Seeing Stars

Hmmmmn. I guess yesterday's post was a subject far too heavy for blog fodder? So, I'll keep that stuff under my hat from now on. Let's move along to something you all might find a bit more entertaining...

There's a current Facebook meme that is asking us to replace our profile photos with an image of a celebrity that we've been told we resemble. It's called the 'Doppleganger Meme'. Lucky me - I've been told many times that I look like film actress Diane Lane. I can not tell you how thrilled I always am to hear this! Have you seen her films? 'Unfaithful', 'Nights in Rodanthe', 'Under the Tuscan Sun' {one of my fave films} - and all those were just the films she made in her 40's! I love her voice, too. So, yeah, I'll take that comparison, thankyouverymuch!

So this would be a good time to share a little annoying habit that Deb has...
Ever since I can remember, people have reminded me of other people. As in: 'Oh, wow, she reminds me of....' or 'You know, she looks like...' Drives Bob CRAZY! He has asked me not to divulge this little insight to the persons involved {the one I'm looking at, not the one they remind me of} because it just might be possible that the person does not LIKE the comparison. I argued with this until the reality of it hit me square in the face.

Many, many years ago, waaaaay back in the early nineties, a woman who went to our church told me that I reminded her of Melanie Griffith. {I was blonde then}. OK! Not so bad, I thought, to be compared to a glamorous star when I was in reality the harried mother of four kids.

Then she added: 'Like, at the beginning of 'Working Girl'. {cue jaw drop}

Um, yeah, if you remember that film, the Melanie Griffith she is referring to is this one:

And yes, I did, indeed, look like that waaaaay back in the early nineties. I just didn't realize it until this gal pointed it out to me. I'm quite sure the expression on my face in  reaction to her comment was less than favorable. Thank God it was a dark night and we were standing outside her house when she said it. {If memory serves, I went to the hair salon the very next day to get my 80's leftover mall hair cut to shoulder length and tame those bangs WAY down.}

And so, my husband has held that over me for twenty years now. If I dare to say 'Doesn't she look like...' he cuts me off and inserts 'Melanie Griffith in Working Girl?'.
I never finish my sentence. I still START to say it, mind you, but his retort stops me short of finishing my thought every.last.time. Needless to say, this little Facebook game is both blessing and curse for me.

*I DO still say it to my daughter Beth who looks JUST like Audrey Hepburn, my daughter Jeni who really does look like Diane Lane, and my daughter Brianna who reminds me of a joyful smiling redheaded Julia Roberts {and she hates that comparison}.*

Anyway, are you playing this game on Facebook? What celebrity do YOU think you look like? Who do other people think you look like? {And are they the same?}

Photo Credits: Diane Lane ; Melanie Griffith

Enough is ENOUGH

sigh. Haulin' out the soapbox again, girls...
{This post also appears on my Retail Design Blog}

I just heard from a friend today that her fabulous business idea is being copied. By someone she has gone out of her way to help with their business.

Today I also read a blog post by an artist who was announcing that her own design has been picked up by a major chain. When I saw her design, I realized that another person, whom I know of, has been copying it and selling it as her own recently.

Last night, I read another blog post by an artist who was ripped off by the company she had licensed her art to. This woman has been through a nightmare - and it ain't over yet.

And last week, on Facebook and Twitter, I read that two friends' product designs are being ripped off - one domestically, one in Europe.

I've had my own run-ins with this over the past year - from having my design blog 'scraped' to make someone else money from ad revenues {generated from the content I wrote that he posted on his blog} to having my product designs for Retreat oogled at shows, 'covertly' photographed {um, yes, I saw you do it} OR had my photos snagged from my blogs, and then seen my products reproduced and presented as someone else's 'original design'. I even had my Facebook Fans & Friends lured to another Page - and I wasn't the only one these people targeted. Oh, yeah, then there was the client/frenemy who took all my submitted design ideas and told her coworkers and the corporation who employed her that they were HER ideas. {Ahem.}

There's even a blog devoted entirely to link ups where people can show off the things they have copied after seeing them somewhere else. ??

{Warning: Rant Ahead}

I'm done, girls. Sick and tired and DONE with these people. 

I am tired of people thinking it's ok to copy, borrow, lift, reproduce, 'appropriate', steal, and whatever else you want to call it. IT'S NOT OK!!!! Immitation is NOT flattering, it's not 'inspired', it's certainly not nice, and it's most definitely not LEGAL.

