Magical...

May your weekend be likened to this gorgeous garland {don't you just love metaphors?!?}. I hope your days are filled with small moments of vivid color and sparkles all strung together for an amalgamation of wonderment. 

{Lovely garland from Confetti System. Spotted on Knack.}

Words...

"One kind word can warm three winter months."

Japanese Proverb

Breathe it in...

This is like a breath of fresh air all wrapped up in a flood of natural light and whimsical color.  Sigh.

{Invigorating image by Pia Ulin, as seen on Lotta Agaton.}

Infuse, then imbibe...

Infuse, then imbibe.  This is my {brand new shiny} mantra.  My dabble in infused vodka seems to have peaked a few curious imbibers, so I thought I would share a recipe or two {or three}.

First, from Sweet Paul {I lovingly refer to him as Mr.Martha}:

Fig & Vanilla Infused Vodka
1 liter bottle
1 liter vodka
1/2 pound dried figs
1/2 vanilla bean {cut in half lengthwise}

Combine all ingredients in the bottle {I use this beautiful little bottle available here}.  Let stand one week.  Discard figs and vanilla beans.  Serve on the rocks in a tumbler with 1/2 fresh fig as a garnish.  I also did a modified version with pomegranates and cranberries {instead of figs}.

I spotted my second vodka adventure here, Coffee Vanilla Bean Liqueur {from Molly Watson at The Dinner Files}. Time will tell if I have the patience to wait four to six weeks for this delicious and dark liqueur to brew.

The third vodka adventure was truly an adventure.  I threw six candy canes into a pint of vodka {the plan is to serve it with homemade hot chocolate}.  It's still brewing...but it's already delicious.

Merry infusing.  Merry imbibing.

Flying squirrels and vintage plaid...

It's the season of gift guides. Here's a {tempting} little tease of my personal gift guide suggestions...

{Click the links below to visit each individual gift guide.} 

  

For Him {Flying squirrels and vintage plaid}

For Her {Vegan leather and metallic pig banks}

For Spaces {The places we live in and the kitchens we cook in}

For All {Give personality and charisma this year}

Quiet whispers...

elle oh has been a little bit quiet this week - mainly because life has been a little bit loud.  I blame the holidays {'tis the season}.  This delicate and feminine glimpse from Knack is seducing me with whispers of playful colors.

{Every single time I visit Decor8, I find something I love.  Today was no different.}

Words...

"Some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end.
Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and
making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next.
Delicious ambiguity..."

Gilda Radner

Vintage aeronautics...

This print of vintage aeronautics is laced with the intricacy of scientific drawings and the whimsy of imagination.  I would like to dangle this glimpse of hatch marks and hot air on my wall.

 {This image was found floating on Design for Mankind - originally from Wikipedia.}

Tree...

This brings a whole new meaning {sculptural & dimensional} to the traditional triangular tree full of prickly pine needles.  Something to contemplate...

{Eldrid has explored her imagination and found this wildly creative use for bringing nature inside - her intention was to create the ambiance of sitting magically under a tree.  It is magical.}

Naked?!?

Is your coffee table naked?  You can consider me your personal coffee table librarian.  I curated a list of fifteen must see, must experience, must read books {see link below}.  Bound wonders full of wit, illustrations, creativity, and photography...

{Fifteen books to covet!}

Snow is glistening...

Just a handful of snowflakes to put a hint of glisten in your weekend...

{This bit of wonderland is by Charming Liisa found here.}

If only...

If I had an industrial vintage metal locker, a camel colored cruiser, and this plate collection - I wouldn't need a wish list.

 

{This perfect vignette was resting here, at one of my favorite places of online real estate.}

Words...

"A perfectly kept house is the sign of a misspent life."

Mary Randolph Carter

Tis the season...

It's the most wonderful time of the year.  My {long, winding} weekend was sprinkled with shopping and infusing vodka.  That is wonderful.

{This festive glimpse is from the portfolio of James Merrell.}

Grateful...

Wishing you a gorgeous Thanksgiving full of gratefulness - may you be surrounded by delectable dishes and delicious souls.

{More perfect vegetables from the lens of Katie Quinn Davies.  Yes, I have a crush on her.}

Sultry and savory...

The subtle smell of sweet pumpkin is floating in the air.  Here's a flirtatious amuse bouche to tease your senses on the eve of the most gracious day of the year.

I have recently rediscovered the savory texture of beets hiding under saturated color and sultry curves.  Katie Quinn Davies has perfectly captured their charisma.  Wander over to one of the most beautiful places and feast on the gorgeous styling and delicious recipes of What Katie Ate.  Mmmm...

Curiosity...

I love the wonder of intricate details.  Photographer Idha Lindhag captured these details beautifully - my imagination is gushing wildly with the curiosity of what lies beyond the boundaries of this image.

{Another lovely find from my muse, Lotta Agaton.}

Solid precipitation...

Yesterday brought the first sprinkling of solid precipitation, covering the ground like a knit blanket and making me lust after this fireplace.  Then liquid precipitation washed it all away {except for my mantle craving, of course}.

