TEA AND COFFEE ACCESSORIES ON HOUZZ

I do product research for Houzz every month and it's a project I am really enjoying.I get to choose the category of products which I then research, dig around the internet, write the accompanying blurb and "go public" with my Ideabook.Here's the latest one which seems to be quite popular!
"Tea and Coffee Accessories"

Houzz-

One of the questions I received on Houzz was asking for my favorite tea. I can say, without hesitation, it is Assam. I like it very strong... I let it steep for about three minutes, then add sugar and cream.

 I mail order my tea, by the pound, from Simpson & Vail in Brookfield, Connecticut. Now in it's second generation of the Harron family, it's a small, well managed, very user friendly importer and retailer.
They were featured here in the December issue of Brookfield Magazine.

Are you a coffee or tea person? Or perhaps both? Where do you get bulk coffee and/or tea?

GARDEN TRELLIS

This is NOT your average garden trellis!

I've been looking around on line this morning, for a totally different project, when I came upon this FABULOUS trellis.

It's from TerraTrellis and it's made in the U.S.A.

lots of other colors available

or this "Akoris Garden Tuteur Jr.":

or the "Gracie Modern Arbor"

Such fun ideas and colors for the garden... take a look!

I'm tempted...very tempted.

TIME FOR SOME ANTHROPOLOGIE

They've done it again:

 the designers at Anthropologie have come out with some mighty fine designs!

From cute shoes to asymmetrical hem skirts and dresses to delightful scarves to fun jewelry...

what a collection. 

Take a look at the Anthropologie site and see if you're not tempted.

Such fun shoes in every color and texture

Bright, whimsical scarf:

Some Tangerine Tango anyone?

I have a soft spot for their necklaces:

That's it for this week. Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

VALENTINES FROM ETSY

Just a few more weeks to go until 

Valentines Day.

I was looking around Etsy (and a few other places), knowing I would find some wonderful things, and sure enough, they did not disappoint me. I went looking for "seasonal items": things that were not necessarily red (or pink), that didn't necessarily have hearts anywhere on them, and items that could/would be used for a while. There were certainly lots of hearts; lots of vintage paper valentines; and oh so much red and pink.

But here are some more unusual and unique finds that I think you may like!

This was love at first sight! Great shawl/wrap (and it comes in other colors).

"Passion Petals" watercolor for year round viewing.

Graphic crochet necklace!

A fun "window garland" ; this from Noodlehead blog.

Toile pillow: it looks vintage, but is fresh and new

Fun clutch made from red paper wrappers

Sequin key chain/fob! Never seen this before....

From J.Crew: the perfect pink ballet flat.

"Letters From Paris" earrings. Love them.

These pillows ARE vintage and just scream Valentines, no?

One more classic: the red clutch, this one vintage.

Did you find something you simply must have?

EASY, EDIBLE GIFTS

Long ago and far away... well, that's how it seems right now!

I was in Provence. Last October. 

And we went to several 'marches' or outdoor markets.

Among many other purchases (!) I bought some Herbes de Provence.

Even the label and ribbon make this an easy sell, no? 

Herbes de Provence contain dried thyme, basil, lavender, fennel and savory. These can vary and others can be added. But it's a wonderful combination for so many different dishes. This one bag is MUCH too much for me: it would probably lose all taste by the time I finish it. So why not give some away?

But of course, packaging is all.... so off I went to find some jars.

And then to make some labels.

First, I designed the labels in Photoshop. Made an oval, then dropped in the two color border, selected the font, and saved.

Next I printed the ovals on sticky labels: 

Then I hand cut each oval:

And put them on the front of each jar:

Love them all lined up with their colorful caps!

Next up was adding my name/label to the back:

I tried some in a slightly larger, but not quite so eye-catching, jar. 

Success! Hope all the recipients out there are enjoying your "Herbes de Provence"!

LAUNDRY ROOM REDESIGN

Time to talk laundry.

 We have a laundry room: from the garage you go directly into this room, then a few steps into the back hall and you're in the kitchen. It's a nice size room: about 10' x 12' and has an east facing window for lots of morning sun. Those are the basics.

