Hip & eclectic statement pieces!

To say we are SQUIRRELLY over the launch of our new furniture collection would be an absolute understatement! Lots of you have been sharing in our excitement, drinking it all in with us... so thank you! Check out our little video clip to see more of the pieces up close and in person - since no amount of words or photography can truly do them justice!! (I admit I'm a bit biased here...) Let us know if there are other tidbits we can share about any of these beauties... Or, if you've already ushered them into your own home... we'd love to hear what you think! You know us, always dreaming with our eyes open... so the feedback (both good and bad) keeps us grounded!

xoxo,
Tracy

A few swell books

OK, you know I am a crazy person for books... I have been honest about my addiction... I am hopeless. Happily... hopeless!! I have just a few to share today... These are in the casual, fun to read... to give, to get... to be inspired category. Nothing serious... no grand literature. Surely you will enjoy these as much as I do. Consider any of these a truly lovely gift to give as well... Some of them I did receive as gifts.


* Chocolate and Zucchini by Clotilde Dusoulier...... A young and lovely Parisian foodie that will charm your pants off - and make you want to hop the next plane. Great recipes... gorgeous photos... small enough to toss into your bag for a plane ride... Mouthwatering, inspiring, and simply lovely!


* The Goddess Guide by Gisele Scanlon...... My take? A unique & luscious little gem that will make you want to nestle in with a big cup of tea and a notebook... frivolous, profound... stylish... Start dreaming, this one will make you wild!


* Luxe City Guides...... Stylish, brutally frank... and top to bottom fabulous. Even if you don't plan on traveling, these are just too insanely fabulous to miss. Twelve outstanding mini fold out guides that come in a sexy keeper's box will take you from Hong Kong to Dubai, New York to Madrid. You feel like you've joined a secret club that's really in the know! I received this set as a gift... My mission now? Get to every one of these destinations!!


* The Art of Being a Woman by Veronique Vienne...... In her words (and don't you love her for it?!): "It takes a great woman to spot greatness in another woman!" This is a magnificent little jewel to give to a girlfriend or to keep for yourself... Release your insecurities, count your blessings... and get this book!


* Country Houses of England by Barbara Stoeltie...... Warm, inviting homes that feel truly lived-in (my favorite kind). Nothing overly "decorated"... more collected-over-time feeling... imperfection in its finest hour. Be prepared to go antiquing after this read!

Do you ever...

* Eat donut holes in the afternoon? (I must admit, I have a weakness for them - that, and a great big cup of Earl Grey - right around 3 o'clock!)

* Flit about your house on a Sunday afternoon... in your robe or PJ's... cup of tea in hand... reveling in little nooks you've created... finding inspiration for your next weekend project?

* Sing REALLY LOUD, but only in the car? (BTW, I recently ran across a great CD called Happenstance by Rachel Yamagata... We've got this one on repeat right now!)

* Keep a standing date night with your hubby? John & I do this almost every week... We literally plan it right into our schedules. It brings us calm & balance amidst all the lovely chaos... (Mind you, it's also a great reason to get glammed up during the week!!)

* Tuck a hand-made card into his suitcase for him to find when he's traveling? Or leave love notes strewn about his favorite haunts, before you leave on a long trip??

* Hang a sumptuous mirror in your favorite room... and then stare at its reflection, imagining how grand it would be if the room layout were reversed - or doubled in scale - for a day?? (I've honestly done this... a bit Alice in Wonderland of me, I know......)

* Tell your parents (or children) that you love them? Every day?

* Squish your toes into cool, wet sand? (Pretty much doing anything without socks is fabulous in my book!)

* Eat grocery store birthday cake & ice cream - even when it’s not your birthday?

* Plan a weekend brunch with your grandparents?

* TiVo Oprah so you can watch her early in the morning?

* Send your mom or sister a little goodie "just because"? (It's always nice to be remembered throughout the year... not just holidays & birthdays!)

* Keep framed photos of your loved ones at work? Even unframed will do, to keep them close to your heart! If your desk is rather petite, try a small ribbon memo board instead. These are great so you can add & subtract new photos and other bits of inspiration on a whim... Of course, as you know, we're big on the galvanized steel and magnets gig here at the studio!!

* Encourage your kids to catch fireflies in mason jars? (Ahhh... summer can't get here fast enough!!)

* Get lost in a local bookstore?

* Plan your April Fool's gags weeks in advance? (Maybe it's just us.)

* Have an impromptu picnic lunch for two in the middle of the week?

* Wear cocktail rings to type? You'll often catch me raiding the jewelry bin here at the studio if I forget to wear one to work... No lie!!

Mouthwatering mirrors!

I LOVE the effect that a beautiful mirror can have on a room... Several years ago for Valentine's Day my husband, John, surprised me with a most exquisite mirror. I absolutely treasure this piece and have cherished moving it from room to room over the years... It continues to surprise me with each new space I put it in! (As a side note, I find myself doing this with other one-of-a-kinds as well... gorgeous lamps, side chairs, unique vessels... Do you do this too??) Of course, I'm always on the hunt for new dazzlers... like our cultured turquoise mirror, or our handsome chinoiserie mirror. I am a big believer in using gems like these in a variety of ways... They add such wonderful depth and personality to most any space. My philosophy is... you cannot have enough mirrors! And don't be afraid to combine an over-the-top piece with something plain and simple... The harmony is sometimes a sweet perfection!

