This is For You

This book by Rob Ryan is simply gorgeous. (As is everything he does.)

Brave Space Design Coat Range

A creative way to hang your jacket...

Night Owl Print

I love pretty much everything Night Owl Paper Goods does, especially this Golden Folksy Floral Rosette Print, printed on a Heidelberg windmill letterpress (which I would also love to have!)

Washi Paper Masking Tapes

These masking tapes come in the most gorgeous colors, and the fact that they are pretty washi paper makes them just that much cooler.

Alarm Clock

I little hippie, but I would think waking up on a cold, dark morning would be a lot nicer to soft chimes than a screeching buzzer.

Tumbleweed Lunch Kit

I covet this stainless steel lunch box set at Abe's Market, complete with reusable snack bags.

Musical Fruit

I want both of these....

Reuseable Snack Bags

Super cute, washable and well-designed...

Bulk Food Bag

Snack bags

Alicia Block

half full

a very good morning

Lunaria

Respite

Alicia Block photographs outdoor and nature/botanical scenes using antique Polaroid cameras. Good thing they are affordable, because I want pretty much every single thing she does...

Artecnica TranSglass

TranSglass is glassware made from reclaimed wine bottles, and is part of Artecnica's Design with Conscience collection.

Personally I would love to have the Handcut Carafe and Matching Tumbler on my nightstand.

They are made in Guatemala and come in either in a clear finish, or this lovely glowing satin.

Fall nesting

Woolrich has recreated the blankets that they provided for the troops during the Civil War, and they're even making them in the same mill as the originals. I want one of each: one for an afternoon picnic on a sunny day, one for snuggling on the couch, one for sitting the front porch in the evening, and one for my bed on a chilly night.

Fort Sumter

Gettysburg

Calvary

Artillery

VivaTerra Bells

I would love to have a Fall garden just so I could hang these from the trees....

Temple Bells

Mini Temple Bell Garland

Dream Big

Of course I want the Herman Miller 'Eames Folding Screen' - even if it is $1,945.00.

Recession-special River Stone Mat

I wanted one of these mats for the longest time, but I didn't want to spend $80 plus the (considerable) shipping that they were selling for a couple of years ago. The economy has obviously had some issues in interim, and I found this exact same one at T.J. Maxx for $30 a few months ago. You can get one here at CB2 for only slightly more. It's held up nicely and is very comfortable to stand on. It certainly isn't a frilly pink bath mat, so Husband likes it quite a bit. The only downsides: 1. It weighs a ton (as you might imagine - it is a bunch of rocks after all) and 2. If you plan on having a door open over it you'll need some clearance. It works just fine in our bathroom, and I'd like to get more to put in other places around the house...

Porcelain Ornaments

Acorns

and Blossoms online at Noun.

Elum wrapping paper

Elum makes eco-friendly wrapping paper that is actually affordable. This is Nocturnal Bloom that I picked up at The Village Invites.

Good ideas

I got the Kapoosh knife block as a present for my husband. He happens to be fond of fairly expensive German knives, and our old knife blocks were poorly-made garbage from college days. Instead of individual slots, the Kapoosh has a block of rubber rods so you can slide the knives in any which direction - even oversized items like cleavers and scissors. (The version we have differs from the one pictured - ours has a smaller section set below the larger one for paring and steak knives. I like having the separate section for easy access to smaller knives.)

The rubber is more gentle on the knife edges than wood, and you can slide the block out and stick it in the dishwasher. It holds quite a bit more than a traditional block, too - because you can (carefully) pack the knives in closer we were able to get rid of a whole extra block! Hopefully they will make replaceable rubber inserts in case they start to break down over time, and you can avoiding having to buy a whole new set...

I love this self-watering vertical garden called Vert!

Rainbow bookshelf

I found this image by Chotda on Flickr today, and think it's a beautiful and creative way to organize books. I love the color of blue they chose for the walls...

(Cute pug, too!)

Found and lost

We spent the weekend at a cabin in Bushkill, Pennsylvania, and happened upon this little garden store on the way back from a flea market. I can't remember the name of the place, but I did take a few pictures and bought a hod while I was there...

Succulents

Cloches

Buddha

Stones and branches

Doily!

How cute are these coasters made of of recycled newspaper?

100 for $16 at Charles & Marie.

I wasn't aware that Starbucks has a program where you can pick up free coffee grounds to use as fertilizer your garden. It's fantastic for acidity-loving plants like blueberries, and deters lots of garden pests like slugs and ants. Just don't overdo it or it'll change the pH of your soil pretty drastically. Ask at your local coffee shop - Starbucks or otherwise - I'm sure they wouldn't mind handing over something they were throwing out anyway.

