retro to go feature

Retro To Go thinks our domestic diva mug is perfect for tea.  Here’s what they have to say about it, "As regular readers are aware, we love a large cup of tea, so we’re always pleased to see more retro-styled ways to drink it – like this Domestic Diva mug.

Made of porcelain, they’re dishwasher and microwave safe and feature a design right out of a 50s domestic handbook, with the slogan: "A well dusted home is the sign of a wasted life."

Click here for more retro wares.

luxury housing trends feature

Luxury Housing Trends likes our frog tape dispenser.  We think he’s pretty cute too! Here’s what they have to say about it, "If you use your home office for work and paying bills, it’s probably a place you associate with serious times. If you wanted to add a bit of whimsy, something that will make you smile, you could get some fun accessories. I’m not sure this frog tape dispenser would actually make paying bills fun, but it might turn up the corners of your lips when you look at it. If you’re still shopping for Christmas presents for people (or haven’t started yet), it could also make a unique gift. At the very least, you’ll know the recipient doesn’t have one already…."

Check out more lavish goods for your home here.

ned and shell feature

Ned and Shell think our fireplace dvd is pretty nifty.  Here’s what they have to say about it, "Who needs a fancy schmancy REAL fireplace when you can have an Instant Fireplace? This DVD is a must have for all you gals out there looking to create a little holiday ambiance. It’s a great conversation starter and a perfect kitschy gift for anyone who longs for the comfort of a cozy, crackling fire. We know it seems cheezy, but trust us on this one–you’ll be fired-up you did."

I recommend signing up for their Weekly Dose.  It features fabulous goodies and wonderful bios about creative and entrepreneurial women.

rare bird finds feature

Rare Bird Finds blog thinks our flower salad servers are swell!  (I love their blog by the way and read it regularly …they have great taste)

jessie’s girl never sounded so sweet

Ahhhh the 80’s… grab your rubix cube, a can of ‘new Coke’ and slip on your pegged acid wash jeans for a walk down memory lane with your favorite hits only with an acoustic twist.

I couldn’t resist givin’ you a little love from Mr. Springfield (even though this isn’t the acoustic version)  After all he was the original Dr. McDreamy.

no more itchy sweaters

With the temperatures dipping down in the single digits lately, my sweater rotation has been on the upswing… so when I spotted this clever under garment it perked my interest.

I think I need to add a couple of these to my wardrobe for numerous reasons…

~ it’s lightweight, whisper-thin, form-fitting fabric that adds no bulk under clothing (because who wants to look bigger than they are!?)

~ it takes the edge off itchy sweaters and stiff suits (ahhh… I can wear my angora sweaters freely)

~ it serves as a clothing "liner" so you can dry clean and launder less (it’ll pay for itself in no time)

~ it catches embarrassing perspiration (even when you’re under pressure, no one will spot it)

~ it’s long in length, stays tucked in and hides the muffin top (my personal favorite benefit)

on the road again

My third and most enjoyable stop of my a.i. paper trade show tour is New York.  We schedule in a couple extra days so we can play in the city a bit. 

First comes work though… here is my husband Steve setting up our booth.

In a matter of 3-4 hours our booth showcasing all of our latest designs is set to go.

We spend the next five days writing orders for stores and galleries that would like to carry our goods.

After the show is done, we pile all of our wares back into our crate and it’s shipped off to the next destination… Philadelphia.

anthropologie windows

I always enjoy perusing Anthropologie’s store windows in Birmingham, Michigan… but when I saw the displays at the Rockefeller Plaza Anthropologie location this past January, my jaw dropped.  They truly are works of art.

Here’s a close up where you can see they took a gardening book and made it come to life by actually having greens come directly out from the pages.

yes… those are individual blades of grass coming out from the dirt!

Those are all live vines planted in the perfectly arranged hanging zip lock bags… oh-so-tedious!

This one makes me laugh and is probably the only display I would have the patience to put together.

abc home – 6 floors of WOW

When I strolled by the entrance of   ABC Carpet & Home on Broadway in NYC I knew I had to explore further and I am so glad I did.  It was full of fantastic finds and everything they offered was put together so beautifully.  Here are just a few photographs to tempt you.

get the lastest dish on broadway

I love shops stuffed to the brim with wonderful wares (what a surprise, huh?)  and Fishs Eddy  of NYC doesn’t disappoint.  They carry a fun assortment of lovely dishes, flatware and glassware.

Some of my favorite dish designs include the bulldog , spot on dinnerware (how fun would that be to pair up with bright solid plates?) and dirty dishes by Cynthia Rowley … because some dishes are meant to be dirty (he he)