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)

I Have an Obsession Which Must End Soon!

I love birds. Anything with birds. I know the trend is super-over but I have always loved them and now there is so much beautiful stuff out there (on sale! because the trend is over! I know!) but honestly...isn't this beautiful? If you saw this in my home (or my store) you would ask me to kindly tell you where I got it. I'll tell you - you don't have to ask. It's from etsy seller Guy Michael Davis and you can buy it right here. You're welcome.

My Girls!

Yay! One of my out-of-town friends was in town for the weekend, so we made it a point to get a bunch of the girls together for a few margaritas and catching up at La Fuente. Good times!

I Covet This

Robert Ryan, a gifted artist based out of London, England creates these ridiculously lovely screen prints using hand done paper cut-outs. I just love this one! (They are almost all a little outside of my budget but what a unique item to hang somewhere special)

One of my Milwaukee Favorites

Nessun Dorma, was recently voted 2007 Best Riverwest Bar by onmilwaukee.com. Congrats! I highly recommend this joint to anyone looking for a low-key but cool place with a lot of character (great food and huge beer and wine list!) to try.

Swoon...

Someone I will definitely be looking into carrying at my store. How lovely are these beautiful handpainted notecards? From Buenos Aires based designer Morris & Essex.

I need...

This deer for my store! From Serie A Store in Munich, Germany (via design*sponge)

The Newest Addition...

To my happy little family...say hello to Milo! Chris, Ralph and I brought home our adorable little yorkie-poo puppy home yesterday :)

Narrowing Down the Options

The hardest thing for me thus far since the birth of the idea of my future store is trying to keep the idea pared down so I don't try to do anything and everything there. But when I see stores like this it's hard not to let myself dream a little! I love the random assortment of lovingly collected pieces so that everytime a customer comes in it becomes a little treasure hunt.

For the Love of Helvetica

Although it isn't playing anywhere near me here in Milwaukee (maybe I'll have to road trip it down to Chicago for yet another design event), I have to see this movie!

More Gift Wrap

...From Whimsy Press. Sigh!

It's a Wrap!

(Store Idea) I would love to offer custom gift-wrap services in my shop someday. Not sure how lucrative that could be, but I'm sure my talented mom could help me come up with some gift-wrap themes that would be sure to impress...she's the present-wrapping queen! And I KNOW she could figure it out on a budget...

Great Gift Idea

Hmmm...who (besides myself) of my lovely friends and/or family would enjoy this lovely neck scarf-warmer thing l as much as I do? From www.bettyjoy.co.uk (and yes, they ship to the US!)

Cute Tags

Do you love these as much as I do?

Creativity

I love this idea for hanging a collection of prints or photographs. Especially for a renter who can't put holes in their walls!

Tonight!

This evening, my dear friend Allison and I are heading down to Chicago for an exciting event hosted by my favorite blog out there - design-sponge. This is going to be so fun - it's a "Biz Ladies Meet-Up", and is geared towards women in the industry who are interested in learning more about and networking with others in the business. Grace, design-sponge writer, says "We will be discussing small business concerns, marketing/PR, real life designer success stories and retailing/wholesaling." Doesn't it sound perfect?! Allison is traveling with me for moral support. What a sweetheart!
This is how we dress every day.

Etsy Artist

I almost forgot. I have to post about my lovely and talented friend Vaiva - she is an amazing artist (and person), who just opened her own shop on Etsy. She is a fellow graphic designer who I met through work. But in addition, she is a gifted illustrator and painter. And from Lithuania, to boot! Check out her shop here.

Lovely Spaces

I think I should include a disclaimer - for a while now I've been collecting imagery in a folder on my desktop. That's probably where the majority of the pictures will come from for a while. I promise any new imagery I collect from here on I will do my best to include links or credits so you can find them for yourself, but for now just enjoy the eye candy. I love the warm wood tones and good lighting - and where did they get that beautiful wall hanging! Jealous.
A lot of the spaces I love as inspiration for Flora + Fauna are those of people's homes. Probably partly because those types of photos are easier to come by, but also because I really hope to achieve an inviting and comfortable space that feels just as nice as walking into someone's really great house.
Cute sign - looks like SF.
Love the way the fruit on the table coordinates with the prints throughout the room.
I absolutely love the way this organic element was introduced into the room. Totally unexpected but beautiful. Especially against that sky blue wall!