Project: straw pot holder place setting

I created this table scape using straw pot holders, wicker bamboo paper plate holders, vintage ribbon, and blue flowers from the garden. My goal was to be as thrifty and nifty as I could get with under $10 in my pocket at one flea = (one table scape, one flea market, one-digit budget).

It ended up costing six dollars for everything (except the table).

I think this would be great for a luncheon, garden party, or girly recipe exchange.

Hope you like!

x's and o'sies,

sharon

Loading Up on the Goods

Busy day today. I'm loading up the truck this morning with my collection of props and furniture to be used for stylizing an all day photo shoot.

While I'm excited to be stylizing today, I'm also dreaming of loading up home goods from the Merci store in Paris. It's been featured in Town & Country, Australian Vogue Living, American Vogue and also featured on Habitually Chic.

Need any DIY decor and design advice? Ask away or ask me away to your house for a free consult!

Have a lovely start to your week!!

x's and o'sies,

sharon

My TGIF Eat, Play, LOVE list:

It's Friday! What do you have planned for the weekend?

My TGIF Eat, Play, Love list includes:

1. Soaking up these last few nights of cricket and cicada music.

2. Bike ride around town with my lovies.

3. Planning my own fall party that's as sweet and simple as sprinkled cupcakes! mmmm!

Have a fabulous weekend!

x's and o'sies,

sharon

Sneak Peak at Rosie Winstead

I'm so excited to share a snippet of a an amazing author/illustrator's home, that happens to be my sister's.

As many of you know, I'm the fourth of nine children, with a sweet bouquet of sisters by my side (my brothers are another story). In that bouquet, is my sweet, amazingly talented, giving, inspiring, cute, funny, stylish, and I could go-on and-on-sister, Rosie. Rosie Winstead. She's good as gold at everything she does, but most notably, she's an author/illustrator, flea market maven, interior decorator, sister, wife, and mother to one of the cutest little girls in the world...Goldie.

Rosie has recently refurbished an old bungalow home here in center city Springfield, MO. It has taken her no time at all to make a once-ragged home into THE coolest story-book house ever! It's not completely done, but she was kind enough to let me take a few snapshots of her sweet little abode that's filled with the same decorating sense that carries over into her playful illustrations in her books.

The rest of her home and studio is sure to be a spotlight here in the very near future. I can't wait to show you her kitchen that's outfitted with a viking stove and fridge that I covet. Meanwhile, she is busy being mom and working away on her latest book due out 2010.

The bludot dining table is paired with lacquered black antique chairs. Her chandelier is usually trimmed with her fab "Rosie-Made" creations. I love how she cut out vintage magazine dew drops to hang for her husband's birthday party. Goldie is pictured above with her cat named, Carl. I'm pictured on the left, and Rosie on the right.

And, as my nieces and nephews always say..."I love you Ro-Ro!"

Enjoy!

x's and o'sies,

sharon

Rustic Exploration

I'm
dreaming of living in Mildred's Lane school. For those of you who aren't familiar with this artists' colony...it's a must for you to check out! J. Morgan Puett is the genius mastermind behind this wonderfully-refreshing collaboration. It's a beautiful ongoing experiment in art, design, and aestheticized living. She's made her private property into an eclectically-rich and VERY rustic retreat/think tank for artists to explore their interests...in an unconventional setting. She's created this retreat deep in the hills of Pennsylvania along the Delaware river. She, along with her partner have built these amazingly-cool rustic cabins, barns, tents, and gardens and filled them with antiques, collected art, hundreds of books, taxidermy, skulls, and other worn odds and ends that give us just a few hints at her wild and elusive genius-ness.

Here's my latest attempt at rustic/organic exploration:

I photographed the centerpiece up above in front of our compost crate...the centerpiece was for a client and the compost crate is a "free" thing we got a while back at Lowes. Lowe's throws away their rustic (and cute) wooden crates. I'm thinking I might get a few more for repurposing them into tables for an outdoor party this fall.

