Fabric By The Yard Inspiration | Hydrangea

This inspiration photo from Atlanta Homes is one of my favorites.  I love all of the white + two touches of the same bold (yet soft) floral.  I think the Hydrangea would offer a similar look.  I might just need to have a slip made for the bench at the foot of our bed, too.

Fabric By The Yard  |  Inspiration

I released the Hydrangea Block Print last Holiday season.  I wanted a large scale block print that would feel both modern and clean, but traditional.  Of course, green and the warm beige and browns work so well together to bring a warmth of nature to any room, but it is the creamy white background and generous spacing that really make this print something.

We've had so many requests for this fabric for each season that followed - a tribute to how truly seasonless it is.  I had a large amount made for this collection, and also extra yardage to save to sell By The Yard for your own custom projects.  We have so many customers wanting to make draperies, specifically.

I plan to have slipcovers made for my new chairs in our Living Room.  Almost all of my other block print fabrics (and future ones, too, hint hint) coordinate well with this print.  I think the smaller prints will look especially great as pillows on a chair slipcovered in the Hydrangea.  It is a fun new era I'm entering into.

Fabric by The Yard, $24

Hydrangea Pillows with Natural Linen Flange, $40-48

You can see how I have used the Hydrangea on repeat in our own home.  It adds just the right amount of something to each room.

Hydrangea Pillows with Natural Linen Flange, $40-48

I've gathered some inspiration ideas for ways to use the yardage.  Some are matchy-matchy ideas (like pillows matching drapes) that I love, and some are more coordinating, mix and match.  I'd love to hear your ideas.

I've cited sources when available.

These drapes a good visual of what the Hydrangea would look like as drapery.  I'm considering for our Hearth Room.

Barbara Westbook Interiors

A great visual of how coordinating pillows + drapes (and then pillow + skirt in another fabric) can make an entire room.

Source

This image just struck me.  I love the simplicity and of course all of the neutral light walls and upholstery.  Reminds me of someone's house, wink.  

How smart to use the white and blue pillow + the white and blue plates to make the room.

Source

This photo is inspiring my own slipcover ideas, but I'd swap the sofa for the chairs and slipcover them in the print instead.  This ottoman slipcover inspired my own that I had made last year.  Love that box pleat.

Source (Tessa, nineandsixteen)

A lamp shade is going to be 1st on my list - well, two actually.  I'd like to make a pair for our master bedroom that will go with a matching pillow in the center of our bed.  As I mentioned, I love a pattern repeated at least twice in the same room.  

I LOVE this roman shade made out of a print.  I might try to fashion some fabric trim bands that I would run along each side of our existing cream linen roman shades in our room.  

Here too, the drapes match the sham and the bedskirt.  It is a perfect way for a white wall and bed linens loving person to add a coziness and level of finish to a room.

What are you planning to make?  Is there anything you would like to see with a DIY post?  I don't think I could make a slipcover... but make a simple roman shade?

Shop the Hydrangea Collection + Fabric By the Yard

Simple Pleasures | Inspiration for This Season

Is it just me or is it hard to find a new idea out there?  After years of blogging and pinning and scrolling, I find I'm looking at the same concepts over and over, season after season.  I'm also anti-trend, so that makes it harder.  The trends hit you over the head.  Of course, I could do another post about a charcuterie board or a charming picture perfect picnic on a plaid blanket, but that is everywhere.  You can't search on Pinterest for one minute without coming across 10 photos of the most charming things you ever seen, except you've already seen it 10 times before.  Searching out fresh inspiration that isn't already the "big thing" has become my goal.

For me new inspiration has to come from sources other than what everyone else is looking at.  And it often comes in real life.  A great meal at a restaurant, a discovery of an old favorite, a new combination of familiar things.

I set out this morning to make a list of simple pleasures for this season that would light my fire a little bit.  New recipes, new weekend activities, new family traditions that would help us embrace the next month before the Fall season is here.  I don't want to spend the next month pining after pumpkins spice everything, but enjoy what we have to experience right now.

Apple Party

I'm planning a little family party this weekend to embrace Apple Season.  I know I just dis-ed on overly styled picnic images, but this one did inspire me : )   I've grown into a place with entertaining that is sort of anti-styled, real life.  I hardly share our real entertaining anymore, because it isn't really photo-shoot worthy.  It is real and normal and we do it all of the time - which is my favorite kind of entertaining.

For the party, I'm thinking bonfire and weenie roast with caramel apples.  I'm going to make some individual boxed sides, too.  I'll share the menu once I get it planned.

Simple Nature Walks

You know my love for walks (post here).  Our favorite days of our England vacation were spend walking about the country side.  We kept saying, we need to do more of this at home.  More that ever, this new Back to School season leaves me needing to be recharged over the weekend.  I need to feel that life giving feeling of slowing down and getting in touch with nature again.

