best bathroom ever

I really, really want that blue tile

Momfilter just featured this house (and you can see more, better shots on Martha Stewart's website extravanganza). The whole place is great, really—but this bathroom is killing me. Our master bathroom was updated before we moved in, and the style is what you might generously call "Carmela Soprano": lots of beige tile, an ornate wannabe-Tuscan light fixture. But this one is perfect: open layout, natural light, wood beam overhead, that brilliant blue tile—and of course the striped orange towel strewn just so.

spring flowers

Flower nail set

I couldn't get these daisy nails out of my head after Design Sponge featured them last week. Then a similar shape showed up on this JCrew top:

Crystal daisy blouse

pink chicken masala

Graphic tee

Full disclosure: When I googled "pink chicken masala," a bunch of Indian recipes came up. All good—cold weather, spicy food, I'm in—but I'm talking about the new line of girls' clothing from Pink Chicken. In high school I had a block-printed top with a pattern like these. I wore it with a mini jean skirt and got the compliment of my life when a guy told me I looked like the sister on "The Wonder Years.' I didn't. I wish I still had that top.

Edie dress

Willow dress

Tara top

anthropologie nodule sylph bracelet

In silver

Anthropologie's delicate leafy cuff is so my style. I like it in gold *and* silver. But why does the title include the word "nodule"? And why is it backordered until the end of March?

Detail in gold

valentine's day

I got RP two cookbooks: this one because we loved Tartine bakery in San Francisco, and this one because I'm hoping to check out the Meatball Shop when we go to New York during spring break. Both books are beautifully designed.

How bad is it that I essentially made Charlie's class valentines for him? He sort of did the watercolor backgrounds—and stamped (not even wrote) his name on the back.

Tessa and I made wax-paper hearts for the window. I definitely enjoyed it more than she did. Plus she left crayon shavings everywhere.

abigail brown textile art

Oriental dwarf kingfisher

Abigail Brown's work is amazing. The British designer makes these incredibly detailed birds from fabric and thread; each one, of course, is unique. (By the way, I found these on the excellent design blog HI(NY), which features everything from architecture and industrial design to Kate Spade shoes.)

Golden oriole

Large blue peacock

Blue jay

mader spinning tops

Harlequin tops

These little Austrian handmade tops are so different and beautiful, with gorgeous colors (and I can't resist a clean stripe). Isn't it nice when toys are art objects?

Pastel tops

Dragon egg tops

Harlequin yoyos

Bee tops

lotta jansdotter washi tape

"brown" collection

Nobody *needs* Japanese masking tape that costs $10.50 for three rolls. But it sure is pretty. And it can inspire you to get all crafty:

Flags made from the "brown" set

or just make cute lunchbags and homemade cards:

"blue" washi tape combo

 

Lotta Jansdotter has a great eye for simple shapes and slightly off colors. Her website features more than cute things for sale like this set of prints

Three prints sold together

and this red tote bag

Moira red bag

She even includes video lessons in iron-ons and potato prints. I wish she were local so I could attend a workshop in person.