inBloom Studio

my work: Katherine Rose Floral Design

2012-03-02T14:29:00.001-05:00

Introducing Katherine Rose Floral Design! I recently completed the design of their website - a layout created with fresh greens, periwinkle blues and whites. Click here to take a look at their beautiful floral creations, and their newly launched website.

sleeping beauty

2012-02-29T14:38:00.001-05:00

A rare moment, catching my little girl still and peaceful in a deep slumber. How I love being a mommy.

freebie storage labels + getting organized

2012-02-24T15:34:00.001-05:00

Way back before I had kids I saved this post from Making It Lovely that had a great idea for storing the never-ending mountain of baby and toddler clothes. They just grow so quickly. I love the idea of storing the clothes in clear plastic containers by size. It just makes so much sense. {Yes that is a big mess in the photo, on either side of the boxes, that I really tried to crop out. I'm not organized quite yet, but getting there}.

The designer in me couldn't help but make some pretty labels which I printed onto letter-sized paper, cut in half and stuck inside the box much like Nicole did. You could also print them onto a letter-sized label and stick them onto the outside of the box as well. They won't wobble as much that way!

So, I am sharing with you my 'designer' baby clothing storage labels in hopes that you will be inspired as I was, and perhaps a bit more organized too.

Click below to download PDFs of the baby girl or baby boy versions {0 months to size 2} and print away. You may want to print two copies so that you have 4 labels, one for each side of the box. Enjoy and happy weekend!

a high-spirited garland

2012-02-23T14:58:00.000-05:00

My obsession with Pinterest has completely escalated in the past few weeks...there is just SO much eye candy and information on there that it's hard to deal! I recently spied this beautiful 'High-Spirited Garland' from BHLDN which totally inspired me to start the decorating process for the new baby's room. She will be here very soon! {I must admit...I feel a tiny bit of guilt here. For Sage's room I took two months to decide on the paint colour, had about 50 swatches taped to the wall, and laboured over every little design detail. Without the luxury of time, I've had to make some quick decisions, however I'm quite certain she will still be happy with her new room and especially her high-spirited garland!}.

We've decided to go with a soft avocado-y green on the walls and coral/watermelon-y accent colours. And so the other day I went shopping on Tonic Living to purchase some fabric samples. How very exciting to receive them in the mail yesterday, and to see how all the colours came together. I keep staring at the swatches.

I will use my sample pieces to make a flag garland, inspired by the BHLDN one, but I would also like to make a few pillows, especially in these purty patterns. So much to design and create! My mind is spinning.

[FABRIC SWATCHES FROM TOP LEFT: Garden Damask, Green Tea; Flatiron, Coral; Cross Section, Honeydew; Zoo Pals, Pink; all from Tonic Living]

happy valentine's day!

2012-02-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day! I was pretty excited this year that I got to make Valentines for Sage's daycare. Not wanting to give chocolate or candy at all {the kids in her class are between 18 months and 2}, I went with stickers instead. Three sticker books for $1 at the dollar store - score! I whipped up this little card, stuck the sticker book on the back with a glue dot and paired them with a matching custom labelled envelope. Simple and sweet.

For Sage's teachers, I ended up making these cute little morsels. They are super easy, look adorable and are indeed the perfect combo of salty and sweet. Here they are waiting to go in the oven. I forgot to take an after photo...whoopsie. Mommy brain times two I guess.

Happy Valentine's Day! xoxo

a new purse

2012-02-10T15:02:00.003-05:00

I've been combing the land for a new purse! Something cool and funky but mama-friendly too. Since Sage was born, I've been using a cheapy cheap H+M gray purse which I actually get many compliments on, but it has seen it's day and is starting to fall apart. That, and I'm finding it a tad too small.

I like a long strap so I can sling it around my shoulder, especially when my hands are full of kids and car seats. I've narrowed it down to these two beauties from Urban Outfitters.

My first choice is this Deena & Ozzy Buckle Tote. It's a great colour and apparently looks much more expensive in person. It's simple and purty and just what I need.

This Deena & Ozzy Zip-Front Moto Satchel is pretty awesome too...love the colour. I'm worried it is a bit too deep though. Big is good, but I don't want to be losing my keys in there.

At $40 for shipping, I think I'll wait for the free Canadian shipping promotion that comes up once in a while!

here we grow again: 6 months

2012-02-06T21:05:00.002-05:00

Here I am, just a touch over the 6 month mark. If you compare this photo to my 5 month pic, the growth has been unbelievable! Now I know why I've been exhausted and dragging my, ahem, butt the past few weeks. I thought it was just because I've been running after a very busy toddler. That, and I've expanded immensely. With still 3 months to go, looks like I may end up as giant as last time 'round {seriously, people asked me all the time if I was having twins}!

putting together a big girl room

2012-02-02T15:42:00.001-05:00

While we are searching for ideas for the living room and dining room we realized that baby #2 is going to be here in 3 months. Holy smokes! So we better get working on the rooms for the littles...pronto! I've been gathering ideas for Sage's 'big girl' room. Here is some inspiration.

I had clipped the above photo from a 2010 Style at Home magazine article, as it just struck me as fresh and so pretty for a little girl's room. Sage has a little turquoise dresser (more greeny than the blue pieces above) but I thought a pink and turquoise room might be really sweet.

I love the Marimekko fabric they have stretched in the image as art, the freshly painted furniture and light walls. Instead of white walls I may go with Gray Owl (2137-60) a Benjamin Moore colour I have used in the past which is warm and neutral and beautiful.

This print was purchased a while ago, from Eva Juliet, a Montreal Etsy seller, and has been just waiting for Sage's new room.

Here is Sage's turquoise dresser, a pic from her old room...it's adorably sweet, but I have to admit that it is a tad small, especially as she gets older, so we might have to rethink this one a bit...

This pillow would look pretty cool, to add in a pop of pink.

Hmmm...I'm loving this colourful Jenny Lind bed too, although white may be nice and classic.

Hello turquoise chevron rug from Urban Outfitters!

the quest for a dining room table

2012-01-27T15:50:00.005-05:00

Toddling right along with the design of our house - we come to the dining room! Our front door opens into this big, empty room that currently contains my daughter's cardboard playhouse and a random mess of toys. It needs a lot of work.

I've had my eye out for dining tables for a while now, and I have something pretty specific in mind I guess. I've always wanted something rustic looking and giant. A place where we can spread out and do crafts or homework and also host a big dinner party. I don't want to worry about getting sparkles on the table or wine stains. Bring on the mess and bring on the fun!

A few years ago I mentioned this table from Restoration Hardware and it's still one of my faves. It has always remained in my mind as my ideal. That paper airplane never did fly through my window carrying a large cheque, so this still one may be a bit out of budget. Wahhh.

