I am not much of a baker...

but I do have a bun in the oven.  Yes, we are having a baby!!!

We are just past the halfway mark at 21 weeks, and everything has gone so smoothly.  We are so thankful for how everything is progressing. Now that the holidays are over, I am on to tackling starting to think about the nursery.   We are saving one of life's last surprises until the end, so we are on the hunt to create a gender neutral nursery.  To amass my inspiration, I have slowly started a Pinboard.   Let the fun begin!

You can see them at the Fest: Mumford & Sons "The Cave"

Have you checked out the Jazz Fest line up???  Eek, I am so excited!   Thinking I might start a new weekly series with some videos by some of the great artists appearing at the Fest.

Book of Art

Completely enamored with these folded book designs.

Read Cursive

Create

Dare to Dream

Since the designs are folded into the pages, no books are harmed in the making of this art.  Available for purchase on Etsy.

Don't Fret...

Girl Scout cookies are just around the corner.

via on Pinterest

Quilting is a scrap of happiness

Hello, I hope your weekend is off to a great start.  I just popped in to finish this post about these wonderful quilts at Anthropologie {started the post Thursday and ran out of time finishing it and I hate to leave anything unfinished}. We've all seen and loved Gee's Bend quilts. Well there is a new kid on the block in softer color palettes with more fluid designs, Fred Shand. Available exclusively at Anthropologie, each quilt is a work of modern art.  Collaborating with artists all over the globe from Dehli to New York to London.  There is so much to love in each of these designs: the signature panel on the back listing each artisan involved, the back designs, how effortlessly fabulous they look draped, and lastly the wonderful names.  In order of appearance: Green Wink, Fire Line, Pigment Curl, Bolt from the Back, Stripes Overcome, and Weathervane.  

All images via Anthropologie.com

Thanks Anthro for constantly delivering inspiration right to my inbox.  

Have a great weekend y'all!

Words to live by

Image via Heads of State for Real Simple Magazine.
Great Quote + Heads of State = Totally framable art...or as we would say in college...  "That's a Framer!"

Can you taste the color?

I am combating this hazy gray morning with a vibrant breakfast. Doesn't nature give us the most wonderful colors?  I am completely inspired by pomegranate red!

Beyond the Quarter

Anthropologie has commissioned several New Orleans artists to create/re-create a collection of interior wares for an exhibition titled Beyond the Quarter.  I, for one, love the title!  If only everyone who landed  in New Orleans would venture out of the Quarter to experience the rest of what the city has to offer.  The artists and pieces were selected by Keith Johnson {another reason why he has the most incredible job in the world}.   

Hat tip: Lloso Image Credits: Mixed Media light fixture image via The Editor at Large, All others via Casa Sugar  

Painted Chairs & Mixed Media Light Fixture by Kaki Foley; "Front Porch Storm" by Rebecca Rebouche; Laissez Les Bon Temps Roule Settee by Alexa Pulitzer.  

The Three A's of Awesome

One of my favorite compliments is when my friend Mark told me "thank you for being you."  It is such a simple thought that just being ourselves is often more than enough.  Neil Pasricha of 1000 Awesome Things refers to this as authenticity.  Do yourself a favor and set aside 17 minutes to watch his TED talk.  It is a delightful, funny talk about how to find awesomeness in everything!  He even mentions interior design as one of the awesome things...how can you disagree with that?

Drop me a line.

It's National Letter Writing Week!  Time to bust out the stationary and pens for a little old fashioned correspondence.  

Although they are not yet released, I am highly anticipating the new Forever Stamps to be issued this summer.  

Let them eat cake!

King Cake!  It's the start of Carnival Season, y'all!

Thinking about this quote today and wishing I was in New Orleans.  I would certainly be at Chicky-wah-wah tonight to celebrate the Twelfth Night with the Creole String Beans dancing to some great Swamp Pop.

Since I am in not....I will be celebrating with these really lovely ladies.

Make a splash, 2011

Happy New Year!  >> new decade!  >> new beginnings!

I tend to stumble upon things, more so than diving right in....particularly when it comes to my career.  I like to ease into situations, maintaining my comfort zone while I test the waters.  This year my resolution will be to get out of my comfort zone.  I think Billie is a bit like me {okay so she is only 13 weeks old and I'm 31 years old}.  Much like myself, she inadvertently discovered the swimming pool this New Years weekend.  She was just tagging along behind me when she stumbled over the edge of what she apparently thought was a blue rug.  She trotted right into the frigid water.  Her water dog instincts kicked in and she paddled herself back to the edge from which she tumbled.

I guess whether you stumble into something or dive in, you better make a splash.