My beautiful friend Sarah with her creme brulee masterpieces…she was so calm with that torch! And below is the huge tree the children gave their parents as an anniversary gift…the couple was married under beautiful trees 25 years ago and we used a tree motif on the invitation, for the gift and of course the photo tree i showed yesterday and again below!

The menu was yummy brisket and the fixins..it was so tender the little wood forks were easy to use!  The tables had plain white cloths with burlap runners and salvia plants in galvanized pots from IKEA..it was so windy we didn’t get many table shots..we used the rocks to try and keep our cloths from blowing away..

I wanted to set out the darling purple check napkins but didn’t chance it for the wind!  Oh well, it stormed the night before and we were just grateful for sunshine!

A dear friend of the family made the cupcakes..i got the pleasure of displaying them on various cake plates and boxes and platters….

Love those demi spoons from Garnish..perfect for the creme brulee (i have no idea how to accent on the keyboard..sorry  peter and camille!)

The tiered stand and chalkboards are from Williams Sonoma.

Other sources include Persnickety Prints for the precious retro prints on the tree simply clothes pinned to twine, Sweet B for the anniversary banner, Tara Royers Steele for the chalkboard art, The Brown Shed for the vintage frogs holding photos, and Garnish for the wood utensils. Digital invitation design similar to this by Hen and Co. and printed at Office Max..Sarah says they were so user friendly and she did a great job mailing them out with burlap bands and cute martha labels..can you tell we had fun!!

Thanks for letting me share and share and share about this…can you tell we had fun?! Thanks for everyone who helped both with the party and me in particular with the decorations..i have talented friends and sources that always help me out in a pinch including babysitters and a great husband! Y’all are the best!

Well its Mother’s day..so much i could say…I love my boys and being a mom and my own mama is the best..So grateful to have her nearby this past year and a part of our daily lives and us hers. Many of you have emailed and asked about her and I want to tell you she is doing great!  Her hair has all grown back from the chemo and so far all is well.  So to my mama and you my special readers who are mamas..here is to you!

For those of you who long to be a mother and hold a little one in your arms, I remember this pain and I am praying for you today as well.  I vividly remember how difficult Mother’s Day could be before my Drew was born.  I am sure I even stayed home from church a year or two.  Please know you are loved and your Perfect Father above has not forgotten you…I hope you all have babies soon and if not i pray a special peace and unique love for your life…ok getting off track..i need to stick to decorating and leave the “teaching” to others probably but wanted to share.  Also, there are so many forgotten mothers in our culture..friends and aunts that are single and have no children that help us busy and often tired mothers raise our children!  They are such unsung heroes, giving us breaks and help and awesome love and mentoring to our children. A special thank you to our Aunt Kim for helping out with my boys..you are such an amazing influence on them and me and i am thankful for you and the professional work you do to help hurting mothers and children in our community! God is good and the body of Christ is an awesome thing.

Speaking of which..the above “family tree” and  sweaty faced photo of yours truly  (which i actually like because i am happy and doing something i love..decorating for a party!) are from Saturday!  I helped put on a really fun anniversary party this weekend for sweet sweet special people! I loved working with my friends to put on this event and share in the joy! Ironically, the “mom” of this group went with me to nearly every infertility appointment i had when i was going through treatment before Drew was born! She was so faithful to pray for us and encourage me during my longing to become a mother. Mothers are born out of marriage and love and  it was honor to celebrate 25 years or marriage and God’s faithfulness with this amazing family. I love you Juneks!

The lovely couple!

I will have more photos to share later i promise ..we had two photographers documenting everything and despite some wind and mud it was a gorgeous day!

“The Bottom Line”…Mothers and families can mean different things and bear out fruit in different ways over the years but it can be such a beautiful thing!!

