Lily Jane

new at the shop

One of the new designs now available in the Lily Jane shop.

 

Erich Ginder

Hello, again!  I hope everyone had a lovely weekend.  How was your holiday?  I spent the weekend spending time with extended family and my irresistible baby niece, and plotting new home improvements with my husband.  Needless to say, I enjoyed myself quite a bit.   

Picking out and dreaming up new things to remodel and redecorate our home with reminded me of the new-to-me artist, Erich Ginder, who creates uniquely detailed items for the home.  I'm not sure that this piece of his would feel at home in my early 20th century house, but I was impressed by all the details he put into it. 

I was first introduced to Erich Ginder's work by a very helpful reader who recognized this resin coat tree as his design.  I'm still in love with the coat tree, but the intricate, scrolling details in his Mansion Chandelier also caught my eye.  Made of laser cut aluminum and hung with stainless steel aircraft cable, it is definitely a work of art.  Perhaps so much so that I feel it may be better suited for a museum, or a mansion, than a typical home.  What's your opinion? 

Toast: Spring 2010

These images from the Spring 2010 Toast catalogue are just lovely.  The color and composition of the photographs is fabulous.  And the texture in the black and white portrait is phenomenal. 

Can't you just feel the rays of sun soaking into your cheek when you look at this picture.  Mmmm...I swear my cheek is warmer now than it was just a moment ago.  The photos aren't the only pretty things about the new catalogue; there are all sorts of delicious things to wear this Spring.  I'm wanting this swimsuit somethin' awful.

Dress Love

Love, love, love these Kate Spade dresses, don't you?

I already know what pair of shoes I would wear with the first one.  And I'm gleaning loads of inspiration from the pretty fabric patterns.  Bare legs and sandals must really be just around the corner!  I'm waiting, Spring.

Happy Wednesday: Valentine Freebies

If you have I Love You's left on your list and want a pretty way to wrap them up, today's post is for you!  First is a printable box wrapper for all your baked sweets...or anything, really!  If you're short on wrapping paper, this is your freebie.  Wish it came with the cookie, too! (But the recipe is available on mint, too...so I guess in a way, it is!).

An adorable set of color-me Valentines for you or your little ones to personalize. 

And little conversation heart candy bar wrappers from Ez and Marichelle.  A sweet way to add a little pretty to your store-bought goodies.

And, of course, we have a winner to announce today!  The winner of our Lila Frances giveaway is Melanie!

Congratulations, Melanie!  I'll be emailing you soon with all the details on your Lila Frances personalized hanger. 

And here's a question for all of you, friends: what types of things would you like to see given away on this blog?  Stationery, home accessories, jewelry, books?  What are you hopeful for?

{images via mint; Up, Up Creative; Creature Comforts}

Resolution No. 6: Homemade Sandwich Bread

Remember the resolutions I made for this year?  Well, they're all under way...at least most of them are...and I wanted to share the results of January's Resolution No. 6 with you.  The chosen typical market-fare was sandwich bread; instead of buying it, I made my own from scratch.  I know this is a bit tardy, seeing how it is February now, but I figure it's still close enough to count for January.  Let's just hope this doesn't snowball leaving me with two things to do when the busy month of December rolls around again!  Please note: I am not a professional chef and the photo storyboard you are about to see demonstrates this very well.  But it was still so worth it!

As you may have noticed, my dough didn't rise very well but the bread still tasted wonderful!  I'm a sucker for all things baked, and I think I have a mercy rule for my own baked goods that precludes them from needing to be pretty.  I've since made this bread again, taking it out of the mixer to knead it by hand, with much better results.  It rose beautifully.  Lesson learned: if the dough ball is too small to be efficiently kneaded by the mixer, take it out and knead it by hand.  Better safe than sorry.  And it's really quite wonderful and therapeutic to feel the warm, soft dough beneath your fingers as you push it to and fro.  If you're in a baking mood, try the recipe I used.  And be sure to let me know how it turns out!

What about you?  Have you baked anything delicious lately?

Oh, and don't forget...today is the last day to enter the giveaway!  You have until midnight.  Don't you think the hangers would make lovely shower or baby birthday gifts? 

Smallable Children's Decor

I've just recently been introduced to Smallable, a French children's boutique.  I just love their simple, modern furniture designs. 

