inspired by downton abbey

i have a habit of reading the contributor bios of
every house beautiful i get. in the 02/12 issue,
miles redd mentioned his latest obsession –
the new season of downton abbey. 

though i love period drama pieces, i hadn't heard of it,
so i spent the next several evenings watching season 1
on netflix. i, too, am now completely obsessed.

it's no wonder they landed a golden globe for best
television mini-series.

the sets are ravishing; in particular, lady mary's bedroom.

the walls are papered in a red and cream print very similar to the 

design of this 18th century silk from

the world of ornament published by taschen.

 ******

1: antique fashion print; 2: candle wall sconce; 3: octagonal gilt mirror; 

4: embroidered velvet pillow; 5: carved and gilded louis xv style canapé

paper snowflakes

 

some DIY ornaments for a christmas tree we haven't put up yet.
so far we have a pine wreath that i wish smelled more like pine
and shed fewer needles. how about you?

:: ingredients for layered snowflakes ::

butterfly die cuts 

charms

a dash of millinery

assorted origami papers

german dresden embossed remnants from d. blümchen and company 

chenille embroidery thread

velvet ribbon

glitter

glue

scissors

instructions and patterns for making your own paper
snowflakes can be found here. if you prefer to make
your own patterns and need a little inspiration, check out
w. a. bentley's book of snowflake photographs;
a favorite on my bookshelf. reminds me of the starn twins.

inspired by – 04.04.11

every so often, i check
in here for some inspiration.
i hope your week is off to a 
great start.

clockwise from top left: the golden age by benjamin west; portrait of heinrike dannecker by gottlieb schick; marchesa geronima spinola by anton van dyck; oortrait of a married couple in the park by coques (attributed); proserpine by dante gabriel rossetti; portrait of a lady, called elizabeth, lady tanfield, british school 17th century