Royal Blush Cocktails*AT*four

 Join me today at Pickwick House for some bubbly-cosmo-meets-mojito! Some festive complementaries for celebrating #royalwedding2011~

Do come!

My Quick Round-Up of top LUVS: 

Kate's Dress {very Sound of Music-ish}

HerVeil

Her Sweet-n-simple Bouquet

Harry just makes me smile

New favorite names: Pippa, Eugenie, and Beatrice 

The hats, hats, hats

The Large Trees in the Westminster Abbey

Royal Blush Cocktail Recipe

1tsp cherry puree

3 tablespoons vodka

1 and1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon simple syrup

5 fresh mint leaves

1 cup ice cubes

1/4 cup dry sparkling wine, such as brut Champagne, chilled

DesignCrush:RyanKorban

My nesting instincts are kicking in full force, and I still have twelve more weeks to go. I feel the need to straighten all my nests...  Redesign of Web + Blog Design + Home + Clients.  Met with a graphic/web designer today and will meet with an architect next week about the possibilities of adding onto our tiny, tiny house that's about to explode with even more little people and growing teens.  I cannot believe we're about to have another baby!!  Baby A has been waking me up early in the am with all his kicking, and sometimes that's good and sometimes bad.  Today, it was good.  I woke up at five and knocked out a lot!


Okay, moving on...I have a SERIOUS design crush right now....see below to find out who/what/where.

He's so talented.  And cute too...I might add.

LOVE that salmon colored velvet!  Cheetahs making me growl.

Can I just say "Canopy LOVE"?!

Can't get this vanity out of my head!! The over-sized ruffles just-so bubbly fun!

Bringing in the simple, dark furniture keeps it grounded and unfussy.

 Ryan Korban.  I remember seeing this sweet-faced Italiano looking boy and his work a few years back in the old Domino issues.  Now, he's popping up everywhere, including the new TradHome Mag.  I really love his romantic/70's vibe.

What do you think?  Do you have a favorite male designer?  I think Ryan's right up there on my list.

Royal Wedding Thoughts to come tomorrow!!

xo

Turtle Lovers in Design

I have a collection of antique tortoise shells in the shop for sale.  I do not advocate the killing of turtles for their shells.  I love turtles and have been noticing more and more turtle lovers who surround themselves with turtle shells or representations of turtles.

The Chinese believe that the turtle has the secret of heaven and of earth within its body because its back symbolizes Heaven and that its underside represents Earth.  They love turtles and it is a great Feng Shui symbol of prosperity.

Here is a breath taking design at La Marea restaurant at Miami's Tides South Beach Hotel, decorated by Kelly Wearstler with antique tortoise shells.  Kelly is a god-like inspiration with her bold trend setting eye in all that she does! I love how she incorporates nature's beauty into her designs here.  

 (Photos from VOGUE}

How 'bout you?  Would you be inclined to decorate with turtle shells?

Royal Wedding Details

Happy Monday and Happy Royal Wedding Week!  It's upon us...THE celebration that the world and wedding industry will be watching very closely this week.  One of the most momentous moments of the century and I can't wait!!  How 'bout you?  Will you be tuning in "At the bright of an early morn with tea and scones."?

(photo credits: Suzi Kemp via Anthology Mag, Graham & Brown via Anthology Mag}

Unclouded Skies

Happy Good Friday, Happy Earth Day, and Happy Easter to you all!  I'm wide awake at three in the morning thinking about food, tables, and food.  I need to be sleeping so I won't look like racoon eyes in the morning for the rolling camera.

 Come into the store today and pick up some earth friendly things.  At Pickwick House, we feel good when we can give high-fives to the earth and/or cheap-champagne-like-toasts {my new phrase for DIY} to the earth....like repurposing flea market finds, supporting artists who make the handmade things we carry, refurbing, and also selling sustainable products.  Come get a soy-based candle to take as a hostess gift or if you're running last minute on Easter basket and table scape ideas, we have got just the thing.  Also, tell me what cool earth friendly things you're seeing done out there.  I'm inspired today by poppytalk's earthday post...to see it go here.

(all images from Pinterest)

I'm off!  Happy Celebrations with your families.  ta-ta!  

xo
sharon

Silvie's Three!

It's Sylvie's birthday today.

Sylvie, pictured here, next to her "Speeder" {her new set of wheels that all the Lampe boys learned to ride on}.   You can hardly see her face with her long bangs.  We're trying to grow them out, but she won't keep a hair tie in!!  She's a fun little thing.  Loves pink, but is tougher than a box a rocks with her determination.  Just last night, Sylvie rode her bike all by herself for a good thirty feet and laughed the whole time she was doing it.

I ordered Syl some little Salt Water sandals and am hoping these little "sylvie-colored" ones arrive before Easter.  Loved these dresses that I found on a blog fave of my sisters, bliss. They look like really good twirlers, don't you think?  They are from kicokids.

We were going to have a little bash for Sylvie this weekend, but as always, it rains on her party day.  So, we're waiting for sunshine.   Hope we can all find some soon!

Happy Day to you all!

xo
sharon

Spring Table-Tops

My uncle just sent me this little picture and verse that my great, great grandmother Pauline Frances Camp made over 100 years ago.  She would make these as favors for their many party guests that they would entertain-for in their big, beautiful Victorian home on Walnut Street.  Pauline's husband, Walter, commented to his mother that Pauline would make things like this "so quickly, that the expense and passing of time was of no consequence."

Poems and sketches.  So sweet.

I thought that this would make a sweet addition to a table I just put together here, at the store.  The spirea flower is one of my favorites.  Reminds me of mom, because mom battled hard with my dad over these bushes in our own yard, growing up.  Dad loved hedge trimming with his long-corded electric hedge-trimmers and took pride in making a tight-bowled shape bush, while mom loved the free flowing branched bushes.  I have to agree with mom.  Free flowing is much dreamier.  What would you say?

These spirea branches are from a bush from my childhood home, which my brother Philip lives in now.  We live next door and share this one bush that I love.  I loved picking them today.  What's popping up in your yard?  No other bouquet like one from your own yard, is there?

This Friday, on the KY3 News early morning show with Maria Neider, I will be sharing some entertaining ideas for Easter Tables and Baskets. I'll try to share a link then.

Have a good rest of your week!

xo
sharon