i know what you did last weekend…

I am soooo happy it’s springtime and the robins have come back out to sing! My toes are particularly tickled when I get to visit Canada’s jewel–the Okanagan–at this time of year. I lucked out marrying an Okanagan farm boy, ’cause I get to go visit the in-laws on their beautiful farm in Armstrong, at least a couple of times every year. And that’s exactly what we did last weekend.

The view from one of the top fields, looking south over Otter Lake

Jane on her favourite farm toy!!

Happiest dog on the planet when she's at the farm--doggy DisneyWorld!!!!

Look what the Easter Bunny left on the wood pile!!!!

Our weiner roasts always involve some epic mooching!

There are always cool little things on farms, like this haunted bird mansion!

pretty kitty…

Just had to post this hilarious photo from Martha Stewart’s twitter from her home today.

What a pretty kitty!

Bye bye birdies!

photo courtesy Martha Stewart on Twitter

not your grandma's easter eggs…

Sew retro Easter eggs? Oh yes you can. I came across these adorable eggs on At Home With Kim Vallee. She profiled the artist who created them, Kim from Retro Mama. Aren’t they just the cutest eggs ever?

Kim, even offers a tutorial on how to make the eggs on her blog. Apparently she picked up the wire cake plate at Target–isn’t it fabulous? I think the trick to the eggs is the right fabric. I just love the combinations that Kim uses.

photo courtesy Retro Mama

I just love the pears and owls too.

photo courtesy Retro Mama

photo courtesy Retro Mama

chocolat ooh la la…

Easter in Paris looks très delicious at Patrick Roger‘s chocolate boutique. I came across this amazing chocolatier in a fantastic blog called The Paris Kitchen, definitely worth your time to take a look. This just confirms my theory that I am actually a displaced Parisienne, who should return to her make-believe homeland immédiatement!

photo courtesy The Paris Kitchen

These are Patrick Roger’s chocolate boutiques in Paris. Ces sont tres magnifique, n’est-ce pas?

photo courtesy Patrick Roger

photo courtesy Patrick Roger

photo courtesy Patrick Roger

shades of aqua Easter…

Easter makes me feel like redecorating! Let’s face it…every season makes me feel like redecorating.

This year, I’m really digging the color aqua (I was born in ’64…so it’s authentic when I say “dig it”), so Easter 2010 is “Seaside Chic” at the Findlay estate (bah ha ha ha). This epiphany came to me when I flipped open my crisp, new copy of Canadian House & Home magazine, which I relish with a piping hot cup o’ coffee and my two cuddly dogs.

C & C design editor, Stephanie White, came up with these gorgeous painted jars, and I fell instantly in love. They’re so sweet. She recommends using a florists water tube on the end of flower stems if you want to use them as vases. I’m thinking they’d look pretty sharp with tea lights flickering in them too (not sure if acrylic paint is flammable though).

photo courtesy Canadian House & Home magazine

Here are the paint colours she recommends, from left to right: Seascape Green (156-4) | Delicate Petal (407-2) | Frosty Glade (456-4) | Idyllic Isle (254-4) | Cathedral Glass (455-5) | Seascape Green (156-4) all Pittsburgh Paints.

I wonder if I could build a new dining room, wallpaper it in fabulous paper, and reupholster my dining room chairs by Easter…hmmm. In case I haven’t said it before (about a zillion times), Sarah Richardson is Canadian royalty!!!!! She should have been included in the opening ceremonies for the Olympics!

courtesy of Sarah Richardson's Design Inc.

When I was in Seattle last week, I stopped in at Sur La Table (drooool) by Pike’s Place Market and spotted this lovely piece of epicurean delight–Le Crueset’s Carribean-color French oven. I think it would be perfect for a little Easter weekend lamb stew!!!

This is my celadon-colored Sophie Conran tableware, which I absolutely adore. I’ll probably mix it up a little with some of my aqua & chocolate brown damask placemats–ooh la la. I admit it, I’m a shameless saleswoman! I’m a walking, talking Nicole Jane Home endorsement advertisement! I must be stopped!

photo by Reinier De Smit for Nicole Jane Home

Nicole Jane Home

OPI‘s Breath of Life is such a gorgeous color. Perfect for an Easter pedicure and then open-toed sandals for the rest of the season!

photo courtesy O.P.I

pussy willow chic…

This lovely felted wool pussy willow branch bouquet was featured on Happiness Is. The pussywillow buds were replaced by felted wool beads made from old sweaters (available through Woolyfabulous on Etsy).

photo via Happiness Is

I can see a bowl full of these little felt wool gems sitting on my front hall table. I think they’re exquisite.

photo via Happiness Is

What a gorgeous scarf…and it doesn’t look difficult to make! It’s the Pussy Willow Scarf featured on Cocoknits. The instructions are available on the site as well, and it looks like the trick is to knit with two skeins of different wool at the same time. The site also features some gorgeous sweaters for sale.

photo courtesy Cocoknits

Aren’t these the sweetest little pussy willow cards? They’re actually miniature greeting cards designed by artist, Jessica Doyle.

courtesy of Jessica Doyle's Art & Musings

This darling necklace is available on Bethtastic’s Etsy page. I want, I want, I want!!!

photo courtesy Bethastic on Etsy

Some people are just so creative. This is a collection of felted wool pussy willow pillows by Kthurm on Etsy.

photo courtesy Kthurm on Etsy

This is a stunning example of the intricate artwork on Ukrainian easter eggs that I talked about in an earlier post. Fabulous. It’s by So Jeo.

photo courtesy So Jeo

The pussy willow giclee print by SRG is such a showstopper. I have got to get my paints out again. I’m suffering from a chronic case of procrastinationitis!

photo courtesy SRG Art & Interiors

Easter fever…

Now that Valentine’s Day is behind us, it’s time to prepare for the next chocolate extravaganza–Easter! Get out your bonnets, think about decorating those eggs (especially the stunning Ukranian ones), and start planning your big dinner party now. Let’s get going girls…

courtesy Penny Richard's Flickr photostream

I came across an excellent Ukrainian easter egg decoration demo on The Artisan Woman. A very dear family friend taught me how to do these eggs when I was a teenager, and I absolutely loved it. Once you have the right materials (e.g., bees wax, wax pen, etc.), it’s really quite straightforward, but it takes a lot of time, so get going.

courtesy of photographer Andy Cripe of Cheap Shots

These are such darling table centerpieces from Martha Stewart Living.

courtesy Martha Stewart Living