Concrete Business Cards

Look what I found through Design Mom's blog:

{ concrete business cards }

{ on teensy wooden pallets! }

OK, I know I'm gushing but these are seriously awesome.  I have a bit of a concrete thing 'cuz I'm married to a concrete guy.  These he's gotta see.... 

In Absentia

I've been neglectful of this space.  Life is moving apace and I haven't been able to keep up here.  I have so much on the go {but doesn't everyone??!}.

I will soon have some big news to share, but 'til then will leave you with this sweet photo from House of Philia's blog.  If only I looked this cute while busy busy busy....

{ love love love the pink hi-tops & the pleated trench }

Thanks for being patient with me blogworld!

xx Julia oo

Domino Back??!!

Looks like Domino is back... well sort of.

Their Facebook page update says "Loyal Domino Fans!  We are pleased to announce Domino Quick Fixes, a Domino special edition that will hit newsstands nationwide (I assume that means the US) on April 17th..."

Yippppeeee!  I'll take one issue of Domino but does that mean more are in the works?  Here's hoping....

Nursery Design

I'm very close to finishing up Hugo's room.  It also functions as our guest room so it can't be too baby-baby-ish.  My inspiration started from a piece of a dingy seat I discovered while beachcombing last summer.  And I didn't want to be too kitchsy-nautical but definitely wanted a boaty-flair:

{ beachcombed boat seat }

I found some paper fishies at our local toy store:

{ Djeco mobile }

and you can see the rest of my inspiration board here, here or here:

{ Hugo's Nursery Inspiration Board }

Need a little help feathering your nest?  I'd be happy to help.  Email me at juliasmith@telus.net.

'Til next time webworld....
xx Julia oo

The Glow

The Glow.  My new favourite website thanks to Urban Grace & Design Mom.  The mamas n' babas are beautiful...

the photography feels otherworldly & I loved peeking into their interior spaces to snoop around...

The Glow is The Selby meets The Sartorialist but is its own very special thing.  LOVE. IT.

You??

Happy Birthday, Mum!

Today is my Mum's birthday.  She taught me many things... about being a mother, a wife, a woman & a person.  Here are my top FIVE in no particular order:

Have adventures.

I grew up sailing the South Pacific, riding the trains of India, cruising the Caribbean, navigating the Needles and the English Channel, braving the wilds of the northern BC coast and more all thanks to my Mum {& Dad}.  I haven't been as bold as my parents were but we do travel with our kids, take them out to fancy restaurants {which can be quite the "adventure"}, and look forward to taking the road less traveled.

{ sailing off the Isle of Wight, England }

Set the table for dinner.
Even if it's just a regular Tuesday night dinner of spaghetti & apple juice.  Light candles, put out placemats.  Set the table.  It makes you stop, enjoy your food & each other.  The same goes for your home.  Put out flowers.  Hang up your kids' artwork {or yours}.  It doesn't have to be perfect.  But it will make your house a home.

{ rustic meal with blooms from the garden}

Don't finish your kids' food.

Basically:  you are not a garbage can!!  Garbage in; garbage out {or on the hips!}.  If you want a treat, have your own & enjoy it.  Food is not to be avoided but to be savoured.  

Go on dates with your husband.

When we lived in Oona River, my mum's friend, Sharlane, would come & watch us so Mum could go on 'crabbing dates' with Dad.  They went out on the Distant Drummer, my parents' fishing boat, and spend the afternoon crabbing together off Porcher Island.  A date doesn't have to mean spending a wagonload on dinner out {while that's always very nice!}.  My kids will grow up and move out & I don't want to look across the table at my husband & not know each other anymore.

{ me & Craig }

{ Mum & Dad }

Pray.
When in doubt, worried, scared, happy, concerned, puzzled.... WHATever:  PRAY.  God is listening & the answer will come.  Not always the answer you want but your prayers will be answered.  I like Annie Lammot's thoughts on prayer.  She says all her prayers {mine too} come under the "help me... help me... help me..." or "thank YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!" variety.  Yup.  Pretty much.

Happy Birthday Mama-Doo.  I love you.  You are the best mummy in the whole world.

Style Board = Inspiration

I'm not 100% today so I'm at home, feeling the ickies & working on a few 'to dos'.

{ strange little sick girl }

One of the things on my list is blogging about a recent project.  So, let's check that off now, shall we?


This client is a friend & her family is a warm, fun, well-travelled group.  As you can see from the pictures, her home is beautiful, filled with objects from their world adventures. 

{entryway with old church pew & Indonesian carvings}

{ looking into living room }

{ gorgeous new concrete & slate fireplace surround }

{ living room sitting area }

Having just completed a big renovation on the front of the house, her goal was to connect the entry and the living area without spending too much.  I came up with this style board:

It incorporates much of what she already has in the space with a few suggestions for tying in the two flooring surfaces & spaces.  They are planning a trip to Thailand in the spring & may look for fabric there in a similar colourway to the Ikats I suggested.  She has a new floor plan to work with & can repurpose much of what she has already so the budget isn't blown.

After looking at that warm wonderful home I feel much better.  Stay well, blogland!