Heart on a string

I was contacted last week by the lovely Houston Smilebooth crew to create a custom Valentine backdrop for a Menil mixer, called Menil by Moonlight.  So I whipped up some heart garland, using my favorite bingo paper + color aid + baker's twine.  The color palette we chose is so very J.Crew Spring.  I love it.  

How was your Valentine?  Mine was splendidly low key.

Don't Fret...

Girl Scout cookies are just around the corner.

via on Pinterest

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

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!

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....

"Styling down to the letter"

Great affordable art from House Industries all hand-printed in the USA.  Ranging in price from $100 (plywood ready to hang prints) to $45 (printed on acid-free paper).

All images via House Industries.

Title-an excerpt taken from Fast Company article on House Industries.

Friendship, Pass it on!

I had to snap a picture of this billboard in Austin... It's a lovely sentiment to start the weekend with, right?!  Have a great one, friends and neighbors!

The Tie That Binds

I am so stealing inspired by this idea [it might be straight up plagarism by the time I am done with it.]  I would buy one of these ASAP if it wasn't for the fact that my dad has an incredible collection of used ties from his long career in menswear.  Maybe I can request a COM [customers' own material] and send them into Turn Left Here.
So dad....all I want for Christmas is for you to box up your threadbare old ties and ship them down to Houston (remember that Zegna and Isaia are my favorite).

Image via Turn Left Here Etsy Shop

See isn't Dad precious!

Falling

Love these oxfords!  Even though there is no end to this heat in sight, I am ready to prepare my wardrobe for fall.  I think these would look great with tights, or some skinnies.  Growing up in parochial schools I have evolved through bucks, and saddle oxfords and think that these could be my uniform for fall.  [They also might help me practice my Janelle moves.]

Erin Oxfords

America's Favorite Food Truck Giveaway

My marfalafel just saved my life...literally I was about to wither away into a tumbleweed.    It feels good to be alive.  As a thank you for their valiant cuisine I am voting for the Food Shark in America's Favorite Food Truck Giveaway.  You can vote up to 10 times a day.

It's all in the eyebrows

I love this Mischievous Mustache Monkey, "he measures 18 inches tall, but is larger than life"!  As a child my only trick was that I could raise one eyebrow at a time and then gradually I was able to raise them each in succession at greater speeds.  To this day I still love eyebrows and all the expression that they convey.  I think this little guy would be a great gift for kiddos as their first lesson in sarcasm, and suspicion.  If you can win over this monkey then you are skilled in the art of conversation.

On another sock monkey note, I still love this commercial...maybe mischievous monkey needs a Mom tattoo too.

We need more parties in the USA

Really digging this vibe right now. .. 60's surf ephemera. .. . ... .. . ..

Vintage Surfing

LeRoy Grannis

$20K of 60's surf ephemera

Surfing on Nantasket

Have a party weekend!  Much gratitude to my friend Susan who turned me on the this great summer tune in a little lagniappe package.  I am wearing my little piece of the beach now.

Rolling into the weekend

From classy cocktails to brassy brawlers we have quite the weekend in store.  We will be hanging out with some new friends, plenty of old friends, and little family in between.  Hope your weekend is an adventure!

Roller Stop

Picnic-a-go-go

Wallpaper Magazine has comissioned a wonderful collection of artisan goods for their Handmade Issue.  I am just drooling over all the outdoor-worthy items and wishing it was time to pull out some rich fall hues, and lie beneath a tree canopy of fall leaves.

all images via Wallpaper

They really have thought of it all: blanket, cutlery, cocktail set, lawn tables, stop watches and horseshoes...the only thing missing is our favorite game Petanque [luckily we already have a set.]

Early American Flags

Good quick read: 10 factoids from Jeff Bridgman {via 1stDibs} to get you in the mood for Independence!

Nice Package

This weekend I secured a small lot of  really wonderful colored masking tape for a considerable discount.  {See my  photos above.}  So my new score + my mass quantities of bingo paper have me committed to amassing cute packaging materials! Here are some of my latest packaging obsessions from Present&Correct {I think I will start with the grab bag}:

 

{hat tip}