Sweet Lindsay's Wedding (+ a change in location)

Oooooh it's an exciting day! My darling friend Ms. Lindsay had her wedding featured on the Style Me Pretty blog. I knew this day was coming and was hoping to be a bit more prepared with my Etsy presence but things don't always work out that way. But the exciting part of that statement is that I'm starting an Etsy page! Yay! I thought I'd try to streamline things a bit more though, which means you need to pack up your cup of coffee, wrap that sweater around your shoulders and make the trek to my new blog: Hello My Dear (which is also the name of my Etsy storefront). Luckily it's an easy move. I've decided to stop updating this blog as of today so you can find me exclusively here. I'll be keeping you posted through the HMD blog, but if you'd like an email letting you know that the Etsy page is stocked, email me at hellomydearinfo@gmail.com and I'll be in touch. I'm loving updating this blog and am so honored that you and your commentary have decided to go on this journey with me! See you soon!

Pretty Tables: Thanksgiving

I’m sure you’re thinking this (as I certainly do every year!), but I can’t believe it’s already Thanksgiving. This year it’s probably even more unbelievable to me since I’ll be spending it in 80 degree weather on the other side of the world. No matter. It's still Fall in my heart and I'm glad to share these lovely table decorating ideas. What will you be doing this year?



Images from: MySticKitchen // BlogNTell // Anne Sage // Kitchen Daily // Sunset

Meet: Marcus Nilsson

My friends— please excuse the short post as I am trying to do eight things at once and all in the course of about a half hour. I’m heading to the beach for a night and am late for the door. But I couldn’t leave without sharing these amazing images from food stylist Marcus Nilsson. You know I love a beautifully styled photo, especially when it’s of a maple-sugar walnut pie. These images conjure up the sweet and savory smells of Thanksgiving so I thought they were perfect to end the pre-hustle and bustle and help get you all excited for the holidays fast approaching.

Pretty Papier Mache (and Just Plain Papier)

I find it hard to believe that I went through elementary and middle school art classes, as well as 4 years in pursuit of an art degree and never created anything using papier mache. This technique does seem right up my ally: inexpensive, whimsical and seemingly simplistic. However, it does seem to take a long time and I'm not the most patient of creators. I'd like to give it a try one of these days, but I'm in full realization that they won't look anything like the art of Anna-Wili Highfield or Elizabeth Jardine.
First, Ms. Highfield. She's a young woman from Sydney, Australia who grew up with a puppeteer father. Can you imagine how cool and creepy and fun that must have been? She was destined to create these amazing birds. Apparently she creates the form with cotton paper, then hand paints each piece to get the desired effect, then sews it all together. The end result is absolutely stunning in it's movement and form.

Aren't they amazing? Visit her site to see more birds as well as some horses and other animals.
Next, Elizabeth Jardine. Her sculptures are more traditional papier mache and are more funky and rough than Anna's. They remind me of something out of The Fantastic Mr. Fox or another cheeky stop-motion animated piece. I love that fox—I want to put a pretty patterned bow tie around his neck and give him a prominent place next to my Roald Dahl books.

And mostly because I haven't mentioned Anthropologie in awhile and I wouldn't want either of us to forget it's loveliness (as if we could!), here are some incredibly charming birds they had for sale. I don't see any trace of them on the Anthro website any longer, but they can still be admired. And if you're feeling particularly crafty, check out this tutorial inspired by these birds. Let me know how it goes! I'll do the same.

Capote's Black and White Ball

Truman Capote was a strange man: eccentric, selfish, talented and obsessed with high society. In 1966 he decided to throw an amazing and (ahem) bitchy party for a little over 500 guests—those he deemed the most important at the time. Apparently he had enough clout to be taken seriously with this shenanigans and people went bananas trying to get invited. Among those he did invite were Frank Sinatra, Candace Bergen, Mia Farrow, Andy Warhol, Sammy Davis Jr and Harper Lee. The following are pictures of the night (set in NYC at the Plaza on Park Avenue). The ladies were instructed to wear black or white dresses with white masks and gentlemen in black tie with black masks. Amazing.


I got most of my information from a great article on the hub pages website. Read it. And I got some of the images from Fashions Most Wanted blog. (PS. One of my favorite things I read was that while so many of the guests purchased couture masks that cost a fortune, Capote's black mask was purchased from FAO Schwarz for 39 cents.)

Charming Cameos

When I was in 3rd grade, my teachers assistant drew our silhouettes. She shone a light on our profiles and traced the shadow. And I thought it was the coolest thing ever. Cameos have obviously been popular as artwork and jewelry forever but recently they've become a staple in modern interiors. You've surely seen some great examples but here are a handful more (concluding with the lovely idea of layering your cameos for a romantic and stylish statement piece).



Images from: Simply Silhouettes // Occasional Enthusiast // Coco Cozy // Dear Designers // Country Living // Jeanie and Jewell

Living with Beci Orpin

Beci Orpin is a Melbourne, Australia based illustrator/artist/designer/inspiration. I became familiar with her work after exploring the Australia-based design blog, The Design Files and must admit that I became obsessed with her house before her work. Although they really are one in the same.—the inclusion of a design studio and the fact that she decorates with a lot of her own work result in a space that could actually double as a gallery. All of it is so fun and happy. Let's start with her house:


I love that she not only uses her own art to decorate her walls, but she uses her children's. They go together really well!
Speaking of her work, here is some of my favorite stuff of hers:


I especially love the wooden, die-cut brooches. I'd wear the heck out of that fox brooch.
Images of her home are from the Design Files. Beci is represented by the amazing Jacky Winter Group and you should definitely check out Beci's website (where you can also get to her blog and online shoppe).