Hey there, friends! I hope that you’ve all been enjoying an amazing Holiday season and I thought I’d better check in before 2014 bites the dust. I’ve been putting this post off for quite sometime but I don’t imagine, after such a long stretch of radio silence, that you’ll find it as much of a surprise. The time has come for me to say goodbye to this blog and it’s somewhat bitter sweet. Rachel and I started this little web journal over 4 years ago as a creative outlet from our everyday lives as stay-at-home mums and so much has changed since then, most significant being Rachel and her family relocating to Florida to me opening a brick + mortar store. I absolutely love writing and sharing inspiration here but my priorities and creative outlets have shifted and there are simply not enough hours in the day. Family comes first, as always, and my passion for design is now channeled into my store, Spruce Collective. Although there are often a lot of not-so-exciting aspects to owning a business, I also get so many chances to feed my creative urges and connect with customers and it’s far more inspiring + fulfilling than I could have ever imagined. We’ve got big dreams and plans for the future but as I step forward, I want you to know how incredibly blessed I feel for all of the opportunities this little blog has brought my way. From the dear friendships grown to the markets we would eventually organize (markets where I came to meet my now-partners) and connections made both online and in person, I’m so very thankful for each and every reader that’s taken the time to pop in, read and comment throughout the years. I’m not disappearing off of the Internet or social media, you can find me over at our shop blog as well as on my personal and business Instagram accounts, but without further adieu, Happy New Year, Au Revoir & Thank You for sharing this space called Birch + Bird with me <3
Hey there, friends! I hope that you’ve all been enjoying an amazing Holiday season and I thought I’d better check in before 2014 bites the dust. I’ve been putting this post off for quite sometime but I don’t imagine, after such a long stretch of radio silence, that you’ll find it as much of a surprise. The time has come for me to say goodbye to this blog and it’s somewhat bitter sweet. Rachel and I started this little web journal over 4 years ago as a creative outlet from our everyday lives as stay-at-home mums and so much has changed since then, most significant being Rachel and her family relocating to Florida to me opening a brick + mortar store. I absolutely love writing and sharing inspiration here but my priorities and creative outlets have shifted and there are simply not enough hours in the day. Family comes first, as always, and my passion for design is now channeled into my store, Spruce Collective. Although there are often a lot of not-so-exciting aspects to owning a business, I also get so many chances to feed my creative urges and connect with customers and it’s far more inspiring + fulfilling than I could have ever imagined. We’ve got big dreams and plans for the future but as I step forward, I want you to know how incredibly blessed I feel for all of the opportunities this little blog has brought my way. From the dear friendships grown to the markets we would eventually organize (markets where I came to meet my now-partners) and connections made both online and in person, I’m so very thankful for each and every reader that’s taken the time to pop in, read and comment throughout the years. I’m not disappearing off of the Internet or social media, you can find me over at our shop blog as well as on my personal and business Instagram accounts, but without further adieu, Happy New Year, Au Revoir & Thank You for sharing this space called Birch + Bird with me <3
The rains are settling in for the long haul, days are getting shorter and I’m starting to feel like quite the homebody these days. Not that I’m complaining…we had a fantastic summer that stretched far into fall but I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a West Coast girl at heart and love a cozy evening indoors while the rain pours down outside. It’s also pushing me to put some more effort in decorating our new house (can I still call it “new” when we’ve lived here 7 months?) and I’m excited to finish a couple of small projects and maybe even paint (or wallpaper!) a room or two. I absolutely love white walls but have been feeling the urge to add some colour to our bedroom (I’m thinking a deep moody teal, on the navy end of the spectrum…thoughts?) and came across this carriage house on a Pinterest search last week. Located in a Prohibition-era back alley of Washington, DC, this once derelict space has been transformed into a Bohemian home ready to entertain…
So full of personality, isn’t it? You can see more great photos of this small space over at Garden & Gun so be sure to check them out. On another note, I’m going to cut down to only a couple of blog posts a week but you can always keep tabs on what I’m up to over on my Instagram feed in the meantime. Wishing you a frightfully good Halloween and a sugar-filled weekend ahead!