Everyone have a great week!

no not the movie…I am talking about the Round Top Antiques Show this spring..in particular Marburger Farms. There are many great posts out there recapping this show and past shows but one of my faves at Marburger is Suzy Smith of Houston! Suzy has degrees in fine arts and fashion and loves to creatively use vintage textiles. She attended Parsons School of Design in Paris.She had clothing and handbag lines and later became a stylist, working on several catalog sets for Neiman Marcus, Horchow, and Pier One. While living in London, she worked as a contributing editor for Mary Engelbreight’s Home Companion  magazine, producing and styling a number of their UK features. WOW..she is fun to talk to and look at her new bag and wristlets..more are available including a tote!

Just look at her amazing couture bag..and of course I love how she styles everything! Isnt it just gorgeous and well made (made in America with vintage textiles all designed by Suzi)…and the wristlet!!! In her travels across Europe, Suzy has come across many different textiles, including French and English ticking, and beautiful antique tapestry.

The tote

Her booth was amazing!

love the redcoat!

 Suzy lives in Houston and has amazing antiques and of course these textiles..to contact her email me at ehmathis@gmail.com or visit suzy on facebook and etsy!

 Suzy and other great vendors will be set up at Houston’s Urban Market NEXT WEEKEND. Show times are

Just a recap, the room looked like this (click and scroll to last page of article) when  it was Drew’s nursery, like this when it became Henry’s nursery, then the boys started sleeping in the same room and it changed to this  and now the crib is gone and we have tweaked some more! This is the fastest changing room in our house no doubt!

This is what you seen when you walk in the room..i mean RIGHT when you walk in the room…we are talking 10×11 feet packed full of two twins, an armoire, a large dresser and two growing boys. It is a lot but i know one day they will be grown and i will love the memories of them sleeping in this tiny room together with the cowboy curtains. The dresser is an amazing antique. I bought it from a friend and its one of my favorite pieces ever..the COLOR and it has huge drawers so great storage…and its so large and snug with the beds it almost gives a built in feel..and its so heavy and sturdy we can lean against it with pillows when snuggling and reading to the boys..even my husband commented on the cozy cocoon the dresser makes..so i got built ins without building.  The “headboards” are obviously decals from here..I love the simplicity and frankly i do not even have 2 extra inches for a plain upholstered headboard! My plan was to trace these and paint them on wall but as much as we change things around here i may just leave them so later i can simply peel off!

The pillows and bedskirts were made by Tootledoo Designs a sponsor here on my blog..The owner of the shop, Mary John, does amazing work and has an etsy shop..she also has a new baby any day so if you contact her and she doesn’t answer an email right away..give her time!  

Bedskirt details..love the linen band! The rug is the wool jute from PB..soft and durable. The galvanized light has been up a while, its from Barn Light Electric!

Can you tell i love this bedskirt..its nicer than the one on my bed! Man i hope it doesn’t get blood or poop on it BUT if they get stained i can switch them and put the stained side against the walls..i have a plan! 

For the longest i knew I wanted big monogrammed pillows for the boys but I didn’t want embroidered monograms because of snag issues..Mary John came to the rescue with these appliques..and the piping..her sewing is so great! The quilt and sham are pickstitch from Pottery Barn..it washes well!

A few details around the room…old hymnal rack painted white for books, star sheets from Serena and Lily and bla bla friends.  The vintage red box on the dresser is large and holds school papers and art I want to save..good place to stash it quickly! The cowboy curtains have  been here a while and the colors of the new bedding were chosen to go with the drapes..i love them.  We don’t keep many toys in this room..most are in the living room or in playroom upstairs but these vintage army barracks are treasures from a local thrift shop!

Opposite the bed wall is a green painted chalk wall with the verse from Isa 61 that is my prayer for my boys..that they grow to be “oaks of righteousness,plantings of the Lord and displays of his splendor!”  I had another piece on this wall for storage but recently replace with this old armoire that i painted in white annie sloan chalk paint by these amazing furniture painters!  Notice the tag on the drawers, that is an unfinished project..my goal is to organize Henry’s clothes in these drawers and label to help Nana, Daddy and the sitter with finding where things are located but as you can see this has not happened yet..but good idea..I figure by the time they get grubby and or Henry tears the tags off everyone will know where things go! Like i said, i had another piece on this wall, white numbered lockers from PB but i had to send them back..too bad…cute but very slick and fake in person..not authentic rustic at all.