BTW, I'm not talking about Debbie Sue who reads a blog and sees a cute thing and decides to make it for herself. Creating is often inspired or jump-started by something we see - we start there and it evolves into something reflecting our own style. I'm referring to the deliberate taking of an original, unique product/idea/service and reproducing it for sale as your own design.

What ever happened to manners? To ethics? Morals? Doing business based on the skills and talents that you possess - not by stealing ideas and product designs from other people? I am tired of people taking advantage of other people. They've been getting away with murder, we've paid the price, and it's time to put a stop to it, for God's sake!

Owning a business is HARD WORK, my friends. It never ends. But all that hard work and late nights and no vacations and sometimes no pay for yourself is worth it when you come up with a great product or service, and people want what you have.

Unfortunately, some of those people who want what you have are untalented and underhanded, and simply steal it from you. They start a duplicate business, or they lift your design and start selling it as their own. And usually, they manage to market it to the very people who were actually looking for YOUR product or service, so the impact doubles. These are hacks, theives, slackers who want the buck without the work, the fame without paying the dues, and the limelight no matter how they get it. It's disgusting. It's wrong. And it's spreading like a freakin' epidemic - H1N1 has nuthin' on creative & intellectual property theft.

Here's what I'd really like to see:

A watchdog organization for creatives, designers and artisans that will publicize the illegal activities that these unscrupulous people have been undertaking. Something along the lines of 'the 3/50 Project' - but instead of promoting a 'shop local campaign', this organization will promote a cooperation amongst creative businesses to stop the rampant theft going on. Something like 'Blog With Integrity' except on a larger scale - not just blogs, but web sites, B&M's, shows, etsy, ebay, twitter, facebook, everything. Something with viral visibility, worldwide distribution, and a spitfire spokesperson like Cinda Baxter who will grow this thing fast. I ALSO want Wonder Woman and her rope of truth - 'cause they all deny it when they get caught.

I don't know how to do that. I'm trying to make a living running not one but two businesses, and I am not as proficient at getting the word out about 'causes' as I'd like to be. But I am compelled to do something about this mess, so I am going to do some research to find out what is already out there.

My question to you all is this: What can we do?  

I know there is something we can do. I know the power of a group is far more moving than the ire of one person. I know we can move mountains and change the landscape of business if we stand up to this.

Any ideas, brainstorms, or fingers pointed in the right direction will be gratefully accepted! Leave me a comment below, send me an email, hit me on Facebook ... just let me know what you think about this. Have you been a victim? Do you know of a growing movement against intellectual & creative property theft? Let's get together on this issue and make a change for the better. Climb up here on the soapbox with me....

I've also added links on my right sidebar, leading to other professionals who have strong thoughts about this issue. I Invite you to read their perspectives to learn more about why this affects us all. And many thanks to Cinda Baxter of the 3/50 Project, for the mention of and link to this post on her blog, 'Always Upward'. ;0)

Image Credit: linked from my design blog, 
photo used by permission from design*sponge Biz Women Series
{I wrote a blog post for them and have permission to use it!}.

Helping Hands Needed Now

I just read this on Jerusalem's blog and want to pass the message along to everyone in Blogland... Jerusalem received this email from Jennifer Bradley:

"Many of you are familiar with Gina Drennon at Feather Your Nest either through her lovely online store & blog (www.shopfeatheryournest.com) or maybe her store's many mentions in some of our favorite magazines & blogs. She has become a close friend of mine, and probably some of yours, and she needs our help.

Last week her dear husband died tragically of a heart attack. He was 39 years old & appeared to be in perfect health. They were high school sweethearts, had been together over 20 years and married 16 and spoke of each other like they were newlyweds--true soulmates. They have two beautiful sons as well, I cannot remember their exact ages but I know are middle school & elementary school aged. Michael worked hard for his family so Gina could live her dream of being a shop owner. And their lives have been turned upside down.

She quickly decided that she has must close her store so she can focus on her family & find a job that will provide a steady salary & benefits that they've now lost, & move on with their new life as soon as possible. The problem with doing it now is her store is located in a tourist resort & it currently "off season" which will not begin to even pick up for several months and not fully until late spring/early summer and her store isn't even open in January regardless. Selling as much as possible online as quickly as possible, will certainly help her out. 

