a bit of bling & how i store it

Any extended period of time that I spend at my parents house usually results in sifting through their old stuff and calling it my own.  This trip home, along with some furniture pieces, I also received some old brooches and costume pieces from both my mother and my meme. My mother gave me the gold leaf brooch and the retro gondola which was a souvenir she received from a family member from Venice.  My meme handed down to me the enamel victorian brooch and the jewel encrusted oval which will both get a lot of wear this year. 

During the winter I wear these a lot to embellish my coats and jackets, but I like to keep these pieces on display with my everyday jewels. My jewelry I keep on hand on my grandmother's vintage teak mail sorter.  My watches I keep on a vintage saucer from a tea set.  They are everyday items that add interest to my simple bedroom credenza.

a new old desk

When my dad was in highschool he made a drafting desk in woodshop - a flip top desk on an x base that resided in our utility room when we were kids and which has spent the last 10 years in storage in our shed.  So I brought it back with me for use in my apartment. 

The desk now occupies and unused corner of the living room which once held an ottoman that I've repurposed in the bedroom.  The space is just right for it - small and tucked away from the main sightline when you enter the apartment.

It's perfect to hold my current reading and upcoming projects and all my craft supplies are housed within.  I was also able to hang my grandparent's trader blanket off the rear rail.  Although I was originally thinking of painting out the top of the desk - I've decided that the patina'd masonite top is just right for my space.

holidays 2011-2012

Happy New Year everyone and I hope you all had a wonderful holiday.  I was spoiled with 2 weeks away from work and spent it with family, friends, doing a little bit of travelling to small towns in southwestern Ontario, relaxing and eating.  Here are some of the highlights from my holiday.

Said goodbye to the two build projects I'm PM'ing...

in favour of open skies and open fields.

The holidays are so much more enjoyable with a little one around.

Relaxed with Lucy.

Did some antique shopping

Experimented with some festive nails

And enjoyed the first official snow fall. 

How were your holidays?

alice's first trip to see santa

Didn't exactly go as we planned.

Maybe next year.

happy 29 rebecca!

Wishing a very Happy Birthday to my little sister Becky, who this year has accomplished so much - she's a new bride, has one stellar year of grad school at American University in an amazing and elite program under her belt and is changing the lives of children (and their families) with learning disabilities at the Lab School in Washington.  As I said in my wedding toast to you, you can not believe how utterly proud I am of you Becky, the beautiful woman you have grown into and all the amazing things you do and accomplish each and every day.  Hope you have a wonderful birthday with the hubby!

xoxo Sarah

sitting pretty

Chair number 2 is now done from this trio of pint sized seats.  Soon Alice will have her full tea party set.

sarah sells sea shells

Finally took home the copius amounts of sea treasures my parents brought me back from Florida last year.  Trying to bring a little warm weather feeling into the apartment after a decidedly fall-feeling week.  Perhaps some more island flavour is needed to welcome in the weekend. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

happy anniversary

Mom and Dad - Congrats on 33 years!  Hope you have a wonderful weekend away!

xoxo Sarah

PS I'm aware I keep posting this picture, I just love it so much!

happy birthday ryan!

Wishing my wonderful brother all the best on his 30th!

happy birthday jen!

To a great sister and a great mom.  Happy Birthday!

alice in "one"-derland

Happy Birthday Alice!  Cake and cupcakes by my incredibly talented sister and Alice's mom, Jen - kids headwear by me (idea via Prima Dance Ballet Studio).