Along with some other fantastic partners, some of our rental pieces from were invited to take part in this year’s KINFOLK dinner in Vancouver a few weeks ago and it came together to be a truly beautiful evening in every way. This year’s event was an intimate gathering and dinner at Union Wood Co.?s new warehouse and was based around the theme A Messy Meal: Embracing Wabi-Sabi in the Everyday. One of my partners, Elisa, and our store manager, Breanne, attended the dinner and had an amazing experience, sampling chef Juno Kim‘s seasonal and local multi-course meal and meeting new friends in Union Wood Co.’s cool new space. Have you ever been to a long table dinner? It’s remarkable how many real connections can be made when we step out of our comfort zones and break bread with strangers, isn’t it? Britney Gill captured the event perfectly and I wanted to share just a few of my favourite pics. You can see many more over on Britney‘s blog as well as Spruce Collective. Our reclaimed wood benches and enamel pitchers looked right at home at the long table gathering, don’t you think?
Hey, there! This week has already been chugging along at a fine pace and the school district decided to throw in some half days and a Pro-D (just to spice things up!) so the next few days will be even more of a juggling act. So it goes sometimes but, thankfully, I’ve got family and friends to help me out with the kids in a pinch and Brad will be home this weekend so I’m confident that my daily grind will be eased somewhat by next week. Thank God! It’s been a loooong month. Anyway, onto more exciting things, like a little peek inside one of my all-time favourite designers, Emily Henderson‘s, gorgeous home in Los Angeles. It was featured in Domino last month and is absolutely everything I would have expected and then some. Be sure to check out both Domino and Emily’s blog for many more great photos and details on the furniture and decor throughout. Come take a look:
I just love how clean and curated Emily’s family home is. Everything looks intentional, there because it’s loved or has meaning, and although it’s packed with stylish finds it doesn’t feel cluttered or “trendy” in the least. Full of personality, mid-century bones and an eclectic mix of old + new make it a definite win in my books! Hope you’re having a great week so far 🙂
Boom. Just like that, another week bites the dust! Anyone else wish that time would slow down just a tad this Fall? My days are full (we’re talking full) to the brim with kids/work/driving/life and I’m definitely counting down these final 8 days until Brad gets home from the wilds of Manitoba! Here’s a little roundup of some links I’ve loved this week but I didn’t quite make it to the usual 5 for Friday as I ran out of steam by number 3 😉
1. I love everything about this gallery wall and eclectic bedroom spotted over at The Everygirl yesterday:
2. Um, how flipping adorable is this Maria costume?!? I love The Sound of Music (I mean, who doesn’t) and think this is the most darling idea ever. See how to make this cutie and an astounding amount of other sweet costumes over at Oh Happy Day:
3. I’ve wanted to make homemade caramels forever (I think since reading about Laura making pulled taffy in The Little House on the Prairie books when I was little…anyone else remember that?) but never have for some reason. These salted butter confections look too decadently delicious not to try:
Any exciting plans for the weekend happening out there? Mine’s looking fairly quiet, other than being surrounded by my brood, but it’s always a treat to take a break from the schooldays routine and put my feet up…like, before 9pm 😉 Cheers to the weekend!
The rains are settling in for the long haul, days are getting shorter and I’m starting to feel like quite the homebody these days. Not that I’m complaining…we had a fantastic summer that stretched far into fall but I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a West Coast girl at heart and love a cozy evening indoors while the rain pours down outside. It’s also pushing me to put some more effort in decorating our new house (can I still call it “new” when we’ve lived here 7 months?) and I’m excited to finish a couple of small projects and maybe even paint (or wallpaper!) a room or two. I absolutely love white walls but have been feeling the urge to add some colour to our bedroom (I’m thinking a deep moody teal, on the navy end of the spectrum…thoughts?) and came across this carriage house on a Pinterest search last week. Located in a Prohibition-era back alley of Washington, DC, this once derelict space has been transformed into a Bohemian home ready to entertain…
So full of personality, isn’t it? You can see more great photos of this small space over at Garden & Gun so be sure to check them out. On another note, I’m going to cut down to only a couple of blog posts a week but you can always keep tabs on what I’m up to over on my Instagram feed in the meantime. Wishing you a frightfully good Halloween and a sugar-filled weekend ahead!
