So my secret sources (okay, really one of you, leaving a comment on this post) say that the next hot trend will be: stags.

I’m still rooting for the bear:  see this image from April’s Martha Stewart Living.  I love the mirror with the bear underneath.

Top image via E. Soule’s Etsy shop.

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

O Spring!  O Nature! These lovely drawings by Kirsty Hall over at The Shiny Squirrel caught my eye!

PS check out Kirsty’s year of drawings (on the back of envelopes!) here.

Happy Friday! More parrot tulips, and some queen’s anne lace. More photos here. Thanks Tim!

Before: Target plastic trashcan, circa 2000

After: Faux bois Martha Stewart wrapping paper transformation, circa 2008

Cost, $5 (wrapping paper on sale at Micheal’s: $1 and glue $3.99).

Let’s hear it for 2008 and finishing projects!

Parsons is having a (free and open to the public!) conference April 4th and 5th on the future of interior design that looks great.  More here.

I’m in need of a bulletin board — something close to my desk where I can tack up reminders and bits of inspiration. I haven’t found anything from the usual suspects (C&B, Staples, etc) that I thought was beautiful and the right size for my somewhat awkward desk area. So, I decided to make one! I’d been keeping my eye out for nice frames on Ebay anyway so when I saw one that was large enough to be a medium sized bulletin board, I bought it ($42).

Next stage, removing glass, applying cork (around $11 a roll at Staples) and foam core backing ($5).

I’ll post as it comes along!

How fantastic is this photowall/gallery wall? I love the gray wall color too. And, best of all this is from a “real person” (vs some glossy design mag or stylist’s website). Yes, a real person, like you or me (well, she’s a dermatologist by trade, so maybe not exactly like you or me). Check out the rest of Amy’s house over at Decorno (the first of my daily reads).

I say: Bears are the next hot design icon.

Check out Sandra Healy ’s Etsy Shop for 249 other species.

Even more goodies in the shop!

If you happened to receive this gorgeous package in the mail on the rainiest, grayest day of winter, wouldn’t it just make your day?

Well, *I* did receive it from wonderful Melissa over at Yummy Goods. She is a terrific person, a talented designer and has nothing short of a yummy blog.

Thanks for my wonderful package, so full of delight!

This week I’m loving green parrot tulips — something I’ve always admired, but never purchased.

(Reason 2,118 I love NYC: parrot tulips, $8 on the street).

UPDATE: Here’s another shot of the flowers as they opened. Also, and this doesn’t quite qualify as a “tip” but I’ve been using Brita water (filtered water) for this arrangement and the water is staying SO much clearer. If I use straight tap water, the water gets slimy and cloudy in 24 hours. The filtered water is still clear after 3 days! I personally hate dirty water in arrangements and I hate changing the water everyday, so this has been an awesome discovery on my part.

I’m always interested in workspaces and inspiration boards and immediately wanted a closer look at this confection on Style Court.

Mostly, however, it reminded me that I would love a trip to the beach.

Oh Domino Galleries, why do you torment me? I’m looking for two mirrors for the apartment and just sort of fell in love with this one.

I’m a big fan of clipping, saving little bits of everything that delight you. I saw this art this morning on lovely blog Fine Little Day and am in love!

I’m interning this term in the Wallcoverings department at the Cooper-Hewitt, and in the course of my research I came across the website/ gallery of Chris Beetles (who seems to specialize in representing children’s book illustrators).

This “burning the camel on both ends” from illustrator Simon Drew made me smile (since I’m up late). Keeping me company while I work is a great funk radio show (Night Train) on Columbia’s student radio station (WKCR 89.9). I highly recommend the show and all of the WKCR programming. Little known fact about me: I had my own late night jazz and blues show in college!

I also spied this illustration on Chris Beetles site and was cast back to childhood — to reading, to being read to and the wonder that illustrations gave me then, and still give me now.

PS What are everyone’s favorite children’s books? Mine are Hop on Pop, Scupper’s the Sailor Dog, The Littles and more that will surely come to me… The Runaway Bunny, Good Night Moon…