Artisan Holidays

Hey Ya'll~

Monday is here & I'm prepping for an interview in retail this afternoon.
I've got to be honest, working retail sales {when selling something you really would want to buy yourself} is actually a lot of fun. Maybe it's the shopper in me that loves to live through the customers, but I'm kinda good at it! Being a "Nordy Girl" two years ago at Nordstrom was quite the fun gig where I learned just how well I can sell!

I'm a huge fan of holiday decorating {okay. and decorating in general} which means I get overly excited at the sight of all things sparkly, glittery, shiny, monochromatic and usually vintage-inspired or handmade. Immediately I picture "Where in my house could this pretty go?"
It's quite disturbing ;) but oh-so-fun!

In keeping with the West Elm theme of this post - I have to share my excitement to see that W.E. has linked up with Etsy {yes, I did just say that} to sell artisan items for the holidays.
Y'all! This is like a real-life-walk-in&shop Etsy experience! {I, for one, have always dreamed of an Etsy store where you can walk in and see items according to your "search terms"...but where you're able to touch, hold and feel the items before you buy them.}

So, I wanted to share some of the cool items they're offering this season - and how you can support small businesses :) because we all should love that!

Woodland Creatures handmade in Nepal:

Precious homespun felt wreath from Kathmandu, Nepal

Til Christmas Comes,
xo
B

My Little Pumpkin

Hey Ya'll ~

Hope you enjoyed your last summer fling this Labor Day ... for me&mine it was mostly a day of relaxing.
I met with three awesome girlfriends of mine for brunch and pedicures, and then relaxed the remainder of the day.
 After an always-uplifting chat with one of my *bests* -talking about everything under the sun ~ I realized just how low I was running on creative projects. And in my current state, more projects would probably be really beneficial to my mindset. I have some small projects to learn {i.e. embroidery kit sitting in the craft closet} but earlier trials have left me frustrated. Then I got to thinking, it's officially the end of summer, so I can start decorating for fall - right?!
Well, fall colors aren't exactly in my seaside-cottage color palette, so I'm going to have to get creative.
First, I want to know when the pumpkin patches start to pop up around town ... I really have a thing against buying pumpkins in a grocery store. That is just not how it's meant to be. You buy pumpkins & indian corn where they cover the ground with hay. Outdoors. When it's supposed to be cool.
Now, back to the pumpkins and my decor. . .

 

ya'll saw above - that "orange" {I prefer "Creamsicle"} is my accent color

and when I say accent, I mean, use sparingly. As in, do not place orange in every corner of the cottage. 

So, pumpkins are orange. And pumpkins can be tiny. So I'm thinking of taking the inspiration from here on making this precious fall gem, match my decor. 

Instead of using all real pumpkins, I will use a few "Funkins" from my local arts+crafts store ... have you discovered "Funkins"??  They're just fake pumpkins. And they're awesome if you're going to put some time+effort into your fall decor and won't want to watch it rot by Thanksgiving.

Here's what I did with one a few years back ... 

FSU Funkin

  So, I'm going to score some Funkins, maybe a few of these awesome "albino" babies

and get to makin' nice. 

I think I'll paint some, add some ribbon, maybe run some ric-rac up and down the seams of the pumpkins, make a bow or two out of aqua bakers twine ... and nest them all in one of my very favorite antique finds from Raleigh, N.C. : a pretty little footed ceramic bowl, she's so crackly and perfect! {photos to come}

Sadly, I'm allergic to hay - but that doesn't mean I can't get a small bale or two to put on my porch. I'm thinking some mums would be the perfect addition to a welcoming fall front porch ... to me, nothing says 

"Welcome Friends + Lovelies" like mums and a festive porch:

That's all I have for now, hope to post some pictures in the next week or so of my little fall projects.

In the mean time, I'm looking forward to my upcoming back-to-back weekends of out of town trips. My little heart needs that right now. Have a beautiful week! 

xo

B

Paris? Mai Oui !

There's just something about Paris that tugs at my heart. 

I've never been, and one day {hopefully soon} that will change. 

And when it does, y'all better hope my Southern roots are strong enough 

to eventually bring me back from there. 

I can blame {thank} HGTV for inspiring this post. As if I needed any inspiration or more reason to j'adore Paris, "House Hunters International" featured a girl in her late 20s who was moving to Paris and scored this amazing apartment there, complete with huge beautiful bathroom, tiny but pretty kitchen, all wood floors, all white, and built-in shelving, and then ... the best part ... windows that opened with door handles, over to a balcony that overlooks the courtyard. For $1600 / month. Who needs a house in the French countryside when I could have an inexpensive {comparatively speaking} place just in the middle of the city! 