Along with some other fantastic partners, some of our rental pieces from were invited to take part in this year’s KINFOLK dinner in Vancouver a few weeks ago and it came together to be a truly beautiful evening in every way. This year’s event was an intimate gathering and dinner at Union Wood Co.?s new warehouse and was based around the theme A Messy Meal: Embracing Wabi-Sabi in the Everyday. One of my partners, Elisa, and our store manager, Breanne, attended the dinner and had an amazing experience, sampling chef Juno Kim‘s seasonal and local multi-course meal and meeting new friends in Union Wood Co.’s cool new space. Have you ever been to a long table dinner? It’s remarkable how many real connections can be made when we step out of our comfort zones and break bread with strangers, isn’t it? Britney Gill captured the event perfectly and I wanted to share just a few of my favourite pics. You can see many more over on Britney‘s blog as well as Spruce Collective. Our reclaimed wood benches and enamel pitchers looked right at home at the long table gathering, don’t you think?
Hey, there! This week has already been chugging along at a fine pace and the school district decided to throw in some half days and a Pro-D (just to spice things up!) so the next few days will be even more of a juggling act. So it goes sometimes but, thankfully, I’ve got family and friends to help me out with the kids in a pinch and Brad will be home this weekend so I’m confident that my daily grind will be eased somewhat by next week. Thank God! It’s been a loooong month. Anyway, onto more exciting things, like a little peek inside one of my all-time favourite designers, Emily Henderson‘s, gorgeous home in Los Angeles. It was featured in Domino last month and is absolutely everything I would have expected and then some. Be sure to check out both Domino and Emily’s blog for many more great photos and details on the furniture and decor throughout. Come take a look:
I just love how clean and curated Emily’s family home is. Everything looks intentional, there because it’s loved or has meaning, and although it’s packed with stylish finds it doesn’t feel cluttered or “trendy” in the least. Full of personality, mid-century bones and an eclectic mix of old + new make it a definite win in my books! Hope you’re having a great week so far 🙂
Boom. Just like that, another week bites the dust! Anyone else wish that time would slow down just a tad this Fall? My days are full (we’re talking full) to the brim with kids/work/driving/life and I’m definitely counting down these final 8 days until Brad gets home from the wilds of Manitoba! Here’s a little roundup of some links I’ve loved this week but I didn’t quite make it to the usual 5 for Friday as I ran out of steam by number 3 😉
1. I love everything about this gallery wall and eclectic bedroom spotted over at The Everygirl yesterday:
2. Um, how flipping adorable is this Maria costume?!? I love The Sound of Music (I mean, who doesn’t) and think this is the most darling idea ever. See how to make this cutie and an astounding amount of other sweet costumes over at Oh Happy Day:
3. I’ve wanted to make homemade caramels forever (I think since reading about Laura making pulled taffy in The Little House on the Prairie books when I was little…anyone else remember that?) but never have for some reason. These salted butter confections look too decadently delicious not to try:
Any exciting plans for the weekend happening out there? Mine’s looking fairly quiet, other than being surrounded by my brood, but it’s always a treat to take a break from the schooldays routine and put my feet up…like, before 9pm 😉 Cheers to the weekend!
We were supremely spoiled with sunshine and warm temperatures this summer so it’s hard not to feel a little under the weather (so to speak 😉 as the West Coast rainy season rolls on in. British Columbia winters may have a gloomy reputation but I like to think we make up for it with bright spaces that maximize natural light and this amazing studio is no exception! I spotted Leslie Shewring‘s creative hub over on Decor8 last week and was blown away by Kelly Brown‘s photos and studio tour. White brick walls are the perfect backdrop to this light-filled space located in Victoria’s Chinatown and although it’s somewhat minimal in design, it’s incredible rich in style and bright pops of colour. Here are just a few of my favourite images but you can see many more over at Decor8. Enjoy!
We’ve been dreaming of a huge studio space for Spruce Collective right from the very beginning and I can just imagine the creativity that could flow in a workspace like this! I’m super envious, in the most well-wishing sort of ways 🙂 Be sure to check out more of Kelly Brown‘s pics over at Decor8 and see what type of projects Leslie is working on over at her blog, A Creative Mint. Have a wonderful Wednesday!