This month we are going to set out on some country paths and breathe in some fresh air.  I'm hoping to pack a picnic (not sure if it will be Pinterest worth or not... but it will be yummy) and make a day of it.  We need to clear our heads after weeks of work and school.

I have big opinions about the 'hiking' industry (and that it has convinced people that you need to be in the mountains, and need tons of gear...) and will do a post later about how we like to go on simple nature walks.  A favorite weekend activity for us that costs nothing and is easily found all over the country.

Family Card Games

Now that family dinners are back in full effect,  we've started playing card games after dinner.  I love that we are teaching Emma classic pastimes that can all be played with a simple deck of cards.  Here is a list that will remind you of some classics.

Taking the Paper

In this photo you'll also see a newspaper, specifically the funny pages.  We started taking the paper twice a week, Wednesdays & Sundays.  It seems like a step backward, but as we try to unplug more at home, it is a fun old fashioned way to spend some time.  Emma's obsessed with the comics and will spend a half hour on the sofa reading them - a fun new, old fashioned tradition that keeps her from asking to watch a show a couple times a week ; )

New Recipes for This Season :

Along the way, I came up across some new dinner recipes.  My goal is to try at least a new recipe a week.  Here are some that I'll add to our rotation of favorites.

Chicken, Potatoes & Spinach Skillet Dinner

We made this last week - so good.  Very easy, all made in one skillet.  Mike kept saying, "oh, like a skillet sensation"... now, we all refer to it as that, against my wishes!

This tortellini soup looks really good, but I'm not sure about the sausage... I'll let you know what I think.

I'm also really interested in this dish for some make-ahead dinner ideas.  Emma's favorite green is broccoli, so I think this might be a big hit.

This caramelized sweet potato and kale rice looks really yummy for the fall.  I'll probably make it along grilled pork tenderloin.

To see what else is inspiring me this season, see my Pinterest Board that I've been updating lately.  Also, I'd love to see what new inspiration you've come across.

New Pre-Fall Mudroom Tour | Harvest Baskets

Here we are in my mudroom, again.  I shared a photo on insta earlier this week showing what a disaster it had become during last week's new collection launch.  For those of you that think I'm a neat freak, you are wrong.  I am a creative at heart, but my aesthetic happens to be streamlined, clean and symmetrical, which is why I like my spaces to look tidy and neat.  However, when I'm working and doing my thing, I'm a disaster.  It fosters my artistry... I think.  

I don't think of home/office/life organization as a chore, I see it more as a design thing.  At the end of a project (day/week/season), I love taking time to make everything pretty again.  I think it is called "styling" nowadays.  

This is one of my favorite parts of each season, when I can put one collection to bed and move on to the next.  I love living in the season ahead in my office.  My own little world I can create.  

Can you get over the new block prints for fall?  By far my favorite collection of all time.  The collection on the right will launch in September, the one on the left in October.  

I used to have one board for work and one board for family.  I've given myself permission to let this entire room be just for my creative process.  There is such mom/wife guilt to not have their photos and her art everywhere.  But the entire house is focused on them and my role as a mom/wife, this is my space to create and daydream.  And I snuck a couple of tiny black and whites.

Hydrangea Pillows with Natural Linen Flange, Rectangle & Medium

Hydrangea Pillows with Natural Linen Flange, Rectangle & Medium
 

I keep all of my working samples, ribbons, gift wrap supplies, botanicals and linen samples above my desk in baskets.

Harvest Basket Trays, Large, $16

I've just restocked these baskets today in the store.  I love them because they are inexpensive and hold so much stuff.  What might look like a disaster otherwise, looks charming and neat.  

Harvest Basket Trays, Large, $16

This one keeps all of my ribbons for each season.

This one keeps my Gift Boxes (for cookies, scones, etc...), Kraft Treat Bags and Packaging.

In another I keep Cello Bags & Treat Bags - always prepared to wrap something up for a gift, send a stack of cookies to school, make 10 bags of trail mix for Girl Scouts or send Mike off to work with a slice of banana bread.

Hydrangea Pillows with Natural Linen Flange, Rectangle & Medium

Dining Chair (as my desk chair) from Restoration Hardware in Fog Linen

Always signing JSH notes to go in packages shipped at The School House.

I've been burning the Orchard Candle this week to put me in that Pre-Fall mood while planning the next collection.  My White Stoneware Pitcher is filled with Rose Hips, another Pre-Fall favorite.

Orchard Candle, $24

White Stoneware Pitcher 

New Gold Frames for Painting Prints... a new one coming soon inspired by our trip to England

A huge stack of vinage Martha Stewart Livings for inspiration.  This is the only hoarding I do.  Ok, these and ribbon.

