I’m playing catch up from being so busy — doing laundry, making lists, finally mailing some Etsy orders.  I’m also thinking about planting the terrace this weekend.  How much would I love a real backyard like this? via fun new Australian interiors blog The House that A-M Built, found via ABT.

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Come on, let’s go!  I spied this lovely on Absolutely Beautiful Things, which always raises my spirits.  I particularly like the wisteria growing on the porch.  The house were I grew up had wisteria just like this.  I used to babysit three of the sweetest kids in the world who lived in a tiny cottage about the size of this one.

Today I’m presenting on this Delft tea caddy, and then, I’m so ready for the weekend!

I’m giving a presentation on this 1840’s painted table and I’m thrilled to have my first exhibition review run here!

I came across this tale of a woman who just couldn’t stop buying things via one of my favorite blogs, Yard Sale Bloodbath (yes, it is as good as it sounds).  The hoarding woman went on Oprah, who helped her organize her belongings and sell the rest.  The shot above is from the mammoth yardsale they had afterwards, where they made $13,000.   The story of what they found under the piles of stuff is horrifying (in two words: black mold)! 

This is a duct tape floor, via Crafster, via Cribcandy!  Of course, I’m sure this might leave residue on your floor (duct tape seems to leave residue everywhere) but I love the idea some how.  I’d want to do pink or white.  Of course, I wonder if it might not be better to just PAINT your floor (I’ve seen lovely floors this way), as it might be a whole lot less work (and cost less).  I think paint is cheaper than duct tape.

 Anyway, I’m in the library as we’re in the final stretch of the term, so just a quick break.

I’m a container gardening nut — I spent the morning cleaning our terrace and getting ready to plant them for the summer.  I love the phrase “city gardens”.   I’ll be heading to NYC Grows (a urban gardening celebration) in Union Square tomorrow.

How delicious is this bouquet designed by Nicolette Camille? I love the light, the furniture, the beautiful green bowl. Discovered on charming new blog, Urban Flea.

(and Design*Sponge too!) 

I love how bouquets evolve over time — these tulips are so lovely now that they’ve opened! Happy Friday!

Here are some quick links to my favorite DIY projects!

A fun trashcan makeover, an elegant DIY watergarden, a practical bulletin board.

I ran around the MOMA Color Exhibit last week with this lovely lady and one of my favorite bits was this installation of colored electrical tape by Jim Lambie on the ground floor. I’ve always secretly hoarded colored electrical tape (and I made my mother ask the dry cleaner for the colored tags they used to code clothes too). Yes, I have a thing for color. So, I really liked to see art from electrical tape. I think this would be beautiful in a small entry way, or mud room.

See a review of entire exhibit here by Phil Patton on the AIGA website.

So I’ve been doing my part to live green (changing out the energy inefficient light blubs, running my recycled paper through the printer a second time before recycling it, washing out ziplock bags, using vinegar to clean the toilet instead of bleach softscrub insanity) but one area of living green has evaded me — reducing my intake of plastic containers. Culpruit #1: my morning iced coffee’s plastic sippy cup.

So here is my request to the cool designers, coffee conglomerates: please develop a reusable iced coffee container. I know I could use my regular recyclable thermos, but I don’t want to. I want the look and feel of the typical iced coffee container in a reusable form. Please?

PS: I just discovered artist Elizabeth Perry’s daily drawing journals (image above) — I think you’ll like them as much as I did.

PPS: Just as I posted this I got an cute email from Emily over at Evolve (check out her Earth Day posts), announcing a Spring Cleaning Treasure Swap! Sounds like so much fun, so check it out.

Tulips and magnolia trees on Park Avenue made me love the city today.

I try not to post toooo many painfully expensive beautiful items on my blog for two reasons: I think living beautifully/creating personal style should be affordable and second, there are a lot of bloggers who post about gorgeous, expensive eye candy far far far better than I can hope to. That being said, I saw this golden twig table (cost: $675) in the Source Perrier catalog and felt it merited a post. I love how simple it is — and I love bringing nature inside. And wouldn’t it look lovely with our blue velvet couch? I’m almost tempted to create one myself — DIY project! But I sort of think that what makes it nice is that it is so luxe. Sadly, you can’t DIY everything.

Spied this sweet rose hook on sale at Urban Outfitters (now $5.99).