Learn the Art of Floral Arranging with Cathy Graham

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission on all qualifying purchases.

If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about the art of arranging flowers and create beautiful table designs your guests will admire, then Cathy Graham: Full Bloom: Joyful Designs for the Table, by Clinton Smith, will be an inspiring new resource.  An acclaimed artist, host and gardener, Cathy Graham approaches the world of flowers with playfulness and whimsy. Her floral designs are brilliant and surprising, and showcase her artistic skills with a variety of different media. Following her first volume, Second Bloom, Full Bloom is an impressive collection of colorful designs for the table, home, and party we can be inspired by, learn from, and even replicate.

Cathy Graham - floral arrangement
Photography by Quentin Bacon
View Post

A Visit to Beacon Hill Books

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission on all qualifying purchases.

Happy New Year, dear friends! Thank you so much for your well wishes and for your patience! At last I’m back to our regular posting schedule and for the first story of 2023 I thought we could all visit Boston’s chicest new bookshop, Beacon Hill Books and Cafe! If you’ve seen images of it in Veranda magazine and on social media, and are curious for more, during a recent family trip to Boston I stopped by and snapped enough pictures to show you every nook and cranny! 

View Post

Happy Holidays! 

Season’s greetings, dear friends! It’s been a while since my last blog post and I want to thank you all for your patience, and for your kind notes of concern. I also wanted to let you know that I’m OK and everything is fine at home. The reason for my extended absence has to do with some backend changes here on the blog which I’ll try to explain very quickly so that I won’t bore you all, especially since it’s almost Christmas Eve!

View Post

Objects of Desire, by Maria Hummer-Tuttle

As always, the change of seasons brings with it many delights, not the least of which is an abundance of new design books to add to our personal collections. I happened to come across a stunning new book that is both a visual treat and an object of beauty in its own right that I’d like to share a glimpse of with you. Objects of Desire, by Maria Hummer-Tuttle, is a personal celebration of the hunt for – and the joy of – living with favorite collections and things – concepts as universal as our drives to dwell and decorate. The premise of this book is centered around the questions:

What is it in our homes that we truly value and why? What would you take when you leave in fear of fire? 

View Post

Tips for Sewing a Pillow Cover with an Invisible Zipper Closure

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn a commission on all qualifying purchases. Thank you!

For many of us, sewing is a relaxing hobby that can prove quite useful when decorating our homes.  After sorting out some of the architectural projects at our house, I could finally ease myself into thinking about all the lovely layers that only fabric can add to a house (throw pillows, window treatments and upholstery) and being able to sew most of them myself has made all the difference. So, in an effort to bring you content that is both authentic and (hopefully) useful, I wanted to share with you my latest project – sewing pillow covers with an invisible zipper closure – with the hope that it will inspire / encourage some of you to learn a new skill that will empower you to make some lovely things for your home. For many of you experienced seamstresses, chances are sewing on an invisible zipper is a basic skill you mastered years ago. But for beginners like me, figuring this one out feels like a triumph worth celebrating, and therefore the results worth a bit of showing off 🙂 . So, if you’re interested and would like to sew some fun throw pillows of your own, with a neat invisible zipper closure, read on to see how I did it and how you can, too.

View Post