But on the Restoration Hardware website it looks like there are now a bunch of additional rustic, reclaimed wood table options. This Farmhouse Salvaged Wood Rectangle Extension Table is quite beautiful too - much more rough and chunky than the Trestle table. I lurve.

There is a store called Woodcraft in Toronto that makes custom tables. It's pretty cool actually - you choose the style, wood, finish and stain, and then it's ready for you to take home within a few weeks. Their website photos aren't the greatest, I have to admit, but I do like a lot of their styles and when I visited their showroom I really loved the simplicity of their Long Loft Table. They had some cool stains in Driftwood and Antique and you could choose a 'rough-sawn' look too for a more rustic effect. This is an option.

In a recent West Elm email I also saw this beautiful Boerum Dining Table. It's not as unique as the top two, or as 'chunky', but I do like the rustic-meets-modern effect of the table, as well as the cool colour. And the price...definitely it's the best price! I haven't seen it in person so that could be a whole other story.

So the hunt for a cool, chunky, rustic, humongous dining room table continues! I'll keep you in the loop.

Jerusalem Sage

2012-01-24T21:15:00.002-05:00

My sister mentioned to me a while back that there is a plant called 'Jerusalem Sage'. Why is that interesting to me? My first daughter's name is Sage. We gave her that name because it sounded strong, wise, natural and beautiful. And a little bit rock star! It's actually traditionally a boy's name but we loved it.

I'm not sure if I mentioned, but we had trouble conceiving the first time around. I had a pretty severe case of endometriosis and we tried to get pregnant for two very difficult years, visiting many doctors and trying pretty much every therapy - medical and alternative - to get there.

In August 2009, we travelled to Israel for my sister's wedding, and during that trip we stopped in Jerusalem for a tour and visited the Wailing Wall. My hubby and I hoped, wished, and prayed on that wall for a little bundle. Less than two months later {with the help of modern medicine} we were pregnant with Sage.

And that is why Jerusalem Sage is pretty cool to me. I wonder if I can try growing it in my garden this summer.

{PHOTO FROM HERE}

some more news...

2012-01-15T22:00:00.003-05:00

living room makeover

2012-01-11T14:39:00.002-05:00

In the summer we moved into a new house, and I hate to say that we've barely done any decorating! Mainly we've unpacked, organized, and have continued to organize. I have so many ideas and am itching to get going on the decor.

This is a view of our living room right now. It is a bright, beautiful room with fairly high ceilings and in terms of decor, it is a blank slate. So much potential! You can see our paint options on the wall. I think we are going with the middle one, a soft bluey gray. We are also thinking of a salvaged mantle, built-in shelving and cabinets on either side of the fireplace, hardwood floors, a cool lamp, more seating, blinds for the bay window on the left and possibly a window seat with drawers for storage for the bay window. The TV will go above the fireplace {I know, I hate that too, but it creates more space and there is less risk the kiddies will topple it}. We have big plans. Now only if we had the extra time and money.

Here are some images for inspiration as we inch our way through our living room makeover.

{unfortunately I've lost the source info for most of these pics but many of them can be found right here}.

here we grow again: 5 months

2012-01-09T13:52:00.002-05:00

Here is my latest pregnancy photo. Looks like this baby might be on the bigger side again, since my tum is larger than I was at 5 months during my first pregnancy. What can I say, I grow them big and healthy! My first baby was 9 lbs. 11 oz.

Click below to see months 2 to 4.

ohdeedoh feature!

2012-01-06T22:34:00.003-05:00

How wonderful to find out that my daughter's first birthday, a Picnic Party, was featured on Apartment Therapy's OhDeeDoh today. As if Fridays weren't cheery enough!

Last year they also featured Sage's nursery so I feel quite lucky to be recognized by them, especially because I check out their website quite often as a resource for children's room inspiration and product info. You can peek at the 'Best Kids Parties' post here. Thanks so much OhDeeDoh!

happy new year!

2012-01-05T22:13:00.000-05:00

Apologies for the late new years greetings however we have been very sick in this house the past few weeks. Between a couple of colds, ear infections, a terrible reaction to Amoxicillin {poor Sage had the most horrifying rash} and then strep throat, it really has been one thing after another.

So happy belated holidays and happy 2012 too. With baby no. 2 cooking away, it looks like this will be a fruitful year!

client highlight: introducing...sonny jackson

2011-12-21T15:16:00.003-05:00

I has the pleasure of working with Sonny Jackson recently to design a website for her new company, Sonny Jackson, Chartered Accountant Professional Corporation.

What a wonderful experience it was! Sonny had a vision of what she wanted for her website: a bulletin board that had her information 'pinned' to it. Something rustic with a vintage vibe - not to stuffy or dry, as many accounting websites can be. She wanted a bean counter image to add some relevance and interest. But it was important that the website be professional enough to present to bigger clients.

I love the colours and the feel of the site. It came together beautifully {probably because Sonny was so organized and efficient and easy to work with! I would definitely hire her to be my accountant, no doubt}. Please take a peek at her brand new website, and the services she offers. Congrats Sonny!

cool kitchen

2011-12-21T15:05:00.001-05:00

My dad bought this little beauty for Christmas our Sage. It's the KidKraft Espresso Kitchen. And she is going to love it. Hey, I think I'm in love with it! Many-an-hour will be spent playing with this kitchen set, opening and closing the doors, drawing on the chalkboard, and making cool 'meals'. Her Grammy is getting her pots and pans and fake food. I'm so excited for her to see it! Boy Christmas is just so much more fun, seeing it through the eyes of kids.

goop app

2011-12-13T14:21:00.001-05:00

I got my GOOP email today, and they introduced a new GOOP City Guide app. The illustrations for the app really caught my eye - I love these little delicate watercolours, and they remind me a bit of the Daily Candy watercolours that are so pretty too. Illustrator Bernadette Pascua created these. They are so cute and are reminding me to break out my watercolours! I haven't painted in forever.

The next time I'm in NYC I hope to check out some of Gwyneth's fave spots.

here we grow again

2011-12-09T21:06:00.001-05:00

During my first pregnancy, I documented my burgeoning belly in photos each month and I decided to do the same this time around. I am four months along now. These are my belly bump photos so far. Here we go grow again!

i'm on pinterest!

2011-12-05T12:30:00.000-05:00

Yes, I'm a bit behind the bandwagon. I've been resisting the urge for a while as I figured it was just one more thing to add to my To Do list...but last week I activated my Pinterest account and wow is it a lot of fun, not to mention a tad addictive. It's exactly what I love to do - finding inspiring images, sharing them, viewing other inspiring images too. I'm still working on my collection so my boards are still rather empty. But check back soon {or follow me!}...because it really seems like a lot of nerdy fun.

