A Stitch in Time...

This one's for you Miss Heidi!!! 

A little something for Sweet Sophie's room.

Home Sweet Home Tapestry Kit found via StitchKits on Etsy.

Tea and Crumpets.....

Well, I'm not sure about the crumpet part but I certainly do LOVE a good cup of tea!!

I fell hard for Esther Comb's upcycled china. 

All the way from across the pond, this lovely lady has created one of a kind art pieces from salvaged porcelain and china mixed with her whimsical pen and ink drawings.

Feeling a bit under the weather and drinking my weight in tea, I know that if I had one of these beauties, I would be back in tip top shape!!

 Dainty Tea Cups & Saucers

 Lovely Cake Stands

 Tea & Biscuits

Meet me for Coffee

My favorite addition to her collection..

These amazing Seed Markers!!

Chocolate Therapy #18

Created by workisnotajob

I was supposed to be off on a creative adventure in NYC with the lovely Miss Adrienne O'Connor from Ruffles & Tweed!

Sadly, a little bug has gotten me down...

Have Fun Miss A, 

I know there will be many more to come!!!!

Tuesday Typeface.....The Tube...

London Tube alphabet created by Tim Fishlock

a little glitter to start your week...

Just thought I'd give a little blog love for my peeps 

across the pond!

Vintage 1950's Liberty of London Sequin Garden Party Dress 

at The Vintage Mistress on Etsy.

Silk Shantung and Sequin Pillow at Babina on Etsy

Happy Weekend!!

Image by Beata Cervin

Happy Weekend Everyone!!!

It's been such a wonderfully busy week full of projects in the studio here at Chocolate Creative Design..

A little Sneak peek of the Rebranding for the fabulous 
Miss Anna Sawin!!

But wait...there's more..
Another lovely sneak peek of a delish Save the Date for Amy & Tim who are getting married at Island Farm on Elihu Island this Fall...We'll just have to wait for Miss Sawin (who just so happens to be their photographer)to take some pics...

Image by Chocolate Creative Design

For me....The most exciting...
An evening spent with my Dad kickin it old school at the 21 Club in NYC on his birthday...even better..my little brother flew in all the way from LaLa Land for this momentous occasion!!

Me & My Dad (a long long long time ago)

Happy Birthday Dad!!
We Love you!!

Stay Safe, Stay Warm and have a Great Weekend!!

Dueling Designers...Part Dix..

Image: Anna Sawin Photography

Aha..after a long hiatus, the Dueling Designers are back!!!

The lovely and super talented Miss Amy Graver of Elements Design and I decided to band together this time to pick the Pantone color and theme of Board Number Dix..

What we came up with was a fabulous little green, Pantone 359 to be exact, and a Cocktail Garden themed Party!!

I myself, was inspired by those lovely and colorful ladies, 

The Housewives of Stonington. Bright coloful prints, fushia colored cocktails, Striped tents (just like my Parent's wedding tent) and ginormous cocktail rings!!

Miss Graver, of course rocked it out of the park, designed

a party that is the epitome of elegance..

Watercolor invitations, glass cloches filled with ferns, herb infused cocktails and seating under trees filled with lanterns...

Elements Design

Row one :: AppleTini :: Cake :: Garden setting :: 

Botanical runner
 Row two :: Poster:: Garden favor :: Lemon Chicken sandwiches
 Row three: Lemonade :: Watercolor invite :: Hydrangea 

Chocolate Creative Design

Top: Woman: Mad Men,Patio:House Beautiful,
Zebra Coaster: Anthropologie, Couple: Mad Men

Middle: Grass Image: Oh Joy, Ring: Anthropologie, 

Floral Plates: Anthropologie, 

Pink Cocktail:SeattleMet, Pigs in a Blanket: Callahan Catering

Bottom: Print Dress: Trina Turk, Flower Ring: Anthropologie, 

Green Plate: Target

Into the Garden...

Wanna know a secret?? I wish I could spend all my time in the garden..I dream of  having just a few more months of warm weather here in the Northeast, so I could sit and smell the flowers like Ferdinand. 

I have a theory... That gardening is a lot like golf..

Ok..I know that sounds ridiculously strange..but it is... 

You get to be outside in the fresh air. You get LOTS of exercise (ever mow a 3 acre lot with just a push mower? Or weed for hours?). But most telltale sign? It's like that moment in golf (so I've been told) when your stance is correct, you swing (at a teeny tiny ball), the ball soars and it feels like magic. 

