Inspired Home: Gardener and Marks White Natural History Cottage

White, shabby, natural, light filled, old, rusty, sparkly, vintage, ethereal, industrial... some of the words that come to mind when I see these lovely images from Gardener & Marks, an Australian design firm, that also specializes in renting out props for a myriad of uses. This home was once a 1900's mattress factory.

Seriously, between the plank floors, exposed beam ceilings, natural history vibe, powder coats of white paint on the beadboard and brick for this industrial cottage feel, when can I move in?

Inspired Room: Mourning for Japan

sibella court's bathroom

Today is a somewhat somber, moody day. With all the tragic happenings in Japan, we happened to Netflix the film, Grave of the Dragonflies before the earthquake and it could not have come at a more perfect time. Really, it's so close to the current status of Japan, what are the odds we would Netflix this film right before the tragedy occurred?  It  is truly a beautiful and tragic story of the a brother and sister fighting for survival after the 1945 fire bombing in Kobe Japan's WWII, based upon a semi-autobiographical novel by Akiyuki Nosaka .  Truly, the thing that brings peace is knowing that Christ has a plan for us, and that families can be together forever. Being that it has been thundering and stormy all day, and the tidings of the week, I'm feeling that very black and natural interiors are fitting.  Interesting she has a few Japanese themed items in her home as well.

Stylist Sibella Court, has a beautiful home, a curious shop called The Society, inc... Her lovely book, Etcetera: Creating Beautiful Interiors with the Things You Love, chronicals her many designs and ephemera finds, with photos taken by her brother, photographer Chris Court.

the random trail of glowing bulbs is mesmerizing

 sibella's living room, loving the Japanese pilgrim's jacket

this would be a perfect place to read Wuthering Heights

her favorite quote from Jeanette Wilnterson’s Lighthouse Keeping: My Mother called me silver

 sibella's bedroom

Branching Out

 branch montage fine art print ~ a wild goose chase

I'm not sure if it's the bare trees all around my yard, or the feeling of scaling down and wanting to declutter and destress, but these branchy pics I've had saved in my files for some times have really struck a cord today.

branch headboard white bedroom ~ lisa madigan

decor8

branch chandy ~ sfgirlby bay's bedroom

*lots of beautiful and subtle branch decor ideas in white space here*

Inspired Rooms : Sadie Olive Master Bedroom Retreat

Sadie Olive, amazing photographer (prints and vintage items sold here) and an eye for the truly remarkable, has the most beautiful, and cozy bedroom. I love how natural, primitive and comforting the space feels. These are before and after shots of a mini make-over (complete with details), but both are beautiful.

Homefront: White and Natural Mantel

Are you getting tired of my mantel posts yet? Well, it's been so fun changing them up for all the recent holidays and season changing, so bare with me a little while longer! (ps. I DID clean my mirror, but I am not a streak free master.) If you DON'T have a mantle, you can do this on the middle strip of your kitchen table or coffee table, on top of a cabinet, a dresser, a shelf over a tv or desk....

I am a little tired of my usual aqua and sage green, so I decided to go back to a natural palate. These pretty much all consist of vintage items found through super sleuthing for amazing deals, so I can't complain. The adorable raccoon art I found today for a song, so it had to be featured.

Basically, I decorate, by using the larger pieces on the outsides, and angle them in. Usually, I would put a taller piece in the center, but our mantle is so narrow especially with the frame of the mirror that I only am able to use small accessories. And other times, I leave the middle totally bare and just have a little vignette on the sides.

all four A's, I painted them white, expcept for the largest, which a friend gave to me already painted.

I had all four A's up (one per family member), but removed the center two for less of a clutter look. When I go across the whole mantel, it may look overly crowded because of my smaller pieces, though I still use the remove one (or two) item rule. Just do what works and tweak when you feel the need to get nit picky, but don't stress over it! Who knows, this whole thing may look different tomorrow.

The mantle consists of a painted black finial (is an nasty brassy color underneath), raccoon print, letter A, adorable vintage wood bunny, vintage vase with fresh white roses, vintage mattress spring coil, white lantern, glass jar full of white candlesticks, vintage aladdin inspired brass mini vase, tattered vintage book from my childhood and another large white letter in front of a painted white mirror and white deer bust.

