Accessorizing....

This past weekend I went out & purchased a few items for the floating IKEA cabinets I posted about here.  


I read ALL of your comments & suggestions on what I should place on the shelving & believe me, there were lots of good ones, so thank you!!!! Many of you has suggested adding lamps - but it isn't wide enough for a decent sized lampshade...& I didn't want to get mini-lamps, so I scratched that idea. Here's what I added...


I wanted to keep it relatively simple....but I think I may pile a couple more books on each side for more height....






The flowers are silk flowers I purchased awhile ago, don't recall where (sorry) but you can find them online I'm sure! They feel really nice & I love how they look in person! The white vase the flowers are in is from West Elm.








The little white vase pictured above is from ZGallerie. It's so cute & lightweight, can easily be moved around the house.



This polished brass vessel (below) holds a black candle from D.L. & Co. that is one of my favorites! Isn't the skull super cool?? The scent of the candle is made up of opium poppy, a blend Madagascar vanilla, green pepper, pink lotus, and perilla absolute. It is just amazing! Available at Barneys New York.






I've always wanted a piece of driftwood & instead of hunting for it myself in some town or buying it on Ebay, I decided to buy the one I saw at ZGallerie. It was perfect & super affordable at only $25!









All the books I have on a flat display are:


Yves Saint Laurent Style, Style, Style


Fashion


Living in Style Paris


My French Life

World Art


Kate Moss by Mario Testino






So, what do you think so far?





-images by jen ramos

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Charley Harper Colors + Modern Art Memory Game

Loving the new Modern Art Memory Game and Charley Harper Colors Board Book that came in the mail from Ammo Books. You can get 35% off on their website through tomorrow by entering ENDOFSUMMER.

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A Collection A Day Blog Tour

Cafe Cartolina


Lisa Congdon's book, A Collection a Day launched this spring and for fun this summer, publisher UPPERCASE is holding a mini blog tour for the book.  It's launching today over at fellow Canadian blog, Cafe Cartolina where Fiona is showing off some of her own pretty amazing collections.  We're also included in the tour (visit here July 27th for a special post) along with design work life (July 20th) and sfgirlbybay (Aug. 3). A Collection a Day is available online here.

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Become Someone Else

This campaign, "Become Someone Else" by the Lithuanian Agency called Love for Mint Vinetu is a clever concept, well executed. Here is what they said about it,

"When one reads books, he/she starts living it and identifies (or not) with main hero. These print ads for the Mint Vinetu bookstore, which sells lots of classics, focuses on the idea of becoming someone else. And provokes people to try on different personas."

What do you think?

I recently thumbed through this book which has moved Don Quixote to the top of my reading list - sadly, I've never actually read it have you? There are so many classics I have yet to read! What classics are your favorite? How many have you read?

(via fubiz)

photos: from Love

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Listening to...

Do any of you have things that you do before you go on a vacation? I usually always do two things... I have to clean my house, and spend some time (probably too much) filling up my iPod with music and audio books. Here are a just a few that I bought and put on for the road trip I am going on this week. I've never listened to any of the albums in their entirety, so I am excited to give them a through listen.

1: Bombay Bicycle Club - Flaws
2: The Whitest Boy Alive - Dreams
3: Water for Elephants - This happens to be audiobook of the month so it is only $5.95 on itunes.
4: Florence + the Machine - Lungs
5: The Alchemist

6: Adele - 21


(#3 and #6 were actually previous books my bookclub read that I didn't get to, so I am excited to listen to them, thanks Bonnie for the recommendations and reminder.)

What music are you excited about listening to? Are you an audiobook fan or reading anything that you can't put down? Hit up the comments...

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Jillian Tamaki

Today's favorite moment (besides snug-a-lugging with our girls) is when I clicked on a twitter link from Design Sponge + Jessica Hische and instantly became mesmerized by these stunning embroidered book cover designs for Penguin Books by Jillian Tamaki! They are gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! Wouldn't you agree?! The titles, Emma, The Secret Garden and Black Beauty couldn't be more perfect either.

