poppy & leo

i belong in your arms

2012-02-14T06:42:00.000-05:00

i've never been a valentine's day kind of girl, but this year i couldn't resist making a love mix. it probably has something to do with the fact that i've had the most extraordinary five months with the most incredible man.

so mark, this one is for you! happy love day.

i belong in your arms » chairlift
only love » ben howard
saw you first » givers
the most » hey mama
my time » minus the bear
everlasting light » the black keys
addicted to love » florence + the machine
shelter » ray lamontagne
it's real » real estate
girl that u want » freelance whales
this must be the place » talking heads
a room where your paintings hang » lost in trees
first day of my light » bright eyes
meet me by the water » rachel yamagata
love lust » king charles
wu lyf » lyf

enjoy!

commuter life

2012-02-07T20:35:00.000-05:00

i mentioned that i went back to an agency job a couple weeks ago, but i didn't mention that the commute is quite long. around three hours (total) on a good day. the office is only 17 miles north of the city in salem, but to get there i have to go from the bus to the train, switch from the red line to the green line, then the green line to the commuter rail. it's worth it to me considering it's such a brilliant agency to work for, but i can't help but think of all the other things i want to be doing for those three hours: blogging, designing, sleeping, spending time with mark and my friends, etc..

here are some scenes from my commute this morning.

beauty

2012-02-06T21:50:00.000-05:00

normally i try to stay away from blogging about things that have been around the blog world, but i couldn't resist sharing (or re-sharing) these whimsical photographs by anabela and geoff for scout & catalogue's spring collection. i can't stop staring at them... so, so beautiful! don't you agree?

missing blooms

2012-01-30T20:52:00.001-05:00

with things being a little crazy around here, i haven't been doing any flower arranging. i'm missing it badly and i find myself daydreaming about it. starting in february i'm going back to designing an arrangement a week, or at least i'm going to try.

here's some gorgeous inspiration that has recently caught my eye.

photos clockwise: once wed » thank you ok » bawk bawk bawk » nao shimizu

changes

2012-01-24T23:07:00.002-05:00

as you may or may not have noticed, i've been neglecting this space recently... last week i accepted a position with a brilliant interactive agency and my first day was on monday.

after much consideration i decided that freelancing wasn't working for me at this point in my life. i needed/wanted something with more stability and involved daily face-to-face interactions (just to name a couple reasons why i chose to go back to agency life). i will still maintain a couple smaller freelance gigs on the side, but ultimately, i think it's the best decision to help me reach my long-term goals.

please bear with me over the next week while i adjust to the rhythm of my new schedule. i'm hoping to find a some kind of balance between work, this blog, my social life and creative projects. we'll see how it goes.

photo: barbasia

wrap it up

2012-01-17T10:36:00.000-05:00

i put together this little housewarming present for mark last night. the process of wrapping might just be my favorite part of gift giving. beautiful presentation can make a good gift even better, and a great way to add a bit of your own style.

rustic + versatile

2012-01-13T11:03:00.000-05:00

i haven't been able to get this handsome table off my mind ever since i spotted it on pinterest. i'm attracted to it's rustic vibe and versatility. the table seats up to 8 for an intimate dinner party and transforms into a stunning work space. i would love craft one of my own in the near future.

enjoy your weekend!

photos: manoteca

welcoming the weekend

2012-01-06T09:47:00.002-05:00

getting back into the swing of things after the holidays always proves to be difficult. it felt like the longest week despite it only being four days.

do you have any exciting plans for the weekend ahead? i'll be working on stationery orders, helping mark move into his new digs, and hopefully enjoying some down time.

i'll see you back here next week!

stung

2012-01-04T10:16:00.001-05:00

have you ever been stung by a jellyfish? over the holiday i was stung for the first time right in between my toes. i stepped on it while frolicking in the ocean. it was bound to happen... the ocean and beaches were infested with jellyfish. i touched more than a few and luckily only one stung me. i couldn't resist jumping in the water.

i know what you're thinking... did anyone pee on the sting? no, no one peed on me, but i was a bit surprised at what you're not supposed to do... use fresh water to clean it or apply ice. two things i would have instinctively done if we hadn't looked it up first. mark kindly went on a scavenger hunt through delray beach to find what we needed to help ease the pain, vinegar or rubbing alcohol. he fixed me right up and then we spent the afternoon having beers on the beach.

the experience reminded me of this haunting jellyfish photo my friend cole took at the birch aquarium at scripps in la jolla, ca. they are certainly beautiful and mysterious creatures.

follow me into the woods

2012-01-03T12:17:00.000-05:00

happy new year everyone! here's a new music mix to start the year off right.

what have you been listening to lately? any new discoveries?

enjoy!

six weeks » of monsters and men
little back submarines » the black keys
a room where your paintings hang » lost in trees
lemonade » braids
love is won » lia ices
the modern leper » frightened rabbit
devil's work » miike snow
feel flows » slow magic
light emerges » akron/family
mickey mouse » wavves
serpents » sharon van etton

happy holidays // see ya next week

2011-12-21T11:32:00.000-05:00

i'm off to florida this afternoon to spend the holiday in the sun! i'll be taking a break from p & l while i'm there, but i'll be back on tuesday. i hope you all enjoy your holiday season. thanks for being amazing readers!

enjoy.

treasure

2011-12-19T09:27:00.000-05:00

just a little something i picked up for myself while we were out christmas shopping this weekend.

welcoming the weekend

2011-12-15T14:19:00.001-05:00

happy friday everyone! this is what my house looks like of recent... lots of paper and packages. i'm hoping to finish making all my christmas gifts this weekend before venturing off to florida on wednesday. i suppose i need to brave the shopping crowds to purchase a few gifts as well.

do you buy your gifts or make them? if you make them, i'd love to know what you're making this year?!

local » estate eclectic

2011-12-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

i am loving these vintage brass finds from local etsy shop, estate eclectic. i oh-so-badly want the two deer pieces.

holiday decor

2011-12-12T16:30:00.000-05:00

this will be my first christmas away from new england. to be honest it feels a bit strange, but i'm excited to be surrounded by palm trees, the ocean, warm weather, mark and his family.

i haven't had a chance to decorate my home yet, and i probably won't with traveling, but here is some of my favorite holiday inspiration. i definitely lean towards natural and understated.

