Fern & Flora

This weekend we're headed up to the mountains for a church retreat. It's not gonna be one of those annoying retreats where you have to bring a bunch of food and pay a bunch of money and spend time with a bunch of people you don't like. Nope. Bless our dear church, we don't pay a dime, meals are provided, the people will be fun and there's even ice skating and a bonfire tonight! My little (or not so little) preggo self won't be doing any ice skating but no doubt I will be taking in some cocoa by the fire.

To inspire a cozy wintery weekend where ever you are, a give you a few more finds from Etsy:

A Good Saturday

2012-01-23T16:25:00.000-07:00

I was long over due for a day of shopping and brunching as well as some catch-up time with a dear friend, so

Saturday we got together and enjoyed omelets and lattes and then did a little shopping. We came across some nifty goods:

1. A pale pink doily-inspired tea pot (I've been needing a cute tea pot for ages now!) for $10 at where else, TJ Maxx Home Goods

2. Homemade-looking bath rugs with scalloped edges in the best colors also at TJ Maxx Home Goods

3. All natural and locally produced organic milk sold in lovely glass bottles found at a new market in my neighborhood. I'm not a huge milk person, but enjoy pouring a little cup out of the hefty glass bottle much more than I ever did with a plastic jug.

Inspiring Basement Studios

2012-01-19T16:10:00.001-07:00

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Ever since we moved into our new house last summer, all of my crafting stuff has been sitting disheveled and sad in boxes in what will now be the baby's nursery. Nothing could be moved until we replaced flooring, lighting and painted down in the basement room we decided would be my crafting studio. Enter my dad: bless his heart, he made his third trip out in the last 5 months to help us on the house and this time, he rocked the craft room!

Ike painted the room and together, hubby and dad got in new flooring, finished the closet and painted the trim. How I love the men in my life!

And isn't the above pictures a sweet little basement crafting space? I've been looking, where else but on pinterest for images of basement spaces to inspire me for my new little space, which although full of potential, has very little natural light - and I LOVE my natural light. Alas.

Here's a few more pics of basement work spaces I thought were charming:

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Hopefully, I can post some images of my own crafting space soon!

Winter Pick-Me-Up: City Floral

2012-01-11T10:43:00.000-07:00

I have a little shelf looking underneath my kitchen window that was in need of some herbs so I ran to our best local green house last week, City Floral, to see what they had. I picked up some rosemary, basil, lemon thyme and mint. The real highlight though, was taking in the glorious azaleas in their smashing pinks, the primroses, kale, roses and cyclamen (on the top right) who like they're all ready for Valentine's Day. Talk about a pick-me-up, especially in the dead of winter. Twenty minutes in the green house would be my preferred method of what designer Jonathan Adler calls "a prescription for anti depressive living." And it's cheap, if you can control your urge to buy one of everything while you're there...

Watch This!

2012-01-06T07:00:00.001-07:00

Who else fell in love with Downton Abbey a year ago when it debuted on PBS' Masterpiece? We watched last January, waiting impatiently for Sunday night to roll around so we could get lost in the drama, plot, characters and language of this splendid series. Just this Christmas, we re-watched season one at home with my family in the evenings in preparation for season two which premiers this Sunday night. Those lucky Brits were able to watch season two this fall, which I knew. What I didn't know was that if you search around the web, you can find websites that allow you to watch all the episodes from season two - no waiting for Sunday nights! My sister told me she already watched all of the second season and so Ike and I did the same last weekend (when we should have been working on the house and being productive). And ah! Season two is just as fantastic as the first! Alas, we splurged and now we have to wait another year for season three...

Regardless of how you watch it - just watch the darn thing. It's the perfect winter series to throw yourself into once the holidays are over and there's not much to look forward to and you're looking for a reason to not take down the tree or do laundry. Watch Downton Abbey instead! PBS has season one all ready for you right here. But be warned, once you start, you won't be able to stop. Enjoy!

New Years Greetings!

2012-01-03T13:59:00.000-07:00

Out with the old, in the with new! It's hard to believe another year has zipped by. I must admit, I'm always a little glad when the holiday business is over and a quieter January arrives. Ike and I have a long list of to-dos on the house as well as another bit of exciting news which I haven't yet shared on this blog:

We're havin' a baby! That's right! Come May, we'll have our first munchkin and we're SOOO excited about it.

So, 2012 will be full of new and good things. I hope this year brings you the same!

My Five Buck Holiday Wreath

2011-12-17T17:39:00.004-07:00

This past week, I was in the mood to make a wintery wreath for our very bare and unfestive looking front door. I've been feeling like a scrooge all season since this is our first Christmas in our new house and we're the ONLY ones on the block who didn't have even a dash of holiday decor on the outside of the house. I'm not saying I like all or even most of the over the top glowing candy canes and giant blow up Santas, etc. that have recently popped up on our street, but I did feel like we weren't even trying. T'was time to to do something. Here's how it came together...

Most thrifty craft projects begin, where else but Dollar Tree. I picked up the wooden wreath base and the two tubes of dull silvery balls (they were just the right shade so as to look a bit on the vintage side) for $3. To wrap the wreath base, I used scraps of cream muslin I snagged for a buck a while back at an estate sale.

I cut about three lengths of muslin and ironed it to to freshen it as well as to keep one side of the strips folded over so the outside edge of the fabric would looked finished. I just glued down the fabric here and there underneath as I wrapped it around. And here we have our nice little base.

Next, I just started gluing on the silvery holiday balls sort of willy-nilly. One can kinda wing this part as the gaps between the ornaments get filled in with cream muslin ruffles, bits of twisted yarn and finished with vintage creamy buttons. It'll look like crap at first, but don't stop. Just keep gluing..

Once all the silver balls were glued on and the wreath was looking pretty wonky and weird, I cut out 3" circles of muslin and folded and hot glued them into little ruffle shapes. I probably made 30 of these babies. The more you fill in the gaps with them on the wreath, the more full and festive it looks.

It also helps to have a snack, don't you think? Left over white chocolate-drizzled popcorn mixed with peanut m&ms was just sitting from a gathering the night before waiting to be eaten. Munch a little, glue a little. Munch, glue...

Once the creamy ruffles were added, things started looking promising...

Towards the end, I knew I wanted to add a bit more texture. I wound 8" pieces of yarn around two fingers, tied them off at the end and glued them in and around the balls and ruffles. It added a wintery flair, I thought. I also tucked in (via hot glue) clusters of creamy antique buttons. Couldn't help myself...

And the finished product! I added a muslin ribbon to the top of the wreath, so it would hang nicely on my ugly front door. Alas. My one complaint is that I don't have a gorgeous smokey gray front door this year. Perhaps next year my door will be a lovely color so my wreath really looks blog-worthy.

And that's how she came together folks. With my $3 worth of materials from Dollar Tree, muslin scraps, bits of yarn and 3 glue sticks I used, this little project couldn't have cost more than $5 - and I think it's something that can hang on the door well in to January perhaps even February. What's hanging on your door this holiday season??

Little Women: A Holiday Must-Watch

2011-12-12T21:02:00.000-07:00

You know how some movies that you love when you're younger (like in junior high and high school) seem well - lame or silly or just not nearly as good as you remembered when you watch them again as an adult? Little Women is NOT one of those movies. I watched it last week for the first time in ages and it completely hit the spot. Now I'm quoting lines from it every day and Ike has no idea what I'm talking about. I'm humming the theme melody from the opening credits. It's just so well done. So lovely to watch and so tender...And it's perfect viewing when you want something Christimas-y. Watch it.

(additional incentive: a young Christian Bale plays Laurie and he's so darn cute)

What holiday movies are you loving right now?

Handmade Holiday Boutique Coming Up!

2011-12-07T10:03:00.000-07:00

If you're in the area this weekend, please stop on by this fun and fabulous boutique at the home of our friend and artist, Tiffany Beach. There will be a great group of artists selling paper goods, accessories, jewelry, clothes, art and more. Kara and I will be sharing a table and we WILL be taking debit and credit cards, so leave the cash at home and come see us!

Currently Nibbling On....

2011-12-02T13:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a cold, windy, snowy day. It got me all in the baking spirit. I had a few brown bananas wilting in the fridge and thought of this recipe I saw while meal planning a few weeks back in a fall issue of Cooking Light.

.Moist, gooey peanut butter banana bread. Yes sir. I'm not a huge milk drinker, but this bread longs for a cold glass of milk to accompanying it down the hatch. It came together easily and called for some healthier alternatives which I liked: fat free Greek yogurt and flax seed. It has just a bit of butter and not as much sugar as normal banana bread. I used Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free baking flour (I'm back in the gluten-free saddle after fudging quite a bit this fall and feeling the resulting yuckiness) and it turned out splendidly. I think the mashed bananas and Greek yogurt help maintain moisture - especially for a gluten-free variety. Once the bread cools, top it will a creamy peanut butter glaze and its oh so tasty. Find the recipe here.

