? thank you!) please click over and VOTE FOR ME! And most of all- thank you for reading, commenting and sharing in this great love of design!
A Good... No... Great Morning!
I am enjoying my morning coffee and bursting with a secret, which I am happy to say I can finally reveal! Yes, I have blown this way out of proportion, but hopefully, you will find it exciting as well. Any minute now...
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