Search This Blog

Loading...

9.30.2011

Halloween in Black and White


HALLOWEEN IS LOOKING VERY BLACK AND WHITE

Eddie Ross

have you noticed the distinct lack of color this season?
it's back to the nostalgic feel of vintage black and white
and I'm really liking what I see
I hope you are inspired, too!


Etsy.com (simplejoyspaperie)


Woman's Day

13 day halloween countdown


Aurora Bijoux


The Crafting Chicks


Carols Garden


Amber Packer


Apartment Therapy


Better Homes and Gardens





Create with Connie and Mary



Crystal and Company


Curious Sofa




Fancy House Road



Alice W

L A Corelis


Good Housekeeping









PotteryBarn




Rhonna Farrer





The House of Smiths










When it comes right down to it, I love classics - like Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant in 'Bringing up Baby' - or the laughingly spooky  "Arsenic and Old Lace" with Cary Grant and Boris Karloff - do check it out for the Halloween season - and I hope you love it as I do...

9.26.2011

WEDDING IN LAS VEGAS - WITH FEATHERS!




My friend Shawna says we are getting old
and she may be right -
especially if getting old means we are losing our minds

I mean, what was I thinking when I agreed to do a wedding in Las Vegas?
and what was she thinking when she agreed to come along and help?
hauling an SUV stuffed with California flowers across the desert
with the airconditioning turned so high we had to turn on the heated seats
laughing because we had frozen fingers and heated buns....

the hotel was kind enough NOT to let us use the conference room
that would have been too simple -
so we adapted, overcame, improvised
(or more likely lost our minds, again)
and used our hotel room - every nook and cranny of it
including the bathroom
with the DO NOT DISTURB sign never leaving the door
so that the maid service wouldn't faint when they came in to clean
(we're considerate like that)
and it really came together quickly
Shawna was amazing and so talented
I could have never done it without her
and I really enjoyed her company
and getting lost
and laughing
a lot

the venue was kind enough to only give us 3 hours
to get 3 truck loads of florals and containers to the site
set up the outside
and the inside
including a large vinyl monogram for the dance floor
and vinyl lettering for the doors
and attach 11 boutonnieres to 11 charming men
in mind melting heat
while trying to look calm and dignified as befits our age.....


but somehow we pulled it off
(except for the calm and dignified part)
with minutes to spare
now who's calling us old?

truth be told,
I would have done anything for these sweet kids
[the groom was a regular fixture at our house all through high school
as a best friend to my son
and a loveable second son to us] 

so, while we wait for the professional photos of the ceremony and the decor -
with proper lighting
here's a sneak peak...


peacock feathers were the inspiration and the theme
the wedding party in black and jade green
(my boy, James (best man) in front...)


the aisle....
sneak peak at the flowers....
and the feathers....

Can't wait to see the photos....
Congratulations, Jessica and Erik Totman
we love you




9.08.2011

ITS TIME TO GET YOUR 'BOO' ON

And we all know Halloween starts at your front door....

Looking for inspiration for that very place, I discovered some Halloween facts....

Black is in . . . . 
Feathers are the rage
You can have a fresh look for pennies

For example.... an inexpensive grapevine wreath (one from that pile in the garage is even better), some ribbon, scrapbook paper and glue - and a couple of bucks to use the die cut machine at your local scrapbook store - how adorable is this?

here

9.01.2011

ENGLISH GARDENS... AND MORE

I try to do a garden tour each year - but this year my summer was filled with work and a long awaited vacation to Great Britain.  I love gardens.  And I especially love English country gardens. 
My vacation to the UK, however, revealed a few garden surprises, right in the middle of one of the biggest cities in the world

London has many beautiful parks but the most lovely and the largest was right across the street from our hotel.  Spectacular Hyde Park.  Huge ages old trees, water, sculpture, gardens, and acres and acres of green and paths.  We spent many hours discovering its beauty.