pretty

The ladies at MWM Interior Design were voted one of House Beautiful's hottest designers of 2010. It's no wonder...yum.

apple butter it is

last night I made apple butter from THIS recipe. I must admit, it was exhausting after a long week of work, especially the constant stirring for 1-2 (more like 3) hours. but, it was worth it. look how pretty they are! the bad news: all that effort made only 6 jars.

I will most likely do it all again as I have visions of myself giving them to every single person I know over the holidays. I walk up with a cute little jar (they still need ribbon) and people squeal in delight, "bridget! apple butter! my favorite! you are so talented! how do you do all the magical things that you do!?" and I just shrug shyly in response while handing it over.

I'm gonna take these rugs behind the middle school...

...and get them pregnant. Two things: the new season of 30 Rock starts tonight and I'm obsessing over rugs. Mostly graphic but classy ones. Rugs USA has a great selection and not too spenny. Here are some of the real gems.

awkward family photos

THIS website is a delicious waste of time...

DIY Upholstered Headboard Part 1

Upholstered headboards seem like the lap of luxury to me. Something my bed in the Hamptons would have. While there are plenty of gorgeous headboards out there, most cost a fortune. (I’m talking to you, Jonathan Adler). Little did I know that with a measly $100 (or less) I could make my own. Boo-ya.

My cheap bedroom make-over starts with an upholstered headboard with nailhead trim. Since my husband sleeps there too, I tried not to get too feminine with the color or design. He’s not a meathead or anything, but seriously...tufting is kind of girly. Our bedroom is slightly dark with taupe paint (Crown Point Sand by BM) and morning light filtered through the trees. To balance that darkness (and our black dresser), I decided to go with a medium color with some texture, settling on Waverly Circa in Aquamarine, on sale at Joann Fabrics for $14 a yard.

Cost Breakdown - $105

Fabric (Waverly Circa in Aquamarine) $40 (includes shipping and tax)

½ inch Plywood (60” long by 34” high) $17

½ foam $20

2 yard batting $3

Nailhead trim (Every fifth nail) $25 (freaking shipping cost as much as the nails!)

The guy at Lowes cut the headboard to size and gave me the leftover pieces, which we'll use as legs to attach the thing to our baseboard.

I cut the foam to size with pinking shears and spray glued it to the plywood. (The last piece of foam is missing here, so you can see the plywood).

Then I laid it, foam side down, on top of the batting on the table. Wrapped that neatly, like a present, over the plywood and stapled, using a staple gun and 1/2 inch staples.

Then I did the same with the fabric. Making a pigs ear of the folding, I'm sure.

Here is the finished product...well, almost finished. I still have to add the nailhead trim, add the legs, and hang it.

More to come soon. The nailhead trim is coming in the mail...

Love

This room boggles my mind.

Crystal ship chandelier. Moroccan side table. Orange wingback. Turquoise pouf. Evita (or whoever) over the fireplace. Stunning, bold, amazing. I could never live here but it's a feast for the eyes.

photo: Elle Decor

downeast

Fall is here and I'm craving Maine. The college I attended is about as far east into Maine as you get. Remote, beautiful, where autumn gets rolling in August. It's a gorgeous, strange place and I felt like a wild Illinois rebel in choosing to plunk myself there. Granted, I cried for the first few month...but whatever. Now, each fall, I long for cold, craggy coasts. Fog. Blueberry barrens turned blaze red. The chilly nights. Smell of woodsmoke. The feeling of a Maine winter creeping up on you.

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friday night tv lights: pushing daisies

a shout out to friday night tv watching. I wish we all could see the world with brian fuller's, creator of pushing daisies, eyes. I'm a sucker for a little bit fairy tale.

all the good ones get cancelled (don't even get me started on arrested development.)