Great table giveaway on From the Right Bank today!

Ally at the From the Left Bank is having a great giveaway today.  You must go by and see!!

How cute is this table!!

Enter to win a fun giveaway for recycled bags!

Visit The Willow Home and Garden blog for your chance to win a recycled Sea bag!!

Gone to the Birds!!

Hello friend,

I am so sorry to not make any real posts these past few days.. it has been very busy here in such a good way! I promise I will work harder on it in the coming days! For now I am going to share with you my favorite bird photographer, Gary Heller, this is his White Throated bee eater... I just love the colors and the birds and...



My Sparrow - stylish responsibility

Did you know about greige...

Did you know that I write another blog? Come by and see my Design blog, greige it is filled with inspiring photos about my design obsession.. I am looking forward to seeing you there!

Gifted Inspiration and a big thank you!

Okay so I don't want to end the year with any unfinished business on my plate...

I NEED to say Thank you to the ladies who participated in my series on Gifted Inspiration! We need a good dose of inspiration everyday to keep us fresh and happy!! So a big thank you to Stefanie at Brooklyn Limestone, Jessica at The Wife of an Artist, Lisa at The Lisa Porter Collection and Deb at Dumbwit Tellher for taking the time to share with me and with you! And thank you for all of the wonderful inspiration- I am looking forward to the New Year with all of you!



On another note, the ladies over at Chic Coles were nice enough to give me The Fabulous Sugar Doll blogger award.

Many Thanks!

So now for the hard part... 10 things about me...

1. I am in love with Paris
2. I love things that are handmade and I love to make things for people.
3. My Babies make me smile even when they are driving me crazy!
4. I dream of writing a book someday.
5. I have a stack of approximately 20 books that I bought this past year and did not get around to reading. (My husband asked me if I knew what the Library was)
6. I love design- deeply, passionately and will forever!
7. I think live plants are essential to any interior.
8. I love to chat with my Mom on the phone everyday- sometimes more than once a day.
9. I love Pottery Barn Organic sheets- they are the softest and just yummy to sleep on.
10. I have big plans for an edible garden in the coming year.

So now I need to send this onto some other bloggers...

Annechovie
Adventures in Renovating a Brooklyn Limestone
Backroads and Barstools
Dress Design Decor

Happy New Year!

Lisa at The Lisa Porter Collection - Gifted Inspiration

Being that Lisa at The Lisa Porter Collection was one of my first blog friends.. I am so excited to share some of her gifted inspiration with you. She is the sweetest and super supportive. Please enjoy!

Where do you find inspiration? I am inspired by the people around me. At my age, it's all about faith, wisdom, happiness & doing what is right for myself, my family & my friends. It's about feeding my soul. I take special care to surround myself with people that are good for Lisa. What I mean by this is that I accept & appreciate what makes us all different, but I am most comfortable around and inspired by those who are true to themselves & make a difference in everyday life..

What is your favorite or Dream Vacation Destination? I have many favorite destinations like San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, & New York City. My dream destination would be to take a drive along the Amalfi coast with the MR. & check in to Hotel Santa Caterina!

Why did you start your blog? I started blogging quite by accident. It was a dark, cold November night & I was missing old friends out west. I was trying to remember the name of a small boutique in California. So I googled Santa Barbara Interiors & I ran smack dab into Velvet & Linen! It was all over after that. Through Brooke's blog I came across many other wonderful blogs like Absolutely Beautiful Things, Patricia Gray, and Cote de Texas. They are responsible for leading me down the long & winding path to Blog Land! I got so hooked & soon realized that I had found a place where I could organize & share all the "stuff" that had been floating around in my head, in my files, and on my bedside table.

In Blog Land I could, in one afternoon, talk to a hundred women around the world who completely understood my obsession over boxwoods and crown molding! I had come home!

That was about a year ago and here I am, still finding new paths & new ideas & wonderful people, like Christina & My Sparrow!

An item that is on your wish list for your home or yourself.

A VW Bus for driving up & down & up & down the California coast to visit those friends that I miss.

And still waiting for that giant white porcelain farmhouse sink....

Merci!!

I have been a little slow to say Thank you to Lisa at The Lisa Porter Collection.. Sorry so rude of me!! Lisa was sweet enough to think of me and for that I cannot say thank you enough! She has an amazing blog with the most thoughtful posts and was one of my first blog friends...




So I am suppose to tell you a few things about me that you don't know...

Here it goes.

1. Without my wonderful husband I would be no where in this world. He makes me such a better person!
2. I love glass ware and dishes more than any person should.
3. I am a romantic at heart- shouldn't life read like a good novel?
4. I love picnics-(must have all of the gear and a good bottle of wine).
5. I dream of being able to live in Paris and New York someday.
6. Born and raised in So. California. I have never lived anywhere else.
7. I love Hydrangeas more than humanly possible.
8. I have always dreamed of being a writer.
9. I love to read a good book- I will read a book cover to cover in one sitting if I have the chance.
10. I don't like to cook- I really just like to clean up.

