Friday Photo Finish

Having a lovely long Thanksgiving vacation in Mammoth. It snowed the day after we arrived and turned the forest into a winter wonderland.

image by me

Thanksgiving Decor

I'm heading off early today to spend Thanksgiving with my boyfriend and his family, so I may miss a post or two this week. For those of you in need of some Thanksgiving decorating inspiration, I've selected a few of my favorites to share with you.

via Country Living

Simple easy and chic. This set up would work well for a buffet as well as shown below.

via Domino

A buffet style setting frees up table space for vases and other decor. Remember, the first rule of centerpieces is that they not be so tall that guests can't see over them.

via Country Living

So simple. Just a couple of vases of flowers, maybe a pile of squash on a cake pedestal. Et voila, instant class.

via Martha Stewart

Fill a bowl or a basket with shiny pears or a mix of pears and apples. Add some gold painted leaves as a final touch.

via Martha Stewart

Keep the kids busy by having them cut out leaf shapes and glue to cards for use as place cards.

via Martha Stewart

Or have them cut out turkey shapes. Have the kids ask guests what they are thankful for and have the older kids write the answers down on the tail feathers to be read later during dinner. For more fun, have everyone try to guess who said what.

via Country Living

This is a great casual setting, and you'll guarantee that everyone's faces will be glowing even if the turkey is dry and the mashed potatoes are lumpy. :)

Enjoy!

Miro Sinovcic

Loving these paintings by the multi-talented artist, Miro Sinovcic. A native of Croatia, he emigrated to New York City in 1985, and has lived there ever since.

I've always been drawn to the way light is captured in paintings and photos. It started with Impressionist paintings. They had a way of capturing light in the act... in the way that it just touches the tip of a flower or the way a sunset or a sunrise casts its multi-colored shades over the land. This is why I am so drawn to Miro Sinovcic's paintings. He captures light... the way it hits a snowflake or the water in a fountain or its reflection on cars and buildings at night.

Snowflakes 40x30 Oil on Canvas

Spring in New York II 16x12 Oil on Canvas

The Arch 24x18 Oil on Canvas

Please check out his work here or on his blogs here and here.

all images via MiroSinovcic.com

Friday Photo Finish

Made it! Happy Friday!

image by me

Pretty Kate Spade Holiday

Top to bottom: Holly Heights Accent Plate Green $25, Holly Heights Tidbit Plates set of four $50, Holly Heights Accent Plate Pink $25, and Holly Heights Mug set of four $75.

Available at Kate Spade.

Trend Spotting: Mushrooms

I've been noticing mushrooms popping up from small to large in decor more and more lately. Not sure that I'm too excited about them. They're just not really my thing. What do you think?

Red Mushroom with Red Beads Tree Decoration $28

First I spotted the above ornament, available from The Conran Shop, on Country Living's Editor's picks.

Large Toadstool Night Light $110

Then I spotted this big guy, available from Pomme Shop , on Creature Comforts blog, who found it via Cookiemag's Nesting blog.

Chalkals - "Mushroom" $65

And I just spotted these fun wall stickers available from Spunky Sprout on decor8 blog.

Thuss Farrell - Photography & Design

I came upon the work of Thuss Farrell, a multidisciplinary photography and graphic design firm located in Brooklyn by way of the Snow & Graham website.

Thuss Farrell is comprised of the husband and wife team of Rebecca Thuss and Patrick Farrell. Rebecca Thuss is a ten year veteran of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. For nine years, she was a contributor to Martha Stewart Weddings and received numerous awards for her work on the magazine. Before leaving in 2006, she was Editor of the premier issue of the now defunct Blueprint magazine. Patrick Farrell was the founder of the multidisciplinary firm Branch Design Office, and has created websites, print materials, and corporate identities, in addition to being a wonderful photographer.

Here are some examples of their work...

The photo above left features the Snow & Graham Blackberry print paper.

images via Thuss Farrell

Gap Electra Cruiser

The last couple of years I've found myself with a big love for argyle, so how could I not love this bike? And it's in a beautiful blue! If only I had room to store this beauty....

Gap Electra Cruiser $499, available at online only at Gap

Friday Photo Finish

I'll end the week with a tribute to the Armed Forces this Veterans Day week. I took this photo in New York City on Memorial Day while waiting to take a boat tour of the island. There had a been a ceremony earlier that morning, and the Marines and Naval personnel were working together to very carefully to re-fold this very large flag.

