Art In The Garden - James Farmer

About a month ago, I was near Auburn for a guest bedroom installation.  After finishing, I managed to grab some lunch, and I snagged a copy of a local flower magazine.  The entire magazine was great, but what really caught my eye was a full page ad for Art in the Garden at Auburn University featuring none other than James Farmer.  

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Are you familiar with James Farmer?  He is considered a Southern lifestyle expert - that includes all things related to entertaining and styling.  The guy's amazing.

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Well, he's coming to Auburn Saturday, April 14th for an evening of sheer bliss.  From what I can gather, he will be creating flower arrangements and chatting it up with guests the entire evening.  There will be a seated dinner and lots of other loveliness.  The proceeds go to supporting the Gardens in the area.  The sad news for is is that we are going to be out of town.  So, if any of you do decide to go, I would love a full report!!

Who knows, he may even be signing copies of his most recent book.  

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Here is information on getting tickets for the evening - Art in the Garden with James Farmer

PS: I'm still digging out from my break.  Why do breaks have to be this way!? M.

Trend Spotting - Sea Fans

Hello All!  First, I want to thank all the guest bloggers who kept things running for me last week.  All those favorites along with the beautiful weather we are having in Birmingham, have given me some major Spring fever.  I have lots of things swirling around in my head both for my own home and for the design plans I am currently working on for clients!  I promise to share a few of these with you over the next few months.  

Today, I wanted to show you some artwork I'm loving at the moment.  One of the keys to creating a high end look in a space is including lots of variation in all layers of the design.  Artwork is no exception.  Nothing can kill a room faster than a room full of oil paintings (even if they are expensive).  You need to mix it up to make it work - oils, prints, etchings and a few non art pieces.  Here's one example of some fabulous non art pieces.

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They're sea fans - and I'm seeing them in lots of non-beachy interiors.

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This fabulous room I recently posted about . . . (I'm not sure, but I think they're applied to the mirror somehow?)

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Another view.  And yes, the orchids are gorgeous too. 

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And from one of my favorite blog reads . . .  a sculpture out of them!

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So, I think you know where I'm going with this . . . Oh yes I did.   

Just a tiny purchase while on my recent girl's weekend at the beach.  

I have big plans for these puppies.

 Three total . . . since we all know things look better in odd numbers.  

What's that?  Of course I'll show you the finished project.  

Want some of your own??!  Well, here you go . . . Sea Fans.  Now go snatch them up so we can do an artwork DIY together.  M.

PS: For those of you who sent me sweet emails asking about my break, we had such a fun get-a-way this past week.  We actually took a road trip to Washington D.C. (yes 12 hours in the car) and toured all the historical spots (ok, maybe not all).   But we ate lots of amazing food of all kinds (we even had some goat!).  But, I'm glad to be getting back into the swing of things.  Have a great start to your week.

Top Seven for Spring Series - Elizabeth of The Mustard Ceiling

Rounding out my series this week is the super talented Elizabeth of The Mustard Ceiling.  Not only does Elizabeth have an amazing eye for interior design, she's also a computer wiz and has her very own graphic design company.  So, she moves about the Internet helping interior designers & bloggers with logos, branding, and even the overall look of their websites.  She has been incredibly supportive of my blog, and I love reading about all her creative ideas on design.  With that, Elizabeth take it away!!!

Hi IDM readers! I'm stopping by from The Mustard Ceiling blog to share a few of my favorite things this spring.

I can't believe spring is already here. I don't know about you, but I am definitely ready, it is one of my favorite time's of the year.

The days start getting longer, the flowers are begin to bloom...and of course you can't beat the beautiful colors. A couple of my favorite's for spring....coral and kelly green. Which leads us to a few of my favorite things...

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I am addicted to my ipad2. I got it as a birthday present in January, since then it has not left my side. This is such a cute ipad cover from Pretty Smitten, the colors and patterns are so fresh and fun for spring.

The perfect shade of grey. If you have been to my blog, The Mustard Ceiling, you will see I am little obsessed with gray...particularly warm gray's. In my opinion, it is the perfect neutral backdrop to really make those pretty spring colors POP! This color is a soft warm gray by Benjamin Moore, Revere Pewter.

Spring is the perfect time to bring a little bit of nature inside. These glass terrariums from West Elm are hand-blown glass, they are beautiful way to display a little bit of nature with a touch of rustic.

Tulips! When I think of spring I think of tulips. They are my favorite spring flower.

How can you go wrong when you pair ikat, kelly green and coffee? I think I would wake up on the right side of the bed every morning with this trio. I recently found this shop, C Wonder online and it has knocked my socks off!

For Christmas this year I received a big girl camera, the Canon Rebel EOS T3. I have fallen in love with photography, even though I still have a lot to learn. I am excited this spring to be able to get outside and see the world through my lens. It really changes your perspective and helps you take the time to stop and notice all of the beautiful details around you.