The Splendid Table

2011-11-21T16:19:00.001-07:00

Now that my meal planning and shopping is done, I'm turning my thoughts to table decor for Thanksgiving.

I found a charming vintage Thanksgiving postcard at a local boutique that will somehow be copied and worked into the decor but look at all of these beautiful table settings. So many festive directions to go!

I've always been a lover of bittersweet and with all the milk glass I have accumulated, something like this might be a pretty combination.

Love this more modern, earth-tone table. So chic.

Rustic and homey tables are always cozy. The hanging pumpkins in the background are a whimsical addition.

Aren't these apples with little candles tucked inside so beautiful? I love how the wax drips down the sides...

Thanksgiving - Oh Yum

2011-11-17T11:53:00.000-07:00

My parents are coming out for Thanksgiving (yippee!) to celebrate the holiday but also help us on the house... again. They worked like dogs back in August in the kitchen (which is 95% done now - pictures coming soon!)

and unfettered by exhaustion, sweat and lots of drywall dust, they return next week for more - bless them.

Anyway, I'm excited at the prospect of hosting a Thanksgiving meal at in our new home and thus digging for tasty (and relatively healthy) looking recipes - like this gorgeous Winter Jeweled Fruit Salad which calls for lime, sea salt and honey in addition to the fruit. Mmmm.

I made these heavenly rosemary mashed potatoes and yams last year when we had friends over for dinner and they were so tasty I think I'm gonna do them for Thanksgiving. With garlic and Parmesan cheese baked in, how could you go wrong, I mean really.

These citrus green beans sound deeeelish. The recipe calls for shallots, roasted pine nuts and orange zest. I was never a fan of the heavy green bean casserole or those awful things out of the can. This citrus-y dish is more up my ally...

What about you? Are you hosting holiday meals this year? Any favorite recipes? Do tell!

(all images via here)

More Wedding Lovliness

2011-11-12T12:51:00.000-07:00

Back in September, I had the privilege of providing flowers for our friends Amber and Ryan's wedding.

It was such a lovely day and a beautiful wedding. I posted about it right here.

Just last week, Amber emailed me with a link to the website of their professional photos. They were just too gorgeous not to share...

Amber was a vision - just stunning (and I'm still so happy I was able to score those anemones with the dark centers for her bouquet!)

This image board captured the feeling of the day so well. All the little vintage details were put together so nicely and that dessert table...sigh...

All images via Free Bird Photography

Snow Day

2011-11-02T10:46:00.002-06:00

It's snowing again (quite a lot) in Denver today and Ike is working from home. We had eggs and grapefruit and coffee together in our robes. It's been nice. Real nice.

We might take our fireplace for an inaugural run tonight (if I can convince him we don't need one of those screens up first to protect from sparks and stuff - fire hazard-shmire hazard). I see an apple crisp and bacony potato soup in our future too...

(all images via)

Living Room Inspiration (and a not-so-fun day)

2011-10-27T19:44:00.000-06:00

About eight hours ago I was just logging in to my blogger account to do a nice little post on gray, cream and gold and how I'm loving these colors right now and thinking about decorating my living room using that palette. As I was typing in my google password, I was confused to hear what sounded like a babbling brook coming from the basement. What the?? I ran downstairs to discover a veritable waterfall pouring in the basement window. I was home alone and in a frantic state as water gushed (I mean, gushed like a river people!) from the window and in to the laundry room. Long story short, a frozen pipe burst and three rooms had water standing in them along with some lovely muddy sections as well. Thus my day was spent hauling boxes out of the basement, wiping, mopping and cleaning up the mess with my less than pleased husband who raced home like a bat out of hell to help me. Now I'm really ready to forget about the basement and think happy thoughts - like how gorgeous my living room could look with a palette like the ones below once all the wet boxes are cleared away...

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Gorgeous wall color and cool lamp shade...

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Love the art/antler mix along with the pops of citrus colors...

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Love the striped walls and dark pulls on the drawers...

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I'm smitten with the gold/cream/gray combo but Ike isn't convinced... How do we convince the men folk??

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This room is a tad too dressy for my taste, but wow - I still love looking at it. Love that gold mirror and those curtain rods not to mention the long, gorgeous smokey gray panels...

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The headboard and rug really get my goat (in a good way). And that velvet-y bolster on the bed adds such a nice bit of color...

What color combos are you loving right now? I can't seem to shake the gray...

Fern & Flora Recommends

2011-10-21T21:27:00.000-06:00

I generally don't like one-stop-super-giant retail stores for all the obvious reasons, but one thing I do love about them is the massive bin of $5 DVDs that are almost always plunked down in the main isle by the registers. I hit the adorable British cartoon jackpot earlier this week when I saw the BBC's Beatrix Potter and Friends DVD in said massive bin. My late Uncle Steve got us hooked on these utterly charming animated shows based on the books and I want to start a collection of my own for when we have little kiddos. There won't be any Sponge Bob Square Pants crap on at our house. No sir. BBC animation or bust.

Anywho, my favorite part of the series isn't the cartoons. It's the lovely beginning where Beatrice is out painting in the English country side and it starts to rain. She gathers her things and runs back to her stony little cottage, makes herself a cup of tea and starts writing letters, which then turns into the animated part.

Maybe I'll be asking for the complete collection for Christmas... The Tailor of Gloucestershire makes for a lovely Christmas show... They're all available for purchase right here. And if you have little ones, take it from me, you need these!

Happy Weekend Friends!

Hooray for Fall Foliage!

2011-10-17T10:05:00.000-06:00

Over the weekend, I got to do something I rarely get to do: arrange flowers for the fun of it. A friend of a friend is starting an event planning business and asked if I would provide some autumn-inspired bouquets for a photo shoot. Getting to peruse the wholesaler without any guidelines but my own taste is just a hoot for me. And the fall offerings right now? Off the hook! The berries and branches, vines and blooms are to die for. I've never used those tangerine colored Ilex berries before - probably because those babies aren't cheap, but every one in a while a creative splurge is totally worth it, don't you think?

Back to Reality

2011-10-11T13:35:00.000-06:00

How does an auntie say goodbye to these sweet faces? I hardly know...

Commence re entry into a life filled with remodel dust and boxes that need to unpacked. Sniff.

I had the good fortune to fly home last week to celebrate the birthdays of my two favorite little people - my nephews. They were born two years and about a month apart so my sister decided a joint party would be a fun and simpler way to celebrate both little munchkins. Long story short, I spent 5 days lolly gagging with the little boys, my three sisters and my folks too. There was a trip to the apple orchard and pumpkin patch as well as the birthday party, lots of family dinners and some watching of football. Come Sunday afternoon, the exodus began with my sister and her husband heading back to St. Louis. Next, Ali (my other sis) flew back to South Carolina and then last night, it was my turn to head back to Colorado. A few tears were shed as is customary for my family. Why can't we just enjoy the time we have together instead of getting all blue and wishing we didn't have to part? I don't know. But saying goodbye hardly seems to get easier. On the bright side, my dear Ike was waiting for me when I arrived and was so kind and welcoming which was just what I needed. There's always a silver lining....

Horseshoe Market Comin' Right Up!

2011-09-29T09:19:00.000-06:00

Hello Friends! This whole moving-remodeling-while-working business has sort of sucked the life out of my blogging lately. Sorry about that. I will find my mojo soon, I hope, because right now, I'm not really feeling the inspiration...

If however, you're looking for some inspiration, then stop by the last Horseshoe Market of the year this Saturday!

It's gonna be another fabulous market and there will be food trucks serving up yummy stuff - I heard there's even a cupcake truck, so what else could you want? I will be there (although I'm paring down a bit this time) with my usual goodies along with Kara Rosenberry Company, so come see us if you're in the area!

Busy Bee and Another Wedding

2011-09-19T22:26:00.000-06:00

Where does the time go? I haven't posted on me ol' blog in over a week. How is everyone? Has your September been as hectic as mine? Yes? It seems like everyone I know is either moving, getting married, having a baby, starting a new job, hosting company, traveling, etc. etc. At least we're all in the busy boat together, eh?

The good-busy for me lately has been doing flowers for a couple of really lovely weddings for some really lovely couples. I posted pictures from Tim and Katie's wedding just below this post and last week, I had the pleasure of arranging flowers for Amber and Ryan, an incredibly adorable pair who had a pretty, fun, old-fashion-y feeling wedding on Friday night. From a food truck serving pulled pork and friend chicken, to homemade desserts made by the bride's family to live music and caramel corn party favors, all the details were there.

