I am such a conflicted shopper..When working with e clients around the country, i love the convenience of Pottery Barn, West Elm, target and Land of Nod to name of few!  But a huge part of me really believes this…

{recently captured by my friend Christi}

That being said… y’all have to see this west elm rod! When i was doing drapery rods for drew’s room when pregnant with Henry, i had in mind that we (meaning my husband and I) would create the rods out of pipe and various piping plumbing accessories and it would be so industrial chic.  But we are NOT the Novagratzs and it became very clear to me in the aisle of the local Lowe’s that it wasn’t going to happen and that abandoning the project would be good for my marriage..so for once, i said “forget it baby” and i went and bought and alan + roth rod off the shelf and we had a much nicer Saturday…if only there had been this west elm rod!  Snap it up people! Sometimes buying at a chain store is for the greater good, well sort of…

And thank the Lord for etsy…it is not only a great resource for vintage, textiles, smalls and even seamstresses but it feels so good to send clients that way and not to a big corporate site.

I love this seller for burlap tablecloths and shams..they are great! Much rather buy these off of etsy!

But at the end of the day so many of us rely on the ease and availability of big  box stores occasionally.  I have always loved Land of Nod but honestly felt many of their pieces weren’t much  better quality or any less “plastic” than target..though i have always loved their art and print offerings and their selection of cool toys and accessories.   Well this catalog they outdid themselves…some great new products like this jenny lind bed in colors (but hello you can  buy those at garage sales and paint them) but if its good for your marriage to just buy one you have the option at land of nod! ha! Bottom line…corporate images/catalogs etc.. can inspire people to upcycle products from local sources..we all know this!

Also new to Land of Nod this season are these buffalo check duvets  they would be so cute used with items you already have…or find locally at an antique fair or grandma’s closet.

imagine it styled different…without so much extra green…mercy that is a lot of green all together…it also comes in blue and pink…but if you ordered just the duvet you could style it like this…

{source my pinterest..if it was more organized i could give you the exact link!}

And last but not least..good ol Pottery Barn..i have been a little critical of the Pottery Barn lately but you still can’t beat them for a basket and honestly a whole lot more… This is a good one..trust me!

It is called the Workmans basket and i love the dimensions and strap! And its on sale and i doubt you can find a basket this size in an antique store or Round Top for $63…

So there you go..commerce in America..a mix of etsy, big box and local..what are your faves lately?

First up, prints from Britt at the precious blog, Gus and Lula, i have many faves and this one is a download available immediately here put in the code HOLLYMATHIS at checkout and save 15% until Friday in her shop! Matted and framed this or any of her prints (or the plethora of other art prints available online) would  make a great gift, easy to wrap and fun!  I have an average printer and it came out great!

For kids, we love the music cds from Land of Nod..they have good compilations like these

as with as Smithsonian Folkways re-releases of various folk and children’s music both old and new!

I love wood toys…too me they are cute and look better laying around the house and they are more educational and creative and have no batteries to replace. There are many places to buy classic wood toys online and locally and at arts fairs but if you want something specific made look on Etsy..if you cant find the piece you want i bet you can find an artist to make it…I had a 2 feet tall very sturdy windmill made for Henry and it was a reasonable cost..he is going to flip on Christmas morning..the boy loves windmills!

This one was made by iwoodcrafts on etsy, an artist from South Carolina…it was shipped quickly and arrived ready for Henry to play with..he doesn’t read my blog so i can tell you i have it stowed in the attic with a red bow, just waiting for Christmas morning!

Changing gears, West Elm makeup bags

i love the colors and patterns and price!

you really have to go see all of these zipper cases…handblocked patterned = love…i totally heart them…and they are all under $20..most around $10-12 (without monogramming watch out for that cost)

Also from West elm monogrammed tablet and laptop covers…in fun colors..

their felt storage accessories…

they have the ipad and laptop covers in the gray felt to and you can have them monogrammed to add a pop of color..this would also be pretty easy to make probably or find on etsy!

These darling and so reasonably priced homemade slatted signs from a shop called THE FINEST KIND in New England!

These cute placemats from Sarah and Abraham.

Notebooks from Minted…of course some of my faves are from Houston-based Toast & Laurel! You can personalize the front and inside flaps with photos and or text..great for teens, new moms, there is a kitchen design..the possibilites are endless..i ordered one for Drew with his photo on the front and I know he will fill it up and then i can save it..because honestly many (ok most) of his doodle pages do not survive!

MPIX accordian notebook

They are small and perfect for a stocking, priced under $20, easy to make online and fun!  I am going to do one for Drew of his birthday party!