This week came and went in a bit of a blur and I’m pretty darn happy that the weekend is here! Brad’s been away for the past week and a half (his company took a month-long contract job in Northern Manitoba…brrr!) so I’ve been juggling kids/work/home on my lonesome. Overall, I think we’re getting into the swing of things here on the home front (knock on wood) but there’s definitely no rest for the weary when it comes to single-parenting, phew! I have a whole new respect for those of you who do this full time…you’re all superstars! I’ll be getting a little break from the kiddos this weekend (thank goodness for grandparents!) to attend a wedding and then we’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving on Sunday. I’m already counting down to my mom’s turkey dinner, do you have any big plans? Here are some recent favourites for you to check out while you’re watching the clock until happy hour:
1. While I love the look of our current workshop bench-turned-dining table, I must admit that its not the most comfortable to enjoy a lengthy meal at. Although Brad cut the legs down, it has drawers on both sides so it’s still just a bit too high for dining and I’ve been looking for a long harvest table instead. I love this one by Vancouver-based Union Wood Company…it’s still rustic but the legs give it a more modern feel:
2. Pretty sure I need to recreate this word art in my kitchen or dining room somewhere…it could very well be my life’s motto after all 😉 Oh, and those brass pendants lights are pretty awesome too:
3. I bought this card for myself from my shop a couple of months ago and keep it on my counter as a daily reminder to just breathe through the stormy days:
4. One of my favourite parts about my job is sourcing out new products to carry in our store. Slade Goods recently contacted us about their handmade ceramic earrings and I loved them right away! Happy to say that they’ll be in stock at Spruce Collective very soon:
5. Anchors away! I think I’d bake sugar cookies all the time if I had cookie cutters like these ones from Printemeer…there are far too many great designs to choose just one!
I’m feeling a little bit under the weather with a cold but the slim silver lining of some sniffle-induced downtime has been catching up on my stack of design mags and some favourite blogs. As someone with a blog, it’s kind of ironic how few blogs I actually read myself these days. After being on the computer for much of the day for work, it seems far easier to scroll through my favourite bloggers on Instagram instead…instant gratification, I suppose? I’ve noticed this shift in my own habits for awhile (and it’s also been a topic of discussion with my Spruce partners) so I found this NY Times article especially interesting while browsing last night. I’m a little late to the conversation (ironic since I was on my own blogging break when the article came out!) but can totally relate to both blogger-burnout and creative burnout in general. There were some really great responses to the article from some of the bloggers featured (here, here and here) but I’m curious to know what your thoughts on the shift in social media are. Have your own online habits changed recently? Please share…
These spaces have nothing to do with blogging except for the fact that they inspire me…which is the whole reason I started this little blog with Rachel so many moons ago 🙂
Hey there, strangers! Well, I certainly didn’t intend to take such a long blogging hiatus but it somehow just happened…so sorry to leave you hanging! I was starting to feel really burnt out by the overwhelming amount of awesomeness out there on the world wide web and suppose I just needed to take a step back and clear my head for a moment. Can any of you relate? But the kids are now back into the swing of things at school and I think I’m ready to get back into the creative swing of things. There’s no shortage of inspiring spaces out there but I’m especially drawn to small, efficient homes with big style. Let’s start the week off on a cozy note with this adorable Dutch studio apartment:
vtwonen | James Stokes Photography | Styling French Uyterlinde
vtwonen | James Stokes Photography | Styling French Uyterlinde
vtwonen | James Stokes Photography | Styling French Uyterlinde
Honestly, how quaint is that thatched roof? It looks like something out of a fairytale, right? But I love how the interior of this 1913 apartment somehow feels modern too, with layers of rich pattern and vintage pieces to warm things up. And that couch looks just too inviting, doesn’t it? Hope your Monday is awesome!
Hey, friends! We’re heading into the final long weekend of Summer and I must admit I’m not happy about it. I feel like we just got into our beach-touring groove and then suddenly the days got shorter and the evenings got cooler…noooo! Like all good things, even Summer must end but I won’t give up our beach days without a fight. We’re heading out for a weekend of camping with friends tomorrow (or the next day, weather dependant) and I’m still overly optimistic that the soggy forecast is wrong…the sun will burn off those huge clouds, right? Still no word if school is starting next week as teachers have been on strike since June, (ugh!) which is leaving us in somewhat of a limbo. Love our teachers but the kiddos have been home long enough. Seriously. But onto brighter things, these beauties caught my eye this week because, I mean, how could they not?!
1. I immediately downloaded this awesome desktop theme from Design Love Fest as soon as I saw it. Can you tell I’m ready to get back to work?
2. Red Envelope sent me this awesome dipped serving bowl and matching utensils as a housewarming present and it’s been a bright spot on our table all summer! It also comes in an amazing emerald green colour and is on mega sale right now…check it out here:
3. We’ve been in the height of wedding season with our Spruce Vintage Rentals division of the shop so I’m always on the lookout for fresh event inspiration and this floral chandelier is seriously the bomb…love!!
