please sir

Floating Lake House

2009-12-15T10:26:00.010-05:00

Chilly weather and hot cocoa are nice, but my heart belongs to warm summer days filled with lazy dips in the water. I'll make it through winter by dreaming of this buoyant summer home on the edge of a tiny Lake Huron island accessible only by boat. Doug and Becca Worple's floating lake house not only has amazing views, but also clever details like the geometric pattern of holes on the outside stairs. The holes were generated by a software script and allow rain to safely slip through to the lake below. Creative design on an amazing landscape makes a great daydreaming combination.

Link - Photos by Raimund Koch on Dwell

Warm Thanks

2009-12-14T10:43:00.009-05:00

Saturday morning I came home to find a flower box happily waiting on my doorstep. Surprised by the package, I opened it and a dozen white roses along with a sweet card was placed inside. After reading the card I teared up and once again was reminded by the support, love and encouragement of the design blogging community. Abbey from Abbey Goes Design Scouting, Joanna from A Cup of Jo and Melisa from The Lil Bee sent the flowers and their condolences due to the recent passing of my mother. I am amazed by their kindness and felt the best way to thank them was here on Please Sir.

Ladies, thank you beyond words. You are truly an inspiration and guiding force for me and the blogging community each day. Every moment without my Mom is extremely hard, but your support, comments and even sharing great design...that's what gets me through. Thank you with blog hugs, kisses and tears of love all around.

Link - photograph from my flickr

Grant Coghill

2009-12-14T09:59:00.005-05:00

Here's a little treat to start off your week...four free fonts by Scottish illustrator Grant Coghill. These unique and fun fonts would definitely spice up your next invitation or graphic project.

Link - Grant Coghill via How Magazine

OOOMS

2009-12-10T14:56:00.011-05:00

You may have heard of the Dutch design studio OOOMS from their Solar Birdhouse or Wooden USB stick, but their talent doesn't stop there. Goldplated staples for jewelry, dandelion inspired cable-tie light fixtures and my favorite...the Rocker, a universal attachment to turn almost any four-legged chair into a real rocking chair. Yeah, pretty neat right? Their creative talents and clever creations are truly inspiring.

Link - OOOMS

Ruche

2009-12-09T12:32:00.007-05:00

I adore the vintage touches in the Ruche Winter 2009 lookbook. Ruche, an online-based shop, carries a variety of small boutique brands that won't break your budget. Stylish, vintage inspired and reasonably priced clothing right at your computer screen. Yes...yes...yes.

Link - Ruche

Simplify

2009-12-08T10:33:00.007-05:00

I've been craving simple, airy and white filled interiors. As you can imagine, stress and heartache weigh on my mind and I would love to escape into this white Victorian terrace. Relax on the couch with my laptop and knit blanket, make grilled cheese, take a hot bath and hang out on the top bunk. A very stylish and fun bunk bed I might add. Simplify...interior, work, life. Hmm...is it possible?

Link - Ideal Home

Franck Juery

2009-12-07T10:48:00.003-05:00

Remember the talented Franck Juery? Once again I was lured to his photography portfolio and fell in love a second time...or third time...maybe fourth? Ohh...I've lost count by now. Give me fantasy filled polaroids and I'm a satisfied, daydreaming girl. I think we all deserve a little daydreaming during these long, holiday months...don't you?

Link - Franck Juery

Let it Snow

2009-12-04T10:47:00.003-05:00

We are expecting a little sprinkle of snow this weekend, which in North Carolina means a couple of flurries. Nonetheless these black and white photographs have me dreaming of a white snow filled landscape. Posted on the inspiring site From Me To You, Jamie took these photographs to illustrate what December in Manhattan means to her and why it’s one of the most wonderful times of the year. Special bonus...they are also available as free iPhone backgrounds you can download here!

Link - From Me To You

UNLESS YOU WILL

2009-12-03T10:23:00.004-05:00

Get inspired by UNLESS YOU WILL, a monthly online photography journal featuring amazing photographers from around the world. UYW curator Heidi Romano from Tales of Light brings a unique and stimulating array of photographs all in one clean presentation. I'm still gushing over Issue 1, but be sure to also check out recently released Issue 2!

