the happy living Blog

crazeee

I am going out of town on Thursday and Friday to Warroad, Minnesota.  Why I am going there?  To visit the Marvin window factory.  For work.  I am half regretting it because the lows at night there are still in the upper 20's and low 30's and I am getting used to the unseasonably warm weather we have been having here in Philly (except for the past couple of crappy days).  But I am looking forward to being away from work and meeting some new fellow architects.  Then the boy and I are going to Baltimore overnight on Saturday for an extended date night.  I will be checking out the excellent Baltimore Design Guide over at Design Sponge before we go.  If anyone has any up to date recommendations for Baltimore please send them my way.  We are staying at the Marriot at the Inner Harbor but are not against venturing out away from the tourist areas.  And...

Erin has a new Inspiration E-Zine out.

Susan has some gorgeous pantry porn.

Jennifer is giving away one of her delicious LOVE prints.  I am partial to the watermelon.

Saffron Marigold has some new beautiful Lavender printed textiles.

Katie Hutchison is seeking projects to feature in her upcoming book about small retreats.

What a group of lovely chickadees.  I will be back on Monday.  Can you believe it is almost May already?

beautiful things :: Saffron Marigold

You must see these beautiful hand-crafted and block printed bedspreads, duvet covers, curtains and more over at Saffron Marigold.  I love the sari-inspired prints and the bright colors.

So pretty and so affordable.  Their 26" x 26" cushion covers are $20!  Saffron Marigold also supports Fair Trade.  I received the most lovely email from Anisha about how Saffron Marigold came to be and just had to tell you about it. 

some wonderful acquisitions

Where have I been this time?  On the right corner of our couch.  I came down with the nastiest upper respiratory infection ever.  I feel like I have literally lost 4-5 days of my life since I could not read, surf the web or even catch up on my knitting.  I am back at the day job today and feeling much better but still a bit slower than usual.  We are expecting some warm and sunny weather here over the next few days, so I am hoping some sunshine will help me get back to myself.

I am wayyyy backed up relative to blog posts and blog love to send around.  I wanted to share a few recent and favorite purchases from some wonderful artists and designers.

Wood Oval on Matte Chain Necklace by Sulu-Design and the lovely Susan from Portland by way of New York City.  I love her pieces and am proud to finally be an owner.  Her shop and her blog.  Photo by Sulu-Design.

Eames Rocker Pregnancy Journal by Anna Cote of Modern Printed Matter, for a friend.  Find Anna's gorgeous goods at her shop and at the National Stationery Show 5/18-21 at booth 2054.  Photo by Modern Printed Matter.

And last but certainly not least, Roots -- Spring Prints Set by Port 2 Port Press in collaboration with Lena Corwin.  I do not actually have this in my possession yet and cannot wait for them to arrive.  Photo from Port 2 Port Press.

Turkey Hill

I am doing what many other bloggers are doing, that is signing off for the weekend.  Before I leave I wanted to point you over here.  It is a photo tour of Martha Stewart's Turkey Hill farmstead that she owned for over 30 years.

It is a beautiful example of a classic 5-bay New England or Connecticut style farmhouse and hope that it was sold to someone who will really appreciate it as she did.  Another reason I love this, is because from everything I have ever read or heard about Turkey Hill I get the impression that this house and property really transformed over time, with small and big changes throughout the 30 years to make it into the Turkey Hill we all know today.  And I just love that drapware grey color of the trim and siding.

all this talk about 'green' makes my eyes glaze over

So I was glad to read this article (via materialicious) in the Washington Post entitle "Greed in the Name of Green".

Quoted from the article "Really going green, Hawken says, "means having less. It does mean less. Everyone is saying, 'You don't have to change your lifestyle.' Well, yes, actually, you do."

Our consumerism and overspending is now justified becauase we can buy green and organic products.  Or is it?

This question is why I roll my eyes everytime someone else comes out with some organic luxury product.  And why I was very disappointed in the current issue of Domino magazine where they highlighted Ted Turner's daughter's 6,200 square foot mansion (excuse me, Ecomanor) as a green house.  Not even a family of five needs to live in a 6,200 square foot house and if we don't get out of that mindset we get no closer to solving the environmental problems we have.  I don't care how many recycled products you can squeeze into a home that size.  It doesn't automatically make it sustainable.

I do believe in doing just one thing a day to do my part in helping the environment but if we don't think more wholistically in terms of our homes, how we live our lives and how much we consume, I believe we are just spinning our wheels.

I am stepping down from my soap box now.

looking for :: bedside table lamps

I was inspired by this lamp (via housemartin)...

and really love these hand blow glass lamps from Ochre...

but found these which are more in my budget range.

Amber glass table lamp for $93.99

White glass table lamp for $53.99

I really like finding comparable items for much less money, don't you? 

Susan Serra brings us Hansen Kitchen Furniture

In case you have not already heard, the lovely Susan Serra of The Kitchen Designer blog is bringing Hansen Kitchen Furniture to the States.  Knud Kapper is an architect of buildings and yes, of kitchen and bath furniture.  Go to his gorgeous website if you want more info.  I have firmly decided that this is what the boy and I will have in our kitchen (we're talking about in the 10-year plan, now) once we renovate.  Nothing else.

design for mankind

First off, I am so glad that you guys enjoyed the first renovate! post.  Isn't it an amazing project, a great transformation?  I'll be posting some more thoughts about the first project and then posting another project probably next week.  Stay tuned.

I would like to give Erin from Design for Mankind a huge blog hug and say 'thanks' for including me in her blog series the dailies.  I am honored to have had the opportunity since I am a huge fan of DFM every since she launched last year and of the series.  So if you ever wanted to know what my typical day is like, go here.

You also must check out her ezines.  There are two of them so far and they are both full of wonderful inspirations and inspiration boards from all your favorite artists and bloggers.  I can't wait for the third one.

Nosheen Iqbal at Vitamin D(esign)

Holy cow!  I think I found my new favorite artist.  I love the idea of sewing and embroidering on other materials than fabric.  I experimented with it a little in my college years and it has always intrigued me.  I love these pieces by Nosheen Iqbal.  You can buy them here at Vitamin D(esign).

karin eriksson :: ceramics

Tomorrow the happy living Blog celebrates it's first birthday.  I won't reminisce since I already did that when I posted my 200th post (whew!).  But since I got a nice bonus at work and had an occasion to celebrate, I finally purchased a piece of Karin Eriksson's ceramics.  If you have yet to check out her work you just have to go right over here and look. 

Karin has a new venture coming soon called Manos.  I cannot wait to see what other yumminess she has in store for us. (techie note:  it doesn't look like the Manos website is up and running yet.  check back soon!)

Things in blogland have been slow for me because some things are happening in other lands for me...good things, but they are zapping my time and energy some days.

BUT.  I am starting a post series called Renovate!, so stay tuned.  OK, I am off to put dinner together.  There is a hungry boy coming home in 35 minutes.