Many Thanks

I have been fortunate to have found some wonderful bloggy friends since I started my blog over a year ago- one of them being Kat from Low Tide High Style.  I am constantly in awe of the amazing pictures Kat takes.  She lives out in the country and some of her favourite subjects to photograph are birds, trees, flowers, the river (or creek as she calls it), and even her dogs.  Kat recently opened an Etsy shop where she sells note cards that feature some of the photographs she has taken.  

The other day, Kat sent me some of her note cards - for no reason at all - it wasn't a giveaway or my birthday or anything.  Isn't that just the sweetest thing to do.   The cards she sent me have a photograph of some lovely ranunculus flowers in the softest most delicate shades of cream and green - I love them.  The note cards are made of thick paper with the the highest quality printing, so if you are in need of some cards you should consider these ones.  You can see Kat's other card designs at her Etsy store here.  Kat didn't ask me to review her cards. I'm just saying this because it is what I honestly think.


Thanks a bunch Kat!

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I have been noticing on my blog stats that I continually get traffic from the same sources every month.  I am very grateful to those blogs not only for sending people my way, but also because they happen to be blogs that I personally follow and enjoy.   So to give a little back to these sites that are near and dear to me, I thought I would give the top six referring blogs a shout out in case you didn't know about them.  All of these blogs are, without fail, filled with high quality writing, photos, and content which make them a joy to read.


I'm all about making things fun, so I made a little game to test your blog knowledge.  I created a  collage so you can see how many of these rooms you  can recognize - each one is from one of my top referring blogs (it does rather look like someone sleeps in the garden - you'll have to pop over to her blog for an explanation).  Scroll down to the bottom for the answer.

Here are the top six referring sites:


1) Savvy Southern Style - Kim is such a helpful, sweet Southern lady who is a DIY energizer bunny.  She is constantly painting and changing things in her house with amazing skill and style.  Kim also has a very successful linky party every Wednesday, so hop on over there for some serious inspiration.


2) Rambling Renovators - I've met Jen and her hubby and they are both the sweetest.  They are renovating their Toronto home with uber style, one room at a time.  So much style, in fact, that Nate Berkus recently had Jen on his show - way to go Jen!  When there aren't renovation and decorating posts to read, we get to enjoy posts about their adorable soon-to-be two year old daughter, Chloe.  


3) The House that A-M Built - A-M is a lovely blogger from Australia whom I have known since my early days of blogging.  A few years ago she designed and built an amazing house that had one of my all time favourite kitchens in it.  She has since moved from there and has dealt with some difficult life events with amazing panache.  A-M's got guts, brains, wisdom, and style - a fantastic combination and I'm looking forward to seeing where life takes her.


4) Colour Me Happy - Maria was one of my original followers (really, she was probably amongst the first 20 followers) and I feel incredibly grateful that she found my blog so that I could find hers.  Maria is a colour consultant in Vancouver who writes one of those blogs where you not only have pretty pictures, but you learn something about decorating or colours every time you log on.  Her blog has become such a success over the past year and I feel like a proud mama watching it grow and develop.  

5) Centsational Girl - Kate is definitely a DIY wonderkid of the blog world.  There ain't nothing she can't tackle.  I love her style and her can-do attitude.  Her blog has become a phenomenal success over the past two years and it is obvious why when you read her well-written, well thought out posts.  She has had a couple of linky parties and I still get referrals from my linking up to her bathroom and "where we blog" posts.  


6) My French Country Home - Sharon, originally from Britian, lives in France with her husband and children in a gorgeous home in Normandy surrounded by fields and horses and flowers.  She is an amazing photographer so her blog is a visual delight and Sharon is a kind and generous soul whom I have come to know over this past year.


Thanks so much to all of you for putting me on your sidebar or having linky parties.  You are all much appreciated.


Here are the answers to the picture collage:
 
1 = The House that A-M Built
2 = Colour me Happy
3 = Rambling Renovators
4 = Centsational Girl
5 = Savvy Southern Style
6 = My French Country Home


Well, how many of the rooms did you identify?

The Best of March

Well February was a blast - of winter that is!  Just kidding.  It actually was fun as we had a lot of celebrating to do with my birthday and our 30th wedding anniversary and Valentine's day and yet another snowstorm - oh wait - scratch that last one.


Now that March has rolled around it is time to post about the ten things I am looking forward to doing this month.  I've been doing a post like this every month and I have to say that it has really helped me find things to appreciate each month during winter - which can be a little hard to love after awhile in my opinion.

