Thanks Skirted Roundtable!

A couple of weeks ago I was surprised to discover that I was one of three lucky winners (chosen at random) who would receive a holiday giveaway item courtesy of the women at The Skirted Roundtable, a must-read-and-listen-to blog that features podcast discussions between the three design bloggers (Linda Merrill of Surroundings, Megan Arquette of Beach Bungalow 8, and Joni Webb of Cote de Texas) with invited guests from the design industry.

Previous podcasts have included Margaret Russell of Elle Decor, Eddie Ross from Martha Stewart and Top Design fame, and most recently Stephen Drucker, editor-in-chief of House Beautiful magazine. Just to have my name and blog posted on a site that features so many industry greats was honor enough!

But on to my present ...



Here is the gift box with pretty tissue
and this sweet card from Linda ...




And here is my giveaway gift ...


I love it! Bowls and shiny objects
are two of my favorite things : )

I celebrated with a little photo shoot.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Now for you, my dear readers,
I have a fun assignment!


From the beautifully decorated set of It’s Complicated
– written and directed by Nancy Meyers –

Go out and see the move “It’s Complicated” with Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin and scene-stealer John Krasinski from The Office. With so many recent posts on making good choices and keeping resolutions, I think we could all use a few laughs!



Images from It’s Complicated website

I have to say, this was the best movie I have seen in a long time. The sets are fantasy eye-candy and the script was hysterical, yet thought-provoking. If you would like to read up a little about what some of our friends at Skirted are saying about the film, go to Silver Screen Surroundings, or Cote de Texas, and then check in with them at the Roundtable next week as they chat it up with Beth Rubino, the actual set decorator for the film. I wish I could be there (in person or virtually) to pick Rubino’s brain! I have always imagined that set decorating would be a great career choice for an artist/decorator. What a huge canvas!


I am loving this cook’s garden ... its “a good thing!”

For those of us who can’t be at the Roundtable in person, you may download SRT podcasts via ITunes (it’s not complicated) and listen while you do other things (like paint a couple of walls like I did this week!)


Room designed by Ginger Barber and
photographed by Victoria Pearson.
This bedroom from House Beautiful
is the cozy/casual look I am going for
in my new master bedroom.
(more on that next week)

And be sure to schedule time to listen to SRT and Stephen Drucker from House Beautiful discuss the relationship between the magazine industry and the world of design bloggerism (yes, it is an actual word!). Drucker shares insight from his industry experience (he used to work for Martha Stewart Living – I thought I recognized him!) and explains what goes on behind the glossy pages of shelter magazines ...


– How to get your own copy –

Like how they discover talent, how design work is presented, the time line from scouting a location to when our much looked forward to magazines arrive in the mailbox (or at the news stands.) With the recent demise of so many great design magazines, I have seemed to transfer my addiction from mailbox to inbox, surfing online daily for that “I wish I lived there” fix. I think that is part of why I love writing/photo-styling for my blog. It motivates me to create and publish designs in the present moment. Blogging can be very zen, don’t you think?

Have a great weekend,
xo Yvonne