Petal Platter

Yesterday Boston's parks were full of people walking, throwing frisbees, lying on the grass, even stringing tightropes between trees. Little crocus and violet heads poke out of warm soil, and Newbury Street is full of gorgeous people who favor large Ray Bans and outdoor cafes.

Pesach's coming; The season of cooking, serving, presenting, and circulating food. This platter will be perfect.

$50

Red Leaves Giclee Original Art Print

Cool, graphic, painterly. Slide it into a frame, wrap in brown paper, and it's the ultimate hostess gift for the cool friends who always have you over.

$15

Let Them Eat Cake Poster

Hey everyone, here's a heads up:

This is a new and super cute poster that would look perfect in the kitchen, or above the mini-fridge, whatever. The coolest part, though, is that there's a buy one get one free sale going on so buy this and get the Keep Calm and Carry On poster free!

$12

The In Crowd Pillow

Cool, right!? Awesome fabrics with gorgeous stitching, simply and cleanly put together, with an eye for color and beautiful impact. I just love it.

$18

This week I was given the wonderful opportunity to interview Tamar, of Nest Interior Decorating and Nest Pretty Things. Three years ago Tamar moved from Israel to Vermont with her husband and three teenage sons, and has wasted no time in shifting from her career as a fashion editor, creative director, fashion and interior stylist to owning her own interior design business. Tamar also shares her color-filled, real-life-made-gorgeous style through the crafts and designs in her shop. Mostly, I am thrilled to share her warm taste, inspiring perspective, and her photogenic, livable home that functions beautifully in everyday life.

~

How would you describe who you are and what you do?

I worked as a Creative director and Fashion and Interior stylist in magazines and advertising for many years, when we moved to Vermont 3 years ago I left that world behind and started an interior decorating business. Waiting around for clients is not for me, so in between decorating jobs I started designing and making products and selling them on Etsy, it’s been really great and now I do both!






How did your first discover your talent?

I come from a very artistic family, my mother was a painter, my dad is an architect, my grandfather was a painter and my sister is a painter, it’s hard to say when I discovered my own talent, I have been in a creative environment my whole life and was always engaged in some artistic project…..

What is your biggest design and creative influence?

I would say that my style is very eclectic, I love to mix different things, but I would say country modern with a twist of bohemian and funky??? Does that make any sense…?

How does family contribute to or influence your creativity?

Everyone in my family is extremely supportive and they always have something nice to say or positive criticism which makes me think and that pushes me to better places.




What is your favorite space in your home? Why?

Sitting at my work table which is actually part of the dining room, having everyone around me, I love it, I just wish it were bigger.

What are your tips for making a workspace personal, efficient, and inspiring?
I like to have everything out and around me, I like a happy mess, that gets my creative juices going. I clean up after every project making room for the next thing. I always keep glass jars for storage, I have loads of long white shelves for all my supplies.



What has been your most challenging job or project?

Wholesale orders are challenging but also a lot of fun, as far as my Interior decorating projects, I would say that our house is the biggest challenge of all, turning an ugly ranch into a lovely home.

If you could walk to your window and see anything outside, what would you see?

In the winter a snowy wonderland, in the summer a beautiful garden which I LOVE!

What dreams have you achieved and fulfilled?

Having my own business, I never thought I could do it and moving to Vermont has been an amazing journey.




What is one dream that you hope to attain in the future?

Continuing to do what I love most, being creative!

What would you identify as a turning point in your professional or personal life?

Definitely the move here.



In a regular day, when are you happiest?

Getting up in the morning, reading emails, sipping tea, going for a walk with my husband and the dog.

What makes the biggest difference in the decoration of a home?

Color and accessories.



What are some of your tips for creating a beautiful home on a budget?

Try to re use what you have by painting, reupholstering, or repurposing, I am a great believer in using what you already own. Bring in color to mix with a white palette, get wonderful art to put on your walls, Etsy has some awesome affordable art, thrift shops, yard sales and Craigslist are some of my favorite places to find fun stuff on a budget and my most favorite is Ikea!