4. I’m beyond thrilled (and entirely envious of her talents, in a good way!) that my partner Jessica just launched an amazing line of illustrated prints in her shiny new shop, Acorn Atelier. I need one of each, no joke!
5. I’ll need a good detox after this summer of fun but the good news is that it’s technically summer for a few more weeks and this cocktail looks divine…bottoms up 😉
We were supremely spoiled with sunshine and warm temperatures this summer so it’s hard not to feel a little under the weather (so to speak 😉 as the West Coast rainy season rolls on in. British Columbia winters may have a gloomy reputation but I like to think we make up for it with bright spaces that maximize natural light and this amazing studio is no exception! I spotted Leslie Shewring‘s creative hub over on Decor8 last week and was blown away by Kelly Brown‘s photos and studio tour. White brick walls are the perfect backdrop to this light-filled space located in Victoria’s Chinatown and although it’s somewhat minimal in design, it’s incredible rich in style and bright pops of colour. Here are just a few of my favourite images but you can see many more over at Decor8. Enjoy!
We’ve been dreaming of a huge studio space for Spruce Collective right from the very beginning and I can just imagine the creativity that could flow in a workspace like this! I’m super envious, in the most well-wishing sort of ways 🙂 Be sure to check out more of Kelly Brown‘s pics over at Decor8 and see what type of projects Leslie is working on over at her blog, A Creative Mint. Have a wonderful Wednesday!
This week came and went in a bit of a blur and I’m pretty darn happy that the weekend is here! Brad’s been away for the past week and a half (his company took a month-long contract job in Northern Manitoba…brrr!) so I’ve been juggling kids/work/home on my lonesome. Overall, I think we’re getting into the swing of things here on the home front (knock on wood) but there’s definitely no rest for the weary when it comes to single-parenting, phew! I have a whole new respect for those of you who do this full time…you’re all superstars! I’ll be getting a little break from the kiddos this weekend (thank goodness for grandparents!) to attend a wedding and then we’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving on Sunday. I’m already counting down to my mom’s turkey dinner, do you have any big plans? Here are some recent favourites for you to check out while you’re watching the clock until happy hour:
1. While I love the look of our current workshop bench-turned-dining table, I must admit that its not the most comfortable to enjoy a lengthy meal at. Although Brad cut the legs down, it has drawers on both sides so it’s still just a bit too high for dining and I’ve been looking for a long harvest table instead. I love this one by Vancouver-based Union Wood Company…it’s still rustic but the legs give it a more modern feel:
2. Pretty sure I need to recreate this word art in my kitchen or dining room somewhere…it could very well be my life’s motto after all 😉 Oh, and those brass pendants lights are pretty awesome too:
3. I bought this card for myself from my shop a couple of months ago and keep it on my counter as a daily reminder to just breathe through the stormy days:
4. One of my favourite parts about my job is sourcing out new products to carry in our store. Slade Goods recently contacted us about their handmade ceramic earrings and I loved them right away! Happy to say that they’ll be in stock at Spruce Collective very soon:
5. Anchors away! I think I’d bake sugar cookies all the time if I had cookie cutters like these ones from Printemeer…there are far too many great designs to choose just one!
I’m feeling a little bit under the weather with a cold but the slim silver lining of some sniffle-induced downtime has been catching up on my stack of design mags and some favourite blogs. As someone with a blog, it’s kind of ironic how few blogs I actually read myself these days. After being on the computer for much of the day for work, it seems far easier to scroll through my favourite bloggers on Instagram instead…instant gratification, I suppose? I’ve noticed this shift in my own habits for awhile (and it’s also been a topic of discussion with my Spruce partners) so I found this NY Times article especially interesting while browsing last night. I’m a little late to the conversation (ironic since I was on my own blogging break when the article came out!) but can totally relate to both blogger-burnout and creative burnout in general. There were some really great responses to the article from some of the bloggers featured (here, here and here) but I’m curious to know what your thoughts on the shift in social media are. Have your own online habits changed recently? Please share…
These spaces have nothing to do with blogging except for the fact that they inspire me…which is the whole reason I started this little blog with Rachel so many moons ago 🙂
Oslo Restaurant | Borja Garcia Studio