$4 vinyl tablecloth solution

2011-12-02T12:00:00.000-05:00

We don't have a dog that gobbles up all of the spills and crumbs that end up under Sage's high chair. And our floor was getting quite stained and crusty with a medley of old rotten food pieces {the worst is avocado...did you know they eventually turn a horrid black colour? Yuck.}.

As it turns out, a $4 pretty vinyl tablecloth from Loblaws has been the perfect solution! I folded it in half and stuck it under the high chair - and it has protected the floor and my sanity ever since. Since it's plastic, it can easily be wiped, or else turfed and replaced if it gets really grotty. I've had many mommy friends come over recently and comment that it was such a great idea. It seemed simple enough to me, but I just wanted to post it here in case it helps out another mommy {and floor} too!

client highlight: design for conscious living

2011-11-30T13:57:00.001-05:00

I'm sure I've mentioned Design for Conscious Living before. They are an interior/exterior design firm based in Toronto and run by the lovely and talented Celia - and one of my favourite clients!

First of all, I would like to mention that Celia is a natural beauty, about 6 feet tall. I basically come up to her waist. She has a wonderfully keen eye for design, and when I first met with her in her home office a few years ago, my mouth dropped - it was simply my dream office, done in colours of green and gray, beautifully organized and professional yet warm and welcoming.

I created the Design for Conscious Living website in 2008, however each year we work together to make some changes or additions, and just last month we completed the latest update to the site. Some gorgeous new interior designs that really are worth a peek! Check out some of these new layouts, and then be sure to go to their website to see more.

50mm lens

2011-11-24T13:30:00.000-05:00

Just bought a 50mm lens. One of the cheaper lenses out there! And oh boy, so far I love it.

picnic party!

2011-11-23T12:18:00.001-05:00

Now that winter is arriving {cold blustery days, darkness, freezing rain, yuck!} I thought I would share a little summer with you. I was a pretty terrible blogger in the summer, so I didn't properly feature my daughter's first birthday party! Her birthday is in July which is actually quite lovely because we were able to hold it outside and make the most of the warm weather and swimming pool.

The theme was a Picnic Party, and I collected all sorts of red and white fabric to make table cloths, a flag bunting, and picnic blankets strewn across the lawn. Actually I found the decor for this party quite easy - red and white is a popular combo! And I threw in some turquoise accents just for fun.There was swimming, there was a jumping castle and trampoline, cupcakes, stripey straws, a popcorn machine and a fab cake made by Auntie M. Pictures tell the story much better, so here is a bit of summer for ya!

Ruche Clothing

2011-11-16T13:25:00.001-05:00

How did I not know about this online shop before? Guess I've been hiding under a rock. When you are occupied with a little one, it sometimes does feel that way. Anyway I discovered Ruche Clothing the other day and the clothing really has an Anthropologie vibe, but with a much cheaper price tag. If I wasn't pregs then I might go a bit click-happy. Why is shopping online sooooo easy?

Here are my picks:

Paper Birch Cutout Dress

{out of stock now unfortunately but sooooo pretty!}

Mulberry Street Print Dress

{funky, a bit retro, and easy to wear}

Mexico City Diamond Print Dress

{not sure what drew me to this one except the pattern is pretty cool and also Mexico sounds really great right about now!}

Well I guess I know where I'll be shopping once I'm back to my normal size! And once I'm done nursing which presents a whole different wardrobe issue {easy access is key!}.

some news!

2011-11-09T20:39:00.001-05:00

font nerd strikes again: Kewl Script alternative

2011-11-08T13:51:00.001-05:00

As mentioned once before, I'm a font nerd. I love fonts. I could stare at typography all day. I could spend a lot of money on fonts {ok, I could spend a lot of money on just about everything!}. But just as I found a free alternative to Feel Script a while back, I found one for a new font called Kewl Script.

I actually had purchased Kewl Script for a project, and I do think it's pretty cool. But then I found this free one called Channel. Not exactly the same but it definitely has the same vibe. Kewl Script is better...I like it's flourishes. But hey - free is pretty great too!

my little love

2011-10-31T15:16:00.002-04:00

My little love, all rosy and bed-headed after just waking up from her nap. I'm so jealous of her rockstar, naturally highlighted hair! She is growing up, this one. 15 months old now and running around like crazy, saying tons of words, making 'jokes'. It's just so much fun.

Thank you Little Party-Goers!

2011-09-28T20:40:00.000-04:00

A big thank you to the lovely Maria of Little Party-Goers! She featured inBloom Studio today on her Goodie Spotlight and I really appreciate the wonderful shout-out! Click here to read the spotlight and interview.

happy birthday canada!

2011-07-01T22:58:00.004-04:00

I am so proud to live in this beautiful country of mine.

Took this Instamatic iPhone App snap today...I thought it was pretty cute that this fire hydrant was painted red to match the flag behind it.

Happy birthday Canada!

clever and herby escort cards

2011-05-15T21:23:00.004-04:00

As someone also in the event design field, I love keeping my eyes open for clever wedding and decor ideas - and I love this idea for escort cards, rather than the simple and mundane folded tent cards on a table. Adorable! You can see more of this beautiful English wedding here.

west elm

2011-04-06T21:55:00.003-04:00

I was in the area of West Elm yesterday so I popped on in. And OK....WOW!! One of everything please! And while I can't do that at the moment {can you imagine?} I did walk away with these cutie little owl measuring cups. Just a little purchase to stave off my hunger! Aren't they adorable?

white kitchen...yum!

2011-04-03T22:14:00.004-04:00

We recently chose our finishes for our new home...that is definitely the best part of buying a brand new house! We decided on a white kitchen with earthy gray floor tiles, and a dark gray countertop. Here is the look we are going for, except I'm thinking soft light blue walls.

Photos from Style at Home magazine via Black Eiffel.

i am blessed

2011-03-24T22:00:00.005-04:00

Just wanted to send a shout out to the universe - a big THANK YOU! We didn't know if we could have a baby and then she came to us. 8 months old now and thriving. Beautiful, clever, busy, funny, a sweetheart {yes, I know, I'm her mom...}. Here is my little one at our latest photo shoot.

dress from Old Navy
clip from Baby Wisp
sneaks from Converse

i just bought this print...

2011-03-14T21:57:00.004-04:00

...for my new house. Yes, we bought a new house! It is currently being built and will close mid-July. I am pretty excited - it has all of the features we were hoping for: a big backyard, a fireplace, upstairs laundry, pantry, walk-in closet {yes!}. A wonderful place for kids to play and grow. The only catch - it is farther into suburbia than I am now. Only about 10 minutes or so, but when I tell you that not long ago there were cow patties where my house will stand, I am telling the truth. Project De-Suburbanization, here I come too!