When I dream of Paris, it usually involves .....

Fresh-Baked Bread

Artisan Breads !!

Decadent Sweets 

Laduree: Maker of Gourmet Macarons

Vintage Lovelies

Vintage grain sack cloth + watering can

Over-sized Windows with a View

Fresh Air with Floor - Ceiling Windows

Shutters in Provencal Colors

Balcony, please.

Lunching al fresco

Table for Duex, si vou plait

Fresh Fleurs Along the Sidewalks

Fill my house with Fleurs!

Unbelievable Boutiques

Repetto: Home of original ballet slippers

And of course, Flea Markets!

Flea Market Heaven!!!!

More Antique Heaven!!!

So, when the day arrives, I hope to have an un-restricted amount of time to spend in Paris, taking it all in and probably taking most of it home with me, too! 

It's my dream to go to Paris with my Momma - as we have such a 

love for all things Parisian.

It's also a dream to go with the Love of My Life one day 

and do all the romantic Parisian things!

But if you're offering me a ticket, now, I have to say ...

Bon voyage! 

xoxo

b

Pink & Green & Me All Over

Hey Y'all ~


What catches your eye consistently??
Is it a love for bold patterns?
Anything polka dotted?
Monogrammed lovelies?
Rustic, tactile pieces?

For me, anything Pink & Green will do me in! Now, don't go imagining my house is done up all in pink & green, even I wouldn't have that!! But, when it comes to preppy, pretty, girly & chic. . . well darlin' if it's able to come in pink & green, you bet I'll have my paws on it!

I got to thinking today, about my new desk / office area in my new career job. In the past, I've had bits & pieces of all things pink, green & lovely on my desk. And I think I shall continue that trend but in a more sophisticated & subtle way. So, I had to share some wonderfully pretty pieces that would make my office just dreamy! I'm envisioning a little more grown-up & a bit less collegiate prep....

DIY Cookie Sheet Memo Board

Source: rrdesign13.blogspot.com via Junk on Pinterest

My favorite, Hydrangeas, in a simple vintage bottle

Source: designspongeonline.com via Loren on Pinterest

Perhaps a sweet little "B" & a photo frame 

Source: ashleyannphotography.com via Leah on Pinterest

Source: shopplasticland.com via Carla on Pinterest

And to finish it off, a nice fun lamp

Source: frundy.com via Darlene on Pinterest

That's all for today y'all! 

xo

B

 

Slight Textile Obsession

For Real Y'all 

I know what you're thinking - how much fabric can this girl come up with for her new-to-be home ????

Guilty.

I absolutely cannot pass up a trip to 

Calico Corners, 

Boca Bargoons, 

Hobby Lobby 

or 

JoAnns. 

I just have zero willpower when it comes to upholstery. 

Custom upholstery.

Custom pillows.

Custom drapery.

And offer to monogram all my bedding, table linens and bath towels? 

I might just sell my soul!! 

Now granted, I cannot have my dream house of custom upholstered pieces right this minute {okay, or in the next few years} but in my defense, I do sew, I try not to purchase fabric without a coupon, and I keep the color scheme for about a year or more.

And I have finally figured out what colors speak to me at this point in my life.

....

I can't promise I'll forever be faithful to them though ~ 

that would possibly interfere with the entire creative process!

So, here it is. The 3 fabrics were "found" in town & still waiting to order the 4th one. 

For the Living room ... please consult my dreamboard here .These fabrics don't look as wonderful as the first round of fabric combo's I picked {online} but I saw these in person & definitely love them together!!!

Created by Me at B H L D N

Okay, time to get back to work on some of those bigger furniture pieces!!

xo

b

Keep Calm & Decorate

~ Calm, Cool, Collected & a Twist of Modern ~

A few posts ago - I put up an inspiration board of my "dream house"! It was blues, creams, tans, and of course, some pop of color. After much deliberation, I have finally found 4 fabrics that I want to use in the living room. I'm thinking that the "Ash Mist" of the soon-to-be-revamped entertainment center / dresser, will be a nice soft color / neutral and I can still paint an occasional cane armchair in a blue ... with a plain bleached canvas seat and the orange {below} fabric in a toss pillow on top of it.
When the time comes, I'll have to order all of these fabrics online ~ which isn't actually too bad considering you get free shipping and all! So, the damask bird fabric will be 2 large couch pillows. And the blue chevron stripe will be 2 medium couch pillows. The orange "angel wings" fabric will be the toss pillow in the side chair. I can hardly wait to get it all together, while I'm in transition ~ but it sure is fun to decorate in my head :) Right?? 

