Happy Belated Mother’s Day

This year for Mother’s Day, I decided to do something a little different.  I’m a big gift giver.  I love finding or creating the perfect gift for someone – the kind of gift that helps that someone realize just how much you care about them and just how much thought you put into finding the perfect present.

Buying things for Mama is never difficult.  We have somewhat similar tastes and I can usually spot something she’d like (especially if it’s on clearance) from a mile away.  Mama is the kind of girl who loves table linens.  She has 1/4 of the attic sequestered for her pressed, hung, plastic-wrapped and marked tablecloths, a special chest in the dining room for placemats and a drawer system in the coat closet for linen napkins.  She could probably create a different look for every day of the year in her dining room if she was so inclined.  So to play into that love, I thought I’d give her even more linens.  Only this time… I’d make them! (dunt dunt dun!!!)

I found these adorable napkin rings (on clearance! Mama would be so proud!) and bought 4 Sparrows and 4 Finches in white. 

Then, I stopped by JoAnn’s in search of a pretty fabric that would complement Mama’s yellow dining room.  I decided on the Stonehill Collection Prairie Home Green Vine and took home 2 yards.

Then I set to work.  First, I washed and dried the fabric on the recommended hottest setting however the heck I wanted to. Then came the actual assembly.  Not being the most patient or accurate seamstress meant that I didn’t measure a darn thing.  I folded the fabric so it made 8 equal pieces and began cutting.  After I cut, I measured eyeballed about a 1/2″ fold on each raw end and pressed it down.  I stitched each fold down using Grandmama’s  sewing machine. (I have a sewing machine but it was feeling a bit under the weather)

Grandmama helped me pin about another 1/2″ fold down on each side of the napkin and I stitched them down twice this time.  Once close to the fold and the second time close to the edge of the folded over portion.  Viola! Finished napkins! They are by no means perfect and by no means acceptable to give to anyone other than family but I’m pretty proud of the way they turned out!

Susie and I fixed Sunday dinner for Mama and Grandmama on Mother’s Day so we set the table using the new napkin rings and napkins.

They don’t look half bad when pulled through like this.

I tied a cute little vintage children’s book tag (Mama is an elementary school media specialist) to the bird at Mama’s place and she seemed to be really pleased with the new additions to her surfeit of table linens.

Visit this blog for more detailed (and accurate) instructions.

Dont’ sew? You should order these beauties! Absolutely gorgeous!!

Home Sweet Home(page)

This is what greets me every morning when I open Firefox.

It makes me so happy to see what fun projects and ideas Martha and her team of geniuses have whipped up each day.

What’s your homepage? Is it something fun like Martha or informative  like Fox News/CNN or is it all business like Gmail or Yahoo?

Color Me Tangerine

I must be craving citrus… last week I talked about Lemon Yellow and today it’s Tangerines!

*This bedroom isn’t very tangeriney but the rug is! And this is one of my favorite images… a soft bed, lots of natural light and loads of books on the built-ins = bliss!

1. & 2. Martha Stewart, 3. & 4. Elements of Style, 5. Darby: Fly Through My Window, 6. British Home and Garden via Delight by Design, 7. – 15. JCrew,  16. & 17. Williams-Sonoma,  18.-20. Veranda, 21.-24. Pottery Barn, 25. Martha Stewart, 26. ZGallerie

Gratuitous Pictures of Tater

A cute picture of Tater from this weekend:

 

A silly picture of Tater sleeping.  I wish it wasn’t so dark!

Ayo Technology

Why is it that everytime you are really depending on some piece of technology, it fails?! ARGH!  My computer at work had fatal errors this morning and needed a new hard drive. VERY ANNOYING. 

On a less obnoxious note, sometimes when I’m working at my desk, I’ll put in one earbud and listen to my iPod.  It’s REALLY hard not to sing along. 

This is what my iPod usually looks like… except my fingernails are not usually that manicured. However, a good portion of my songs are Dolly ones.  :)

Any other Dolly lovers out there?

A Fun Day

If you’re in the North Metro ATL area, you’ll want to check out the Humane Society’s PAWFest 2009.  Despite their pretty pitifully designed website and flyer with centered body copy (my PR professors would have a stroke!) it promises to be a fun day.  This would be a great Mother’s Day treat for your dog-loving Mama and one of my favorite bloggers will be there.

Let me know if you go.  I’d love to hear all about it!  I bet Tater would win the best kisser contest! :)

Sweet Potato

My parents have the cutest dog ever born.  Seriously.  I’m pretty sure nobody can compete. But this girl might come in a close second place.

Sweet Potato (aka Tater) is half Boxer, half American Staffordshire Terrier and was rescued from a local shelter about 2 years ago.  All of our pets have been recues and we couldn’t be more pleased with all of them. Mama found Tater on Petfinder and fell in love instantly.  She and Daddy went to meet her and knew immediately that she was the perfect dog for our family.

After a litter of puppies and a nasty case of heartworms, Tater was an unlikely choice for most families but for Mama and Daddy, it was like she was custom created just for them.  We’re big fans of smooth, shorthaired, big dogs but Mama also wanted somebody to snuggle up in her lap on the sofa.  Tater was the perfect combination of both.

Just look at how at home she is on the sofa:

And who could resist this snuggly bear?!