{This gorgeous dichotomy of simultaneously warm and cold was found at Tomorrow's Parties.}

Circus act...

I could use a touch of over-sized golden circus propaganda resting on my wall.  Could you?

I thought last week's whimsy needed company {more musings from Christine Rudolph.}

Words...

"Every child is an artist.
The problem is to remain an artist once they grow up."

Pablo Picasso

The perfect afternoon...

Swirling in pristine white cotton layers amidst a shell of beautiful decay flooded with gorgeous natural sunlight.  The perfect afternoon...

{Lovely photographs by Graphics Pixie.  This afternoon of bliss was spotted at Bodie & Fou.}

Adjectives...

This image is twirling with adjectives.  Gray.  Modern.  Wood.  Industrial.  Blue.  Soft.  Metal.  Espresso.  Rustic.  Effortless.  Oh, the adjectives!

{This heap of deliciousness is from Fritz Hansen - as introduced by the lovely Emma.}

Psst!  Click over to EcoSalon and enter this giveaway for two {yes, two!} scrumptious bamboo fiber pashbus.  Oh, and since the giveaway is for two - if you win, can I have one?!?  Pretty, please?

Water droplets and pine needles...

Heavy, opaque water droplets floating just above vivid green tree limbs bursting with pine needles.  Mmmm.

{Gorgeous photograph, Appalachia, by Valerie Chung. Spotted this beautiful glimpse of Mother Nature on Automatism.}

Ravishing...

How is this for a ravishing little vignette? 

{Photograph by Mikkel Adsbøl as seen on Emmas Designblogg.}

Temperature therapy...

This combination of textures is the cure to winter.

{This gorgeous and inviting interior has been wandering around blogland and landed in two of my favorite places - Hviit and Solid Frog.  See more at Skona Hem.}

Words...

"All the effort in the world won't matter if you're not inspired."

Chuck Palahniuk

Whimsical...

Mmm...capricious curves and vivid colors.

{I know, it's a rerun - but I had an insatiable craving for whimsy that only the musings of my favorite stylist can satiate; Christine Rudolph, I adore you.}

Parlez-vous français?

La Maison Pujol - I wouldn't mind meeting you.  I find your vintage typography irresistible.

Explore the rest of this delicious bed and breakfast here. 

Naked...

My life {er...couch} feels naked without this {I know, the melodrama is palpable}...

Click here for more of my Hviit winter wish list...

Long necks...

Long necks and vertical striations lounge in this image of graceful giraffe's lingering among bold shadows.

This beautiful glimpse is from Lotta Agaton.  Swoon.

November polish...

It's time.  Peppermint Mocha.  Sip.  Sigh.  Sip.  Again and again.  Mmmm... November's niceties sure add a bit of polish to my day.

This refreshing glimpse of wintery bliss is from one of the most inspirational places - The Society, Inc..

Ephemera...

This illustration {Raiders of Their Host's Riches} by Jason Holley danced from the artist's mind while looking at Victorian ephemera.  Sigh.

{Thank you Automatism for the introduction to Jason Holley.}

Paper personalities...

These greeting cards from Tokketok are exquisitely simple.  I cannot wait to meet these beautiful paper personalities at little winter. 

Oh Oliver...

I was sifting through my archives and found an industrial charm in Copenhagen that deserves another visit.  This is the charming antique shop of Oliver Gustav on the bottom floor of an old distillery.  The second floor is the gorgeous masculine home of Mr. Gustav. 

{You can find the original post here - with an extra dose of delicious visuals.}

Enticing...

The allure of this necklace is {almost} enough to have me grabbing for knitting needles.  This lovely mess of cords is vying for a place in my wardrobe.

{This Six Cord Knitted Necklace from A Alicia is screaming my name from across the pond.  Thanks for the introduction Lisa!}

Still delicious...

The only thing that can adequately accessorize this delicious vignette is the equally satisfying living room from the same home.

{Photography by Pia Ulin.  Styling by Lotta Agaton.}

Nature...

Today I raked {hundreds of} leaves for {multiple} hours.  When the dust {er...leaves} settled, the yard looked exactly the same.  I lost.

{This whimsical image is from the by nord catalog.}

Waterworks...

This is kind of amazing.  Actually, this is completely amazing.  If only this weekend's precipitation came in the form of woven textile whimsy. 

{This charming trickery by Nemie Goudal was found posing gracefully on Design for Mankind.}

Bones...

Oh my.  I need this dark and brooding jaw bone dangling over my collarbones - the mixture of metallic glamour is almost unbearable.  This porcelain skunk Jaw Pendant makes me weak in the knees.

Well done, Beetle & Flor.  Well done.

Chromatic theology...

Explore the depths of black as the Chromatic Theology series continues.

Each post in this series explores an individual hue, but the characteristics of the topic color can be translated into tints and shades. Keep in mind that the effects and emotions we discuss are most prominent and intense in pure, saturated color. To some extent, the distinctive attributes of black will be present in color variations - charcoal, black bean, cast iron, domino, pewter, etc.

