All the pretty napkins

1. Birch napkins by Oh, Little Rabbit
2. EAT. napkin by Emersonmade
3. Wine ring cocktail napkins by Avril Loreti
4. Ice printed napkin from West Elm
5. Artichoke paper napkins from Anthropologie




I'm off to Michael's right now to attempt the above project from Design Sponge shown on the Martha Stewart Show. Instead of place mats, I'll be doing this project on small appetizer napkins. I'll be bringing my Carrot Soup to Thanksgiving along with a french cheese plate (to go along with the bottles of beaujolais my father-in-law hasn't stop talking about!), so these will be perfect for the snacking and appetizing going on before dinner.

Instructions for inkjet-transfer thanksgiving place mats HERE

Design*Sponge Book out soon

Design Sponge at Home (Official Book Trailer) from The Panic Room Videos on Vimeo.

I have started my birthday wish list early now that Design*Sponge at Home book is now available for pre-order. It hits shelves this September and looks great - lots of home tours, projects, and eye candy all in what looks like a 2 1/2 inch thick hardcover book! Design*Sponge is one of my regular reads and one of the main inspirations for starting my own blog. From reading Grace's blog, I realized that there is a whole world of wonderful art, design, projects, spaces and people out there. And working with Grace for the Design*Sponge Milwaukee City Guide was such an even bigger pleasure. Traffic from her site really made my blog grow and gave me motivation to keep posting and keep blogging. So thank you, Grace, and I cannot wait to sit down and read your labor of love, "Design*Sponge at Home".

Upholstered.

This chair looks amazing, right? Today it got some big recognition! Hop on over to Design*Sponge to see the whole post on Sara's chair. I can't believe this is the same chair.

It's all the work of Milwaukeean and amateur reupholsterer Sara Mulloy who reupholstered this shabby wingback as part of her Upholstery class at WCTC. Sara has a good eye when it comes to art and design. You can read about her local art scene picks on JSonline's Art City blog. I couldn't find when WCTC offers another class, but I've seen them offered regularly (I have contemplated taking it myself in the past). MATC also offers an upholstery class, too. Makes you wanna go out and learn right now, yes?

Recipe: Giant Chewy Lemon Sugar Cookies

Last September, I was reading Design*Sponge and spotted this cookie recipe from food bloggers Big Girls, Small Kitchen. Being September and apple season at the time, cider and apple pie was all I craved. So I tucked this recipe away for springtime. Now, spring is so close I can taste it. And it tastes like big, giant, chewy lemon sugar cookies. It reminds me a lot of the "Lemonade cookies" sold at The City Market.


Giant Chewy Lemon Sugar Cookies
Makes about 20 cookies

Ingredients
2 ¼ cups flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1 cup sugar
zest of 1 lemon
1 egg
1/3 cup coarse sugar (plain, granulated sugar works if it’s all you have)
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line your baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Sift the flour, salt and baking soda together.
3. Cream the butter, 1 cup of sugar and lemon zest until very smooth. Add the egg and continue to beat until fluffy. Pour in the dry ingredients and mix until just combined — you don’t want to overmix.
4. Spread the remaining 1/3 cup sugar onto a shallow plate. Form balls out of the cookie dough 2 inches in diameter and roll them through the sugar. Arrange on a cookie sheet 4 inches apart — these spread!
5. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until just the edges are golden. The tops of the cookies should remain pale. Cool completely on the cookie sheets before removing to a plate.




Happy Spring !

Happy May Day

Does any still celebrate May Day? I remember growing up and our neighbors would leave a small basket of flowers on our front door knob.


image: K is for calligraphy

Last week, Design*Sponge posted a DIY May Day basket project, check it out HERE

And Happy Derby, too!

Web Browser: Favorite Wedding Websites

This has been by 2nd job for the past few months - browsing wedding blogs. I laughed at my friend Abby when she could, off the top of her head, identify the fashion designer, photographers, and name of the flowers in any picture I showed her. I fear that this, too, will be me soon. This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to wedding blogs. But here are some of my favorites that consistently have new and unique material.

- greenweddingshoes.blogspot.com

- designspongeonline.com Grace's Wedding Part One-Five

- ohjoy.blogs.com Here Comes the Bride Series

- oncewed.com

- the brides guide blog from Martha Stewart

- inspiredbythis.com

- snippetandink.com


from: PartyPoms on Etsy


from: design*sponge wedding


from: Christie Pham photography

Lonny magazine premieres today

I heard the buzz about this magazine on two of my favorite blogs: Design*Sponge and MA Belle and have been anxiously waiting for today. I was really surprised when I went to lonnymag.com that the ENTIRE magazine was viewable online. It takes a minute to load but the pictures are fantabulous! I was flipping through and freaking out to see Patrick cline photos (he's one of the editors), the Brooklyn home of Design*Sponge blogger, items from VivaTerra, and antiquing tips!

Now I'm off to the downtown Borders to find a tangible copy for myself.