Eau so Pretty

I've been admiring these pretty carafes designed by Pierre Charpin for the Pavillon de L'Eau in Paris. These are made of molded glass with a plastic cap.

images via Paris Daily Photo (Making of)

Sarah Jane Studios

I can't get over how adorable and sweet and amazing these illustrations are by artist Sarah Jane Wright of Sarah Jane Studios. Someone needs to offer her a book deal asap. You must check out her Etsy shop and read the little stories she writes for each item. She also has a blog too, so you can see what inspires her to create such lovely and touching images.

I love you, friend

Wellesley and Winslow - Christmas Post

Three Little Bears Revisited - Boy Chairs

Three Little Bears Revisited - Girl Bowls

Grace

Little Artist - Pink

images via the Sarah Jane Studios Etsy shop

Modern Lace Platters

Loving these Small and Large Lace Platters by Amaridian at Vivre. An old style that has been updated and made modern with bright colors and wide open weaving that is still completely functional and infinitely usable. The only bummer is how far out of my price range these are at $350 and $750 respectively.

Small Lace Platter

Large Lace Platter

images via Vivre

Thakoon for Target

Nylon's got the first look at Target's newest Go! International series designer looks from Thakoon. The collection is due out in stores at Christmas and will be carried through January 2009. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I do believe that this is the first Resort collection that Target has done.

Here are few of the looks that will be available. Thakoon who is known for his love of bold prints and florals, does not disappoint.

images via Nylon

Friday Photo Finish is going to be postponed today. It has just been one of the toughest weeks I've ever had, and my heart and my head are just not in a good place right now.

The company I work for has been doing lay offs this week, and a woman who is dear to me was one of the unfortunate people who had to be let go, and it looks like my job might not survive the next round of lay offs that the company is surely going to do by the end of the year.

The lay offs are unfortunately necessary to the survival of this company, and anyone who is looking at sales on a daily basis knows that there is no other way to survive in this current economic crisis. There is a part of me that is unafraid, a little excited even, at the prospect of an unknown future should I get laid off. I think of all the things that I can do without a job. I can read all the books and magazines that have been piling up on my nightstand. I can spend more time on my blog and take classes in photography and Illustrator. I can volunteer at the library.

On the other hand, my heart is breaking because I love my company and I love what I do, and the thought of that part of my life going away brings tears to my eyes. I spent almost three years working in one of the retail stores, and have now spent almost 8 years at the corporate office working my way up to where I am now. It's hard to think about it all going away. It's hard to think about the things that you took for granted, like health insurance and retirement funds.

Like most Americans, I spend more time at work than anywhere else, so I really feel for those people who were let go this week, many of whom have been with the company for several years, including one woman who had been there for 20 years. When you've been with a company for so long, it can become a second home. It's a reason to get up every morning. Losing your job puts a large hole in your life that can feel impossible to fill. We can only hope that things turn around sooner rather than later.

Herman Yu Designs

Loving the simple sweet beauty of these prints from Herman Yu Designs. Her prints have such a wonderful ethereal quality to them, like being in a dream.

Green Plums

Clematis

Pirouette

Orchid Branch

Her cards are available online at Jack Cards or Red Stamp.

images via Herman Yu Design

It's Over

I'm feeling a bit like this after last night, so I don't have my typical post for you this morning. I'll be back up and running again as usual tomorrow.

I'm so glad Obama won, but I'm so sad that Prop 8 was passed. Such a mix of emotions last night watching Obama give his acceptance speech while also watching the polls in California come back with a big YES on Prop 8. One step forwards and one step backwards. One fight ended and another begun.

BUT... the U.S. was alive last night like it hasn't been over an election in my memory. The streets of SF were filled (literally) with people cheering and hugging and in love with their nation again. Speakers were put in windows to play and replay Obama's acceptance speech, while an impromptu band played in the middle of the street below and people danced into the night. It was so beautiful to witness and be a part of.... Oh, don't we live in interesting times?

image via Careenin on Flickr

Just do it...VOTE!!!

I love Banksy's no nonsense approach to art and social commentary. Today is the day for everyone to cast their vote and decide what our future is going to be. So don't be a rat, just vote!

image via melfeasance on Flickr

Someday...

I will travel in luxurious style to exotic far away places with beautiful luggage like this from Globe-Trotter...

Safari

Orient

Centenary

All handmade of with an ash wood frame, Vulcan fiber (an organic material that reaches its optimum strength in 10 years), and trimmed in leather with either brass or chrome hardware, it just doesn't get better than this.

Available at Neiman Marcus.

all images via Globe-Trotter