We will all have to wait a while to get our hands on these babies, sounds like November, but it is a dream to be able to see such talent and work in progress! Jillian's other work is incredible too, like this Monster Quilt --  Gasp! Beyond her apparent beautiful embroidery talents, she is a illustrator and comic artist who lives in Brooklyn and also teaches at the School of Visual Arts.
  

photos: Jillian Tamaki used with permission

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Chronicle Books Sale

It is that time of year again when Chronicle Books is having one of the killer sales with 30% off plus free ground shipping, now through 4/4/11 use promo code SPRING11 at checkout.

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Book I'm Reading : Cutting for Stone

Martha's book selection for the "Book's I'm Reading" Club this month is 'Cutting for Stone' by Abraham Verghese. Have any of you read it? It is an epic medical love story that gripped my attention right off; it is immensely interesting. The author who is also a doctor uses absolutely beautiful storytelling to share the life of twin boys that end up being orphaned by their mother's death and their father's disappearance. The story evolves and spans generations and continents and is about the journey of coming of age, love and family relationships. It is an excellent piece of contemporary literature that is topping reader charts (it has been on the New York Times' best seller list for a year -- currently number four) and there is even talk of a movie. I can't wait to finish it on my Sony Reader they provided me. As for the Sony Reader, I am a big fan -- it has exceeded my expectations in many ways with its simple pocket size, ease of use, and the ability to carry around with me thousands of books on one device.

What about you? What are you reading lately? Join Martha and us reading Cutting For Stone if you need a great novel.

*Enter to win a Sony Reader here - there is a winner each week!

(photo of Author : by Joanne Chan)

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The Twelve Days of Christmas Ilonka Karasz

Check out my latest thrifting find! Vintage Book : "The Twelve Days of Christmas" illustrated by Ilonka Karasz. We were looking for ugly sweaters a few weeks ago and this beauty was sticking out on the bookshelf calling my name. It has been on my list for a few years, and bam... there it was! Have you seen this book before or did you know AIGA liked it back in the day? Don't you love the colors?



Doesn't it seem like when you are looking for something else you find unrelated gems? Have you found anything on a thrifting trip lately? What are your favorite Christmas or holiday books, I would absolutely love to hear your favorites as we are slowly building our collection so we can do this.

ps. The least expensive used copies of this book I've seen are sold by sellers here.

(photos by blackeiffel)

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Books I'm Reading with Martha : Cleopatra

I am thrilled to announce along with Martha Stewart her book selection on the Sony Reader this month, "Cleopatra: A Life" by Stacy Schiff. I am especially intrigued with this selection because of the time that I spent in the Middle East and Egypt while studying abroad in college.

While diving into this book, I am already learning tons about Cleopatra. I find it interesting that most of what is perceived of her today is really made-up stuff exaggeratedly added in by classic authors and movie directors over the years. Did you know that there are only coin portraits left that can authentically verify what she really looked like? I also had no idea that Cleopatra was in fact Greek, which makes her just about as Egyptian as Elizabeth Taylor! This quote from the book sums up to me Cleopatra so far...

"A goddess as a child, a queen at eighteen, a celebrity soon thereafter, she was an object of speculation and veneration, gossip and legend, even in her own time."

This is a fascinating read. Join in with us in reading this insightful book, and be sure to tweet with the hashtag #booksimreading. What about you... are you interested in Cleopatra, history and the Egyptian Empire?

(photos by blackeiffel - taken in Egypt)

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White's Books

These Fine Edition Classics from White's Books have been my wish list for quite sometime, I believe since I saw this article. After searching high and low the last few weeks online in many British books shops and even ebay.uk I found them, but didn't really want to deal with high international shipping rates, long waiting time, and import fees, so I was hesitant. But then, I found these babies on good 'ole Amazon and they were instantly ordered up. Good news, Santa is bringing these gorgeous books to our family for Christmas! A few years ago I adopted the : want, need, wear, and read policy for Christmas and they happily fall under the 'read' category for our whole family. Aren't they stunning, I can't wait to see them in person! They are also working on a re-design for Great Expectations, and since that is one of my husband's most favorite books, I especially look forward to seeing it. Find them all here, but just as a head's up some of the quantities seem to be limited.