* Find a beautiful frame, old or new, and have a piece of mirror glass dropped in... For a few dollars more, you can have them bevel the edges for a more classic feel!

* Embellish an existing mirror with old costume jewels, millinery flowers, seashells, mosaic tiles, or lengths of ribbon for a more hand-touched look.

* Rather than a grouping of wall art, try a gallery of mirrors in different shapes, sizes, and finishes to create the illusion of a larger space.

* Dress up any mirror with touches of hand-painting (or a beautifully stenciled pattern) on the wall around it... What a wonderfully inexpensive way to add scale and drama!

* Line the back of a hutch or bookshelf with mirrored glass... Or lean several smaller mirrors behind a stack of books for more casual, unexpected sparkle.

* Consider putting a mirror where you normally wouldn't... in a kitchen, on a door... even on your table! Sprinkle with tea light votives, and voila... Instant centerpiece!

Small indulgences...

Sun drenched colors and spritely patterns... adorable little shapes... kissed with metallic silver and gold.... What's not to love?? I have always been enamored with bud vases! I think they are so charming, with a single stem, or a grouping of posies... You will find a myriad of uses of them, I am sure... Great to give as gifts (but don't forget to keep one or more for yourself!) I always keep a stash of "littles" like this to bring along to impromptu gatherings, or send to favorite aunties... You know, all those events we try so hard to plan ahead for... but sometimes life just happens along the way!! Bonjour, spring!

Emotional surrender...

Instantly twinkling... stylish and dashing... fetching and fabulous... Just a few words to capture the sensibility of slipping into one of these lovelies... I know many of you have already surrendered to them... I know I certainly have! I mean, what isn't to love about delicious embroidery, spot-on color, and rollicking good fun? (I, for one, am smitten.) The girls at the studio asked me to take a few twirls in front of the camera to show you how luscious these statement pieces really are... our Modern Vintage Coat... Fancy Free Sweatshirt... A Fetching Coat... I realize this is just a taste of our amazing fashion... We'll have more for you soon! As always, please do share your favorites... It's so fun to hear!

xoxo,
Tracy

Behind the scenes... our process!

For me, design is all about inspiration... finding new ways to look at the things around me... colors, textures, fabrics, elements from nature... adding a new twist to keep it fresh and invigorating, comfy and familiar, all at once. We are constantly on the lookout for fabulous new gems, and wanted to give you just a teensy glimpse into what is to come in the weeks and months ahead! We've got our fingers into a little bit of everything, as you know... fashion, bedding, furniture, lighting, home décor... You name it, we're dreaming about it!

p.s. A side note about our walls... Mind you, they can get a little "Beautiful Mind" every now and again... but it just means exciting new things are headed your way!! We just needed more and more space to put up all of our new artwork, fabric swatches, tearsheets, etc... If it's out of sight, it's out of mind, and we simply cannot forget about anything new and juicy! Not to mention we were tired of bloodying our fingertips, cramming pushpins into wood and drywall...Just not efficient! So, we covered many of our walls in galvanized sheet metal. (You can get this from any heating & cooling supplier... just have them cut the steel to size and fold over the edges... then screw it into place. Voila!) I'm so in love with this solution that we've even covered several walls in our pantry, craft room, and kids playroom at home... We found a really great resource for super strong magnets - I literally cannot imagine how we functioned without them before!

Five minute bookshelves

Again with the teasing! Yes, we've got more behind-the-scenes footage from our summer catalog shoot... with Gus chattering in the background, photographers scurrying about, prepping for the next shot... Just adds to the lovely chaos of it all! (p.s. Many of you have been asking about the lipstick red doors... so we just had to give you another peek! We've added a few more coats since we shot this video, and they are absolutely luscious and mouthwatering now! But I digress......)

So, these bookshelves! Rough hewn cedar, gobs of old books (John collects the works of Elbert Hubbard, one of the influential architects of the arts & crafts movement... I love them here in the mix), and other little tchotchkes tossed in here and there... I love that they're all a little haphazard and disheveled looking... heart-warming and inspiring... Such a perfect way to dress up a hallway or a mudroom... and gain added storage space to boot! I am so enamored with this look... I definitely need to find a few more nooks that I can transform in my home!

Give your curtains the star treatment!

Okay, so we all have them, right?? Timeless pieces that we've stared at for so long that we've simply grown tired of them... But then the nostalgic, eclectic (or, in my case, pack rat) mentality just can't bear to part with them. Well, that's where I was with these celadon velvet curtains. GORGEOUS... but I'd moved on. So we decided to give them a little face lift by adding a beautiful layer of hand-painting to them. I absolutely LOVE them now!!! Of course, we went for a pretty over-the-top, intricate design... but you could do your own version of this, using a stencil to create an all-over pattern... go as bold or as delicate as you like! Maybe stripes are more your gig? Painterly vertical stripes would be stunning, and certainly make a modern statement in a small space! Almost any kind of paint would work here really... acrylic, oil, etc. Or maybe you want to add a new ribbon trim or tassel fringe? Whether you're a seamstress, or not... no problem! (I personally love the no-sew option of a hot glue gun!) Even changing up your tiebacks, or trying them on for the first time, can make a huge difference in the silhouette of your window or doorway. I figure, what have you got to lose?? If you're going to take them down and tuck them away, you might as well try to reinvent them first... Who knows? You may just fall in love with them all over again!! (p.s. Even Gus couldn't help himself and came on over to show us his latest truck obsession!!!)