What's in it? When we moved in there was a washer and a dryer and a deep, free standing, plastic utility sink.  Nothing else. Oh, yes, some shelves on the wall, right over the washer and dryer so of course I can't reach/use them as they are too high up and far away! Thank goodness we brought some old bookcases with us for storage.


I'm embarrassed to show you...but here goes. One of the offending corners of the room:

What a complete jumble:

 more of the sight for sore eyes:
cookbooks, vases, baskets of hardware and lightbulbs, my bean pot...you get the idea.

We're getting estimates for redoing this room! I've added and subtracted cabinets, corner units, glass doors etc. several times. But we're getting close. Oh, thank goodness for blogs and for Houzz and the internet in general for SO many great ideas!

The MOST important element in re-designing this room is the fact that...

ta da....

1. I DO NOT USE a dryer. Well, maybe three times a year. At most. I hang up all my clothes and sheets and towels. Much to my disappointment, we are not allowed to hang any laundry outside here (home owners rules..) and I do long for my wonderful, long clothes line of former days. So be it. I have a portable clothes liner/hanger for small things, and have then rigged a retractable clothes line across the room for sheets and towels. 

2. Yes, we inherited the former owners washer and dryer. We'll talk about this later!


3. I have been looking everywhere for just the right air drying "system" for my laundry room.
Right now we have this:

On the right there is a sheet hanging up on a long clothes line that extends across the room.

Really, it works beautifully! They dry in a few hours, no matter the season or weather.

Anyway, I searched all over the internet. And HERE is what I came up with:

It's called the "Leifheit Teleclip Airdryer"

and is sold exclusively by Lakeland and only in the U.K.

Yes, I looked everywhere. 

This one, from Ballard Design, had almost found a home with me, when I came across the Airdryer.

It would work... but takes up A LOT of wall space, and I don't really like the overhang effect.

To make a long story even longer... I had put the Airdryer picture on one of my Pinterest boards,

"Laundry Room Remodel"

The most surprising and remarkable thing (to me, at least) is JUST HOW MANY TIMES this image has been repinned and liked. I am absolutely amazed. Every time I check my email... every time... a few more people have repinned this image. How are they finding it? What are they 'searching' for? Laundry ideas? Clothes lines? I have no idea. But there are A LOT OF PEOPLE out there looking for ways to hang up their laundry! For all you Pinterest followers and users out there: this image has been repinned over 325 times in a few weeks. 

Which leads me to the next image: my newly arrived Airdryer!

I ordered it on a Saturday afternoon. The line itself is not expensive: 25 pounds, which is $38.00. But the shipping, from UK to the US, is 28 pounds or $43.00. So I ordered it. Do you know, it arrived three days later? Now, it's hard to get that kind of delivery from ANYONE in the U.S. alone!

It is going to be just perfect under that window (see image above of present drying rack). 

So now you know. 

Once again, I just checked my email and four MORE people have repinned the item!

And yes, I wrote to the company saying they might think about promoting this item in the States. Obviously, there is quite a demand!

To be continued....

CHIC PROVENCE: SPRING TOUR OFFER!

Please welcome our newest Friend and Sponsor: Chic Provence!

Kit Golson is the woman behind this beautiful, dreamy, lovely blog.

I've been following Kit for years... after all, as a devoted Francophile I can never get enough of anything French.

Here is what Kit has in store for you: 

Are you longing for some time in sunny Provence? Would you revel in days at open air markets, sitting in cafes in the warm sunshine, spending hours at "les brocantes" in Isle-sur-la Sorgue, or taking a cooking lesson in an ancient chateau? Look no further!
Kit has organized a spectacular week in the South of France from May 11-18.

Imagine.... waking up in this bed:

or having your morning cafe here:

Here is the "schedule" for your week:

pas mal?/not bad no? 

Kit has also extended the $300 early registration discount .... so, what are you waiting for? 

Click here to go to her site and register.

But PLEASE be sure to take lots of pictures and report back to us, yes?