1. ashley ann photography 2. reading my tea leaves 3. home by linn 4. birch and bird 5. the haystack needle 6. my luscious backyard

keep yourself warm

2011-12-06T12:33:00.001-05:00

over thanksgiving mark made two brilliant mix cds for our road trip to connecticut. last night we compiled our favorite songs from the two to make one epic mix for you! hope you enjoy... it's a long one.

keep yourself warm » frightened rabbit
lawn knives » gobble gobble
skinny love » bon iver (das kapital rerub)
cpr/claws pt. 2 » typhoon
love lust » king charles
christmas tv » slow club
collie man » slightly stupid
blood » middle east
under pressure » queen + david bowie
that's some dream » good old war
aeroplane over the sea » neutral milk hotel
song for the painter » lost in trees
for ash » marnie stern
dry the rain » beta band
hang tan » toubab krewe
texico bitches » broken social scene (dubstep remix)
go outside » the cults
eleanor rigby » soulive (live at royal family affair 2011)
midnight city » m83

photo: jody rogac

silence

2011-12-01T12:18:00.001-05:00

hi guys. sorry for the silence on the blog. i've been under the weather and have had no voice for a week now. i'll be back soon! in the meantime check out the work of lukasz wierzbowski... so brilliant! thanks anabela for the introduction.

photo: lukasz wierzbowski

miz mooz

2011-11-29T09:15:00.001-05:00

have you guys heard of the shoe label miz mooz? i recently purchased my third pair from them, and they are now my absolute go-to spot for shoes. they are incredibly comfortable and reasonably priced.

i love that they offer styles from quirky and edgy to simple and understated.

when i am looking for shoes to wear to an event or with a certain outfit, i always create a design in my head, but can never seem to find it anywhere online or in stores. the past few times this has happened miz mooz has come through with an exact or very similar design. thank you, miz mooz!

hiro » selma » franka » honora

local » lynzariums

2011-11-21T08:44:00.001-05:00

local artist and designer, lyndsay maver, creates these gorgeous terrariums with found and natural elements. lyndsay offers ready-made and custom designs. she also does weddings! pieces start at $20. i will definitely be gifting a few of these beauties during holiday season!

visit lyndsay's blog to learn more about lynzariums and how to order, along with a list of boston area shops where you can find them.

napa valley, california

2011-11-16T11:41:00.001-05:00

i never thought going on a cross-country trip with someone i've only known for eight weeks could be so effortless and extraordinary. we had the most amazing adventure in such a beautiful place.

i came back to boston even more crazy about mark than i was before we left, and with some brilliant new friends (more about that and the wedding tomorrow). for now, here are some pictures from our time in wine country.

» the villa » view from the villa » tom on our nature walk » vineyard cave » sunset stroll with mark

make it happen monday

2011-11-07T10:42:00.000-05:00

did you all have a wonderful weekend?

i had an amazing and very family oriented weekend. my parents drove up from connecticut on saturday and took mark and me out to dinner. it was the first time they met and i'll admit i was nervous, but it couldn't have gone any better! then on sunday i was invited to mark's 'family dinner' at his parent's house.

i wanted to make an arrangement to bring along, so i stopped by the flower market and picked up baby green hydrangeas, cabbage, tiger lilies, orange calla lilies and liatras. i'm really liking how this beauty turned out... fall-ish, bright, mix of modern, classic and wild blooms.

welcoming the weekend

2011-11-04T12:08:00.002-04:00

enjoy your weekend everyone! keepin' it short and sweet today.

photo: taken by me on a road trip from vegas to the hoover dam.

did i find you, or you find me?

2011-11-02T09:54:00.000-04:00

i'm starting of the new month with a sick mix for you. it was a collaborative effort between myself, my boyfriend mark, and cole. thank you, gentleman! have a listen, enjoy and let me know what you think. is there any artist you've had on repeat lately? i'd love to hear what you've been listening to.

this must be the place » talking heads
colours » grouplove
don't move » phantogram
feeding line » boy & bear
shake it out » florence & the machine
world at large » modest mouse
red and purple » the dodos
timestretch » bassnectar
spitting blood » wu lyf
looking for shelter » good old war
dance card » pepper rabbit

welcoming the weekend

2011-10-28T09:31:00.000-04:00

happy friday everyone! here are a few snapshots of my costume making process for the weekend ahead. i'm going to be a pinata! not only is it halloween weekend, but it's the 3rd annual rock bottom autumn fest that my friends and i throw every fall. this year the number of people attending has tripled, so it should be a crazy, crazy time. if there are any appropriate pictures from the evening i'll be sure to share them here, but i have a feeling there might not be ;).

are you dressing up for halloween? i'd love to hear what you are going to be.

have a wonderful weekend. enjoy yourselves!

san francisco

2011-10-26T08:30:00.000-04:00

as i mentioned yesterday, i'm off to san francisco and napa in a couple weeks. i'll have one full day in san francisco by myself to explore. have you ever been? i'd be so grateful for any recommendations on what i must see and/or do while i am there. do you know of any not so touristy places or adventures? i know one thing, i'd definitely like to stop by studio choo.

photo: ella k sverdolv

make it happen monday

2011-10-24T09:07:00.000-04:00

i'm back! first, i'd like to say thank you for all of your kind comments and e-mails telling me to enjoy my time away from the blog. you guys are the best! i had an amazing couple of weeks absorbing my surroundings and reveling in some new things happening ;). ok, now back to regular posting...

i'm off to california in a couple weeks for a destination wedding in napa! i've never been to california... i might be overly excited for the trip. i'm going as a guest and don't actually know the couple, or anyone else but my date for that matter. i'm pumped to meet new people and hopefully make some new friends.

there is a lot going on between now and the wedding, so i decided to get a jump start on making the card. i used kraft, black, and eco white paper (yep, my favorite color combination. man, i'm starting to feel boring). to add a bit of color and interest i shaded the bride and groom with chalk. i also wanted to personalize the card, so i put the couples first initials on the inside right corner. and there you have it.

i'd love to hear your thoughts!

i'm takin' some time

2011-10-12T20:26:00.000-04:00

away from the blog/internet to breathe and enjoy some new things going on in my life. i'll be back next week, or maybe the week after!

nate bucher

2011-10-05T11:31:00.001-04:00

i met photographer nate bucher a while back when he was visiting boston with his beautiful girlfriend, paige. nate is a self-taught photographer, finding inspiration in his surroundings as a welder in a steel mill. he uses a mamiya 645, nikon d90 and his iphone to capture his subjects. nate's photographs are edgy, dark and incredibly beautiful. the venue photo titled phishing is my absolute favorite of his work!

have a look here for more!

photos: nate bucher

make it happen monday

2011-10-03T08:27:00.003-04:00

a few days ago my friend, lin, asked if i had a masculine card in my collection that she could send to one of her guy friends. i didn't have one on hand, so i whipped up this triangle collage card for her. my black, white and geometric obsession continues.

i hope you all had a wonderful weekend! enjoy your week.

