The Trustworthy Piggy Bank

I remember as a child it was so exciting to have someone give you coins to put in your bank. I loved the sound of the quarter (I could only hope) hitting the ceramic inside. I would sit and wonder how much money was in there, than dump it out to count on my bed. These were the good ol' days! It seems as if the Piggy Bank is the way to go once again so I thought I would do a bit of scouting to find the sweetest ones out there. This is what I have come up with!
Who can resist a classic silver piggy bank like this one from Carters? Precious! From Elegant Baby comes the "huge piggy bank". It's available in many bright happy colors and I love the sharp white polka dots, might just make saving pennies fun. If you want to be high tech about it, Back to Basics offers the Pink Pig E. Bank which calculates as you add coins. To empty just push the snout to release the coins.

Just Say It

As you can see from the picture of the week, I love words and letters in any form! I am not sure what it is but I love the variety of fonts and sizes which can scream or whisper.
Orange Beautiful on Etsy has some fantastic finds, her cards and books are perfect for any occasion. For instance I love this memo book which reads Get Your Sh*t Together could it be any more blunt? The Laugh, dream, love print from the same Etsy shop would look darling in a front hall or even a bathroom with a nice crisp white frame. Seriously?! I could purchase a stack of these cards to send to friends and they would be appropriate for so many situations. Seriously, you're boss said what to you! Seriously, you are in love? Seriously, you won the lottery!! Now that would be a great card to send!

Monday Morning Happy

I took the picture above while sitting in a cafe reading piles of magazines. It seemed like the natural thing to do as it literally rained the entire weekend here in Boston. In the picture you can see the rain drops bouncing back up after hitting the ground, buckets fell from the sky. Sometimes it is really great to have a rainy weekend, I caught up with friends, read magazines I have had piled next to the bed and just relaxed! The cute picture of the week is one I came across from Grandin Road. The dog bed (from Two Simmons Studio) reads "If dreams would come true, bones would rain from the sky"! It's just so sweet and the pupper looks as if he is being a good dog just to receive a bone!
Happy New Week!

Colors stuck in my mind

It's interesting how a color scheme can come together or even stick in your creative mind for a great period of time. For instance, years ago I tore this picture out of a Domino Magazine and it's been hanging on my bulletin board above my desk ever since. At times it has gotten lost beneath all the other pictures but lately I have been coming back to this color combo. I did a little digging through my Domino picture folder, my style file and my flickr account until I saw it all materialize into a room! What do you think of a turquoise and buttery yellow room? For my own personal touch I would throw in bit of bold blue just to mix it up. It is a very soothing mix of colors for me. Do you like the combination?






(Images above from top are from Armani, Mitchell Gold, Room & Board, Lamoon)

My daydreaming afternoon

This post is simple. I have a weakness for porches! The picture above makes me want to cancel my day, grab my stack of magazines, an iced tea and enjoy a lazy afternoon. Looking at it just makes me happy! What is your daydream place?

(image from myhomeideas.com)

$5 chair makeover

This is just fabulous! I am so excited to share this find as it is very affordable and completely different. One of my favorite go to company's for decals is Blik, they always have interesting shapes and a huge color offering. This has to be one of my favorites, the chair back decal. As you can see in the picture above any boring chair can be created into one uniquely your own. The decals are easy to apply, long lasting and can be wiped down with a wet sponge. They were designed by Wietske Hoogstadt for Studio Jan Habraken in 5 different patterns. With 12 color options there is bound to be a few you like. I really like the classic look of the black and white chairs above but can't you just see an orange chair with kiwi decals or a deep chocolate chair with the purple coloring?! The best part is the price, $30 for the set of 6! Fantastic!

(image from blik.com)

Budget finds from the Bean

Recently I was scouting for office furniture and was pleasantly surprised at what I found from LL Bean. To be honest I am not what you would call a LL Bean girl but when you are looking for the "perfect" desk you will look anywhere. This Painted Cottage Work desk is impressive in so many ways. First off the size is great for a bedroom or small nook at 40"wide. If selected in the black it gives off a slightly more contemporary feel especially with the metal pulls. The 2 drawers are a nice feature and who can beat the $229 price tag?




