We'll take a cup o' kindness yet

J: Love your inspiration for Joel's birthday. That cake is so beautiful... it reminds me of the Christmas cake everyone makes in New Zealand called Pavlova, which is basically a giant meringue with cream and fruit. Always very pretty and so easy to make so long as you don't bump into the oven while its baking.

So, I thought I'd send a few more inspiration images for your lovely man's thirty-third.

I loved these painted rocks from a feature in Nuno Magazine. Thought they'd make a cute place setting/keepsake and wouldn't be hard to make at all.

Also liked these DIY Fortune Cookies from Once Wed, the tutorial is really easy.

Loved this entrance from Hotel Azucar. Could be cool as an entry through to the hallway or done in a smaller version over the table.

Well, we're headed onward for a camping trip for the next week, so you'll have to hold down the fort. We'll be going through the fiord lands in Milford Sound, which is meant to be one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand, then camping and fishing through the central lakes and mountains. Here's a wee peak of the fiords...

Can't wait to hear how Joel's party goes, I know it will be amazing as always. Though it eases the pain that its not Joel's traditional shin dig, we are still pretty gutted to be missing it. Am I allowed to request that your next post be of the party? Xo, -K.

birthday workshop

smitten kitchen's best birthday cake

k: as you know, my lovely husband's birthday is rapidly approaching.  and while our annual bash is officially cancelled this year, we'll still be celebrating with a family dinner. i'm collecting some images to inspire my decor for his new year's day party. instead of spending the week cooking for his big meal, joel is working like crazy. so we'll be feasting on chinese take-out from the fabulous lucky strike and sparkling wine. i'd like my decor to reflect our "taking it easy" approach with some asian details to set a festive mood. here's a peak at my inspiration:

new year's garland by the purl bee

 

wooden pencils and paper lanterns via eat drink chic

table setting via sweet paul

martha stewart made this gorgeous cake

paper parasols and chinese lanterns by once wed via sfgirlbybay

it's hard to believe that joel will be 33 this year! wish you guys were here to help us celebrate. love: j

present perfect

diy eraser stamp ribbon via creature comforts

k: wow, those lights are stunning! i am especially partial to the magical image of fil de fer in the field of snow. i completely agree, too, about the importance of lighting. create drama with a chandelier, modernize with a pendant, add romance with candles, or whimsy with a string of lanterns and a room or party is instantly transformed.  in that vein, i thought i'd take a break from my own gift wrapping to send a little present presentation your way.  i'm one of those people who thinks that packaging is half the battle when it comes to gift giving.  like using the proper lighting to set the mood, a beautifully wrapped gift or party favor tells the giftee that they are receiving something thoughtful or special no matter what's inside!

free download via creature comforts

i tend to be use a mix of craft paper, twine and metallic ribbon as my go-to wrap style, so i thought it would be fun take a look at a few simple ideas to freshen up my standard presentations. another recently found favorite, creature comforts has tons of great gift giving ideas, including some really beautiful free downloads like the one above by the artist lisa rupp.

kimono-style fabric wrap

fabric wrap via martha stewart

i love the idea of wrapping a gift with another gift.  how about a beautiful tea towel wrapped kimono style around a new cookbook? a light scarf and cute coin purse or vintage handkerchief/journal combo would be lovely as well-the possibilities are (almost) endless.

baker's twine by nice package

baker's twine seems to be quite popular lately, but i couldn't pass up this version by nice package. great name for a blog site devoted to all things prettily packaged, right?

 gifted magazine

lastly, if you haven't checked out the free online magazine gifted, prepare yourself. you'll want a mug of cocoa and a little time to find some great design tutorials or simply get lost in the details. love: j

la Luz

J: So as I was reading a design magazine, in Port Royale- one of my very favorite little cafes in this small art district outside of Dunedin- I happened to stumble upon this beautiful creation by Catellani & Smith. After looking at their website, I decided I needed to share their amazing lights with you.

This was the first lamp of theirs I saw. The underside is so great and I love that it can serve as a floor lamp as well. Gorgeous!

Stchu-Moon

I've seen a lot of variations of this style- in fact, I included one in a post a little while ago- but I just love how Catellani & Smith have designed it for the floor... feels very whimsical.