thursday flowers

2011-09-29T09:47:00.003-04:00

i'm pretty sure i walked into my own personal heaven yesterday. i stopped by a local flower shop in my new neighborhood, harvard square. the shop was long and narrow, had flowers from floor to ceiling with exposed brick everywhere.

i picked up two kinds of roses, hydrangeas and lisianthus to create this pale, non fall-like arrangement. a perfect pick-me-up for the rainy weather we are having in boston today.

i'll be heading back brattle square florist next week to see if they want to participate in my local series and for more flowers, of course.

make it happen monday

2011-09-26T09:15:00.000-04:00

i have several congratulatory and thank you notes to write, so i whipped up some of these hand-stamped bicycle cards last night. i added pops of color by shading the basket of flowers and suitcases with chalk.

this stamp is a bit feminine with the flowers in the basket, but there is an easy solution. before inking the stamp, place scotch tape over the area you don't want to show up, in this case the basket and flowers. ink the stamp, then remove the tape before placing the stamp on your paper. now you have a more masculine bicycle. so simple.

have a brilliant week everyone!

welcoming the weekend

2011-09-23T13:01:00.001-04:00

well, i've neglected p&l a bit this week. i've been out and about having too much fun with new friends, going to shows, red sox games, trying new foods and beers... sometimes you just need to unplug and enjoy your surroundings. i'm going to continue doing so this weekend! do you have any exciting plans?

have a wonderful weekend, everyone! see you back here on monday.

photo: kari herer

on pennyweight

2011-09-21T12:41:00.001-04:00

i'm absolutely honored to be guest blogging on pennyweight today! head on over to elise's amazing blog to check out a sneak peek at my paper shop! thanks so much for having me, elise.

wu lyf

2011-09-19T10:37:00.000-04:00

last sunday a friend introduced me to WU LYF and they have been on repeat since. have you guys heard of them? i think they're brilliant. they will be heading to boston for a show in november and i can't wait to see them live. have a listen and let me know what you think.

epic, right?

photo: wu lyf tumblr

move. learn. eat.

2011-09-15T11:22:00.001-04:00

my friends cole and dave recently shared these incredible videos and i can't stop watching them... the movement, the adventures, the different cultures are so captivating. here's a little more about the films from the creators:

3 guys, 44 days, 11 countries, 18 flights, 38 thousand miles, an exploding volcano, 2 cameras and almost a terabyte of footage... all to turn 3 ambitious linear concepts based on movement, learning and food ....into 3 beautiful and hopefully compelling short films = a trip of a lifetime.

amazing, right?

all videos from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

local » bark

2011-09-13T08:35:00.000-04:00

i have been thinking about starting a local series on p & l for quite some time. well, today is the day! in this new series i'll be sharing all things boston and new england: shops, food, artists, designers, outdoor adventures and so much more.

first up is sara of the boston based etsy shop bark! i can't get enough of her screen printed designs, especially the pillows and scarves in the 'going hunting' pattern. she also uses eco-friendly water based inks! head on over to bark for more goodness including prints, men's t-shirts and jewelry.

photos: by sara for bark

september haze

2011-09-08T13:20:00.000-04:00

sooo, i was a complete slacker last month and didn't put together a mix. i'll make up for it by making two for september. how does that sound? todays mix, september haze, is a compilation of the songs i've had on repeat lately. some old, some new, but all awesome. what have you been listening to? have you discovered any new-to-you music? please do share.

enjoy!

the most » hey mama
it's real » real estate
how come you never go there » feist
wait so long » trampled by turtles
little bit » lykke li
girl u want » freelance whales
could be » cat power
rivers and roads » the head and the heart
hengilas » jonsi

unruly

2011-09-07T10:15:00.003-04:00

a little untamed. a little unruly. a little wild. and just what i wanted.

i went back to the farmer's market this week for some more locally grown flowers. my mind has been feeling a little all over the place these days with traveling between states, freelance work, stationery shop, business plan... i wanted these arrangements to reflect the craziness going on.

oh yes, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the best mom in the world. i love you, wendy!

happy birthday, jenny!

2011-09-02T12:18:00.005-04:00

today is my best friend, jenny's, birthday! happy birthday, j! we met the first day of third grade on the school bus and have been attached at the hip ever since. even through rough patches, competing over the same boys, going off to college, living in different cities/states, and marriage, we are closer than ever and talk almost everyday. she's beautiful, smart and a heck of a lot of fun!

a few fun facts about us:

» we are complete opposites - physically and our personalities
» in 4th grade we started a friendship bracelet business called "too hot to trot"
» we used to sing en vogue at the top of our lungs to cars that passed us on the street
» we built a rad fort in our babysitter's bushes
» we once got caught stealing change to go buy candy at the corner store (whoops)

love you, jen. thanks for your continuous support, being an amazing friend and my biggest fan. i hope you have a wonderful day and a brilliant year!

enjoy your weekend, everyone!

farmer's market flowers

2011-08-31T06:34:00.009-04:00

i stopped by the farmer's market yesterday for some flowers to arrange. i picked up zinnias and a variety of celosia among a couple others (all for only $9!). when i got home i spread out on my front porch and got busy. i know that every floral designer has their own technique. for me, i gather each stem in my hand one-by-one arranging as i go along. i find the process so calming and it has the unique ability to clear my head, even if it's just for a little while. i think that's a huge reason why i love designing and styling flowers so much.

once my stationery shop is up and running smoothly, my next endeavor is to start a floral studio of my very own. i know, i may be getting ahead of myself, but i will make it happen... some day.

make it happen monday

2011-08-29T09:53:00.001-04:00

i'll be doing something a little different for today's 'make it happen' monday, sharing some of my freelance work. one of my clients is the outrageously delicious boston burger company in somerville. i work on all kinds of projects for them, from event creation to interior design to public relations. i'm pumped about our latest event, a "create your own burger" contest! bbc's menu is jam packed with insanely creative and award winning burgers*, so i am so excited to see what crazy, yet mouthwatering recipes the contestants come up with. if you are in the boston area, you should absolutely enter!!

i'm curious, if you could create your own burger, with anything you wanted on it, what would it be? and what would you name it?

*battle of the best burger winner for the 'hot mess', rachel ray show; boston's a-list best burgers in boston 2011

welcoming the weekend

2011-08-26T09:41:00.003-04:00

first, i'd like to say thanks so much to all of you for your tremendous support this week on the stationery shop and my brother's birthday. you guys are seriously incredible!

i was all over this place this week. monday night i drove to western massachusetts to take care of baby lily (isn't she adorable?) while her parents settled into their new jobs. we experienced our first earthquake together. tuesday afternoon i headed to connecticut to be with my family, then back to boston thursday afternoon. in connecticut my elusive cat, irish, managed to stay still for a quick picture. she doesn't look that big in this picture, but i promise you her stomach swings on the floor as she walks. and how gorgeous is the natural weathering of the old barn in my mom's yard?

no happenings this week. i wasn't able to read much on the road. i hope you all have a brilliant weekend, and if you're on the east coast stay safe!

happy 30th birthday, alex.

