{Recycled} Garden Inspiration

I was inspired by a picture I saw and wanted to re-create a pallet garden of my very own...!
Chris and I arranged four pallets in our side yard for vegetables {chard, butter leaf lettuce, cilantro, tomatoes, strawberries, and chocolate mint... so far} and we plan on creating more
{for our herb garden of course:) }.

Mother Earth Day

Happy Earth Day!
Thought I'd share one of my favorite blessings:



"May the sun bring you energy by day,

May the moon softly restore you by night,

May the rain wash away your worries,

May the breeze blow new strength into your being.

May you walk gently through the world

And know its beauty all the days of your life."


~Apache Blessing

Local Designer: Fly Love Jewelry by Margo Wong

Fly Love jewelry by Margo Wong can be defined as a unique combination of Bohemian moments and classy sophistication.
Margo solely designs and hand crafts each piece in her home, located by the sea in Aptos.
Fly Love is the kind of jewelry that delivers you compliments all day long- its casual enough to wear for any and all activities, yet elegant enough in its simplicity to accent that dress you'll be wearing to your friend's wedding next month, oooh la la~

Find and purchase your next accessory obsession {!} at http://FlyLoveJewelry.etsy.com

Peacock feathers neatly fashioned into a unique hoop look

Another take on peacock feathers- different and distinctive

I own a pair similar to the earrings on the left and the 

adoration never ceases.  

I match them with a casual dress and cowboy boots, or 

an off-the-shoulder top and jeans.

Here is the lovely Margo herself, modeling a 

necklace that I own and love.

                                                                Fly Love's leather collection has a Native American 

                                                                 feel with the same casualness as the natural feather styles. 

                                                             The abiding chevron symbol is austere but beautiful

One of my all time favorites- 

and a perfect piece to add to your summer jewelry collection.

Check out Fly Love on etsy.com as soon as you possibly can!

Favorite Coffee Table Book

This book is AMAZING. If you want/need/must have new concepts or inspiration for any 

part of your home, this beautiful book will give you everything you'll ever need.  

The co-author, Holly Becker, is also the founder and editor of 'decor8'- an incredibly 

artistic design blog, look it up! 

Local Designers: ZEN TRADING

Zen Trading is a family owned retail shop located near the ocean in Pleasure Point.  

The sweet smell alone is enough to lure you inside.  

Inspiration is derived from the Hawaiian islands, the Santa Cruz lifestyle by the sea, 

beautiful Balinese artwork, and Asian culture.  Zen also carries a variety of yoga gear, 

casual clothing for men and women, traditional Japanese incense, bamboo and bonsai plants, 

fountains, the most beautiful jewelry, and the best variety of candles I've ever seen.  

After stepping inside Zen, you feel as if the world around you has slowed down.  

Located at 825 41st Avenue, come find your peace~ 

Lucky bamboo is a simple way to brighten up a space.

The two BEST candle companies are found here- Archipelago and Illume.  They also make reed diffusers, a flameless alternative that may just work better than a candle.

Sea inspired etched wine glasses- I bought a pair for my cousin's engagement party and she absolutely loved them!

Left: Zen Gardens and Zen Boards are great desk-top items for a peaceful lifestyle or to de-stress for a few moments.  Right: A display of Heather Brown's island style artwork, from North Shore, Oahu.

Asian inspired garden art and statuary for the home.

Printed bamboo mats and unique artwork- 

Zen is a collection of artisan products from around the world. 

Tablecloths: DIY

My grandmother gave me a beautiful tablecloth from Pottery Barn as a house warming gift...  

And after I went back to Pottery Barn to buy another, I realized I couldn't justify spending that much on such a small piece of fabric.  So, Chris and I found two unique patterns at Beverly Fabrics in Santa Cruz, hemmed the edges on the sewing machine, and here are the results!

This is a great way to find your own colors, patterns, and styles that compliment your home.  The hem isn't even necessary if you don't have access to a machine- a hand stitch gives it a homemade feeling~

Window Sill Perk

Mini planter boxes made from reclaimed redwood, filled with teeny succulents from our garden.  

We have ours sitting on a window sill- they're also perfect for a simple center piece if

you want something other than flowers.