Another great find is the Painted Cottage Tall Bookcase. I can think of so many options for this piece. I would use it in the kitchen to store linens, vases and cookbooks. I love being a bit eclectic in a kitchen so I would order this piece in the Porch Blue, it would definitely add sunshine to any space! This piece has a much more distinct cottage feel than the desk but I believe it can still be versatile. Lesson learned look outside of your usual, you never know what you will find!


(all images taken from LL Bean)

Monday Morning Happy

Happy First Day of fall everyone! Summer is officially over, which makes me sad because I am not ready to move on from my lovely 85 degree days but I don't really have a choice now do I? Fall is a great time of year here in New England as you never know what the day will bring. For instance today inside the house it was chilly so of course I bundled up with my 3 layers (yes 3) only to go outside and realize it was much warmer, a pleasant surprise. I also love the fall colors, all the browns, oranges and yellows are very warm and soothing to me! The picture of the week is from my own collection and hangs on my refrigerator so I see it every morning. It was one of the best days last year, all of the kids came for a day of games and playing outside. Can you see how all of their knees are stained with mud? I am sure their Mothers just loved me when they returned home!
Happy New Week!

(image taken from autumn-pictures.com)

All about the Orange

Over at Stylefeeder I wrote a post for the Tastemakers Diaries about how Orange is everywhere in home decor right now. Today I will expand a bit on the topic as I have come across a few more orange pieces I am in love with.


Joom's store on Etsy is chock full of orange pieces! Two which I adore are the Tweetie Print with an orange bird and also a pillow with the Cardinal on Agapanthus. So sweet, I love her store as all of her pieces are always so crisp and clean, oh and very affordable!



From LuLu DK Matouk we have the Tiger Lily Duvet. I am completely in love with the simple but luxurious look of this bedding ensemble. The coral color is so light and soothing, I believe even the most restless sleeper could sleep well here!




Pottery Barn has a fantastic Orange Leather Dining Chair, the Grayson. This picture gives me a feeling of a cozy fall Sunday dinner. Doesn't it just feel welcoming?!

I love a good burst of color in each room and that is where these trend color can be particularly impactful. As you can see in the photos above none of the pieces except for the dining chairs are that expensive. They are all accent pieces which is exactly where a trend should be used. That is unless you have loved a certain color for years and do not see yourself getting sick of it after a season. With orange there is such a great range, coral, pumpkin, tangerine, terra cotta and the list goes on and on.
How do you feel about orange, would you add accents in your own home?

When 90 feels like 75!

Gram and I acting silly a few years ago

Today is a very special day! My Beloved "Gram" turns the big 9 0!! It's hard to believe she is 90 because to be honest, she doesn't act like it. Its a family joke that she runs circles (actually she does aerobics 3 times a week) around all of us. Which is the truth, her social calendar is booked weeks in advance, she is always going to the movies with her friends, taking a trip to Foxwoods or volunteering at the church or the rehab center. She is one of the most giving people I know. My love of the city started when my Gram would take me into "town", to the Italian part of Boston known as the North End. When her family came from Sicily, the North End is where they settled and started the first Macaroni Factory. Hearing all of the stories of the factory and running a business helped me start my own company. People always say you are so courageous to have a company and I just say it's in my blood! Gram is an amazing woman who, if she saw you on the street with a map would stop, ask where you were headed, give you directions and than invite you over for dinner. You had a lifelong friend in her after this meeting! She is proof age is really just a number...she says she feels like 75 after all!
So here's to my Gram, happy happy birthday I hope you are always as healthy, happy and energetic as you are today!

a picture of Gram and her sisters in 1928 (she is the adorable girl on the right)

(all images from my personal collection)

The inspiring Coco+Kelley

I am so excited, today a fellow blogger, Cassandra from Coco+Kelley was recognized by Martha Stewarts crew as having one of the best blogs. This is a well deserved recognition as Cassandra's blog is always entertaining and inspiring. She makes you feel as if you are one of her close friends sharing a cup of tea, flipping through shelter magazines pulling pages out and squealing as you see something you just must have! Coco+Kelley is one of only a handful of blogs which I take time to read daily. She is the one who inspired me to jump back on the blogging bandwagon! So pop on over and see what I already know to be true, her blog is absolutely fantastic and a bright spot in the day! Congrats Cassandra!

