Archive for April, 2011

Tip Your Teacups…

Friday, April 29th, 2011
Something Got Lost in the Mail!

Something Got Lost in the Mail!

Since we didn’t receive the above invitation in time (sigh!), we thought we might throw a party of our own to watch the royal wedding.  Given the early hour (4 a.m. EST), the dress is pj’s and robes…

Rosy Roseate Robe

Rosy Roseate Robe

and a stylish fascinator!

Peony Party Piece

Peony Party Piece

We’ll sip tea from English china…

Wedgewood Harlequin Teacups

Wedgewood Harlequin Teacups

and feast on delightful cakes (made by the Royal cake designer, no less!)

Fiona Cairns Cupcakes

Fiona Cairns Cupcakes

And our guests won’t go home empty-handed since we’ll have beautiful botanical bowls to give as parting gifts!

Emma Clegg's Large Flower Bowl

Emma Clegg's Large Flower Bowl

If you’re watching the royal affair while reading your blogs this morning, we tip our teacups to you…

Photos via The Lux Beat, John Robshaw, Gardens of Whimsy, the English Tea Store, Wedbits and decor8

Thursday Thank You

Thursday, April 28th, 2011
Springtime Splendor

Springtime Splendor

… to Amos Lee for his song “Flower” which we’ve been humming all week long with a smile on our faces.  While Amos supposedly composed this song with a broken heart, our hearts soar when we hear the words:

My heart is a flower
That blooms every hour
I believe in the power
Of love…

Beautiful Blossoms

Beautiful Blossoms

You can find the song on Amos’ new album, Mission Bell, and see the video (with commentary!) here.

Ravishing Roses

Ravishing Roses

Photos via The Cherry Blossom Girl

Turquoise & Gold Jewels

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011
Kamrooz Aram - Untitled, 2010

Kamrooz Aram - Untitled, 2010

With a busy week of installing a room at the Designer Showhouse of Westchester and putting the finishing touches on our table for the Red & White Ball for the Greenwich Chapter of the American Red Cross, the effects of our recent surprise trip to Florida have quickly worn off…  Why is it that as soon as you’re back from an adventure, you’re craving another?  Perhaps that’s why the combination of turquoise and gold (think sand, sun and sea!) has us yearning for summer fun!

Bold Gold Flowers

Bold Gold Flowers

Sitting Pretty

Sitting Pretty

Missoni Hotel - Kuwait

Missoni Hotel - Kuwait

In Bed with James Howard

In Bed with James Howard

Simply Soothing

Simply Soothing

Do certain colors have you dreaming these days?

P.S.  Don’t forget to enter our Mother’s Day giveaway here!

Photos via Kelly Market, Johnny Miller, Pretty Pink Tulips, Hotel Missoni, House of Turquoise and Good Life of Design

Tuesday Treat

Tuesday, April 26th, 2011

It’s a Mother’s Day giveaway!

Peony Soap and Tray Set

Peony Soap and Tray Set

Pink Peony Gift

Pink Peony Gift

Peony Linen Hand Towel

Peony Linen Hand Towel

What: Pink Peony Gift, Peony Soap and Tray Set and Peony Linen Hand Towel

How: Three ways to enter – leave a comment below telling us what makes/made your Mom special – or – leave a comment on our Facebook page – or – tweet your comment @DianeJamesHome.  Earn extra entries if you Friend and/or Follow Diane James Home!

When: by 11:59 pm on Saturday, April 30th, 2011 so that we can send your gifts in time for Mother’s Day.  The lucky winner will be announced on Sunday, May 1st!

Photos via Diane James Home

Monday Mood

Monday, April 25th, 2011

It’s Monday – what mood are you in?

A Peaceful Place

A Peaceful Place

Tranquil

Pronunciation: ˈtraŋ-kwəl

Free from agitation of mind and spirit

Photo via Architectural Digest

Sunday Surprise

Sunday, April 24th, 2011
Papered and Pretty

Papered and Pretty

Beribboned and Bedazzled

Beribboned and Bedazzled

Glittered and Gorgeous

Glittered and Gorgeous

Egg-cellent Easter egg-essories…

Happy Easter!

Photos via The Tea Room, Delish and Bice

Let’s Go Shopping: VivaTerra

Friday, April 22nd, 2011
Quartz Candle Holders and Vases

Quartz Candle Holders and Vases

What do you get when you mix one part ecology and elegance with one part sustainable and stylish…  VivaTerra, course!  This catalog’s name alone (meaning “living earth”) is enough to make this store worth mentioning on Earth Day.  Inspired by a dedication to living in harmony with nature for a healthier life now and for future generations, this source of divine designs handcrafted by passionate artisans is chock full of fabulous finds.  So you can feel virtuous in your home…

Handblock Indigo Shower Curtain

Handblock Indigo Shower Curtain

BambooWeave Ribbed Towels

BambooWeave Ribbed Towels

and in your garden!

Driftwood Basket

Driftwood Basket

Hand Forged Topiary Forms

Hand Forged Topiary Forms

Flower Enamel Picnicware

Flower Enamel Picnicware

What are you doing to celebrate Earth Day today?

Photos via VivaTerra

Thursday Thank You

Thursday, April 21st, 2011
Miss M - One in a Million

Miss M - One in a Million

… to Bette Midler for having the vision and inspiration to beautify New York one community garden and park at a time.  Tired of the trash she saw along one of the city’s highways, Miss M stopped her car one day 15 years ago and began to pick up garbage – and thus, her non-profit, the New York Restoration Project, was born.  The fruits of her labor (along with countless neighborhood volunteers!) can be seen throughout the city – from the 600 flowering trees planted along the Hudson and Harlem Rivers (as part of the MillionTreesNYC project) to peaceful green havens in Bed-Stuy.

500,000 Trees and Counting!

500,000 Trees and Counting!

McLeod's Community Garden - Brooklyn, NY

McLeod's Community Garden - Brooklyn, NY

Bette’s ultimate goal is to make the Big Apple a “cooler, greener, healthier, happier, more all-around beautiful place to call home”…  Can’t argue with that!

To find out more about these worthy causes and get involved, click here and here.

Photos via Cottages & Gardens

Epcot in Full Bloom

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011
Mickey, Minnie and Pluto

Mickey, Minnie and Pluto

A visit to Epcot is always a fun and cultural experience and around this time of year, a flower-filled one, as well.  The park really springs to life during the Annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, a 75-day event presented by HGTV.

Winnie the Pooh and Friends

Winnie the Pooh and Friends

So while the kids had a blast on Mission: Space and Test Trak (zooming around in rocket ships and race cars is more their style than ours!), we had fun snapping pictures of our favorite Disney characters and strolling through the gardens.

Lightning McQueen

Lightning McQueen

We hope that some of the beauty we saw at Epcot will rub off on our own gardening efforts this year and perhaps turn our black thumbs to a lighter shade of green!  Who knows, there might be a new topiary or two in the yard come summer…

Stitch

Stitch

Donald Duck

Donald Duck

Cogsworth and Lumiere Dance in the Hosta

Cogsworth and Lumiere Dance in the Coleus

Photos by yours truly and son

Tuesday Treat

Tuesday, April 19th, 2011
Ravishing Raspberries

Ravishing Raspberries

Cheerful Cherries

Cheerful Cherries

Lovely Lemons

Lovely Lemons

Fruit salad – yummy, yummy!  ~ The Wiggles

Photos via Vogue Italia