Now to bestow this award on some others that I admire (and would like to know more about)

Lori at automatism

The girls at Wiley Valentine

Jess at The Wife of an Artist

Thank you again!! I truly appreciate all of the support!!

Emma pillow giveaway

Don't miss your chance to win our Emma pillow over at Fabulous K!






My Sparrow - stylish responsibility

Deborah from Dumbwit Tellher - Gifted Inspiration

We are so lucky to be surrounded by family and friends this holiday season. I hope you are enjoying the start of the Christmas season! A woman after my own heart Deb from Dumbwit Tellher really sums it up in her answers! Please enjoy!

Where do you find inspiration? Sounds typical but it's true when I say, everywhere that draws the eye. I am the girl who notices if you moved your sofa or if you shaved off that mustache. I have always been very visual. I am not as much a nature girl (I have never been camping, how sad right?) as I am one to be thrilled with architecture. Don't get me wrong, I so appreciate the beauty of nature, but it's truly a thrill to set eyes on the great design of a structure; with it's rigid materials of steel, glass, and concrete that are transformed into something that is breathtaking. I love to touch surfaces, paying close attention to materials, textures, trims, utilized on interior finishes. That to me is the equivalent to what 'shoe shopping' may be to many. That combined with history, color, and the interior design, and I am in the zone.

What is your favorite or Dream vacation destination? My husband hails from Scotland and he will not be pleased to know that I will tell you Ireland. My father was the musical director for a high school in Washington State. In 1996 his SHS marching band was invited to perform in Dublin for the St. Patrick's Day Parade. My eldest daughter was a student in dad's band & I decided this was an experience of a lifetime & I volunteered as a chaperon.

There were so many reasons as to why Ireland captured my heart. The SHS band took first-place from over 1000+ entrants from around the world was a huge thrill. Having a trophy made of Irish crystal presented to my father by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, at the Lord Mayors Ball, was another. But as the trip unfolded it was all about the beauty; the beauty of it's kind people, the sea, and all the remarkable scenery. I have never seen green so vivid & have never seen faces that told such a story. It's Ireland's history, it's architecture, it's food, the beer, the hot-toddies and the incredible music. Talented musical artists on every corner of the city center. I was hooked on landing & I will never get enough. Have you ever tried keeping your feet still while listening to Celtic music? Enough said! Not to be considered as second best, Scotland is no doubt is #2.

An item that is on your wish list for your home or yourself. The list is so vast. If I could have 'one' thing it would be to have my 9 ft. 50's sofa that we purchased in a vintage shop in Seattle (only to drag this mega- heavy lovely with us on our move to Houston), custom rebuilt & upholstered with a sumptuous wool velvet. It's long clean lines and the fact you can seat the entire party on one couch, makes it a cherished family item. Oddly enough, we didn't realize until we moved it that it had a custom label on the underside and it was made in Houston. Karma!



Why did you start your blog? You'd think that would be a quick answer. Why I began and where I am now seems to have evolved. I started with one mission. It began through my frustration with my adoration of designer, high-end products. Whether it be for the home or fashion. With one or more kids in college at the same time since 1997 (without a break thus far), my 'appreciation' of haute design is, let's just say, 'cooled off'. It was my intent to bring to light to as many as possible that good taste does not always equate spending massive amounts of money. I wanted to stop the self-discrimination.

Now that 12 mos. of blogging has passed, I have found my niche, found the dearest people I would of never imagined, and have had the thrill of a life-time to connect and have conversations (although online) with people I have only dreamt about exchanging words with. Individuals whose talents constantly amaze me; professional and novices a like. How fabulous would it be to write full-time and make a living at it? But with or without an income, I have been truly blessed to be part of this world called 'blogging'.

Chic Coles- thank you!

So excited to say Thank you to Chic Coles for including a pic of my dining room in there post on Kitchens today!! {thank you, thank you}

Thank you- Shoebox decor

Thank you to Typhanie from Shoebox Decor for the mention in her Where to shop post yesterday!!

Stefanie at Brooklyn Limestone - Gifted Inspiration

If you haven't noticed lately I have been focused on Inspiration... I often find myself wondering why am I doing this?? What gets me inspired and keeps me inspired? Well, in my short blogging career I have been encouraged and inspired by seeing great things on blogs everyday- so Thank You ladies and gentlemen for all of your inspiring words and pictures!! I thought it might be fun to see who else is out their inspiring people.. So our first guest blogger in Gifted Inspiration Series is Stefanie from Brooklyn Limestone! I am so excited I am sure if you don't know her already you will be following along with her very very soon! She is an amazing photographer, refinisher, designer, world traveler etc... Love love her stuff! I asked a few questions and got a few answers...

Where do you find inspiration?

I wish I could give you some really coherent and clear answer to this but I don't have one. I don't really have any light bulb moments of inspiration. I generally get a little sprout of an idea in my head and then I'll refine it somewhat in my brain before trying it in real life. Sometimes it works, often times it doesn't.

What is your favorite or Dream vacation destination?