(image taken from Coco+Kelley and Martha Stewart.com)

The Inspiring Coco Chanel

While flipping through the channels this weekend I stumbled upon the Coco Chanel Story on Lifetime and let me say how happy I was! It's a rare night for me to be home AND to find a movie I am interested in so to say I was giddy is putting it mildly! At age 16, The Chanel book was the first biography I read and to this day some of the lessons from her life and quotes have a huge impact on my life. She is definitely one of my icons!


The movie was wonderfully depicted, the actress, Barbora Bobulova played young Coco/Gabrielle and it was amazing how she pulled you into the character. Later in her life Shirley MacLaine gives an incredible performance of her perseverance. The story takes us from Chanel's early years in the French Orphanage to her her first job as a seamstress in Paris to her love affairs across Europe. More importantly we learn of the risks she took to make her beloved hats and the faith she had in herself and her creativity. She inspires all of us who are creative business owners to continually look at the everyday with a new set of eyes. You might just be the one to create the "little black dress" all stemming from the lose of a true love. As I previously wrote in this post here, in my office hangs the quote "In order to be irreplaceable one must be different". When this Chanel quote came up in the movie I paused, to take in the moment. It was from a scene where her "niece" was going to an event, her dress looked like every other girls. Coco dramatically tore the sleeves off the dress, pulled the white sheers from the window to create a scarf and gave her niece the confidence to walk in the room with a unique dress and capture everyone's attention. Chanel was by far one of the most pulled together, elegant, sophisticated designers of her time and her style reflected this. If you get the chance to catch the movie on Lifetime do so, I promise you will not be disappointed.

Pictures of Coco Chanel

(all images taken from Lifetime.com)

Monday Morning Happy

Once again Monday has come much too soon! It was a rewarding but long work weekend for me. This Lee Furniture Pupper picture has been on my cork board for over a year now. He is just too adorable and everytime I look at him I have to smile. He looks as if he has had a long week and just needs a nap!! I can relate! I am a big believer in the afternoon cat (or in this case dog) nap. Its amazing what 20 mins of shut eye can do for ones energy and creative levels! Happy New Week!

Stage Lighting

Lately I have seen a trend of what I like to call "movie lighting". These are floor lamps which look like they belong on a stage or movie set! They will definitely add high drama to any room. Though some can be grossly oversized so just beware when choosing one, make sure it fits the scale of your room. Below are a few of my favorites!

YLighting offers the classic Fortuny Centenario Floor Lamp

The Stage Floor Lamp from CB2 is perfectly named



The Photographers Tripod Lamp from Pottery Barn is another great option.
I love the dark wood and bronze mix, it has a classic cinema feel.

<p>Design by Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo, 1907.</p><p>To celebrate the centenary, the Fortuny has been modified to enhance its very clean and pure lines. A discretely elegant but utterly modern use of white, it underlies its inherent design.</p><p>The modernity of this lamp goes beyond the here and now, with silver rays in a kinetic - futuristic rhythmic sequence, a clear sign of a dynamic launch towards the future.</p><p>Floor lamp, rotates and has an adjustable heigh mechanism, the structure is finished with an epoxy powder coat in white RAL 9010. Diffuser: the external fabric is made in white cotton; the internal lining is made of fireproof fabric with silver paint. Equipped with 500W 120V E40 base lamp.</p>

Make a Fuss!

