Hippity hop…. Hippity hop

One of my favorite holidays (after Christmas) is Easter. As you know from the post below, I love the fresh color palette after a grey winter season. And one of my favorite places to look for Easter ideas is William Sonoma – now they know how to do Easter!

Here are a few to tempt your sweet tooth and other spots as well!

Mini Iced Easter Cookies:

Enchant family and friends with our diminutive lemon sugar cookies. Baked in charming shapes – carrot, chick and bunny – these cookies have a delicate lemon flavor and taste every bit as good as they look. The treats are prepared with premium natural ingredients, and each cookie is individually hand decorated with colorful royal icing. 30 cookies packed in a cellophane bag. 9 oz. A Williams-Sonoma exclusive.

Personalized Totes These sturdy felt carrot and bunny totes are just the thing for collecting Easter treats and carrying them safely home – or they can be used as springtime party favors. Both styles are appliquéd with adorable details: the carrot tote with green leaves, the high-eared bunny with whiskers and a cottontail. An embroidered name makes them complete. Spot clean. 13" high overall. Imported. A Williams-Sonoma exclusive.

Spring Nest Bell Jar For centuries, European and American gardeners used bell-shaped glass covers to protect delicate plants from harsh weather. These bell jars, in three sizes, showcase a handcrafted, lifelike bird’s nest filled with hand-painted faux eggs and downy feathers. Natural and faux twigs, flowers and greenery are artfully arranged to create a natural setting for the nest. They make enchanting gifts or decoration for the mantel, sideboard or tabletop. Small, 4" diam., 7" high; Wide, 9 1/2" diam., 13" high; Tall, 8" diam., 15 3/4" high. A Williams-Sonoma exclusive.

Easter Egg Brownie Pops These irresistible pastel eggs-on-a-stick are egg-zactly right for an Easter gift (and a grand discovery on an Easter egg hunt). To make them, egg-shaped scoops of moist fudgy brownies are hand dipped in tinted white chocolate icing, hand decorated and placed on a stick for easy eating. 7.5 oz. total. Set of six, three of each design. A Williams-Sonoma exclusive.

Easter Tree (I have a similar one!) Celebrate springtime with a festive Easter egg tree, a seasonal tradition in many European countries and classic symbol of new life. These are ready to decorate with colorful ornaments, creating a tabletop decoration your family will enjoy year after year. The lifelike tree, inspired by the silhouettes and foliage of manzanita and birch, is handsomely set in a 5 1/2" high pot with dried moss around its base. 24" high overall. A Williams-Sonoma exclusive.

Carrot Candy Bag This is not a WS idea but how simple – orange colored candy in a bag tied up like a carrot - love it!

Enjoy!

Opening the windows

and letting in the fresh air - it's SPRING!!!!And with the warmer air and longer days comes the freshest holiday of them all - EASTER!!

I love decorating the house with fresh spring time colors and at Easter there is no shortage of pastels and flowers. Here are a few ideas to help bring a spring Easter palette indoors.

Found these adorable porcelain bunnies and chicks at a trade show I attended a couple of years ago and still love! While traveling I also found these beautiful glass tea light holders – love the oval egg shape and think they would work wonderfully in a more modern décor setting.

Tulip Delight

To make this elegant centerpiece, put white plastic eggs (or blown-out white egg shells) in a clear glass bowl. Add a few inches of water, then arrange tulips so the stems are in the water.

Candle-Holder Egg Tree Almost any type of candle holder can be transformed by using it to hold beautifully colored eggs. Consider setting eggs on a silver candelabrum, brass candlesticks, or even inside little votive cups. Use tacky wax to secure eggs, if necessary.

Hanging Egg Collage A tumble of pastel eggs makes a cheery welcome at the front door.