BLACK is a powerful color that exhibits strength, dignity, and formality. Black can translate to the epitome of elegance and sophistication. Like white, excess black can cast the notion of emptiness or boredom, except with heavy and depressing implications. Add a dash of casualty by lightening the severity of black and selecting a shade of grey {ranging from dove to deep charcoal}. Because saturated black can be imposing, avoid using expansive solid black color in small spaces, or infuse intimacy in a large space by intentionally using large amounts of solid black color. Combining black and white in one cohesive color scheme uses sharp contrast to achieve crisp, tailored results; the same color scheme can be harsh and austere when unsuccessful. If your personality walks on the serious side, but with an added dose of mystery, black might just be the color for you.

Want to get acquainted with the rest of the rainbow? Indulge in the rest of the series with these previous posts. This wraps up the session on color theory and psychology. Any questions?

{Images from The Style Files.}

{This series is also running on EcoSalon!}

Arithmetic...

Spam minus preservatives plus cotton equals tea towel perfection {click here for more of my whimsical tea towel obsession}.

Hawaii, I miss you.  I miss spam musubi, tonkatsu, bento, plate lunch, shave ice, and blueberry beer, too. 

Glamorous shadows...

These photographs from Ditte Isager are a gorgeous exploration of the depths of charcoal grey.  Oh, Ditte, how I love your work. 

Words...

"It's never too late to be who you might have been."

George Eliot

Typography please...

Oh, la la.  Need more?  Me, too.  See the rest of the space {and it is a gorgeous space} and devour my words here. 

{Blissful photography by Petra Bindel.  More of this eclectic glamour here.}

Chromatic theology...

Plunge into a pool of untainted color culmination {white} as the Chromatic Theology series continues.

Each post in this series explores an individual hue, but the characteristics of the topic color can be translated into tints and shades. Keep in mind that the effects and emotions we discuss are most prominent and intense in pure, saturated color {pure, unsaturated color in this case}. To some extent, the distinctive attributes of white will be present in color variations - eggshell, gardenia, snow, cream, moonlight, ivory, etc.

WHITE often reveals clarity, innocence, and pure simplicity. White is the perfect palette to make architectural elements sing. Nearly all colors tend to distract from and compete with architecture and furnishings, but white elevates and emphasizes style and aesthetic details. White embodies the power to transcend climate, radiating warmth and coziness in the winter and offering fresh, cool relief in the summer. If used in excess, an entirely white interior can appear unfinished, empty, sterile, and bored. But when combined with the right elements and proportions, white is an inspired way to capture innocence. This color is charismatic and pairs well with all other hues, serving as a great frame for more aggressive colors or simply gleaming on its own.

Want to get acquainted with the rest of the rainbow? Indulge in the rest of the series with these previous posts. Come back next week to explore the depths of black.

{Images from Elle Oh.}

{This series is also running on EcoSalon!}

Saturated...

The saturated and deep hues of this linear harvest on Helt Enkelt caught my eye.  Delicious.

{This gorgeous photography comes from the talented lens of Anna-Malin of Helt Enkelt.  My endless gratitude for letting this image linger here.}

Gray and gorgeous...

Forty-one degrees outside this morning - which is {exactly} forty-one degrees shy of my ideal temperature. 

{These lovely shades of overcast skies were lingering on This is Glamorous.}

Chromatic theology...

Sink into glamour with a drip of royalty as the Chromatic Theology series continues.

Each post in this series explores an individual hue, but the characteristics of the topic color can be translated into tints and shades. Keep in mind that the effects and emotions we discuss are most prominent and intense in pure, saturated color. To some extent, the distinctive attributes of violet will be present in color variations - lavender, plum, eggplant, periwinkle, magenta, etc.
VIOLET is a secondary color with a challenging personality. Take a mental meander back to elementary school and recall that violet is a mixture of red and blue. This specific combination of hues is ambivalent, as a heavy dose of tension exists within violet’s conflictions of warm and cool, calm and intense. Spaces and color schemes implementing violet are often ambiguous and dramatic. Pale tints {amethyst and lavender} boast whimsical and magical reflections of light, while deep shades {eggplant and plum} are symbolic of dignity and regality {and sometimes laced with a threatening undertone}. If you are new to the world of color, or your eye is less than impeccable, avoid saturated violet tones or dabble with caution {sometimes the power and force of pure drama result in discord and uneasy aesthetics}. Oh, but when violet is applied with skill - the result is stunning success, insinuating artistic expression and sensitivity.
Want to get acquainted with the rest of the rainbow? Indulge in the rest of the series with these previous posts.

{Images from The Society Inc..}

{This series is also running on EcoSalon!}

Mmmm...

This glimpse of metallic typography, an industrial light bulb, pristine white, and a few leaves is perfect.  This little bit of brightness is from Cherry Blossom. 

Meander over to EcoSalon and devour my recent words {take a look, maybe even leave a comment or rate my words}.  Soak in the talent of photographer Mikkel Vang and the beauty of Thailand.  Peruse the wooden delights of the sweet little store Canvas.  Enjoy the lovely, lovely words and creativity of Kelle Dame with this week's handpicked take on vintage crates {and visit Ms. Dame's blog - she is a girl of genuine charm}.