For the flowers, I used deep purple stock, bells of Ireland, blue hydrangea, raspberry colored roses, viburnum berries, and a variety of greens for texture. The bride wanted a creamy and romantic bouquet, which I was more than happy to create. I was actually able to use something I've wanted to work with for a while - those gorgeous black-centered anemones. Swoon. They are never in season when I want them, so it was a real treat to use them.

I also worked in Queen Anne's Lace, hydrangea, lisiathus, seeded euc and little hints of silvery lambs ear. Working with gorgeous product really makes the whole process so much more fun. Thanks for having great taste Amber.

Congrats to the happy couple!

p.s. I never seem to get pics of the couples and/or people in general when I post about these weddings. I'm always snapping away at the details and forget to capture the thing that matters most. Hopefully, I can snag some off of facebook or something and share them soon.

A Pretty Mountain Wedding

2011-09-08T10:09:00.001-06:00

Last winter I was commissioned to do flowers for our friends Tim and Katie's mountain wedding. They are such a cool, easy going couple, I knew it would be a fun and casual affair - and indeed it was. Katie's aunt has an incredible acreage in Estes Park, so the setting was rustic and lovely. We wanted the flowers to look organic and kind of like they had been picked from a field, so I employed sunflowers, blue cornflower, delphinium, golden rod, mini daises and some textural greens. The couple met on a plane so they tied adorable paper airplanes in bright patterns to the umbrellas.

After the ceremony and brunch, everyone was invited to stick around and play yard games like ladder ball, corn hole and bocce ball. My friend Kendra and I distroyed Ike and Kendra's friend Becky at ladder ball. I love beating my husband at anything really. In general, He's better at games than I am. Aren't the painted signs cute?

The diversion of arranging flowers and celebrating with friends was a welcome one in the midst of moving/remodel chaos. Hooray for love on a plane!

Hello September

2011-09-03T22:10:00.001-06:00

A cold front blew through last night and when we left the house at the crack of dawn with a car load of flowers for a friend's wedding in Estes Park, it was something like 54 blessed degrees. Glory be. I don't know about you, but Ike and I are over the summer heat and welcome the cooler temps with open arms (and open windows).

Here's some more autumn inspiration to get you in the fallish mood (if you're weird like that and need some prodding)

And a happy Labor Day weekend to my American friends.

We will be laboring away at our new place. In fact, I foresee every weekend till virtually Christmas being Labor Day weekend in the most literal sense. Home ownership demands it. Not complaining - just stating the facts.

In My New Backyard

2011-08-29T15:55:00.000-06:00

Even though they've dropped by the thousands on the ground in our new backyard, I'm still really happy for the lovely crab apple tree that lives outside my kitchen window. The fruit is such a deep and earthy color and after my mom (while visiting a few weekends ago) just picked one off the tree and started munching, I realized that I too like the tart and crunchy goodness of a crab apple. Now I'm googling recipes for pies and jellies and wondering if I'll have any time this fall to take advantage of the bounty before the cold hits. Have you ever cooked with crab apples??

Country Loveliness and A Nice Surprise

2011-08-24T11:59:00.000-06:00

Just had to share this well-edited and artfully crafted treasury that I found on Etsy today from Lepun. She captured such pretty elements of country life, giving city dwellers like me, some inspiration. Check out her adorable jewelry shop at the link above while you're at it...

In other news, I just had a nice little thing happen! The lovely Koralee over at Blue Bird Notes, just informed me that I was the fortunate winner of her "Autumn with Matthew Mead" Magazine giveaway! Yippee! This was just the pick-me-up I needed during a week of packing, cleaning and general craziness. Thank you Koralee!

Autumn is my most favorite season so I can't wait to get my paws on this baby...

Like what you see? Order your own copy right here.

My Life Right Now

2011-08-22T13:37:00.001-06:00

This is about the way things are looking at my house right now, except I don't look as cute as the girl in the picture. Wearing make up and decent looking clothes is a thing of the past. It's been nothin but grubbies and dry-wall-dust encrusted-hair and skin. Makes a girl feel really pretty, I tell ya. Actually, it means progress is being made and indeed it is. The kitchen no longer looks quite like a war zone. The cruddy flooring and counter tops are up and out and the ugly (and impractical) wall with the hideous built-ins is down. There's new flooring to be installed, the counter tops (hooray for Martha Stewart's gorgeous"Sea Salt" Solid Surface! Love you Martha) have been ordered and we've lined up a posse of capable (and oh-so-kind) friends to help us with the big move on Saturday. No rest for the weary. Back to packing for me... And how are you?

Remembering the past and looking forward

2011-08-17T11:43:00.000-06:00

I'm thinking of my dear late Uncle Steve who passed away 6 years ago this week. Without his influence, I most likely wouldn't be crafting or working with flowers or aware of Merchant Ivory films, or the greatness of Pavarotti and Puccini. He was one of the funniest people I've ever known as well as one of the most creative and the time I was fortunate enough to spend with him in jr high and high school was incredibly formative for me. We miss and love you Uncle Steve and will see you again some sweet day...

In other news, I'm looking forward to the (hopefully) fast approaching day when Ike and I get to move into our new place! We were doing demo all last weekend and most of this week with my INCREDIBLY HARD WORKING AND AMAZING parents. It's been hot (the AC decided to stop working for no apparent reason) and it's been SO dirty and grimy as the men took down an extremely complicated wall full of built-ins and electrical (anything that can go wrong will!). Meanwhile, mom and I bashed to bits the ugly counter top tiles, back splash and flooring (I'm rather proud of the pic of me wielding the power drill!) whilst helping the men folk by hauling away chunks of dry wall and studs and keeping them hydrated with Simply Lemonade and bottles and bottles of water.

That's the update from my corner of the world. I may not surface for a bit as there's still mountains of work at the new place to be done and a house full of crap to pack up at the old place... Upward and onward!

Etsy Love: Larka Designs

2011-08-11T09:35:00.000-06:00

Take a look at the charming and sweet accessories by Holly at Larka Designs. I was fortunate to get to know Holly a bit after we moved to Colorado and she is a lovely (and super cute) woman and I'm really happy for her new handmade goodies...

This happy bear pin just kills me. Oh the whimsy!

Love this funky and sleek leather necklace.

Holly also uses the screen printing process in some of her creations. I'm thinking there's not much she can't do...

Check out all of her goodies right here (and buy some too!)

Market Recap

2011-08-09T09:11:00.000-06:00

Well hello. Nice to see you. My blogging has been so sporadic lately with all the other life events going on (buying a house, a family wedding, my sis and nephews visiting) but at least I can say my priorities have been in the right place, eh?

Despite the blazing, miserable heat, we survived the Horseshoe Market on Saturday and met some fabulous people and sold some stuff too. With temps in the high 90s though, the usual excitement wasn't there for me. It was more of an endurance test. Oh well. Lesson learned. No outdoor markets in August. Ever. Thanks though, to many lovely friends who stopped by and cheered us with your presence (and purchases!).

Now my attention shifts to the new house and the packing and moving of every last thing I own.

Jesus take the wheel.

A Very Big Day

2011-08-03T10:46:00.001-06:00

Celebrate good times - come on! That's right friends. It's a big day for us:

1. Today is our 8 year wedding anniversary. (where does the time go?)

2. We are finally, really truly closing on our house today. Yes!!

3. My sis and little nephews are in town for a visit and will spend the night at our place. Sleep over!

I think it's really sweet that Ike decided to buy me a house for our anniversary. He really outdid himself this year. Sweet man. Pictures will no doubt follow soon.

Fern & Flora Wednesday: Something New

2011-07-27T11:16:00.000-06:00

The other night my Horseshoe Market Pal and I got together to whip up something new to sell at the upcoming market. It took a bit of doing to track down some of the needed supplies, but seeing that we both live a midst mountains of ribbon, paper and vintage tidbits, we knew that creating these romantic and pretty candles would make a lovely (and easy to create) addition to our market offerings. Now I want to just sit and make them all day long. It was really nice to switch up the creative process and work with a different medium for a moment. And talk about a splendid gift idea. Oh yes.

The pretties shown above will be available for purchase at the Horseshoe Market as well as a plethora of note cards, hair accessories and vintage wares. It's going to be a spectacular market, so please come if you can!

Hail to the Hollyhock

2011-07-25T14:46:00.000-06:00

On Thursday night we went to a going away party for some friends. The lovely gent that hosted the party had some of these old fashioned beauties growing wild in his back yard. That's the thing about hollyhocks, they seem to sort of pop up without any notice. My grandma used to grow them down by the rhubarb patch at their farm. They're just so old timey and casual and sweet.... The pale pink gorgeousness above is a double hollyhock I believe - all ruffly and thick. Did your grandma grow them too? I bet she did.