We've all seen the mountains a group of bloggers can move when we band together. I'm kindly asking that each of you post something on your blog to encourage your readers to shop with her, and/or pass it on to others, tweet it, whatever. Gina does not know I am doing this, she is first very proud and would never ask for help, and dislikes any attention. But she is a generous soul and I have watched her donate goods and money to others in need more often than anyone. I feel helpless watching her struggle from afar & am trying to think of anything I can do to help. 

Currently she is trying to get her store back online. She had a friend just delete all the files off the site after his death and when I e-mailed her earlier she was attempting to re-upload all the files and then post notices....hoping to finish within the next 24 hours. She will start out with all merchandise at 25% off site-wide. 

www.shopfeatheryournest.com

www.shopfeatheryournest.com/blog

twitter.com/featheryournest

facebook.com/featheryournest

Thank you,
Jennifer Bradley"

I do not know Gina personally, though she and I were part of an online community for women entrepreneurs at the same time and 'chatted' on there a bit. But I know her story because it is mine, too... the love of my life is my husband, my high school sweetheart whom I have spent 30 years loving and living my dreams with. I cannot begin to imagine what sweet Gina is going through, but I can try to help her in her time of need. So can you - go to her web shop and purchase something, put this story and her links on your blog & Facebook profile, Tweet it, and tell all your friends about it. 

Let's help Feather a Nest Egg for Gina.

Let's reach out our hands and hearts to help a woman who is living through something each of us hope and pray we never have to face. Yet with Blogland being what it is, we know there will be loving, caring friends there to help us if we do. Bless you, Gina. *Apparently this effort has been ongoing for several weeks, even tho I just heard about it, and products are selling fast at Gina's online store. Way to go, girls!*

All You Need Is LOVE

 

... and some burlap & chalkboard paint!

Another LOVEly day, creating products for Sunday's show.

I hope your day is filled with love and creativity, my friends!

Change of Plan!

Oh, how I love to see that look on his face.

That smile, those laugh lines at the sides of his smiling Irish eyes, the way he tilts his head and looks at her. The expression speaks louder than words, and those words touch my heart. There have been moments in his life that there have been looks of pain, sorrow, anger, and defiance on that sweet face that have made me doubt my only son would ever truly be happy. Loving this woman has made him the man he always wanted to be. I am so proud of him, and so happy for them both.

I just adore the way they look at each other.... and I know that on that day, in that moment, when they stand before each other and speak their wedding vows {probably through both laughter and tears}, the smiles will be bigger and the glances more meaningful, and that the two of them will remember every second of it forever. And THAT is the important part of getting married, is it not?

A lot changed this weekend... and all of the big Texas wedding plans for April are off. Instead, our son and his girl will be combining their honeymoon trip with their wedding, and heading to Hawaii alone. Their 'wedding' will be a beautiful, romantic, relaxing moment shared just by the two of them - with the rest of us watching via web cam from the mainland! {God bless technology} Knowing that he will have that look on his face and she will have that smile on hers, as they commit the rest of their lives to one another, is truly all that a mother could ask for!

Oh..... well, that and grandbabies, of course.

More like this one, please.... ;0)

 

Bookish

I was looking for some images of old books...

what I found totally blew my mind!

Check out the artistic creations I found, and see more about the artists who made them by clicking on the links. The books above & below are from

Brian Dettmer

 

Brian Dettmer

 

Barbara Lazarus Metz

 

 

All Above: St. Ambrose University Library

blog.makezine.com

 

Keetsa.com

Apartment Therapy

I love using old book pages & sheet music to create things... which I am busy doing for some Retreat products...and these photos REALLY inspire me!

A Sunshine Symphony

Two days in a row of waking up to a clear blue sky and glorious sunshine pouring in my bedroom windows. Two days of temps warm enough to open the windows and let the fresh air into rooms long closed against wind & rain & cold. Two days of going outside in a tee shirt to work on projects, and walk around to see the bulbs peekin' up and the buds forming on the forsythia & birch trees. These two days have been a gift, and I am grateful...