2011-08-24T09:28:00.003-04:00

my big brother alex would have been turning 30 today. no reason to sugar coat it, this day sucks for me. what used to be one of my favorite days of the year is now the most difficult. my family is big on birthday celebrations, so not having him with us on his day is extremely sad. As we do every year, my family is gathering today to remember and celebrate his life.

i miss him terribly.

make it happen monday

2011-08-22T09:59:00.000-04:00

i've been talking about starting a stationery shop for quite some time, and it is still a top priority for me; however, the target opening date keeps being pushed back for a couple of reasons - time and fear. this summer has been busier that i ever expected. i'm actually looking forward to fall for a bit of a slower pace. i also fear everyone will hate what i put out there. probably a common fear - it's hard putting your work out there to be judged. i don't mind constructive criticism, but as we all know in the blog/online world people don't hesitate to be down right mean when they are hiding behind "anonymous" and a computer screen.

it's time to get over it. this weekend i finalized 11 designs including this teepee card. the shop WILL open in september. no more delaying. it's happening.

welcoming the weekend

2011-08-19T06:17:00.010-04:00

as much as i love my studio space, i am absolutely thrilled to not sit in this very spot all weekend. i've been working early mornings and late nights on rush wedding orders, developing a kick-ass contest for one of my clients (i'll be sharing soon), and some personal projects. hopefully i can put it all aside for some downtime this weekend. do you have any fun plans?

happenings from the week:

» moments of solitude

» i want to have dinner here

» you can never have too many notebooks

» alternate histories... incredible

» if you'd like, you can vote for p&l for "most valuable boston blogger" here

have a brilliant weekend, everyone! enjoy.

floral & color

2011-08-17T09:22:00.000-04:00

my bedroom was looking a little too neutral, so i added some floral and color this week. i was looking for a catch all dish, or a place to hold some jewelry, but i wasn't finding anything i loved. so, i created my own with this beautiful floral plate and little green porcelain bowl.

as much as i would have loved to put this rug in my bedroom it's just not in the budget. thanks to brooke, i found this bright watercolor inspired rug. it's the perfect amount of color for what was a fairly white space.

also, if you look to the right of your screen you may have noticed a new 'badge' on the blog. poppy & leo was nominated for 'most valuable blogger in boston.' if you have a quick second or two, i would be so very grateful for your votes (it's just two clicks of your mouse)! you can vote once a day until september 9th. thanks so much in advance for your support.

make it happen monday

2011-08-15T06:00:00.005-04:00

how was your weekend? i did a little bit of work, drank a few of these, and pretty much relaxed for the first weekend since june. it was quite nice i tell ya.

i've been working on making some art for my bare walls. i'm really loving how this design turned out, so not only is it going on my wall, but i'm going to make it into stationery set as well. i'm a big fan of the black, white and gold combination lately.

welcoming the weekend

2011-08-12T10:29:00.001-04:00

have a wonderful weekend everyone! i hope you are all doing something fun and soaking up the last few weeks of summer. i'm taking a break from moving tasks to enjoy the next couple of days with friends. i'm seeing this face on sunday. can't wait.

thank you for all of your kind words about my new home! i should also give some well deserved appreciation to my mom, wendy, for coming to boston on wednesday. she helped me scrub all 19 windows and the floors (hence her comment on yesterday's post). i was seriously having trouble sleeping at night knowing how dirty they were. THANK YOU, MOM!

some happenings from the week:

» since i haven't had time to put together a mixtape this month take a moment to listen to this rad mix.
» how do you feel about this look?
» a new-to-me blog that i can't get enough of.

see you back here on monday.

settling in

2011-08-11T13:50:00.002-04:00

here's a little sneak peek at the new digs. i'm slowly, but surely settling in. i absolutely love the space and really want to make it my own. i have a tendency to move into a new place and rush the processes. i end up buying things i don't necessary love and can't picture having long term. sure enough, i purged those items for a fresh start. i promised myself i wouldn't do that this time around. i'm going to take my time, invest in quality pieces that will stay with me for the long haul. i still haven't bought a bed, but it has got be my next purchase (confession: i've been sleeping on a mattress on the floor for the past year).

new acquisition

2011-08-10T10:42:00.001-04:00

i think i'm in love... with a piece of furniture. is that possible? i managed to get an incredible deal on this gorgeous mid-century modern dresser that arrived this morning. it's bare at the moment, but i have so many ideas floating around. i'll post an after photo when it's done.

make it happen monday

2011-08-08T10:00:00.002-04:00

did you all have a wonderful weekend? i spent most of mine unpacking and cleaning windows (it took 2 hours to clean 2 windows, that's how gross they were). i took a break while my little brother and sister came to visit on saturday. we walked to harvard square for ice cream before seeing a professional soccer game at harvard stadium. lindsay, my 9 year-old sister, is obsessed with soccer and loves abby wambach, so she was over the moon about the entire day.

i even found a little time to make some stationery. i call this set galaxy. they are hand-stamped note cards in black and coral ink. what do you think?

interior lust

2011-08-04T10:34:00.003-04:00

moving into a new space gives me a blank slate to work with. i'm instantly drawn to these interiors. i love how they are minimal, yet inviting: hardwood floors, white walls, neutral with maybe a pop of color, greenery. it's going to be a slow process, but it will be worth every minute once it's done. do you have any favorite places you like to shop for home goods? i'm on the hunt for several things, but most importantly a new bed. suggestions (nothing too expensive)?

also, the lovely elise of pennyweight was so kind to have me contribute to her wanted this week series. head on over to see what i'm wanting.

photos clockwise: yatzer via sf girl by bay, design*sponge, the marion house book, design*sponge

new neighbor

2011-08-02T13:05:00.002-04:00

i'm taking a a brief, but much needed break from moving/unpacking to get some freelance work done. i'm sitting on my new front porch that overlooks the library. what a neat building, right? i hope you are all having a brilliant start to your week.

welcoming the weekend

2011-07-29T06:48:00.001-04:00

happy weekend ya'll.

(sorry for all of the intagram photos lately. i might be a little obsessed with it. i'm poppyandleo if you'd like to follow me.)

moving, etc.

