whitney smith- "favorite thing" #1

Imagine an anthropologist, turned florist, turned potter. That's Whitney Smith. Somehow Whitney is able to incorporate all these interests into her stunning work. I fall in love with everything she lists in her shop. I'm not exaggerating. Everything that comes out of her pottery is pure magic.

Here is what Whitney has to say about her work:

My design sense is primarily informed by my obsession
with flowers and other forms found in nature. I have painted and drawn since I was a small child, and many of my designs are influenced by other painters and 2-D artists. I am also strongly influenced by Art Nouveau and the Arts and Crafts movement of the 19th early 20th Century. I like the look and feel of old things and antiques, and my glaze choices have a certain look that reminds people of an different era.

It is no wonder that I am so taken with her work. I have a love for anything Arts and Crafts.

Click on over to the shop and take a look around. I promise you will be absolutely charmed by the things you find there.

Whitney has graciously donated this red "Dogwood" plate as a giveaway. It is 6" wide which makes it perfect for your morning toast, a candle or a safe place to keep your Secondsister jewelry. It retails for $34.

Please leave a comment to be in the drawing on Dec. 15th.

design sunday

Xenia Taler

Partners Xenia Taler and Steven Koblinsky work from their Toronto studio to create these great tiles. Xenia designs the tiles while Steven crafts the clay and glazes. They have been working together since 1996. The tiles are pressed in molds made of wood, or extruded. Glazes are mixed from scratch. All the tiles are decorated by hand.

I love how these tiles almost have a Scandinavian look to them. I have been looking around my house for the perfect place to hang one.

"We hope that one day, a long, long time from now, your children fight mercilessly over the wonderful tiles you had so wisely purchased."

-Xenia Taler

design sunday

"In the childhood memories of every good cook, there's a large kitchen, a warm stove, a simmering pot, and a mom."
— Barbara Costikyan

Ahhhhhh- Sunday again. Church came a little too early today, considering daylight savings time. I personally wish the rest of the country would follow Arizona's lead and just stay on the entire year. I can't take this switching back and forth.

I like to cook. I really like to bake the most, but I have warmed up to cooking considerably over the last few years. Today's designs will perk up your kitchen and your mood. You know what they say- presentation is everything.

Whitney Smith is a potter working out of Oakland, California. Her work reminds me a little of pieces from the arts and crafts/mission era that I love so much. You can check out her work here.

One of my earliest Etsy purchases, my Sunda Rose apron, was made custom for me and came in a darling box with a bow. I thoroughly enjoy wearing it. It makes me feel pretty, even with bad hair and flour on my face. You can get your own here.

Some day I will have these napkins. I have been looking at them on and off for a while now. The problem is, I will need a whole new set of dishes (set #10) to go with them and I am really running out of space in my cabinets. I don't know how much longer I can hold out though. If you love them as much as I do, you can buy them here.

I hope these things inspire you to cook in style. Be fabulous.

Make sure to click on the cupcakes at the top of the post. The cupcakes were blogged about on Cupcake Bakeshop , one of my all-time favorite blogs. They are herbal essence cupcakes by a really fun bakery called Whiskie Bits. Check them out.