whimsy & spice

I used to bake [and blog] pretty often... but lately my free time has been slim to none. Today I stumbled upon a lovely website, Whimsy & Spice, and I am smitten.

"Whimsy & Spice was founded in 2008 by the husband and wife team of Mark Sopchak and Jenna Park, who combine their skills and more than 12 years of experience in culinary arts and graphic design to produce a distinctive line of handmade sweets."

I love how amazingly styled the photographs and website are. Which I'm sure is thanks to Jenna, whom leads all of the company's branding and creative efforts. I'll have two Pumpkin Ginger Sandwich Cookies, please.

{all photos from Whimsy & Spice website}

yoran morvant

These intricate drawings on stone are made by Yoran Morvant, you can find them in the Ashes & Milk online store. I think they are just beautiful.

pattern tales by alan, the gallant

Here is another really cool pattern to enjoy this week. This one is a limited edition handmade designed wallpaper called TOPO AZUL by Barcelona-based creative studio Alan, The Gallant. You can see more patterns from the Pattern Tales series here.

gravity's rainbow

I'm really digging this print by Dan Funderburgh called 'Gravity's Rainbow'. The print is available on the I Am Still Alive website.

This pattern is especially neat because when you look up close at the details, you notice the knives, scissors, etc.

Dan has another print for sale on the same site, called 'Census' in which all proceeds will go to the Obama campaign.

{via local Jacksonville blogger, Paper and Stitch}

pretty pumpkin

Today I am really loving this photo from a pumpkin carving feature Country Living has done. The pattern on the pumpkin is cool, but it is the styling and colors of the photo that I am really drawn to. Check out some of the other pumpkin design ideas they feature here.

Oh, and here's a little tip that they suggest:

"To keep the exposed flesh fresh-looking before a party, rub a coating of Vaseline over it, then wipe it off before the event."

{via Poppytalk}

pierre andré senizergues

A few weeks ago my boyfriend sent me a link to a set of photos from the house of Etnies founder, Pierre André Senizergues. (If you are not familiar, Etnies is a shoe & apparel company primarily for skateboarders.) The photos, taken by Don Bartletti, were featured in LA Times' Home & Garden section. All the color and patterns are a little zany, but then again, I love color and patterns.

I did a little more research and I noticed that LA Times aren't the only ones that have featured Pierre André's home. In May 2007, the Orange County Register also did a feature on his design aesthetic and style; 'A House with Sole' is what they called it. In this article he sites back to his Catalan roots as influence in this space, which can be clearly seen with his choice in colors and the abundance of mosaics all over the place.

"I think design is like an art piece, and art is inspiring. It makes you think differently. Just like in Paris, when you see all the buildings lit beautifully. Visual enjoyment in life is important."

You can see more photos from Newport Beach house here.

{photos by Don Bartletti with the Los Angeles Times}

me encanta esta sala.

I sort of love that green couch... and the wallpaper panels... and the pink patterned chair.

{I saved this photo a while ago, I am pretty sure it is from the Spanish magazine micasa. If you know otherwise, feel free to leave a comment!}

change we need

Obama is coming to Jacksonville this Saturday! And I just spotted the perfect t-shirt to wear... too bad it probably won't arrive in time for the rally. Nonetheless, this is still an awesome shirt and you can buy your own right here. (and yes, a portion of the proceeds go to Obama's Presidential Campaign.)

{via joanna goddard}

If you are here locally and plan on attending the Saturday event, here are the details:

Metropolitan Park
1410 Gator Bowl Blvd.
Jacksonville, FL 32202
No bags. Limit personal items. No signs or banners allowed.

