Lily Jane

new at the shop: vintage milk bottle stationery

I've just added a new stationery set to the shop, designed with a pair of vintage milk bottles in the corner.  They're super-green: everything, including the kraft envelopes, is recycled. 

{image by me}

wedding cake table

I just love the fresh, green display used to showcase the cakes at this wedding.  The green and white have such refreshing, bold contrast with one another and the ferns add loads of texture.

It would be a pretty way to edge any food display.  Even as a swag hung slightly below the edge of the table.

Do you use greenery and flowers in your party decorating?  How do you incorporate them?

{images via Kellan Studios}

picnic baskets

I love picnics.  Eating finger-friendly foods outside, in the shade of a tree, with plenty of grass and sunshine for my boys to run around in is my idea of the perfect meal.  It's picturesque and fun for everyone.  The only down side: I'm always scrounging for something to carry our goodies in.  I just haven't been able to find the right picnic basket.  The pretty ones seem to be few and far between.  So I set out to seek out the best and share them with you.

{images, clockwise from top: toast basket, billet basket, HausProud picnic set, hyacinth picnic hamper via A Cup of Jo, perrier, 4 person picnic basket set, willow basket, sutherland basket}

I love bringing foods to picnics that are easy and simple...and usually require little to no cooking.  Like a baguette and cheese, roasted asparagus and a mustard dip and, of course, berries and cream (that's my little boy's favorite).  What are your favorite picnic eats?

tulie bakery

Hello, friends.  How was your weekend?  I'm excited to get blogging again this week because I have some fun things in store for you.  But first, I wanted to introduce you to a little company I discovered Saturday at the downtown Farmer's Market: Tulie Bakery.

Not only did their gorgeous letterpress business cards impress me, but they also had the best little breakfast rolls made from cinnamon and croissant dough.  Worth every sinful bite.  And an array of other pretty baked goods.  I can't wait to visit the bakery in person.

{images via project domestication}

hydraheart

These adorable little flats for girls, made by Molly of HydraHeart, are too sweet.  I love the wooden button closure.

Molly also has adult versions so you and your little one can walk down the street with matching stylish feet. 

{images via HydraHeart}

campout cookies

This would be such a cute way to invite friends and family to a summer camp-out.  A stack of customized sugar cookies packaged up in a little tin.

Just be sure to include a slip of paper with all the party details, too, in case your cookie invites get gobbled before the info is copied.  Maybe a circle cutout pasted on the inside of the lid?  Perfect.

{images via i am baker}

america at home

America at Home is a new-to-me book that was actually published back in 2008.  Have you already been introduced to it?  It's a collaboration of photographers, nationwide, who set out to document life in the American home; all the photos were taken during a single week in September.  The result is fascinating.

Not only is the book full of gorgeous photography, it has the stories behind them, really illustrating how we live our daily lives.  The traditions, the responsibilities, the games we play.  It's a lovely snapshot of life that I think would make a fantastic coffee table book for any home.

What piece of your life would you want to see in a book like this?  A favorite family tradition, a favorite spot in your home, or something else?

{images via America at Home}

pantone notebooks

I love these fun little pantone notebooks.  So bright and cheerful.  And can you ever really have too many notebooks?

{via duet lettterpress}

grant cornett

Hello, friends.  How was your weekend?  Did you do anything fun?  I certainly did.  I hosted a little get together at my place Saturday night in honor of my dear friend Claire's birthday.  It was so good to spend time with just the girls, eat good food and chat.  Sometimes you just need a night like that, you know? 

And today is her actual birthday so, Happy Birthday, Claire!  I'm so glad I can call you my friend.  I'm the luckiest girl.

On a design note, how about this wonderful photography by Grant Cornett?  I love the emotion and mood he's captured in each frame.

Each is a little still of life in motion, which, in my opinion, is the best form of photography.  It's the reason we all take photographs: to capture a moment we never want to lose.  Grant does this amazingly well with a visual journaling of daily life.

How do you chronicle your daily life?  In photos, words, pieces?

{via grant cornett photography}

stitchery

Between a little book I've stumbled across and the blogs of a few inspiring people, I'm totally feeling an itch to get out my sewing machine and try to make something.  I'm not a sewer by nature; well, I've just never really learned how.  But I've seen so many cute patterns lately, I'm just going to have to teach myself.  Because I would be ridiculous to pass this goodness up.

The book: Whip Up Mini Quilts. 20 pretty little patterns for tiny quilts.  Could there be a better way to learn quilting than with a mini one?

The blogs:

1. Made.  The author, Dana, makes the most fabulous things.  She has some seriously cute little girl's clothes, like this skirt.  And some awesome tutorials.
2. The Sleepy Time Gal.  I've blogged about this lovely lady before, but Nicole never ceases to amaze or inspire me with her creative problem-solving projects (both sewing and otherwise) and dedication to motherhood.  If reading her blog does nothing more than inspire me to establish a baking day (which is pretty much impossible), I'll be a million times the better for it.

Are you a sewer?  Do you have a source for inspiration you're ecstatic you've found?

{images via amazon}