Both days, I have flipped on the exterior speakers so that I can hear the orchestral strains of 'August's Symphony' {from the film 'August Rush'} echo across the yard & pastures...clear out to the barns. Along with violins and pianos, my spirit positively soars. {I've waxed poetic about this film and soundtrack before, so I'll try to contain myself here this time.} But I have to say that this piece of music speaks to my soul  - every chord releases the child within me that dances and spins and twirls and smiles and throws her arms open wide to embrace the sound, the song, the magic, the dream, and life.

Just listen to it, and see if it doesn't put a smile on your face and a song in your heart... {spoiler alert: if you haven't seen the film, this clip gives the ending away!}

"The music is all around us. All we have to do is listen..."

EmotiParti?

I posted this on my friend Lori's Facebook wall today: 

Time for a Birthday Party!!!

Happy Birthday Cake: 

-{[[[ 

 

Happy Birthday Ice Cream:

@>

Happy Birthday Balloons: 

o~O~o~O~o~ 

Happy Birthday Hat: 

*<( 

Happy Birthday Confetti: 

.::..:..: 

Happy Birthday Present: 

>o<

[+]

Happy Birthday DRINK: 

...()>=()

{Deb has spent waaaay too much time working on graphics lately...I'm starting to 'talk' in pictures.....}

Beach Bums

Bob and I met at work on August 21, 1979. But we officially 'got together' at Huntington Beach, lifeguard tower 17, at the Savanna High School Band Beach Party on the night of August 22, 1979.  It's been an adventure ever since! 

We didn't ever see one of these down at 'our beach', though.... as surfer Bob would say, 'WHOAH!' Seems it was quite a day in So Cal. Glad everyone is ok!

Springing Back

After yet another night of strong winds and little sleep, we awoke to clear sunny skies! What the....??????

The doors & windows were thrown open wide and we worked in the sunshine as long as we could today. Temps in the FIFTIES were simply sublime, and a stroll around the planters showed some greens peeking up to grasp the warmth. And as I was walking past the windowbox by the back door, I discovered that my daffodil bulbs had sprouted up beneath the Christmas greens tucked into the box. I removed the cedar boughs and now, things are beginning to look a whole lot spring-ier around here! Unfortunately, the sunshine didn't last all day:

"Sunshine was having a lovely romp across the pastures.... until Clouds came and took over. Bullies."

{Speaking of Spring, since it's her last name, I wanted to share that my daughter's surgery went very well! I updated yesterday's post below. Thank you so much for your prayers!}

A Helping Hand {UPDATED}

I'd like to ask a favor of you, my friends...

Could you send your thoughts and prayers to my daughter Jen?

She's an Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage Therapist & Instructor in San Antonio, Texas. {click that link to see what that's all about - and it's HER bare feet, not yours...go see!}

On Monday morning, Jen is headed to surgery.

Her right hand & wrist were broken a week ago in a random and senseless roller skating escapade. Given her chosen massage modality {one where she primarily uses her feet to treat people}, it isn't as catastrophic as it would be if she only used her hands to practice traditional massage techniques. However she still needs strength in her hands and arms to support herself during treatments and while teaching this modality, so much of her practice right now is being put on hold until healing has taken place.

I thank you for your prayers and 'thoughts with intention' that the physicians & surgeons on her case will be skillful, compassionate, and wise as they treat her. And that her recovery will be complete and expedient, enabling her to continue with the art that is her passion. She's a grown woman, talented and strong, with a successful business that she has worked very hard to build - but she's still my little girl. ;0) This mommy thanks you...

Edited Monday afternoon:
 Thank you all so much for your thoughts, prayers, and concerns for my girl today!

We received a call from Jen this afternoon, letting us know that she was out of surgery and on her way home. {This was an outpatient procedure}. The surgery went very well, no complications, all problems quickly addressed & solved by her excellent surgical team. She has five pins holding her forearm bones and her wrist socket together until healing begins, then they will be removed. Her hubby is taking good care of her, and she's resting. Her one concern was that her cast is a very bright green - "I don't know WHO picked THAT color!" she said groggily... yep. She's my kid!

Perspective

Throughout the day here on our island, the wind has surged and ebbed, like a tide of air instead of water. It comes across the pastures and SLAMS into the house, rattling anything not tied down and causing the windows to shivver. For the past few hours it's been growing stronger, the gusts more sustained than a blast. The beginnings of each new attack hit the walls like a train, shuddering the very timbers of the house and causing me to jump out of my skin every time. It is what seems like a ceaseless assault, lasting for an interminable amount of time before finally whistling off into the distance. It's been ten straight hours of this, pelted by rain and wind and the occasional {small} branch from a tree flying at my windows. I sit and try to work, in hopes that it will end soon.

