Tuesday Typeface...Herbarium...

 Herbarium Alphabet by Ana Bangueses

Check out her page as she demonstrates her creative process..

Amazing!!

a little glitter to start your week...

If only the legs were wooden or a fabulous mint color...

then she'd be mine..

Eames Golden A Shell Chair at Okay Art

Happy Weekend!!!

Image by Lucie Kout

Happy Weekend Everyone!!!

 Right at this very moment,

 I am covered from the top of my head

to the tip of my toes in paint...

It feels absolutely fantastic..

I wish I was bringing out my canvases

but

right now..

the interior of my house has literally become my canvas.. 

I am crossing my paint spattered fingers that I may get far enough along to share some images with you nest week..

For now...

Be Safe, Make a Wish on that Spring Moon and Have a Great Weekend!!

Chocolate Therapy #129

Image via Kushandwizdom

Tuesday Typeface...Fleurs....

So Gorgeous!!! 

Floral Alphabet by Jill De Haan

a little glitter to start your week....

 I am in official gardening mode....

Love Love Loving these DIY Gold Leaf Terra Cotta Pots from The Hunted Interior..
So simple but so wonderfully effective for turning your patio into something fabulous!!

Happy Weekend!!!

Image by Mario Testino for Vogue January 2011

Happy Weekend Everyone!!

If there is one thing that I have learned in my forty-something years, it's that
life is absolutely and positively unpredictable...

But

surely one would have to agree that if it wasn't...
than it would be absolutely positively boring...

This June we had AMAZING plans to head back to the mother country after ten years of being away.  We would rent a villa, eat lots of pasta, visit friends, swim in the Mediterranean Sea, watch the Tall One scrunch into a Fiat and sit under a striped umbrella under the Tuscan sun. I would wear a fabulous Miss Lilienesque gown and walk on winding pea stone paths between the cypress and olive groves...

but

things happen...

Life happens..

This week has been a frenzy of ups and downs...

downs and ups..

1. Boston...

2. Finishing up the designs of two wonderful blogs...
3. Watching a friend help her niece replan her wedding in one week so that the bride's Mother could be a part of her wedding..
4. Learning that 3 CT wedding professionals, Carla Ten Eyck, Julie Morawski and Yumiko Fletcher of Hana Floral Design unselfishly and without hesitation made that bride's dream come true...
5. Tackling Photoshop and winning!!!
and finally..
6. Telling the Monster that his brother, his best friend, his confidant, his protector has Stage 4 Cancer and will only have 30-60 days left of his life...

whew...
what a week...

Number 6 has left a huge dent in my heart..
My Waspy background would suggest that I "stand tall" and "be quiet and keep this a private matter"
But
it has taken me years to get rid of that nonsense so I can't quite go back...
I would much rather be honest..
at least for the sake of the Monster...
at least for the sake of Mr. H's friends who wish to say goodbye..
But..
What we do have is time...

Time is essential..
Time to take those long Spring walks on the Island..
Time to cuddle and scratch a belly...
Time to eat steak and bacon and goose poop..
Time to romp in the ocean and jump the waves at Napatree...
Time for car rides...
Time to say goodbye..

So we are very very lucky...
The Monster told me the other day while driving in the car
(before we had to tell him the news and of course ALL important discussions happen in the car)

"Mom did you know that the oldest man in Longmeadow, Mass had just died at the age of 93..."

"Wow..That's really old"

"That's a crazy long life Mom. I feel bad for those people in Boston who weren't that old"

"Me too peanut..me too..But life is like that..we never know when our time is up...we just have to live life to the fullest.
That 93 year old man might not have lived life..but the person in Boston who was younger might have. Which life would you want?"

"The one who lived mama.."

So now that's just what we're gonna do...
Live...

Sometimes time may not be on our side..
The loss of someone can be so utterly devastating that you can't seem to breathe and your heart physically hurts..
But
they have given you the gift of realizing that we need to live..
Live life to the fullest...

Be Safe, Get Out there and LIVE  life and Have a Great Weekend!!

Sea for Two....

 

 They say patience is a virtue...

sadly it is one virtue that I don't have...