Anyhow, and more importantly - about the above print. One of my favourite things to do is to get lost in blogland and then happen upon a cool link or inspirational story that I would not have otherwise found. And that is what happened last night. Long story short (you can read more here) I came across this cute print which is also helping to raise money for a lovely little lady named Davy who captured my heart. I think you will be inspired by reading their story too.

A cute design for a great cause - what a wonderful combination.

redfish kids clothing

2011-01-20T20:22:00.006-05:00

My sister bought my baby girl the most adorable kimono onesie {above} for Christmas. I know it's a year not about 'things'. But there are some things that are so special that they are worth having! Seriously, I want to hang this little piece of clothing in Sage's room as art. It is truly beautiful! It's made by a Vancouver company called Redfish Kids Clothing and I checked out their website. Oh my. My heart is aflutter! What gorgeous clothes and incredible dresses! Here is a peek at their wares...just stunning.

etsy treasury!

2011-01-12T20:02:00.003-05:00

I am honoured to be included in an Etsy treasury!

HeartBoxArt included my You Are My Sunshine print in their first ever treasury...and isn't it a pretty one! I am love love loving the retro yellows and teals. Thank you HeartBox!

and speaking of moments...

2011-01-10T23:09:00.006-05:00

Speaking of enjoying more 'moments' in this new year...I love the idea of recording the moments that make each day of the year special in this diy calendar journal! And such a clever idea to record them over a number of years so you can reflect on previous moments too.

I originally saw this project a few weeks ago on Design*Sponge {click on the link to see the how-to} and couldn't get it out of my mind. And strangely enough, the other day I was reading a blog I like - Rambling Renovators - who listed a bunch of their favourite blogs, and I randomly clicked on one of them - Under the Sycamore - only to find that the author of this blog is the original creator of this cool calendar project. Is that confusing? Well all of that to say that I think it is meant to be that I create one of these for meself! So just to find the time to do that before 2011 disappears...

more moments, less stuff

2011-01-07T20:28:00.005-05:00

Happy New Year! 2011 is starting to sound a bit futuristic to me. Last year was a great year business-wise and of course with the birth of my little one. I'm looking to lots of new adventures in 2011. In fact my New Year's Resolution is to have more moments, and less stuff. I hope to capture some of this year's moments right here so please stay tuned!

...and a bit more on sage

2010-09-30T22:17:00.005-04:00

I haven't really introduced you to my little one yet. She is just about 12 weeks old now...which is insane! Soon she will be going to school, then getting married. Slow down time! Anyhow, here are some photos we had taken when she was brand new, by a very talented photographer, Kelly Gemmell. She rocks! And I cherish these photos of sweet little Sage.

sage's nursery featured on ohdeedoh!

2010-09-30T22:11:00.003-04:00

Yippee! Today Sage's nursery was featured on one of my favourite children's design websites, ohdeedoh. I am so honoured! A lot of love and personal touches went into her room and I'm proud that I am able to share it. Thanks so much to Carrie McBride of ohdeedoh! You can see a few more nursery pics here too.

baby bloomer bump update: meet sage!

2010-09-11T17:18:00.003-04:00

Sorry guys...I've gotten VERY behind on my blogging. But my little one is here and time really seems hard to come by, although things are starting to settle down a tad. Anyhow, I just wanted to post my final Baby Bloomer Bump update. Please meet little Sage Delilah, born July 12, 2010! And at 9 lbs., 11 oz. she was a whopper! Especially since I am kinda little myself. Note my quite 'unkempt' new mommy hairdo in the latest photo! I don't quite have time to blowdry and straighten my hair anymore! But having no time and looking disheveled is so worth it. Sage is a complete joy - a very sweet baby. I will post some more pics of her soon!

Hue Home and Colour Inc.

2010-07-07T15:00:00.001-04:00

This past month I had the pleasure of working with a lovely lady, Beth Lowenfeld, to create the branding, print materials and website for her new home staging and colour consultation company, Hue Home and Colour Inc. It was such a fun project! And I really loved how all of the materials turned out! The colours are so vibrant. And with a company named 'Hue', that is pretty important!

Take a peek at her new logo, business cards, gift certificates, note cards, folders, and website. We ordered some beautiful chartreuse envelopes to match the notecards and gift certificates...what a purty package when it all came together!

Best of luck, Beth! Your biz seems like it's off to an amazing start already.

baby bloomer bump update: 9 months {almost there}

2010-07-06T08:18:00.001-04:00

Well I'm a little late with this update, but here it is! My last Baby Bloomer bump photo...well at least let's hope that it's the last one, and that the final photo has a baby in it! Things are getting pretty tight and heavy, my feet have swollen to elephant proportions and I'm getting a bit tired of strangers asking if there are twins in there. Nope! Just a really large baby girl. For those of you who don't know me, I'm a pretty tiny person - so I'm not sure how I cooked this baby so big! The doctor thinks she will be at least 8 or 9 pounds. But I am just happy she is doing well and she continues to entertain me with her squirming and by poking out her little elbows, knees and feeties.

The Baby Bloomer {also known as Peanut and Lil Miss Pixie} is almost here! Can't wait to meet her! Can't wait to into introduce her to you!

happy canada day, eh?

2010-07-01T14:13:00.004-04:00

Happy Canada Day! I do feel very lucky to live in this beautiful country of ours. How better to celebrate than to have a good ol' Canadian barbeque and use these cool plates and cups from President's Choice. Adorable!

painting the door red

2010-06-30T16:44:00.005-04:00

Last weekend we decided to paint our front door. It is something that we have been wanting to do for the past 4 years, but I tell ya, this nesting thing is pretty strong and Mister P. and I are tearing through our humongous list of to-dos before the baby arrives and finally crossed this one off.

We chose Sherwin William's 'Red Tomato' - just in time for Canada Day, although completely unintentional! We think we like it - but is it too bright? Too orangey? It is definitely growing on me and I think it looks pretty quirky beside our massive mess of daisies.

baby bloomer bump update: 8 months

2010-05-31T21:24:00.002-04:00

Oopsy...about 2 weeks late posting these pics, but here I am at 8 months - almost there! What a transformation. Remember how I used to say how fast the pregnancy was going? Well that has all changed! Mostly because I feel gigantic, stretched, slow and maybe just a tad waddly. I've heard the 'stretched belly' feeling likened to Joan River's face after having plastic surgery - yep, pretty much! It's getting harder to walk up the stairs, especially in my 3-story house {4 stories, if you count the basement...ouch}. And yesterday it took me 15 minutes to attempt to buckle on my gladiator sandals - and it didn't end in success. Flip flops it is!