And then I think about Haiti... another island, another kind of storm.

How the slamming assault they experienced was the cracking and crashing of buildings, soil, roads, and trees. How it lasted an interminable amount of time and then ended... but the screams for help have still not stopped. How those who survived search for others. And how they hope it will all end soon.

Makes me feel a whole lot selfish to be worried about some blustery wind, when I am inside a well-built house with a woodstove and electricity and running water. I even have food and aspirin for a headache. {Oh yeah - and a laptop and internet.} Meanwhile there are people in the world fighting for survival. And while sometimes in life I find myself thinking, 'Oh if only I had {whatever} then things would be perfect', well, from the perspective of someone in Haiti right now, I pretty much have perfection, now, don't I?

I realized today as I was thinking of and praying for friends, acquaintances, and people I don't even know that disasters really bring us ALL to our knees... whether we are victims or onlookers...and just perhaps that is why they happen. Because on our knees, our perspective changes.

We get closer to the state we are meant to always be in. On our knees in prayer / contemplation / meditation, life becomes more real, more precious, more meaningful, and our fellow man becomes our brother. I've often heard the phrase "I'll pray - it's the least I can do for you". I disagree - it's the MOST one can do for another. Give money, send donations, but get on your knees, too. The view really is different from down there...

Knit Wit

I had somewhat of a plan for my winter-into-spring decor {also known as 'post-Holiday replacement decor'} and it involved sweaters. I remembered this post from a few years ago and thought I'd expand on the theme, only using my soft pale neutrals this time. So, the little tidbit shown above was created - using a thrifted sweater with a perfect sparkly beaded snowflake on it. Fit perfectly into the swirly metal frame, which has been hanging empty on the wall just waiting for the perfect something to go in it!

I also changed the wreath on the front door {it had a sparkly 'celebrate' ornament on it for Christmas, see the shot in my banner above} to reflect our word for the year - I added a 'Blessings' ornament to it. You can't see it very well but it's on there, just above the burlap & vintage ribbon bow. The wreath is wrapped in an old chenille sweater scrap.

Also from a few years ago, this wreath ^. I sold it. And now I wish I hadn't!

So anyway, those things were done and I was getting ready to do some more sweaterin', when I got the new issue of Country Living magazine. And right there, on pages 98 thru 101, there's a story called 'Knit Wit' {love that!} - and it shows how to use sweaters for unusual decor accents. Lamp shades! Vases! Pillows!  I was inspired the first time I did all of this sweaterin' stuff by Danny Seo, former contributing editor to Country Home magazine {a moment of silence in its memory, please....} and now editor-at-large on stylish green living ideas. It was a kick to see the 'resurgence' of the idea with these new interpretations.

So anyway, the rest of that 'sparkly' thrifted sweater plus a few others I had just tossed out of my {newly cleaned & organized} closet became further fodder for my craftiness...

There's more of the same everywhere - like pillows covered in heavy cable-knit sweater bits, and more clear vases with scrunchy sweater cuffs over them and the pillar candles IN them, but I figured you might get bored just seein' all that over and over again {especially since it's been dark and gloomy here so my photos are not exactly 'crisp'.} So, I leave you with the last shot: Another 'Blessings' ornament placed just inside the front door in a very appropos combination with our 'welcome' Scrabble tile message. This photo is now my laptop background {and a nice reminder of our 'mantra' everywhere I turn!}

It's a nice warm cozy feeling... which I like when the wind is howling at 25 miles per hour and the rain is pounding my windows. I just wish I had a soft fuzzy sweater left to WEAR, 'cause now I can't get warm!!!

Photo Finish

Well. Blogger is NOT cooperating tonight.

I had a buncha' fun stuff to share, but I can't upload any new photos.   

pfffffffft!

I guess I'll try again tomorrow.

For now I'll just say thank you again to sweet Kimberly Taylor of Mimi Charmante, for her lovely photos of some of our little things from Retreat. She shares many of her marvelous photos in the Fall 2009 PORCH magazine, shown above (which I have just received, due to my laziness in ordering). We are in very good company in this issue of the magazine - so many inspiring artisans and vintage mavens out there!