Fil de Fer

Can't you just picture these strewn out across the grounds of an event...

I will leave you with these last two beauties. I am in love with the shadows they create. Lighting really is amazing, how it can define a space or ambience all on its own.

These both make me want to cut some shapes of paper and make a wall of lovely shadows.

P.s. I was held hostage by your new poppytalk, just couldn't get away. Thanks for sharing the love, I am smitten. Great wallpaper too! How great would that look along a wall of your amazing basement?

Xo, -K.

two by two

RGB Wallpaper by Carnovsky via Poppytalk

k: loved the eye candy. oh to have a wardrobe like the beautiful ones featured by jeana sohn! you'll have to allow me a little mommy indulgence with this post.  i came across this amazing wallpaper at my favorite newly discovered blog, poppytalk.  the three different layers of fauna are revealed under different lighting. i'd kill to have my kids' room papered with it.  okay, who am i kidding? i'd kill to have it anywhere in my house.

i guess i've been into animal imagery lately, no doubt brought on by my daughter's absolute obsession with all things animal.   the endless "conversations" we have while roll-playing every animal from baby giraffe to tiny raccoon and mommy horse among others are pretty great (even if we don't get past the hi, i'm big sister panda! how are you?) here are a couple more zoo-inspired items i have my eye on:

The Red Bear Poster by Banquet

Mod Cloth's Beast Tea Towel

i'm pretty sure that miss E and mister E will have one of these after christmas.

The coolest coat hanger, of course it's Ikea

finally, i'll leave you with the lovely and amazing work of charlie harper.  his brilliance is boggling - and i especially love the fact that he had been married to his sweetheart (whom he supposedly met on his first day at art school) for the 40 years before his death in 2007. a genius and a family man- perfect. love:j

Harper's Darwin's Finches

Eye Candy & Gems

via Jeana Sohn's latest closet visit

St. Jack's looks amazing. Love the shirts, that lamp, everything. So I've been going a little blog crazy this week and loving so much of what I see, I thought I'd use this post to share a little eye candy with you. Hopefully it will be sweet enough to spark some inspiration. Back tracking a bit, but had to share this awesome straw chandelier with you. This 'closet visit' to Momo Suzuki is amazing by the way, Momo's style is so elegant, minimal and unique.

Here are a few more images from the feature...




And a few more gems that have put a sparkle in my eye this week...


Weekday Carnivals lovely garland (made me think of something sweet for Eliot's room). Such a great color palette.


DIY Pinecone firestarters via Design Sponge


And finally, this wonderful print by Ryan Wallace

Xo, -K.

st. jack attack

patisserie entrance

k: a little love for patisserie st. jack which finally opened today. it is tres charmant though there is still some work to be done.  the painted sign in the top picture is at the entrance to the coffee shop, and there will be another larger "restaurant st. jack" sign painted onto the front entrance window.

treats counter

stumptown and china

salmon and creme fraische tartine to go

the handsome manager at the espresso counter

we had a couple of scrumptious madeleines, and my smoked salmon tartine was amazing.  the cooks and everyone behind the counter will be wearing the cute pink st. jack tees pictured in more of a modern feel, while more vintage framed chalkboards will be added to the walls to cozy up the space. i'm smitten with the round st. jack lamp, and there is actually a large one at the front entrance as well. hope to see you and mr. t at our little corner restaurant someday soon! love: j

patisserie entrance light

This is fun.

J: I love the lighting ideas. The straw light reminded me of these lanterns. I can't remember where I found this image, now I wonder how to make them, I'll have to hunt the post down. Back to table-scape ideas. I have been liking the idea of fabric and paper flowers. Here are some ideas that I'd love to do.

DIY Ruffle Flowers by Carter & Cook Events

I can't remember where I found these fabric flowers but I like the idea of combining the flower strands with lights either over a table for a small dinner party or on a larger scale for an event.

Another DIY flower idea by Emersonmade.

I also loved these napkins and thought they'd be fun to do. These wouldn't be too hard to make... Just get some burlap or use old napkins and stamp away.

Well, I am loving this and the tangents we both send each other spinning off in. Thanks for being my penpal. Love, -K.