Peony::Love is Getting Married

Amanda from Peony::Love is getting married today! I hope they are having the happiest day, I can't wait to hear all about it :)

image from Peony::Love

North Carolina State Flea Market

On Sunday we went to the North Carolina State Flea Market. The weather was so nice outside and there were so many cool things to see. Here are some of my favorite things that I wish I could have taken home with me :)

{pretty pale pink mirror}

{vintage shell purse}

{cool belt buckles}

{pretty pink glasses}

{prints of old maps}

Inspired By Wisteria

Ever since I discovered Wisteria through Anne from the City Sage I dream about all the things I would love to order when I get their catalog in the mail. When I saw their shadowboxed shells I was inspired to try and make my own version :)

image from Wisteria

{my version}

I used a shadowbox frame that was originally given to me for the tassel from my college graduation. I covered the back piece of the frame with a piece of white cardstock. Then I picked a few shells from my seashell collection and adhered them to the cardstock with small pieces of foam tape. I can't wait to hang it up!

The Flashdance

This week I was really excited to get this CD from the Flashdance. I love music and have always listened to everything (when I was little my dad was in a Doors cover band :)

The Flashdance is such a creative site filled with amazing photography and cool music. For anyone getting married they are an endless source of inspiration! :)

bottom image from the Flashdance

J.Crew Behind the Design

The new J.Crew catalog just arrived in the mail and of course I am in love with everything. Is it legal to have so many amazing things in one place? :) They have a great feature about the designers and what inspires them. You can read more about them online too. I love this quote from one of the women's designers.

"I keep a seasonal journal for concepting. Anything from a ticket stub that finds its way into a graphic tee to a feather that might not get used at all--we use the journal every day." -M.W.

p.s. Check out this cool crafty post on ScrappyTime!

DonorsChoose.org

image from DonorsChoose.org

"At DonorsChoose.org, K-12 public school teachers submit ideas for materials or experiences their students need to learn. These proposals become classroom reality when concerned individuals like you choose to fund their projects, from "Magical Math Centers" to "Cooking Across the Curriculum."

Over the weekend I received an email from Crate and Barrel with a giving card to donate to DonorsChoose.org. I gave our donation to "Dropping In On Art", submitted by an Arts and Humanities teacher in Kentucky hoping to get twelve Dropping In series books and videos covering Grant Wood, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Romare Bearden, Henri Rousseau, and Andy Warhol for her students. When I was in elementary school I remember watching Bob Ross paint his happy little trees :) I think every child should have the opportunity to learn about and be inspired by art :)

Antler Magazine Issue Two

image from Antler Magazine

The second issue of Antler Magazine is here! I can't wait to take a look at it :)

Inspiration Cork Board

On Saturday I went to A.C. Moore and got a cork board for a little over five dollars! It was originally 10.99 and and I saved $5.50 with a 50% off one item coupon that I had. When I was looking for the store address online I saw that you can print coupons from A.C.Moore.com too.

Here it is as the inspiration board in my crafty room :)

{click image to enlarge}

One of the Best Days Ever

I don't even have words to describe how happy and excited I am right now. This afternoon I received a package from my sister and my mom for my birthday which is not till next Tuesday. My sister wanted me to call her when I got the package so I could open one gift from her today. And guess what it was!

{my own copy of Martha Stewart's Encylopedia of Crafts}

{inscription from my sister on the first page}

{signed by Martha Stewart!!!}

I am still in shock. So last Thursday I saw that Martha Stewart was having a book signing at the Michaels in Westbury, NY on Friday. I emailed and texted my sister who lives in Long Beach, NY to let her know just in case she had a moment or two to stop by. She let me know she would love to go but wasn't able to be there on Friday. Needless to say she went and surprised me with one of the best gifts ever. It's going to take me a lifetime to say thank you and give her an equally amazing gift. My mission now is to run into Alexander McQueen, my sister's favorite designer, and get an autograph for her (that sounds pretty easy right? :)

I always say I have the best sister, but I really do! The best part is she got to meet Martha Stewart and have a copy signed for her too! :)

p.s. You can see photographs my sister took at the signing on her blog, ScrappyTime, too!

Lemlem at J.Crew

image from J.Crew

Yesterday I received the new J.Crew catalog in the mail and the first thing I noticed were the beautiful pieces handcrafted by Lemlem. Liya Kebede, an international goodwill ambassador and model for J.Crew, created Lemlem "as a way to inspire economic independence in her native country and to preserve the art of weaving." Not only are the pieces beautiful but I love the meaning behind them :)

p.s. Today is the launch of Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts!

Antler Magazine

image from Antler Magazine

I just heard about Antler Magazine today from my sister and it's amazing! I love the idea of an online magazine and love that they feature artists and designers from all over. I spent about an hour this morning reading their very first issue and am already feeling inspired :)

"ANTLER is an online magazine which focuses on composing a collection of beautiful, inspiring ideas and designs from all aspects of life. We come in the body of a fashion magazine, but are more than just that. We look for ways to inspire through not only fashion, but art, design, literature, and culture."
-from Antler Magazine

A Dream Job

The Craft's Dept. at Martha Stewart started their own blog and it's amazing! This would be my dream job... :)

{working in a great space surrounded by crafty supplies
and having a view of the city}

{being able to take a sewing class at work}

{working with so many creative people
and creating fun parties at work}

all images from the Craft's Dept.

This Young House

images from This Young House

Over the weekend I discovered This Young House and am so inspired by their house. You can tell so much love and thought went into every detail. The photograph of their laundry room inspired me to put the bag of clothespins I have in a pretty mason in our laundry room. This is a house that just makes me happy :)

Peonies and Polaroid's Shop

image from Peonies and Polaroids

Peonies and Polaroids just opened up her own shop on Etsy. I would love to have one of her prints and maybe someday be able to take a photograph as pretty as this :)

Magazine Organization

I absolutely love magazines and finally went through all of the ones I had collected especially the wedding ones. When I was engaged I went through a phase where I felt I needed to have everyone wedding magazine that existed :) I slowly went through them all while watching Thursday night TV and saved only the pages that I love along with some interesting articles too. I placed them into clear plastic sheets and put them in either my wedding and party inspiration binder or my article and decorating inspiration binder. I couldn't part with my Martha Stewart Weddings magazines or my past issues of Martha Stewart Living :)

{my wedding and party inspiration binder}

{my article and decorating inspiration binder}

{my Martha Stewart Wedding magazines}

Encyclopedia of Crafts

image from Amazon.com

I'm so excited to someday add this book to my Martha Stewart collection, it will be released on March 31st :)

Nie Nie is Back

image from coolchaser.com

Stephanie, her husband, and family are such an inspiration :)

007

{click on board to enlarge images}

dress image from Jenny Packham, James Bond image from Time Out London, venue image from the Knot

martini image from Domino, perfume image from Bond Lifestyle
orchids image from Martha Stewart, dress image from J.Crew, suitcase image from 007 Museum

Yesterday we went to see Quantum of Solace and it was so good! It made me think how cool would it be to have a James Bond inspired wedding? :)

Classic Bride is Getting Married

Sarah from Classic Bride is getting married today!
I hope they have the happiest wedding day :)

image from Martha Stewart

The Elizabeth Anne Designs Library

This morning Elizabeth Anne Designs announced the launch of their new project, the Elizabeth Anne Designs Library. I spent some time there this morning and it's amazing! It's going to be such a great wedding resource for brides everywhere!

image from Elizabeth Anne Designs