Friday Favorites

As the summer wears on the Fridays seem to stand out so much more. You begin counting how many you've got left 'til Fall hits. I know my little bro is taking full advantage...going away again for an off road adventure weekend in the wilds of Pennsylvania. This time no hotel...just a tent and a topless Jeep.  Yes, his girlfriend is not only a good sport...she's an enthused participant. Me?...the dwindling of summer doesn't upset me in the least. I'm a Fall girl through and through and every time August hits I'm ready for cooler days. Aaron...not so much...he Hates the cold and every hint of it. Daily he checks the weather in San Diego and dreams. 

So, with the humidity in full swing and dull gray skies above, guess where we are...yep, as always, in the studio painting. But also taking moments to get inspired...and that's exactly why I took a break for these Friday Favorites.

I just adore the simplicity and feel of this outfit above. Classic French meets Japanese. Looks so comfy too. And I've been a sucker for boat necks forevs. I was a bit obsessed with the iconic Petit Bateau striped top for years. Another wardrobe staple of mine...a key part of a Jenny "uniform". 

How cute is this bunny rabbit sweater? It's from Mossimo at Target...new for Fall. It's not exaclty my color...but totally cute..and they get points for being my general pastel ballpark. And they're certainly note scaring off anybody with those floppy ears.

This is just so beautiful. I had found it on pinterest, but alas the link was dead. But with some Nev & Max style detective work I found that it came from the Smithsonian/Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum.   We hand painted some walls similar to this many years ago...chocolate background...big floral clusters...though ours were Magnolias. But what is so special about this vintage paper are the time faded tones that are near impossible to recreate.

Everything about THIS! My fave t-shirt from The Stay Home Club, created by Artist Olivia Mew 

There has certainly been a shift in perception in recent years...I feel like the term "Recluse" just doesn't carry the same creepy connotations that it used to. And it's not necessarily due to unemployment! ha! Though employment has changed...lots of jobs are done right at home. And lots of people are finding their own little niche of like minded souls through blogs etc...

What I'm saying is: Going out is Overrated! ha!

I love so much from The Stay Home Club...great theme, great mission statement...and of course, a great stable of designers making the stuff. 

There is just something about the rusticness of the wood here and how it feels like a true working kitchen. Aaron and I love cooking so much and having our tools close at hand makes life so much easier of course...and also, there's no reason to hide them as long as you can display them in an artful way. We're probably partial to the idea of open shelving etc...due to being in a studio all the time. We're used to having our tools of the trade around us at all times. We are almost ready to get moving on the kitchen renovations and we know that we will be adding a good dose of this concept balanced with some vintage sweetness of course.

Oh this photo! It made my heart skip a beat, and not in the way a photo of a sleeping chihuahua does. This is some aftermath of the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. You already know that I am a cuckoo worry wart, and experiencing Hurricane Sandy took it to a whole new level. Now I constantly think about random sink holes, and flash floods. About 2 years ago we actually had a fairly palpable earthquake here in Jersey. We were in our old apartment...and it was actually old...part of a very rickety seashore victorian...I was lying in bed with the pups and Aaron was in the shower...he could feel the whole shower rotate on the drain pipe and our headboard rapped against the wall. It was so incredibly strange, creepy, otherworldly. It was felt across the whole stretch of Jersey between NYC and Philly. It took a moment for it to register in my mind. Of course I hopped on facebook right away to see who else felt it. It was gross. So...not sure why the above pic would be deemed a "favorite"??? It terrifies me actually...but yeah...it is awesome to look at from three thousand miles and a hundred something years away.

Well as a tonic for all the disaster talk...I really love this illustration by Ludvig Nevland. Necessary advice...thanks Ludvig.

Oh this piece kills me! Love it to bits and bits! It's an early 19th centuryAmerican Apothecary chest. This in our kitchen would be like heaven. I see it outfitted with jars of cupcake toppers, and playing host to a little coffee/tea station. Mismatched vessels holding stir sticks and little sugar in the raw cubes. Maybe a couple of our faux cakes on stands...ahhh!

I think these braided block wedges are pretty fantastic. I've owned a few very similar styles over the years and they fit my "pale-recluse-out-for-a-rare-summer-stroll" aesthetic. I think I'd wear the heck outta these things. 

Happy Friday Friends!

xo Jenny...and Aaron!