In gardening, there is less control, you are up against bugs and weather. You have to figure out the timing of everything, what can be planted in unison, what will replace something else and let's not even get started on color...

But when it does work out...it's like magic and then you are hooked...

 At the opening of Anthropologie in Cranston, Rhode Island, I just happened to spy with my little eye the most glorious and wonderful gardening books..

The first one is called My Garden-A Five Year Journal by Mimi Luebbermann

Beautifully hand-bound and gorgeous on ANY bookshelf, it is chock full of perfectly illustrated pages to keep track of your garden for FIVE years!!

Since our garden is on the 30 year plan..I might just have to order a few more for myself!!

The Second, Soil Mates, written by Graphic Designer, Sara Alway, is the perfect book for the beginning Gardener (and even the expert) to understand exactly how, what, when and where to companion plant in your garden. To be honest, I was just sold by the hard bound book and lovely illustrations!! 

I have already ordered several of these books as gifts for others but couldn't help gift some to myself as well!!

Happy Gardening!!

Chocolate Therapy #17

Created by Shelli Dorfe and available on her Etsy shop Dazey Chic

Coral Dreaming....

Image Craig Paulson Photography

 Ok...it is WAY too cold out there for the 3rd day of Spring...

What keeps me going is dreaming and scheming of my garden..

Miss Yumiko Fletcher, of Hana Floral Design, created one of the most fabulous and one of my most favorite bouquets for Ashley and Elliott on the Island years ago.

This year it's time...It's time to plant several Coral Charm Peonies in the Garden.

Image White Flower Farm

It has been many years since I first fell in love with them and I honestly don't believe that I could EVER fall out of love.

I do think... Miss Yumiko will be quite pleased!!

Tuesday Typeface......Spring!!!!!

Leaf Alphabet created by Patrick Hruby

A little glitter to start your week...

Just in time for Spring...

Either a Sequined Garden Top from Modcloth for $57.99

or

This Fabulous vintage 60's sequined garden party dress 

from Tova's Vintage shop on Etsy for $89.00

For Those in Need...

If you haven't noticed already, there is a fabulous post on Thursdays, that wraps round this amazing blogosphere, called Thursday Purseday. It is always one of favorites and seems to cure my purse obsession each and every week. However, this week was different... The lovely Miss Sparkle and Hay did something that literally stopped me in my tracks and took my breath away....

In light of the tragedy in Japan, she chose not an alligator satchel but a shelter box. Please please please run and go check her post out!!! 

I promise you, it will be inspiring....

Speaking of inspiring..

The ladies over at Utterly Engaged and Ever Ours have created an unbelievably amazing and heartfelt campaign to raise money for those in need in Japan,

For Japan With Love

They have already raised thousands of dollars and have made it as easy as pie to contribute.

It just goes to show you..the strength and power that a dream and an idea can hold and that it only takes one or two people to make it happen.

Sooo my friends, having been inspired by these amazing ladies, I will be participating in the Bloggers Day of Silence tomorrow.

I will see you all back bright and early on Monday and

have a  warm, safe and Happy Weekend!!!

Memorable March...

Image by Gemma Comas, Found via Dress Design Decor

For most, March is one those strange transitional months...It's not quite Winter and not quite Spring. It can be very cold, damp, dreary and wet with the possibility of a snow shower or two. Those fabulous new colorful Spring clothes which you have been dying to wear still have to hang in your closet until mid-April even though it's considered "Spring".

But for me, the signs of crocuses and daffodils peeking through the soil give me hope for warmer weather just around the corner. What keeps me even warmer during this month??  The most wonderful of wonderful memories of some of the most special moments and occasions of my life that just so happen this week of March.

11 years ago today...

Image found via Country Living

A very handsome, tall and loving man asked me to marry him, overlooking 3 states with a sun and a moon high in the sky.

The next day...

Image by Chocolate Creative Design

We just so happened to find our antiquated farmhouse to call our very own.

Our first born son (with a tail), the distinguished Mr. Hobbes, was born this week and it only took us 7 months to find him.

Yet, I wouldn't have all these wonderful memories without this amazing person who just so happens to celebrate his birthday today...

Image by Gay & Donald Wesson

To my Tall One....

What a wonderful week, what a wonderful life...

To sharing a life together and maybe a popsicle or two..

To the perfect catch and many more years of memories that keep us warm on cold and rainy March days...

Happy Happy Birthday!

Chocolate Therapy #16

Created by the Amazingly talented Katie Daisy and available at her Etsy shop

The Wheatfield
It is always therapy for me and it seems to make the Tall One happy...