Some of you have probably read Gifted Magazine a month ago, but if you haven't, I highly suggest you check it out! It's perfect for last minute gift ideas and I can honestly say I absolutely love everything in this issue. Be sure to check out the back of the magazine for special discounts on selected items. Happy shopping!
I'm excited to share with you one of my latest projects. I offered to help my friend, Tara from The Prippy Handbook, design her blog logo. She wanted to do a play off of The Preppy Handbook cover so this is what we came up with. What do you think? And if you haven't already, you must check out her stylish blog... it's one of my favorite reads!
I've been obsessed lately with A Cup of Jo. I'm sure most of you have been reading her blog for ages, but I'm a later bloomer and just tuned in. Anyway, she exudes style and I especially love her how-to-hairstyle posts. I've been re-creating the messy side ponytail for a few days now. It's effortless and makes me feel tres chic!
And I'm obsessed by artist Holton Rowers creative process in creating these three dimensional sculptures. Click here to watch the fascinating video. (Found via Octavia & Brown.)
Top two photos by Honestly...WTF, bottom two photos by Holton Rower
Whoohoo! My chair makeover has been featured today on Design*Sponge! Click here to check it out. For those of you visiting from Design*Sponge, welcome! Please stay awhile and browse through my projects, calligraphy and photos of my French Bulldog, Navy.
This weekend I had brunch with some of my new blogger friends, Tara from The Prippy Handbook (a staple commenter here at Navy Bean) and Liz from Octavia & Brown. We met at Peels, a delightful breakfast spot on the Lower East Side. Tara and Liz are old friends from grade school and I've been friends with Tara for quite some time now through our blogs and email. I had such a fabulous time connecting with my fellow comrades; we chatted nonstop about all things blog related and about our love for our frenchies, Navy and Scrapple. I left feeling exhilarated and excited for what we all have planned for the future. As bloggers who love what we do, our goals keep growing and growing and the possibilities seem endless!
If you haven't yet checked out The Prippy Handbook and Octavia & Brown, please do. Believe me, you will absolutely love their smart and stylish blogs.
I know I'm reaaally late to the party here, but I just discovered Houzz thanks to Janell. I am loving this amazing home decor site. It's chock full of gorgeous interiors and inspiring home ideas. All you have to do is create your own ideabook and start filling it. A quick search for "window seats" yielded these beautiful photographs. I'm determined to have my own window reading nook in my home one day so into the ideabook they go. Take a look, you'll be instantly addicted.
Another fabulous e-zine, Gifted has hit the web and just in time for the holidays. It's the brain child of Ez from Creature Comforts... and like her blog, it's super inspirational with gorgeous photographs. Happy reading!
There is a new print magazine in town... Anthology! I'm so excited to see a smart and well designed lifestyle and shelter magazine in the flesh, not that I don't love Lonny (check out their new website by the way), but sometimes it's nice to flip through glossy pages. Anthology was founded by Anh-Minh Le and Meg Mateo Ilasco (who co-authored this book) so you know it's going to be great! Check out the preview of the magazine here, and subscribe here.
I found these adorable letterpress cards on Etsy today by We Heart Paper. Could there be anything better than a letterpress Frenchie notecard?! I think not.
Not only does Janie make the most adorable letterpress stationery, but she also has a great blog!
Sometimes I get completely overwhelmed by trying to start my own business. The creative world is definitely the road less traveled and I find myself wishing there was a Martha Stewart University. A place where you could get a degree in the world of entertaining, cooking, home decor and the creative arts. If there was, I'd already have my masters by now! I especially get wistful when I see the straightforward path that my husband has taken to get his MBA and find a job that he's excited about. Not that it was easy, but it was definitely more conventional. So as I wade the rough waters of starting my own business and trying to figure out what I really want out of a career, this awesome book has come along.
I got my copy yesterday and I'm blown away by how informative it is. Creative, Inc. The Ultimate Guide to Running a Freelance Business is exactly the kind of book that I need now that I'm trying to grow my design business. It's informational, encouraging and has filled me with ambition to continue along the path that I've chosen. It is co-authored by one of my favorite bloggers, Joy Deangdeelert Cho of Oh Joy!. She has definitely paved the road for the creative types like me and is a huge role model. Even her stop motion trailer is inspiring!
Jordan Ferney at Oh Happy Day did an amazing post about weather balloon signage and I think this idea is just adorable! I wish I had thought of it myself for my wedding. I never cease to be amazed by Jordan's creativity... she comes up with the most delightful and whimsical ideas for events!
Have you been to Gwyneth Paltrow's newsletter website, GOOP? It has been around for a while but occasionally I like to see what's going on in "Gwyneth" world.
And while we're stalking her, take a trip down memory lane and visit Gwyneth's Hamptons home from 2007 via Habitually Chic.
It's a great way to get those envy juices flowing.
Ever since I stumbled across Sherry and John's key art, I've wanted to make one of my own. And I finally got around to it today. I bought this shadow box at my favorite store (and yes, fellow Manhattanites, there is a brand new store on 97th and Columbus). I love the symbolism of the keys because it's a constant reminder that a home can be made anywhere. We started off in NYC, made a temporary home in Ithaca, NY and are now back in the city. Most likely we'll be move one more time before we finally have a house of our own but all that matters is that we're together. My home is wherever Mike and Navy are.
Check out Lovely Design's amazing post on how she created her daughter's birthday invitation. Sharilyn's creative process is fascinating and inspiring.
Oh, Hello Friend posted this gorgeous photo today on her blog. Isn't it too beautiful for words?
It is like the real life version of this print, which I've been saving in my mental notebook for years. I have grand visions of one day placing this in my child's nursery, over the crib. I just love the whimsy of it. I really feel like I'm on the same wavelength as Danni this week because she also posted about lovely vintage drawers and filing cabinets. Much similar to the one I found yesterday!
It's my favorite time of the year, when stationery abundantly blooms. There's new 2010 calendars to mark, holiday cards to address, presents to wrap and party invitations to send. Luckily your to-do lists just got a lot shorter because you can print all of these items off with the click of a button. And best of all? They're free! Some of my favorite resources for free downloads are:
A friend introduced me to NieNie Dialogues, a blog about NieNie (Stephanie Nielson) a mother of four and wife of Mr. Nielson, living in Utah. NieNie and her husband were in a near fatal plane crash. This is her story about human strength and courage and is a much needed reminder that life is precious. Read her blog, it is truely life changing.
I am absolutely in love with Joanna Goddard's (the illustrious A Cup of Jo blogger) wedding program illustrated by Anna Bond of Rifle Design. With all the graphic design and letterpress options out there, it's so refreshing to see a hand illustrated design that is highly personalized. I adore the quote they included from their favorite novel, The History of Love:
Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl, and her laughter was a question he wanted to spend his whole life answering.
