happy weekend...

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I am so glad it is Friday.  So is Dylan.  He held my face this morning and looked at me earnestly and said, "Don't wanna go to school taday mama."  And then my heart melted into a puddle on the floor.  Normally, I would cuddle with him by the fire and talk about the tractors and cows he will see on the way to school, but this morning the minutes seemed to tick by faster and faster and we all were rushing out the door.  When I tucked Dylan into his car seat I reminded him that today was Friday so tomorrow we all get to stay home and play.  "Ok, mama.  That's good," he said.  I totally agree.

Paul and I are going to a wedding tonight.  I'm actually looking forward to getting dressed up and spending a night out with my main man.  We were thinking of venturing back up to Chappell Hill this weekend to go to the Scarecrow Festival.  There are pony rides and a petting zoo and Dylan would go crazy with excitement.  But, I have a feeling we all may just curl up in our pj's and be homebodies.  We made our own scarecrows last year and I think it would be fun to do again.  Plus, Jack the donkey lives next door so we can pretend we have our own petting zoo, right?

Here is some link love for the weekend:

Pretty calling cards.

A sweet nature mobile.  Isn't Joel the coolest?

A scarecrow how-to for you.

From field to table.  I want one of each, please.

Zucchini Bread.

Great prints from great artists.  And they come framed, too.

Let's all go to Iceland.

A schnauzer + a pug.  It's a schnug.  I die.

xo,

steph

p.s. My ten year high school reunion is this weekend in St. Louis.  I so wanted to go back, but we just couldn't make it work.  I moved my senior year of high school, but had gone to school with my tiny little class of 95 or so since 7th grade.  I'll miss seeing everyone in person, but I am so thankful for the social networks out there that make keeping in touch possible.  Can you imagine not having Facebook?  I am certain I wouldn't have any clue what was going on with the people I grew up with or went to high school in St. Louis with.  I am so glad I do.  I hope all my old WCA friends have a great time this weekend.  Sending you all good wishes from Texas!

Socialnomics...

My co-worker just got back from a business trip to Vegas.  (I know there are lots of business trips to Vegas, but I still think that sounds like an oxymoron).  Anyway, he attended a seminar on the impact of social media and sent me a link to this youtube video this morning.  Watch it.  I think it's amazing.  Can you believe "Socialnomics" is actually a term now?  If it is anything remotely close to the world of economics I will fail miserably at understanding it.

xo,

steph

burlap drapes...

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The drapes in our living room are about 16 feet long.  That's a lot of drape.  So, when I went to buy fabric almost three years ago it didn't take me long to realize that 16 feet of drapery fabric was about $2,500 over my budget.  And it didn't really help that I was drawn to the gorgeous linen aisle, which ran about $48-$65 plus a yard.  Ah, linen.  Be still my heart.  

So, I bought the fabric I could afford.  Which was the lining fabric.  It's funny, I know, but my lining fabric drapes have served us well these past three years and they don't look half bad if you ask me.  But, the room does need more of an anchor since we have white walls, white couches and white trim.  And I also think adding a different texture would give the room the depth I want.  

About six months ago I saw a picture of burlap curtains and thought the fabric would work perfectly and, in a happy coincidence that I only wish I could say was pre-meditated, I can use my fabric lining drapes to line the new burlap drapery. 

So, what do you think?  Do you like burlap curtains?  When I was looking for images to post, I saw a lot of great examples, but I also found lots of burlap that didn't look finished enough to me.  I think the key is weighting the bottom lining so that the drapes fall nicely.  Ultimately, I think that is what is attractive about burlap curtains: taking an unrefined textile and showcasing it in a structured way.

{image via small chic home}

{image via house beautiful}

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{image via trouvais}

xo,

steph

Fall nesting...

(image via inspire*dream*create*}

Fall has always instilled a kind of nesting desire in me.  Maybe it's the way the sun is warm without feeling too hot and how all the trees and grasses seem filtered by autumn's cozy light. Maybe it's the yummy scents of clove and allspice and the thought of pumpkin bread and apple cider.   It could very well be that winter in Houston is hardly winter at all and my mid-west heart will always long for the four established seasons of my youth.  Whatever it is, something about the fall makes me want to clean and organize, bake and cook, create and collect.  This fall I've felt especially homesick when I am away from our little country place.  It feels good to have a home that is missed--even during the day.

I think these collections are amazing.  I recently started collecting pottery and found a number of pieces over the weekend.  Mine are in shades of green, which is different for me since I'm drawn to white and cream.  These photos make me want a collection of both.

{image via the style-files}

{via gentl & hyers}

{image via anson smart}

Wherever you are, I hope your day is as gorgeous a day as ours is here in Houston.  It is fall perfection.

xo,
steph