field trip

Over the weekend my sister Betsy and I met in Westport, CT for a GASPquest/GASPfest at the new location of Terrain, a home and garden extravaganza of a place that is big sister to Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters.



Just how big is this place? Well, for starters it has a cafe and restaurant. We were there for HOURS. Almost laughably, all I bought was a greeting card (true!) but I did bring back loads of inspiration pics as Terrain is blooming with inventive displays and ideas.

Ready, set, go ...



Twine in a can. Simple and clever utilitarian chic! Ah, the tinkering possibilities ...



Plants in pretty glasses



More proof that anything looks great in a jar (even with a dusty lid)



Wished Terrain's branded wood crates were for sale



Painted stripes make colorful picnic table runners



Pitched lattice for portable privacy (say that 3x fast!)



From nearby sibling, Anthropologie: Clever way to display a canvas



Suprise self-portrait!







Chair I talked myself out of buying ...





On my ride home I stopped at Ikea in New Haven ...



No Rory Gilmore sightings (tee hee) as I drove around Yale in search of Ikea but once there, I quickly filled my cart with rosy things from their NEW FLORAL LINES! Note the cute boxes of tissues!


Phew. Okay, now that all of that is out of my system it's back to writing for me for the next deadline!

Thank you for reading about my field trip. Any shopping field trips to share? Just post a link at my Tinkered Treasures page on Facebook!

xo
elyse

immediate inspiration

It happened again. A quiet opportunity presented itself to indulge in a magazine. I poured a cup of coffee, opened the windows, fluffed the couch pillows just-so and relaxed to enjoy my new issue of Country Living, British Edition.



A quick browse at the newsstand had let me know this issue would be fabulous! There I was -- all comfy, in the calm of a weekend morning -- and then SCREECH!



The feature Bring out the bunting! immediately sparked something. Up I sprang from my cozy nest of pillows and paper to get busy!



I gathered scraps of oilcloth and even a pretty market bag from TJ Maxx.


Fashioned a little template (like I did here) and got snippy!



Then brought out the bunting and festooned my beyond-shabby shed



and equally shabby adjacent wheelbarrow hideaway.



Then it was back to the magazine (and very cold coffee).



Or was it? :)



Not quite. It was online to PicMonkey to make a collage.


Currently between deadlines! Off to do some blog visiting! If I have been missing visiting your blog (repeatedly), my sincere apologies. Please leave a comment on my Tinkered Treasures Facebook page with a link to a recent post and I'll be sure to pop on over!

xo
elyse

PS
My little cape cod house is featured at Stacey's blog, A Sort of Fairytale / Blogger Home Tour Series. Click here to visit!

summer treasury

I don't think I've ever gone so long without posting on my blog. Like so many, I've been doing a bit of a juggling act lately -- and it's all good but it's busy. I was about to write an update on the progress of the book (brief details below instead) or how I'm overwhelmed about the school year coming to an end, but then decided to post about some recent "treats" and their accompanying rationales.



This lovely print by Janet Hill. Who can resist an inexpensive post card-sized print on canvas as delectable as this? Not me.



Pretty dress from Garnet Hill. Who can resist something in the color Lilac Dust when a coupon arrives in the mail?


Comfy shoes from Tom's. Who can resist shoes with a built-in rationale: With every pair of shoes purchased, Tom's gives a pair of shoes to a child in need. (And, they were on sale)


Who can resist a simple product that smells so mmmm ... beachy?



Who can resist 2 nested plastic market baskets from Target that make it a cinch to wash and display summer fruit? I LOVE summer fruit! (And of course, my good ol' faux cherry vase fillers from Target for after we've gobbled up all the blueberries and strawberries)



Who can resist anything by the fabulous Fifi? The images in this book are breathtaking. A perfect book for right-now when farmer's markets are bursting with fresh ingredients just waiting to become savory dishes!



My motto (Thank you to Koralee of Bluebird Notes for introducing me to this quote)

BOOK & WRITING UPDATE
Today I sent the final batch of projects to my publisher for styling and photography. Still more writing to do. Also, just wrote articles for Cottages & Bungalows and Romantic Prairie Style to publish in fall!

Okay! Blog post written and now it's time to do some visiting!

xo
elyse

PS
{This post is not a paid endorsement for any products mentioned}