What's In My Pantry?

If you are at all interested in what I have in my pantry, then head over to Fashion Food Fatale HERE {I must admit, it's nothing glamorous!!}. Featuring stylish people from across the globe Elizabeth Clarke and Jane Walsh are the style gurus behind FFF. I have been enjoying their posts and musings on all things fashionable. I just wish my pantry looked as good as this one above but I have to tell you it is completely the opposite...shame on me!!

The Nesting Co. Blog Makeover.

Some of you out there might not know this since Heidi Claire is pretty much my secret alternative life where I live, but , my full-time job is owning and single handily running a florist in the small town of Burton, Texas.  I also have lots of neat stuff I sell in my shop and now you too have access to it since I gave my blog well deserved makeover.  I will be adding cool new stuff so I will keep ya posted.  Click HERE and be transported to my Shop Blog.  Enjoy, Heidi

The Nesting Co.

Everyone who loves magic, raise your hand.

     Here's to tree houses and forts, bubbles in the air and camp fires blazing, here's to magic and happiness.  

 I wish you all a lovey weekend. 

Heidi

 Found this image on Studio G.  I spent 2 (maybe more) hours on this blog, Rochelle is a woman after my own heart.  This is a perfect weekend read, that is if you are unable to get out there and get dirty.

Rammed Earth or Straw Bales?

I found these images over at Nest Egg, one of my new favorite blogs. They are from one of her clients (her client has great taste, by the way). You all know that I am a nut for High/Exposed ceilings, but the issue I have been pondering lately is can I build my dream home like this but with rammed earth walls or even straw bale walls? Maybe one of you know a little bit about this. I have searched the net and researched the subject, but it is not as popular around here.

I watched Jamie Durie (love him, thank you Australia) do a job with rammed earth in California and the construction crew didn't have a clue. Come on America, we need to get with the picture and use sustainable resources. I will try my damnedest to make earth friendly living absolutely fabulous. Hope you all have a playful or relaxing or both, weekend. Love, Heidi

All images on this post were found on Nest Egg.

Today I Love...

I adore the photos Julie posted of her home today. I have posted a couple of photos above but you must visit Julie's blog, Shelter to see more!! It is stunning!

Children's Bedroom Series

I have been thoroughly enjoying the posts Amanda has been running on children's rooms. She has been interviewing a few blogger's children and posting some photos of their rooms which has been so much fun! My Harry was one of the children to be interviewed about his room HERE. Thanks for asking us to be involved Amanda and I can't wait to see who's room is next!!

image - house beautiful via swish & swanky

I love Target. My husband, not so much. Funny story.

This was found on a wonderful blog called, Beautiful Living. Enjoy, Heidi

After I retired, my wife insisted that I accompany her on her trips to Target. Unfortunately, like most men, I found shopping boring and preferred to get in and get out. Equally unfortunate, my wife is like most women - she loves to browse. Yesterday my dear wife received the following letter from the local Target store. Dear Mrs.Samsel, Over the past six months, your husband has caused quite a commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and have been forced to ban both of you from the store. Our complaints against your husband, Mr. Samsel, are listed below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras.

1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in other people's carts when they weren't looking.

2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals.

3. July 7: He made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the women's restroom.

4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice, 'Code 3 in Housewares. Get on it right away! This caused the employee to leave her assigned station and receive a reprimand from her Supervisor that in turn resulted with a union grievance, causing management to lose time and costing the company money.

5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a bag of M&Ms on layaway.

6. August 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.

7. August 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told the children shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the bedding department to which twenty children obliged.

8. August 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him he began crying and screamed, 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?' EMTs were called.

9 September 4: Looked right into the security camera and used it asa mirror while he picked his nose.

10. September 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he asked the clerk where the antidepressants were.

11. October 3: Darted around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the 'Mission Impossible' theme.

12. October 6: In the auto department, he practiced his 'Madonna look' by using different sizes of funnels.

13. October 13. Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through, He yelled, PICK ME, PICK ME.

14. October 21. When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumed a fetal position and screamed 'OH NO! IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!'

