Happy, Happy Christmas!

God bless you and keep you and your family safe during the Christmas and New Year's holidays!

missing the sunny days

Considering it is so gray and melty right now, I'm really missing days like this... (Chris (in my favorite type of outfit- cutoff shorts and flip flops) and Ralph at Urban Playground, and the South Shore Farmer's Market)

diy invites

Athough I doubt everybody could diy these invites, they are quite lovely. I love when weddings have well coordinated stationary, favors, and assorted other fun surprises. I know not all of the guests notice - but the ones that do? They make it all worthwhile.

A little something beautfiul

I love these colors and the creative idea of utilizing someplace so simple for firewood storage. This is almost like looking at a still-life. I wish I needed to store firewood! Still dreaming of a wood-burning fireplace. Someday...

sometimes...

you stumble upon something and it brings someone to mind immediately. I know just who I'll be purchasing this sweet little dish for - a dear friend who needs a little laughter in her life right now. Wouldn't it be perfect for your dresser or bathroom sink - a nice little location to drop your daily rings or earrings in?

I'm really loving...

this beautiful new store in Oakland, California - called Atomic Garden. I read a quote saying they are a green store, but they don't "shout about" being green. They want their customers to come in and enjoy the store for it's beauty, and buy things because they really love them (and if they just so happen to be helping the planet,well then - bonus!) I love that philosophy. Just BE more green - don't advertise it as the main reason people should come in. I'm already really tired of hearing eco-this, and sustainable-that - not that these messages aren't vitally important. It's phenomenal the way greening our lives has become so - trendy. It's just all over every magazine cover, commercial, product, etc. Let's just do it, and stop saying so much about it!

how I feel about this week

is it over yet?

Art vs. Craft this past weekend

On Saturday, Chris and I attended the Art vs. Craft show on Van Buren at the Humphrey Scottish Rite Masonic Center. It was my first time attending the show - don't ask me HOW I did not know about it before, but it was so so so wonderful! All of the vendors were friendly, helpful and super talented. The quality of the goods really made an impression on me - the quality was so high, so well-made and all were unique and fun to browse! I get really spazzy when I am surrounded by lots of good selection. Chris is my witness - I almost fell down the stairs right when we walked in I was so excited. If I could scoop up all of the great artists and crafters that were there, and drop them right into my store, I certainly would! I collected lots of business cards (and some goodies for Christmas presents as well) - and am putting that into my stock-pile of potential vendors for Flora + Fauna! (sorry for the crappy photo - the lighting and my camera were not getting along).

Happy Friday Lunch (Jenny)!

I wanted to put a picture of you rocking out last weekend but they are already on my computer at home, so this will have to do. Just wanted to give you a shout out during your lunch break today (if you happen to be reading this!). Wanna go bowling tomorrow night? :)

Hand Lettering

I am really enjoying this logo - I can't tell if it is hand-lettered or not - these days it could be a typeface. But isn't it sweet? I contacted a woman a few months back to ask her if she would be interested in collaborating on a logo project for Flora and Fauna. She was so sweet and agreed to work with me. I absolutely love her style - check out her website for samples. It is so unique and amazing.

Great Idea

I love love love this creative idea from Burnham Design. She creates concept boards for her clients, and it looks like (although it's hard to tell from the press pictures) - she either files for herself and gives to them these amazing boxes filled with swatches, mood boards, etc. What a neat idea for a wedding stationary set for a bride. I'll have to file this into the wedding section of my brain.

Packaging Idea

More packaging talk. I love package design - It is an area of design that so many people neglect - for budget reasons, or lack of interest, or whatever - it is so important and can be so expressive! I believe this image is actually individual adhesive wall decals (sorry - I don't know where I found it so I can't give you a link) but I love the idea of pattern within pattern - across bags, gift boxes, you name it. Isn't it lovely?

Speaking of pink...

I already purchased this to hang somewhere near the register. (The future - register, that is). I can honestly see this store of mine in my mind already. I don't know when it's going to happen - five months - five years? But I know it will. I love the vague expression here - "For Like Ever". I saw this in Domino magazine and had to find it! Now it's rolled up in a poster tube in my closet, waiting for a frame and a new home!