And all that pretty inspiration came from the upper left corner picture - just some ribbon, beads, wrapping and pretties - well, hope y'all have a beautiful weekend!

xo
B

Fabricating Dreams

Hey Ya'll ~

Currently obsessing over my future-new-bedroom! Going with the serene and more modern {yet, still cozy} look - I love this faux bamboo nightstand {these things are all over Craigslist & used furniture stores} paint her up & voila! Instantly more modern. Next up, my love for all things West Elm - the Moroccan headboard {something to strive for} and a slate grey ruffled quilt / sham combo. I'm not so much loving the entire ensemble, but more the quilt, folded at the end of the bed over top a white duvet. Yes? Yes!
Someday I will find a wingback chair for $cheap$ and reupholster it. Kinda like this one from Layla Grace. I mean, I'm not shelling out $1700 for a chair. Ever. All the lighting is from W.E. also, love the pendant grouping of light bulbs. So very industrial but still kinda that cozy home look!

Without further ado - here you go! My future bedroom {one day. somewhere!}

Created by Me at B H L D N

By the way ~ I'm starting to sand that dresser this weekend - ya know - the one I dreamed about?? Yes, and I'm sure she's going the way of "Ash Mist" by Olympic paints. I'll try my best to document the step-by-step process, as I've yet to do that for y'all!

xo
B

A Classic Combination

Hey Y'all!

Ya ever just get the itch to decorate??
While being in transition and not having a place of my own to decorate right now, it's been tough on my creativity! So I decided to sit a while and really search for what I loved in elements of decorating for my future home. I know that I want a more minimalistic feel, without being stuffy or overly modern. I do love me some quality upholstered pieces, fabulous drapery, and the like, but I want to create a clean, crisp and cozy feeling all at once. And my go-to color combination has been blue+white. Literally, for 14 years!

When I was in the sixth grade, I was given the opportunity to re-do my room. Mom was excited and I sure was too! I picked out light blue and white gingham check wallpaper, with a yellow, white and blue flowered border {looking back, I had a pretty good eye, even for being young!} It was the beginnings of my love for all things home-decor! {that, and the hundreds of antique stores I was dragged around in, now I can't stay away!}

So, when I picture my dream house {well, one version....there's quite a few bouncing around in my head}
it's somewhat like the inspiration board I've created below. I love the softness of the upholstered couch, the presence of the drapes, the custom headboard for a guest room, the more modern headboard in the master bedroom, antique pieces scattered here & there, the vignettes set up on the shelves and in cabinets make a statement without being cluttered, and the color flow throughout the "house". Maybe one day, in my next home, or my more permanent home, this will be my starting point :)

 

 

 

Created By Me @ B H L D N

Sweet Dreams of Decorating!

xo
b

Style. Redefined!

Glamorous. Classic. Organized.

As I'm moving in to my new apartment, one that finally has "good bones" ... about 7 months after my last "good bones" apartment on the West coast - I'm getting terribly excited to re-style.

Without purchasing a lot of new home accessories, my plan is to utilize bright and bold paint to make the largest impact. I'm sure that all the mulling over paint chips and fabrics is more than any "normal" person would put into a new temporary home, but alas, I need to feel at home! If even for a year long lease. 

This time around, I'm taking a slightly more sophisticated, glamorous approach.

Influences for re-style:

1. I have a mad love affair with botanical chinoiserie patterned wallpapers.
2. Antique furniture with  clean, feminine lines to it. In light colors. Or dark stained wood.
3. Large one-flower bouquets. And I mean large (see above).
4. Love for strong and bold colors on walls. 
5. Re-vamped outlook on "live-ability" while still being stylish.

 darling drapery,bright upholstered chairs, functional table

definitely loving the pink fabric, & large peony bouquets throughout the house

Loving these colors, fabrics and that curvy little night table!!

 

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Okay, enough dreaming and scheming for now~ Off to a good night's sleep! 

xoxo

b

Big Blooms for Spring

My last post was for a winter wedding - tonight I felt inspired by my absolute favorite blossom, the ever color changing hydrangea!! Love the french inspired invitations, as well as the greens + blues, which have been  my favorite colors for a very long time :)

I love the idea of a "pie table" ... instead of the traditional yukky formal wedding cake!

xo
 b

Move Over Barbie - Ballard Barn Is Here!

Well, it's been quite a fun weekend + a while since I last posted anything, so here goes:
Highlights Since My Last Post:

• LOML is going to Law School! In FL!
• Baseball season is half-way over, only 30 something more games!
• Spent weekend laughing + enjoying time with the LOML
• Shopped @ H&M :)
• Shopped @ IKEA :)
• Cooked + ate dinner outside <3
• Saw Toy Story 3 + laughed my butt off!

