patterns of behavior, somerset life, april/may/june 2015 issue

A few months ago, my friend Morayo Sayles of Piper Brown Photography and I hatched a plan that I would style the Girlie Office and she would take photos. I shared a few right away in January's girlie office: 2015!

Photography by Morayo Sayles of Piper Brown Photography

I assembled a pretty display of real and millinery flowers in a myriad of vessels ranging from tinkered cans, to painted jars and fabric-banded bottles, to petite china cups.

Photography by Morayo Sayles of Piper Brown Photography

Morayo snapped nearly 160 photos and they all turned out beautifully! Admiring the images as a set, ideas for an essay began to flow.

Photography by Morayo Sayles of Piper Brown Photography

Before long I had written a piece -- musings about my surprise-to-me style preferences -- and sent off a query along with a few photography samples to Somerset Life.

Photography by Morayo Sayles of Piper Brown Photography

To my delight, I received the answer right-away that every writer hopes for, that my submission was not only accepted and but would be slated to appear in the April/May/June issue! Recently an advance copy arrived in the mail with a congratulatory note:

Stampington & Company gets it! The inclusion of this seemingly small touch of a congrats made it even more special. There's something very magical to me about seeing my work in print. Even though I have created two books and written many magazine articles, it's still as thrilling as it ever was. I know it always will be.

The issue is lovely through and through, just as they always are.

Stampington & Company has Magazine Calls and Challenges for submissions year-round.

Maybe it will be your turn next!

Photography by Morayo Sayles of Piper Brown Photography

Thanks for reading!

xo
elyse

save the date for fifi o'neill new england book signing event

WHEN: Saturday, May 09, 2015 at 11:00AM - 2:00PM

WHERE: Blithewold Mansion

Romantic Prairie Style Weddings
A Book Signing Event with Author Fifi O’Neil
Saturday, May 9, 2015
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Photography by Mark Lohman

Nancy Chace of the specialty paint and interiors shop Sea Rose Cottage in Bristol, and I are teaming up to host stylist-author (and my Fairy Godmother) Fifi O’Neill’s New England event to celebrate her latest book Prairie-StyleWeddings: Rustic and Romantic Farm, Woodland and Garden Celebrations.

The event will be hosted at Blithewold Mansion Gardens and Arboretum, the perfect setting to celebrate woodland and garden celebrations and the release of Fifi's latest book.

“Prairie-Style Weddings are the perfect blending of romance and pragmatism, of simplicity and embellishments. Handmade, sustainable, and accessible elements set a casual, welcoming, and celebratory tone that transform fantastic dreams into reality. Prairie-Style festivities embrace all sorts of humble materials in ways that elevate them from ordinary to fabulous."

Whether you are planning a wedding, event, or are just an admirer of Fifi’s timeless style, we hope you will join us!

Free with museum admission
Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum
101 Ferry Road, Bristol, RI 02809
www.blithewold.org
An American Garden Treasure ... Come, and Be Inspired

About Fifi
Fifi O’Neill has established a novel international reputation for her particular sense of style. She is the single-most accomplished editor, photo stylist, blogger and best-selling author known for perpetuating prairie style. Visit this link to learn more:

http://www.fifioneillprairiestyle.com/

Find updates on the Events section of the Sea Rose Cottage page on Facebook

Happy spring wishes!

xo
elyse

sew pretty: torie jayne's stylish home sewing

I have a sewing machine, piles of pretty fabric, and trimming and buttons -- but as you may already know -- I'm a sew-a-phobe. Yep, afraid to sew. The precision frightens me away every time and sends me running for my trusty roll of fusible webbing aka Stitch Witchery. So, why did I want a copy of Torie Jayne's new book? Because!

Because Torie and I are longtime blogging friends. I adore her, I truly do. She even asked me to contribute to her first book How to Show and Sell Your Crafts. Here's pretty Torie in a feature from that book's press:

Okay, so why else would I want Torie's new book?

Because this book is as beautiful as I knew it would be. With Torie's fresh palette of seafoam, lavender and coral, details like ruffles and ball fringe, and photographs by Sussie Bell: it's a visual treat.

Because in addition to being a sewing book, it offers inventive decorating ideas like this padded headboard suspended with ties along a row of hooks. Brilliant!

Because there are projects like this rose garland that even a no-sew gal like me can handle with a glue gun.

Because with detailed instructions and a Getting Started section, maybe even I could try something like this bag for starters...

And work my way up to something like this!

{Or grab the Stitch Witchery... Or beg a friend who can sew... }

Congrats to Torie on Stylish Home Sewing and welcome to CICO Books {my publisher}!

Stylish Home Sewing by Torie Jayne, photography by Sussie Bell, is published by CICO Books. You can purchase your very own copy right here!

Thank you for reading

xo

elyse