Moving

I have moved my little blog to another place. Fitting this blog in is great fun but figuring out the html isn't. So, I have moved to TypePad which is easier for me to navigate.
The new address is Nesting In The 21st Century.

Trunk Show A Go Go

Last Friday we had our first ever trunk show. The ladies stated arriving at 7 and by the time the shopping was done and the cosmos were gone it was 11:30.
I set up all the jewelry in the diningroom. I think the red walls and chandelier gave the room a boutique feel. It all looked amazing lit with candles.
I made each designer a framed logo so that the guests would know who made what . There were mirrors placed here, there and everywhere so that the guests could try on the jewelry to their hearts content. And did they ever...It was a fashionista's dream.

The adorable bags are from Posie. It was all I could do not to keep them all for myself. But no, I only kept one.

It was wonderful to meet lots of new people and for them to see the Artisan's work. One thing which will stay with me for a long time is that most of the ladies left wearing what they had purchased. They really fell in love with their new jewelry. One gal bought a pair of parrot green earrings and was going out over the weekend to buy clothes to match. The party was supposed to last from 7 - 9 but the last guests didn't leave until well past 11. It was so festive and the gals who came were so darn fun.

This is Anne Maa's sign. I placed some raspberry paper behind her logo. Her collection of incredible rings can be seen in the foreground. One thing about these photos...They don't capture the amazing sparkle of this room. It was dazzling.

I separated each piece into it's own box. I wanted them to be clearly visible, there was so much I wanted everything to be seen! Each designer has a very different style and it was neat to see different gals gravitating to different designers.

One thing I forgot to do was to take photos when everyone was there. I was so busy processing orders that I barely left the kitchen table! I won't make that mistake at the June 1 trunk show. I wrote myself a huge note.

We had another room filled with the bath & body and stationary. More about that (with photos) next time!

Rain, Rain Go Away....

This weekend it rained non-stop. Buckets and buckets of cold rain. The garden will have to wait. So I turned to organizing my overflowing pile of magazines. Now, I am a magazine aficionado. I love them. All different kinds on all different subjects. Cooking, decorating, crafting, you name it. The problem is I am not very good at getting rid of them. I like to browse through issues from years past for inspiration. This Easter I did a centerpiece which was in Martha Stewart Living magazine four years ago.
I used to tear out the pages, trim the photos and paste them in design journals. A carryover from spending four years as a fine arts major no doubt. We were encouraged to keep design journals filled with inspiration. It was one thing in college, quite another all these years later with piles of magazines falling over and no free time in site. I needed a different solution.
I thought about a new organization system. It had to be quick to set up, inexpensive and the information has to be easily accessible. I first considered a traditional filing system. It is easy to set up, inexpensive, but not as accessible as I would like. It just isn't fun to dig through file folders looking for a Christmas wreath design. Next I considered photo albums. Too expensive. After all, I have a LOT of magazines. Also, it wouldn't be easy to set up. I would spend the next month cutting and pasting pictures into the albums. I liked the idea of looking through a book though.

Finally I settled on a system of binders with page protectors. It fit the bill perfectly. They are inexpensive and it couldn't be easier to set up and keep up. Tear out the page with the Christmas wreath, insert in page protector in Christmas binder. Easy. Next year, open binder and voila...Christmas wreath! Of course I can make even the simplest plan into something extravagant (just ask my husband about that...Right honey?) I made inserts for the binders so I would know what was in each (on pink paper). Then I put patterned paper on the front cover and made labels. I couldn't be happier. I can actually find things now. It was frustrating to know there was a super recipe for Parmesan Chicken somewhere in that pile if I could just remember what issue.

I especially like the covers. I wanted something to inspire me and these really fit the bill. The best part is that I don't have (as many) piles of magazines sitting around and maybe, just maybe, I can find that Parmesan Chicken recipe I have had a taste for.

Spring Flowers

It is tulip time here in the Midwest. The early daffodils and grape hyacinths are fading but the late tuplips are blooming en masse. As always many have the red and yellow planted together. A traditional and appealing choice. Another favorite is the multi pink combinations. I love the way the flowers stand out against the leaves. But by far my favorite have been the lime/raspberry displays.
This pink and green color scheme is my favorite after a dull midwestern winter. There was not much excitement around here...a bit of snow at the beginning of the season and a bit at the tail end but nothing in between. Winter seemed to drag on in muted grays. Dull. All at once this spring has transformed with color.


"The Girls" gave me this wonderful bouquet for my birthday (which was yesterday). I must say I have never recieved a floral arrangement in a bag before, but there it was. Girlfriend Deb has an obvious flair for the dramatic as it is she who puts these things together. (Last year it was a plant in a pot tied with a tiny ceramic flip flop.)
Not only was the bag adorable but the flowers were my favorite color combination. What a nice gift. Pretty, creative and thoughtful. I wanted to take a picture to remind myself on those future dull winter days that not only are brighter days coming...but that I have a great group of friends to share them with. Thanks girls.

Inspiration from Posie Gets Cozy

I have found a delightful blog called Posie Gets Cozy. Not only does it have terrific photos and ideas but Alicia's writing style reminds me of chatting with a girlfriend. Warm and conversational she opens her creative life to us. The thing I like the most is that I inevitably come away inspired to create something myself. In a recent post Alicia wrote about creating an afghan from Baby Cashmerino skeins of yarn in the colors of the tulips on her coffee table. Delicious.
I think I will take this color palette and do something else with it. A mosaic perhaps. Or maybe I will do a decoupaged plate. It'll be my weekend project. Maybe I'll add some of that yummy peapod green that I love so much and use Alicia's palette...hmmm. Too bad it is only Thursday.

Indoor Easter Garden

I love Easter and this year it was especially nice. The weather was so beautiful. Warm and sunny and very spring-like. I massed lots of terra cotta pots all filled with either tulip, daffodil or grape hyacinth bulbs. I had smaller pots of grass for fun. In the pots I poked different colored butterflies from the craft store. A little garden indoors. I am hoping it will last until I can get the outdoor pots planted.
Now that I have some blooms inside I am looking for inspiration for outside. I usually have urns scattered all over the yard, front and back. What color scheme for this year? Last year all the colors were hot and tropical. Reds, yellows and oranges. Perhaps this year should be pinks and greens. Time for a trip to the nursery!

Introducing Linda Trent

We have a wonderful new Artisan here at Nesting With Style and her name is Linda Trent. Her designs are light and bright. I love that they add some sparkle to every day wear. Right now, blue & white is my favorite color combination. I guess I am yearning for the sea and sky! Check out Linda's great work on the site.