2011-07-27T11:50:00.002-04:00

life is a bit hectic with moving, freelance work and trying to create a website/online shop. blogging will be light and random over the next couple of weeks, until i get settled in my new place. i hope you will stick around and thanks for being awesome.

home

2011-07-25T12:10:00.002-04:00

i love this city.

youth lagoon

2011-07-21T10:15:00.001-04:00

boise, idaho native trevor powers is the music mastermind behind youth lagoon. i'm kind of in love. listen, and you'll see what i mean.

weekend snapshots

2011-07-19T11:35:00.003-04:00

it may look like i had a relaxing weekend at the beach, but it was quite hectic with lots of traffic. we took a 4 hour trip (normally takes 2) to connecticut friday to help finish painting the exterior of a friend's house. we didn't finish, but we're close. saturday, we headed to saybrook point inn for a gorgeous wedding of a college friend. stunning views, perfect weather, dancing and more dancing... fun night.

on sunday, what should have been a 20 minute drive to my family's beach house in westerly, ri, turned into 3 hours with traffic. i called my father to ask an alternative route, and he embarrassingly pointed out that i've lived there my whole life and should know better than to take the main road. whoops. once we arrived we enjoyed lunch on the beach and swimming in the ocean before heading back to boston.

photos: caroline o'donnell

make it happen monday » mini prints

2011-07-18T14:07:00.002-04:00

i am moving in two weeks and instead of packing i'm making a few mini prints for my new space. they're a work-in-progress and a heck of a lot more fun to do than pack. i'm sure i'll regret my procrastination sometime in the very near future...

photo: caroline o'donnell

welcoming the weekend

2011-07-15T10:18:00.001-04:00

every door in my new apartment has these beautifully detailed door knobs, except for the original pocket doors and french doors, which are also quite beautiful. i can't wait to move in, only a couple more weeks.

do you have any fun summer plans this weekend? i'm heading to connecticut for a wedding, then to the beaches of rhode island!

happenings this week:

» kinfolk magazine launched! i'll be reading it while i'm relaxing by the ocean.

» jen is giving away rad jewelry by natalie joy... go enter!

enjoy your weekend everyone!

photo: caroline o'donnell

nima fatima

2011-07-13T09:16:00.001-04:00

i met nima a couple of weeks ago while i was out making mischief around the city. we started talking and quickly got on the topic of art. she happens to be an incredibly talented painter and just opened her etsy shop, nima fatima. my personal favorite is in an ideal world (first image); it's humorous, slightly twisted...

check out her blog for a little background on how she got started and her subject choices. if you can, support nima's new venture, not only because her prints are reasonably priced (only $15!), but because she's awesome and clearly brilliant.

paintings/prints: nima khabiri

take me as i am, forget your plans

2011-07-11T15:49:00.002-04:00

july's mix is very chill; ideal for late summer nights, drinks on the porch and maybe a little romance. i'd love to know what you think of the mix, and what you've been listening to lately.

cannons » youth lagoon
go out at night » givers
towers » bon iver
take me as i am » au revoir simone
lover you should come over » jeff buckley
wish we had » light vibes
soft skin » mountain man
older brother » pepper rabbit
meet me by the water » rachael yamagata

enjoy!

photo: caroline o'donnell

poppy & leo is 2!

2011-07-07T13:13:00.000-04:00

with all of the changes going on at the moment, it slipped my mind that this little blog of mine turned TWO last month! i can't get over how fast the time has gone by.

thanks so much to all of my brilliant readers who have supported me for the past two years! this space wouldn't exist without all of you. you guys are pretty rad!

photo and stationery design: caroline o'donnell

4th of july weekend

2011-07-05T08:35:00.001-04:00

here's a few snapshots from my holiday weekend on the cape with kate, matt and baby lily. we did nothing but relax, eat and drink... it was quite nice. did you all have a wonderful weekend as well?

photos: caroline o'donnell

happenings

2011-06-30T18:33:00.001-04:00

acquired some new jewels. took a stroll through the fenway victory gardens. tryin' out some coral lip stain. growing plants. and a little daydreaming.

for those that celebrate, have a brilliant 4th of july. for those that don't, i hope you have a wonderful weekend as well!

enjoy!

photos: caroline o'donnell

don't get stuck in the meantime...

2011-06-27T06:23:00.003-04:00

between boat parties, flo and the machine and the givers shows, red sox games, a friend in town, apartment hunting, and new freelance jobs i'm pretty sure i've been neglecting my blog and twitter. please forgive me. it's been crazy around here, but epically fun! i do hope you will bear with me for the next couple of weeks. posting might be light and stray from the usual series, but i'm hoping to be back on schedule soon.

here are a few shots from the past week. what have you been up to?

photographs: caroline o'donnell

sidewalk sam

2011-06-22T11:12:00.003-04:00

i've been living in boston for almost seven years and often i will stumble upon the most beautiful drawings on the sidewalk. i'd take a moment to observe, but never knew who was responsible. yesterday i was lucky enough meet the man behind it all, "sidewalk sam." this particular event was called chalk one up where local businesses or non-profits can show their company spirit through art. he was so kind and passionate about inspiring those that passed by. he made my day and hope we cross paths again.

from the website: robert guillemin (sidewalk sam) had a life-long vision of making art apart of daily life. in support of this dream artstreet inc. was born. he is dedicated to creating art at the feet of pedestrians to inspire, promote spirit, enrich daily life, and address social issues.

photos: caroline o'donnell

givers

2011-06-21T06:00:00.004-04:00

i know, i know i've been talking about givers for a week straight, but they are just that good! sunday night brooke and i went to see them live at the middle east. i've seen too many shows to count and i must say this was the most charismatic, high energy show i've seen. it was absolutely brilliant. each band member is obviously talented, but tiffany just blew me away... percussion, ukulele, sick vocals and the list goes on. it's hard to take your eyes off of her when she's on stage. here's a couple photos and video from the night.

check to see if they are going to be in your area... you don't want to miss them.

photos/video: john burke, brooke wiley, caroline o'donnell (in that order)

welcoming the weekend

2011-06-17T12:00:00.001-04:00

i feel like this week flew by. it's been crazy busy with little time to come up for air, so i apologize for the light posting. everything seems to be falling into place quite nicely these days. my long awaited stationery shop made some major progress this week (thank you, patricia!), and i am officially branching out on my own to freelance full time. i'll be working with some wonderful clients doing everything from event planning and floral design to social media. i'm over the moon about all of the exciting changes and new adventures!

what are you up to this weekend? any fun summer plans? i'm going to see the givers on sunday night with brooke! cannot wait.