Saturday, September 20th
Doors Open: 12:30 p.m.
Program Begins: 2:30 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. Space is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are not required. However, RSVP is strongly encouraged.

the road to finding the perfect chevron.. err, ripple pattern

{Rachel Saldaña's bedroom featured on Design*Sponge}

There is something about the return of Fall TV that always makes me want to dig out my yarn and knitting needles. I would have normally said "the return of fall" but as I was about to write this post I realized this past year I haven't pick up my knitting needles once. This is probably due to the strike-inducing, terrible lack of television. Television is one of my very few vices, I love my DVR a little too much. And I will be honest, I don't really watch that much tv, I just have a few shows every season that I stay extremely dedicated to and insist on watching them from start to finish and never out of order (it's borderline OCD the order and way I watch tv). Anyway... to me, there is nothing more relaxing and rewarding than sitting down after a long day, turning on a good show and working on a great knitting project. (This makes me sound like a granny, doesn't it?)

{Rachel Saldaña's bedroom featured on Design*Sponge}

Last week I saw the beautiful home of Rachel Saldaña on Design*Sponge. The images of her bedroom in the sneak peak just stuck with me for some reason {see the two pictures above, both photos from D*S}. And then I realized what it was, I really love that blanket. I've always been partial to a chevron pattern, and I am realizing over time that (for whatever reason) I am drawn to pink/magenta shades of color. And this is how my hunt for the perfect chevron pattern began...

{above photo by Ripple-Along group member charlottelader, you can see her blog post about the blanket pictured here}

At first I tried looking for different chevron knitting patterns online, and to my dismay it appears all of the stitches I was drawn to weren't knitting patterns at all, but crochet. I currently don't know how to crochet. I've tried it a handful of times, but never really had anything pushing me to learn it. I suppose now I do!

{above photo by Ripple-Along group member Attic 24, you can see her blog post about the blanket pictured here}

After clicking through different links, and being disappointed with my finds, I somehow stumbled upon this blog post on Shelterific, which in turn took me to a Flickr group called Ripple-Along. Aha! So 'ripple' is the hip word used in the crafty community, not 'chevron' (silly, design-thinker me). I thought to myself, 'wow, this is where all those cool looking blankets are hiding' followed by a 'I should have known better to check flickr and blogs first'. Everything else I had come across was slathered in 70s vintage brown, and just wasn't the look I was going for... at all.

{pattern inspiration from this image at Pottery Barn}

But honestly, now I am even more confused. At first I thought I wanted to do a simple two-color chevron pattern, similar to something like this rug from Pottery Barn {see above}. And now that I've seen all these bright and colorful blankets from the Ripple-Along group, I am having a hard time resisting the bold beautiful explosions of color! And what-to-do? A ripple wave? Or a pointed ripple? Forget ripples, look at this astounding Tuscon crochet pattern {shown below in white}! Oh the decisions...

{Tuscon blanket made as a wedding present by the talented flickr user Pinkshoes Family}

Either way, I am looking forward to watching more Mad Men* with a new project in hand, and the hunt for some cool yarn. It never ceases to amaze me, where the blogging and flickr communities can take you. So much inspiration to be had and projects to embark on.



* Oh, how I love Mad Men! Don't get me started, I will have to save that post for another day...

john derian at target!

Oh my oh my... I am so excited, what a nice surprise to come home to! Upon peering into my new issue of domino last night I saw an ad for Target promoting a new line coming in September by John Derian! This is so great! {pardon the dodgy photo above, I just snapped a photo of it real quick on my phone to display the ad.}

I have admired John Derian for years now. In fact my first 'decor / design / inspirational' blog post I ever made was an ode to John Derian on my myspace blog (ick myspace blogs, i know). I'm not going to bother linking you to myspace, but you can see a small set on my flickr with the objects I posted about. {Btw, that was over two years ago! I can't believe how fast time flies... I quickly launched rachel best blogs with blogger very soon after. Yep, a 2 year birthday for the blog coming up in November!}

Well, this post has turned into a little trip down memory lane. Sorry about trailing off on a side tangent, John Derian sits a little close to my heart. His style is eclectic and I love that. He works in beautiful collage form and incorporates a lot of swoon-worthy pieces that mix old fashioned writing with beautiful organic forms like leaves, animals or insects (did I mention I have always had a thing for dragonflies and butterflies? ask my friends from middle school.. they will confirm).