Talkin' 'Bout a Heat Wave!

2011-07-22T14:50:00.000-06:00

I think it's safe to say that virtually everyone in the whole stinking continental US is trying not to melt away from the blazing hot temps. Although the heat in our state is a dry one, we are 5000 feet higher than those living at sea level, so it's an intense dry heat and it's still gonna be in the high 90s if not 100 this weekend. I'm such a heat weenie. Don't like to sweat. Don't like to be out in the sun. Just wanna stay inside where it's cool and eat Pink Berry and watch movies. Yep. That's pretty much it.

Where ever you are this weekend, stay cool and hydrated and dream of cooler autumn temps!

Something Different and Completely Tender

2011-07-21T14:36:00.000-06:00

While listening to Talk of Nation this afternoon, the host shared that today is the 150th Anniversary of the First Battle of Bull Run and then proceeded to play a clip from Ken Burns' film The Civil War - the reading of a letter by army major Sullivan Ballou, anticipating his imminent death, to his wife Sarah. I've heard it read before and it never fails to make me cry. I tell ya, people just don't write letters like this anymore. Ready the Kleenex...

To Market, To Market

2011-07-20T10:07:00.000-06:00

The fabulous Horseshoe Market is two weeks from this Saturday (eeek!), and this little lady is gonna be ready. No rushing around like a chicken with my head cut off or staying up half the night pricing. Noooo. I will be cool, calm and collected the days leading up to market. I'm pricing everything now and getting it all in my handy-dandy excel spreadsheet that Ike has set up for me and insists I use to track my merchandise. I hated that thing at first, but we're becoming friends now and it really does help me in the long run. Anyway, I spent the better part of yesterday pricing, tracking, tagging, etc and even though I'd rather be crafting, getting the icky stuff out of the way now, helps clear my head and just makes me feel good. Perhaps I'm turning over a new leaf...

p.s. if you're in the area on Saturday, August 6, COME TO THE MARKET. It is going to be amazing.

Feeling Loved

2011-07-19T09:46:00.000-06:00

I had a truly lovely birthday weekend - the cards, phone calls, gifts, texts and facebook messages left me feeling like the richest girl alive.

Ike was so generous and thoughtful, leaving me little birthday notes around the house, and cleaning up with extra vigor and motivation while readying the house for company, and wishing me a happy birthday over and over.

These flowers, along with a gluten-free cheesecake and a star-shaped sparkler dessert topper were thoughtful tokens from our friends who just moved into our neighborhood. I'm so happy to be two blocks from them, if only for a month before we move to our new place.

And the gifts?! Hello fabulous. Vintage jewelry, art, delicious body products from Lollia, botanical stickers I plan on sticking on everything and a Kindle!

Thank you friends and family for making me feel so loved.

How was your weekend?

Birthday Weekend

2011-07-15T09:37:00.001-06:00

Hello friends. How was your week? Mine had it's up and downs but now it's Friday (bring it on) and Sunday is my birthday so I'm going to spend the weekend celebrating. Yes ma'am.

What better to celebrate than with lots of tasty treats...

...and little gifts sent in the mail from family a far..

...and the company of people you like (hopefully watching the US women's soccer team beat Japan in the World Cup finale on my birthday afternoon! I'm gettin all swept up in the fever)

And if I really get what I want, there will be an outing for bread pudding with the mister. It's become my birthday tradition and it's fun every once in a while to shake a fist at gluten free foods and splurge on some gluten-full goodness. Happy birthday to me.

And a happy weekend to all.

Fern & Flora Wednesday

2011-07-13T09:54:00.000-06:00

I'm excited to share some fresh accessories from my shop! These little beauts developed recently as I was working on a gift for my friend's birthday. They are fun and feminine and perfect for someone who likes a ring with some girth and at $12 a piece, you can get one for yourself and a friend. Take a peek at the rings and other new accessories right here.

Waiting for the Keys

2011-07-11T11:13:00.001-06:00

Over the weekend (and how was yours, by the way?) Ike and I were talking about how we had little going on and how nice it was to eat a lazy breakfast on the patio, take naps and watch World Cup coverage (hooray for the USA's victory over Brazil! I'm not a huge soccer fan, but even I was jumping around the living room after that incredible last minute win). It was a strange feeling of nothing to do in in the moment with the anticipation of loads to do in the near future. If things continue to go well with our house buying process, we will be closing two weeks from Thursday and the place will be ours! It's not a completely done deal yet, but more than likely it will be, which means lots of elbow grease, grit, sweat and the like to pack up our stuff, clean the old place, clean and do some renovations on the new place then move in... Should I start packing now? Seems a bit early. At least that's what we determined over the weekend and thus embraced one of the last weekends in a while where we won't have anything to do. And it was nice.

A Perfect Summer Dinner

2011-07-08T10:38:00.000-06:00

I cannot wait any longer! I must share the details of our incredible, summery dinner on Wednesday night to celebrate my friend Kara's birthday. It was TO DIE FOR. Here's what we had:

Kara's brother Lane, his charming wife Ruby and Kara's parents (who are lovely, gracious people) were all in town to celebrate July 4th and family birthdays. Ike and I were lucky enough to get an invitation to partake in this outrageous family dinner prepared by Kara's chef brother. In addition to the good eats, there was wine and champagne and candle light and jazz, lots of laughing and good conversation. It was truly the highlight of our summer thus far.

p.s. Lane cooked this dinner for eight in a tiny kitchen with a lousy oven and minimal counter space in the guest suite of Kara's building with few tools and little time. (He purchased most of the food at a farmer's market in Boulder at 4 o'clock that day!) It was sort of like a Top Chef challenge or something. He rose to the occasion, big time. Thanks to all the Rosenberry clan for sharing a delightful evening with us.

Etsy Love: Dresses Divine

2011-07-07T12:30:00.003-06:00

In about three weeks, my brother-in-law is getting married and so I've been thinking about what to wear (as most girls would) to the nuptials. I have a pretty cute little vintage number I picked up at an estate sale for like $8 last fall but it needs to be tailored before I can wear it and I'm wondering how much I'd end up spending to get it in tip top shape. Is it worth the hassle and cost to have it shortened and taken in? Anyway, Etsy is of course, jam packed with lovely summer, vintage offerings for such an occasion. Here are a few of my favorites:

Oh! And last night's birthday festivities for my friend Kara, were utterly divine! She is so fortunate to have a brother who really knows how to cook. I will be posting about the splendid meal we had soon. It was out of this world. Thanks Lane!

Fern & Flora Wednesday: This and That

2011-07-06T10:01:00.001-06:00

As always, I like to share a bit of what's coming out of my studio these days. Creams and golds seem to be the theme this week... (these babies will be for sale in my shop soon....)

Aside from that, I'm trying to figure out why my allergies have been off the charts yesterday and today. Sneezing, itching, blowing of the nose, which Ike calls The Horn of Gondor (it's pretty loud, I must admit). And what's up with all the bugs? It's not even 10 am and I've already killed an ant, a spider AND got bitten by a mosquito and haven't even set foot out side! Summer time... sheesh.

Oh! And a happy birthday shout out to my lovely friend Kara of Kara Rosenberry Company! Kara's professional chef brother is visiting and he's making us a splendid birthday dinner tonight. I cannot wait. There WILL be a post all about it I'm sure, so stay tuned!

Three Cheers for Freedom!

2011-07-04T12:01:00.000-06:00

Hip Hip! Hooray!

Happy July 4th fellow Americans! Aren't we glad we get to be Americans? Aren't we grateful we get to live in this amazing country? Aren't we thankful for all those who have given so much, past and present to so we can be safe and free? Yes we are! So let's celebrate!

Summer Weekend Bliss

2011-07-01T10:36:00.000-06:00

It's Friday! And it's July 4th weekend which means lots of time with friends and yummy food and no doubt some fireworks. Here are some summery (and uber romantic) images from Skippy Designs to get your weekend started off in a happy way:

2011-06-30T08:31:00.001-06:00

Here's to my mom and dad who got married 38 years ago today and whose get away car was a VW Bug similar to this one... I love you two.

Fern & Flora Wednesday: Feeling Patriotic

2011-06-29T13:36:00.002-06:00

The berries I had for breakfast this morning got me thinking about creating Fourth of July accessories that would work for wear all summer long. Thus I created these bright and cheerful clips that would make a perfect accessory for Independence Day, a day at the park or on the boat (they do have a nautical vibe, no?).

View more images of these warm weather pretties right here.

