open kitchen shelving

sorry for the lack of flower post this week, I have a large wedding on monday and I know there will be plenty of flowers after that plus my flowers from last week as still looking cheery. instead today i thought i would share a few more goings on around the house. 
sadly at some point the original kitchen cabinets (i estimate the building is from about the 1930's) were taken out and replaced with generic white mdf cabinets. but the good news, this has created a few little places for me to introduce some open shelving. over the weekend we installed 3 of these ikea shelves in the kitchen. one replaced a tired shelf that was already hanging over the kitchen sink and the other two are in a little alcove by the doorway. 

a little touch up is still needed around where the lines of the old shelf used to be but that will get done eventually. 

I love that i can look at some of my pretty bowls and glasses while sitting at my table... what do you think? 

i hope you all have lovely weekends. I will be whipping up some flowers for a wedding on monday, hitting the flea market and doing a few more house projects. see you monday

xx

simple summer soiree

i find there is nothing more satisfying than a simple dinner of steamed shellfish. Its my favorite one pot meal for entertaining. A pretty dutch oven on the center of the table ladened with steamed mussels or clams and very little else is needed. It seems to be perfect for any season, but its quick cooking time and bountiful outcome seem especially well suited to an unfussy summer meal. I particularly like this recipe. 
      With the deep purple, blue and black hues of the mussel shell as inspiration, i imagined a table as simply beautiful as the meal. 


napkin, ramekin, paper lantern, wine, wine glass, dutch oven, ironstone bowls, wooden board, cheese. 

around the house

 i have been enjoying the light in the new house....it floods the kitchen in the morning which makes me quite happy indeed. 

above a flea market find...vintage pink and grey linen with a fly fishing theme..i adore it. 

pysanky eggs

i know its not easter but i really dont think that work so beautiful as that which goes into the making of these pysanky eggs should be reserved for any one time of year. I saw a beautiful example of this style of folk art at the flea market this past weekend and i havent really been able to get them out of my head since. 

a folk art practiced in the ukraine, pysanky egg dying is a centuries old tradition using a wax "writing" method to create intricate, colorful patterns on the shells of eggs. warmed wax is applied using a stylus tool to create the desired design. The egg is then dyed in vegetable based dyes from lightest to darkest color - the wax acts as a color sealant on that specific layer of color. it is all removed at the end by gently reheating the wax over a candle flame and gingerly wiping it away. 

my mom and i used to make these eggs - we spend hours together creating our own versions of the patterns - my mom first read about them in a Martha Stewart Living (this was probably circa 1991 mind you, when the mag was still published on a quarterly cycle) We ordered the dyes and stylus kits and away we went. probably my very favorite part about the whole thing, the process requires beeswax, the smell as it it heated over and over again is luxurious and something i will always love. 

my mom still has many of the eggs we decorated - 

images. brama 1,3,5, habit of art 2,4 

flowers for friday

 there are lots of photos this week, not too many i hope, as these friday flowers were very photogenic. As soon as i saw these velvety yellow mini calla's i knew i wanted to use them in an arrangement. they can be a bit of a tricky flower for me to work with, but i enjoyed the challenge and im quite pleased with the end result. yellow mini calla lilies paired with seeded eucalyptus and white freesia (which i love having in the house because of its intoxicating perfumed peppery scent).

have a very happy weekend everyone...i hope you get to do exactly as you wish. im looking forward to the flea this weekend.  see you on monday 

the ostrich print can be found here. 


xx

four etsy favorites

four etsy favorites; for home and for wardrobe. im loving the play of very rustic organics mixed with the glamour of a bit of glitter. 

clockwise from top left: magdalinen home, allencompanyinc, bluegrotto, diterra

pi'lo

i just love this sweet casual shop for home & family. pi'lo is filled with beautiful handmade goods designed and created by owner heather shaw. she works out of her carriage house studio in downtown toronto, which sounds divine, & pens a blog filled with inspiration. 

francesca woodman

francesca woodman is a favorite artist. in her very short life she created some of the most beautiful and haunting images. she seemed to have an intimate and innate understating of the language of photography and her use of everyday objects, environments and her body is extraordinary. 

Union Station

this past weekend i has the pleasure of passing through los angeles union station after an amazingly pleasant trip up from san diego. i really do wish there was more train travel here in the us, its such a lovely way to get to your destination. i got to see all of southern california's spectacular coast line as i gazed out the window on a lazy unhurried sunday trip. 
upon arrival in la i was awed by the beauty and grandeur of this old train station - opened in 1939. my jaw was just about on the floor and i spent a good amount of time wandering about the station.  in fact i was so spellbound i didnt even think to take out my camera but i wanted to share this gorgeous bit of american architecture. 

there is something so incredibly romantic about train travel and it has such glamours vintage appeal that my heart was about bursting over the whole experience. 

images: 1-3, 4, 5

happy friday

happy friday all! do you have anything planned for the weekend ? 
im sorry there are no flowers this friday but i am off on a girls weekend! something i havent done for a very long time and im so looking forward to it. im headed to san diego, a city i havent yet visited so it there will be lots explore, warm weather and laughter. 
enjoy your precious days, i will see you back here on monday! bon voyage 






image. proud mary 

looking forward

im seriously loving these jacquard pants for fall. ive seen them pop up in a few look books and im soooo excited, i cant wait to wear them..... i know its a little early and im sorry, im not trying to rush summer, not that there has been much of one here in sf. ive woken up the last 3 mornings to rain.... but what do you think? love em or hate em

 images: jcrew fall lookbook, net-a-porter

interior inspiration

i cant stop staring at this room. it seems so utterly simple, filled with neutrals and sparsely decorated - so many of the things i love so very much. 
but there are details that make this room extraordinary - those black handles on the windows, the unusual and unexpected shape of the chair, that touch of elegance in the chrome lamp.
-it feels so beachy & feminine without feeling at all contrived. i would like to sit awhile. 






image. amire weitzman's home via designsponge

new england blueberry muffins

this is my moms recipe for blueberry muffins. 

1/2 C butter
1 1/4 C sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon baking powder
dash of salt
1/2 C milk
2 C flour
2 1/2 C of blueberries 

cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl. add the egg. mix in the dry ingredients. add the milk. finally carefully fold in the blueberries. 


butter the bottom and sides of your muffin tin. spoon mixture into the cups, about 3/4 of the way full. sprinkle generously with sugar. 


bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes. remove from oven and let stand in pans for about 30 minutes. 


makes 12 large muffins.  

vintage inspiration

 this weekend was full of inspiration. big ripe california berries are starting to roll into the farmers market, suggesting gorgeous earthy, rustic desserts. ill have a recipe to share tomorrow. 

  few amazing vintage finds over the weekend have set off a sublime spark of creativity. a vintage linen from the 1930's or so, complete with the most delicate little repairs, have kept my heart in my throat for the last few days. 

 im excited for a number of things this week and a long awaited trip with friends at the weekend. its been a beautiful start so far -