It's also feeling a lot slower because of the anticipation. We just cannot wait to meet the little person who is actively dancing around in my tum. Who will she look like? Will she be artistic {like mom}, or musical {like pops}, or both or neither? So much to look forward to!

my lil shop

2010-05-14T10:42:00.003-04:00

I've had an Etsy shop - inBloom Boutique - for a while, however it's been sitting empty and lonely for the last year or two! Finally I have added some artwork to it - some little acrylic paintings. I will be added more to the shop too, including some new 'unbusiness card' and 'mommy card' creations. Take a peek!

baby bloomer bump update: 7 months

2010-04-29T20:57:00.004-04:00

7 months along with my Baby Bloomer, who is also known as Miss Pixie. She is quite an active little thing - lots of kicks, wiggling and aerobics from time to time. Definitely getting there! I can hardly wait to meet my little girl.

the graphics fairy...who knew?

2010-04-27T17:54:00.005-04:00

Remember this post I wrote a while back about creating some easy botanical wall art? Well yesterday I stumbled across another great blog that provides free downloadable vintage clipart - The Graphics Fairy. And with over 1000 followers on her blog, I feel like I'm the last to know about this treasure. Be sure to check out the site - all of The Fairy's clipart would be very cool framed or used in some crafty way!

{All images from The Graphics Fairy}

finally...a new website!

2010-04-16T11:09:00.005-04:00

I am excited to finally announce that after two years of trying to get to it, I have launched a brand spanking new website! Amazing how a little one on the way puts a fire under your butt to finish things on your 'list'. The site is not perfect and I have some adjustments to make, but it gives a good overview of my style, and the work I've done. Please check it out and let me know what you think! www.inbloomstudio.com

Yippee, something crossed off my To Do list! Now onto creating a book of my wedding photos, cleaning the linen closet, painting the front door, and adding a backsplash in the kitchen...

Have a wonderful weekend!

new mommy and daddy card designs

2010-03-30T16:52:00.003-04:00

I will soon be launching a new line of mommy and daddy card designs! See above for Shanna's new mommy cards, hot off the press. Stay tuned for the new designs...

baby bloomer bump update: 6 months

2010-03-24T09:48:00.003-04:00

Time is certainly flying, escaping, disappearing all over the place. I am now 6 months prego...and painfully aware of how little I post on my blog, as my 5 month post was only a few posts ago. Will try harder, I swear!

It's a beautiful and sunny Spring day here in Toronto. I hope you enjoy it as much as I plan to!

looks i'm digging for spring

2010-03-17T09:04:00.003-04:00

From Cupcakes and Cashmere...love the touches of red in her wardrobe!

back in action + design for conscious living relaunch

2010-03-06T09:08:00.004-05:00

Hello! I haven't been back as often as I would have liked, but I am going to try hard to be a bit more frequent with my updates from now on. :)

I have done a lot of graphic and web design work in the past few months that I will start to share! One website that I am really proud of is actually a relaunch of a site I created back in the fall of 2008. Design for Conscious Living is an interior and landscape design company that has really blossomed over the past year - hence the need to revamp Celia's portfolio, as she had a ton of photos to add! We also added some dimension to her existing site a textured background, and music in the background. Take a peek at Celia's website here!

my baby bloomer bump...5 months!

2010-02-22T13:38:00.002-05:00

My prego belly...5 months today! Can't believe how time flies {although I'm told that I may not feel that way at month 8!}.

vintage circus wedding featured in wedluxe magazine!

2009-12-15T17:25:00.007-05:00

I am very pleased to announce that my sister Shayna's Vintage Circus Wedding - one that inBloom styled and designed - is featured in an amazing 4-page layout in Canada's coveted WedLuxe magazine! It is a beautiful magazine that feels more like a book, with thick shiny pages and amazing photography.

Here is a look at some of the wedding photos {taken by the amazingly talented Ikonica}, and you can see more at the inBloom Event Design website on the Gallery page and at the Bloomerism blog. Enjoy!

i've got a feeling

2009-10-20T22:10:00.000-04:00

Just popping in to say hello and to share this awesome video done by the University of Quebec...looks like so much fun! Wish I could have been a part of it! Looking forward to seeing 'the making of' video coming out soon as I have no idea how they did this so smoothly! Enjoy...

you can find me over at bloomerism...

2009-10-06T22:49:00.003-04:00

Apologies for my lack of blogging lately. Things have been sooo busy, and well, a tad overwhelming! I've decided to take a little break from blogging here, but don't worry, I haven't disappeared completely! I'm just paring down, and 'editing' my life a wee bit. BUT you can still find me over at Bloomerism, a blog I share with my sisters and fellow Bloomers! Be sure to check it out. See you there...

masada, the dead sea, jerusalem: israel - part 4

2009-09-28T18:39:00.011-04:00

Sorry for the delay...things have been busy busy which is a good thing but also quite a tiring thing! Here is the last installment of my Israel photos.

Smack in the middle of the hot, dry desert was Masada - a huge fortress and ruins of ancient palaces built atop a plateaued rock. This was surreal! The desert landscape was gorgeous, but it was so absolutely broiling in the sun. How anyone built anything there 2000 years ago, let alone on the top of a 1km high rock, beats me! And how they maintained a water supply and food storage is even more incredible. The photos don't do it justice...the scope of this rock and the scenery was breathtaking!

Masada overlooks the Dead Sea, so we stopped to take a dip. This is the lowest point on the Earth's surface. It is also the saltiest sea! Does it look like we are sitting in shallow water? We weren't we were floating! You can't sink the in the Dead Sea, as the salt content boosts you right up to the top. It's considered extremely healthy {just don't stay in longer than 10 minutes or else you will get pickled}. The mud at the bottom of the sea has tons of minerals...made our skin look awesome!

Onto Jerusalem...another amazing place! I wished we had more time there as there was so much to see. We took a tour below the Old City, in an excavation site...there are more cities beneath the Old City that they are uncovering as we speak! The Wailing Wall was particularly emotional, and I thought of all of the wishes and prayers that must have been made on the wall.

This is a small, mystical town in the mountains called Safed. Comprised of many art galleries, it is a very spiritual place, and you can feel the peacefulness. Madonna visited Safed the same day we were there...unfortunately we missed her though!

We went to a food market in Tel Aviv and I just wanted to share this photo...I loved the colours of all the spices in their baskets!

Some views of Haifa, the city where we stayed. It's gorgeous, and built on top of a mountain. Here are some views of the Baha'i Gardens from the top of the mountain, and one from the bottom.

And of course I took a photo of an Israeli license plate for my collection.
Well there was our trip in a nutshell!

zichron and caeserea - israel: part 3

2009-09-21T16:47:00.003-04:00

The day after the wedding, we started doing some sightseeing and went to a charming nearby little town atop a mountain, called Zichron. A lovely place with shops and amazing food. Did I mention the food in Israel? I was expecting potato latkes and brisket {don't get me wrong, I love that food too} but it was anything but! There was actually a real Mediterranean feel to the food - fresh vegetables, salads, cheese, olives. Check out this antipasto dish...a work of art! And so tasty too. Every food experience I had in Israel was a good one!

