Pretty porcelain by Samantha Robinson

I came across the work of porcelain artist Samantha Robinson on Anthro's site recently, and loved it so much that I decided to investigate further.  I'm glad I did because her website is a treasure trove of beauty and inspiration.  Here's a peek...

I especially love these cheerful teacups.  One of these would be so perfect for my morning cup of tea.

Pretty, isn't it?  In other news, it's almost Friday! (Woohoo!)

xo,

Pretty fabrics by Laura Gunn

With less than three months to go, wedding planning has officially kicked into high gear.  As part of a wedding-related project (it's a secret, so I can't describe it in detail!), I've been browsing through fabrics on Etsy and came across these gorgeous designs by Laura Gunn.  Aren't they beautiful?  It's almost enough to make me want a sewing machine...

Images via Etsy.

Sweet vintage cake stand, by Olivia

I was so excited when Olivia contacted me to let me know I'd won her cake stand giveaway! Olivia makes the most beautiful vintage cake stands from unique plates that she finds at antique and thrift stores. It was so hard to choose just one. I finally decided on the Isabella cake stand. Isn't she a beauty?

I'm finding that it's perfect for storing the jewelry and other odds and ends that seem to collect on our dining room table. (I take off my jewelry at random times and can never seem to put it back in my jewelry box.)

Thank you Olivia! I love it so much!

P.S. Be sure to check out Olivia's lovely shop and her equally lovely blog where she muses about her daily adventures in baking, exploring her town, and other inspirations. I promise you'll be as smitten as I am!

Dream Box

On Sunday, I was feeling a bit restless. Feeling like I really needed a project in which to immerse myself. Do you know the feeling?

I wandered the house a bit, looking for inspiration, and spied a stack of old magazines. I tend to hang onto old magazines "just in case" (in case of what, I'm not exactly sure). This tendency results in large stacks of magazines (Elle Decor, Gourmet, Domino, Food & Wine, Body & Soul, Real Simple...I could go on...) at random spots throughout the house. So, I decided to actually get some use out of my old magazines by creating a Dream Box. I have not taken Jennifer Lee's Dream Box Workshop, but I became familiar with the concept after reading about it here and here.

I cut out images and words that appealed to me on an intuitive level, without stopping to think about "why." (Although I couldn't bring myself to cut up my Gourmets and Dominos since they're now in short supply...so sad!) Using a glue stick, I pasted the images onto an old shoe box that had been collecting dust in my closet. I didn't think too much about the composition of the images; I just squeezed them in any which way they would fit.

I've been studying the finished product, and have noticed several recurring themes: natural settings, brightly colored textiles, and flowers, flowers, flowers! I'm thinking this is a sign that I should incorporate more of these things into my life.

This might be breaking slightly with the intended use of a Dream Box (not having taken the workshop, I'm not 100% sure of how it's meant to work), but I plan to use mine to store notes, plans, and pieces of info related to my goals, as well as bits of whimsical ephemera (photos, drawings, postcards, or even treasured family recipes). I'll re-visit its contents regularly for a fresh dose of inspiration. And who knows? Maybe having all of these things in a single sacred place will illuminate new ideas and connections for me.

Has anyone taken the Dream Box workshop or made your own Dream Box? If not, do you have a similar place where you put things related to your goals and dreams?

In stitches

I took myself on an artist's date at Michael's last week. For us creative types, that place is like a candy store! I got all kinds of ideas just walking around, checking out the various arts and crafts supplies. I found myself drawn to the knitting accoutrements (all that pretty yarn!), and ended up purchasing knitting needles and several balls of yarn. My first project is to make a scarf for Jason. I've knit one row so far. This is progress, my friends, considering I am completely re-learning the craft. (My grandmother taught me how to knit when I was very young, but I haven't done it in upwards of 15 years!)

Anyhow, I have been studying knitting videos on YouTube, which is helping. Slowly but surely, I am getting back into the swing (or stitch, as the case may be).

Do you knit? Any good pointers for a newbie?

Image via nerdfighters.