be sure to check out the summer skin music mix i put together for k.i.d. collective today! and say hi to casey while you are there, 'cause she's pretty awesome. thanks so much for having me, casey!

photo: cole matthew dillon, for k.i.d. collective's summer mix series

bits of nature » godetia + chorus magenta

2011-06-15T07:49:00.002-04:00

i know i usually show you visually the process of making floral arrangements, but after setting up, arranging, taking photos, finishing... i realized all the photos i had taken were blurry and had to quickly take a few more this morning. so, instead of process you get to see placement. i don't mix it up much on where in my house i put flowers. i usually stick with my studio and bedroom, because that's where i spend most (ok, all) of my time when i'm home.

after creating these arrangements i realized i need to invest in some some new vases. i was bored with my small collection, so i ate soup for dinner and used the tin can. i think i am going to paint a few cans with chalkboard paint for next time. i love the way the bold colors from the flowers pop against black.

flowers used: godetia, chorus magenta, yoko ono poms

photos: caroline o'donnell

june mixtape

2011-06-14T06:39:00.003-04:00

better late than never, right? i finally had some time to make a mix for june! i hope you enjoy, and as always i'd love to hear what you've been listening to lately. the givers full length album came out last tuesday and i haven't stopped listening to it since. you should definitely check it out.

words » givers
i would do anything for you » foster the people
young blood » naked and famous
calgary » bon iver
get some » lykke li
walking on a dream » empire of the sun
do you mind » the xx
noche nada » givers
hospital beds » cold war kids
miss you » foster the people
punching in a dream » naked and famous

photo: caroline o'donnell

welcoming the weekend

2011-06-10T06:23:00.004-04:00

i've been a day ahead of myself all week, thinking it's thursday when it's only wednesday... don't you hate that? it's probably because i'm a little anxious for the weekend. i'm off to connecticut this afternoon to give the first annual scholarship in memory of my brother, to a deserving high school student from my hometown. i'm a little nervous and hope that i don't get teary eyed when i'm on stage. what are you up to this weekend? any fun plans?

here are some happenings from the week:

» i received a few emails asking when the june mix is going to be posted. i know it's late, but i'll have
   it up on tuesday. you can always find these types of updates from me on twitter.

» the city guide for farmcoast is on design*sponge -- aiden did an awesome job writing it!

» have you read this post by jane and all of the comments? i found it pretty interesting.

enjoy everyone! see you back here on monday.

photo: caroline o'donnell

tree hugger » tiny footprints coffee

2011-06-09T06:15:00.001-04:00

when i was in virginia a couple weeks ago kate and matt were drinking trader joe's fair trade coffee, which i thought was delicious. it got me thinking i should look into drinking environmentally conscious/ethical coffee brands. i discovered tiny footprints coffee on ecofabulous and i'm looking forward to trying it out. the coffee is made from organic 100% arabica coffee beans, shade grown on small family-owned farms.

it takes 4 lbs of carbon to make 1 lbs of coffee, so for every pound made tiny footprints plants 54 lbs worth of carbon sucking trees. that's pretty neat and as they say, that means 50 lbs of good karma in every pound. i'll let you know how it tastes once i've tried it. what is your go-to coffee brand?

photo: tiny footprints

bits of nature » mt. monadnock

2011-06-08T08:16:00.004-04:00

as i mentioned earlier this week, i hiked to the top of mt. monadnock in new hampshire on sunday. it was the perfect day for it, high 60s and breezy. going up the mountain was much easier for me than going down. i enjoyed the physical demand of climbing the steep rocks and the accomplished feeling once we reached the top, but the idea of losing my footing on the rocks going down the trail was a bit intimidating. i quickly got over it once we got into a momentum.

not only was it a breathtakingly beautiful adventure, but educational as well. our friend brian (jumpsuit, yep that's his nickname) knows everything about geology. he could tell us what every rock was, about the colorings, how they were formed... it was awesome.

if you're in new england this would be a great day trip!

and happy 9th birthday to the best little sister! i love you lindsay.

photos: caroline o'donnell, brooke wiley, jeb

make it happen monday » outdoor adventures

2011-06-06T06:26:00.005-04:00

last week was a bit crazy for me. i started a new freelance job and interviewed for a couple more, so when the weekend came around i just wanted to be outside. and that's exactly what i made happen. saturday i spent the day in the boston public garden and on the boston harbor, eating seafood and drinking beer. sunday, i traveled to new hampshire with brooke, jeb and brian, and hiked to the top of mt. monadnock. it was an amazing experience, but more on that adventure on wednesday.

how was your weekend? what did you make happen?

photos: caroline o'donnell, last photo by brooke wiley

welcoming the weekend & riptide oysters

2011-06-03T06:09:00.002-04:00

riptide oysters is the last recap from my FarmCoast trip. the farm is located in the westport river in westport, massachusetts, and run by a young husband and wife team (they were adorable and so sweet). not only was it a beautiful place, but it was very educational as well. before this trip i knew nothing about raising oysters. it was interesting to learn the farming process from the beginning growth stages to how it gets on your plate in the local oyster bar. be sure to check them out!

what are your plans this weekend? i plan on doing some freelance work, seeing a movie, and hiking in new hampshire with some friends. i hope your weekend is wonderful! thanks as always for stopping by. i'll see you back here next week.

photos: caroline o'donnell

bits of nature » round the bend farm

2011-06-01T08:03:00.000-04:00

i'm going a little out of order with the Farmcoast recaps, because this farm was perfect for a 'bits of nature' post...

our last stop on the FarmCoast adventure was round then bend farm in dartmouth, massachusetts. i think this was my favorite part of the day. it was breathtakingly beautiful to see all of the lush land, thriving animals and growing gardens. not to mention the incredibly charming farm house. there is something so appealing to me about living off the land, being self-sustainable and using/buying local resources.

photos: caroline o'donnell

farmcoast » tiverton four corners

2011-05-31T14:07:00.001-04:00

i hope you all had a wonderful weekend! sorry for getting a late start on posting this week, but i was in the mountains of virgina visiting with my friends kate and matt, and their new baby lily.

last week i was apart of a bloggers retreat to FarmCoast, a rural area of villages and farms along the cost of rhode island and massachusetts. it was truly a brilliant day of meeting new (and super talented) people, exploring beautiful places, and learning about farming. a huge thank you to christine and nina for organizing this (hopefully annual) event. over the next few days or so, i will be posting recaps from different parts of the trip first up tiverton four corners...

