Lily Jane

Alessandra Mortola

I'm enamored with the work of prop stylist Alessandra Mortola.  Her work is so simple, clean and elegant.

 

If you're like me and can't get enough, check out her portfolio.  It's never-ending loveliness. 

Soup Swap

I think this idea from the people behind Garnish is so clever - and perfect for these cold winter months.  As the days seem to get grayer and cabin fever sets in, why not host a soup swap?  Have guests bring quarts of homemade (then frozen) soup to share with one another.  Perfect to have on hand for cold, biting evenings and whenever an illness strikes. 

Happy Wednesday: Planner Giveaway

The lovely Amy of Buggie & Jellybean is giving one of my 2010 planners away!  If you're still in need of a planner head on over to her blog to enter the drawing.  While you're there, look around a bit.  Amy has all sorts of cute ideas and products to inspire you. 

Ken Sanders Rare Books

Yesterday I went exploring Salt Lake City with my friend.  Surprisingly, I haven't had much time to do this since we moved here.  It was fabulous!  So many cute and unique shops I didn't even know existed.  My favorite of all: Ken Sanders Rare Books.  I love books.  I've loved them since I can remember.  I'm one of those people who can spend all their free time (and some time I should be busy) buried in a good novel.  So when spotted this store across the street, we had to stop in.  And I'm so glad we did.  Walls and walls of floor to ceiling books.  Vintage, antique, and even some in mint condition.  It smelled amazing - the smell of dusty paper and leather. 

Ken Sanders has the reputation of being able to find any book you could ever dream of if you give him enough time.  He's an expert.  He was even on Antiques Roadshow to appraise this original Pearl of Great Price:

It's really a great example of some of the gems you'll discover there.  Some of our finds: an original print of Alice in Wonderland, the complete works of Shakespeare (leather bound and boxed), a railroad book from the late 1800s with a fold-out map, enormous family bibles...  We were there for just under an hour and I feel like we barely scratched the surface.  I could probably spend days in there.  And I'm sure I will because I will definitely be going back.

Design*Sponge City Guides

{image via this flickr stream}

How has your weekend been?  Mine has been lovely!  We had dinner and games with friends, I taught children in my church songs for the first time (so. much. fun.), and my friend and I have been having a fantastic time together.  It's so good to see her!  Today I'm still playing hostess so we'll be driving around town seeing what there is to see.  Something that's come in handy for me - since I'm still learning my way around town, even after living here for a year - is the city guides published by Design*Sponge.  They have a guide for just about every major city, including international ones like Dublin, Rome and Tel Aviv.  The lists include places to shop, eat and just enjoy yourself.  If you've got a trip planned, or just want some good suggestions for where to go in your own hometown, check out these guides. 

Entryway Perfection

We have a house guest coming this weekend - a wonderful friend of mine from high school whom I haven't seen in years!  In all my excitement I've been perusing Martha's archives in search of tips for making a guest room cozy.  I happened upon this photo and, although it's not the guest room, it's just exactly what I want my entryway to look like.  Which is the first thing visitors see when they come to your house, so I'd mark it of pretty high importance.  Perhaps in mine I'll use a more floral inspired, traditional rug to compliment my green walls. 

Did you notice their solution for dirty floors? A basket full of soft unisex slippers to help encourage no shoes in the house!  This is something that would solve all of my snow-puddle problems.  But my very favorite article in the room is that coat rack - it's perfect!  Does anyone know where I can find one?  The search is on...

Altitude Design Summit

I've been seeing bloggers talk about the Altitude Design Summit for months now.  Excitement for it is spreading all over the place.  Only last night did I realize that it's being held right in my own backyard, at the Grand America in Salt Lake City!  Curiosity piqued, I took a look at what they have planned and I have to tell you I just about started drooling.  So many fabulous bloggers, marketers, and small business entreprenuers!  All there to meet and greet and share their wisdom.  Unfortunately, it's not in the budget for me this year, but if you're interested in an educational and fun-filled weekend for design and food bloggers (and those who follow them!) check out the Alt. Design Summit.  The ladies who are putting this on are fabulous - you won't be disappointed.

New in the Shop: Valentines

I've just updated the Lily Jane Stationery shop with a few digitally printed cards for Valentine's Day.  I'm absolutely in love with how this first one turned out.

And I can't help but start singing Sugar, Sugar every time I look at the Honey card.

 

And now you probably have it stuck in your head, too.  It's a classic.  More Valentine's Day inspired products will be available shortly - including pint sized valentines for the little ones to share.  Keep checking back or subscribe to the RSS feed to be updated when the shop is.

Happy Wednesday: Get It Done

In the spirit of getting things done, I thought it might be helpful to have somewhere to write it all down.  I'm constantly filling up random pages in my notebook, sticky notes and digital to do lists.  Especially this time of year.  Perhaps a pretty list would make me look at it more often, therefore accomplishing more?  Well...at least it will look nice there on the desk or on the front of the fridge.

I have two free printables for you today: one in fresh blue and one in a sunny yellow.  Choose whichever color strikes your mood.  (Just click the link, print and trim at the cross marks.)  The quote on the bottom is by the infamous Mark Twain and reads, "Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow."  Have fun getting stuff done!

Frosting Design

I already have my long list of resolutions for 2010, so I probably shouldn't be adding this one...but wouldn't it be fun to learn how to ice cakes professionally?

{via Design Crush}

{via this flickr stream}

{via bakerella}

I would have way too much fun with fondant.  I wonder how hard it is to learn this by trial and error.  And how many cakes I might eat in the process...