and it was all yellow...

Lately I've been on a real organization kick. It all began with my studio...which if you remember, looked like this not so long ago:

I sorted and donated and tossed and sorted and donated and tossed some more. Eventually, I was able to pair down my supply closet to this. I have to say, it gives me goosebumps every time I need to reach for a sharpie!

[thanks for the gorgeous flowers Nikki!]

I think the crowning achievement here was the realization that I could cover the closet's less-than-attractive wire shelving with paper borders from the teacher supply store and completely change the look for next to nothing!

After this, I moved on to organization of activities, dates, times, etc. Having tried for the last year to use my phone for all this info, I realized the electronic format wasn't cutting it. I like something tangible. Enter Megan (my organized-friend-extraordinaire) who recommended I look into the SmartDate system by Russell + Hazel. If you're not familiar with this company....oh, you should be.

I'd purchased the super sleek executive jotters before...which I've loved.

But...the planners! Oh, the planners! Last week I received the Apricot Mini Smartdate Set in the mail and am already sooooo organized...or at least pretending to be soooo organized. Makes me feel like I'm back in school---with the supply-shopping, withOUT the homework.

In all fairness, the set is a little more expensive than what I'd typically allow myself to spend...but perhaps it will lead to more clients...AND it is completely up-datable, reusable AND stylish! Totally worth it.

Phase three of the organization frenzy has led me to a new website...but that's a story for another day. Stay tuned later this week for the big reveal.

exploring the options

It is such a rainy day here in Greensboro. Perfect for painting...

Ok, maybe not. But perfect for thinking about painting.

As I've mentioned a time or two, at the top of our home's long punch list is a new exterior color scheme. The one now is ok, but we're no shrinking violets when it comes to color...we've gotta add some punch.

A few weeks ago, Edgar and I tested out our initial ideas on what was a mess of a yard barn. This was helpful, except for the fact the proportions are so different from the house, where there would only be a small dose of yellow.

There would be opportunity to change the door color over time:

Or maybe even paint the recessed entry white...

Up next, something a little less blue. Perhaps a little more like this painting from a while back.

or those gorgeous Kentucky barns...

This experiment turned out a bit eggplant...but, I kinda like it.

and another...

Phew, that's a lot of painting for one day. I think I'll save the ultimate decision for another day...in the meantime, feel free to weigh in while I take a nap!

love, peace and goodwill

Thanks again to all who participated in last week's "may I ask one more favor? giveaway." Using the random number generator I've picked a winner! Congratulations Chey! Email me with your address and I'll send a goodie envelope your way!

I appreciate all your questions and comments and look forward to addressing them in future posts.

see larger here

In other news, here's how our deck is shaping up. Is it any surprise, each planter has a story? If the same holds true for your garden, you're sure to find inspiration in this film? It's a sweet one!

so I married a green thumb

Good morning! Hope you had a wonderfully relaxing weekend.

We spent the last two days working in our yard. The lawn [if you can call a space without grass that] was pretty bare when we moved in, but Edgar's dedication to covering the aforementioned bare areas with moss, identifying the perfect location for a given plant, nurturing succulents, pampering his baby Japanese maple and searching for unique pavers is really beginning to pay off. From the beginning I was totally overwhelmed by the amount of work to be done, but he's been a visionary all along, recognizing a rock here and bit of creeping jenny there will add up to make something beautiful. He's able to see the big picture, or as his quick sketch indicates, the little picture:

Please note that Pokey is NOT to scale :)

The man has definitely got plans: which I hope he will reveal more about on his blog. Hear that EZ?!?

Finally, as the top drawing indicates, we spent Labor Day planting flowers for next spring. In the midst of this activity, this guy got planted in my head as well:

If he grows out of the ground instead of a daffodil, I don't know what I'll do.

But, enough about us, what did you do this weekend? Also, if any of you are gardeners and have posted images, please feel free to share the link. We'd love to see what you're growing!

thank you for thanking me

If you've followed this blog for any time, you probably know that I am obsessed with all things mid-century modern---but particularly the designs of the Eames---and even more specifically, the molded plastic chairs.

Last year, when I won a teaching award, I put the money I received towards the purchase of four of these beauties for our dining table. Since we don't have children yet, I consider these my babies. Well, it seems my students had been paying attention to this infatuation as well, because at my surprise going-away party they presented me with this poster.

But here's the real kicker....not only did I receive this incredibly thoughtful poster, but the chair as well!!!!! The students pooled together their money to buy me a new baby, Andy Aqua. I was speechless then, and am still in awe of their generosity today. What a present!!!!!!!

The reason I am sharing this news now, nearly three months after the event, is because I finally received the real chair, which had been on backorder, this week! It is going to work great with a new desk Edgar has been busy making me this summer.

To all who contributed, thank you, thank you, thank you!

Photos of the chair [and desk] soon to come.

little things

...make me happy.

I've been collecting quite a bit of vintage and thrifted goodies here lately. If only I was a better photographer, I'd share more. In the meantime, I keep drooling over what I'm seeing here and here. Such great eye candy.