After Zichron, we checked out nearby Caeserea where 2000 year old ruins of an ancient city built by King Herod remain. Quite gorgeous!

the wedding! israel: part two

2009-09-16T21:13:00.005-04:00

Weddings in Israel are a lot different than weddings in North America! First of all they are huge - sometimes 500 people or more! And secondly - they are casual. People show up in jeans and cargo pants! And thirdly - it basically doesn't rain there in the summer so no tents required for outdoor weddings! It's pretty much guaranteed.

My sister Shayna's wedding was quite beautiful - on the beach at sunset. Here are some highlights of the day!

shalom y'all! israel: part one

2009-09-15T20:39:00.011-04:00

Shalom! And apologies for my non-blogging the past few weeks. My sister got married in Israel and so my hubby and entire family made the journey to the Middle East. And was it ever beautiful! Truly a profound experience, I enjoyed every minute - the weather {hot and sunny...every day}, the food, the people, the beach, the amazing sights and landscape. I gained a better understanding of history, religion. What an amazing experience!

I will feature a few photos from the trip in each blog post...there are over 1300 pictures to sort through so bear with me! I will start chronologically.

When P. and I arrived in Tel Aviv, it was nighttime and we were whisked off to a delicious pre-wedding bbq. But because it was late, we weren't able to see much of the landscape on our drive from Tel Aviv to Haifa, where we were staying. In the morning though, we awoke to this spectacular view from our apartment...we were right on the beach of the Mediterranean Sea!

The water was...and I'm not exaggerating here...90 degrees. Still refreshing though, as outside it must have been 100 degrees or more. I soon realized that I could settle quite easily into the life of a beach bum.

This was the view from the front of our apartment building...

We then explored a market in an Arabic village, Daliat El Carmel, with cute little trinkets, textiles, and knick knacks.

On the way back to our hotel, we stopped to take in this view of Haifa, and that is Lebanon in the distance! Kinda freaky...didn't know it was within seeing distance!

We stopped at a great little cafe on our way back to our apartment where I was introduced to a little piece of heaven...the limonana. P. and I are now a tad obsessed with what we are convinced is the best drink ever! It is a lemonade slush with ground fresh mint leaves. Heaven I tell you! I sampled one at every restaurant we went to. Delish.

Stay tuned...tomorrow I'll feature my sister's wedding!

two years today

2009-08-25T15:11:00.005-04:00

It's been two years of marriage to my lovely P. - an amazing partner, my best friend. Sweet, supportive, such a positive force in my life. And those blue eyes! Too much wonderfulness to gush about on here...but to sum it all up, I am one lucky gal! Happy anniversary babe.

cute {and easy!} sewing projects

2009-08-24T21:30:00.008-04:00

Love love loving this little table runner featured in Country Living made out of linen napkins all sewn together. So cute how they are all mismatched and a little off-kilter! And such an easy sewing project too.

It reminds me of this project from Selvedge {via Decor8} - curtains made of tea towels sewn together with mis-matched patterns, which is all the more charming. IKEA's Elly tea towels would actually work great for this project!

pretty packaging

2009-08-19T23:58:00.005-04:00

How to make your packages pretty? With these beautiful labels and tape from Tapeswel l! I'm loving these cool scrolly labels, and the vintage lace decorative packing tape.

vintage swimsuits

2009-08-17T21:44:00.009-04:00

Ok, I think I'm obsessing a bit too much about vintage stuff lately. My taste - once clean lines and minimalistic - is now totally into retro, antique, frilly. And I'm loving these retro swimsuits featured on the Country Living website. Sexy? Perhaps. Adorable? Totally! Good bikini line coverage for between waxing appointments? Oh ya!

my neck of the woods

2009-08-14T16:58:00.009-04:00

I thought I would post today on the lovely little neighbourhood where I live. Just outside of Toronto, in the 'burbs', I live in a community called Cornell in Markham. And as far as suburbia goes, I think it's a pretty nice place. The homes are fairly new, however they were built to resemble Victorian houses with porches and gingerbread detailing. All of the garages are built behind the houses, so that neighbours can mingle on their front lawns and porches. And there are a lot of eco-friendly touches added to the homes when they were constructed - even before eco-friendly became trendy!

Recently some live/work townhomes were built just down the street from me - homes that can also be used as storefronts. What a great idea! This little retail area encourages our statistically larger suburbia bums to walk to the corner store, instead of so easily hopping in the car.

This neighbourhood makes me happy. Recently P. and I started looking at some other houses in other areas of Toronto. But soon enough we realized...we are not ready to leave Cornell and it's charm just yet!

dream table

2009-08-12T22:37:00.005-04:00

Say hello to my dream table - Restoration Hardware's Trestle Salvaged Wood Dining Table to be exact - made of roughened planks of pine reclaimed from a distillery in the UK. And not only is the wood imperfectly distressed, but the table seats 12. Oh the dinner parties that would take place on this large, grand table! Now a paper airplane carrying a cheque for $3495 just has to fly through my window and I'll be all set.

{seen in Style at Home magazine, August 2009}

art on the move

2009-08-07T17:38:00.005-04:00

I'm excited to present a website that I recently finished for Art on the Move - an initiative by Lakeshore Arts and Arts Etobicoke in Toronto. This 3-year project has professional artists working with community members to create 'moving art' - vehicles such as buses and trucks wrapped in art, instead of advertising.

It was so wonderful to be a part of this artistic initiative! The client wanted a very clean, easy-to-navigate website that matched the look of their logo. I've always loved the robin's egg blue and red combo, and was excited to use it here. Click here to take a peek at the website, and to see what Art on the Move is all about!

that's not my name

2009-08-05T22:09:00.005-04:00

I have a new theme song! Every time I go to a doctor's office I seriously have to listen for a multitude of names that could possibly be called for me - and I am usually floored when my name is pronounced correctly. 'Joelle' should be pretty straightforward, no? Jo-elle.

They call me Jolie
They call me Joel
They call me Julie (?!)
They call me Jull

And so the next time it happens, I am just going to stand up and start singing 'That's Not My Name' a la The Ting Tings! Ah to be a Jane. No one gets that one wrong I'm sure!

best. flourless. cake. ever!