And they smelled of CHEMICALS which is a not good storage for kids pjs and sheets…BUT Pottery Barn made it good.full refund including shipping!

Love their old globe collection..and of course A is for Andrew and h is for little brother Henry.

I also bought two of these dash and albert blankets for extra cover..i love them because they fold up easily and small and can stash in armoire or wherever…I was excited when I found out DA makes blankets..i like their rugs but never have been able to get one to work..i wanted one in this room but the wool is more practical believe it or not..and comfy and warm in our old house winters!

Henry must say “howdy!”

Thanks for looking at the big boy(s) room! If you pop over don’t expect it to look this neat especially on a Monday morning but it does feel good to have it finally finished, for now!

I love the big galnvanized planters and the lanterns…and the placemats are pretty darn cute..and i am not even a placemat girl! have any of you seen the products in the stores yet??   i have only seen a few..the planters, lanterns, cupcake stands and little scatter rugs…didnt see the kitchen items or totes.

Here are the owners of the shop that the line is based on..out of Connecticut!

More about Privet House here on their blog! Gorgeous images from their stores in Warren and Greenwich like below! 

Love the display of household supplies…

Too bad you won’t find this fine collection at Target;; 

Their Greenwich location..so charming!

I so need a trip to New England!

{i love Big Mama’s arched front door…and i happened into San Antonio on Fiesta weekend!}

We have worked on her house before via email but she is finally ready to make some big changes so I went to see her in person!  Instantly I destroyed her house with my bags of fabrics and notebooks and measuring tape, moving furniture…she cracked a Diet Coke or two!

 And here you can see Big Mama texting Sophie (boomama)..supposedly a question about some word art but probably to tell her I was making a mess!;; 

We even moved a huge church pew to another room to see how it will work as extra dining room sitting! Perfect that is how! Yes that meant hoisting her darling husbands huge tv off its perch and moving it back so he wouldn’t know. Oh and his taxidermy…doesn’t really bother me..SHOCKED? Well I am a Texas girl too so I can’t be shocked with stuffed animals. We just have to deal with it sometimes. I can inject as much fabric and style as possible to balance..its called Eclectic y’all. We will make it work and her man will be happy! Speaking of her hubby and sentimental things…One of the neatest things we did was decide to hang an old ranch sign from her husband’s family (we found it in her backhouse..you know the backhouse right..the one she painted in her uggs…its already peeling) above the…kitchen sink! I hope he loves it…we do! Big Mama’s house just seems like a party house and hopefully the decor will fit that hospitality even more..like this fabric!

from here…i have used this on several projects lately..love this fabric and amazing price…

and the light!

Can’t wait to put this light over her gorgeous dining table!

 Melanie and I aren’t big photographers…and i had bad roots so that was an even better reason to not take many photos of us together but just look at her..she is so cute in her JCrew little toothpick pants or whatever you call them?! She is so darling and the she opens her mouth and PURE Texas (still very chic but much more likable!) know what i mean..her voice and accent just made me love her more.  So i was instantly at ease and think i hugged her more than once. 

And then we had to have a discussion about some dusty ivy on top of her cute cabinet… i said “Big mama, you dress too cute, you are too put together and stylish to have this ivy in your house..WHY???? tell me WHYYYY?” and she was finally ready to let it go…the moment!

Now don’t get all upset or offended with me about the ivy…i have some fake “myrtle” toparies in my house AT PRESENT and i have had my share of fake ivy… so much in fact i feel I can tell her its time to let this stuff go. You may not be there yet..and that is okay. Lord knows I have my issues;

All of this to say, it was a JOY to meet Melanie..we went to Target and talked about mom stuff and crazy families all while we decorated..pure bliss. Thanks Big Mama!