Tasty Tuesday: Down Home Loosemeat Sandwiches

2011-06-28T14:55:00.002-06:00

After church on Sunday, I was trying to figure out what to do with the pound of ground turkey I had in my freezer, when I got a hankerin' for a good old loose meat (or sometimes called Made Rite) sandwich. Occasionally, as a kid, when my mom (who was a health food nut) would relent, my dad would take my sisters and me to a place called B&G's where they had THE BEST loose meat sandwiches. They would serve them up in red plastic baskets and oh they were tasty. Apparently, it's a Midwest thing, 'cause ever since we moved to Colorado, I haven't been able to find a place that serves them.

After Sunday though, I shall be making my own every now and again thanks to a google search that turned up this recipe. It's super easy, fast and deeelish. I left out the lard it calls for as well as the two teaspoons of salt on the bottom of the pan, and as mentioned before, used lean ground turkey instead of beef. I popped in the onions, mustard, agave nectar instead of sugar, a splash of vinegar, sea salt and pepper to taste, served 'em up on whole wheat buns and me-oh-my, they were mighty tasty (and not too unhealthy). I threw a garden salad together and made some Yukon gold oven fries with olive oil and sea salt to make it a real burger and fry experience but without most of the guilt.

(image via)

Spaces to Inspire: The Glorious Kitchen

2011-06-27T08:58:00.000-06:00

(1-3 via, 4-7 via)

Things are moving along nicely with the home we're hoping to purchase. There were a few major issues discovered during our inspection on Saturday, but we are optimistic that they will be resolved and we're hoping to close around the end of July! Yippee!

So my mind is whirling with ideas about the kitchen, which will be the first space we tackle, should everything go well. In the taste department, I generally land between a cottage-y country/vintage aesthetic - lots of natural light with soft and neutral colors, farm sink, clean cabinet profiles but not too mod, perhaps some bead board or subway tile with pops of color... Number 7 makes my heart swoon and I love the cheerfulness of number 2.

Where do you turn for kitchen inspiration? I'm compiling ideas, so if you have any favorite resources, do tell!

Out With the Old (and in with just a little new....)

2011-06-24T12:06:00.003-06:00

Revealing the inside of my bathroom cabinet (or any cabinet for that matter) is not typical for me on this blog. It borders on the overly personal and possibly gross. But! Last week I blogged about how, as we get ready to move, I wanted to get more organized and throw things away (see blog post here). And I quote: "Today I'm going to tackle the cabinet under the sink in our bathroom. Wish me luck." And so I did. It may not look that much better to you (I did apply a filter to soften the undeniable ugliness of the photos in general) but you have no idea how happy I feel when I open the cabinet door and see my lotions, potions and scrubs standing all nicely in a plastic tray or my a-hem, feminine products looking sort of cute in a surprising way in a glass jar... I remembered that I had a whole bag of metal pails I used for flower arrangements in the basement and they just happened to be the right size and shape to use for excess make up and q-tips.

I also managed to take a whole trash bag full or old clothes, belts, dresses, etc to the Good Will yesterday along with a couple of purses and some other junk. Talk about a pick me up!

On the reverse side of things (and maybe because I managed to get rid of so much stuff this week), I had to sneak over to an estate sale this morning. I already confessed to the husband. Went for costume jewelry, left with two vintage hat boxes (great for storage!) a funky, retro table cloth, 4 pale green snack trays with magnolias painted on them and a bulletin board, all for about $15 bucks...

Now I have to go get rid of more stuff to make up for it or all my hard work is immediately cancelled out by my inability to ignore said estate sale. It's a vicious cycle I tell you....

Happy Weekend friends (and I beseech you - get rid of the clutter and junk you don't want for truly lovely things that will add some joy to your spaces. It does the heart good!)

2011-06-22T13:13:00.000-06:00

Is anyone else having trouble with blogger today? Loading pictures was virtually impossible...

I wanted to post a bit of summer inspiration from my shop hours ago when I was feeling motivated... Anyway, here you have some bright and cheerful accessories that are all 20% off! That's right, I'm still running the 20% off sale so get it while they gettin's good. Check out my shop for all the details!

And now for the house update: On Monday,we put an offer in on a place we found over the weekend and within hours, it had been accepted! Hooray! This is a much different experience than last time when we waited nearly 10 days only to get a "no." Inspections are set for this weekend and if all goes according to plan, we should be able to close by the end of July! The house is a dandy of a starter home for us and Ike and I are pretty darn excited!

Weekend Recap

2011-06-20T11:09:00.001-06:00

It was a beautiful weekend in our neck of woods. Breezy and warm but not too hot. Just the way we like it.

We went out for Thai (a new place we'd never been) on Friday night and had some really tasty (and tightly rolled-hate it when they fall apart mid bite) spring rolls that were mighty fresh and basil-y. I had the best green curry but poor Ike had less success with the Jungle Curry. The flavor was delish, but the spice factor was off the charts. Guess the name should have tipped us off...

After house hunting on Saturday (I think we might have found something!) we took in some sun at a near by park. He read a book while I paged through, what else, but old issues of Domino. Gotta keep the creative ideas coming - especially since we've decided to go for round two and put an offer in on a 1970s ranch we found. It's actually kind of cute but knocking down a wall or two will make it even better... More to come on that!

Also, I feel compelled to share with you this treasury that I made Saturday night inspired by Betty Draper from Mad Men. Mainly I'm posting it because I spent a ridiculous amount of time putting it together and posting it doesn't make me feel so bad for wasting all that time...

How was your weekend? Did you get to laze about at the park too?

Friday DeClutter: Everything Must Go!

2011-06-17T10:37:00.001-06:00

As much as I love to estate sale on Fridays, and thrift and garage sale every other day, the possibility of a move in my future (and the need to save moolah too) demands that I kick the habit (for a little while anyway) and get rid of the junk, the stuff, the clutter!

I can't seem to get a grip on my crafting loft. The mounds of fabric swatches, hem tape, receipts, beads. Argh! I'm such a messy crafter. Nor can I face the mess that is my closet. There's a big box in there that I haven't opened to two years. I don't even know what's in there. Yikes. So, instead of hauling home stuff on Fridays, Friday will become a declutter day where hopefully, I can tackle small sections of our abode one cupboard at a time...

(via)

Images like this inspire me to get organized!

(via)

What a pick-me-up it would be every time you open up this neat little suitcase...

(via)

A truly organized and user-friendly (not to mention glamorous!) closest. Swoon.

If you find yourself swimming in clutter, join in the fun and lets clear the crap together! What'd ya say?

Today I'm going to tackle the cabinet under the sink in our bathroom. Wish me luck.

(and a happy clutter-free weekend to you!)

Etsy Love: Trisha Brink Design

2011-06-16T10:16:00.000-06:00

Just thought I'd share some gorgeousness from Trisha Brink Design, another talented artist found via Etsy.

Her color palette is right up my ally. Aquas, greens, deep pinks... yup.

How pretty would this photo be in a glossy gray frame hanging near a dressing table? Wish I had a dressing table come to think of it... I need to get on that...

In addition to the dressing table, add a really chipped metal mail box to the wish list - one spilling with garden roses preferably...

Hope your day is lovely

Fern & Flora Wednesday: For the Bride and Beyond

2011-06-15T10:53:00.000-06:00

I've been in a nice crafting groove lately. Bullet (my imaginary crafting pony who I reference when I need to "saddle up and get to work") and I have been spending some quality time together (that, and I've been catching up on The Bachelorette via Hulu whilst I craft. SUCH a guilty pleasure. I can't believe I'm even telling you now) and I'm getting lots done actually. It also helps that Ike (a.k.a. the mister) has helped me set some crafting goals and is holding me to them.

So I've been adding some bridal pieces to the mix as well as pieces for every day like the gray rosettes on the top left. What's not to love about gray rosettes? Wear 'em day in and day out, year round, here and there...

And have I mentioned I love a nice custom order? Friends getting married? Need something snazzy to finish out your ensemble? Email me (see email addy on side bar) or contact me through my Etsy shop. I'd love to help a sister out!

Tasty Tuesday: Butter Blossoms

2011-06-14T09:09:00.000-06:00

Why I'm blogging about butter cookies when my to-do list is a mile long today is well... actually no surprise.

I can't help it. I found this shop while doing what I do best and with utter faithfulness (browsing Etsy shops) last night and wanted to share the lovely photos and yummy sounding flavors with you.

It was this image of the zesty pink grapefruit ginger cookie that pulled me in first...

How pretty are these for a summer garden party?

They even have father's day offerings that come in manly packaging.

Check out all the tasty treats from Butter Blossoms right here.

The Search Continues...

