New Year's Eve

Tomorrow, I'll be posting my year in review, but tonight I'm enjoying the last night with my Mama before she returns home from her holiday trip. It's been wonderful having her here and I'm sad to say goodbye. Her visits always seem too short. This evening she and I will be celebrating the new year with dirty martinis (my favorite) instead of champagne!  I hope you all have a safe and happy New Year's Eve!

 

Retro Cool Playful House in Dallas

Here is my latest house tour on Houzz.com.
This home belongs to the coolest little family of five.
Brian and Katherine Bishop have created a chrome and plastic wonderland
that pays homage to their sweet Midcentury home.

Read the full article and see all the photos HERE.

Winter Wreaths

I know Christmas is over, but here in Dallas at my home, Christmas is still in effect. We've gained a new house guest and we're thinking about making more pie. I thought I'd share a few snap shots - a virtual wreath on my husband's screen saver and the one on our front door. The decorations will come down soon, but until then we're still enjoying our holiday red and green.

Morning Light

The day after Christmas is always one of my favorite days of the year. Usually, the house is stuffed with left over feast food and pie and my child is happily playing alone, consumed with new projects, toys and games.  We had a white Christmas yesterday - an outright miracle in sunny Dallas, which only three days before clocked in at 74 degrees Fahrenheit.

This morning, as the sun rose, my bedroom window was magically under-lit by rays reflected off of the gleaming snow. Here's a picture of the paper heart garland that hangs over our bed. I hope you have a beautiful post Christmas day!

Paper Heart Garland from MontclairMade on Etsy

Merry Everything, Happy Always

"Christmas, my child, is love in action. 

Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas."

~ Dale Evans

Wishing you a beautiful holiday! 

On the Eve

My oldest child is five this year - a magical age for Christmas. 

Anticipation is high and we are surrounded by family, food and fire.

All is well and all is ready (well, almost ready)...

Enjoy this last miraculous day before Christmas.

xo Sarah

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And just for fun...

HERE is my latest article on Houzz.com.

It's a holiday tour of the DeGolyer Estate in Dallas, Texas.

Enjoy!

The DeGolyer House Dons Its Christmas Finery

I Won "Paris in Color"

Thank you to Milsters, author of the lovely blog Little Pieces of Light for hosting a great Christmas giveaway!  I won Paris in Color - a book of photos by the very talented Nichole Robertson of Little Brown Pen.  I couldn't be happier!  This book is a stunning collection of Nichole's Paris photos organized according to color.  It's breathtaking. Thank you Milsters - what a wonderful surprise!

Paris in Color reminds me of this quote about vitality, generosity and joy by Simone de Beauvoir:

"There is vitality only by means of free generosity... and sensitivity is nothing else but the presence which is attentive to the world and to itself. The reward for these spontaneous qualities issues from the fact that they make significances and goals appear in the world. They discover reasons for existing. They confirm us in the pride and joy of our destiny as man."

All photos by Nichole Robertson.

DIY for Your Favorite Quote

A few months ago at a yard sale, I picked up a large frame with a faded piece of art.  The frame was gorgeous, but the artwork was beyond repair. I bought it for four dollars with the intention of painting over the canvas.  Since I'm still waffling over what to paint, I decided to write out my favorite quote (from poet Louise Bogan) and hang it in my office for a little daily inspiration. I'm sure I'll paint over it soon, but until then, this is a lovely incarnation.

Oh... I forgot to add...

The canvas is exposed and there is no glass over the top of the art.  I painted with an acrylic paint directly onto the existing artwork. I let it dry and hung it up. I didn't seal it or treat the canvas in any way before painting.

Scottish Shortbread

My childhood Christmases are chocked full of yummy food memories, but one in particular seems to always stand out. When she was alive, my Grandmother Jane would bake shortbread. She got the recipe from her sister-in-law, Ruth. I still have the recipe card with my great aunt Ruth's handwriting and every Christmas, I pull it out and bake a double batch for my family and friends. Its completely decadent, very easy to make and pairs perfectly with coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon and hot chocolate before bed. I thought I'd share the recipe with you...

Ruth Lambie's Scottish Shortbread

1 cup butter

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup light brown sugar

Blend above ingredients until smooth.

2 1/4 - 2 1/2 cup sifted flour

Mix all ingredients to form a stiff dough.

Roll dough to 1/4 inch thick and cut into wedges, rectangles or use cookie molds. 

Bake in preheated oven at 300 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown. 

Cool for one minute on sheet before transferring to plate or tin.

Merry Christmas!

Coolest Dining Room Chairs EVER

Here is an excerpt from my latest offering on Houzz.com... 

Stephen and Lindsey Edison have created a cohesive yet wildly eclectic mix of decor in their Dallas ranch house. French antiques live side by side with Japanese art, African artifacts, industrial accents, iconic midcentury furniture and even some cowhide.

Lindsey's style has its roots in a long line of spectacular homemakers, including her mother and grandmother, who both had beautiful Louisiana homes. She says, "They instilled in me the importance of having a creative and welcoming home, ready for entertaining guests." 

Please click HERE to read the full article and see all the photos!

This is one of my favorite DIY projects in the house.  Stephen took an old wood pallet and transformed it into a photo board with some heavy duty paper clamps.  So easy and so cool.

To see all of my articles on Houzz, please click HERE.

Studio Details

I've so enjoyed having my own studio space this fall.  It was definitely worth giving up our guest room. As with most home studio offices, the room is shifting and changing to meet my creative needs. Furniture is removed, lighting is added as editing is always a process oriented endeavor. I feel like this new space is starting to settle, though, and I'm finding a rhythm. Here are some shots of the space as it exists in this moment. 

My artwork can be purchased HERE.