And I promise to keep y’all posted on this project..we are making progress quickly including upholstery, slipcovers, paint  and new lighting and built-ins..fun stuff.  Big Mama’s home is older and cozy like mine so we want every inch to sing!

To read more about my visit with Big Mama click here.

No surprise this is out of Atlanta!

And then I found this on Becki’s blog..her wood paneled study transformation..oh my! I knew i had to share. So many of my clients are contemplating painting over wood…here is your inspiration (click through to see her before and after of this project)

OH WOW…you won’t believe the before..it was wood city and she painted it all and voila! oh the styling, i really like it..really really really.

It all has meaning and to me it doesnt seem too cluttered because its behind glass! Brilliant use of IKEA cabinets..you find more details about the room on Becki’s blog post about the room here. Fyi the doors are painted the pre-packaged black from Ben Moore.

 Curious details indeed!

You can see more of Becki’s home at the new online magazine Souvenir..i know there are many online magazine but this one is good y’all..worth the signup fee…incredibly talented women like Sarah Duckett, Pam Garrison, Brooke Gianetti, Heather Bullard and others contributing to this project..They are so inspiring so check it out!

And here is more from Becki’s friend Lori Vbra and her Southern Comfort exhibit in Atlanta..here is a shot of Lori working on installation.

So wish i could have made this event..i love it all..women making art and doing business and what they love..strong and talented women doing amazing and good things!  Good work y’all!

It feels so good to be home again.  I have been traveling a lot working with clients and I love it..so blessed to do what i love but last night i drove in late from Austin to see my boys..love that job even more.  Time for mama to be at home with these little men for awhile! Having a full time job (that is what this has become, i can finally admit it, i am a working mama!) and two little boys is quite a juggle as many of you know. I couldn’t do it without their amazing Daddy and grandparents.

My friend Allison of Feather Nest photography  recently captured these images of Drew and Henry on our family land.  On this, Earth Day, its sad to think this land and a nearby creek could be polluted in the near future by a landfill.  So sad.

But for now these boys are enjoying it for all of its beauty, just like his Daddy and cousins have for years. 

I know these with the flag look a bit like a Ralph Lauren ad, but this is so Drew. And especially the ones below with the gun and on the ground.

Oh how i love that little pursed mouth expression! I can’t believe this boy will be EIGHT years in the fall and is such a reader and all around big talker!

And THIS one…

Henry loves to be on that mule…it’s his happy spot for sure!

I love those dimpled hands and that grin! He is going to be life of the party..already is!

Grass stains on the knees..love everything you captured Allison..Thanks friend!

Life isn’t perfect, we know many people who are going through so much and life here isn’t running through flowers and waving flags everyday (for sure!) but God is good and life is so full of sweet moments amidst trials and tragedy. I hope you find some sweetness in your week. 

The super nice sister-in-law of this homeowner emailed me about this image and told me the designer is Lisa Luby Ryan of Dallas! I should have known!  AND a few of you mentioned the Veranda connection (it was the Dec ’11 issue )..apparently this a small but darling home in Dallas’ Highland Park neighborhood and is well known!

YEP slowly it all clicked for me.  I HAVE SEEN THIS HOUSE..well duh it was in Veranda and Cote de Texas did a great post on the house here!!

One of the readers mentioned “wish we could see the entire room not just the table” well we can! Doesn’t the lightning make a difference..the top photo is from Veranda, clearly shot for the magazine..everything is brighter and bluer ..its just like a supermodels thighs..remember this when you feel blah about the imperfections in your house..i felt the same way when BHG photographed my house..i was like WOW is that my house..the lighting was SO good..anyway, the photos are all gorgeous but you can just tell a difference between the top and others don’t you agree?? Am i making any sense?!  ha!

One of my favorite transformation of this home..the exterior!  Amazing what paint can do!

You can see more of this home and Lisa’s other work on her website Vintage Living!