Display idea?

I'm going to need to start a collection of just display ideas for products - window designs, styling of displays throughout the store, etc. I love this for a fall concept - the criss-crossing ribbons with lovely little notes tucked throughout. So sweet! Weddings are such collections of inspiration for me. There are some many creative ideas out there!

Image from michelleragoltd.com.

Chair Love

Chris and I love chairs. We would fill our home with nothing but chairs if we could. Modern, antique, retro, classic - you name it. If it is even remotely interesting, we will be drawn to it. I'm not sure where this love of chairs stems from, all I know is that I am into this one right now. Although I'm sure Chris would appreciate it, it might be a little too girly for him. Perfect for my store though, right? If I had to name it, it would be called Love. I have a feeling this future store of mine is going to be an explosion of femininity, just so I will be able to get all of the pink out of my system.

Pieces

There used to be a really cool store here in Milwaukee called Pieces, which closed right before my wedding last summer. Lucky for me everything in the store was hugely discounted and I profited from their loss. (Hmmm...saying that makes me feel a little bad...) Anyway! There is another store named Pieces in the Atlanta area (I wonder if there is any connection?) and think the styling of the store is so wonderful, and I absolutely love that the owner describes herself as an"editor" when selecting pieces to sell. That's a good thing to keep in mind when selecting product - to edit your choices and stick to your audience, similar to the way a magazine would. And, I love her packaging. So simple and chic! (And probably cheap!)

Back to School!

Here's the description for the first workshop I'm going to take. I was going to do it tomorrow morning, but I think with everything going on this weekend I might instead go to the next one offered (it's a Tuesday night - works better for me!)

Exploring Entrepreneurship (so hard to spell!): "Want to know what it takes to start a business and if this might be the right move for you? Looking for resources to help you build on an idea for a business? Start with this session on exploring entrepreneurship offered at convenient locations around the city. We will give you the tools to assess yourself and your idea, and point you toward the resources you will need to turn your idea into a business concept. This two-hour session is your starting point, enroll now."

Okay! I love school.

Art vs. Craft

I can't wait to go to this on December 8th! Hopefully I can do the majority of my Christmas shopping there. I will feel so good about supporting local and/or independent artists! (And, I can scout vendors for the store!)

Couture Maps

Look at these lovely custom maps by Stephannie Barba. They would be an amazing addition to any wedding stationary or party invitation, wouldn't they? This is definitely something to keep in mind for the custom wedding invitation design of Flora and Fauna. They are frame-worthy, and would make such special keepsakes after everything is all said and done! Now, the hunt for a talented illustrator begins...

For the Birds...

Okay, this has to be my last bird post for awhile but I couldn't resist. My friend Amy sent me this wonderful link today for a jewelry stand at pottery barn (only $19!) She must have somehow noticed my freakish attraction to all things bird-related...It's kind of like when I was age 0-15 how I focused entirely too much of my attentions on horses. Hmmm...maybe I should redirect my obsession back to that (I already have a zillion Breyer horses to re-kickoff a collection). But haven't horses come back and gone out again already? I can't keep track. I think it's onto deer now...

Anyway, I think I'm going to have to carry a jewelry section at Flora and Fauna just so I can look at all of these wonderful things on my own time!

Lovely Color Palette

This inspiration board was featured today on Style Me Pretty. I know it is for a wedding but there is something so soothing and yet stunningly beautiful about the colors in those flowers. I will definitely keep this in mind for shop décor. I feel so inconsistent with the styles I like -cottage, modern, elegant, you name it. If it's unique and well-styled, I'm bound to want to do that. Maybe I'll have to think more about doing the styling along the lines of Rose and Radish, in San Francisco. They periodically change their entire store out, like a gallery. It's one way to keep clients coming, I suppose! (But so much work!) Oy.

tweet tweet (so sweet)

I can't even begin to determine which of these I love more. I think I prefer the more asymmetric styles but the nest is so darn cute! From etsy seller luxe deluxe.

love this -

chest of drawers from Decades by WIS design. it's so beautiful and creative! It would be great for stowing small merchandise, gift tags, etc. I thought about it a few weeks back while shopping at a flea market in IL, but who will sell you just one drawer to obtain enough for a collection? And then there's the matter of building the actual piece to hold all said drawers. Oh well - I'll just have to enjoy looking at this one for now!

