12.30.2009

New Year's Decor

My ideal NYE...

Hang several groupings of these. (From David Stark for West Elm,
which I can no longer find on their website)

Add a fresh bouquet.


Fill these...

...with this cheapo champagne

And place on this.

Oh, and wear this. Happy New Year!

images: cb2.com, bedbathandbeyond.com, etsy.com, mainlywines.com, westelm.com, teleflora.com

12.29.2009

Tall Giveaway!

I'm very pleased to announce the first ever giveaway here at A Tall Drink. Up for grabs is the Mavis Vase by Bud (pic above), courtesy of CSN stores. It's a clear PVC container that lays flat, but expands when you fill it with water to give the illusion of a glass vase. Awesome, right? CSN stores also has some fantastic Vitra products, one of my favorites being the Uten.Silo II, (pic below) a classic piece designed by Dorothee Becker in 1969.

So to enter to win the Mavis Vase, just leave a comment telling me what your favorite Vitra product is. I will announce the winner on Monday, Jan 4th. Thanks for entering and hope you win!

images: csnstores.com, allmodern.com

Olde Bell is Ringin'

I am absolutely in love with the Olde Bell Inn, located in the village of Hurley in the English Countryside. Undeniably quaint and so perfectly minimal and rustic, I love the color palette of warm grays, taupe, black and white and all the amazing furniture. Ilse Crawford (founder of Elle Decoration UK, a fave of mine) lead the revamping of the Inn, and may I say she did a wonderful job. I'm so hoping to stay here someday.







images: by lisa cohen

12.28.2009

How Exciting

I just found out this blog was included in the Holiday Reading Guide 2009 over at Desire to Inspire. This is unexpected and flattering! Thanks so much to Jo over at Desire to Inspire for the mention.

image: desiretoimspire

12.24.2009

Wrapped Up

Christmas Day is almost upon us, but wanted to share some of the gift wrapping from this year and some festive floral arrangements. Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

A nice Christmas-y plaid paper, red satin bow and fresh evergreens looks so sharp. Also used some artificial berries on the package in the back.

For my nephew's presents, I used a bright lime green paper, a fun grosgrain ribbon and a big christmas bulb. Kind of a subtle interpretation of Christmas.

More line green and grosgrain, this time with a plastic snowflake with marigold flowers I made into an ornament. I like the idea of having a little extra something to adorn a package.

A simple little arrangement in a small red glazed clay pot. I love the contrast of red roses with pine cones and greens.

And another slightly larger, with christmas bulbs and some fake berries.

12.18.2009

Yule-Tied

From NYT Dress Codes.

Unexpected Wreaths

I think we tend to think of holiday wreathes in pretty simple terms sometimes. Throw up some pine and add a bow, right? Well there's so many other beautiful and unexpected wreaths out there. Check out these great options, all from Design Sponge.



Rope Wreath (via ReadyMade)

images: designspongeonline.com

12.10.2009

Danish Embassy Christmas

Check out the amazing work done by design students for the Christmas Party at the Danish Ambassador's home in Washington D.C. The "snowstorm" garland was made from coffee filters, old newspapers and other trash. Brilliant job!




images: designspongeonline.com

12.09.2009

Wood that be a Bow Tie?


Yes! Bowties made of varnished birch bark. And you can actually wear them!

image: valetmag.com

12.07.2009

Martha's Craft Sale: Firsthand Account

There was wind, rain, chilly temps (and later snow) on Saturday, but it was going to all lot more than that to keep me from Martha Stewart's Holiday Craft Sale. The question is, was it worth the effort? Well have a look for yourself.
Here are my friend Lindsay and BF George (who I pretty much forced to come with, although he did end up enjoying himself) waiting to get in the doors. We were joking that Martha was going to require us to craft something fabulous out of a plastic bag some string and whatever we found on the street in order to gain entrance.

Part II of the line which snaked around several floors and corridors.

Spotted in a hallway, a MSLO internal document! Martha's "Brand Words"

A short picture break with Martha's logo...

...And finally we were in!

This beach themed/seashell tree greeted you when you entered. Very pretty.

Here's one of the tables set up to test out Martha's line of decorative punches. And may I say they were the most beautiful punches ever.

There were about forty-fifty vendors set up selling everything from stationary to ornaments to jewelry and to bowties. I especially liked these snowflakes made from bent wooden strips.

To eat, there were pretzel knots with butter and brie (above), as well as olive oil cake. Tasty!

In addition to all the vendors, there was a section that included examples of all the holiday crafts from the Dec Issue of MSL. Note how the A and Z on the sign had been glittered.

A truly amazing Bonsai Christmas Tree.

Here's a small container that was filled with decorative lights shaped like flowers and pine cones. Simple and so pretty!

I stopped to pose with Martha on the way out. Overall, I had a great time, was totally inspired and enjoyed almost everything I saw. I wasn't totally blown away, and prices were definitely high, but the sale was certainly a good thing.

12.04.2009

12.01.2009

Buried Treasures

While at home in Ohio over Thanksgiving, I came across some of the amazing things my parents have stowed away in their basement. Can't wait to haul them out to NY and start furnishing my place with them.

This trunk belonged to my paternal grandmother. It's pretty beat up, but has a lot of get detailing.

Here's a large (and heavy) ceramic container my father used as a wastebasket for many years. Not sure what this is intended for or what the 3 and crown logo signifies, but its cool piece that could be an umbrella holder or a planter.

I have previously mentioned this bedframe that I knew was tucked away. My parents used this four poster bed for about 30 years, and I can't wait to put it to use. I mean, look at those lines!

This is a framed buckwheat bag that came from the mill of my Great Great Great Grandfather. My grandmother had one framed for my Mom a few years ago. Isn't the packaging so clean, simple and lovely?