Here's my March list:


1.  Booking our flights to Bangladesh - My friend Kim and I are in the midst of booking our flights.  It involves lots of meetings and looking things up and planning.  It is a very complicated itinerary as I'm hoping to have a week in France with hubby before Bangladesh and then to go to India for almost a week after our time in Bangladesh.  I will be going to India with Kim and her husband and daughter, who will be joining us at the end of our stay.  Well that's the plan anyway.   We've been checking out websites and places to visit and train times and plane times and ... It should all be settled in the next week or so.  Very exciting!

2.  Pussy Willows - Today I noticed the first tips of the pussy willow buds starting to peek through, which is amazing since there is snow all over the ground where the bush is growing.  I love the other flowering bushes too, but there is something so exciting about seeing the pussy willow start to grow because it is such a harbinger of things to come.

3.  The first flowers in the garden - It isn't long after the pussy willows start that we see forsythia and even some of the bulbs starting to flower.  It is always so reassuring to me that we always see flowers in March even if it is only in the most sheltered and protected gardens, but they are there none the less.   I know here in the Toronto area April and May are the real months for spring bulbs, but March is when the first crocuses and early daffodils start.

4.  Shrove Tuesday - There's nothing like pancakes for dinner.   Count me and the kids in, but hubby doesn't think they are food so we will have to scrounge up some spaghetti for him.


5.  March Break - Wahoo - a week off work.  It always seems a long time from the Christmas holidays to Easter so the March break is a welcome break.


6.  Early spring at the cottage - We usually go to the cottage for a few days during the March break.  The lake is still usually covered in ice and usually we can walk on it.  There is usually snow in places in the woods, but we can go out for walks and enjoy the woods and look for signs of spring.  The weather is quite variable though, so we never know till we are there what it will be like - sometimes it is more like a winter wonderland and sometimes it is more like a mud wonderland.

7.  Going with Malcolm and Christie and Christie's mother to select and order the food for the wedding - We are going to the restaurant in St. Jacob's that will be providing the food for the wedding to decide what and how much to order and then we will have a bite to eat.  It sounds like a fun outing.


8.  Daylight Savings -  I love that the days are getting longer and with daylight savings we will have an hour more daylight every evening.  

9.  St. Patrick's Day - We usually do a little something to celebrate St. Patrick's day.  Some of us drink Guinness, and some of us wear green, and most of us eat something Irish.


10.  Getting pots of flowering bulbs to decorate the table - I love getting pots of crocuses or daffodils or tulips to decorate the dining room table.  They make everything seem so springy even if it isn't cooperating outside.

Anyone else have favourite things they look forward to in March?

Safari Chic

I don't know if it is the cold rainy weather that has me pining for some sun or if it was getting the new Eddie Bauer catalogue in the mail, but I've been a bit obsessed with safari clothing recently.  The Eddie Bauer catalogue has gorgeous beige, stone, and khaki-coloured safari jackets, dresses, pants, and shorts all paired with bolder orange, brick-red or navy shirts.   Often the look is accented with chunky ethnic-inspired patterned scarves or necklaces.  I love the whole collection and really could have gone wild when I was at the store on the weekend ... but I restrained myself and only bought a couple of summer shirts and sweaters.

When I think of safaris I think of moody lighting, dusty, dry landscapes, and wild animals. 

Hills of Africa Travel

I think of bush tents and portable wood furniture.

Bushtracks Expeditions

I think of rumpled cotton earth-toned clothing with many pockets and brown leather belts and boots. 

Burberry Safari dress (source)

I think of adventure and excitement and ... well a whole lot of fun.  Going on an African safari is definitely on my wish list.   Even though I've not been on a safari and am not going on one any time soon, I can still dress the part.


I've always loved safari-style clothing.  I think watching the phenomenally successful and influential 1985 movie Out of Africa started my affection for this style.   I remember seeing the movie when it first came out and wanting to move to Africa and dress like Meryl Streep does in the movie.  The costumes were created by the talented Milena Canonero (who also did the costumes for Marie Antoinette).  She worked closely with the production designer of the movie who provided her with paintings of the sets so she could harmonize the costumes with the mood and tone of each of the scenes in the movie.  The costumes are a wonderful mix of soft natural colours taken from the landscape contrasted with navy and white.  I love how the clothes are the perfect blending of flowing feminine styles and tailored masculine elements.   After the release of this film, the safari-look dominated the fashion industry.  You can read more about the Out of Africa costumes and see more photos here and here.

Dressed Cinema

Dressed Cinema

Dressed Cinema

Habitually Chic

Film-Talk

Although the safari look is one that many designers turn to when the weather gets warmer, some are closely associated with the look. Ralph Lauren is a name that springs to mind when you think of designer safari wear - the master of the clean-cut tailored safari look.