Yooohoooo Tim?!? Where are you...and your camera?

our color story

I'm happy to share that after hours spent staring at paint swatches, analyzing the differences between 'Tame Teal' and 'Aquaduct', we've finally settled on the color palette for the walls of our house. Yay! One task crossed off the list, only 5,426 more to go. Good thing we love doing this!

In case you're wondering, we're not completely abandoning the brighter colors of our inspiration images. But, in an effort to avoid having it look as though a clown or Easter bunny (you take your pick) exploded in our house, we're reserving the bolder hues for furniture and accessories.

We meant to get started painting this past weekend, but only got so far as taping up half the living room. In the words of Patrick Starfish, tomorrow for sure!

happy home hues

Lately we've been working on developing a color palette for our house.

We're inspired by the colors seen in these beautiful log bowls by Loyal Loot:

and this Feist concert poster by Vahalla Studios:

Surely a home filled with these colors will be a happy one.

let the housewarming begin!

July,1983 : Note the haircut. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

I've always been interested in housekeeping. Not cleaning house mind you, but keeping a house. And now that we've finally unpacked all the boxes [it only took four months] and created a punch-list like no other, I'm excited to get started doing just that. I plan to share the inspiration, desperation, questions and progress here. So please, take off your shoes...or your shirt (as I seem to have an affinity for doing!)...and stay awhile!

Also, if you haven't done so already, I'd love for you to become a follower of my home away from home...or is it my home at home? Either way, seeing your little heads in my sidebar inspires me!

tying one on

I love garlands...

...making them...

...hanging them...

...delighting in the whimsy.

switching subjects

We're currently on the look-out for one, perhaps two, large pendant fixtures for our living room. And, of course, like any good mid-century enthusiast, we LOVE George Nelson's Saucer Bubble Pendant. But we'd also like to step out of the box [and back into our price range] a little.

I ADORE David Trubridge's Floral Hanging Lamp, [have you seen the light patterns created from this beauty? GORGEOUS!!!]. Unfortunately, Edgar is not a fan of exposed light bulbs...

which also knocks out Moooi's Random Pendant...rats.

So, any suggestions? We're open to all shapes, just not all sizes (the bigger the better). We're also particularly interested in supporting up and coming designers...

Update : check out these nifty suggestions via nifty readers...

Jax suggested the Sustainable Chandelier by Julianne's Atelier. Made from plastic cups. Wowzer!

And then another suggestion of the Ikea PS Maskros. I love it via the internet, but I'm curious about how it looks in person. Have you seen it?

Keep 'em coming!

let's face it, I have a chair addiction

As I mentioned last week, I've been reluctant to show you photos of the new place as we've yet to really get started getting started settling in. However, I'm going to make an exception for one reason and one reason only.



I'm so SO SO SOOOOO excited about the three molded plywood chairs I picked up this past weekend at the Liberty Antiques Festival that I simply can't keep them to myself. Gorgeous. Designed by George Mulhauser (who, I learned via a little internet research, is also thought to have played a large role in the creation of the Coconut Chair), the three chairs are perfect for the three of us in the little breakfast nook-to-be of our kitchen.

What's not so perfect? The bright red walls and black and white tile floor they're surrounded by. I get a headache from the contrast every time I cook...or wait, is that just the cooking?!?

pad in progress

I've received sweet notes from a few of you asking when I'm going to show some photos of our new pad.  I would love to...and will...but right now home improvements are progressing at a snails pace (translation : we still have not one frame on a wall).  What I do have, however, are these little doodles in which I've daydreamed about things coming together.  As you can see, my dreams involve parties, with lots of odd-looking figures in dark suits.

its me, margaret

Helloooooooo! Are you still out there????

Thank you so much for your patience over the last couple of weeks. I'm happy to report that we've officially moved in: though I still can't find the cord that connects the scanner to the computer or the shower curtain for the guest bath or...you get the idea. I guess a more accurate description of our current status is that everything is under the roof, but where under the roof is up for question.

Regardless, we are SO happy and looking forward to a long weekend of house work. Did I just say that?

But, for today, since I'm sans-scanner, I thought I'd post a few things that are hanging out on my desktop waiting to go in their proper folders. Let me assure you, there is no rhyme or reason to this ensemble:

: a family tree for a friend's grandparents' 50th anniversary :

: wedding snacks : photo by Jen Yuson :

: leftover signage from the virtual open house :

: an unfinished family portrait with the working title 'if we were muppets' :

: and once again, that funny picture of me banging my head against the table :

So random...and so much more of it to come...

august and everything after

A little update...just in case you were wondering.


Inspired by the incredibly fun Arty Velarde (who I might add, also inspired me to sketch more regularly in the first place!)

reading rainbow

Inspiration can show up in the funniest of places. Edgar and I have been keeping our eyes peeled for cool color concepts (c.c.c.) for our new pad but I sure didn't expect to find this jewel in a 4th floor library bathroom. Guess I shouldn't have judged the book by its cover.

Know what else this photo inspires me to do? Get a pedicure ASAP.