I was keeping my tubes of Wrapping Paper in the drawer with ribbon.  But then I design too many, so I had to move my collection.

Wrapping Paper & Ribbon Collection >

Now I keep it here in the corner and above in the hanging basket.  Ok, so Magazines, Wrapping Papers & Ribbon.

Wrapping Paper & Ribbon Collection >

In addition to my Large Harvest Basket Trays, $16, I've restocked the smaller size (Harvest Basket | Small, $8).  They make a great gift basket and pantry organizer.

Shop Harvest Baskets >

Peach & Blackberry Pie Tart

This summer, I've been making all of my favorite pies in a Tart Pan instead.  I love the fluted edge it gives the sides and it is so much easier to get a slice from vs. a pie plate.  Most all recipes can work in a tart pan instead. 

Peach & Blackberry Tart

4 large peaches, peeled and cubed
1/2 pint of blackberries
1 teaspoon of lemon zest
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
1/4 cup of sugar
2 tablespoons of flour

Pastry Crust Recipe

Make Pastry Dough and store it in the fridge while preparing the filling.

In a large bowl, mix together cubed peaches, blackberries, lemon zest, juice, sugar and flour.  Mix until combined.

Roll out half of the pastry dough and put it in the bottom and up the sides of the Metal Fluted Tart Pan.  Pour in the filling.  Roll out the other half and place it on top, pinching the edges off by using the edge of the pan for a tight fit.

Make a design if you'd like - I used a skewer to create little dots.

Place it on a Baking Sheet lined with Parchment Paper, then bake it at 350 degrees for 40+ minutes until it is bubbling over and browned.



Let cool for 30 minutes, then gently loosen the tart by lifting it up and out of the ring with your hand on the bottom.

If it is bubbling, then you know that it is finished.  This is why I alway bake it on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Baking Sheet  & Parchment Paper

I love this sweet design - I thought they looked a little like blackberries.

Shop : 

Baking Sheet

Parchment Paper

Metal Tart Pan

Drop Off Meal Gifts | New Babies

There seems to have been an uptick in new babies around our world lately.  I always jump at the opportunity to bring someone dinner that has a new baby at home.  It is so fun to put together a gift meal for someone, knowing/hoping that it will be just the thing to make their day go a little easier.  Of course, it doesn't have to be a new baby, it could be any reason - a kitchen under construction, a recent move, a loss, an elderly neighbor, teachers or just someone that needs a lift.



There are many components that need to work for it to be successful.  I follow these rules :

Freezer Freindly : I love to stock someone else's freezer, because I love stocking my own.  I think it is really utilized by most.  I always let them know that they can throw it in the freezer if they already have dinner plans that night.

Single Portion Options : When you are a new mom at home, being able to eat lunch with a fork from the refrigerator is nice.  I make sure it is an easy thing to make/reheat in individual portions.


Assembly Required :  I'm not a big fan of casseroles... I'm not really sure what is in it and they usually aren't that healthy or light.  I love meals that can be put together and customized (build your own tacos that can also become a salad or a bowl... or nachos, for example).

Dessert : Of course, don't forget dessert!

Wrapping Paper, Ribbons & Tags, here.

Spaghetti & Meatballs Gift 

Since our favorite comfort meal around here is Spaghetti & Meatballs, this is often my go-to meal to give.  I think it works because they can freeze the meatballs and just get them out as needed (like we do at home).  If they are going light on the gluten, they can do meatballs and sauce with a salad.  If they are doing no meat, they can do a salad and pasta with red sauce.  Lots of combinations to suit a hungry, diverse family.

I included :

• Meatballs : (about 8 so they have extra to freeze), I put them in a large Plastic Container
• Tomato Sauce : (I made one batch and split it into two medium containers, one to eat, one to freeze)
• Spaghetti : Precooked.  I want to make sure she can easily make it for herself without turning on the stove.  Not freezable, but that's ok.
• Salad : Always a good idea to include something fresh.  This also makes a good light lunch option, too.
• Homemade Vinaigrette : Always better than the bottle.  I made it right in the small container and shook it up.  I'll share recipe in a separate post. 
• Baguette
• Salted Caramel Brownies packaged in a Large Cello Bag

I labeled everything with a sharpie so they would know what's inside.

In the cooler months, I turn to Braised Beef & Vegetable Stew.  During the summer, I like to give Tessa's Tacos (braised brown sugar beef) + Guac, Pico and Mango Slaw.

I used all of my cute To-Go Packaging to make it look like it was just picked up from a cute bistro down the street.

Supplies Used :

Kraft To-Go Boxes (with condiment containers included)

Plastic Kitchen Containers

Baking Basket (for Brownies)

Wrapping Paper, Ribbons & Tags

Tote Bag (I used a brown Kraft bag, but a tote back makes a really nice secondary gift)

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