While I was having my daily read over at Creature Comforts one of her sponsors caught my eye and I am so glad I clicked. Fuss Jewelry is just GORGEOUS! Wendy Stauffer has an amazing eye for combining metals and gems. From a design perspective her pieces have an incredible visual appeal. Her background is in biology and with her love of design, she has created jewelry where the gems look to be encased by this intricate wire weaving. I am a big believer in wearing one statement piece of jewelry with an outfit, one which pops. These designs are definitely "Pop" worthy!
My favorite on her etsy site are:

Anna necklace

Pink Tourmaline Bloom #2

Place of Remembrance

A beautiful new memorial has been unveiled here in Boston, at Logan Airport. The "Place of Remembrance" was designed by the incredible Moskow Linn Architects . Along 2 paths which lead to the memorial are 102 Ginkgo Trees. The memorial is a glass cube with 2 glass panels inside which seem as if they are reaching to the sky, victims names are etched in the panels. In an article on Boston.com Keith Moskow one of the principal architects described the steel cables and translucent gray squares coming from the ceiling as a " fractured sky." saying "No one ever looked at the sky the same way again". Such a true statement. It takes great sensitivity along with creativity to design such a memorial and I applaud Moskow Linn for a job well done.
May we all slow down for a moment this morning and remember the day and those who were so tragically lost.

Dream Office

For months I have had this photo pinned to my inspiration board just above my desk. The image is from Cottage Living Magazine and I immediately fell in love! Working from home means your home office needs to be even more organized than if it is just an office you use at night or on the weekends. My dream is to have a sweet little garage converted to an office like this one. Imagine leaving the house to work but still be at home? In some ways I feel like we would be even more productive.







Here is another clean lined office space I really like. It is a renovated attic and a great use of space!I find myself drawn to the clean lines and organized shelves because I aspire to be that organized. Another extremely important factor to having a home office is lots of sunlight and big windows. Whether it is just seeing the weather change or if you are in the city like me, watching people walk on the streets, it makes you feel as if you don't really work alone. I guess this is true for anyone working anywhere!!
What type of work area do you dream of going to everyday?




images from Cottage Home and Point Click Home

Monday Morning Happy

On many blogs, especially design blogs you will find an inspiration picture of the week. I always love looking at these as I feel like it gives me a peak into the mood of the blogger. Sometimes the photo even inspires me whether with a color combination or a new arrangement. For CreateGirl I have decided to post a picture at the start of each week but it will not necessarily be an inspirational decor picture as sometimes I just need a break from interior shots. This section will be named "Cute Picture of the Week". It will be an image I come across which just makes me stop and say awww that is too sweet! A photo which puts a quick smile on my face reminding me to slow down and enjoy the simple things! You might find a theme as most of these slow down moments include the kids in my life or dogs! This weeks picture is from a day when the kids came to visit, instead of doing something elaborate we decided to just hang out front and play with the sidewalk chalk!! Literally it was hours worth of fun!
If you come across a picture you would like to share please send it along! Happy New Week : )
JUL

My laptop is now cooler

If you haven't visited Delight.com you should scoot right over there (after reading this post of course). Every Friday I receive an email highlighting all of their "delightful" products. This one made me stop in mid scroll. "Cool Feet" was exactly what my aging laptop was in need of. They are little rubber feet which lift the laptop and let air flow through to keep it cool. The other great part to this nifty invention, is that the 2 feet in the back are higher than the front so you will be typing ergonomically correct. All my former coworkers in the contract furniture world would be so proud. I guess this means I can finally do away with the wire cooling rack I have had my laptop perched on for months and could actually bake some cookies with it instead!

Back to School

It's September which is hard to believe since I truly feel summer just began. The one bright spot regarding Sept. is that I still get the feeling it is the official start of a new year. Maybe it is because I live in Cambridge and feel the impact of the Harvard and M.I.T students returning but it always makes me want to start new. So here I go starting over with my blog. Its been some time that I put this on the back burner as Jace had become very busy and I started to blog for others. Lately I have seen things whether products, pictures or just items I want to share have been popping up and I constantly am saying I wish I was back to blogging. Listening to that nagging inner voice I jump back into CreateGirl with a few surprises up my sleeve. Hope you enjoy and please comment it makes me so happy and really keeps things rolling! On the bus I go!

(image from www.fotolynx.com)