Finally, no spring wardrobe would be complete without a pretty scarf and this soft animal print in peach is no exception.

Thank you Mandi for having me today! I hope you're having a terrific springbreak.

Top Seven for Spring Series - Carrie of Hazardous Design

Up today is Carrie of Hazardous Design.  Her blog is one of my morning coffee reads.  Carrie's style is classic with a shot of chic.  Pair this with Carrie's sense of humor, and you have one fabulous blog!  So, Carrie, it's all yours . . .

If you are a regular reader of my blog, Hazardous Design, you may already know that I'm not a fan of fall and winter, which is a bit of a challenge considering I live in New England. No, SPRING, is my favorite time of year. Let me give you seven reasons why.

1. Spring bulbs. This is a photo of a strip of land beside my driveway taken last year, the first spring we'd been in our house. I'm not a gardener by any stretch of the imagination, but the previous owner was. To our delight and surprise, it turns out that he was a rock star when it came to planting pretty things that would grow year after year. It was such a treat last spring when we saw the gardens explode with color for the first time. Now that I know what to expect I'm looking forward to it even more this year.

2. Gardening. Like I mentioned, I'm not a gardener, but this spring I'm going to attempt to become one. I know how to weed and mulch. That's a start, right? 

3.Daycations. With the promise of warmer weather and longer days, I find myself itching to get out of the house and do some exploring. Late last summer my husband and I went to Block Island for the first time and I haven't been able to get it out of my mind. I'd love to get back there this spring before it gets invaded by the summer crowds.

4. Spring Cleaning. Weird, I know, but that's how I roll. I love dedicating a Saturday to deep cleaning all the little nooks and crannies of my home until everything sparkles and smells nice. Especially when it is a warm day and you can throw all the windows open. Doesn't a clean house make you feel good?

5. Outdoor dining. Preferably with cocktails. There's nothing better than snacking and sipping on the outdoor patio of your favorite restaurant while people watching.

6. Jack Rogers. My favorite little shoe to wear when the weather warms up. They can be dressy or they can be casual. If you get them in the color platinum, they'll go with everything.

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7. My B-day. Any other Gemini's out there? If you are anything like me, you probably celebrate your birthday for an entire week. Maybe a month. It isn't a bad idea when your birthday falls during the best time of the year :)

Happy Spring, Interior Design Musing readers!
Mandi, thank you so much for including me in your series.  I hope you and your kids are enjoying spring break!

Top Seven for Spring Series - Kathy of My Interior Life

Do you have the fever yet?!  All this talk about Spring is really putting me in the mood (to shop I'm afraid!)  At this point, I'm thinking new shoes, cute dress, and a color change in the entire house!  I'm sure today will only add to my want list.  

If you have not discover my next guest before, suffice it to say you are about to Wowed.  I think of Kathy's blog My Interior Life as on of my go to's for cutting edge trends and styles.  She can mention a design trend and several months later, everybody will be talking about it.  If you are interested in cutting edge, you need to visit her often!  The other great thing about Kathy is that she writes in a witty and clever way which I find totally refreshing.  So, Kathy, what's on your mind for Spring 2012 . . . 

I'm so honored Mandi asked me to participate in her Spring Break series . . . her blog is one of my daily reads, so it means a lot to me. At first I thought I might have a hard time coming up with seven things for spring, but I think I must be more ready for the season than I thought. To me, spring means a time to spruce up my wardrobe, my house and myself. So, without further ado, here are my top 7 picks for spring!

1. I am loving all the bright colors that are so popular this spring, and one of my favorite incarnations is the "Pop Pants" (my neighbor told me they are called that, I just thought they were just called colored jeans - silly me!) . . .

Source: oldnavy.gap.com via My Interior Life on Pinterest

I bought a green pair similar to these from Old Navy at Marshall's for $17! I've already worn them quite a bit and love them!

2. My house is looking so dark to me right now, so I think the solution is new, colorful throw pillows. Don't you agree? I think changing out accessories can make a room feel so fresh. Here are a few pillows that have caught my eye recently.

These bright, cheerful patterns from Caitlin Wilson Textiles just scream spring to me.

Source: caitlinwilsontextiles.com via My Interior Life on Pinterest

This Thom Filicia fabric pillow from Etsy seller Woody Liana is currently on sale for $42. She's having a great spring sale with lots of your favorite patterns.

Source: etsy.com via My Interior Life on Pinterest

 3.  This may sound silly, but I love a good lip balm. I'm not a huge lipstick person, so any kind of tinted lip balm is even better because as I reapply throughout the day, it gives me a little bit of color and shine. Some new ones that I've been meaning to try are by Burt's Bee's:

Source: burtsbees.com via My Interior Life on Pinterest

And this one from Alba called Terra Tints might even be better because it's got SPF (and it's cheaper)!

