the inspiration station

Now that we're finally getting settled into our new home, it's time to start adding more of the finishing touches. When you first arrive in a place, there's the basic unpacking, the repeated arranging and rearranging of furniture - but you really feel like you live in a place when your stuff is finally up on walls and every inch of every room just feels like you.

Our place is starting to feel that way :) What I'm working on next is my desk area. In this house, I have space to have a legitimate desk of my own and do crafts! We have this landing on the second floor that has room for a desk for me, a desk for Will and a craft table. Wowza. So thrilled. 

I shall call my area the inspiration station.

Here are some ideas that are fueling my organization of this space:

via totalyhomedecor.com

via Say Yes to Hoboken

                          

                             via A Blog Named Scout

via The Clean Slate

via A Note On Design

via Maya

via Apartment Therapy

via Design Sponge

via Run With Scissors

As you may have gathered, here's what I'm into - white and clean neutral colors, plants, organic materials, color-blocking, dip-dying, organization to the max and a slight vintage flair.

I've already color-blocked some cans for my markers, colored pencils and paint brushes and I intend to make that wall organizer and rope bowl soon! I might dip dye the legs of the bench I'm using and recover it, but my biggest challenge will be keeping plants alive. Alas.

I'll keep working on it and take some photos when it's presentable!

in business

It's not even Thanksgiving yet but Christmas is on the brain. I didn't start it this time, I swear. 

I was asked to design a Christmas card for a friend's friend's non-profit, and that got me in the mood before mid-November. Hey, I don't hate it.

It was kind of a tricky job because I had to stifle a lot of ideas that I wanted to see come to life, so I just wrapped up that project and started designing my own cards! And yes, they're for sale and they're cheap cheap cheap. Way cheaper than any card you'd see online. Below are a few of my favorite styles.

There are 11 styles total and 3 sizes available - 5.25" square, 5x7" and 4.25x5.25". These are all samples and phrases and colors can be edited to your personal preference. All cards will be printed on recycled paper and cards can be shipped to your location.

50 cards = $27

100 cards =$53

(This includes the cost of card stock,

printing, cutting and folding. 

Envelopes not included.)

Cards don't need to be purchased in bulk. The exact amount you need can be printed, just contact me for a quote! The deadline to place an order is December 2nd.

As you can see, (and probably know by my pretty naked and simple blog) these greatly reflect my personal style preferences - modern and contemporary with delicious fonts (obv). 

Do you like them? Which one is your favorite? Support Christmas, Jesus, and the Baldwin family - order some cards ;)

11/11/11

Happy Wish Day, everyone!

November 11th... what a long anticipated day! I've already heard of so many people who chose this as their wedding day, and not gonna lie, it was one that we considered for a short stint! I'm praising God that we didn't settle on that though. First and foremost because an engagement that long would have made me self-destruct, but also because it's extremely blustery out today. Very yuck. Very... November in New England. 

But my co-workers and I were all amped about the day and celebrating at 11:11AM. We were going to dance around, make lots of noise... you know, all the things that are necessary at an arbitrary time on an arbitrary day. But lo and behold, we missed it. What a fail. It wasn't until almost 12:30 that someone said, "Oh no! We missed 11:11!" and we all mourned. And we all know that I won't last until 11:11PM, so there goes that fun. What a waste.

Know any wedding happening today? Any fun plans to celebrate this rare occasion? The hub is going away for the weekend (our longest time spent apart since being wed, by the way - sad), but my very best friend is staying with me all weekend! How could I be so blessed? We'll paint nails, drink tea, and have the ultimate girl's weekend of nothingness. I'm thrilled.

Have a fabulous weekend all! 

Here's some fun thing to peruse in your spare time.

world's coolest loft

a must-do DIY project

something I don't think I'm smart enough for

a distant dream

a fabulous thing!

Two of the biggest big-leaguers have gone pro... can you go more pro than the big leagues? I didn't think you could. But they did, and they're heaps gorg.

LOOK!

via

I adore the lights and condensed lights in particular. Drool drool. "How do I get them?" she wonders.

Thanks for the tip off Quipsologies.

the airstream dream

I'm about to divulge a crazy dream. I know that my betrothed thinks it will be awesome, 

but most others will probably think we're out of our minds.

Step 1: have a stable work-from-home-as-my-own-boss job

Step 2: which will enable us to invest in an airstream trailer.

2a: avoid spending a fortune.

2b: by using this little gem of a website.

Step 3: redo the inside so it looks less like this...

and a lot more like this...

um, yes. see this guy's whole "house" tour here.

Step 4: travel the country as a freelance writer/designer

and see everything our beautiful country has to offer.

Step 5: then create an awesome website for documentation like this guy.