Directions: Wrap plastic foam egg shapes (available at craft supply stores) with strips of crepe paper, attaching ends with glue or a small straight pin. Embellish with ribbon secured with small straight pins, leaving a long end for tying. Gather eggs at varying heights and tie ribbons together. Hang from a removable adhesive hood or wreath hanger. Add a ribbon bow.

I am off to decorate myself - more Easter ideas to come!

Move over Ikea

H and M is venturing out into home textiles and accessories early 2009! Per the press release, the range will be exclusively available online and through a directional mail order catalogue, this is H and M’s first foray into the interiors arena and will offer shoppers the opportunity to stylishly transform every room of the home. The first collection will be available from February 2009 in the markets where distance selling is already established: Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. (Too bad North America is not on the list yet, but I’m sure it will make its way here soon if the outcome is good!)

The collection will be divided according to the different rooms of the home with categories such as Graphic, Colorful, Natural and Classic.
I love this one with the vintage trailer!
A little pillow talk?
Love the vintage bathroom set up – reminds me a lot of Anthropologie!

I think it’s a winner – I will keep my eyes open for this one – hopefully coming closer to home……soon!

Spring is in the air

William Sonoma Home is out with their spring ’09 looks. I often go here for ideas for my own personal space as I tend to lean towards this style of home décor.

American Country I am not sure how original the American Country theme is – a little dated in my opinion. Overall, not very exciting – and this comment coming from someone who normally would like this style!

British Colonial
Now this I think is classic and nice – really a timeless look. But again this collection is SAFE and NOT very forward thinking.

Neutral Territory Neutral territory is anything but…. Bright, and vibrant colors make way in this collection. I was hoping these factors would make the line smashing – but no such luck. Other then the accessories I think it lacks the “wow” factor and is not tempting me in any way.

On the whole – nothing I am drooling over this season – sorry WS.

Pretty as always

February is usually the coldest month and the most dreary were I live. So with February behind us and the first day of spring approaching, I've been searching for hints of spring through out the web. And let me tell you it is refreshing, the hope that the day will soon be here. Packing away the warm throw blanket from the sofa, replacing the duvet for a coverlet – ahh…..I can almost smell the flowers. How wonderful to have hit one of my fav websites – Anthropologie. The new spring catalog is out and as always there are beautiful pieces to inspire your pre-summer décor.

Here are a few pics I found inspirational.

Yes – these are shower curtains – how beautiful!
NEWS ALERT:
Amazing news for any and all Canadians!

There are plans are in the works to open Anthropologie stores in Toronto and West Edmonton. I am not sure of the exact date for the openings, but in Toronto it looks like Yorkville will be the destination of choice as well as a new mall in the Don Mills area. For Edmonton – I couldn’t find much information – but first thought was the big West Edmonton Mall? I will keep you posted once a date and locations are confirmed.

I have seen job postings on the web for positions so it can’t be too far away from opening day!

A dream come true

Barbie's Malibu dream house comes alive - and it only took 50 years!

On the eve of her 50th birthday, interior decorator Jonathan Adler has decked out a real-life 3,500-square-foot pad overlooking the Pacific Ocean to look like the blond doll's outrageous home.

Adler, who was commissioned by toy maker Mattel Inc. to decorate the house for Monday's party, said outfitting the sleek mansion (a property that's frequently rented for film and photography shoots) took six months of planning and a few weeks to install.

Adler lined Barbie's bedroom with wall-to-wall pink carpeting emblazoned with her initial.

The closet is filled with 50 pairs of pink peep-toe heels while her kitchen is stocked with cupcake-making ingredients.

An in-house museum features 25 vintage Barbie dolls on display.

In the garage? A pink Volkswagen New Beetle with a motorized pop-up vanity in the trunk.

Following the celebrity studded festivities, most of Barbie's custom decor will be shipped to the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas to furnish a special pink-tinted Barbie Suite that will be available for bachelorette parties, birthdays or anyone who wants to live like Barbie.

Other items will be available from the "Jonathan Adler Loves Barbie" collection launching in September – I can’t wait to see this!