How can people add more color to their environment and everyday lives?

I like to use color mixed in with a lot of white. I also use color in accents like pillows with lots of patterns mixed in all together and interesting accessories.





What are you looking forward to wearing in the spring?

A skirt!

What is your dream travel adventure?

NYC, London, Paris, a culinary trip to Italy and the souk in Istanbul

If you could say one thing to the world, about the world today or even about yourself, what would it be?

Spread the love….




What would you say is the single thing that creative people can do to take better advantage of their talents?

Take different classes in different medias, I know each new class I take opens up a whole new world of inspiration.

~

Today is Tamar's son Mikey's 13th birthday. Go ahead and leave birthday notes here

Happy Birthday, Mikey!

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Etched Glass Valet

Isn't this just lovely? Lined with blue velvet, part is left open to catch change, electronics, and those aluminum museum lapel pins that you always find bouncing around the bottom of the washing machine. Most of it, though, is covered by an etched glass cover that lifts to reveal your stuff.

This could also go beyond the dressertop by carrying embroidery supplies to different favorite spots around the house, or writing paper, or creamy white candles and personalized matchbooks.

SALE $64.99

{Spicy!} Chocolate Challah Pudding

Have a good Shabbos, and save some challah for this surely-delicious recipe. We should try this next week. In some ramikins.

Big Ben Vintage Alarm Clock

I bet it makes a good, old fashioned "Bbrriiiiiing!" sound.

$14

Leah Desk

This is so beautiful, particularly in front of the window, with the vase of cherry blossom branches and the necklaces slung over the edge of the mirror. Put some jewelry trays in one drawer and your writing paper in the other. Plug in your modern conveniences and pull up a juxtaposition of a chair, with a Marimekko fabric cushion, in the blue blossom design, of course.

$369

Pear Vanilla Oatmeal Soap

It's lovely to be back, and we're taking it slow tonight with some beautiful soap. I was watching that Samantha Brown Passport to Europe show where she visited a French soap factory. The soaps there were so rustic and quirky and gorgeous, but these are ornate and earthy at the same time. Besides, I have more of a chance getting to this Iowa workshop than actually visting France.

Also see the honeysuckle scent, which is so summery.

$5

Vintage Button Flower Bouquet

Cheery, bright, and really pretty. Put one in a bud vase by the computer, one wrapped around each cloth napkin at the dinner table, one tied with a ribbon and a card to a friend's windshield wiper, and the rest in a green glass on your windowsill.

$14 for 10

AGK Mercury Lounge Chair

Throw it on the porch next to the two adirondack chairs and the old wooden rocker.

As seen here and here.

Keep Calm and Carry On Poster

I know you're seeing it everywhere, but I honestly believe that living with this everyday could change my life.

$25

Duck Egg Espresso Cup

Blue glaze over terracotta makes for an earthy and warm look. Looks good with a state of the art stainless espresso machine or one of those giant copper machines, if they still make them.

$20

Propello Desktop Fan

Keep cool without the clutter. Hughes-worthy design with a chrome bullet on the back and smooth rubber blades in the front.

$138.95

CRAFT PEACE Tiny Text Bowl

Simple, with space to breathe.

$22

*Snowflake Flannel Sheets *

Super wintry, and soft, and cute, and super inexpensive. Seasonal flannel sheets are an indulgence that no one will appreciate as much as you do.

$20

*Lily Crowned Tea Cozy*

I bet every student at Oxford owns one of these.

French linen tea cozy with vintage crown design.

$15

*Porcelain Tag*
By Diana Fayt

Bought one at a time, this would be an amazing way to remember happy times with friends. Every time a roommate has a birthday, or a breakthrough, send away for a tag and hang it on the wall. Write the occasion with a fine black Sharpie and date it. Soon, the good times will grow and you can sit on the couch and marvel at your wonderful timeline.

This would be sweet with babies born, holidays celebrated, promotions earned, and celebrations hosted. Watch the joy spread.

$16

*Blue Bird Pillow*

style + practicality

Young, different, and washable.

SALE $20