Pretty Party Blowers

I love the pretty papers on these party blowers that I found on That's Happy today. What a happy surprise to find out that you can find all the details here to make them yourself.

{image from Utterly Engaged}

Uppercase Magazine

I have not read this magazine yet, but they are giving away a complimentary subscription to the blogger who refers the most visitors to their site from Tuesday through Friday. It looks like an interesting read. I think I might like a subscription for myself.

A new vision for old things

Like the saying goes, "there is nothing new under the sun", but that doesn't mean that we can't get a new vision or create a new purpose for something that already exists. Have you ever been on a certain path in life and realize you have come to the end of the trail? You know it's time to head in a new direction, but you're not sure which trail is the best one to take. You're not sure because you can't really see what lies ahead. This is when you need that map so you can envision your new destination.

The combination of old drawers in this new piece of furniture remind me of our lives. We already have different gifts and talents, but sometimes we need to mix them up and put them into a new configuration in order to get to our new destination.

{spotted on Mrs. Eliot Books, images via schubLaden}

Just like these old drawers, their original design and purpose has come to an end, but instead of being discarded, Franziska Wodicka gathers all different kinds drawers together and gives them a new purpose and a new destination.

Hydration Wrapped in Beauty

Beautiful ribbons of color wrapped around this transparent evian bottle are catching my design eye today.

{spotted on Love, Obsess, Inspire}

Thursdays Creative Thrift

Holly buys used furniture and makes it look fresh and new again. White paint is her usual color of choice for most of her furniture transformations, but this girl who spends most of her Life in the Fun Lane chose to be a little daring this time with soft grey for this captains bench and cabana beach stripes for an art deco style dresser.

Inspired by...La Boheme

I am totally inspired and can't seem to take my eyes off the beautiful style and design of these rooms that I spyed on A passion for Beautiful Things. I love this eclectic bohemian-glamour look with the many layers of colors, textiles, furnishings and decor against the white creamy background. This room is layered with beauty, reflecting soft white light, and grounded with rich colors and textures to offset the high ceilings. This extravagantly decorated Paris home belongs to Loulou de la Falaise, fashion icon, Jewelry designer and muse to the late great Yves Saint-Laurent.

Visit The Errant Aesthete for a more in depth picture of Loulou's exotic life and artistic style.

Weekend Delights

{photo found on Oh, Mishka via we heart it}

Inspired by these Lovely Clusters
Reading little love notes.
Taking time to plan my days.
Five fun and random things to do.

Thursdays Creative Thrift

I love how these vellum book covers just soften the hardness of these books. They look pretty and elegant and you can still see the title of the book through its cover. Visit the the crafts dept. for a step by step guide on covering your own books.

{found via Lovely Morning via the crafts dept.}

Handmade Invitations

It's just not a party without a little garland. Merrilee made these invites for her tea party with a little decorative tape and a sewing stitch across the top.

{photos by mer mag}

Lovely Package

I received a pretty little package in the mail yesterday. My first swap since joining this blogging world. I joined this Lovely Package Exchange organized by Danni of oh, hello friend in July. This creative little exchange was all about the packaging and making it as pretty as could be. So before I left on vacation in August, I wrapped up my pretty little package and sent it on to Amanda of Small Acorns, all the way across the world, over the hills and through the woods to New Zealand it would go. My package had along way to travel, so while I was eagerly awaiting a return package I enjoyed seeing all the pretty packages that others had received over here.

I was so excited when I received my package yesterday. I knew it would be all lovely inside. When I opened it up a cute little doily garland that Amanda had made just kind of spilled out of the package. Inside were more wrapped up packages in pretty pastel colors and decorated with doilies. I love the notebook and little cosmetic bag from Designers Guild and handmade pin as well. I was delighted with all of it. Thank you so much Amanda. It was a joy to exchange packages with you.

Blog Lovin'

Lana of Lanalou, who has a beautiful blog that I just discovered recently, has sent me a blog award. Thank you so much Lana.

I hope you don't mind but I'm going to break from the traditional naming 10 things about myself and send out a special thank you to all of you who are reading this little blog of mine. Since starting this blog in April, a few of you have become frequent visitors and a few of you have made mention of me on your blogs. I have made connections with a few and I consider you friends. Because of you this blog has become more than just a place to store pretty pictures and words, but a place to connect with friends. I look forward to reading your comments each day and visiting your beautiful blogs as well. You bring a smile to me each day so I'm sendin' some blog lovin' your way.

xoxo,

Melissa

{A special thanks to Dee of OUR LITTLE LOVE NEST, Nuit of A passion for Beatiful Things, Alli Michelle of hooray, Arya of ROTI KAPDA MAKAN, Christy of my wings are made of faith, and Heather of gathering spriggs for visiting me often and/or mentioning me on your blogs and making blogging worthwhile for me. I am so very grateful.}

Happy Monday!

I know that summer here in the U.S. is almost over, but I still love these colors and I still love balloons. Hope you all have a wonderful day.

{2009 - lenagnl}

Felted Folding Chairs

I love this new felted look for the ordinary folding chair created by Tanya Aguniga.

Thursdays Creative Thrift

I found this dorm room makeover by Danny Seo over at Lilac Silhouette. Danny shows us how to detox a dorm room by making it clean, green and healthy, and beautiful at the same time.

Boring Beautiful

Delighted by...

Since the start of September and the season of fall upon us, I am desiring a little warm color. Here is a little Pink inspiration for your delight today.

{photo found via Creative Inspiration}

{photo found via Duet Letterpress}

{photo found via create a space}

{photo found via English Muse}

{photo found via Of Stars and Butterflies}

{photo by Kate Miss at for me, for you}

{beautiful blog - lanalou style}

'Fallen Paintings'

When I saw these beautiful floor coverings over at Bobbin Talk I was immediately attracted to all the beautiful colored flowers. It looks like a garden on the floor. These 'Fallen Paintings' are the work of Polly Apfelbaum. Polly creates these site specific installations by using intricate layers of hand cut and intensely dyed pieces of synthetic velvet. She has referred to her floor works as 'fallen paintings', suggesting that they have 'fallen from grace' and wallow in such earthly pleasures as decadent fabrics and colours.

{'Love Love me do' 2004}

{'Lovekraft' 2007}

Weekend Delights

{photo found via you are my fave}

Dress up in pretty colors and ruffles.

Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty.

Delight in the pleasures of shopping.

Decide to do something fun.

Oceans and Beaches...still on my mind

{Jones Beach, Long Island, NY}

Hello friends, sorry I don't have my usual Thursdays Creative Thrift post up today. I'm still getting back into the swing of things since being on vacation. My mind is still at the beach with my feet in the warm Atlantic Ocean.

Crown of Glory

I love this new wedding crown from Modern Crush.

hooray - Design Shop

My blogging friend Alli Michelle, who has a beautiful blog called hooray has started a her own Etsy shop.