I just finished up Katie and Joe's wedding suite and instead of waiting months I decided to pick up my camera and shoot away...

Inspired by vintage block prints, the sea and of course my favorite Island..

Island Farm on Elihu Island..

We created a suite that was both whimsical and alive with color.

With the addition of the word tomfoolery...

I think we can guesstimate that this will be one fun party!!

 I honestly can't wait to see the lovely Miss Adrienne O'Connor of Ruffles and Tweed work her magic for their big day!!

She's teamed up with Jamie Collins Photography, B & M Catering Co, Power Posse Productions, Sperry Tents and Country Portables for a fabulous evening!!

Question is...

what would your favorite dance song be?

all images by Chocolate Creative Design

Chocolate Therapy #128

Poster available at Bates Mercantile Company on Etsy

Tuesday Typeface...Breath of a Baby....

Baby's Breath Alphabet by Keziah Chong

a little glitter to start your week....

Loving these DIY glitter garden tools and broom at Brit + Co

Because...

they may just make you whistle while you work...

Happy Weekend!!!

Image by Parker Fitzgerald

Happy Weekend Everyone!!

The first tinges of yellow have appeared on our wildly overgrown forsythia bushes...

which only means that Spring has finally sprung!!

The branches which the Monster and I brought inside have burst open and it feels like the sun is shining even on this very very grey and rainy day...

It has been a week full of ups and downs..
but I am so very excited that the weekend has begun...

I think there might be a sleep in day tomorrow, followed by some more spring cleaning inside and out and ending with some snuggle time with all of my boys and appreciating each and every one of them for they are the ones who add Spring to my step...

 Be Safe, Love the One You're With and Have a Great Weekend!!

Chocolate Therapy #127

Image via Kushandwizdom

Tuesday Typeface...Let it Rain....

Jeff Fisher "Raining Letters" Umbrella at Barnes and Noble

a little glitter to start your week.....

I know they might be a little flashy...

But

they sure would make these April showers a bit more fun...

Sperry Shearwater Glitter Rainboot at Urban Outfitters

Happy Weekend!!!

Image by one of my favorite photographers Norman Jean Joy

Happy Weekend Everyone!!!!

I feel as though I am a bit behind on some creative posts...

But

I have been a rather busy gal...

There was

Easter...

150 Six Piece Wedding Suite to produce...

Logo, Sign Design and Business Cards for a NEW Restaurant...

and

2 new blogs for some rather Glamorous Ladies...

Now I do have a few more items to finish up..

BUT..

I am getting the itch to start Spring Cleaning...

Not that I like cleaning...

but after a few projects and neglect to our home...

I just want to rent a dumpster and chuck it all in...

So this weekend..

That is what I shall do...

A little outside...

A little inside...

The boys have started baseball season so it's a perfect time to get rid of a few items without giant shoes and clothes and bats and balls and mitts to hop over...

Maybe a few of the newly opened daffodils will make an appearance on the mantle...

Be Safe, Pick a Daffodil and Have a Great Weekend!!

Images that Sing....

Sometimes there are those images that just sing to you...

When I received the new Anthropologie catalog in the mail yesterday..

my heart just went pitter-pat...

Right there on the front cover was an image that truly spoke to me...

Of course I want that fabulous skirt..

but

it is the story behind it that I find intriguing...

It is if they are telling MY story...
In fact..
I would consider this a self portrait of sorts..

as I see ALL the things that I wish to accomplish this Spring/Summer...

Plant some new flowering trees..

Have fun and be silly...
Go on a picnic...

Wear skirts and dresses EVERY day...

Redecorate our house..

and

Finally get rid of ALL our junk! 

Do you have an image that sings to you?

Chocolate Therapy #126

Image via Little Seed 
The Monster and I have been a bit obsessed with Mr. Roald Dahl these days..
We are reading through his entire collection of works...
Piece by Piece...

Tuesday Typeface...Animate....

Very very cool my friends...

Check out Design-N-Illus and make your own words!!

a little glitter to start your week....

So wonderfully reminiscent of my favorite jewelry designer..

Miss Miriam Haskell...

Makes me want to start gardening...NOW!

Unfurling Flower Cuff at Anthropologie