{FOR SALE}

Local Designers: DIG

DIG, or Design Interior Garden, is a local shop providing exactly that: beautiful and innovative 

designs for your interior or garden space.  The store is composed of three rooms and an outdoor 

garden, each room filled {but not cluttered} with just about anything & everything you 

would want to liven your home with.  

With a keen eye for color, space planning, and diverse array of plants, DIG has an incredibly 

modern feel with a touch of antiquity.  Its owners have a second shop, Hidden Garden Nursery, 

over in Aptos, which I am a frequent visitor at.  Located at 420 Water St. in Santa Cruz.  

What better way to get inspired for the spring time ?! Check out DIG! 

Complete with even a huge selection of air plants! Chris and I brought eight of these buggers home and nestled them within our driftwood frames behind the couch, adding a little life and color to the wood.

 

Left:  DIY living wall kits! You can spot them a Verve Coffee Roasters on 41st Avenue.  

Right:  Bird houses with living roofs made of succulents and moss.  These are the sweetest 

additions to any garden.

 

Left:  An array of Weck canning jars are perfect for small flower vases or simple decoration.  I use mine for short stemmed ranunculus.  Right:  Brilliant outdoor/garden color scheming.

A colorful collection of cut flowers- this is my favorite place to create bouquets for 

every room in my home. 

All your garden necessities are replete here.

I am currently obsessed with mini succulents.  From The Alibi: garden boxes holding mini succulents for window sills and table pieces are coming soon and will be for sale.

Friday Night Crafts

Friday night was rainy and cold and uninspiring for a night on the town.  So instead, I pulled out my old jewelry tools, gold chains, shells, leather, and coral... and had an inspiring night after all~

There will be more jewelry soon and it'll all be for sale! 

I made these with a friend in mind- they were her birthday gift~

Leather feathers, now sold at Zen Island on 41st avenue!

Local Designers: STRIPE

 

Stripe is an exclusive store filled with an abundance of unusual and delightful 

knickknacks, charming vintage decor, local artwork, unique threads, 

and OH so much more to indulge your design appetite with.  

Stripe includes a unique team of designers who collectively, gather inspiration 

to create a place that influences a variety of customers.  They provide 

commercial and residential interior design services, 

branding, and color consultation.  

You MUST see for yourself ...{located at 107 Walnut Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz} ! 

Metal house numbers, knobs for your bathroom vanity, thank-you cards, and stencils- make sure you have a portion of time carved out to browse everything in the store.

Cotton ball bath mats brilliantly displayed in a claw foot bathtub, accompanied by delicious lotion and soaps.  This mini environment sets the tone for a warm and beautiful bathroom.











Key obsessed {which I am}- Stripe's signage is composed entirely out of antique keys.









                                           Hand made kitchen cloth towels: a snap of color and pattern

             

Matchsticks in a jar are incredibly attractive. 

Flour sack towels and locally made jams- things that I love.

Stripe is one of my favorite places to seek inspiration from.  Not only is it complete eye candy for the aspiring designer {within us all}, but the owners, Suna Lock and Dana Norrell, are the loveliest little things on Walnut Avenue.  And every one of their employees are just as sweet.

Equinox

Happy spring! Ranunculus are one of my favorite emblems of the colorful season.

Brilliant Thought for Today

I deeply believe that a beautiful decor can have 
a beneficial influence on our lives.


-Albert Hadley

Brighten with Bouquets

I always promised myself I would keep fresh flowers in my house at all times.  My favorite bouquets are the wild flowers I pick from our garden {and sometimes we borrow the neighbor's..!}.  The branches with buds bring the spring season into our home and fills my heart with happiness~

A mini spray of shamrocks for the holiday, just for fun. I used an old cinnamon jar for the vase.

Exotic bouquet from my beau~ found at Ace's Flower's in Aptos

Budding tree branches are currently in bloom EVERYWHERE and {bonus!} they have 

a light sweet scent.

These hardy flowers are called leucodendrons and I love them!
They grow wild all over my neighborhood {and probably yours too}.
Such a simple yet vibrant idea~  no need to pay for a bouquet when you can
adventure off to find your own... . .. .