I would want to totally "green" our trailer. I've been reading up on how to add solar panels, composting toilets (I know, gross), adding a cork floor, etc. They call people who live these extreme eco-friendly lifestyles "bioneers" - how cool would we be?! 

Just kidding. Only kind of.

Someday, folks. Someday.

how to have a smart home

No, we're not talking about a creepy house that talks to you and makes your breakfast like that old school Disney channel movie. I mean this short, cute article in USA weekend.

In brief, here's their list of what your home needs to be a non-threatening, learning environment.

1. world map
2. dictionary - not the kind on your Mac's dashboard
3. table for jigsaw puzzles
4. brain-boosting library - including but not limited to crosswords, mazes and Sudoku
5. domino set
6. special reading spot

I was inspired by most of those - especially since I had just conquered that issue's Sudoku on the back page - but the most gripping one to me was the special reading spot.

I love so much the idea of having a place especially designated for being cozy and quiet. If there happens to be a book along for the journey, that's fine, but I mostly just want to have a spot where I can curl up and relax.

Also, when I googled "create a reading nook", I was bombarded with beautiful ideas. I think I'm a sucker for anything that has the term "nook" in it. Here are some finds:

[source]

[source]

So I've learned from my extensive research that two things are important for the reading nook.

1. natural light

2. and a seriously comfy chair.

Not an upright victorian arm chair, not something made out of trendy chic plastic, not one with no arms. Let's be real. Give me a papasan chair (above) or a freaking chaise lounger. I want my book readin' to naturally fade into nap takin'. 

Thanks USA Weekend for your well-meant intentions of making my home smarter. I think I'm taking in in the wrong direction... :)

house of wood

I originally came across this house on freshome and it reminded me of the treehouses I posted a while back. Take a gander... isn't this house so interesting? Here's the front view...

and the back...

is there a garage or something under the house? scary...

and the sides:

cute garden area and shutters, but why oh why does your house teeter on the side of a cliff? not the wisest.

now the stunning interior:

say whaaaat? office of my dreams much? I don't know, that may be too hasty to say. but with all of the light shining in and the books? jeez. they must have one of those sliding ladders to reach the top. unreal.

oh, and nice old mac desktop in the background. classic = instant respect.

do you think their house always smells like the forest? how fun, like one of the air fresheners that dangles from your rearview mirror only life size!

so how many trees, do i dare ask? alas. the price for a unique house, i guess.

like one of those jellybean in the glass jar games, my guess would be 193 trees.

not your average microsoft

I saw a site that was featuring 60 examples of breathtaking typography, so naturally I was sucked in. Here are some of my faves:

An ode to Earth's best beverage.

The font isn't anything to write home about, but it's a shout out to

 my wrist tat (agape) and I like the linking of the letters.

So creative and fun, huh? See the rest here! 

more fun things...

a spot that beckons me

&

fishy's awesome home

&

the oreos and I would be so happy this way.

Happy Thursday! 

(almost weekend!)

Twists & Turns

I know that they aren't entirely practical, but oh how I swoon over spiral staircases. Some are a bit perilous with no railings of any kind, but aesthetically they're a dream. Who cares if you're hospitalized - your staircase is a pure work of art.

Wheels on display

I'm not really on the move so much as I have already moved! Will and I spent Friday and Saturday moving my stuff and some of his into the new apartment in Gloucester. Then my parents helped us move the gargantuan but irresistible couch we affectionately call "Big Red" on Monday and now it's really feeling like home.

Will has been doing some minor house handy work to bring the place up to snuff, and this weekend's project is the quest for fabric to make curtains for the bathroom and living room. And off in the future when he moves in with me? Oh, just a little of this action on the living room walls...

Boom. Oh, it's on. 

This summer will be great. The bikes will always be within reach and then we'll really be on the move.

For our new hive?

It would be so sweet to live in a hive.

I'm sorry for the unbelievably deliberate pun. I couldn't help myself.

But forget about that and look at this sweet shelf!

I did it again. I'm so sorry. It was completely unintentional that time. Just go make me this shelf and it'll be fine.

Something like this would look awesome in the living room that I'm about to move into. Moving this weekend! Our new living room has honey-colored walls and they are simply delicious.

Atypical

If given the choice for design and style, I would almost always choose warm and cozy over large and industrial. The only thing that would make me even come close to reconsidering...

would be this and only this.

Lofty Ideas

I saw this on a fun design blog that I frequent and, it's the new hot thing in my book. If I'm not in a tree house, I'd love to do something like this. Stray from the norm and color your world in a different way...

1. Purple is a flawless kitchen color, in my opinion.

2. Black trim really makes the color pop.

3. Stripes for a kid's room is such a blast!

4. The aqua is so subtle and fresh.

5. Black ceiling with all white is so classy, especially with that decor.

Are you daring enough to try this? What do you think?