2009-08-04T22:09:00.003-04:00

I have mentioned this recipe before, but I made it again on the weekend and it's worth mentioning again. I just can't get enough of it. It is easily one of my favourite chocolate cakes - flourless or not! See the easy recipe here and enjoy {and thanks to Celeste for introducing me to it!}.

anthro mail

2009-07-30T17:27:00.005-04:00

Hopefully you aren't too sick of my adoration for Anthropologie yet? Because I got two pretty pieces of mail from them this week {in the midst of my bills and flyers} and I just had to share. Each piece is simple, but well designed and cuter than can be. I'm scratching my head at how they were able to pull off these seemingly handmade pieces for a mass mailing though. They are just too clever!

i wish i had this...

2009-07-27T22:18:00.007-04:00

...gorgeous drawing nook in my living room. {House & Home magazine}

we are in wedding bells magazine!

2009-07-24T16:06:00.004-04:00

Some of our casual and pretty white centrepieces are featured in the Fall/Winter 2009 issue of Wedding Bells magazine! See above for the article on the top right of the page {you can click the photos to make them larger}. Thanks so much to the great gals at Wedding Bells, and also to Jessica who helped make it happen with her awesome tweets!

comfy (but funky) shoes

2009-07-23T22:44:00.006-04:00

My mom told me that a day would come when I would choose comfort over fashion and I didn't believe her. I guess it's a sign of getting older, as nowadays I am constantly on the lookout for comfortable shoes with a fashionable twist. Not always an easy combination! Last week Nicole wrote about these FRYE Women's Ada Pleats Peep Toe Pumps and I can't stop thinking about them...they are so funky but are apparently really comfy too! Now to decide...what colour? I love the lemon ones! And the coral is cool too. But is sky more practical?

a preview: circus wedding pictures

2009-07-21T20:26:00.004-04:00

Here are a few teaser shot of my sister's Vintage Circus Wedding that took place last weekend...as I mentioned, we can't show too many shots until they are published in a magazine in December, but I can barely contain myself, so I just had to share a few!

easy botanical wall art

2009-07-20T21:46:00.007-04:00

As you know, I am a sucker for botanical prints. And in addition to large vintage botanical prints, I also love the look of this symmetrical 'collection' too - it has huge impact! I recently found this great blog that features many free high-res vintage botanical prints. Hmmm...not sure if it is legal to distribute copyright images like these but ah well...get 'em while they're hot!

You might have to scroll through quite a few pages before you find a bunch of similar images. But when you do, just click on one of the images you like and it will enlarge in a new window. Then right click on it and save it to your desktop. Then you can open the file and print it. If you are familiar with any photo editing programs, you can resize the images so they are all the same size {e.g. 5" x 7"}. Buy a bunch of frames from IKEA {they seem to have the cheapest selection} and voila - you have yourself some easy peasy wall art!

the circus wedding...

2009-07-20T21:42:00.003-04:00

...was absolutely fabulous! Everything was beautiful, whimsical, magical and went off as planned. I will post a few photos, although we have to be careful - a magazine expressed interest in featuring the wedding in their December issue, so we'll have to hold off on showing most of the photos until then. But we might be able to post just a few, so stay tuned!

Ava's Calendar of Hope

2009-07-16T22:12:00.007-04:00

Photographer Kelly Gemmell asked me if I would post about Ava's Calendar of Hope. Honouring her friend's young daughter, Ava Amelie, Kelly will be creating a calendar in which 100% of the money raised will be donated to the Paediatric Critical Care Unit at the Children's Hospital in London, Ontario.

You can apply for your child {age 0-7} to be a part of the calendar until August 1st. For more information, you can visit the website here.

Kelly, I hope this project is a huge success!

canada's next top model

2009-07-15T22:09:00.004-04:00

Yay...my favourite girl won the title of Canada's Next Top Model last night! I had a lady crush on Meaghan from the beginning and was hoping she would win. Normally the very exotic brunettes win though, not the blue-eyed blonds, so I was quite surprised. Not only is Meaghan lovely, but she actually seemed to be one of the nicer girls on the show. Nikita not so much!

getting ready for the circus!

2009-07-14T17:12:00.010-04:00

My sister Shayna's circus wedding is fast approaching! In fact, it is on Saturday and it looks like everything is in order!

Shayna's friend Rashmi painted this cute circus poster for her, in the wedding colours of yellow and teal. I helped make them into invitations complete with envelopes, maps, and admit one tickets.

My circus wedding outfit is coming together nicely to...

this is my dress from Fraiche and ribbon from Mokuba

these are my accessories - an over-sized fabric flower from Le Chateau
and feathery fascinator made by my cousin Julia

these are my yellow {and extremely comfy} heels from the Kenneth Cole store in Chicago.

what i did in chicago

2009-07-13T21:07:00.017-04:00

Apologies for being AWOL last week! P. and I went on a much-needed getaway to Chicago. We had an amazing time! Here is some of what we did:

1. took in the view from our upgraded hotel room {I think they thought we were newlyweds and we didn't dispute...2 years is still newly wed, no?}

2. went on a riverboat architecture tour {such great buildings in Chicago!}

3. shopped and shopped on the Magnificent Mile {and admired the colourful streetside gardens along the way}

4. perused the Art Institute of Chicago and marveled at the pointillism in A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte {Georges Seurat}...this painting is gigantic! We also saw American Gothic {Grant Wood}...and you thought the painting was creepy! Check out this scary sculpture.

5. remember this fountain from the opening of Married With Children?

6. took photos in this cool mirror ball thingie {Cloud Gate Sculpture} at Millenium Park

7. enjoyed the beach and walked along Lake Michigan

8. shopped again and then admired the beautiful Tiffany's ceiling at Marshall Field's-now-Macy's.

9. took the 'L' {elevated Train} to Wrigley Field where we caught a Cubs game and laughed at the houses across the street that converted their rooftops to bleachers with great views of the game. Genius actually!

10. saw a free concert at noon at the most amazingly beautiful outdoor concert venue {Jay Pritzker Pavillion}...Frank Gehry yay!

11. ate way too many lemon bars at the Corner Bakery Cafe, but definitely walked them off. I had to toss out a pair of shoes...which means I have to buy another pair...and P. knows how much of a hardship that is for me to buy another pair of shoes :)

12. snapped a license plate pic for my growing collection

So that is our trip in a nutshell! Chicago is such a beautiful, clean, friendly city...but now I'm ready for another vacation!

studio choo

2009-07-04T19:53:00.006-04:00

Check out these quirky succulent boutonierres from Studio Choo. And their adorable business card too! {found via Saipua}.

SYTYCD: costume change

2009-07-02T22:00:00.003-04:00

Did you see this great costume change on So You Think You Can Dance last night? Take a peek at 0:35...it's genious! These two, Karla and Vitolio, went home tonight despite their wonderful quickstep. But how I loved Karla's split-second change of dress! I wish I had a piece in my wardrobe that could do the same!

happy birthday canada!

