My Daughter's Studio Apartment

I couldn't be a prouder mother. My daughter and her husband had their apartment photographed for Design Sponge. I think it came out beautifully and its even more spectacular up close and in person. I was down there for the first week of August and can hardly wait for my trip at Thanksgiving. The apartment is nestled in the Presidio Heights neighborhood of San Francisco and all the windows are adjacent to a sweet little park. During the day you can hear the joyful chatter of children playing and at night it is completely silent. The apartment is a slow accumulation of furniture and items collected in their travels and at flea markets. Because the space is so small, they think very carefully before purchasing anything new. I can hardly believe that six years have passed and they're still in this little abode!

Photos by Michelle Drewes

Inspiration from Stockholm: Pia Ulin

It never fails to get my creative juices flowing again by stumbling across a new site filled with incredible talent. This is definitely the case when I had the good fortune to come upon Pia Ulin's work. There is something very natural and alluring about her photographs.  I think the word "authentic" describes her images. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.  By the way, which is your favorite?

Rain Rain Go Away!!!!

Today while in my classroom it was so dark outside that I would swear it was mid-November and not the beginning of June.  While there are days when I welcome the rain, right now I am literally craving sunshine and light. I know they are just around the corner to enjoy!!

photo: cherry blossom 

Sweet Inspiration

Now that the school year is coming to a close, I feel the desire to get back into my blog and all the friends that are associated with it.  This has been an intense year at my work and I needed a few long weeks to focus primarily on my students. Now that summer is right around the corner, my mind is racing about the creative ways in which I can work on my home during my time off. I already have two road trips to San Francisco and both are centered around the time of the Alameda Flea Market.  I look forward to it every summer.  I found this beautiful home and it started me thinking of a few changes I could make at home that wouldn't be that expensive. I still love the mix of old and new together and I think this house has the perfect balance.

I've really missed all of you and hope I will be in better contact.  Hope you enjoy these phtoographs.

photos: nuevo estilo via design attractor

Wide Open Skies in Santa Fe

This past week, my daughter and I were able to take a magical trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico and write about our experience for Matchbook Magazine. This was such an honor - Matchbook has quickly become my favorite on line magazine to read with such quality in both the writing and the subjects written about.  Our trip was so much fun and having to write and photograph the trip meant we somehow spoke to local folks in a more meaningful way. In the end, we met some amazing people and saw so many incredible places.  If you have a chance, pop over to Matchbook and read all about it (page 36)!

photos: caitlin flemming 

I apologize for my long absence.  I needed a break to catch up with work and life!  I missed my blog community and look forward to getting back into the rhythm! 

For Japan With Love

I've been away from blogging the last few weeks - trying to learn how to give credit in a better way.  I know that may sound silly, but I feel terrible that I've been only giving credit to the place I found the images.  I am now determined to figure it all out and come back better than ever.

I leave you with a fundraiser so many bloggers have been involved with. It was started by Lydia  and Lucia  and has raised more than a thousand percent of its original goal. They created the site - For Japan With Love . The donations go to Shelter Box USA - one of the first groups called by the government of Japan to help out in this tragedy. THIS is the reason I have fallen in love with blogging. We really are connected! My thoughts and prayers are continually with our friends and their families in Japan.

 image: ever ours via Sacramento Street 

Sweet Simplicity - Delikatissen

I adore everything about this home - the brick walls painted white, the mix of modern and antique, and of course, the neutral palate.  My mind is able to focus more in a neutral setting - perhaps there's already enough color in my life elsewhere!  I especially like the bedroom with the door to a garden.  What's not to love!

photos: delikatissen 

Mustard Yellow - Spring Is Almost Here!

While yellow isn't a color I would decorate with in my neutral color palate, I must say it's such a happy color.  Recently I read all of Vicente Wolf's books and he always uses a touch of yellow even if it's just the flowers. I especially love the yellow daybed - such elegance and the yellow keeps it looking young and fresh. This color reminds me of the enormous mustard fields in Southern France.  Wish I were there - a girl can dream anyway! Or maybe I could live in a yellow submarine!

photos: here 

Blog Crush: Pia Jane Bijkerk

I'm sure most of you are followers of Pia Jane Bijkerk .  I always look forward to her posts as well as her stunning photography.  I ordered two of her books as Christmas presents for my daughter and now she has a new website.  I became familiar with her when she was living in Amsterdam.  Previously she lived in Paris and now she is home in Sydney.  I had a difficult time choosing photographs to include as there were so many that spoke to me - there is something about all of them that evokes an elegant simplicity that I strive for.  We are all so fortunate to have Pia and her talent in the blog world!

Matchbook Perfection

I have to say I'm quite smitten with the new Matchbook .  I actually ended up staying at work an extra two hours as I couldn't tear myself away from the spectacular magazine.  The superb writing pulled me in and I was transported by the articles.  I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.  Which was your favorite feature?

photos: neotraditionalist