I'm loving the natural elements and wish I still had my fresh picked cotton stems to add as well. Anyone know where I can get some?

*****

And on another note. I decided to take the plunge and do a gallery wall over my couch. I laid out 3 different styles, I would love some input on which you think looks best.

1. aqua and white frames and white letters, the largest grouping

2. minus the aqua frames, medium sized grouping

3. minus the white and aqua frames, smallest grouping (though I think if I use this, I would lose the letters and put the oval frame in their place. (if you are interested on how the frame wall turned out, visit here.)

*Linked to The Nester's Mantle Linky Party,
Just a Girl's How Show and Share Day
at Kimba's of A Soft Place to Land's DIY Day 
Life as Lori's Get your Craft on Thursdays
The Shabby Cottage's Thursday Transformation
Women Who Do it All's Idea Sharin' Wednesday
Tales from Bloggeritaville's Thrifty Thursday
Between naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursdays
Jellybeans & Firefly's Show off your Stuff
Jessica's The Hills are Livin Favorite Things Friday
 It's not here at Life in the Pitt's Creative Therapy, but lots of good ones are.

Farewell December, Letting Go of Christmas and Decorating Wintery

paper deer craft by lindsey brackeen

I'm a little tormented. I was so busy moving and catching up on orders, I didn't post many Christmas ideas this year. Even though Christmas is over, I use this blog as a springboard for myself to reference for later, and I need to file these great ideas somewhere! So, this week will be catch up for me, then I'll get down to new stuff, mmkay? For now though, many of these can still be implemented as "winter" decor.

This little montage of Lindsey Brackeen's holiday mantle, my jaw dropped a little. I love the bright white, a bit of style and sparkle, without being too dark and heavy feeling for the holidays. I love how she hand tied the wreath with torn fabric scraps with her little boy. So sweet. The natural elements are wonderful as well.

Lindsey also made these adorable little gift tags you can use next year. I love here idea to use them as a garland as well. Visit here to download them.

Mobile Finery. Hanging by a Thread

franze straessle vintage toy and trinket mobiles

Mobiles. Gravity gracing, trinket laden, movable works of kinetic whimsy. They can be modern in design, vintage or organic. They can be colorful for use in nurseries or playrooms, or elegant enough for a centerpiece in a living room. They can be romantic and serene for a bedroom, or cluttered and crazy for a craft room. They can be a sophisticated and intricate piece of art, or a quick kid friendly craft.

rose and june handmade swallows mobile

You can purchase one made from specialty materials and expert craftsmanship, or you can create your own using bits of fabric or lace, tiny treasures, craft or homemade birds and nests, feathers, seashells, antique spoons, tiny bones, paper butterflies, paper anything, origami, glittered stars, photographs, fishing line, ribbon, embroidery hoops, wire, twigs. (Three tutorials in this post alone!) I have seen them in many themes, cars, flowers, magic shows, circus, sewing room, holiday, retro kitchen...

What a better way to enhance a corner with a grouping of lovely and little items? In the world of mobiles, the sky is the limit, truly. Even more mobile hangery ideas here at sew mama sew.  I know what I will be doing this weekend. Ready, Set, Collect!

 

ruffles and stuff twig and craft bird handmade mobile

 

joanna bean feather pyramid style mobile

 

rachel loves peace feather mobile

 

bware beach bones and seashells mobile

 

anthro design team for grayhood nursery

 

diy small magazine bird mobile TUTORIAL

 

spool sewing bird mobile TUTORIAL

 

feinedinge handmade butterfly mobile

 

roundhouse designs origami paper butterfly and  crane mobiles

 

hanging mobile gallery columbus 

 

karin eriksson ceramic mobile

 

yummy ink baby bottle and clouds eco friendly art mobile

 

frazier and wing unique cardstock mobile

 

lyndie dourthe flower mobile her site in french

 

trees and bees handmade scrapbook paper mobile

 

mamax2 pinwheel mobile

almost sunday designs ribbon paper butterfly mobile

chickpea studio fabric pinwheel mobile TUTORIAL

 

charlotte lyons wonderland mobile