I also love these ornaments from MPIX and Tiny Prints has had them in the past

..great gifts for grandparents! I did the ones above last year (from Tiny Prints, click here) and my 85 year old grandad (who has since passed) called to tell me he loved it!  So creative gifts with photos are a really fun and unique gift especially for grandparents and aunts and uncles and even for kids themselves!

So what about you? What are your favorite things to give this  year????

ALSO… the winners for the PickupSitcks Giveaway are Pam Ballard and Jennifer Murray…Congratulations and thanks to all that entered the contest!

…some cute stockings (3 i think), some tall mantle topiaries (artificial spruce) and coffee sack tree skirt!  I don’t have time to post photos but if you are interested send me an email at ehmathis(at)gmail(dot)com and i will text you phone pictures. The topiaries are for local pickup only..they are from a local store called Leftovers and very nice, were on half price and didn’t work for my client!

I hope to have some kind of little gift guide together for yall on Monday..have a fun weekend!  We have to get some decorations up outside so people will “know we have the Christmas spirit, don’t want people to think we don’t have the spirit” Drew says..he knows how to make us feel guilty!

They have some homesteading, hardworking history in their family peppered with some very tough times and scandal. The cousins say that heritage of strong women and perseverance inspires their business! Read more about their history here.

They ship fast so you really want to get in on this for yourself or for a gift.  Sabrina at Pick up Sticks is going to award TWO of my readers a charm of their choice, a silver bead necklace and free shipping to anywhere in the US!

My faves are the botanicals and the owl..”be HOO you are”..love it! See if you can find it in their store!;

All you have to do is…

1. Visit the Pick Up Sticks shop and come back here telling me which necklace you would choose if you won.
2. Follow the Pickup Sticks blog and leave a comment saying you’re visiting from Holly Mathis Interiors. 3. “LIKE” on facebook and leave a comment on her wall saying you stopped by from Holly Mathis.
3. Blog, Facebook and/or Tweet about this giveaway and leave a link {up to 3 entries} you get an extra entry

THAT IS A LOT OF CHANCES Y’ALL!

Just let us know in the comments if you want to enter and the cousins will select TWO winners and I will announce here on MONDAY!  Have fun looking!

Forget Target (at least today)…today is shop small Saturday…go visit your favorite small shops and one of a kind businesses..they are what give our small towns and big cities their charm and character. I learned so much about sprawl when studying historic preservation in grad school..I admit to loving my target but there is so much to be said for keeping it local when possible!

Watch this clip..very good.

and one of my fave small shops in the South…{Amelia Presents in Oxford. Mississippi}

{Purl Soho in NYC}

And if you cant visit your favorite small shops in person, you can shop small ONLINE..maybe small businesses have an online prescence.

Some of my faves (and they arent sponsors!)

My Sparrow

The Curious Sofa

Garnish

Sarah + Abraham 

Sew Mama Sew! 

High Street Market

and of course,

etsy.com

Please add  your favorite local places to shop in the comments or your favorite small shops you love to frequent ONLINE!

It is made of wood and come in the naked/bare wood state so you paint it any color..and it was super easy to spray paint.  I didn’t know if i was going to be able to make it through the Holidays without my red door but this is going to help!  The white looks so pretty with the gray door (SW Urbane Bronze is the color btw)…I tried it with green ribbon, red and green and a few greens…a bit smaller size monogram would look great layered over a fresh wreath but this one is so huge and dramatic it doesn’t need much!  in fact, i may hang it later with no ribbon if i can affix a little hanger on the back….should be easy….Souther Proper monograms also has different fonts and smaller sizes for ornaments, stockings or gift tags!  The possibilities are endless!

Notice I did what i call a duogram (and yes i took the house numbers off my door, it was just too much with the post box and the idea of holiday decorations but i reserve the right to put another up later)…truly proper would be my husbands initials i guess, since he is the man of the house and all but since we are all modern couple i did “duo”..I put my initial first, not because I have subordination issues (no comments) but because its etiquette to put the woman’s name first, and not separate a man’s first name from his last name?? Y’all correct me if i am wrong, just my understanding..and frankly in today’s world, there are bigger tragedies than getting this right or wrong so I do it however you wish though I am sure the nice ladies at Southern Proper can help you decide..you could also just do a single intial.

Another item i just ran across that I am very excited to share are these amazing nutcrackers..unfinished and very inexpensive from….HOBBY LOBBY!  I have a love hate thing with Hobby Lobby and i wasn’t thrilled with their colors, price and selection of shatter proof ornaments when i was in there on Friday!  BUT they redeemed themselves when i rounded the corner of the craft Christmas aisle (near the decorations) and found shelves of unpainted items including the nutcrackers, big ones, little ones….with a son who is interested in soldiers, i knew this was Christmas gold..I think my mother thought i was nuts i bought so many.  I could paint them solid white or red like West Elm but I think i will leave them natural.

