My latest book review!

A long time ago I saw the cutest banner on someones sidebar.
The old fashion silhouette caught my eye & with a click of my mouse I discovered Clarice & her Storybook Woods.

Her blog is like a journey to a simpler & more romantic time.

Together with her beautiful, fun daughters Chloe & Auberne', they bake lavender honey shortbread, do nature crafts & celebrate Tasha Tudor's birthday. 
I was thrilled & proud for Clarice when she announced her latest book a fictional tale titled Wren Bay.

Her story brings her beautiful blog to life through the eyes & experiences of a young Boston socialite named
Wren Bay.
At 19 young Wren marries Delvin & moves to his 200 acre dairy farm in Massachusetts.  The newlyweds are soon separated by war, but Wren vows to use this time apart to turn Bay Farm into her dream home.
The book is part novel, part cookbook as Clarice has incorporated wonderful recipes into each chapter.

I can't wait to try Jam Hand-Pies, Cider Cake & Orange Honey Ice.  But for this post I decided on the simple
Overnight Oat Cakes. 
Clarice suggested I add some nice chocolate or orange rind to the mix so I did, & they were absolutely delicious!!

You can read the first chapter of Wren Bay right here,  or you can order a copy for yourself right here!

It's a yummy book in more ways than one!

I have got to put my books down & get my kits finished.

I cannot believe the Wicked Tea is only 2 days away!!!!!!

Why can't I be a more organized person??



Inspiration Friday - Book Obsession

Welcome to Vintage Inspiration Friday - Book Obsession! 
 This was the post I was writing last Friday when blogger imploded on me.
I was determined to finish, sorry Debra I'll do home & porch next week.
A week & over 30 pictures later this has morphed into a mammoth post!
So I'll tell you like I do my kids,
Go potty now, because this may take us awhile!

When I started this list I was going to include all subjects of books, art, inspiration, holiday....but quickly I saw that this would have to be the first in a series.

I'm so in love with books.

For me they are the key to a world of beauty & inspiration.  I try every now & then to purge my shelves to make room for new. It's a painful process.

Here are some of my very favorites & I hope some of yours!

Eclectic Style - by Connie Duran

Published in 2005

This book snuck up on me, I discovered at 1/2 Price Books one day & it quickly became a favorite. 

The author has filled it with beautiful rooms all done in my favorite 'non-color' scheme.

Decorating Cottage Style - Neva Scott

This is actually a newer book, it's from 2007.

It's a very cottagey look all done up in nuetrals.  Very pretty to look at.

Carolyn Westbrook's Home, published back in 04 is defiantly at the top of my list.

Carolyn's plantation home in Texas is TDF!

I could fit my whole house in her foyer.  

 I'm a sucker for bluebird china (I have my own little collection), but it's her amazing ironstone that has me foaming at the mouth.

She has such a talent for building her rooms around a mix of dreamy slipcovers, beautiful wood pieces & awesome collections.   

Celebrating Home - Seasons of Cannon Falls

Editors of Country Living

(published 2005)

I have just about all the Country Living books, but this one is probably my fave! I posted 2 of their Halloween rooms in my last Inspiration Friday post.

The book is divided into seasons & I love to pull it out from time to time for ideas. 

They never get old, like these shades made of craft paper, cool huh?

I own the entire collection of Mary Engelbreit decorating books + every single issue of Home Companion.

(see I told you I was obsessed)

But to me, The Artful Life is the best!

Published back in 00, this book is like a collection of the best rooms from MEs mags.  The rooms pictured here belong to the Mother/Daughter team Belinda & Jesika Hare.  These Texas girls were the visual designers for Carol Bolton's Fredericksburg stores.

I have most of the Victoria books, but my fave from 2001-  Designers in Residence.

Another great book of artist & designers homes, including my hero.........

the Queen of sepia & moss.

Ms Bolton herself.

Look at that stained scrim panel!!!! And that chair..... if your out there Carol, I love you!

The Serene Home by Eileen Paulin is one of my top 5.  You may recognize her name from the golden age of Romantic Homes.  I saved every copy from her days as editor in chief.

And loved to watch her on HGTV's Country Style & The Christopher Lowell Show.

She has put together the most beautiful collection of homes.

 Although written in 2003 this style is still so fresh & new.

 Simply classic. I wonder where Eileen is now?  Maybe she could be my facebook friend.

Another in my top 5 is Victorian Chic by Anita Louise Crane.

(I guess you can see by the labels where I buy most of my books. I may be a hoarder but I'm also a cheapskate )

Hard to believe this was published in 2002.

It looks like it came right out of my favorite blogs!

If you love gorgeous lace & linens

(& I know you do)

then you will LOVE this book!

 Her collection of vintage & antique linens is the best I've seen!

 Her style is......

 perfect!

 See what I mean?

I couldn't make this list without a shout out to Kathryn Elliot. 

 Boy I loved me some Junk Chic for awhile. 

There was a time I was faux finishing everything I could get my hands on.

You gotta love a girl who hung a coffee table on her ceiling & used it as a pot rack?  These pics are from the 2003 follow up

French Country Junk Chic.

My newest (& oldest published in 1998) addition to the library is

Interior Alchemy by Rebecca Purcell.

If you haven't heard of this book let me give you the low down.

This book is a cult classic.

When I first heard of it a few years ago the cost of a new copy was a whopping $400!

Rebecca Purcell is a wildly talented artist & stylist for ABC Carpet & Home & Anthropologie.

I really believe the early Anthropologie catalogs changed the look of retail & decorating in this decade. 

 I know that's a bold statement, but I remember seeing those catalogs & being so inspired by the seemingly random collections in her vignettes.

I cruised Amazon for ages waiting for the price of a used copy to drop into my budget.  Finally last month I splurged & paid $45 for my copy, a former library book!

  The dust jacket notes call it an orgy of ideas!

 Rebecca describes this as 'anti-decorating' book.

She says it's about displaying a quirky, eclectic mix of collections & expressing your passions.

 The forward in her book is titled 'How to Hoosh an interior' !

 The origin of the word came from her early days as a window dresser at Macy's.  They'd say 'the top of that hutch needs a good hoosh!'

Don't you love that?!

I'm adding hoosh to my vocabulary.

 Mossy, moldy, old, dusty & totally awesome!

 

What a simple & cool way to display a lovely old frame. From the back with a postcard pinned in the middle. 

Very Rose Hicks I think.

While making this list I kept asking myself if my library caught fire which book would I save?

  My answer changes periodically,  but as of this posting my choice would be .....

Vintage Treasures by Jane Cassini & Ann Brownfield, published in 2002.

Every single page,

 every picture,

is pure eye candy!

 These lace bags are amazing!

Such a perfect combination of vintage elements.

 If you don't already own this book, please buy it, if you don't absolutely love it I'll buy it back from you! 

 Here you go, new on Amazon for only $4.98! 

So there you go, my favorite books as of October 2010.

I'm updating the Amazon widget on my sidebar to include this list.  If your inspired to add one of my suggestions to your own library I'd love for you to do through my blog.  I'm trying to earn money for a new book!!!

I'd love hear what books inspire you!

Thanks Debra for dreaming up this cool party.  If you want to get some more vintage inspiration go check out Common Ground.