Ralph Lauren (What2WearWhere)

The Louis Vuitton ads from last summer featured the model Dree Hemingway (great-granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway) in a dreamy African safari setting surrounded by tres chic and tres expensive luggage.  Once again you can see the soft earth-toned colours in a feminine flowered dress; in straight legged pants paired with a flowing white blouse; and in a muted khaki dress.

Style Mood Board

Of course, when you go on safari it would be great to take along the handsome specimen in the photo below  - the gorgeous folding table and chairs that is.

Trends Magazine

Even if you are just tackling the urban jungle this summer the safari style is a great look, don't you think? 

Linked to Inspiration Journey Linky Party at Modern Country Style

11 Elements of British Colonial Decor in India

Reading A Passage to India, which is set in India in the 1920s, reminded me of my love for British Colonial decor.   The British colonies and trading posts around the world were first established in the 16th and 17th centuries and reached their peak in the 19th and early 20th centuries.  At its largest, the British Empire covered approximately one-quarter of the world.  It truly was the empire on which the sun never set.  As British subjects were sent around the world to the colonies to govern, do business, and protect the home country's interests, they brought with them the traditional decor from home which they intermingled with local materials and styles and adapted them to suit the practical needs of climate and landscape. They produced a unique and beautiful blended colonial style.   

Glenburn Tea Estate in Darjeeling, India

In doing some reading about British Colonial decor, I've come up with eleven hallmarks of the style.  I've tried to focus on this design style as it evolved and adapted to life in colonial India.  So let's have a look at what features describe the Anglo-Indian design style:


1) Dark wood furniture and floors - Ebony, teak, and mahogany are all wood that is readily available in India and is often used, along with other native woods, to build furniture and houses.  Frequently the furniture found in British Colonial rooms is traditionally British in style, but embellished with Indian design.  


The following three photographs are from a working tea estate and now a hotel built in 1859 by the Scottish Tea Company in Darjeeling, India.  The bedrooms are decorated throughout with antique dark wood furniture, some of which have the addition of Indian designs.  

Glenburn Tea Estate, Darjeeling, India

2) Light walls (white or pale colours) - The walls are often painted with light coloured reflective paint, providing a lovely contrast to the dark wood floors and furniture.  The pale colours help make the rooms seem light and airy which is important, at least psychologically, to counteract the oppressive heat.   

Inside Ronny's house on the set of A Passage to India (Source)

Old Harbour Hotel, Kerala, India

3) High ceilings - Since heat rises, high ceilings help to keep the rooms cool.

4) Deep verandahs - These provide a cool place to retire to out of the sun.

Heritage North East India

Set of A Passage to India

Raheem Residency, India

5) Tall, rounded windows or garden doors - An elegant touch often found in British colonial decor.

Raheem Residency

The club from A Passage to India

6) Fine accessories such as china, silver, or crystal - Traditionally, some of the elegant accessories would have been brought from England to provide a reminder of home far away and to help maintain a sense of keeping a proper English house.   The sparkle of silver and crystal and the refinement of china lend a lovely contrast with some of the more rustic elements of wood and wicker found in British Colonial decorating.

Dining room from A Passage to India

7) Woven elements - Floors are often covered with woven sisal or reed mats, baskets are used for storage, and caning is used in chairs and furniture. The natural colour of the woven elements provides a nice contrast with the dark furniture and floors.  

Colonial-style safari camp near Pench National Park in India (Architectural Digest)

8) Uniquely Indian elements - Many of the accessories used to decorate are from local artisans. For example, the addition of carved elephants and ornately woven cushions are typical of the Anglo-Indian style.  

Heritage North East India

9) Flowers or greenery - Potted plants, ferns, and palms are placed around the verandas and used to decorate the interior of homes.

Heritage North East India

10) Ceiling fans or Punkahs (large swinging screen-like fans hung from the ceiling and swung by servants or machinery) - Some method of moving the air around was a necessity in the heat of India.  Traditionally they used punkahs. But with the advent of electricity, ceiling fans came into use. Both methods evoke the Anglo-Indian decor style.  

Architectural Digest

Punkahs on the verandah at Brunton Boatyard, India

11)  Hundi Bell Jar Lanterns - These are popular ceiling lights in British colonial homes.   

Brunton Boatyard, India 

Glenburn Tea Estate, Darjeeling, India

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I also found a few historic photographs that illustrate the decor.  Notice in every photo there is a punkah hanging from the ceiling.

Bombay Photo Images

Times of India (source: Bombay Photo Images)

Wealthy merchant's home, India, 1880 (source: Bombay Photo Images)

British Colonial decorating is a look I love!  Any other fans of this decorating style?   

Linked to Inspiration Journey Linky Party at Modern Country Style