I don't know how we landed in two magazines in an equal number of months, except due to the marvelous photographic talents of two sweet friends. And perhaps some fairy dust! I am just sitting here thanking Kim, Robin, God, {and basically everyone I've ever met in my life} for all of the blessings coming our way. Thank you....

Queen for a Day

Sue emailed me and asked if it would be possible for her to buy one of my original Junk Queen Crowns... I said sure, and since I'm not set up for online sales (yet), she sent me a check the old fashioned way. When I opened the envelope, I found the sparkly little treasures shown above - isn't that SWEET?! What a doll you are, Sue!

Thank you so much for this kind and generous gesture.

So, one of these

was wrapped and packed up carefully

and is on it's way to you in Phoenix, my dear.

(You'll be the height of fashion when you wear it, I'm sure!)

{{My original Junk Queen Crowns will be available online this spring... they'll be one of our offerings for the BarnHouse online Marketplace. We're just not sure yet when the Boys plan to feature Retreat.... but as soon as we know, I'll share the news}}

White Flowers

Today I finally managed to take down and pack up all of the Christmas decor around here. Tomorrow, I'll be on a cleaning frenzy, followed by some freshening up of our rooms. I'm inspired by this photo of Queen Anne's Lace: delicate, snowflake shape, white color with a bit of brown in the background. I've got some plans rolling around in my head for our house for this winter/early spring involving lace, burlap, galvanized metal, white ironstone, clear glass, and white flowers. A lighter, crisper look than Christmas, but in the same color family.

This flower also reminds me of a funny story...

In 1992, my mom, my sister Lin, and I traveled to Kodiak Island, Alaska for my younger brother's wedding. We were at the hotel for the wedding, and the hour was drawing closer - with no flowers. The florist was M.I.A. Phone calls and even a 'runner' were sent out to find her and get the flowers to the church on time, so to speak. No luck. (I don't know HOW they couldn't find her - Kodiak ain't that big!) My poor sister-in-law-to-be was getting a bit concerned, so my sister and I tried to be helpful and find a solution.

Looking outside, we saw some HUGE white Queen Anne's Lace flowers growing wild in a field nearby. I mean, like, dinner plate size flowers. We thought up a great plan: we could go cut some and create a big frothy white bouquet for the bride, so she'd have flowers... so we went to the front desk and asked for a pair of scissors.  As we were heading out the door, the florist pulled up, so our little mission was canceled. The bride got her bouquet of roses, the room was quickly filled with blossoms, and the wedding went off without a hitch. (If memory serves, the florist had been delivering flowers to the old folks home and was running late because they all wanted to talk to her. ???)

While sitting at a table during the reception, talk turned to the hectic hours leading up to the ceremony. Lin and I shared our brilliant solution to the flower dilemma - and receive horrified stares in return. Our new sister in law gasped "I am SO glad you didn't do that!', so we asked why. Turns out those really pretty lacy flowers are NOT Queen Anne's Lace, they are 'pushkins' (?), a poisonous P.I.A. wildflower, with little hairs sticking into your hand the moment you touch them. Apparently it makes you swell up, HEAT up, and turn red - AND can cause anaphlactic shock requiring hospitalization.

Can you just IMAGINE what the two sisters of the groom would have looked like at the ceremony if we had actually picked those flowers?? Not to mention the poor bride, if we had handed her a bouquet made of these things? Our brother laughed, by the way. Called us 'city girls'. I guess we deserved that then, since we were still living in SoCal... now that I live in the Pacific Northwest, I just walk right on by those big old flowers when I see them growing wild!

Sweet Tooth

I've had fun putting together the newest theme for our space at Poppyseeds.... although my original plan was nothing like this. No, no, I woke up one night at about 2 AM with this in mind - and started all over! (Was it the result of too many Vanilla Cokes and sugar cookies? Could be.) I was actually inspired by my eighth birthday party, with pink pink pink from the streamers to the hats to the cake. This is decidedly more foofy and frilly and feminine than what we normally create, but hey, I figure it's the time of year for it!

I went OVERBOARD (what? Who? ME?!) and created a bunch of my fun 'FooFooFauxFood' (TM) products - from bon bons & candies to cookies & ice cream to cake & cupcakes - and filled the room with cuteness. This is a great theme for a party, whether you are five or fifty five - every girl looks good in pink, right? I hope you see some inspiring ideas here for parties of your own! (You know, I'd love to produce & style stories like this for magazines...)