Last weekend I had very little time for prepping for a baby shower. I was told that the baby's mother would like some picture frames and that the hostess would like centerpieces that were "different". So, I knew right away that I would purchase a deep, 8x12x3 inch black shadowbox to use as the centerpiece compote (much like a tray) I then called up Janet Pearson (The Orchid Lady) to see what mosses were available...she then said that she had the most gorgeous and lush "baby tears" she had ever seen. She was SO right! I DO love Janet and her flair!! Can't wait to show you all of her genius-ness!

I then added a large hosta leaf and a pumpkin bloom from my back yard. To top it off, I added a personalized smooth river stone with the baby's name on it. The hostess was thrilled with the organic flair, and the mother was pretty elated to be taking home some "Happy" baby tears in a box (that could later be used for displaying her baby's sweet sentimentals).

P.S...the boy and girl with the bike pic is a sneak peak from an engagement party shoot I've been working on. Janae Hardy photography. There are soo many great pictures from this shoot that I can't wait to post!

x's and o'sies,

sharon

Free Fall Find

Fall is in the air. Here are some lovely flower boxes from around the sweet little hood that I live in. 1st prize must go to the one up top...it's a REAL show stopper, don't you think?

This last image is the front of my house. Earlier in the summer, the flowers had more color. It won't be long though before I add some white pumpkins from my back yard, cornstalks and maybe some bittersweet vines. I LOVE to fill these window boxes to the brim with fall goodness.

Okay, so here's my Free Fall Find:

Yesterday morning I scored some really great FREE finds, and for those of you who like free, here are the goods. I should start by saying that in the harvest season I love to start pulling natural elements from nature to use for decorating the outsides of houses (doors, window boxes, porch posts, etc.). I think vines, berried branches, cedar boughs, fur trees, and pinecones can really add a warm-happy home feeling that's so appealing, inviting, and doesn't have to break the budget at all. These vines and branches also lend themselves to carrying into the winter season...I just keep on layering. Many people ask me where I find these things, and while I won't tell where I find my bittersweet vine spot, I will definitely share with you where you can find a great assortment of all the other little goodies I've been talking about. Here's where the Free Fall Find is at: The leaf compost recycling center out West of town.

I took a beautiful early sunrise trip out there yesterday to discover tons of great dried honeysuckle that I will use for several upcoming projects, events, and homes. It's worth the drive alone, if all you need is a peaceful moment to yourself to see the great country life. If you're after the goods, be prepared with gloves, clippers, and good climbing shoes. I had to do some climbing around to find the score of the day. I was on cloud nine after spotting this great wad of vines and other berried branches! (Stay tuned to see what Taylor-Made creations I will be coming up with).

To top off this little road trip, I treated myself on the way home to some great bluegrass music and a cup of jo. All of this made for a fantastically-fun-free fall day!! Happy Taste of Fall to you all. And call me if you need any outdoor decor goods or styling assistance brought to your home! Sharon Taylor Designs 417-459-8988.

x's, and o'sies,

sharon

Cinderelly-ish Taylor-Made Table Top Style

The pumpkin vines are starting to take over my whole back yard. I'm so excited to see that we have lot of white pumpkins coming on. Jillians of pumpkin blooms are hiding beneath the oversized foliage and they have been catching my eye too. I've been wanting to use the beautiful blooms for a fall table scape. I stopped by Ozark Treasures flea market today to see what I could find prop-wise...and could NOT believe my eyes when I saw this amazing ceramic trojan horse! What a find!! I instantly knew he was JUST the thing that was needed to make it a hip and stylish table topper. So I brought him home, picked some pumpkin blooms, found a necklace to attach him to his oxidized vase (a wanna-be-pumpkin-ish styled Cinderella carriage), and sunk some other blooms into an oxidized box from my own collection. That's my crazy spin for the day. I think it would be fabulous for a table scape or for a side table top decor.