introducing...Dear Stella!

After 10 months of pouring my heart, time, and creative energy into this exciting new fabric line, the day has finally come.  Dear Stella officially launches this weekend in Houston, Texas!  I'll be sure to post plenty of pictures when I return, but in the meantime, check out our website which we've been slaving over the past couple of days making sure all the t's are crossed and i's are dotted.  A couple of my favorites from the line, (although, mentally I've already moved on to Spring 2012!)

Lots more to discover at www.dearstelladesign.com! Including fun projects & our new blog.  Enjoy!

Oh Baby!

Hello, my sipsters! Sorry it's been so long since I last checked in.  You can expect a little insight in to why I've been missing-in-action later this week.  Some really exciting news just days away! In the meantime, I wanted to share some photos from a baby shower I co-hosted on Saturday for our good friend Ashley.  Laurie and I had just as much fun planning as we did throwing the party itself!

It's probably no surprise that one of my latest obsessions are these striped party straws!  No party is complete without them in my mind.   We decided to serve grapefruit mojitos in mason jars, another one of my loves, (with or without vodka of course). I ordered the straws from the sweetest shop on Etsy, Bab's Giddygappers.  Check Rebecca's shop out here.

Laurie's gorgeous apartment in the West Village made the decorating easy.  We kept it simple with flowers and a clothesline.

Another favorite detail; these adorable cookies by Truly Scrumptious Cookies.  Not only are they super cute, they are also delicious!  I've had my share of decorative cookies that have left my palette unsatisfied and dry, but these cookies are seriously good and an exception to that rule.  Check out the TCS shop here. 

We sent Ashley off with some "wishes for baby".  A fun keepsake Baby P is sure to chuckle at when he or she learns to read.  You can download from Lil Sugar here.  

How cute is this mom-to-be? Congrats Ash! We can't wait to meet Baby P! xoxo

Pleats and Posies

It's one of my favorite months of the year & it has been absolutely gorgeous here in NYC.  After all those April showers I'm especially appreciative of the gorgeous May flowers!  You'll find me frolicking around town in lots of pleats, one of my chosen looks for spring. 

images: A Cup of Jo, Atlantic-Pacific blogspot, Lanvin via LoadofChic, prettystuff.tumblr.com, poppytalk, 

A Royal Bouquet

Like just about everyone in the world I couldn't wait to see what Kate's dress looked like.  She certainly lived up to the hype. Holy stunning!  But the 2nd must-see on my list was her bouquet.  The more I read about it's meaning, the more and more I love the delicate work of art.  A few facts you may or may not already know-

The shield-shaped wired bouquet was made out of the following meaningful flowers; 

Lilly of the Valley - Return of happiness, purity of heart and sweetness
Sweet William - Gallantry, smile, finesse (not to mention his name)
Myrtle - Love (the stems from a myrtle planted by Queen Victoria in 1845 are traditionally used in all royal weddings bouquets) 
Hyacinth - Constancy of love.

All of the flowers used were grown by UK growers or cut from the royal estates.   I also can't help but notice the way they mimic the intricate lacework of her dress.  Designed by Shane Connolly it is absolute perfection!


photos: US Weekly, Details: here

A Room With A View {Above!}

Hi friends, sorry I've been M.I.A...things have been busy on the career front {read: I love my job!!} and I was feeling a bit blogged-out.  But I'm back & recharged and have been meaning to share this photo below with you.  It's from the latest Lonny and I'm just oh-so-smitten!  How funky, fun, & glam is this living room!?

Lonny S2011

I now have a tiny obsession with wallpapered ceilings.  No surprise since pattern is what I do for a living, and in my mind there's really no wrong place to put it.  So I started doing some digging.  Here are some more beauties to inspire...

apartment therapy

design sponge

the decorista

desire to decorate

Things are looking up! What are your thoughts, would you paper a ceiling? I say 2 thumbs way up.

Happy Spring!

happy spring!! It's finally here, ahh. What's first on my to-do list you might ask?  Get the bike tuned up and the tires pumped because I'm headed for a nice ride to the botanical gardens with the hubby asap!  We made it, lovelies, and I'm chucking my puffy down coat out the window for good...tomorrow.

image via Love Stoned

Dreaming: Dining Alfresco

While perusing my blog roll I came across the beach setting above, a perfect birthday party over at Olivet.  Can I come?   We're "springing" the clocks forward this weekend which can only mean one thing- long spring & summer nights of alfresco dining ahead!

images:  Heather Bullard, The Style Files, Olivet, Stella & Dot

Trending: Black & White Stripes

images:  New York Magazine (Spring Fashion 2011), Unknown via Pinterest, Kelly Wearstler blog:  My Vibe My Life, From The Desk of Lola, Elle Decor, Kate Spade, Houzz, Matchbook Magazine, Roger Vivier.

Yes, Please!

Simply a great use of space here, and a library I'm dreaming of...

ZigZag Nation

Zigzags and chevrons are everywhere!  Are you still loving like me or ready to straighten things out?

images: design sponge*, jonathan adler, push the envelope,casa sugar, houzz, unknown, west elm

Mellow Yellow

I've feeling very mellow & yellow today.  Specifically, I'm gravitating toward yellow and grey. I know it's not a ground-breaking colorway, but it is one I think we are going to continue to see a lot of. 

How great are those papers!?  Check out Avie Designs here.  And I am loving that paisley over sized chair.  I'm dying to know the source! Anyone have an idea of where I can find my own?

Also still coveting chevron rugs and this one is no exception. I'm about to take the plunge....

I've shared these stairs before, but more and more I keep seeing patterned steps and I just think they are so clever and fun.  More here and here.

Inspired By: Spools of Color

I came across these spools of thread on Pinterest and thought they created just a gorgeous color story.  Paired with this country chic arrangement and I'm truly inspired!

Repurposing The Old Barn Door

Recently on pintrest I came across the two pictures above.  I had to do a double take to make sure they were not the same room. It's not everyday you find a yellow lacquered barn door in the bedroom.  But it reminded me of how much I'm loving this trend.  Bringing a rustic old barn door inside and giving it a chic new purpose.

I'm just smitten about living room for so many reasons...one being the sliding barn door partitions on right.

Love.  I will definitely be filing this idea away for my dream home one day. (Which by the way is the beauty of Pintrest, they do it for me! You MUST* check it out...www.pintrest.com)

images: Pintrest & Houzz