fresh start: shower curtains, simple and spa-like

Stripe Shower Curtain from West Elm

One of my most favorite lady friends just made a cross-country trip to set up housekeeping in our nation's capital. To streamline her move, she let go of a lot of the 'stuff' that finishes a house, making this move even more of a fresh start.

I couldn't be happier that she's here and spending time with her picking up pieces for her new place has been so much fun. It's also a reminder of all the little things that go into making a house a home - and the small ways that you can make a 'fresh start' in your own house even if you've already been there for five years and are planning to stay for several more.

I thought I'd do a couple of posts on the few things she's been searching for starting with shower curtains. Here's hoping that she'll spot the perfect one - and maybe you will too!

NYC Rail Transit Curtain from H&M Home

Stripe Border Shower Curtain from West Elm

Tassled Dayton Shower Curtain from Anthropologie

New York Map Shower Curtain from H&M Home - two views of this one!

Geometry Sky Curtain from Dwell Studio

Soap Label Curtain from H&M Home

Kaleidoscope Patch Shower Curtain from Anthropologie

Vintage Washed Belgian Linen Curtain from Restoration Hardware

Jack Willis

Are you familiar with Jack Willis? With loads of preppy basics and the tagline: "fabulously British" I knew I would find lots to love when I spotted them last week. I wasn't wrong - lots of great fall looks with pricing along the lines of J Crew and Anthropologie. 

My most coveted items though? The sweatshirts - much like one of D's which I'm constantly stealing, perhaps it's time to get one of my own...

Don't miss the home line and the guys' stuff while you're browsing!

Good Art - Help Ink

Help by Evan Stremke

How about a selection of really great indie designers selling upbeat inspirational pieces and donating a portion of the proceeds to a charity of your choosing? Genius. Go buy some of the great pieces at Help Ink and love knowing that $1 of every $5 you spend goes to a great cause.

From mounted prints and posters to cards and notebooks, I think these would make great grad gifts, dorm-warming presents or kid room decor. Don't forget a tee for yourself.

A few of my favorites below...

Be a Light by Samantha Kallis

Everyone by Dan Gneiding

Adventure by Judson Collier

Humble Beginnings by Dan Cassaro

Better When Shared by Doug Penick

Capable by Liz Meyer

Good Deeds by Jon Contino

a DIY to try

The perfect carryall for trips to the beach or the corner market - I think I need to make one of these Liberty drawstring backpacks from The Purl Bee. Their site has a great tutorial and a kit to make your own.

Could see this dressed up with a little embroidery. What about making one for each of your bridesmaids?

art on the road

One of my favorite recent internet finds is the Drawn the Road Again blog by Chandler O'Leary which features her incredible sketchbook work documenting her travels. Love her style, love the subjects, love the blog.

Here are a few of her recent entries, but click over to read more.

juju hats

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I've had some extra time on my hands recently and as in other periods of free time, I'm having trouble sitting still. Instead (as in other times) I'm wanting to fix and change everything about our little house. So I've been cleaning, and sorting, and reorganizing - moving drawers and boxes into new drawers and boxes, trying to eek out the tiniest bit of extra breathing room for our overstuffed closets. Along the way I've also been making laundry lists of all the little touches and details that would make everything perfect so I could finally just relax on the couch and watch some daytime television.

Not necessarily at the top of the list is a juju hat. I know, I know, what the hell is a juju hat? Call it a bamileke or a cameroon headdress or just a giant circle of feathers. I love the texture, the color, the global feel of it, and although I would love to pick up one on my travels, I'm not sure if I'll be making it to Cameroon in the immediate future...

The Juju hat is a ceremonial headdress worn during royal court affairs - they are also known as the tyn or bamileke. The feathers represent wealth and prosperity and are woven onto a raffia base that splays open into a giant circle, creating an incredible piece of wall art.

Unfortunately these symbols of prosperity and wealth require some of both to obtain. Coming in between $300-600 each, let's just say I won't be picking up on anytime soon. For those of you in a position to purchase Table Tonic in Australia has a great selection as does African House on Etsy.

Here are some inspirational rooms featuring my new favorite piece of decor.

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Natural hued options bring out the texture and depth of the headdresses and look incredible on both dark and colorful walls - while adding to the monochromatic chic of an all white room.

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The brightly colored headdresses offer a perfect pop of color on and otherwise blank canvas or a beautiful complement to painted walls. I can't get enough of the reds/pinks/purples in these deep green rooms.

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What do you think? Want one? Or is this just another strange decorating fad?

phone cases-photographers

White Marble case Case Scenario

If the cute and quirky illustrations from Rifle Paper and Cartolina don't fit the bill - what about these slightly more glam photos of minerals and rocks blown up to spectacular effect? I'm especially fond of the white marble case which would look so chic wrapped around a white iphone. 

Pink Agate case from DS Brennan

Pink agate and sparkling amethyst designs are featured in DS Brennan's Etsy store. If the geodes and gemstones aren't your thing, they also offer a range of other natural photo subjects.

Amethyst case from DS Brennan

Indian Bloodstone case from Weston Earth Images

Or something from Weston Earth Images who are widely regarded for their photographic processes transforming natural materials into printed designs for products like iphone cases and silk scarves. 

Banded Agate case from Weston Earth Images

Agate case from Weston Earth Images

Mica Schist case from Weston Earth Images