Ready for Spring

I usually enjoy the cold weather and rainy winters in the Pacific North West. Warm sweaters, boots, and evenings spent by a fire are much more my forte than shorts and flip flops. This year I cannot wait for spring to get here. Not that the rain lets up much

...but I find myself longing for a bump up in temperature, flowers to bloom and for the trees to regain their greenery. I also really enjoy decorating for spring in the shop and at home. 

It always feels so blah after the holidays and it's such an awkward transition for the store. We don't do much specific for Valentine's Day so I often find a lack of inspiring ideas to style the shop. 

So I'm going to jump ahead and start working on some pieces that speak of spring. 

This funky little table with Le Lapin detail...

 a great occasional chair with crisp white and a pop of yellow in the details (more on that chair in the before and after series), and an some fun projects for our upcoming workshops. Only ...31 days to go!

Baking Bread & A Day Off

I had a day off...an ACTUAL day off. I had a few errands to run in the morning and once those were out of the way I found myself with free time. Now, don't get me wrong, there are a MILLION things I should have been doing...like working on the pile of furniture that has collected in my dining room, starting on the chair upholstery that I've been successfully avoiding, or any number of things around the house. I just couldn't bring myself to do ANY of those things! I had most of the day free so I figured I'd bake some bread and finish up my book that has taken me an unusually long time to read. I put on the hot water and got started on the bread dough. 

This recipe is one my mom makes at least twice a week. 

I've made both the first step and the second step but never completed both on my own.

 It was a struggle to remember exactly what to do! I wasn't sure my mixer could handle it and my husband was using my larger bowl to marinade kimchi, but I made due. 

I made a few calls to my mom during the process but managed 2 fairly good loaves. 

They aren't perfect by any means, 

but slathered with butter and freezer jam, I cannot complain! 

I also was able to finish my book and enjoy a pot of tea while the dough was rising. I got this great blue and cream teapot tray in Germany. 

I discovered a tea shop that was ALL blue and white! 

I believe I picked up the darling little silver plate tea spoon at the same shop. 

The cup and saucer were also purchased in Germany at a sweet little gift shop in Rothenberg. 

It was so nice to take some time and unwind a bit. Unfortunately that pile of furniture is still there waiting for me...