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Books I'm Reading with Martha

Today I'm excited to let you know about a new thing that Martha Stewart is launching on her blog called, "Books I'm Reading". As part of the Martha Circle, Jordan from Oh Happy Day, Jane from This Week For Dinner and I will be reading Martha's picks along with her on these awesome little pocket-sized Sony Readers they sent us.

This month, Martha selected the book Cold: Adventures in the World's Frozen Places by Bill Streever. Streever is a biologist who writes about his experiences in the some of the most freezing environments in the world. It makes me shiver just thinking about it! I am fascinated by what he has to say about animal's hibernation habits, and the way the human body reacts in such extreme bitter-cold conditions. So far, it is very intriguing.

The Sony Reader they sent is really cool -- it feels natural and convenient because it is smaller than the size of a normal book and can easily fit in your bag, or even pocket. What differentiates it from most e-readers out there is that it has a full touch screen and you can also download books from participating local libraries and Google to get over 1 million classic books for free, so you really have a lot of options.

Bonus for you readers is that you can enter to win a Reader for yourself here where one winner will be selected each week! Be sure to also tune into the Martha Show on Monday, December 6th where she will be interviewing author Bill Streever. Happy reading everyone!

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Say what?

I'm blogging again, thanks to Russell Lawson who emailed me and said, "Just do it." The following is the first in a series of posts on the topic of analysis -- that much too mysterious process that converts information into intelligence.

Last week, as often happens, I was on an airplane. I was seated next to a nice man, an intelligent man.

Early in the flight during light conversation, he proffered the news that young people are spending too much time looking at computer screens instead of books and that their brains are being rewired in new ways. Studies were proving this to be true, he said.

"Oh," I said, "What do the studies say is happening to their brains?"

"I don't know," he responded, "but it can't be good."

Several hours later, he offered me more information. "I read an article recently that said 80% of Americans did not read a single book last year."

"Wow," I said. "How many Americans used to read one or more books a year?"

He frowned and said, "I don't know."

The above anecdote suggests an autumn meditation for law firm CI practitioners and their clients: What would improve your own firm's decision making -- more information or more analysis?

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Kate Spade Books

Have you seen these fun new short stories from Kate Spade in collaboration with Strand -- how cute are they? They had seven writers incorporate the phrase, "she is quick and curious and playful and strong" at some point in their story. They've been added to my wish list for sure.

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Reading Nooks

Is there anything more heavenly than curling up in a sunny little spot with a good book? When fall starts to come back around I always find myself gravitating toward the bright, sun-drenched side of my couch, inevitably grabbing a novel along the way. I’ve often thought how lovely it would be to have a dedicated spot just for reading.



My requirements for the ideal reading nook include lots of natural light, somewhere cozy to sit (oversized chair, pile of pillows, etc.), a place to rest my books and snacks, and a blanket to wrap up in. Even better, that it be unplugged – no laptops, iPods, or TVs nearby. There’s something about being away from all the electronics (as much as I love them) that makes the experience ethereal for me.





What about you? Where do you find yourself returning to in your home when the air starts to chill?

{images via apartment therapy, suziebeezie, stephmodo, cherry coloured, decorology, apartment therapy}

Post by guest blogger: Meredith Church from Lily Jane

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Fall Books

Now that we’ve dreamed about the best places to spend our time with a book this fall, there’s only one question left: what book to read? Here are a few of my favorites; four tried and true, one a new release that caught my attention.



OLDIES BUT GOODIES:

Walden by Henry David Thoreau: A classic volume by the famed poet that relates his experiences living apart from society for a year.

