Where do I begin?  Just the thought of writing this post has my mind racing with excitement!!!  That, or perhaps I’ve had too much coffee.  Either way, Target is a fantastic resource for just about everything.  Rather than walking you through, aisle by aisle, I will do my best to focus on that which is most relevant.

The images below reflect a lot of my own personal style.  Aren’t they fabulous?!  If you happen to disagree, don’t count them out alltogether.  Between their retail stores and online, Target has a huge selection of bedding, lighting, window treatments, home decor, tableware, and the list goes on…

After what has been nearly a lifetime (I’ve been known to exaggerate), I am finally graduating!  The past 4-years studying Interior Design at NH Institute of Art has been nothing less than sensational.  My path to higher education took a slight detour before I realized the artistic direction I wanted to take in life.  NHIA provided a challenging opportunity to study Interior Design in New Hampshire while continuing to work full-time.  I encourage anyone and everyone to consider NHIA for pursuing their own creative interests.

For the “senior” project, we were given a general footprint of a house and required to either use Universal (handicap accessible) or Green design principles.  Being the green enthusiast that I am, you can guess which option I went for. 

My concept for the project was “A Walk In Nature”.  Elements of nature and New England landscape served as inspiration for each room of the house.  In other words, the living room used colors, textures, and patterns found in the forest.  The kitchen, a field of tall grasses.  The bathroom, a flowing stream.  The bedroom, sunset in the mountains…

Visit www.nhia.edu for more information.  (ID is available through the Continuing Education Dept).

Spring is just around the corner — and not a moment too soon.  After another dreary New England winter, I have a serious craving for color.  Delicate and subtle shades are all well and good, but right now I want bold, delicious, breath-taking color.  Below are a few designs to help shake those winter blues.  Enjoy!

Shown are images from Domino and desiretoinspire.blogspot.com – love them!

What a find!  Located at 57 North Main Street (lower level) in Concord, many of you have probably passed this store countless times.  Peggy Anne carries a fantastic selection of colorful textiles you simply can’t find elsewhere.  The geometric and modern floral patterns top the list of my favorites, but the batiks and vintage designs are great too. 

Whether you are looking for materials to sew a sensational quilt or spruce up a space with new pillows, be sure to stop by Peggy Anne’s shop for unbelievable fabrics.

Believe it or not, there are tons of ways to be Green for the holidays.  You may even be taking Green initiatives without recognizing it.

Decor – Use natural elements such as flowers, fruit, pine boughs, laurel, etc.  Not only will you appreciate their fragrances (vs. the toxic fumes off gassing from their plastic counterparts), but these organic materials will break down completely without harming the environment.  When shopping for a tree, look for one with roots so that it can be planted in the spring.

Lights – If you plan on purchasing new strings this season, opt for LED’s.  Light Emitting Diodes require minimum watts for operation and can last 100,000 hours.  In other words, while these may cost a bit more than the typical string, you will save in utility costs to run them and won’t have to replace them so soon.

Gifts – This is a great time to encourage the Green movement among friends and family.  Check out stores that offer green, organic products.  If you are in the Concord area, Main Street alone has lots of opportunities to buy green.  Here are some to name a few:

• Real Green Goods;
• Your Home, Your World;
• Earth Made;
• KAZA; and
• Concord COOP.

Gift Wrapping – Depending on how crafty you are, give fabric a try.  A dab of hot glue would be your best bet as an adhesive.  If wrapping with paper is preferred, look for recycled or FSC certified products.  The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international agency that promotes sustainably harvested wood, gathered from well-managed forests. 

Gift Receiving – Your Great Aunt Bessie has the right idea by opening her gift with incredible care.  Try salvaging wrapping paper this year; done right, you could save money and a tree for next season.  Gift bags, ribbon, and bows can also be reused.  At the very least, PLEASE RECYCLE all that you can.

As you will soon get to know about me, I love that which is hand-crafted.  Block printing is a technique that has been around for thousands of years and is still utilized in many cultures.  Unlike many machine-made fabrics, these embody the character and culture of the artisan by whom it was made.  Best of all, a true hand or block print is likely to have tiny imperfections such as a drop of paint or the mis-aligned stamp.  But it’s not just the principle behind this process that I admire, look how gorgeous they are!

Shown are Galbraith & Paul, John Robshaw, and Lee Jofa.