 I am sure the boys will want to decorate a few…and at that price ($1-3 on sale!) I can allow them craft and play and use some for decor too!

And just a few more faves I want to mention because it takes time to plan and order…first, the tree idea for teacher and other gifts..I love this.

You can either order them from Seeds of Life and add tag like i did 2 years ago (paper tag with GROW stamped on it and then i handwrote inside) or buy your own tree or even just a plant and package this way..i never get tired of this idea.

And on the note of packaging, I have a wrap and ribbon report. Maybe it is just me, y’all may have found something cute or new or different but I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary at WalMart, World Market, Target or Hobby Lobby….last year i loved one from Target (looked like an Orla Keily print on kraft) BUT I am still loving the kraft paper from and bakers twine (and kraft tape) from Olive Manna, just fyi, the kraft paper is thin but not too thin..i don’t like the classic THICK kraft paper..just me.

I am also loving this wrap from Sundance and the french script wrap from Ballard.  Sundance also has some great ribbon for you ribbon-aholics!

Sorry for the long post and i apologize for posting on so much Christmas before Thanksgiving, I am really not a fan of that but I also wanted to give some heads up so you have ordering time etc..last year i waited until Mid December to blog about Christmas!

Have a blessed week and give Thanks to the Lord for He is good and His love endureth forever!

{Image from Apartment Therapy, read their recount of the opening here}

Gone are the silver sage walls, cleaning supplies and displays of house numbers in the Restoration Hardware stores of yesteryear ..now it is ultra GRAY CHIC with Belgium style and huge everything,…Interesting because in 2009 the design blog Cote de Texas blogged about this transformation at Restoration, Joni’s excellent post and intriguing comments and conversation can be found here. Interesting the at 2 years later the “new” much more expensive and highly designed Restoration Hardware has opened up BIG in Houston! Seriously go read her post and comments if you find this huge push in retail interesting, the shift in their image and the rub with antique dealers etc..I also love that in Joni’s 2009 post many of the commenters speculated if the chain stores would pick up on the Belgium trend..some of the commenters said they hoped so…2 years later i have two words…WORLD MARKET!

OK so the new gallery approach in retail can be frustrating to many, it  is like visiting ”market” because you pretty much have to order everything like at a decorative center AND WAIT but i must admit, the ”galleries”  are impressive.  I did not go to the opening weekend, I heard the crowds were huge..like 800 people, but i did slip in a few days later to see what the fuss was about..

Of course my first stop was the BABY GALLERY..oh yall, it is precious..from my own cell phone.

I do love many of their children’s things..the baby bedding has come a long way since their debut collection, the linen bumpers were so nice and though much of the styling was pretty over the top..tufted walls and HUGE chandeliers..it was fun to see..those kid size chesterfield sofas are just so funny, and expensive.

I didn’t spend much time in the “adult” side..just seeing all of the silhouettes grouped together in the baby store was enough for me (I love they are done my renowned silhouette artist Karl Johnson…he did Drew’s when he as two and i love his style)…the huge tufted sectional in this photo really bothers me but the chandeliers and outside areas were pretty impressive i must say. I think all of the decadence just makes this country girl a tad uncomfortable, as much as i love beautiful things… It just seems off to me in a world where European countries are declaring default that we Americans are still living in excess..but its pretty, very pretty!

I snapped this photo on the way out..spotted one of the famous BOBO lights!

So what do you think of the new Restoration Hardware??? Have you been to the new store in Houston????

via Country Living

One of my client’s has the perfect entry for this paper but she balked at the price tag for Farrow & Ball so we found a GREAT alternative..by Seabrook!  You may be skeptical but look how well it turned out…

Don’t you love how she did the ceiling too?! We aren’t finished with this room, updating seat fabric and getting a larger console (maybe BLUE) but even still the room is so pretty! By the way, her lantern is discontinued from pottery barn, it is the same one I have in my dining room!

This is the paper..its $40 a roll..the FB is $275..just sayin..BUT GET SAMPLES and be sure…and for the record the one my client used is the Seabrook Maison Gallerie collection, OL91507 is the number and it’s called Barras Damask..don’t email me askin..ha ha! just kidding

I love the burlap and nailhead on this ottoman

and this nightstand

oh yes please

is it weird that i want my coffin to be tufted in linen when i die?

I love the 7 pillow!

And some darling floor cushions and dogs!  great for boy room!

these would make Christmas gifts..don’t you think first grade teachers need wine?!

more cute gifts..only $10

There are several categories..dont miss any!;;

So if you missed Round Top this is your chance for a little junk in the country…Visit her blog for more details and directions! I will be there lending a helping hand and would love to meet you!