housemartin

emberglow

A bridal bouquet I did all in warm tones...
Rich Leonidas and Spicy roses, Alexandra pale yellow roses, orange parrot tulips, and red rosehips all bound with chartreuse silk dupioni ribbon.

chunky

Loving these chunky crewel embroideries, felted wools, and knitted home decor pieces from Anthropologie. They feel so right for fall - bulky and cozy.

cheap thrills

Last Halloween we decided to do some decoration for the kids who would come by on Halloween night. We wanted to do something simple that would make a fun project.
Here is the result and we are using it again this year...
you will need:
2 pairs scissors
1 tabloid pack of black construction paper
scotch tape - lots of it
a way to burn off energy after eating too many "fun size" snickers bars

We made a spooky village complete with crooked houses, craggy old tree, black cat, cemetery, bats, and ghosties....have fun!
(note it looks backward as it is meant to be viewed from outside)
Happy Halloween!

cinderella

Several weeks ago we went pumpkin picking out on Sauvies Island. We went to a farm that had mostly Cinderellas (the dark orange pinched ones) and white pumpkins. This can be quite an ordeal as one gets attached to them....er, well I do.
50 pumpkins later (thats an exaggeration - but it was an entire carload full)
...here are some of the beauties we encountered.
Here is how you end up with a carload...
"We have to get this one...it's so wide!"
"We have to get this one...it's so tall!"
"we have to get this one...it's so ghostly white!"
"and this one is so nobbly!"
"and this one is so lopsided!"
You get the picture.
Also lovely chickens at a second farm...

and here they all are - happily back at our house - arranged in the dining room and on the front porch
and finally, a sweet treat for you all - Happy Halloween everyone!

pink velvet

A bridal bouquet I made that is lush and feminine...
Biedermier garden roses. Avalanche roses, Else pink spray roses, a collar of galex leaves on the edge, chocolate cosmos, and rosy pink cockscomb gives the bouquet a velvety feel. Finished with champagne silk dupioni ribbon and tiny pink pearl pins.

oh my deer

Some of my finds from antiquing this weekend...
this precious vintage deer garden statue - he will add some woodland charm to my holiday display.

and some vintage iron urns from France. Displayed with them are osage oranges - those nubbly chartreuse green wonders. I love them for decorating at this time of year.
and a vintage test tube rack with test tubes - great for display...
and finally a lucky horseshoe from "Champ" and a vintage hand mirror

espresso e sorbetti

A bouquet I did last week.
It's a study in coontrasts...I love the bright feminine blossoms juxtaposesd against the vintage menswear  grosgrain ribbon. Warm tones of pink and coral with chartreuse green and chocolate brown.
Spicy roses, Else spray roses, Supergreen roses, pink parrot tulips, privet berries, fiddle head ferns

green + white

some bouquets from early September
lush green and white with a shot of berry -
ripening blackberries, gooseneck, purple sage, chartreuse cockscomb, Vendella roses, sedum, and snow-on-the-mountain

ship of dreams

Some fascinating goodies found on 1st Dibs antique website today...
I am mesmerized by this ship chandelier - so solid and fairytale at the same time!

it would look great with these grey tailored tufted chairs in a dining room or living room
and how about this industrial rack from France to hold all your winter woolen blankets?

get inspired

I have been a member of an organization called Ladies Who Launch for about a year now. It is a nationwide organization that promotes women's entrepreneurship as a lifestyle. It has been a great opportunity to network and support other women business owners in the Portland area. We have a LIVE event coming up this Thursday. In fact, it was a speaker at the event last year that inspired me to start this blog!
If there are any ladies are out there in the Portland area who want a day of inspiration with women entrepreneurs of all interests and professions, we'd love to see you. Find out about tickets for this Thursday's event in Portland here.