If you want to see more of this sweetness, please visit our Retreat Style blog. VIsit our space at Poppyseeds Home Decor Boutique to purchase any of the goodies you see ... but you'd better hurry: Retreat will be ending our time at Poppyseeds on January 28th! We're gearing up for some new adventures. ;0)

What's Your 2010 Decor Style?

It's been a long day and I'm really tired, just sitting here surfing the net. I was reminded by my LinkWithin widget that I had taken a cool design style quiz last year about this time and blogged about it, sooooooo I headed over to Sproost to take their absolutely amazing Decorating Style Quiz again. I know my style is changing & evolving, so I was curious about how they'd classify it with their 'style engine' quiz... and the first of a new year & new decade seemed like a good time to do it!

Well... they hit it right on the head!

 I am 40% Rustic Revival style - and here's how they define that:

"You can take kid out of the country but you can't take the country out of the kid... or is your theme "you can take the kid out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the kid?" Either way you play it, you are one of the unique individuals who loves a mix of modern and country. The clean lines of the modern softened by rustic /vintage elements is the perfect mix in your mind. You've taken the best aspects of two popular designs and mixed them in a manner that appeals young and old alike. A subtle background of white or light colors provides a nice canvas for all the wonderful flea market, eBay or garage sale finds as well as the classic modern pieces that you love.

The material palette for urban country runs the gamut because of the two extremes being mixed. On the country side you see a lot of wood, woven rope, canvas and linen, rustic metals and wrought iron, cowhide and vintage leather. On the more modern side, you see acrylic, satin and polished nickel and chrome, glass, faux fur, refined leather, fiberglass and sleek woods. It's the mixing of these elements that makes the style work so well. Seagrass and other natural woven materials are often used for floor coverings. Concrete and natural wood floors are very popular, and work really well together.

When it comes to color, think light, casual and airy. White, pale gray or beige, khaki and sage; all of these colors make nice, subtle backdrops for Urban Country style. Think of the colors of natural linen, concrete, and if you'd like to go dark, use the dark brownish-black of iron or the deep burnt orange of rust. The key is to keep the spaces feeling open and yet warm, and by going light on the walls and major pieces and more color on the accents and accessories you can achieve this mix really well. "

Yeah, that's me all right. ;0)

So what were 'classic' style choices last year have morphed into an industrial rustic vibe... something I already knew, actually!

I'm also 40% 'Nantucket Style' ( just like last year, and since it's not limited to the East Coast hierarchy, can't they call it 'Seaside' or 'Beach' style?!):
Since your true inspiration is the sea, the colors and textures in your home are the same that you would find at your favorite beach: white, light beiges and grays of the sand and driftwood, a variety of blues for the ocean and sky, and greens and vibrant blues of the sea glass... but the key is white! Your space should feel light and airy and give off the mood one has when at the beach: laid back!

20% is 'Cottage Chic' (which is a HUGE change from the 'French Eclectic' category that snuck up on me last year!):
"Who says that cottages can't be modern and chic? Who says that they have to be floral and cheesy? Not you! You love the carefree spirit that the cottage interior inspires, but you are also serious about your appreciation for modern art and hip treasures. You love old and new alike, and love to highlight them all to expose the uniqueness of each. What better way to show off these treasures than with a light background?" I really like that description... Cottage style isn't just pink roses and lots of lace! And the only thing I don't like about that photo above is that it's blue. Not a big fan, except for blue skies and blue jeans. And my birthstone, pale blue Aquamarine. (OK, I guess I DO like blue - just not in my rooms!)

I love Sproost's philosophy of design...fits right in with the way we approach design with our Retreat style for rooms, furnishings & accessories. Here's how they define themselves: "Sproost is unique because we focus on your style. Not what the 'market' likes, not what trendy people like. What you like. We use this understanding to create unique home designs for you, let you show them to your friends, and connect you with retailers who have the exact products you're looking for. How we understand your style is Sproost's secret sauce — we call it the StyleEngine and you should try it." Yes, you should!

What are you waiting for?  Visit Sproost.com and take the quiz!

Image Credits: Sproost.com 
All descriptive text in "quotes" is from Sproost.com.