Isn't the felt chair adorable?  I love the pop of color it brings.  And the wall-mounted changing table may just be one of my favorite inventions ever.  It includes storage space for all of the baby changing paraphernalia.  They also have a lovely line of children's clothing and toys.  What do you think, readers?  Do you love the modern aesthetic for a child's room or do you prefer a more traditional approach?

{images: changing table, beanbag, chair, pigeon lamp}

Nonpareil Magazine

I'm loving the new online wedding magazine, Nonpareil.  Such beautiful photography and styling.  And because the whole issue is focused on having a budget-friendly wedding without a cheap vibe, it's chock full of fabulous DIY projects.  Aren't those headpieces and that dress gorgeous? 

Are you reading this, friends who are getting married?  Or friends who just want some fabulous DIY and design inspiration for their everyday lives?  Stop over and see what you can see!  You'll have a ball.  And, by the way...I'm totally making one of those headbands for myself.

Love Jar

Here's a little DIY project for you this Valentine's Day: The Love Jar.  The Love Jar is a little glass jar (or big...depending on how lovely you're feeling, I suppose) filled to the brim with hand cut paper hearts.  Leave the jar in a spot where you'll see it often.  In the days before February 14th, think of sweet little things to do for someone in your home and leave a little scattering of hearts there when you're done (say, on the floor by their shoes if you've polished them).  You can also write a small "I love you" note and stick it in some secret place for your loved one to stumble upon. 

 
It's a sweet and simple little project to keep the love coming this holiday season...for everyone you care about.  I wonder if any of you have fun little DIY projects up your sleeve for this Valentine's Day.  I'd love to hear your plans!

A Little Give: Lila Frances + a Giveaway!

For this month's A Little Give feature I'd like to introduce you to Ann.  Ann's shop, Lila Frances, is home to beautiful custom wire hangers, each made to order with a name or shape twisted into it.  Aren't they lovely and creative?  Her work has been featured on a slew of wedding blogs but, as far as I'm aware, we're the first design blog to have her.  Lucky us!

I asked Ann to tell us a little bit about herself and her business.  She described herself so eloquently, I'd like to use her own words:

I've been an artist/crafter my entire life...When my son was born in 2007 [I was] disappointed by the lack of cool/hip infant clothes...I began sewing him little button down shirts that resembled bowling shirts from the 50s and plaid butterfly collar shirts from the 70s...

People, in general, seemed impressed with my handmade clothes and a couple of different friends suggested I look into Etsy...I only had mild success with selling my baby shirts and needed more hangers to hold all of the merchandise that wasn't selling. Being both broke and frugal, I couldn't see spending money on plastic hangers, so I began making my own out of wire. One day I twisted my nephew's name and a little heart into the base of the hanger just to see how it would look. Later that week I started posting "name hangers" in my shop along with my clothes. Eventually the hangers just took off...

 

Ann has dedicated a portion of her proceeds to Stand Up To Cancer, an organization dedicated to bringing people together to speed the search to find a cure for cancer.  Her dedication to this cause originated close to home.

I lost my mother to ovarian cancer in 2004. (She is the Lila in LilaFrances.) My grandmother also passed away from this horrible disease and my grandfather to lung cancer. My aunt and other grandmother (the Frances) both bravely fought breast cancer. With all that this disease has put my family through, I'd be nuts not to want to eradicate it!

I'm also signed up with Dr. Susan Love's Army of Women (www.armyofwomen.org)...I receive emails about the latest cancer research so that if there is study I am eligible to participate in, I can help further cancer research that way. I'd highly recommend any woman who has ever been touched by this disease to go to the website and sign up. I truly believe a cure can be found in our lifetime if we all work together to fight!

I'm so glad that I had the chance to meet Ann and I hope you are, too.  Because not only is she making great products and helping cure cancer, she's giving an 8" or 12" personalized hanger away to one lucky reader!  (Cue applause.)  Just leave a comment telling me about your favorite thing hanging in your closet by midnight Tuesday, February 9th.  And please don't forget to include your email (I can't contact you without it!  I promise I won't use it for anything other than this giveaway). 

***BONUS entries can be obtained by tweeting or blogging about this giveaway.  Be sure to leave a link to it below!