Little Birdies

In a perfect world there would be a Roost retail store, and I'd get to live in it. I particularly love this "Flock of Swallows" mobile that you can find at Velocity or Tiny McSmall (who win the blue ribbon for Cutest Name Ever.)

Happy Spring!

"Vertical Gardens"

Exit Art has put together what seems to be a really interesting exhibit of "architectural models, renderings, drawings, photographs and ephemera that depict or imagine a vertical farm, urban garden or green roof."

It opens on my birthday, so I think I might just have to go... ♥

Exit Art
$5 suggested donation
475 Tenth Avenue @ 36th Street
Opening: March 28, 6-8 p.m.
Runs through May 23

Sneaky trees

Nicolette Brunklaus Large Shady Tree Lamp Shade

Chrysanthemums on Etsy

A little green for St. Patrick's Day!

Pretty cabochon

Vintage Dress


Chandeliers and Chrysanthemums Bag


Adorable Hair Clip

Sesen glass water bottles

I am completely obsessed with Sesen glass water bottles. I love the ice pack that keeps the water chilled, and the bag made out of recycled materials. It's like a Nalgene that grew up, moved to the city and started dressing better. More refined, if you will.

Don't get me wrong - I still love my wide-mouth Nalgene. It's indestructible, ergo it's always going to be the better choice when hiking and camping. It's just that the Sesen bottle would look a little more elegant in the 'fridge door, or sitting on my desk at the office. A little more grown up.

For the Birds

The birds have been making their way back to New York City! We've had a couple of nice days in a row where I've been able to throw open the windows to let the warm air and chirping waft in. It's always been the best and happiest indicator that spring really is just around the corner!

Here are a few things that will give them a warm welcome after a long trip home...

Glass Donut Bird Feeder from Uncommon Goods

Pretty, modern and easy to see when it needs a refill!

Copper Birdbath from Plow & Hearth

This birdbath is great for a couple of reasons: First off, it's solar-powered, so you can put it anywhere in the yard and you don't have to worrying about wiring. Secondly, the moving water discourages mosquitoes, which keeps down the bug bites.

Gourd Birdhouse by Amish Gourds

My mom has always grown birdhouse gourds. As kids, it was a fun project to make them into Spring birdhouses. After waiting all winter for the center to dry out, my sister and I would have a fierce maraca session before we finally cut open the "little birdie front door." All that was left was to hang them up and wait for the birds to move in. Fun, biodegradable, renewable. About as eco-friendly as you can get!

Recycled Glass Hummingbird Feeder at TurningLife

Several different hummingbird species are endangered, mostly because they are incredibly sensitive to changes in their environment. Give them somewhere both pretty and safe to eat, and you'll get to watch these amazing birds up close! (If you have cats, make sure the feeder is hung well outside the reach of hungry paws.)

Audubon CopperTop Cedar Bluebird House

from Bird & Home

Am I the only one that built these in elementary school? Well, mine certainly didn't look this good, and definitely didn't have a copper roof. Anyone can put one up - even if you aren't handy with a saw and hammer. (The ideal location for these is on a five foot pole at the edge of an open area.)

Buri Collection at Smith & Hawken

Beautiful colors and shapes that look more like pieces of art hanging from the branches....

Springtime Nest Bell Jar at William-Sonoma

If you don't have a yard or balcony, this pretty little nest in a cloche is a lovely substitute for the real thing!

Gifts for Gardeners

My daffodils are poking up through the snow, and this weekend I'll be sowing hundreds of seeds that will eventually be planted in the two potagers I have planned for this summer. Needless to say, I've got gardening on mind in a big way!

Amaryllis Copper Rain Chain at Overstock.com

These are a beautiful alternative to the
run-of-the-mill white metal downspout.

Moon Jar at Uncommon Goods

Since they are waterproof, they can be left outside
and would be dreamy dotting
your garden pathways at night -
no wiring or electricity needed.

Vintage Garden Tool Set at Bed Bath & Beyond

I love the look of these, and the fun, vintage carrying case.

Purple and Black Tomato Set
at Tasteful Garden/MotherEarth News

No gardener would be dismayed at receiving these as a gift,
and hopefully they'll pay your generosity back
with some yummy tomatoes!

Rain Barrel at Smith & Hawkin

Wonderful (and cute!) way to conserve water!

Birdfeeder at Branch Home

Fun shape, and it encourages birds
to hang out in your garden
and snack on pesky bugs as well!