Poems by Emily Dickinson: Dickinson’s poetry, especially those about nature, paint gorgeous mental pictures that are both beautiful and thought-provoking.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows: A fictional story, written through letters, of a group of friends living in post-WWII England. And, of course, a little love is thrown in, too.

The Tenth Muse: My Life in Food
by Judith Jones: The renowned editor’s autobiography of a life spent in the industry of writing about (and indulging in) food.

NEW THIS FALL:

Grant Wood: A Life by R. Tripp Evans: A biography about the famous painter who created American Gothic and so much more.

Post by guest blogger: Meredith Church from Lily Jane

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Bakery Books

Because breakfast is my favorite meal of the day (Coffee and a sweet? What's not to like?) I have go-to bakeries in every city I visit. In San Francisco, it's Tartine for a morning bun. When I go to Boston, there's no doubt I'm stopping at Flour to peruse my options. So it's no surprise that I'm eagerly awaiting these new fall cookbooks. Even though I'll probably never cook from either (let's face facts) I'll still devour the pictures and narratives and dream of when I can return.

For more peeks at the new Tartine Bread book, visit tartinebread.com.

(photos from amazon.com)

Post by guest blogger: Jane Potrykus from Simple + Pretty

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Ami Sioux/Paris

Photographer Ami Sioux's book, Paris 48°49N, 2°29E, is most intriguing. She asked 50 people to draw a map of a part of Paris that was signficant or important to him or her. Then, Ami visited each spot to photograph it. The book, comprised of these juxtaposed sets, is both personal and informative. It would make a lovely souvenir, or could inspire someone to visit for the very first time ....

Ami's first book in the series was Reykjavik. Books for New York and Tokyo are planned.

images courtesy of Ami Sioux

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The Thirteenth Tale

I first bought a copy of Diane Setterfield’s novel, The Thirteenth Tale (Orion, 2006), about an hour before I was supposed to get on a train from Oxford to the North of England. I was feeling rather homesick and wanted a good Victorian-style mystery novel to lose myself in. The book has regrettably remained in my rented room in England as I tried, rather unsuccessfully, to fit it into my full suitcase a few months later. But the narrative has remained in my memory.

This is not the most well-written or accomplished novel I have ever read, but whenever one of my friends ask me to recommend them a book to read, I suggest they give it a try. It is one of those books that is easy to enter into and absorb in moments when you want to drown out the world. It’s perfect for a day at the beach, snuggling in bed, or lying in the garden under the sun.

The novel explores a family mystery that centres on the fictional figure of the author Vida Winter, and the Gothic house, Angelfield, which she inhabits. It begins with the protagonist of the story, Margaret Lea, being invited to leave the seclusion of her father’s book store to live in the equally isolated Angelfield House and write the biography of Vida Winter. I won’t reveal anymore plot details as I don’t want to spoil the mystery for anyone.

This is a novel that quite lovingly wears its influences on its sleeves: it deliberately draws from previous authors such as the Brontës, Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, Henry James, Arthur Conan Doyle and Daphne du Maurier. It creates an evocative sense of place and time and seems to relish in the literary traditions of detective and Gothic fiction.

But more interestingly for me, it is also an exploration of history as fiction. With its overt fixation with the process of storytelling and the impossibility of correctly narrating another person’s life, it also suggests the limitations of the narration of historical experience. I ultimately came away from this novel pondering the relationship between literary fiction and historical facts. For example, can we approach novels as forms of historical artefacts?

Despite this exploration, it is by no means a difficult book and can be appreciated purely as a fun read for those of us who like old-fashioned, thick novels.

Post by guest blogger: Hila Shachar

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Favorites of week no. 31

Have a relaxing weekend! Here are a few things that caught my eye this week...

1 - Sleep all Day photo by Corinne Day from Vogue UK April 2005. (This feels like something I could easily do for the upcoming last few weeks of pregnancy.)

2- Stunning new covers by Coralie Bickford-Smith (via All the Mountains)

3- Stitch Design Co. and their beautiful work. (via Twig & Thistle)

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