Black Lace

Right now, I am loving pieces of clothing with black lace. They just add such a romantic and seductive feel to the piece.

I just adore everything about this piece, from the neckline to the embroidered black sequins. It's just simply divine.

(1. Spicyforum, I don't remember the rest of the photos)

French Elegance

I'm really loving vintage clocks and trunks. They just add a simple touch of Frenchness into a room.

These vintage clocks would look fabulous displayed up on a mantel, whether by themselves or with a cluster of vintage clocks collection.

This lovely romantic clock below can be found at lauraashley.com

I love everything about this vintage clock, from the faded and old look, the chipped cream and gray paint, the soft pink roses gracing the center, the French words, and the Greek numbers. I just simply adore this vintage piece.

I adore suitcases and trunks because they are such a lovely display and can house as a storage spot as well. Isn't this flower painted suitcase just adorable?

(I forgot where I found this image.)

And big trunks like the ones below can be used creatively as a sturdy coffee table.

(Find these lovely trunks at Great Room Decor.)



(I think I found this at one of my reading bloglist. I can't quite remember.)

Ink-pen Drawings

These are my first attempts at ink-pen drawings; they aren't the best, but they turned out relatively okay. I got really inspired after seeing some fabulous ink drawings on Google so I tried my own. Ink pen drawings are a bit tricky though since I can't erase them. On these two drawings I just started right off with a pen so maybe that's why there were a lot of mistakes on them. I think they would have turned out better if I started a rough sketch with a pencil first - but then that ruins the spontaneity though.

This was the first one, and I messed it really bad on her eyes. They aren't symmetrical with each other in that perspective, with one being way bigger than the other and my alignment of them is off. I think I should start with the left eye just because it's easier for me to coordinate accordingly using the right on (from my eye perspective).

This one was a bit better although I did mess up on the mouth a bit. It was supposed to be from a self-portrait but I don't think I was highly successful LOL.

Empty Frames Decor

Empty frames are a lovely decor embellishment, don't you think? They are so simple yet also alluring with a hint of elegance. What I really love about empty frames though is that they aren't costly decor since you can find some lovely ones at your local goodwill for a small price. I adore chiseled amber wood frames the most because they are so versatile with any color and texture against a white wall.

Publish Post

Falling In Love With Flea-Market Style

Flea-market style decor is fabulous. I love how the decors are not perfectly matched but they implement each other through their color, style, and texture. What flea-market style says to me is that a room doesn't need to be adorned with expensive and perfectly matched items to have grace and style. You can decorate with anything as long as you are creative and you do it with love and zest and your room will simply show that. As Sam Keen eloquently said,

"We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly."

I think that quote just fits flea-market style perfectly. Each piece is old and rusty, but so lush and rich with history that to see its grace and perfection requires a keen eye. Flea-market style is not for everyone, but I simply love it. I wish there were some flea markets near where I live because I would really love to go to one. I just adore looking at old, antique things even though I may not buy much, or if anything at all. Sometimes just looking is enough to satisfy me. =)

A Disappointing Birthday

It was my birthday this past weekend, and my boyfriend did literally nothing to make it special for me. I don't expect anything grand or big from him, but he could have done something small and special like a card and flowers. It's not like I get cards and flowers every week so surprising me with them would have made me really happy. But no, he didn't do anything at all! We went to St. Paul for the weekend since his baby sister's birthday was on the day after mine, so I guess he thought that celebrating our birthdays together was making it special enough for me. But it's not! It may be selfish, but I wanted something personal from him. Is that just so much to ask for??? I was already bummed out since it was raining the whole weekend so we didn't get to go to the flea markets up there, and he didn't even do anything to make me a bit happier.

I feel like whatever I want to make me happy, I have to tell him what it is specifically. That's fine, but sometimes I just want him to know and surprise me. Why can't he try some new things and see if I like it instead of me suggesting it to him all the time because doing so just takes the romance out of everything.

No one is perfect, and being romantic is one of his shortcomings. But why can't he at least try to be romantic on my birthday????

Gosh, I am so very disappointed in him.

Vintage Keys

I'm lovin' vintage keys right now. They would just look so lovely on silver chains as necklaces because they're simple, yet also elegant and lovely. I have two key necklaces, but I would love to collect vintage keys and display them in a collection.

(Pictures from flickr & google)

IKEA

Oh, how I wish I was living in the UK right now. It seems like my favorite designers are located over there, like Cath Kidston and IKEA. I just love IKEA furniture for their simplicity and moderate pricing.

The Ektorp 3-seat sofa sells for £263.28. But in the U.S. which takes into account shipping charges and the difference in currency, the sofa price rises up to $400, which is still a relatively moderate price for a sofa. This sofa would look great in my living room, but sadly, I can't afford it on my budget right now being only a poor student.

I also love the Liatorp bookcase. It's a lovely mixture of country and modern.

A Beautiful Dream

These lovely works of art by Shana Rae are like visions in a dream. They are simple, soft, and thoroughly captivating. This lovely woman has so many beautiful prints that I wanted to buy them all for my home, but sadly, I don't think she offers them in prints. Maybe it's a good think she doesn't since I'll probably be broke buying all her prints ;p. They are just lovely, lovely, lovely.

Edit: She does have prints available! Her website is called Flora Bella. =)

(Pictures taken from flickr.com)

My Dream Kitchen

I love kitchens that have both style and function because a kitchen is one of the few places that brings a family together. Almost all families eat together in which thoughts, laughter, and sometimes disagreement are professed between them. The kitchen really is the one place where you most often see everyone - a lively place of cooking and laughter - so it should perform for the family occupying it. A family should create a kitchen to fit their style and needs. And this is what my future dream kitchen would look like.

I would have beautiful wood counter tops and white open-cabinets. Not to mention, I would love to collect white dinnerware as well.

The moldings would be this lovely.

Stainless Steel appliances are a must...

Floors and a table this lovely and elegant.

There will be plentiful of flowers....

An old, rusty wooden sign would hang somewhere....

And last but not least.....I must have a lovely blackboard for quick messages.

Inspiring Fashion: Kate Towers

Kate Towers has designed such simple lovely dresses! I love how she mixes a romantic elegance with classic modern lines in her designs. I love all her designs and photos - conveying a story behind each design. I had such a hard time choosing which designs to show because I just love them all. But in the end, I came down to these few dresses. If you want to see more of her work visit her site here.