Rocking Chairs, Middle School, and Community

Story time... in list form.

1. during my lunch break today, I popped into Hope Thrift to peruse the merch for an upholsterable (it's my blog, I can make up words) chair.

2. I didn't buy one.  I bought three. Yay!

3. Next, I posted a picture of my cute little rocking chair shoved into my cute little Civic.

4. Immediately, my friend Jill-with-fabulous-taste texts me excitedly with inspiration pics of fun chair projects she's seen.

5. One of those (my favorite one, of course) is a mahogany rocker with THE perfect green and white fabric. I recognize it. It is MY FRIEND FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL's chair! Melissa (who Jill had never even heard of) had been featured on a design blog years ago for her lovely nursery makeover. And of the zillions of chairs posted on the world wide web, THAT is the one Jill picks for me.

6. Rewind a few years: Melissa Barrick, a talented photographer who has started her own very successful business, had sent me words of encouragement when I started this blog endeavor - despite the fact that we had lost touch over the (15!!) years since middle school.

7. I'm sorry, but THAT is neat.

Moral of the story/list?  Community championing one another, near and far, is cool.  And?  That is one awesome rocker.

  

Just Pretty.

Not one darn single thing I would change in this house.  Love it.  See more here.

Chicks in Hats

Is this not the cutest birthday note you ever did see!?

My awesome brother ordered me a fun birthday ring from the etsy seller "Chicks in Hats" (EARLY, too... go Benji!) And this note is one of the 20839564 reasons that I love Etsy. Each seller takes such pride in their products and care for their customers. Ben asked them to include a birthday note with my ring, and this is what arrived. Heart happy. Thanks brother!

Dare you to look at their online shop and not smile. From the time I arrived at their website, it took me about 2.9 seconds to go from "this is weird" to "this is the greatest thing ever I love it and look at that bonnet and oh my gosh that raccoon hat is hilarious and who are these people and can we be friends please"

I also might be under the influence of my excitement over getting to see old Wake Forest friends this weekend in Baltimore. But still. My brother and Chicks in Hats make me really happy.

Happy Friday!

Ode to Joy!

Found this project featured on Design*Sponge a few days ago. Love. This gal took a crewel that her mom created back in the 70s, a ratty old thrift store chair, and went to work! Isn't the finished piece beautiful? And I love the history behind it...what a neat conversation piece!

Sidenote: I've wanted to learn how to reupholster furniture for years now.

Enter my friend Ashton. At the age of 26 she decided she wanted to learn how to play the violin. So she asked Santa for one, and 23 days later she's texting me an audio file of herself playing Ode to Joy. As a middle school math teacher, she's been playing hooky from bus duty to sneak visits with the orchestra teacher and practice with the kids.

She has inspired me over the edge. I WILL reupholster a chair in 2013! In fact, I just watched a 15-minute youtube video of a very jolly man teaching me how to do just that (Santa?). Will my first chair be perfect? Nope. But neither was Ashton's Ode to Joy and it was the most beautiful song I've ever heard. Because she's her. Because she embraced it. And because she picked up a bow and just. started. playing.  That's some joy worth oding right there!

Art I'm Loving

Clockwise from top left: Seth Clark"Pink Window"; Jetty Kolobaric "Fenland"; TushTush "Early 80"; Gabriella Fiabane "Seal Harbor"; Lisa Golightly "Girl in a Green Suit"

No theme.  No rhyme or reason.  Just some beautiful art that strikes my fancy.  Most likely...a bunch of pieces that you love will end up looking perfect together.  Don't think too hard! 

That's my biggest pitfall in blogging, and in creating anything, really.  I shoot for perfection, overthink, and get paralyzed.  And the months and years pass me by as I forget the sheer joy of finding beautiful things and sharing them with you.

So.  Here's to thinking less in 2013! 

Just Because.

Back in November, it was such a joy to celebrate the marriage ceremony of our dear friends Marcia and Rich in Annapolis, Maryland.  Here is Marcia's bouquet I put together for the special night!  Love the autumn colors of the purple thistle and seeded eucalyptus.  Who said a fall bouquet has to be burnt orange and red? 

Thought you might like some happy color on this wintry Monday morning.  Enjoy!