Summer Weekend

I spent this past weekend down in central Illinois, enjoying everything that comes with summer days in the country. Here are some photos I took along the trip.

Cupcakes at wedding reception

Mackinaw Valley Vineyard... where we attended a wedding

Flowers along a country road

Ribbit... A sweet little girl helped me spot this frog. He blended right in with all the green of the lily pads.

I learned that a flock of geese is called a "gaggle"... No, I didn't know that.

There were also goats on this farm, and some chickens in the distance. In all fairness, I thought that those maybe not-as-cute little fellows should get a mention here as well.

Enamel Enamor

Seen around town and wrists-- bangles in bright enamels similar to the ones shown here. Wink suggests wearing theirs either alone or with gold (or silver) bangles. A good look, and one that can be had for less because the bangles are a bargain. Or take InStyle's tip and pair their pretty pick with "white linen or summer neutrals."

Places to Go, Things to See

Wares from designers affiliated with the Artecnica Design with Conscience project can be seen at I.D. Chicago through the end of June. Through DWC, Artecnica partners with designers, artisans, and nonprofit organizations to develop, produce, and market socially and environmentally responsible design-- a noble purpose, indeed. The exhibition will feature objects designed by Tord Boontje, Stephen Burks, and Helen Jongerius. Although the exhibit is only being held until the end of the month, it looks like the pieces included in the display will continue to be sold through I.D. Chicago. The Artecnica designs are only being featured more prominently as part of DWC.
Still, it's worth a second look.

Apartment Therapy: Chicago has posted some photos of the exhibit. I've included the ones of Tord Boontje's TransGlass and Table Stories drinkware and dinnerware. Tord Boontje's designs, which are beautiful in and of themselves, shine here.


Related Post: TranSglass

Blue and Zig-Zag ... a Little and a Lot

Sleeping in this masterful Miles Redd bedroom would be a dream come true. Domino describes the effect as "a birdcage bed is surrounded by nature." Beautiful bird wallpaper, and having the bed next to a window, really do make the outdoors seem that much closer.

Vivid blue and a bold, graphic zig-zag floor also add drama to the dining room of Brooke de Ocampo-- on a larger, more intense scale.

photo via The Peak of Chic

Blog: Making It Lovely

Making it Lovely is all about making a house a home. Pink Loves Brown owner and graphic designer, Nicole, chronicles how she and her husband Brandon tackle the renovation and decoration of their first house in this D.I.Y blog. She covers everything from their choice of paint colors to furniture and flooring and lighting in a quirkly charming, chatty "can-do" way that makes even not-so-handy me believe that I could handle installing bamboo flooring... and do a good job of it.

They also happen to have great taste. Along with unsung treasures, like the chairs she salvaged from an alley that she thinks may have been from a waiting room, many of the pieces they've chosen for the house--- Petrie chair and ottoman; Anthropologie Astrid chair; a commissioned painting by Amy Ruppel; and Eames LCW-- have rightly earned their design accolades and attest to Nicole's eye. She can pick them as well as put them together. The thoughtfully chosen furnishings are worked into beautiful rooms.

Amy Ruppel painting

Whether or not you've already come across MIL, you can visit now. You're sure to like what they've done with the place. Nicole's shop, Pink Loves Brown, is also worth a visit for gorgeous cards and stationary. The framed silhouette prints are a favorite.

Framed Silhouette Prints from Pink Loves Brown

Virginia Johnson

Light, airy, and colorful... there's something about the textile designs of Virginia Johnson that says summer. Inspired by her love of nature and travel, Johnson creates her textiles by painting watercolors on paper which are then block-printed on to fabric. The bright, punchy-colored prints appear on summer-weight cotton voile home and fashion pieces by Johnson like pillows, tunics, and dresses. And when the summer heat gives way to cooler temperatures, keep warm in the gorgeous camel wrap-- an earthy brown and creme print shawl in merino wool.

Press: Paper Lily in Array

Thank you to Array, the publication of the New York Design Center, for including me in a feature on design blogs... and a quite witty one at that. It's an honor to be mentioned alongside some of my favorites-- apartment therapy, design*sponge, the peak of chic, treehugger, and land+living as well as Designtalk and Sustainable Style Foundation.

Rosanna

New designs coming soon at Rosanna. Even if it's still a little early to set the table with the wintry scenes of the Holiday collection, the scalloped-edged "Dinner Party" plates, in the solid colors of their red, black, and white/gold holiday palette can be used for just about any occasion.