Link - UNLESS YOU WILL

Thank You

2009-11-30T11:48:00.006-05:00

Thank you. Thank you for your support and understanding during this difficult time. Thank you for your heartfelt and comforting comments. Thank you for your patience and hanging in there with me.

As you can imagine these past two weeks without my Mom have been quite hard. Support from friends, Chai tea and grilled cheese have helped me get through the long days. Today I finally sat down and looked at my overloaded Google Reader and was comforted by this installation by Martin Creed found via Booooooom. My Mom loved Please Sir and would want me to continue posting inspiring art, design and of course...vintage finds. So, as hard as it may be without her...I will slowly make my way back here and reassure myself that everything is going to be alright. Thank you again for your kindness and love.

Link - Martin Creed

Hiatus

2009-11-19T22:20:00.006-05:00

Dear Readers,

With great sadness, I am taking a temporary hiatus from Please Sir due
to the unexpected loss of my mother. The only consolation of her
passing was that she did not suffer, and in her last hours she was
surrounded by her family.

She was an incredible mother and a lady of extraordinary kindness and
wit. I learned so much from her…an appreciation of quality vintage
design, the art of fleamarketing and the value of hard work. The
measure of her love and influence transcends all words. We spent many
memorable weekends together hunting for the perfect vintage find and
dreaming about our future lake house. My mother was the number one
supporter of the blog and frequently commented as “Fiesta Lady.” She
enjoyed each post and especially liked reading all of your comments.
She was the inspiration behind many of my creative endeavors and truly
my best friend.

If you would like to make a donation in her memory we have chosen
Flight of Honor, a World War II Veterans organization. My mother was
an avid history buff, proud of her family’s tradition of military
service and would have appreciated this honorable cause. More
information can be found here - www.flightofhonor.org/.

Thank you for your support and understanding at this time of unimaginable grief.

Pheasant

2009-11-16T10:38:00.014-05:00

Start your week off with a visit to Pheasant, a mail order company providing a hand-picked, tiny selection of home accessories, all handmade and crafted in Yorkshire. Wondering how they find these lovely goodies? The owners of Pheasant say, "We love to go up to Yorkshire, travelling around and discovering new craftspeople tucked away in The Dales or further afield. Sourcing has to be our favourite bit, especially when it means a sneaky half pint of Theakstons with a pub lunch and an ice-cream at Brymor in the process." Wow...two words...dream job!

Pheasant's unique items and beautiful photography are great starting points for achieving a cozy home feel. Here's to a warm and tea-filled week ahead...

Link - Pheasant Mail Order

dottie angel

2009-11-12T11:21:00.006-05:00

You can't help but swoon over the photographs, beautiful home and store of Tif Fussell or more famously known as dottie angel. One peek into her life and you will feel like you've stepped into a wonderful dream filled with hand-embroidered doilies, vintage notions and thrifted furniture. I can't say enough about her inspiring imagery and products...you must see for yourself!

Link - dottie angel website, Flickr, Etsy and blog

{found via N.E.E.T. Magazine}

Autumn Sunshine

2009-11-11T13:33:00.006-05:00

I immediately smiled when I saw the wonderful Flickr photostream of Xanthe Berkeley. The long hours filled with rain, cold and busy work turned into a sigh of joy. For a sweet moment the dreary day turned away and I escaped into the warmth of the autumn sunshine. Go on...escape away.

Link - Xanthe Berkeley

Century Finds

2009-11-10T10:01:00.004-05:00

Check out the cute animal finds over at Century Finds, an online shop featuring a mix of high quality, handcrafted items including vintage and other found treasures for the home. I'm especially drawn to the colorful and quirky tile designs by Xenia Taler. Oh and the miniature die-cast deer, which are perfect for this time of year.

Hedwige Jacobs

2009-11-09T11:35:00.010-05:00

Originally from the Netherlands, Hedwige Jacobs draws inspiration from the box-like houses and landscape of her current residence in Houston. Her drawings also address themes like overcrowding and human interaction. From these themes intricate narratives are created, which evoke intriguing questions about the idea of home.

