Thursday, November 22, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!

I wasn't going to write anything today, because too often, Thanksgiving blog posts seem to be an excuse for people to become braggy and self righteous. This holiday should be about being grateful, but it should not be a reason to list everything you believe to be perfect in your life. At the same time, you don't want to seem ungrateful. It's a fine line. So here it is, the obligatory "what I'm thankful for" post, an honest hard look at what I'm thankful for:
My health and the health of those around me. I thank Him everyday for my family and I's health.
My family. Regardless of the fact that I am so different than most of my family members, we support each other. We may not agree on the path's each of us choose and deep down probably judge one another for them, yet in the end we are there for each other when we need be. 
My friends. New ones, and old ones. I'm lucky enough to still have friends from grade school, I don't know a lot of people that can say that. I have true friends. Friends that I might not see weekly, there may be forgotten birthdays or missed calls, but we always pick up where we left off, and I don't know what I would do without them.
My job. I'm pretty lucky in that I love what I do. I will never make a great living at this...it's just not going to happen, design is in a way an art, and we all know how much artists make, but I'm thankful that I don't have to be the breadwinner. In the same aspect, I am thankful to have a part time job outside of the design world, that not only accepts that I am trying to get a business off the ground, but encourages/supports it. I am thankful for a boss/bosses that want me to succeed, even if it's not permanently working for them. No one understands what this means to me.
My two baby boys:

These two make my heart melt. They are a part of our little family, and give me a small taste of what motherhood could be. 
and of course...last but not least, that guy up here...you know him as, Race. I am not going to pretend we have the perfect marriage, or pretend that he puts me in a pedestal while he does all the cleaning/cooking/laundry and brings me breakfast in bed. But I love him, which IS enough. He is supportive, caring,  loving, smart, funny, and what can I say he really is my best friend. He plays an equal part in our life. He will be the best father in the world and even though he is not in his dream career (he likes his job, but it's not exactly a job you dream about as a child), he still encourages for me to find mine. In fact, this whole thing was his idea.
So that's it, the obligatory Thanksgiving post...
Happy Thanksgiving all! Remember, things are never perfect, but we all have so much to be thankful for, so let's focus on that for the day!


Wednesday, November 21, 2012

A little art on those walls...

My office needed some art on it's walls...it was boring:

So I moved the "so light in this room it blended in" sunburst mirror into the living room...where I've been meaning to move it to for like 3 months and got going...I used this method and this is what I came up with:



So, where everything is from...because, I know you want to know...The gold foil is actually a wallpaper sample, and the kissing children is from allposters.com. The peacock was from an old calendar.
These three:
are my newest favorites. These postcards are each unique and are based on different patterns from different cultures (Native American, Egyptian, Tibetan). They are carved on a linoleum block or rubber block and printed by hand with printing ink. The top right one (I know it's hard to see in this picture), is an elephant, which apparently I'm obsessed with (exhibit A and B, found here and here).They are from here
The wall isn't done yet. It needs more, but I know it will evolve as I find new prints that I love. 
What about you guys? Any new holes in your walls?

Monday, November 19, 2012

Dear anthropologie...

Dear anthropologie,
A couple weeks ago my sister, mom, and I came to see you (the same shopping trip as this one). And you made me very happy, with all of the home products you had to offer.
I loved it all...and some even more than others...such as:
Your chevron frames...
I love the bright color and what a pop it would add to any bookcase/desk/table.
Your color-blocked antler curio...
Seriously, how cool are these...Sitting on top of a stack of books in a tray on a cocktail table...perfect. I will probably steal this idea from you and make my own eventually.
Your Big Sur Mirror...
At $698.00, I can't justify it, but what a cool idea!
All of your tea cups...
I have some of these, and would like more. They come in every fun color/pattern you can imagine.
Your encased elephant hook..
I actually just bought/painted one similar to you here, but still you will always hold a place in my heart...
In the same category (I apparently have a thing for elephants...Exhibit A)..
Your confectionary wool elephant...
How fun would it be to decorate a playroom around this?...Love...
Your battersea sofette...
I imagine you sitting next to a large rustic wood dining table...how comfy you'd be...don't love the $2998.00 price tag though...
In the end, Anthropologie, I do love you, and do plan to purchase many things from you for around my home...but some of your merchandise is out of my reach sadly...
XOXO,
Ashli