Inspiring Workspace

I just love the collection of found objects and assorted miscellaneous items found in the workspace of Holly Waterfield's office space in the West Village at her boutique, Camp. I saw this photo on decor8 this morning, but it was also featured in domino a few issues back (sorry - not exactly sure when). Actually, Camp is a great inspiration for me - if I remember the article correctly, Holly had the idea for the store for a long time and one day was walking down the street, saw the perfect location and snatched it up - and thus began Camp! I love how it sort of all fell into place for her and she was kind of tossed right into it all. (My cousin was just telling me last night that the more prepared I am up front, the more likely something like that could happen for me. Hmmm...)

Monday Already?

I hope your Thanksgiving was lovely - mine was quite nice, although always time with the family goes too quickly! I got in this morning and found an email in my inbox with these lovely wrapping papers and notecards (and other neat gifts on the website) from Pop Ink (by French Paper). They have some really great patterned options, and I can't help but love the wood paneled one. It's so 1970's rec-room!

Okay, I'm addicted.

Just one more post - the thanksgiving one was going to be my last but then I was sending a friend the link the j. crew's wedding shop and saw these precious dresses. They have pockets! I am a sucker for dresses with pockets. I think they look amazing as a colorful group (love the mismatched/yet somehow matching shoes), but wouldn't they also be fun one at a time for the summertime? Ahhh. I miss it already!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving - I plan on spending the next few days surrounded by family and friends. I can't wait! Have a wonderful holiday - may you feel as blessed as I do! Cheers! (photo from getty images)

Two of My Favorite Things

Marimekko and H&M are apparently joining forces. I just read via one of my favorite blogs, siagrafica, that Marimekko is licensing some of its patterns from the 50's, 60's and 70's to H&M for their 2008 collection. That is so exciting!

Christmas Gift to Myself!

There are some amazing prints from antigirl that are just marked down (I was considering purchasing one a few weeks ago, full price!) to half (or more) of theie original price. I absolutely love this one, and it's only $20. I can see decorating my entire office/guestroom around this single print, I love it so much!

Domino Design Contest

Here are some lovely photos from the winner of the domino design contest. One of the great things about *dreaming* about my store is that I can imagine decorating however I want. I can do things that are too feminine for my own house (seeing as there is a male residing there as well)...Or a little bit crazier or more stylized. Not everything "goes" with a fifties ranch! But this I love...or at least parts of it! I love the unexpected color combinations, and the mix of traditional French styling with bursts of really modern colors. Give me a cup of tea and sit me in one of those chairs and I'd be just fine!

Kane County Flea Market

This is a crazy event that apparently happens on the first weekend of every month, year round. The year round doesn't astound everyone, but for those of us who reside in the midwest, that is pretty impressive! I took a trip down to Illinois to attend this along with my husband and my parents, and found some really wonderful vendors there who have some of the type of furniture I'd like to mix into my store, to use for displays and storage. Check it out! (There's Chris, sideways, in the long line for coffee)

Holiday Craziness?

Here's a great article if anyone reading (ha!) has the time. (I don't think anyone's reading but me). And maybe Chris and Allison.

http://www.grist.org/feature/2007/11/20/say-no/index.html?source=rss

This is not a wedding blog

But if it was, I would tell you that if I got to marry Chris all over again, I would be clothed in this dreamy Oscar de la Renta gown (maybe minus the sleeves...not sure). Although the first time around was quite nice even without Oscar dressing me. Sigh...

Why oh Why?

Why do I always want things that are unobtainable? At $146.00, I suppose the fact that this Mike & Chris Kyle Knit Scarf is sold out is a blessing in disguise. Do you think I can find a knockoff anywhere? hmmm...(available at chocosho)