the haystack needle

scrapbook inspiration

More than a year out from our wedding, I still haven't finished my scrapbook and I have a box piled high with little bits of precious somethings that need to find a place on its pages. But I'm getting there. Today on Oh So Beautiful Paper, I'm sharing a peek at my wedding scrapbook-in-progress along with a Polaroid photo album that I recently pulled together for my friends Ali and Kevin (remember their Cayman Islands wedding?). 

 

In case if you missed yesterday, I shared my lobster bake invitations over on Oh So Beautiful Paper.

And I thought I'd share this photo that was a big inspiration for the look I'm going for in my scrapbook. I spied a snip of this amazing scrapbook by Kelly on SeeSaw Designs.

 

Have a fun weekend! I'll be checking out the New York Gift Show — can't wait to see all the new finds coming out for spring!

(top three photographs by Charlotte Jenks Lewis, last photograph by Kelly)

hable construction + pattern

 

If I had to choose only one pattern to live with for the rest of my days, I would get by just fine with the beads pattern by Hable Construction. It's one of their classics, and I know I'll never tire of seeing it, in all variations. I have a couple pillows and storage boxes in the beads pattern — hoping to one day have a piece of furniture upholstered in that Hable fabric. What I love about this pattern: it's not too loud, too girly, too dominating, too modern, too trendy, too formal, or too hard to coordinate — it's just right, with its own sensible Hable style. (shown: laptop bag, horseshoe, storage boxes, storage bushel, heart sachets, sunhat)

If I had a backyard, you can bet I would be plotting to make a tent out of Hable Construction's bead pattern. (shown: fabric frame, cosmetic pouch)

And look what I found on the Hable Construction Facebook page — car seats! Dan and I have added a used car to our wishlist for 2010 (would love some wheels to be able to roadtrip.) Actually, I really want an old turquoise pick-up truck, but that's gotten the veto. How fun would it be to have custom Hable Construction car seats! 

{photographs: Rinne Allen for Hable Construction, Lena Corwin, Rinne Allen for Hable Construction, Hable Construction Facebook page}

save-the-dates

Today, my guest post on Oh So Beautiful Paper is all about our save-the-dates and the lovely Maine loon (that's not a duck!). Stop on by if you'd like a peek.

{photograph by Charlotte Jenks Lewis}

re.knit

 

Last night I met up with my amazing friend Sara for a long overdue dinner, and as we were walking to the subway together, the topic of organizing closets came up. Sara shared that she's weeded through her closet (gold star for Sara) and is sending an old sweater (she no longer wears) to Re.knit to be turned into a scarf. Wait, there's an alternative to giving away old sweaters to Goodwill! Have you heard of this? I hadn't — and it's such a cool concept. Every month the Re.knit project changes, and this month it's a scarf. (You can vote on what you'd like them to do next month.) There are two scarf styles to choose from, and it costs $30. If you have a solid color sweater, they'll add in a complementing color for your striped scarf. I love this idea — recycling at its best. I definitely have a few sweaters that are stretched out, worn with a hole or two, or hopelessly outdated (I spotted a cropped sweater the other day circa the '90s.) What a fantastic way to get something new out of something old. I'm inspired to go hunting through my drawers for an old sweater to send off. (thanks, Sara!)

knack furniture

 

I have a bad habit of occasionally breaking into conversation with a random thought, forgetting to give any kind of context as to what my mind is spinning about at that moment. Poor Dan is usually the recipient of these proclamations. The other day it was about furniture on wheels, preferably little vintage wheels. I decided that all our furniture, going forward, should be on wheels. Or at least I will be daydreaming about vintage furniture on wheels for a while. When you live in a small square footage space, it makes it so much easier to double-duty your furniture — like turn your kitchen bench into your living room ottoman for TV snacks (yes, please) — if you can roll it. And cleaning is so much easier — the dust bunnies cannot hide under rolling objects. So far, we have one vintage dresser and a shoe trolley (and the garment rack in our closet.) If we had space, I'd really love to adopt one of these treasures from Knack. Isn't the armoire fantastic? Love those mirror doors.

And today I woke up with this peaceful sense of quiet. I hope it's the quiet before the start of a good day.

{photographs via knack, and check out the studio's blog, which I follow.}

find me here: oh so beautiful paper

This week, I'm guest blogging over at one of my favorite sites, Oh So Beautiful Paper, while Nole moves into her new place (I hope she shares a sneak peek when she's settled in!). I'll be sharing details from our wedding, lobster bake, save-the-dates, and more. Stop by Oh So Beautiful Paper for today's post on wedding details that I created using rubber stamps.

{photograph by the amazing Charlotte Jenks Lewis}

five leaves

Meet my new favorite local spot for special dinners: Five Leaves. And it's not just because they have a raw oyster bar, though that delights me always. It's all the other goodness that has captured my loyalty.

+ bacon-wrapped dates (otherwise known as the way dates were intended to be eaten)

+ celery root mash (I must learn how to make!!)

+ burger topped with pickled beets, fried pineapple ring, organic sunny-up egg, and harissa mayo. Weird-sounding combo? Perhaps. But don't knock it before you've tried it. I'm telling you— so delicious! 

I also happen to adore the look of the menu. Isn't it so pretty? Even their logo goes flourish in a good way. 

Inside, the restaurant is charming and cozy. I love how the ceiling is made up of reclaimed wood planks, there are filament bulbs in the lights, and the walls have that unfinished plaster style (which I've grown to really appreciate.) And good tunes are always playing in the background. Perfect dinner date place.

 

 

Photographs by Will Femia.