I also love the use of woven interlaces to create connectivity and a literal thread of life. Believe me...my textile loving heart is beating fast! Simple, yet truly inspiring work - check out more here.

Woolly Pockets

2009-11-06T09:18:00.005-05:00

Just because winter is arriving doesn't mean you can't enjoy lush, green plants. Check out Woolly Pockets - flexible, breathable and modular gardening containers. Handmade in the USA from recycled plastic bottles, these soft-sided pockets can be used indoors and out. Plus, they look great on the wall, on their own and in groups. They also have built-in moisture barriers to help protect furniture and can be folded flat for easy moving and storage. So, no more plants peeing on the carpet or lugging around bulky pots! Can we say vertical garden in the kitchen?!

Noa Noa Miniature

2009-11-05T15:25:00.002-05:00

Adorable kid clothing and photographs from the Noa Noa Miniature Christmas collection. To be a kid...doesn't it seem magical?

Attachments

2009-11-04T11:20:00.007-05:00

I am in awe over the needlepoint lace creations by Toronto-based artist Dorie Millerson. Her work addresses and questions topics like family, fragility and home. Millerson is also "concerned with the themes of attachment and memory" and "adapts textile techniques in order to explore these concepts." As a result, both the process and the form of the pieces become equally important in presenting her ideas. These thought provoking works are stunning and inspiring.

Wouldn't you love to see them in person? Check out more work by Dorie Millerson here.

The Sweeterie

2009-11-03T15:28:00.004-05:00

I'm super excited about t.ruffles: the sweeterie, a beautiful new site designed by two of my favorite bloggers Mary Swenson and Karey M. The dynamic duo have created what they call, "a creative confectionery where we make candy for your soul." A daily dose of stunning photographs and inspiring words by these lovely ladies...WOW I'm already tingling with delight. Be sure to check out t.ruffles: the sweeterie for your daily eye candy...don't forget your toothbrush!

Brass Love

2009-11-03T14:07:00.005-05:00

I have a sudden love for brass after viewing the lovely selection of vintage brass items on High Street Market. Why not add a little brass to your table or dresser?

Fall for Interior

2009-10-29T20:26:00.013-04:00

I've been dreaming of cool autumn nights and forest inspired living ever since I saw Julie Brabec's fabulous A-Frame house featured in ReadyMade. Cozy textiles and mid-century modern furniture fill this beautiful New Hampshire dwelling. Bring on the fire pit, roasted marshmallows and apple cider!

On a side note - I hope you had a wonderful weekend and a Happy Halloween! I took a little time off and had fun at a local amusement park filled with crazy rides and haunted mazes. Ahh...isn't this time of year so fun?

Color & Form

2009-10-29T09:57:00.008-04:00

The sculptural works by Andrea Myers are absolutely fantastic. Layers of colorful fabric create intriguing forms with playful and happy personalities. These pieces stimulate the creative mind and remind us to play with materials. It's refreshing to see fun, yet meaningful works of art!

Max Attenborough

2009-10-28T11:00:00.004-04:00

I can't get enough of these inspiring interiors by photographer Max Attenborough. An interesting mix of objects, colors and patterns make up these wonderful spaces. Plus, ideas to use for your next remodel project. Pink phone? Yes! Patchwork wallpaper? Sure, why not! British Union flags? Of course (even if you aren't from the U.K.). Sounds pretty good to me.

You know what else sounds good? We're halfway through the week and Halloween is getting closer. Ghouls and goblins here we come! How are your preparing for the holiday?

Vintage Collections

2009-10-27T10:14:00.007-04:00

Vintage collections are a great way to add interest, texture and fun to any room. Design company Lost Found Art specializes in sculptural installations and assemblages using antique and vintage pieces. Above is a glimpse into their unique collections including pinball games, vintage carpenter paint brushes, space ray guns (my fav!), antique hand mirrors and metal children's beach pails. Besides selling these special pieces Lost Found Art also presents interesting display ideas for showcasing an unusual collection of items.

Who would ever think tricycle seats and antique bunsen burners could look so good? Luckily Lost Found Art did!

{found via new favorite site - Junkculture}