Okay, so the Handsome Man in my life is moving + needing some house stuff ... he has what I like to call the "Man-sentials": big flat screen TV's, couch, desk, bed, iPod dock + laptop.
Needless to say, a bit of female direction was given this weekend, as we had a blast roaming through stores of house stuff ... dreaming mostly, but accomplishing some great stuff @ IKEA. Oh yea + he has a sharper clothing look now that he will be going to law school... he's handsome as anything in whatever he wears, except this Orange&Blue alma mater stuff ...  :-P yuk! Anyway, a trip to Urband Outfitters + H&M may have been for him!

After seeing so many beautiful house accessories, I really am craving a HOME!! Somewhere permanent. Somewhere with someone I love. Okay, so it's not just the pretty house stuff that makes me want that, I've dreamed of that all my life. I almost feel it's within reach now. Thank the Lord, really!!

But back to the decor {{because we know, that is my "thing"}} ... decided to play around on Polyvore + create my dream living room. Just the pieces, until they make a program where I can really make a room + actually dress it up like a real house. I blame all of this on my Barbie Dream House, circa 1990. Thank you, Mattel.

For Your Viewing Pleasure, I Present My  "Ballard Barn"
 {{Ballard Designs+PotteryBarn inspired}}

Rustique Mystique

I've yet to pinpoint exactly what it is about rusted, chippy pieces of nearly anything that are so charming to me. All I do know, is I'm certainly not alone in finding the charm of such old, abandoned, well-worn, left-out-to-dry pieces of life. Perhaps it was my Southern upbringing, loving the old and familiar (although, I don't remember having much rust around my house as a child!!), receiving something that has been passed down from generation to generation and that seeing just how time has loved on it.

Often times I think back to all the "rustic scenery" that I've passed along rural highways, be it in Georgia, Alabama, good ol' Tallahassee + it's outskirts, or throughout the Carolinas and the Big Easy & I wish now I had taken photos or been able to really convince my traveling partner to pull off the road & go root through some ol' abandoned place. I mean really, where else can you find *awesome* chippy wood doors with nice rusty windows!? I'm going to stop the next time I see that "scene" ... what's the worst that can happen?!

So, for the love of all things weather-worn, rusted and still completely chic in today's decor, I have to share a few of my favorite pieces!


                                           Odds & Ends

 

Miscellaneous Pieces of Home 

 

 Seriously, this door is just amazing! Nestle it back in a corner & maybe hang some photos from it with ribbon and nails... a bit primitive but still so chic!



                                                       
                                    


                                      Garden Architecture

Life Below the Mason Dixon ... Mason Love

Although their name has nothing to do with the famous line that once separated the North from the Great South in the 1770s, Mason (or Ball) jars, have been around since nearly as long. These jars have gone from their primary use of home canning (which, hello! All Southerns love to can their own veggies or pickle some peaches) to decor in weddings, homes, floral shows and even en mass for a visual impact. HARRISCLARKBLOG.COM I personally have been obsessed with collecting Mason Jars (blue ones) since my freshman year in college, when I had a tropical motif to my dorm room. I still have the first jar I bought, filled with shells from every beach I ever have visited. More recently, the Mister drilled a small hole in the bottom of one of my pint sized clear Mason jars so that I would be able to use it as a planter! The adorable wooden divided crate was a steal at a local antique street fair for $5. I have a few terra cotta pots + ball jars mixed in as planters. My dream wedding has always incorporated Mason Jars (j'adore the bleu ones!) either as center pieces or beverage holders. I love this shot from ThriftyFun blogger, using jute to wrap the bottom of the jar + adding some green Depression Glass plates (another fav!) I think it's of utmost importance to personalize your wedding day, and Mason jars are so me! Take a look at the photo-frame jars from Papery+Cakery blog. I would not have ever thought to do this :)

~~~~~~~~~~~> I'm dreaming up ideas of how to re-vamp this GIANT ball jar from Momma. She got it from a craft fair + it was rather primitive country. I love the little night light + have been using it in all it's country-fied glory in my kitchen for nighttime lighting. Any ideas on what to fill it with?? My kitchen is blue & yellow French country style... suggestions needed :)

theweedpatchstore.com

One of the most posh retro stores I know is Anthropologie. If you've not yet had the experience, you must find one near you, or on your next vacation. It's one of those stores I can muse through without a dime in my pocket, go home and put all that inspiration to good use! Although not everything is super pricey, everything IS super chic & adorable!!!! Check out their amazing display of mason jar lighting from a while back ... That's about all I have for now, hope that you find some inspiration from this post + if nothing else, at least some nice photos to look at :) Love + K's ~ B