I have long coveted one of his gorgeous pieces, but they are really out of my casual spending range. But alas! Now target is doing what it does best, making the work of amazingly talented designers affordable for people like you and me. Now I can have my very own Derian piece. This makes me truly happy. And I'm happy that more people in the world will now know of the great work John Derian makes. Thank you Target!

p.s. I can't leave this post without mentioning the lovely objects (aside from his decoupage pieces) he carries in his store. You can see them on his website too.

p.s.s. I should note that I have no idea what the pieces at Target will look like aside from the ad above, I have searched for pics to no avail. The other photos in this post are all from his website.

backyard sunday

Hope you are having a lazy, delightful sunday.



Are you possibly hanging out on some lovely patios?


Take a look at the lovely patio selections featured over on Domino Magazine's website.



Or maybe you are taking a dip in a refreshing pool?



Isn't this pool at the Jay Paley residence amazing?

{via style court and domino}

bursts of pink!

I'm loving the bursts of pink in the posts of newfound blogger, hidden in france.

Smegs are cool.

Love this vanity from Lulu Guinness's home.

{via hidden in france}

carolyn quartermaine

Like yesterday's white + color inspiration, this home of Carolyn Quartermaine is so incredible. I love the delicate balance of white and blushing pink.

Bits of modern, color and rustic.

Turquoise in the kitchen is a must.

Fresh flowers and patterned wall hangings always welcome.

Sheer romance never hurts.

{photos vogue living australia / via poppytalk}

[disclaimer: I apologize for posting this entry twice. I am out of town in Columbia, South Carolina for the weekend - helping my younger sister move into her dorm room at USC - and I had scheduled this post on Friday night, and for some reason when it went live earlier today the flickr images didn't make it. So hopefully this won't happen to the two posts I scheduled for tomorrow. In the meantime... on with the original post.]

on with the white inspiration...

I feel like this white danish home with colorful accents is everything I wish my home was. It has all the colors I love and gravitate towards, yet lots of white. Clean, very clean looking.

Like bright colors, I am gravitated towards great patterns and a strong ethnic flair.

{photos / via the style files}

pink unicorn

I think this temporary tattoo from Julia Pott is hilarious. She is quite a talented illustrator, check out the work in her portfolio on her website.

{via krisatomic}

white + detail

Lately I have been really inspired by white, especially when it includes fine detail (check out the crown molding and medallions on the ceiling)... amazing!

{via this is glamorous, photo from 2+6 - Vogue Living Australia}

something blue

I'll take one of each, thankyouverymuch.

{via The Bride's Guide}

enchanting 4,000 sf, 1910 queen anne victorian

Saw this over at design*sponge today and I think I have found my dream house in east Athens, Georgia. Let's buy it, yes?

Read more about the house here.
See the house's website here.
It is for sale here.
You can see more pictures here.

Enchanting 4,000 sf, 1910 Queen Anne Victorian that was moved to this private 5.5 acres setting and has been passionately restored by local artists over the last 20 years! Also there is a whimsical 2-story retreat/guest house nestled in the woods at the end of a path behind the main house (an additional 20 acres is available for purchase). Both houses are full of magic & artist's whimsy while still being respectful of the historical authenticity of the house. The woodwork is beautiful, heart pine floors throughout, bead board ceilings and wainscotting, detailed trim and mantels. Artist/craftsman built-in bookshelves modeled on original woodwork to create a library within the full dining room, pocket doors separating an old-fashioned parlor from the large living room and many original plumbing fixtures. Copper counters in kitchen, a 1920's vintage stove, several clawfoot tubs, beautiful tile showers (including a room sized master shower built with handmade tiles and multiple shower heads). There is a wrap-around front porch, a balcony porch and rear wrap-around deck with the main house.The guest house has a huge screened porch with Eastern European and North African style wood detailing. People have traveled from around the world to do photo-shoots on this property and with good reason! It is truly a magical setting.

{via design*sponge}

pattern by hand

oh, i really love a lot of things about this space.

{via design*sponge}