i spent my childhood traveling to rhode island on the weekends to visit family and the beach. i even lived there for a year in college, yet i had no idea tiverton four corners existed. it's a tiny village composed of quaint shops, beautiful art and delicious food. our first stop was at the provender for coffee and muffins to fuel up for a long day (they also have the most amazing sandwiches for lunch). after breakfast we roamed around the village shops including: hand-printed accessories at nankeen, floral design at sayles livingston flowers, vintage goods at rummage, home and garden at the cottage at four corners, hand-weaving by amy lund, and cheese tasting at milk & honey bazaar.

it was an awesome morning adventure. by mid-day we were ready to head to little compton, rhode island for lunch and wine tasting at sakonnet vineyard and a coffee break at the art cafe.

more to come on FarmCoast tomorrow.

photos: caroline o'donnell

welcoming the weekend

2011-05-27T06:24:00.000-04:00

i had the most amazing day yesterday with a group of new england writers/artists/bloggers i had never met before. we went on an adventure to the FarmCoast for vintage and handmade shopping, learning about looming and oyster farming, wine tasting and indulging in good food. i will have much more about the trip next week.

for now i am off to virginia for the long weekend to see my friend kate, who i miss very much, and to meet her new baby girl for the first time. enjoy your long weekend everyone! see you back here next week.

photo: caroline o'donnell

tree hugger » yevgenia

2011-05-26T06:08:00.000-04:00

i've only been a coffee drinker for a year or two, but i'm addicted. i make it at home whenever i can so i am not using the wasteful cups at coffee shops. i recently bought a travel mug from llbean that keeps my coffee warm literally all day when i'm on the go, but it is not nearly as pretty as these hand painted ceramic mugs from yevgenia. aren't they beautiful?

have a wonderful thursday everyone! i'm off to rhode island for the day with a bunch of new people i'm excited to meet for a farmcoast trip.

photos: yevgenia

the shift is about to hit the fan

2011-05-24T09:06:00.003-04:00

have any of you seen the documentary i am? my friend dave sent me the trailer last week and it looks incredibly interesting. i'd love to know what you thought if you've seen it. unfortunately, it's not playing in a theater near me. i love this line from the trailer, "what we do at the individual level really does affect the global environment." so often i hear people say their actions don't matter because they are just one person.

here is a little more about the film from the website:

I AM is an utterly engaging and entertaining non-fiction film that poses two practical and provocative questions: what’s wrong with our world, and what can we do to make it better?   The filmmaker behind the inquiry is Tom Shadyac, one of Hollywood’s leading comedy practitioners and the creative force behind such blockbusters as “Ace Ventura,” “Liar Liar,” “The Nutty Professor,” and “Bruce Almighty.”   However, in I AM, Shadyac steps in front of the camera to recount what happened to him after a cycling accident left him incapacitated, possibly for good. Though he ultimately recovered, he emerged with a new sense of purpose, determined to share his own awakening to his prior life of excess and greed, and to investigate how he as an individual, and we as a race, could improve the way we live and walk in the world.

make it happen monday » eco series

2011-05-23T09:21:00.002-04:00

what a weekend! i had so much fun it was tough to have monday come around. we celebrated a friend's birthday on friday, and i had a friend come into the city for a visit for on saturday. i hope your weekend was just as brilliant.

i've been working on an eco series of stationery. i'm pretty excited about it and pleased with how it's developing. for now i'm keeping it at three designs, but we will see. it's a local thing is my personal favorite and i'm thinking of making it into a 5 x 7 print for my kitchen. what are your thoughts on the new eco designs?

photos: caroline o'donnell

tree hugger » kayu

2011-05-19T06:03:00.001-04:00

how rad are these envelope clutches by kayu? not only are they good looking, but they are environmentally friendly as well. each clutch is handcrafted by women's cooperatives using straw and 100% natural vegetable dyes. and to top it off, $15 dollars from each sale will be used to buy a child in need a backpack and school supplies. really, you can't go wrong.

photos: kayu

bits of nature » hot pink peonies

2011-05-18T06:03:00.003-04:00

i tried to stay stay away from the bright pink peonies at the market (because the snapdragons a couple of weeks ago were hot pink), but the pale or blush pink stems were not looking fresh. so, instead of the soft colors that i originally wanted, i've got another bold arrangement.

i prep the flowers before i start to create a design -- removing leaves and thorns, cutting stems, etc.. when i am working larger flowers, such as peonies, i like to start by grouping a few of them together first, then adding in the smaller buds and accents. once i'm just about finished i tie the arrangement together and place the flowers in the vase. when it's in the vase, or in this case a pitcher, i have a good visual on where i might need to add stems, or rearrange a bit.

and there you have... a pitcher full of peonies! questions? comments? thoughts? i'd love to here 'em.

photos: caroline o'donnell

make it happen monday » business cards

2011-05-16T10:05:00.000-04:00

i hope you all had a wonderful weekend! the adele and the civil wars show was incredible last night, but more on that tomorrow.

i started making some hand stamped business cards for an event i have next week. the first card is chalked, and as i'm typing this i'm thinking it might be neat to do an ombre effect with the chalk.  i would love your help deciding on which design to use, or maybe a mix of all three... what are your thoughts? thanks in advance for your help!

photos: caroline o'donnell

welcoming the weekend

2011-05-13T13:47:00.004-04:00

blogger finally got its act together; however, yesterday's post was deleted and comments from wednesday's post are gone as well. sorry for any confusion.

i hope you all have a brilliant weekend! do you have any exciting plans? i will be going to a birthday/cancer free party for the most adorable one-year-old on saturday. then sunday is the civil wars and adele show with brooke! i'm pretty sure it's going to be an epic show.

enjoy everyone!

photo: caroline o'donnell

bits of nature » mudpuppy

2011-05-11T06:17:00.001-04:00

mudpuppy has these gorgeous, handcrafted terra-cotta air plant cradles now available in the shop! seriously, how rad are these? they have gone straight to the top of my 'want list'. and even though the air plant doesn't come with the cradle, i thought the images were perfect for a bits of nature post.

photos: mudpuppy | michael mcdowell

make it happen monday » new shop designs

2011-05-09T09:59:00.000-04:00

i hope you all had a brilliant weekend! in between concerts, house guests, open markets and mother's day dinner i found some time to work on some new stationery designs. here are two cards that are in progress. 'i saw you first, it was in a dream' are lyrics from one of my favorite songs by the givers. i'm not sure i'm going to keep the deep purple fading into hot pink -- i'm thinking about changing it up.

photos: caroline o'donnell

welcoming the weekend

2011-05-06T09:24:00.001-04:00

hellllooo, weekend! what are your plans for the days ahead? tonight i am going to see jesse dee play at the middle east (he's amazing)! saturday i have friends coming in to town from nyc. sunday i'll be working on a long list of projects and heading to sowa open market with brooke (thinking of my mom the whole day, of course)!

