updates from hawthorne cottage

we have a lot to unpack so i’m jumping right in. firstly sorry for the loooooong time no see. i have been in full on nesting mode. i have a timeline of sorts in my head- fiona’s room, living room, hallway, hall bath. in that order. except the only thing that is mostly done is the hallway because that just required fresh white paint. (f&B pointing. outstanding btw if you want a creamy, warm white with zero gray, yellow, blue or green undertones. it has red undertones.) i have this tiny flush mount in mind except that the delivery time is end of october and a bitch is impatient. also probably the little pink one not the green, tho it is cute.

fiona’s room got a tiny refresh and we’re still going. but so far we got a new bedskirt (still not here), new pillowcases (they are unexpectedly soft and the blue is heavenly), fresh paint, and i have a pretty blue and white suzani for the end of her bed that will tie it all up. still need a new bedside table (bc her current little dresser is too big and falling apart), a rug, white bamboo shades (still waiting on samples to arrive and yes they come in white! had no idea.).

the living room is almost there. the walls are painted farrow and ball citrona (for the record all of the paint is a benjamin moore mix of farrow and ball colors). i splurged on a huge suzani to cover the sofa bc i wanted a softer more muted palette with those yellow walls. my purple sofa just wasn’t doing it for me. also my cat has destroyed it. the suzani came from this etsy shop.

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i scored some vintage wood shelves that i painted white. i fucking HATE painting shelves. it’s the most tedious thing imaginable. but they are going to look great. i shell’d up the top and couldn’t be happier with it. will continue to fill it until it hits linda rodin levels. also have already taped the cords behind. this beast is going to hold allll of my books, cookbooks included (fingers crossed). that beautiful flower photograph is this one. gifted to me from the photographer herself.

anyway, this is the vibe.

against my better judgement i do want a rug for this room. this one is the dream. can you imagine? my dumb cat would destroy it too.

also eventually want curtains for the living room. i’ve never actually had curtains and this house really wants them. i am planning on replacing the plastic blinds with the same white bamboo shades throughout. more on those soon.

more on the hall bathroom soon too. i do know that i am painting it a soft, pale peach. if you know of a soft, pale peach that doesn’t look too circus peanut, pink or terracotta let me know.

after all of this is done it’s the master bedroom/bath and the kitchen.

in other news-

i have removed my shop from this blog and went back to a website that is exclusively my art. i dunno, it felt right. anyway…here’s where you can purchase my art from here on.

i upgraded my towels to these and they are great. 5 stars. soft, floofy and affordable. washcloths too.

i bought my first tool kit. it felt good.

got these fridge magnets too. they’re super fun.

you know that molecules perfume that smells amazing on everyone that it hits and people stop you and say, wow you smell amazing what is it? i got this and it smells exactly the same.

ok then. good check in.

xx

new things

10 little irises sitting pretty in my shop.

hope you all are doing great!!

a peaceful woodland cottage

taking notes. florals for sure, love that yellow shade, curtains are a must, layering and pattern on pattern. who can make a pleated lampshade for me? also, am i missing out on the jumpsuit/onesie around the house as loungewear? i feel like i pee way too much for such a thing.

greetings from the land of change

i have a spider. a big, fat orb weaver who comes out at dusk and fixes her giant web at the broken pieces and waits for something to land (it’s been over a week and nothing has) and then retreats back to some crack somewhere close at around 7:30 AM or so. my god a spider is patient and determined, they do the most and then the least. i sit at my my dining room/work table in what is essentially a dining room, but really it’s just the other side of the kitchen. it’s an eat-in kitchen! (with an extraordinary lack of outlets) i digress. i’m staring out the window looking at her (she’s a she right?) and just beyond her and her colossal web into my new yard. it doesn’t get a lot of sun but that’s ok, i have lots of knowledge on what works in shady spots. there’s a cemetery just up the road that i can see too. i’ll see a lot more of it once the leaves on all the trees are gone. i’m pretty excited about it. who doesn’t love a cemetery? spooky is my favorite.

you ever think about how often people adapt? i’ve always thought i was pretty good at adapting, but the truth is you really don’t have a choice. when big change hits you just do. adapt. sometimes quicker than other times. i mean i guess it depends on what you’re adapting to, right? death maybe not so much.

also i never know what day it is. also we moved. if that wasn’t obvious already. and when i say we i mean we all did. mike, fiona and myself. and the cats. we’re still working out how to manage 2 mostly feral cats into a new yard. the internet says leave them where they are because they could die in a new place trying to wander back to their old place. thanks internet. they also recommend this. this notion that 700+ dollars is doable for regular people is somewhat infuriating and adds tremendously to my stress. which is a lot. more than i’ve ever had in my life. it’s not just the move or the cats; mike anderson and i are splitting. you kinda knew that i’m sure. i’ve been figuring out how to work it into the conversation since the spider. we have been on the cusp of a split for a long time. it’s as amicable as any split could be i guess.

it’s a big emotional time for me. it doesn’t entirely feel real but it also feels entirely right. fiona is doing great, if you were wondering. she’s known this was coming for a while and i think is relieved quite frankly. i am watching very closely and she is loved and nurtured above all else.

my mood is good. apart from crippling anxiety. i’ve never really been on my own before and paying bills has never been my province. it’s regretful to say the least. but i am hopeful and determined.

i have been flooded with love from so many of you. i cannot tell you how much it is lifting me up. in really profound ways. i have messages on insta that i have read and re-read over and over bc they’re personalized inspiration! and not just word gifts! gift-gifts! i have received so many things….a whole foods gift card, a TOASTER (an amazing breville that i absolutely love), beautiful art, dinner, a yummy candle, a weekend at a cabin in north georgia! just so many things. but it’s the words. many of you have been through it and have taken the time to relate to me. and i can’t thank you enough. it gives me hope.

adapting is the key, innit? when i go to sleep every night i manifest. i pray. i mantra. i hug my own body. and i sleep. and most days i wake up ready to fight. some days i don’t. but i am giving myself lots of room here. because no one will ever just be great. being great is a lie. we are all here to just keep moving. spinning our little webs and doing the most and the least in the relatively short amount of time we have.

thanks for being here. onwards and upwards as they say.

house posts and inspiration posts coming soon.

xxoo

kitchen of the day

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truthfully i think about this kitchen a lot. when it comes to kitchens not much else pleases me than keeping original features and working around them. or using them as fuel for the re-design. let’s face it, you don’t really need a ton of money to do a remodel (obvious structural issues not withstanding) you just need good taste and resources. on the flip side nothing irritates me more than seeing someone spend loads of money on a kitchen that not only looks like every other kitchen out there but will expire in 10 years. i have spent a lot of time these past few weeks in homes that have been “flipped” and let me tell you, it’s painful. i’ve seen them flipped by professionals; they all look the same, white on white with brown carpet in the bedrooms, and i’ve seen them flipped by diy-ers, typically a little more “inventive” but nonetheless atrocious. don’t even get me started on the gaps between cabinets and flooring, unevenness, and fake brick floors.

let me in coach, i’m ready.

liz macphail interiors

high summer

amber valletta in a valentino embroidered dress

illio from diptyque is calling me.

i would put two of these in my living room with a big, squishy sofa.

this artist on etsy is 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼.

my summer uniform is french girl vibes. always. oversized shirt, denim shorts, sandals.

and white painted floors are forever the epitome of summer.