2011-06-13T07:00:00.000-06:00

(via)

Hello friends. Been busy 'round these parts. My other job (that usually doesn't provide many hours) kept me busy last week, thus preventing me from updating you on the house situation. Really, there's not much to say except that our offer wasn't accepted on that cute two story with the wood floors and fire place... Wah wah. We found out via email Thursday night. I felt sort of disappointed about it, but then again, I wasn't letting myself think too much about it so as not to have my house hopes completely dashed. The mister didn't seem too distraught. I think his exact words were "well ok."

And so we keep looking! We went out Saturday for another round and didn't find much. On the bright side, the longer we stay in our current place, the longer I don't have to go through closets and cupboards and begin to pack up all of our crap! I love the idea of having a really real home of our own, where we can paint and knock down walls and make permanent changes and do all that sort of stuff without having to ask permission, but the thought of physically moving makes me sort of ill. I suppose the longer I have to prepare myself for it, the better....

So that's my news. What's yours?

I like this: Foxglove

2011-06-08T11:51:00.000-06:00

Ever since I happened across these glorious Foxglove plants at Albertson's grocery store (of all places -who knew Albertson's was carrying high quality affordable perennials?!), I've been thinking about gardening and how much fun it will be to have a back yard where I can create some perennial beds. My mom and I used to work together to beautify my parents' flower beds back home but it's been a while - too long actually, since I've done any planting of my own and if the house we're hoping to purchase, becomes a reality, you'll know where to find me...

Anyway, Foxglove has been a favorite cottage garden flower of mine ever since I got into English gardens, back when I was about 15 thanks to movies like Emma (the one with Gwyneth Paltrow, where Mrs. Bates has a lovely garden outside her humble cottage), magazines like Victoria (Remember that one? I think it's back in publication now actually... ) and my late, great Uncle Steve.

Here's some foxglove inspiration for you:

via

Do you have a favorite garden flower at the moment?

Still Waiting...

2011-06-06T21:00:00.000-06:00

No word on the house situation as of yet. Tomorrow it will be one week since we put in our offer. Come on bank people! I'd like to get the party started or just move on...

In the mean time, I'm trying not to think too much about it. Limit the scheming. Limit the dreaming. Don't want to be too sad when it doesn't pan out. I have however, been thinking about jazzing up a home in general and have to turned to, what else, but old Domino (sniff) magazines. There's so much inspiration to be found..

If and when we get into a house of our own, you better believe I'll be paging my way through all the old splendid issues from Dominos of yesteryear for inspiration. Stay tuned!

Food Glorious (Summertime) Food

2011-06-03T07:00:00.001-06:00

via

So the days are getting hotter around here (and pretty much every where else in the northern hemisphere, I suspect) but that's okay because it means we can grill out lots and lots and eat on the patio under our big umbrella, which I love. I'm just really stoked for summer time eats people! The berries! The melons! The tomatoes! The corn on the cob! Bring it on...

via

Happy noshing this weekend friends!

Etsy Love: No Place Like Home

2011-06-02T10:28:00.000-06:00

I've got houses and homes and place to live on the brain. I've mentioned here and there that we've been on the hunt for a home to buy for a while now. Well... we found one that met all the criteria in terms of location, potential cuteness, adequate space, neighborhood, back yard, (and it has a fireplace!). It also happens to be close to my favorite grocery store and a thrift store (which has become almost a necessity and not just a desire - what can I say?). So, we put in an offer on Tuesday! Yep. That's right. However, we're not the only ones who liked this place, so we're competing with a few other potential buyers. I'm not getting my hopes up. I'm planning on it not working out. Not trying to be a Negative Nancy - just a realist. But if it does, well that would really be nice! I will keep you posted friends....

In the mean time, look at all this cute house-y stuff:

Fern & Flora Wednesday

2011-06-01T09:46:00.000-06:00

It's June 1st, thus wedding season is upon us! Hooray for love!

Fern & Flora is celebrating by offering 20% off any purchases in my boutique now through Friday and there's lots of bridally gorgeousness from which to choose. Just enter the coupon code MARRYME to take advantage of the discount. Lots of new items are being added daily, so hop on over and take a looksie!

Spaces to Inspire: My Friend Kayla's Abode

2011-05-31T13:47:00.002-06:00

Hello! Did you have a nice, relaxing weekend? We spent Memorial Day evening at our friends Kayla and Ryan's place. We grilled, played yard games and make homemade ice cream from Kayla's super cute duck egg blue vintage ice cream maker. Good times.

Kayla is a teacher by day and a "Jill of all trades" (as our mutual friend Amanda calls her) by night.

She (as I'm realizing the more time I spend at her adorable house) has quite the eye for organizing lovely objects and making pretty much any space functional and cute, cute, cute, as the board above can testify.

For more cuteness from Kayla check out her blog and her etsy shop!

In My Future

2011-05-27T11:04:00.000-06:00

With few holiday weekend plans (yee haw!) here's what I predict will be taking place:

there shall be sleeping in...

there shall be cups of strong french press coffee with the mister...

there shall be house hunting (I'm feeling optimistic this time)...

there shall be grilling and eating of turkey burgers with yogurt sauce and feta.

And probably some afternoon naps and movie watching and probably some crafting too.

What weekend delights are in your future?

(images via here)

Fern & Flora Goodies and A Gorgeous Photo Shoot

2011-05-26T10:33:00.001-06:00

I've got the blues somethin' terrible. Can't seem to shake it. I'm always drawn to shades of robin's egg, teal, etc. and if you ever stopped by for a visit, you would see the same hues all around my house. If you've got a hankerin for a blue fix, check out all the new shades in my shop. The gold and blue clutch is fresh as of today.

In unrelated (but equally fabulous) news, I just saw some completely lovely photos from a shoot my friend Kayla and her mister Ryan participated in recently and they were too gorgeous not to share. The brilliant eye behind the camera is Minnesota photographer Kate Botwinski. Take a gander of them frolicking in the fields of Colorado with their vintage cameras right here.

Lovely is the Rose

2011-05-25T10:55:00.000-06:00

We're back from another trip home and for now, all of our bright and brilliant siblings have graduated, much to our joy and pride. Next spring, we'll have a bachelor degree, masters degree and Ph.D to celebrate but in the mean time, it's good to be home and with the arrival of Memorial Day and therefore the sort of unofficial beginning of summer, I'm thinking about green and growing things - like the splendid garden rose.

Garden roses are larger and more ruffly and organic looking when compared to the traditional hybrid that many florist use. That's probably why they're more pricey too. I'd love to plant some ramblers or climbers when we get a house and yard of our own and fill the house with them all summer long. Until then, I'm getting my garden rose fix from the little porcelain cups (above) that I found at a local antique shop a few years ago and Tokyo Milk's Gin & Rosewater candle.

On a side note, if you're not familiar with Tokyo Milk, you should be! Beautiful packaging, gorgeous scents and products ranging from body lotions and candles to stationery and perfume, Tokyo Milk is based right here in Colorado and is a sister company to Lollia (sold at Anthropologie) and Love and Toast, whose roller perfumes (I'm in love with the Clementine Crush) are perfect for carrying around in your purse and applying at will when you need a little refresh.

Hope you're having a lovely week friends.

Don't Miss This Giveaway!

2011-05-21T09:34:00.000-06:00

The fabulous Kara over at Kara Rosenberry Company is giving away FOUR PACKAGES (one package of each design shown above!) of her incredibly sweet vintage photo line to a lucky winner! So don't delay! Enter right here.

Good Things

2011-05-20T09:59:00.001-06:00

Gray and green together is a mighty good thing.

Getting to see these guys in concert tomorrow night (woot woot!) - also really, really good.

It looks the sun might actually be trying to shine a little today! (Better than good. I'm becoming vitamin D deficient)

Hopping on the next plane home (or cluster of balloons as the case may be) with the mister to celebrate another joyous graduation.

(Way to go Jesse!)

Getting almost completely caught up on Mad Men and realizing that it just keeps getting better and better.

The luxury of blogging in my robe at a few minutes to 10 and with no where to go or deadlines to hit, might be the goodliest thing of all.

Hope your day is full of good things too.

Etsy Love and Where The Heck Is The Sun?!

2011-05-19T09:07:00.001-06:00

Here's hoping that Little Orphan Annie is right! If I don't get some blue skies, and I mean right now, I will be forced to get on Etsy and engage in some major shopping therapy. We've had 1 day of sun in the last 9 days in my neck of the woods and it's beginning to wear on me. So here are my picks to help turn my emotional gray skies into blue:

2.Siiso

4. Mireio

Fern & Flora Wednesday and Giveaway Winner!

2011-05-18T10:53:00.000-06:00

Just in time for the lucky giveaway winner are new spring and summer-ish accessories just added to my Etsy shop!

Speaking of which...