some happenings from the week:

» seriously considering doing this to my hair. what do you think?
» i'll be trying out erin's simple recipe soon
» choose your own path print
» if you'd like you can follow me here, too: facebook, twitter, pinterest, bloglovin. i'd love to have you.

photo: caroline o'donnell, a few of my favorite things from my office

tree hugger » scotch naturals

2011-05-05T09:01:00.000-04:00

scotch naturals was founded by ginny cardenas in 2009 after developing a eco-friendly line of nail polish for children called hopscotch kids. ginny was aware of the demand for high quality, eco nail polish for adults. along with her team she created, watercolors, which is a non-toxic, water-based, salon quality nail polish. there are 17 gorgeous colors for you to choose from, and there is soy or plant-based remover, too. they are a little more expensive than your average bottle, but it may be worth it if its better for your health and the environment. highland fling (top left) is my color of choice. what color(s) do you like best?

photo: scotch naturals

bits of nature » a city in bloom

2011-05-04T12:45:00.001-04:00

boston is looking beautiful these days with all the flowers and trees in bloom.

photos: caroline o'donnell

may mixtape

2011-05-03T07:36:00.027-04:00

i can't believe may is already here, but it is and that means a new mix! i hope you enjoy, and as always i'd love to hear what you've been listening to lately.

pumped up kicks » foster the people
love to get used to » matt pond pa
set fire to the rain » adele
little talks » of monsters and men
wagon wheel » old crow machine show
i come in please » edward sharpe in the magnetic zeros
grown ocean » fleet foxes
what you know » two door cinema club
eyes » pete bjorn and john

oh yes, and going forward i will be using 8tracks to create my mixes.

mix makers: cole dillon & caroline o'donnell
photo: caroline o'donnell

make it happen monday » mother's day gifts

2011-05-02T07:22:00.001-04:00

this weekend i spent several hours embossing stationery to give as mother's day gifts! sometimes the process can be pretty long, but i find it therapeutic (when i'm not on a deadline, of course)...

» i cut the paper down to size and scored the fold line
» using the big shot i embossed the front of each card (for this project i used four different designs)
» the embossing plates can be smaller than the size of the card, so i went back to trim the excess paper
» i thought it would be a nice touch to emboss the flap of the envelops to match the card design
» finally, i tied each set with twine

and there you have it -- mother's day gifts completed! i love how they turned out, and that they will be able to use them for any occasion!

photos: caroline o'donnell

welcoming the weekend

2011-04-29T08:52:00.001-04:00

it's going to be a beautiful weekend here in boston and i can't wait! do you have any fun plans for the days ahead? i'm hoping to have a productive weekend of running, designing, making mother's day gifts, etc.. i'm also going to try to make it to the opening day of sowa open market on sunday.

here are some happenings from the week that you should check out if you haven't already:

» jane's new shop, coterie, is simply stunning and a must see!
» i bought these floral cutters thanks to chelsea's recommendation.
» i might be obsessed with these earrings i found from erin on pinterest.
» if you'd like you can follow me here, too: facebook, twitter, pinterest, bloglovin. i'd love to have you.

photo: caroline o'donnell

tree hugger » faucet face

2011-04-28T07:03:00.004-04:00

welcome to the latest series on poppy & leo! tree hugger will be replacing eco-friendly friday, but has the same concept. on thursdays i will be sharing environmentally friendly products, causes, organizations, and concepts.
today i'd like to introduce you to faucet face. faucet face is a water bottle start-up company based in los angeles. it's mission is to promote tap water while educating us on the importance of this resource, and to remind us to not take it for granted. they have teamed up with artists/illustrators to create these bsa-free glass water bottles for $15. a portion of each sale goes to charity water, an organization dedicated to bringing clean drinking water to developing nations.
i'm sold. i like the 'hose water' bottle best! i'm a fan of tap water, not only because it's better for the environment, but because it's cheaper, too. what do you drink? tap water, filtered water, or bottled water?
photos: faucet face

bits of nature » snapdragon arrangement

2011-04-27T07:00:00.004-04:00

i am so excited to debut the first post of my new blog feature called bits of nature! every wednesday from here on out i will be blogging about all things nature. well, i'll be realistic, there will probably be a lot of floral arrangements, but i'm hoping to also include variations of gardening and photographs from outdoor adventures. up first, a spring snapdragon bouquet...

i stopped by the market and picked up some vibrant pink snapdragons, baby's breath, and hypercium. for this design i decided to "clean" each stem, or remove all the leaves. once the greenery was gone, i started to arrange the flowers one by one, being gentle with the snapdragons, they are fairly delicate. when i create an arrangement i continually look at all sides to be sure i'm satisfied with the way it looks from all angles. i love how this one turned out.

i had quite a bit of left over baby's breath, so i cut them super short and tied the stems. i placed the bunch into a tiny clear glass and then hid the glass in a terra-cotta pot i had in my studio. i love the contrast between the rustic/earthy terra-cotta and the whimsical baby's breath.

so there you have it, the first bits of nature. i hope you enjoyed it, and of course i would love to hear your feedback or questions!

stay tuned for another new feature tomorrow.

photos: caroline o'donnell

make it happen monday » the big shot

2011-04-25T09:37:00.003-04:00

i'm sure you've heard me mention patricia on p & l in the past. not only is she the mother to two of my raddest friends, brad and kate, but she is such a creative inspiration to me. she is full of brilliant ideas and is always encouraging me to challenge myself. i spent some time with her over the weekend and she so kindly gave me the big shot for my birthday! the big shot is an embossing and die cutting machine that has expanded poppy & leo's stationery making horizons! i tested out a few of the embossing plates this morning to give you a visual. pretty awesome, right?

side note » i will be testing out some new blog layouts, fonts, etc. over the next few days, so please forgive the chaos.

photos: by me

brainstorming

2011-04-21T10:48:00.001-04:00

i've been brainstorming some new ideas for poppy & leo -- features, sidebar content, design, etc.. i'll be narrowing down the list, refining and developing the final ideas over the weekend. hopefully, i'll be rolling out the new concepts to you in the next couple of weeks!

photo: by me

toast | house & home

2011-04-19T11:03:00.000-04:00

on sunday while i was at brooke's for dinner, she handed me the 2011 spring/summer toast house & home catalogue and said this screams "caroline." she was right. i want everything from this collection. it's gorgeous, natural and airy.

photos: from toast for the 2011 spring/summer house & home collection

around town

2011-04-18T18:25:00.001-04:00

sorry for the late and brief post today, but it was marathon monday here in boston. i was out and about at the red sox game and cheering on the runners. here are some photos from the past few days.

photos: me