I think it’s safe to say we’re crazy about her.  The picture on my phone are about 90% of Tater.

Her hobbies include destuffing toys, napping, trying desperately to get some chocolate (even resorting to tearing up Christmas stockings), learning tricks for a Cheez It, kissing EVERYBODY, going on walks, basking in the sunshine, following Mama around, snuggling on the sofa with Mama, making that puppy face you can’t say no to and not walking on hardwood floors.

Here are some pictures of her doing adorable things:

Evidence of the seven puppies

Just look at that pink chest!!

*Notice the new bed an the new rug in this picture…

Mama bought a new rug so Tater’s fur would blend in! Then her bed looked shabby so Mama ordered a special one for her.  I’ve never seen such a spoiled animal! Everytime I go over to their house, Tater has a new toy or accessory or treat.  Our poor other dogs were neglected in comparison.

Tell me about your pets! Do you spoil your babies? What bad habits do you find endearing?

Please come to Boston…

If I had more that $3 in my pocket, I’d pack up and move to Boston today! Erin from Elements of Style is selling her adorable condo! She’s entertaining the idea of selling it furnished and is offering her style expertise to the buyer.

Here’s what Erin says about the place:

28 Prince Street, Boston, MA
The unit is the first floor of an craftsman style home, renovated in 2007 on one of the prettiest and most desirable streets of the Pondside area of Jamaica Plain- Jamaica Pond at one end, the Arnold Arboretum at the other end! Perfect for a young family, this area of Boston is a fantastic mix of a suburban neighborhood feel (there is a street potluck every summer) with the convenience of the city. The shops and restaurants of Center Street are a 5 minute walk and you can be in Back Bay or at Fenway in 10 minutes!

The details:
*1,450 square feet.
* 3 large bedrooms/ 2 full marble and granite baths.
* Central air/ heat and radiant heat floors in the kitchen and baths for chilly winter mornings!
* Renovated HUGE eat in kitchen with granite, stainless steel appliances.
* Pantry with wine fridge and built in wine rack and glass cabinetry.
* Private patio/yard and deck.
* Wood burning fireplace.
* Tons of storage and half the basement deeded to the unit for storage (full size washer and dryer down there) or could be finished for a gym/ workshop/etc.
* Featured on the cover and in the Boston Globe Magazine.
* Included with purchase is a 10 hours of design time with Erin Gates of Element Interiors to make the space your own (would also entertain selling it furnished if desired)!

E-mail Erin at erin@element-interiors.com for more information!

Just look at these pictures:

Mighty Mississippi

As I’ve mentioned before, I love Garden & Gun.  I also love the look of old barns, quaint schoolhouses, old storefronts- anything that’s indicative of that sort of beautifully, sad Old South.  Apparently, author Gloria Norris appreciates that same forlorn beauty because Garden & Gun has just done a feature on her Highway 51 pictorial series documenting her travels through Mississippi.

Here’s the article on the website:

One for the Road

In a world of eight-lane superhighways lined by strip malls and Ruby Tuesdays, Highway 51 remains a road that’s worth slowing down for. Bob Dylan recorded a ballad named after it. William Faulkner and Eudora Welty grew up alongside it. But never before has the storied stretch of two-lane highway that bisects the Mississippi hill country—wending its way south from Memphis to Jackson—been the subject of a photography book.

With ninety original images, and an introduction by Rick Bass, Highway 51 (available May 1) is a sumptuous tribute to the legendary route and the distinct culture that has grown up around it. Taken by hill country native and author Gloria Norris, the photos capture swamps and pasture, a lone crawfish shack, the mist in the air after a good rain, and music, always music (the area is known for the likes of blues masters R. L. Burnside and Mississippi John Hurt).

If you can’t hit the road, we suggest having a seat on the couch, throwing open the windows, cranking up some road tunes, and cracking open the book. It’s the next best thing to cruising down the blacktop.

The images speak for themselves so I won’t ruin them (even though I’m really tempted!) with corny captions .

*One quick interjection: Who knew that monks loved Elvis?!

*Another quick interjection: The above image captures so many aspects of the South that can’t accurately be put into words.

*The below is my favorite image and it’s my computer background right now:

*All photos by Gloria Norris

I’m seriously going to pick up a copy of this book because if the other images are half as good as these, I won’t be able to put it down!

Color me Lemon Yellow

I’ve decided to feature a color of the week based on things I’ve seen that I like or that inspire me.  This week, the color is Lemon Yellow.  I’ve searched high and low (aka Williams-Sonoma, Etsy and Martha Stewart) to find these citrusy ideas, products and pretty pictures that make me happier than a canary in a lemon tree!

1. Williams-Sonoma Royale Cake Stands 2. KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer 3. Williams-Sonoma Essential Oils Collection in Meyer Lemon 4. Williams-Sonoma Oval Stoneware Bread Basket 5. Melmac Lemon Yellow dishes on Etsy 6. Pierre Balmain Paris silk scarf on Etsy 7. Lemon Yellow Planter on Etsy 8. Lemon Yellow Tea Cups on Etsy 9. Martha Stewart’s Meyer Lemon Wedding Cake 10. Yellow bedroom from Martha Stewart 11. Phoebe Howard 12. Amanda Nisbet 13. Mary McDonald