Congrats Teri! I will be in touch!

Wanted: A space to inspire

2011-05-16T10:03:00.001-06:00

It's Monday and sometimes on Mondays I like to share spaces that inspire me. But for today, I'd thought I'd blog a bit about our search to find our own space. The mister and I have been house hunting for a several weeks now (not with reckless abandon, but as we have time) and I'm thinking it might help to narrow the search a bit, like maybe just decide on some sort of pink cottage-y looking thing or nothing at all. I feel the need to shake things up a bit because at this point, I'm starting to feel like if you've seen one 1960's ranch on the west side of the city, you've seen them all. Ya know? Perhaps if I set a few more perimeters, it would help the situation.

I don't want to sound like a party pooper - and I do think of myself as someone who can see potential in things that may not look that appealing... but let me tell ya, wine taste on a beer budget just stinks. It doesn't matter if you're looking for a new pair of shoes or a place to live.

On the brighter side, we have a very smart and capable realtor and the husband isn't feeling as pessimistic as I am currently, so upward and onward! We resume the hunt on Wednesday and I will keep you posted.

Ta ta for now and don't forget to enter my giveaway for a $30 shop credit to Fern & Flora's etsy shop.

See Friday's post for all the details!

(p.s. all photos via here)

Fern & Flora Friday and Giveaway!

2011-05-13T12:51:00.000-06:00

My goodness. It's Friday, isn't it? I've been chained to my desk for the last few days working on a custom order for a local wedding. The bride was a real sweet heart - nice to work with, quick to respond to messages - my favorite kind of bride. She gave me a pretty white sash covered with fabric flowers from her mom's wedding dress from back in the day to incorporate into the pieces. I'm such a sentimental fool, so I especially loved that part of the project...

So in honor of the fact that it's the weekend and I actually foresee some R&R in my future, let's do a giveaway!

To enter, take a looksie at my shop and comment on what little item you'd like to make your own if you win.

Let me know you're a follower for an additional entry and of course you're more than welcome to re blog, tweet or Facebook this giveaway too! Just leave a comment with the link for additional entries.

The winner will be announced next Wednesday, May 18th.

Have a lovely weekend and good luck!

Zoom, Zoom: A Wild Weekend Recap

2011-05-10T10:08:00.001-06:00

We're back home from a whirlwind weekend. This was one of those times when cloning myself would have been so handy so I could have been at both the Horseshoe Market and back home for two family graduation celebrations simultaneously (not really though, cause cloning is creepy, but you get the idea). Family does indeed come first, so the mister and I left for home on Thursday and spent the weekend feeling rather proud of our brother Levi and sister Kelly.

Hooray Levi! This guy got his architectural engineering degree and is just months away from becoming a married man! He's having a pretty good year, I'd say.

My sis Kelly (isn't she pretty?) got her degree this weekend too. She worked full-time while finishing her degree in psychology. Not easy. I'm so proud of you.

There was also lots of quality play time with my sweet little nephews.

There was pie, pie and more pie too. My family's life-long friend has wicked baking skills and brought her famous Kiwi Summer Limeade Pie to my sister's graduation party. (It really is famous! She won a competition hosted by Midwest Living Magazine! Congrats Susie!)

Mean while, back at the Horseshoe Market (cue cowboy music), Kara and my friend Emily were setting up our tent, working the market, and texting me updates throughout the day. They really did a splendid job! Take a look....

And check out these lovely photos of the market by Rachel Grace Photography. I love the snap she took of my blue and green headbands. Thank you Rachel!

Phew. Good times but I'm feeling tired just thinking about it all!

And how was your weekend? Please do share!

Fabulous Horseshoe Market This Weekend!!

2011-05-05T11:40:00.000-06:00

Sorry I've been MIA this week. Between prepping for the market, working my other job, celebrating the mister's birthday (Happy B-Day Ike!) and getting ready to leave town, I have looked (and felt) like a chicken with my head cut off - running around all crazy and wild.

If you're in our neck of the woods this Saturday, you're not going to want to miss the fabulous Horseshoe Market!

I'm sure most of you dear readers are sick to death of my constant promotion of the market, but it really is adorable and fun and full of great finds including handmade, vintage and antiques. Plus, word on the street is that Food Network's show The Great Food Truck Race is making a stop in Denver this weekend to film and one of the trucks will be parked at the Horseshoe Market! How cool is that? So if you're not into the market, at least come for the food!

(p.s. I won't actually be at the market due to a trip home to celebrate two family college graduations (woot woot!) but tons of new Fern & Flora goodies will be there along with Kara from Kara Rosenberry Co and my friend Emily (if I can't be there, at least I found another Emily to fill in!). These women are friendly, stylish and fun to talk to, so stop on by and say hello.

Royal Tea Party Recap!

2011-05-02T11:39:00.000-06:00

Hello! Did you have a nice weekend? What did you do? Did you take in the glorious pomp and circumstance of William and Kate's wedding??

I hosted a royal wedding tea party on Saturday and it was a hoot! I really do have such a lovely group of friends. Everyone came in their best form, with pretty spring outfits and homemade goodies and we sipped and gabbed while taking in the royal wedding.

There was chicken salad on croissants, herbed goat cheese and cucumber sandwiches, homemade blueberry scones (thanks Suz!), homemade lemon bars (still warm upon arrival! - Thanks Em!), fresh strawberries, lemon curd, beautiful spritz cookies (by the Spritz Cookie Goddess, Kayla), etc. etc. Even baby Rocco (with his dreamy blue eyes- see above) came out to celebrate.

Thanks friends for really getting into the spirit of things!

Pip Pip Cheerio!

Friday Finds

2011-04-29T12:08:00.002-06:00

Today's finds were all about the pinks, peaches, silvers and greens! It's strange how I seem to colorize as I shop, like I put a palette together without meaning to... strange. What does this mean?

I did it again here...

And here...

Curious..

Anyway! Today's goodies will be excellent additions to the sea foam, robin's egg and grass green section at the upcoming market! I was thrilled to find some fabric remnants in that lovely limey chartreuse hue! I'm dying to make some hair pieces in that color. I was also happy to snap up an adorable vintage Junior Miss thermos. So stinking cute. And what about that mossy green Mad Men-esque serving bowl with the gold accents? Betty Draper's got nothin' on me. As mentioned, it will all be for sale at the Horseshoe Market, so if you see something you'd like, stop by the market next Saturday from 9 - 4!

Happy Weekend Friends!

Etsy Love: Royal Wedding Goodies

2011-04-28T12:21:00.000-06:00

Can you believe the royal wedding frenzy going on right now?! I sort of love it and sort of hate it. I'm still on the fence actually. It's just a wedding. There are so many other more important things going on in the world that are more deserving of our time and attention. It's all a bit nauseating.

Despite my (sometimes) skeptical attitude, I will DVR the wedding and watch with friends on Saturday! I sound like a hypocrite. But what do you expect? I am a floral designer and am a reader of wedding blogs, magazines and a lover of good wedding design - so I have to watch. Gotta see Kate's dress and the flowers and why not have some tea and cucumber sandwiches while I watch?

Of course Etsy has the royal wedding covered. From totes and invites to tea pots and jewelry...

Fern & Flora Wednesday: Market Season!

2011-04-27T12:42:00.000-06:00

Holy crafting deadline Batman! The first handmade market of the season is a mere week and a half away!

How is that possible!?

Although there's plenty of work still to be done, I'm making headway. Feeling a bit under the weather and having the mister out of town for work (both things I'm not fond of) has given me lots of sofa time this week. Combine hours of Bravo and hours with my scissors and fabrics and what do you get? Surprising productivity!

For local folks, you'll most certainly want to check out the upcoming Horseshoe Market. It's gonna be fabulous!

Check out the lovely Horseshoe website for more info.

Easter At Our Place

2011-04-25T10:52:00.000-06:00

It's becoming a bit of a tradition for the mister and me to host a small and lovely group of friends for Easter brunch.

None of us (with the exception of a few) are Colorado natives, thus we are not with our extended families on some holidays.

We gathered after church and everyone brought something yummy to the table. There was a dreamy sweet potato dish, balsamic berry salad, ham and egg souffle, blueberry cinnamon bread, honey ricotta turnovers, peppery brown sugar bacon, (ignore the tacky bacon serving plates with napkins underneath!) roasted garlic asparagus and pineapple mimosas. Hooray for brunch.

We began by reading an Easter reflection by C.S. Lewis and finished the afternoon by continuing a tradition my mom started with my family long ago: resurrection eggs, which is sort of a kid oriented way to tell the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus. We were kid-less yesterday, but the tradition lives on.

What about you? How did you celebrate the day?

