CHIPPENDALE CHAIRS

I know these faux bamboo chairs are infamous and fabulous statement pieces, but ever since I pinned this picture the other day they have really been on my mind! I would love a pair for Melrose's dining room. Have you seen any at thrift stores lately?

via atlanta homes

I know people can find amazing deals on these at antique malls and flea markets, but I have not been very successful! I did notice last night that Ballard Designs has a great option for these chippendale chairs - not in this awesome fire engine red, but in some pretty neutrals. Do you have any chippendale chairs in your current decor?

Macau Armchair - available in black, white, and natural (like below)

Macau Side Chairs 

Here are some other beautiful rooms displaying their collection of Chinese chippendale chairs.

I love the fun fabric paired with the white, classic furniture

 via elle decor

via

 I love the zebra cushion - maybe the black or white Ballard chair with a funky print!?

 via lonny mag

 via

 via urban grace

via rue mag

Have a fabulous weekend!

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT: matthew "boyd" tuggle

Here are some more recent baby announcements I designed that I thought I would share. Like some of my previous designs I posted, I printed 4x6" photos at our local Wolf Camera and paired them with Paper-Source's Pool envelopes. I painted a watercolor background to match the envelopes and hand wrote his name in calligraphy. We attached the photograph to the background and created an overall 5x7" card. I really like how the fading watercolor stripes turned out and how they picked up the teal in his sweet picture. 

If you are interested in custom design work, please feel free to contact me!

PARK CITY, UTAH: recap

We returned home from our anniversary trip late last Monday and ever since I have been going non-stop! I feel like I have had something to do every night of the week and lots of freelance work -- not to mention I am still exhausted from our "vacation". Skiing was an absolute blast, but it is a lot of work! Especially when it is your first time out West and your competitive husband is dragging you down blues on your first full day of skiing! Eek! 


Overall though, I think I did pretty good ... I had a few crash and burns that scared Brandon more than me, but for the most part I stayed intact and only came home with multiple bruises, a sore ankle, and a stiff jaw. We are all ready planning our next trip out West! Anyone interested?


Park City was absolutely gorgeous and we had beautiful weather - everyday consisted of blue skies and 50 degree weather. The first day was pretty hot and we had to adjust quickly and remove a few of our layers, but we were better prepared for the other days of skiing. We even came home with a little sun on our faces - such a nice surprise for the first of March. There was decent snow despite the warm temperatures and only a few low areas were slushy. We skied The Canyons our first day (where I enjoyed a half day of ski school!) and Deer Valley the last two days. Our hotel, The Hyatt Escala Lodge, was at the base of The Canyons so it was a great ski-in/ski-out option.

We enjoyed dinner two of the three nights off of Park City's Main Street. It is obviously the place to go! Our first night we ate at Wassatch Brew & Pub and it was delicious! Here we are "cheers-ing" with two of their local brews.

Here are some pictures from the rest of our trip (via our phones).

enjoying lunch and a quick beer at the base of Flagstaff Mountain

It was a great trip and what made our anniversary even more special is the gift Brandon got me! I am so excited because Brandon gave me a gift certificate for a Lulie Wallace commissioned painting. I have all ready emailed Lulie a few images from our wedding - my bouquet, bridesmaid's bouquet, and table arrangements - so I can't wait to see what she comes up with! I promise, I will share a pic because I know it will be beautiful!

And, since first anniversary gifts are "paper" it fit perfectly! I gave Brandon a few wedding pictures to put in a frame on his dresser and at work and a book that I think he will enjoy. All consist of paper :) I can get cheesy and buy in to fun challenges like yearly anniversary gifts.

What did you get/receive on your first anniversary? I would love to hear your suggestions because I racked my brain for hours before deciding on a book! I hope you all have a great week and are able to enjoy the beautiful weather! 

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT: frances "mims" pate

Here is a baby announcement I recently completed for a friend's sweet new baby girl. Not only is she completely adorable and I could eat her right up, but how precious is the name Mims!? The parents did not find out the gender of the baby so when baby girl arrived, they were ready to girly up everything! 

I wrote her name and monogram in calligraphy and paired it with a delicate floral illustration for the background. I used Paper-Source's persimmon envelopes and had the photos printed at our local WOLF Camera. The pink, coral, and mint green worked perfect with the black and white photo (taken by Hillary Gamble of Je Vois Photography). Thanks Ann Yates!

look at that cute little monogrammed hiney!

If you are interested in custom design work, please feel free to contact me!

DREAMING OF SUMMER

Now that the sun is starting to prevail over the overcast clouds and rainy days, I am really getting anxious for summertime. I feel a little guilty all ready pleading for hot, sunny days considering we haven't even experienced a true winter, but I'm a summer girl! I am really working hard on Brandon to get permission to do a little work on our backyard this Spring. I posted last year about how I really want an arbor above our stone patio - and that is still on the list, but I am hoping to also include some landscaping and possibly a stone fireplace! I would love to be able to entertain outside and enjoy a fire on a chilly night.


I have been pinning a lot of outdoor inspiration lately and I am loving the creative ways people are using outdoor pavers and tile. We currently have an area full of pebbles (used to be for parking) that we would love to remove and lay down sod, but I am thinking this would be an awesome alternative. What do you think?

 this whole set up is beautiful ... take me there ... now

 chevron pattern using pavers? I like this idea ... 

 checkerboard style alternating tiles and grass

I really like the idea of having a patterned stone area similar to these and an open area of grass. Maybe I can work this out and convince Brandon how amazing it will be, and worth the investment! So beyond removing all the stone and laying sod + tile, I would love a stone fireplace. Here are some beautiful inspiration photos from my pinterest board. 

this is a cute, quaint area to relax and entertain

 or do you prefer modern and abstract?

 check out the fireplace in the background ... I think this is my favorite photo even though it isn't in full focus. I like the firewood storage on either side and the darker brick.

 now this outdoor kitchen is amazing, a food lovers dream, but not reasonable for us! I am totally digging the arbor with furniture and the fireplace at the foot ... very similar to the layout I want. 

 white washed brick!? ya'll know I love white ...

Do any of ya'll know of a reasonable landscape architect (in the Birmingham area) who does similar projects to these that I can contact? I am hoping to call and get some prices to see what we can do. Wish me luck! (especially in persuading Brandon ...)

all sources via my pinterest board

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT: anne lewis botsford

Here is a baby announcement I did for some close friends last year. I have really enjoyed watching Anne Lewis grow and it is amazing how much she has changed since this picture. She is such a joy!

I wrote her name and monogram in calligraphy and printed them on Neenah's Classic Crest in brilliant white and layered the back with Neenah's Sundance Linen in natural white. I love the contrast of the two papers and the soft pink really helps "girly" up the simple design. I paired the announcements with Paper-Source's blossom envelope.

If you are interested in any design work, please feel free to contact me!

STATIONARY: brodie alan brock

I tried to photograph a lot of my recent (and by that I mean, in the past year) projects yesterday so I am hoping to share a lot of my design work in the next few posts. I know I am super behind, but it is hard to stay on top of things! I am also hoping to revamp the blog and add tabs along the top to show examples of my work for new/potential clients.

These were some flat thank you cards I created for a high school friend's new arrival. She sent me a few images of the fabric used in his nursery for inspiration. I wrote his name in calligraphy along the top - simple, but sweet. I printed them on Neenah's Sundance Felt paper in natural white and paired the cards with Paper Source envelopes in pool. 

If you are interested in any type of design work, please feel free to contact me!