2009-07-01T22:31:00.005-04:00

Even though I had to work all day, it did feel like a lovely mini weekend in the middle of the week. And I did celebrate by going out to dinner and dessert with my peeps {strawberry and chocolate crepes anyone?}.

Unfortunately I didn't have time to bake today, but here is a cake I made a few Canada Days ago, inspired by this recipe from Kraft. I think I've had dessert on the mind a lot lately, as my past few posts have featured cake or cupcakes!

Happy birthday Canada...this is truly a wonderful country to live in!

happy birthday...

2009-06-26T17:46:00.007-04:00

...to my mom. She would have been 62 today. This is a photo of her not on her 17th birthday {I'm guessing we couldn't locate any other candles that day!}. My mom also loved cupcakes, so I bought this pretty one for her. And I will abandon my wheat-free diet for tonight and devour it on her behalf.

Enjoy a wonderful treat for my mom today...and don't forget to give your mom a hug! Happy weekend...

a colour story

2009-06-25T23:05:00.005-04:00

My sister holding a cupcake on her birthday on the weekend {did you know that Lollicakes make gluten-free cuppies?}. I loved the colours here.

The most vibrant rainbow I have seen in a long time, while driving to IKEA tonight. I couldn't take my eyes off of it...dangerous when driving! But don't worry, I snapped this pic at a stoplight. Too bad the poles and wires are in the way, but it was a real beauty.

kelly gemmell photography

2009-06-24T14:18:00.009-04:00

Some friends recently had portraits taken of their newborn and I was so impressed with the bright and colourful images! I think what I admire about photographer Kelly Gemmell the most is that she uses natural light, and beautiful hats and blankets, most of them hand-knitted by Canadian designers that were purchased on Etsy. And her pricing is extremely reasonable! If you have a little cutie {or cuties} and you live in the Toronto area, get to Kelly Gemmell pronto! Enjoy...

smiley radishes

2009-06-22T22:50:00.004-04:00

Geninne's Art Blog is one of my very favourites. Everything she creates is so inspiring. From her birdie paintings to her handmade stamps to these little radishes she carved with smiley faces. I bought some prints from her last summer and I swear that the envelope they came in looked like art and I haven't been able to throw it away!

papery flowers

2009-06-17T18:54:00.007-04:00

When my mom was a teenager, she helped pay for her university tuition by making giant crepe paper flowers and selling them to Montreal stores to be used in their window displays. Artist Zoe Bradley's work is reminiscent of my mom's business venture...just on a bit of a different scale! Using primarily luxury papers, sculptural and origami techniques, her oversized creations have appeared in the fashion shows and windows of bigwigs like Louis Vuitton, Harrod's and Tiffany's. Oh to create large paper flowers for a living!

sarah seven

2009-06-16T20:59:00.005-04:00

I'm currently trying to find a dress to wear to my sister's upcoming circus wedding {think vintage circus...no scary tigers or clowns!}. I'm feeling inspired by some of these handmade lovelies by Sarah Seven. Each dress is custom-made with natural fabrics, and Sarah donates 5% of the proceeds to charity. The dresses take about 6 weeks for delivery so I am out of luck {the wedding is 4 weeks away} but I can still drool over these creations!

font crush: feel script

2009-06-12T17:21:00.010-04:00

I've had a font crush on Feel Script {above} for a while now...but after making a recent and pricey font purchase, I will have to hold off for just a while. Isn't it beautiful though? After some digging I was happy to find a similar font for free...At Mahogany Script {below} doesn't have all of Feel's fabulous flourishes, but it's a good substitution while the funds replenish! Have a wonderful weekend...

bemz

2009-06-11T17:26:00.005-04:00

Style at Home magazine recently featured this Swedish company Bemz that specializes in creating slipcovers for IKEA furniture in wonderful fabrics like Marimekko, and Belgian linen. Such wonderful patterns and colours - what a great way to dress up a ho-hum IKEA couch or chair!

i won...

2009-06-10T16:44:00.007-04:00

...a Frog Pod thingie from Boon in a draw at the Unionville Festival that P. and I attended on the weekend. I wasn't even sure what it was when they called, but I took a peek at Boon's website and it turns out it is this little bathtime toy scoop in the shape of a frog. I never win anything, so I was pretty excited, even though I'm not quite sure what to do with it quite yet!

However I was really impressed with the design of Boon's website - its clean style and fresh use of green, orange and light gray - right up my alley!

train station boogie

2009-06-09T19:47:00.003-04:00

My friend Laurie posted this video on Facebook and I just had to share. I wish this would happen in Union Station one day...how fabulous!

happy birthday to me...33!

2009-06-08T11:38:00.007-04:00

Birthdays are starting to get a little bit scary now! I turned 33 on Saturday and I'm finding it hard to believe that I am well into my thirties. How did this happen? On one hand I feel 23...and in some ways, with a lot of life events that have gone on recently, I feel an older wiser 53! It was lovely weekend though and we had my family over for do-it-yourself pizza on the grill, our new obsession. My perceptive sistas got me some great presents too...some gift certificates to Anthropologie {yum!} and some adorable mini designer chairs that I posted about a while back. Here is a photo of me on my second birthday...so crazy how time flies! But age is just a frame of mind, right?

paper wisteria tree

2009-06-03T20:06:00.004-04:00

If you admire Anthropologie's displays {and you know I do!} then be sure to check out this lovely blog. Ruthi Auda is a display coordinator for Anthropologie, and created this wisteria tree using branches and tissue paper. The paper nerd is in love...how exquisite! See Ruthi's blog for more amazing creative inspiration. {via the beautifully re-designed Once Wed}

delicious dessert bar - with my name on it

2009-06-01T18:11:00.008-04:00

Imagine my surprise when I was wandering in blogland and I stumbled across one of Amy Atlas' amazing dessert bar displays - with my name on it! Apparently it was a sweet display for a baby naming party, with the colours and patterns inspired by a Pucci print. My name isn't very common, so I was quite excited that a new baby girl will be named Joelle, and that my name was a part of Amy's fabulous creation. I do just wish though...that the dessert table with my name on it...was really for me. :)

Photos from Amy Atlas, by Karen Mordechai.

large vintage botanical illustrations

2009-05-29T14:53:00.009-04:00

I am a sucker for large, vintage botanical prints used in interior design. It could be my biology background; or my background in illustration, as I actually had to paint some botanical prints myself! And it's trickier than it may seem - you have to portray the right balance of scientific accuracy, with simplicity, with something that is visually pleasing. Not an easy feat! I consider botanical illustrations as art and I love displaying them that way.

Photos from the top:
1. Dwell Studio
2. Better Homes and Gardens magazine
3. Urban Grace Interiors
4. My attempt at a botanical illustration! An illustration of Banksia integrifolia, or the Australian 'bottlebrush' plant