Deck the Halls

I love decorating for the holidays and this year is going to be a pinnacle year.  This season is so special because we will be spending the entire holiday in Houston with all my family arriving from the east and west. With five of us living in four states, it has been over six years since we were all together for Christmas.  So this year I am gathering inspiration for over the top holiday decor from garlands galore, to pretty packages, to anything fabulously felt, and even chalkboard inspiration (last year's design was a huge hit).  I know that this year will be as magical as I have conjured it up to be in my head....like the magic of childhood. Now if I could just find some elves to help me get it all done!

All images via my Deck the Halls board on Pinterest {click for even more!}  Do you pinterest? I find that it is an amazing way to catalogue inspirations and highly recommend it!

"Drink Deep + Take Flight"

Today I am thankful for caffeine in the morning and slow starts to the day.  I love huge holiday mornings as everyone slowly crawls out of bed and gathers around the hearth.  Truth be told I am much more of a chicory coffee drinker than a tea partaker but I do sip from time to time. Especially when the packaging reminds me to enjoy every moment.  

Strike My Fancy

I adore these apothecary matchstick bottles!  The vintage bottles were collected and then repurposed as match holders.  The bottoms are hand etched bottoms so that you can strike away.   Can you ever have too many apothecary bottles OR matches?  Genius!  These would make great stocking stuffers or hostess gifts...hint, hint.

all images via MagPie & Rye

Hand Jive

Are you overly animated when talking using your hands to express your excitement?  How about when dancing...How about only dancing with your hands?  This is pretty amazing video full of sweet knocking, tapping, and rapping hand percussions...like Irish dancing only with your hands.  Have a great weekend!

We No Speak Americano ft. Cleary & Harding from Up & Over It on Vimeo.

Thanks Yvette for sharing!

Tucker Holiday

Ok, ok, on to more appropriate attire.  I love Tucker by Gaby Basora's Holiday 2010 collection of blouses and tunics.  They are all so effortlessly elegant.  I can easily pack on the turkey and dressing and no one would be the wiser under these flowing beauties.

all images via tuckerbygabybasora.com

Tucker for an Indian Summer

Even though I am a bit offseason with the this post, I love all the beautiful silk prints and the way they move in this Tucker video.  The street dancing is pretty rad too.   Perhaps we can recall some of that Indian Summer weather we experienced recently?  Jump up and dance...its almost the weekend!

Happy Haul-idays!

What an amazing giveaway Chronicle books is hosting!  Simply curate a list of books valued up to $500, then blog about your list and you'll be entered to win your very list.  Plus the generous folks at Chronicle Books are also going to give one of your readers the chance to win your list of books...so be sure to comment!  (Only open to US residents...sorry!) December 10th is the last day to enter.

As I am attempting to make my list and check it twice, I have two totally different rough drafts working here.  I am completely torn between my responsible list which will contribute greatly to my resource library for work, or throwing my whole lot into finally owning Terra Incognita Limited Edition which I guest blogged about over here and have been hoping to add to my coffee table.  What is a girl to do?!? As my computer is most likely to self-implode soon, do I have to be a responsible adult and go with the aids to my profession?  Who would have thought narrowing down to $500 worth of books would be so difficult?  .......So it seems that my good work ethic will not win out on this one...I am going to go whole hog Terra Incognita, with a few other goodies on the side!!!

Terra Incognita Limited Edition Photographs of America's Third Coast, By Richard Sexton

Small Stakes Music Posters, By Jason Munn

Little Book of Letterpress By Charlotte Rivers
Decorate 1,000 Professional Design Ideas for Every Room in Your Home, By Holly Becker, and Joanna Copestick
Photographs by Debi Treloar

Polaroid Notes 20 Different Notecards and Envelopes, Curated by Jenifer Altman
Cart Total: $499.85!  Now its your turn....leave a comment and you will be entered to win my list. ...also let me know if you post a list :)  Good Luck!!

Here is my very responsible list which will have to wait:
Narrow Houses, Material Immmaterial, Anna Sui, Design Reseach, Small Scale, The Exquisite Book, The Small Stakes, Kitchen Centric, New Restaurant Design, 1000 Interior Design Details for the Home, Decorate, Paper and Craft.

Midas Touch

I can't stop daydreaming about how glorious this glassware would look on my table.  Contemporary and luxurious, I would love to give these a whirl at my next dinner party.

image via DWR.

Make Cold Rooms Cozy

So if you have been around here a while you know that I am a fan of yarn bombing, and recently I have been really inspired by a plethora of knit/crochet home decor.  As the mercury is dropping I wish I had a real fireplace and one of these to add a layer of coziness...

We talked a while ago about Patricia Urquiola's Manga Rugs.  This season the rugs have been transformed into three dimensions to form the aptly named Mangas Puf.  My favorite is the baby one with that lovely white texture, the pale pink pattern, the heathered charcoal, and the deep autumn gold.

images via gan-rugs.com

I also love these stools which give lovely little pops of texture and pattern, Wood & Wool Stools.  The frames are made from recycled wood complete with yesterday's paint.  The crochet top is also a slipcover, so I dare say that in the warmer months you could remove them for a good cleaning and store. I am not sure which aspect to love more: the upcycled wood or the vibrant crochet patterns. 

via Lloso, images via

Desert Chairs

On our last trip out to Marfa we met Jamey and Constance Garza of Garza Design + Build.  The dynamic designing duo couldn't be sweeter or more genuine.  After a fabulous Pad Thai dinner whipped up by Constance... the pair showed us their latest furniture designs.  They were working on the prototypes for the Desert chair series, refining every last detail.  I am so pleased to see the final product released, with the saddle leather finish, stitching details, steel or powder coat options and all. Let me tell you, these chairs are as comfortable as they are sculptural.
The art paired with the chairs below is also by Jamey as part of a show he did in San Francisco in 1999 at Gallery 16.  There are a total of 16 paintings on plywood each 34" x 34".  All imagery and text was taken from album covers and liner notes as part of a concept of "Honky Tonk Heroes".  I think they are so Classic Country Chic!

All images via Garza Design + Build.

Graceful

Sometimes I wish I was as graceful as a ballerina.  

All images, The Ballerina Project.

Actually, I would just like to be as graceful as my Nana is.  Happy Birthday Nana! So Nana's athletic grace was more in the form of synchronized swimming, which amazes me because I am not a strong swimmer.  Throughout my lifetime she has shown more grace and stamina than a ballerina or synchronized swimmer during her finest performance.  I know that her seven children and nearly thirty grandchildren are all grateful to have her as our matriarch.  Have a great weekend everyone!

The Corinthian Club

Wouldn't you feel like a Bond girl here?  I love the restoration of the exquisitely detail historic elements mixed with the minimal detailing of the new balconies.  I love that wonderful faint hue on the structural glass balconies!

via

Rainy Day Delight

I am so delighted that it is wet, cold, and rainy!  Because I get to wear these, and jump in puddles...and perhaps even see a rainbow if I am lucky.  

via

Vintage Seekers

Exploring this new website, and dreaming of hitting the open road in one of these dresses behind the wheel of any one of these cars!  My chariot awaits....

November

So it's November already!  I love Citrines, what a great birthstone for you November babes out there.  I particularly like the rough texture of these little earrings.