Source: drugstore.com via My Interior Life on Pinterest

4. Another pick for spring would have to be a new iPhone case for me. It has been brought to my attention that mine (from J. Crew, mind you) can look like camouflage from far away. Now, I mean no disrespect to the hunters out there, but camo is not my thing. Here are a couple of cases on my wish list, both are from society6.com which is a really cool site where all the cases are $35 and created by artists. Seriously, hundreds to choose from. All the ones I picked are from the same artist. I'm nothing if not predictable. I just can't pass up a good, colorful abstract. This one even has in inspirational name: "Dream Your Path." Love it.

Source: society6.com via My Interior Life on Pinterest

This one is called "On Time" which is good because I like to be punctual. Being late stresses me out.

Source: society6.com via My Interior Life on Pinterest

5. I've always loved striped blouses, but I'm really hooked on them lately. I just picked up this lovely at TJ Maxx the other day . . .

And I saw this one at Ann Taylor in a favorite color combo this spring, nude and orange (sounds weird, but it's cute - promise) . . . 

Source: anntaylor.com via My Interior Life on Pinterest

6. Of course, what spring list wouldn't be complete without some new nail polish for those warm-weather pedicures? I'm loving Essie's "Orange, It's Obvious."

Source: essie.com via My Interior Life on Pinterest

7. And last, but certainly not least, (this pick may seem a little random, but oh well) a leather tassel keychain! I just bought one after Christmas from Etsy, and I couldn't be happier with it. I bought a cheerful yellow. The color makes it easy to find in the bottom of my black hole of a purse, and it just makes me smile!

Thanks so much, Mandi, for having me over! I hope my spring finds inspire you to find something you love to celebrate the new season!

Top Seven for Spring Series - Heather of My Many Moments

Today, I have Heather of My Many Moments over to share her favs for Spring 2012.  I was trying to remember how and when I found Heather's blog; but honestly, it seems I've known about her blog for as long as I've known about blogs!  I can't remember not reading it.  Heather's blog is not only beautiful and inspiring as it relates to interior design, but also for life in general.  You see, she and her husband are in the process of adopting a baby!  I'm always thrilled to read her updates on this process and realize just how full her life is becoming during the process.  I hope you'll take the time to check out her blog, it's worth your time.

Thank you so much Mandi for including me in your  Seven Spring Favorite's Series.  Living in Oregon this is by far my favorite season of the year.  It gives us Oregonians a little hope that the rain will soon end. Let's jump right in with my first favorite...

1.  Spring Branches

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Spring is in the air and so are the small buds on trees ready to sprout beautiful buds of magnolia, cotton, florysenth and so many more!  One of my favorite things to do is bring these blooming branches inside to enjoy.  This is a great inexpensive way  to add color and life to your home.  So next time you are on a walk, bring your cutting shears ladies.

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2.  Herbs

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I love to cook with fresh herbs.  They make such a difference in a dish.  They also can be a beautiful design element in your home.  The beginning of Spring is when stores start selling fresh herbs.  Every Spring I  plant them in different sizes of terra cotta pots where they will live on my kitchen window sill through Fall.

3.  Freshen  Up With Colorful Pillows

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Spring is a great time to switch out some of your pillows with bright colorful ones.  This is an easy, inexpensive way to drastically change the feel of a room.  I have been eyeing the above Schumacer  Betwixt  pillow in Indigo for our living room.

4.  My Favorite Spring Sound

I was lucky enough to grow up in Santa Monica, California.  My mom was obsessed with wind chimes and had way too many to admit outside every window.  I grew up hearing the different chimes throughout the year.  Now as an adult I find the sound to be completely soothing.  I don't have as many wind chimes as my mother, but I am getting up there!  If you don't have a wind chime I would highly recommend joining the club.  There is nothing better than taking a nap in the backyard on the chaise listening to the chimes. 

5.  Window Boxes

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This is a new Spring favorite for me.  I just finished adding two window boxes to my home.  I love how they act as little green vignettes that can be changed from season to season.  Spring is a great time to start a window box filled with Creeping Jenny, Ivy, bulbs, succulents ect. to ensure a lush look by Summer. 

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6.  The Jean Shirt

The classic jean shirt.  If there is one item of clothing that I wear not only in Spring, but year around, it's my jean shirt.  There are not many pieces of clothing that get better with age, but there is nothing better than a well worn jean shirt. Spring is all about layering.  Pairing it open with a striped shirt and skinnies, high waist skirt with a belt, open over a maxi dress, the options are endless. 

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7. Bright Scarves

A bright scarf is the perfect accessory to freshen up any outfit.  I don't often venture out in wearing prints, sticking to mainly solids, but Spring is the perfect time to add a punch of color and pattern to an outfit.  The above scarves are all from American Eagle and all under 20 dollars.