Good Friday Thoughts

2011-04-22T08:42:00.000-06:00

May you have a contemplative Good Friday and a joyful Easter Sunday.

Fern & Flora Wednesday: Here Comes the Bride

2011-04-20T15:17:00.000-06:00

Wedding bells are ringing far and wide and I've been crafting up a storm working on custom orders for several brides. Thought I would share an image or two my latest creations...

I love how so often the brides I've been lucky enough to create for want something different and whimsical. The Swiss dot flowers on the right were created to match the bride's dress. How nifty is that? A bride getting married in a Swiss dot gown - well I'll be. I also added a dash of gold vintage jewelry since she was making her own vintage jewelry bouquet....

Hooray for love and brides and spring time weddings.

Tasty Tuesday: Easter Delights

2011-04-19T11:10:00.000-06:00

Goodness me. I'm drooling all over the place this morning as I try to plan out a menu for Easter Sunday lunch.

Martha, Martha, you've really got a good thing goin'.

How does brioche french toast with asparagus and orange beurre blanc sound to you?

Marmalade glazed ham with sherry and lemon looks pretty darn amazing.

Three cheers for twice baked potatoes with Greek yogurt!

Look at this gorgeous baby lettuce, grape fruit and avocado salad with a papaya citrus vinaigrette.

And my personal favorite: honey ricotta turnovers. Have mercy.

What are your Easter plans? Are you working up a splendid menu? I'm looking for a fabulous egg casserole, so if you have one you like, please do tell!

(All recipes and images via Martha Stewart)

Monday Funkiness

2011-04-18T11:57:00.002-06:00

(image via here)

Hello. How is everyone today? Me? Well, you can probably guess. I've had a funky tummy/woozy head since yesterday afternoon followed by a lousy night of sleep. Maybe I ate something weird or just have a bit of the crud. It appears to be going around. So that's nice.

In other news, it's a warm balmy day and despite my general blahness, I got a custom Etsy order finished, so the day hasn't been a complete waste thus far.

Also, on a completely unrelated note, everyone is having babies right now! Have you noticed this as well? My goodness. There are cute babies being born everywhere I look and many more buns in their respective ovens. Our church has become a cute baby mecca and everyone in blog land appears to be expecting or has just had a munchkin.

So, in an effort to drive away the Monday funkiness and in honor of all the lovely little babies, here's a video that always makes me laugh out loud:

Let's colorize, shall we?

2011-04-15T09:04:00.000-06:00

Hello! How has the week been for you? How is it Friday?

Time is ticking down to the upcoming Horseshoe Market that Fern & Flora will be participating in along with Kara Rosenberry Company and there's plenty to do! Over hills, over dales, we have been gathering up all sorts of lovely vintage treasures (see previous Friday Finds posts) to sell along with our hand created items.

The plan for the spring show is to colorize! There will be the table with the greens and blues and sea foamy in-between colors and then some reds and pinks and peaches (see items above!). It's going to be fun to create and hopefully fun to shop! Come by May 7th from 9 - 4 and visit us!

Speaking of color, and namely the color red, I have to give a shout out to my Alma mater The University of Nebraska where tomorrow, the annual Nebraska Red-White Spring Game will be played by the Corn Huskers. It's a beloved tradition and a hoot to attend. We wish we could be there, don't we aunt Kaybe?

Happy Weekend-ing Friends and...

If You're in the Neighborhood...

2011-04-12T11:08:00.001-06:00

Are you free Thursday evening? Yes? Splendid. Then stop by Sip Wine for a tasting and raise a glass for Love146. Even better, 15% of all proceeds from the evening will go back to Love146, a non profit organization that works to raise awareness, educate on prevention and provide after care on this issue of child sex trafficking.

Did you know that two children are sold into slavery of some kind every 60 seconds? Over 100,000 children in the U.S. are forcefully engaged in prostitution or pornography each each year. If you feel compelled to get involved, check out the Love146 website and then come join us Thursday night and meet some people in our area who are working to end child sex trafficking.

Monday Inspiration: Creation Song

2011-04-11T10:19:00.001-06:00

....thinking of my grandpa Ray today. We miss you gramps.

(images via here)

Friday Finds: Some for Selling, Some for Keeping

2011-04-08T12:09:00.000-06:00

This is the question!

All the goodies I've acquired over the last few months have been mostly purchased with the intent to sell, at least this is what I tell myself and my mister. "More glasses?" he'll ask as I wash a batch of punch cups and place them on the hutch."No, no, honey. These are to sell at the market" I say reassuringly. Here's the thing though, I really like the trays, tins, pictures, plates and other wares I've brought home. I'm getting a bit attached I'm afraid. Today's finds were no exception. I mean, check out that groovy retro coffee pot. I should really keep that, right? That pretty linen table runner would make a great addition to the items I'm gathering for the fall market, but would also look quite pretty on my table. It's a real problem, I tell you.

Thankfully, the Horseshoe Market is still a month away and I don't have to decide just yet...

Happy Weekending to you and yours!

Etsy Love: Signs of Spring

2011-04-07T10:14:00.000-06:00

New Fashioned Whispers

Fern & Flora Wednesday: Something fresh for a change

2011-04-06T09:51:00.002-06:00

My dear aunt who lives about an hour down the road enlisted my help in creating a few arrangements for her friend from work who was getting married. I've been so wrapped up in my handmade stuff lately that it was welcome change to arrange something other than fabric.

I'm always amazed how, even on a small budget, it's still possible to add interest and texture. Queen Anne's Lace and seeded eucalyptus really can work wonders!

What about you? What sort of creative diversions do you seek to break the monotony of whatever it is you normally do?

Tasty Tuesday: Mojitos in April? Yes Please

2011-04-05T08:44:00.000-06:00

(images via here)

It's not even Easter, yet I seem to have a hankerin for fresh, minty mojitos. Last summer, I grew mint in my window box mainly so I could pluck a few sprigs easily when the thought of a mojito was too good to pass up. I'm not much of a drinker, honestly, but if there's one cocktail that makes me grateful for rum, this would be it.

Here's a tasty mojito recipe from the Bride & Groom First and Forever cookbook that's gotten rave reviews from some of our friends. Enjoy (even if it is only barely spring!)

Spaces to Inspire: A California Bungalow

2011-04-04T09:23:00.001-06:00

Hello friends! How was the weekend? Saturday it was 82 in my neck of the woods.

Sunday it was 32 and snowing. Ah spring - so unpredictable.

I thought I would share another cozy and interesting space with you this Monday.

This bungalow is the home of husband and wife artists who own the charming paper goods company Dear Hancock.

I like the rustic wood with the molded chairs and the sparkly chandelier.

The couple decided to give up their dining room space and create a work space instead.

They paint together, desk to desk in the evenings. Makes me think of that song Frank Sinatra sang:

"..And I seem to find the happiness I seek, when we're out together dancing cheek to cheek" (or painting desk to desk).

( images via designsponge, photos by Stephen Chiu)

Friday Finds: Tins Glorious Tins

2011-04-01T13:26:00.002-06:00

Another successful morning of rummaging and treasure hunting is in the books.

My pal Kara and I used to hit 'em up almost every week when her work schedule was different, but today's estate sale looked too tempting to pass up, so she took off the morning and it just was like old times.

I'm collecting vintage tins and I spotted several sweet ones that I snapped up for $1 each. Yes!

Picked up some vintage beads for summer necklaces as well a little robin's egg ceramic bowl and a quite nice muted street scene painting of somewhere in France I think. To top off the morning, we enjoyed sweet and savory crepes with french press and productive conversation. And a good time was had by all.

Have a lovely spring weekend.

xo friends.

Local Event Reminder! Support Love146!

2011-03-31T09:28:00.000-06:00

This is incredibly last minute, but if you're in the Denver area tonight and want to enjoy a night of great music and support a most worthy cause, come join us for Let Kids Be Kids, a benefit concert to support the work of Love146.

Love146 is a non-profit organization that works to combat child sex trafficking around the world. The cost is $10 at the door. Bring a friend and join us!

Fern & Flora Wednesday: Packages to Post

2011-03-30T09:45:00.000-06:00

I have to admit, sales have been a tad slow in my little shop as of late. It's hard to not feel discouraged sometimes, you know? Just when I feel like throwing in the towel (which I won't really do) there's a little flurry of activity. Yesterday I wrapped up and mailed a custom bridal piece for a sweet bride in Iowa and then shipped off two international orders - one to Ireland and one to Australia. For some reason, international sales always give me a thrill and that extra boost to keep on keeping on.

Hopefully, Fern & Flora will grow and flourish to the point where my car looks like this when I have to make a trip to the post office. (isn't this photo fabulous?)

Getting little packages in the mail is one of the simplest pleasures in life, I think.