And last, but not least:

15. October 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited a while; then yelled very loudly, 'Hey! There's no toilet paper in here. 'One of the clerks passed out.

Small Stump Studio

This site is so ME. I had to share it, I know that I should be promoting my own business, but it is so much more fun finding others like me and seeing what they do. This post is all about Small Stump Studio in California. They are getting ready for their Renegade Fair, I am so in love with these ribbons, their arrangements, domes and bugs. I am aware that my interests are a little strange, I have always walked to the beat of a different drum. Enjoy, Heidi

Image via Small Stump Studio.

Image via Small Stump Studio.

Image via Small Stump Studio.

Image via Small Stump Studio.

Image via Small Stump Studio.

It was meant to be...

Well, it goes like this....

Yesterday I posted an image in my 'Muted Coastal Palette' post which unbeknown to me at the time belongs to Nanette over at Rummage blog. I found the image on a tumblr site and didn't have the correct source on the image back to Nanette. Nanette actually left me a lovely note in my comments section of that post letting me know that it was her hallway. I have since fixed this up and all is fine however, I think in this mishap I have found a blog I am very much going to enjoy following.

After obsessively going back through Nanette's archives last night I must say I am very impressed. Her photos of her home, flowers, fruit, children, vignettes are all so very inspiring and in a way I feel they very much represent true Australian style. I was only thinking about Australian style yesterday and then to fall upon Nanette's blog last night was almost serendipitous.

Her images make me feel at home. I feel like I have seen them before. I look at her flowers and I think they look just like the bush natives my mother used to arrange at our family holiday house. I even look at that last image and it reminds me of my grandmother's house. Is this the same for any of my Australian readers? Do these images of Nanette's evoke a sense of Australian style?

I found it very hard to select only a few of Nanette's beautiful images to share here in this post so I have gone a bit wild and posted my favourites from her blog and her flickr.

I asked Nanette to share a little bit about herself and this is what she had to say....

"I am a crafter and keen amateur stylist and photographer living in our nation's capital with an odd frenchman, two Highly Excitable young daughters and an ADD whippet called Kipper. We like to live a slow life with an emphasis on creativity. I'm currently designing a small range of homewares and children's clothes between reading my youngest 'Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus' twenty times a day and wrestling Kipper for my favourite boots."

I hope you enjoy Nanette's photos as much as I did.

You are gonna hate me and love for this one.

Sweet Home Style is a site that is highly addictive and my cause you to have cramps in your finger from scrolling and clicking. Your butt will lose feeling and your legs will fall asleep, but it is all worth it in the name of domestics. Enjoy, Heidi

Image via Flickr Linda Yvonne. Originaly found on Sweet Home Style.

Image found on Sweet Home Style.

Image found on Sweet Home Style.

Brooke's AMAZING Beach House

Brooke Giannetti has done it again. Look at her beautiful beach house which was just featured in C Magazine. It certainly is amazing what good taste, white paint and beautiful furniture can do. Congratulations Brooke on your seriously divine home and the wonderful feature in C. You are an inspiration.

Breakfast Inspiration

If you haven't already seen this blog, Simply Breakfast written by photographer Jennifer Causey, then you must right now. I adore her recent Paris Breakfast. Such a simple yet beautiful pleasure to enjoy and yet if you're anything like me in the mornings I just don't spend the time. Jennifer has inspired me. Maybe I should prepare a special breakfast for my boys this Sunday morning.

Pretty Vintage Style

I love this pretty vintage style room. It's amazing how inexpensive it is creating a room using vintage pieces. My friend Simone recently started a great blog called Beach Vintage where she shares her passion for vintage finds and how to create a great vintage look on a budget. I can't believe some of the gorgeous things she has collected and created and she always does it so inexpensively!!