I have a very long list of dream vacation destinations that change on a regular basis. But right now, I think I'd like to try another location in Africa. Our trip to South Africa was so amazing its hard to imagine it could get better but I'd have to try. Kenya? Tanzania? Botswana? Do I really have to pick just one?

Why did you start your blog?

I started it mostly to document the renovation. I was never good about written diaries so I thought a public blog would keep me honest about updating regularly. The plan was to take the posts and put them in a bound book on my shelf. I never expected many people to read my blog nor did I expect to have it contain anything but renovation stuff. But its morphed into something different. It keeps me motivated to keep working on my little projects, to keep improving my photography skills, to share a few fun experiences in New York, etc. And guess what? I never did get around to making that renovation book. You know what they say about the best laid plans.

An item that is on your wish list for your home or yourself.

Right now, I'm really loving white ceramic novelty stuff like this monkey vase and this boot umbrella stand - Not very high brow, I just think they are fun yet beautiful.

Images from Stefanie of Brooklyn Limestone, Z. Gallerie and Bellacor


My Sparrow - stylish responsibility

Happy Halloween...

Okay so I have to share these... Happy Halloween from My Sparrow..

Both images are from Sweet Paul's pumpkin week!

Thank you Rachel @ theinterioRevolution

A BIG Thank you to Rachel at theinterioRevolution for the post about us today. Go on over and check it out!

My Sparrow - stylish responsibility

Blog hopping...My Notting Hill and Vintage Printable

Blog hopping is always my favorite activity and this week is no different... I was on one of my favorite blogs My Notting Hill (check out her post on the renovated church too!) and she did a really great post about a site called Vintage Printable. Amazing if you love vintage documents, letters and artwork you will be hooked! They offer a huge variety of images for free. Vintage pieces make a space so unique and now you have so many all in one place.




.


What a great resource!!

My Sparrow - stylish responsibility

Giveaway From My Sparrow ~ Setting the table and Crumpled Dinnerware

Okay so here we go... this is your chance to win the Large Platter from our Crumpled dinner ware collection.

All you need to do is...

1. Leave a comment after this post - I would love to hear how you found us or about a favorite item that you have on our site.
   
2. If you have a blog, please post about this giveaway and add a comment below including the link to the post. (Yes, this means you can enter twice)
   

I will pick a winner next Monday- that leaves us time for everyone to participate!!

My Sparrow - stylish responsibility

Blog hopping... The Sartorialist and Poppy talk

This week is no exception for the fun blog hopping... I received an email from one of my favorite fabric companies Mokum (they have the best mohair fabrics in the most amazing colors- yummy!) Anyway- it was their best of the year awards... and on the list was a blog listing of what they recommend. Click click... I found The Sartorialist (I know where have I been) it is an amazing blog with amazing fashion photos from around the world!! Just seeing all of the fashionable people makes me want to go shopping and give my closet a little update- if nothing else the shoes for sure! Check it out you will love it! He also has a book out just last month with amazing photos- when it rains it pours with the fashion info..



Onto Poppy talk-focusing on handmade, printing, jewelry, art and inspiration! Just fun stuff that is inspiring all the way around. "Poppytalk is a Canadian (Vancouver-based) design blog collecting inspiration and dedicated to promoting emerging design talent. A husband and wife team working in the design field, Jan in graphic design and Earl in New Media as a designer and instructor." Check out their post on the artist Aurelie Alvarez one of the artists featured on Man Shops Globe.

Enjoy!

My Sparrow - stylish responsibility

images from Penguin books, Poppy talk and Aurelie Alvarez

Wiley Valentine... Green and beautiful

I just love it when good stuff comes right to my In-box!! I got an email from Greer's Orange County this week with a little spotlight on Wiley Valentine a local letter press company here in Orange County. Um their stuff is fantastic!! They do custom invitations, have seed cards (that is cards with seeds embedded in them so you can plant them after you read your lovely note), great little notebooks and all kinds of invitations and stationary; and it is all Eco friendly. Not only am I in love with their stuff their blog is cool too. Is is okay to secretly want to be friends with someone you don't know?? Check them out here!

Images from Wiley Valentine

Thank you Hooked on Houses!

A big THANK YOU to Julia at Hooked on Houses for yesterdays mention about our Manor in Charcoal Pillow!!

Blog hopping... Pia Jane BIjkerk and Yvette Inufio

On my Blog hopping adventure this week, I found the most wonderful things!! While checking out what Pink Monkey had to offer I decided to wander on her little blog list and see what I have been missing… well I have been wanting to check out Stylist Pia Jane Bijkerk’s blog- how lovely it is! While on her blog I stumbled onto Yvette Inufio on Etsy wow does she have some beautiful pieces.

Pia Jane Bijkerk has a wonderful book out which I LOVE – Paris: Made By Hand (See blog post a little while back) and is working on a new book My Heart Wanders. I cannot wait for it to come out!

Photographs from Yvette Inufio OH MY!!

Have a good Friday!! Happy Blog Hopping...

My Sparrow – stylish responsibility