Image 1 & 2 via House of Bliss

2009 Spring Antique Show via Heidi Claire.

Sunday I decided to head out to the spring antique show going on in my back yard.
Grab a cup of coffee this may take a while. These dealers have gone through hell and back with our weather. Wed. a terrible storm came through while they were setting up and I bet we got 12inches of rain(we needed it) then the wind was something fierce, let me tell you that chandeliers were never meant to be wind chimes. Sat. the Temp. dropped and they nearly froze. Today on Sun. the sun came out and everyone, including myself got sun burnt. That's Texas weather for you. This is maybe the largest antiques show in the U.S. so let me please note that the images I have captured are just the tip of the ice berg. Enjoy, Heidi

My first stop is La Bahia Hall (this is where my Brother got married last month).

This is The Seed Box. Brian and Meloney Russel own it and do a fabulous job. It was here

that I first saw Rachel Ashwell, creator of Sabby Chic. I'm so sad to hear that she is closing.

The Seed Box.

Here is a shot of Brian of The Seed Box. They have a dog that looks like Toto, named Ruby.

The Seed Box.

Then I hit The Texas Rose Antique Show, put on by Vickie Davis. This is a great group of dealers, one of which is called Fundustrial, by Susan Skinner and Hector the Collector. I love how they mix garden with industrial stuff. That seems to be a common theme this year.

More of Fundustrial.

Fundustrial.

I love the chandelier in the giant bird cage by Fundustrial

Another giant bird cage, this time full of trophies, by Fundustrial.

Next to Fundustrial is Maggie with The Veranda. She is a hoot and she's got the Monochromagic touch. Isn't she cute? I wish you could have seen her rubber cowboy boots.(remember it flooded the other day)

The Veranda.

The Veranda.

The next stop for me is Warrenton, a tiny town near Round Top.

Here I see many a beautiful thing, some things I have no clue to what it is. (aqua glass?) This pic is from an area called Excess Field.

Excess Field Dealer.

Excess Field Dealer. Coral everywhere, on walls, on bottles.

Excess Field Dealer. Succulents everywhere.

Excess Field Dealer. Pink coral.

Excess Field Dealer. This tower sculpture has mirrors inside of it.

Excess Field Dealer. Stands and strands of coral and every kind of stone you can imagine.

Recycle and re purpose. A dealer in the Excess Field.

These look to me like old hay rake tines recycled into a sculpture.

From a dealer in the Excess Fields.

This one looks like the discs used on a old implement to cultivate the soil.

Made by a dealer in the Excess Fields.

A dealer in the Excess Fields.

Next stop, Clutter. Shirley and Staci Schwantz put this great booth together. I have been coming here since forever and this telephone booth is always here, even when the show is not. It reminds me of Dr. Who. They have a wonderful mix of beautiful and strange stuff.Clutter.

Clutter.

Clutter.

Clutter.

Clutter.

Clutter.
Then I hit the Junk Gypsy. These girls know how to have fun Texas Style. I remember one of their first sayings "Good Girls don't make History", or something like that. You can by bumper stickers and tee shirts that say "Rebel Road Sista". This is their pink suburban with long horns. Every show they throw a gypsy prom, and if you don't have a tutu, cowboy boots, rodeo belt buckle and bling, you can buy it here to wear.

Junk Gypsy.

Junk Gypsy.

Junk Gypsy.

Junk Gypsy.

Junk Gypsy.

Junk Gypsy.

I finally got to Theresa at Garden Antiques Vintage. She was having a blog party at 2:00 and also Sue Whitney was there signing her new book, Junk Beautiful.
Garden Antiques Vintage.

A dealer near Zapp Hall.

A dealer in Warrenton. Suculents in boots?

Purses made of vintage fabrics and fringe.

Christmas balls.

Pool balls.Old wood fragments from houses.
Bicycles.Silver.

Keys.

Vintage Glasses.

Jewelry and more and more and more. This is the sight on the way home and for the next couple of weeks, people taking pictures in the Blue Bonnets. Hope you enjoyed it. All images are via me, Heidi Claire. Have a great day. Heidi