A Beach Blanket with a Cause

It seems I've developed a homing device for woven blankets these days. How about this lovely sarong for a beach blanket?

Each sarong purchased funds one Kenyan child's school fees for a day. Doing good is so fashionable.

[image: Kikoy4Kenya]

Lakeview gets a Facelift with LAMP

Yesterday, Special Service Area 27 and the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce unveiled the Lakeview Area Master Plan. LAMP focuses primarily on the areas between Southport Corridor and Roscoe Village, and plans to further enhance the areas' work/live/play atmosphere with more green common spaces and farmers' markets. I've included some renderings of the plans, designed by Moss Design, a sustainable architecture firm in Chicago, but you can see the full scale of the project here.

[images: Roscoe View Journal]

A Birthday Trip in Raleigh

My sister just moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, for a teaching position. She's now living in her first big-kid apartment, aside from the housing at The University of Dayton, so she's fairly excited to get her place shaped up just the way she likes it. She's chosen a solid color scheme - gray and white with splashes of red (I am guessing my mom's penchant for warm clay tones had something to do with this).

Claire's birthday is on the 27th, and I've been all over Chicago searching for the perfect gift for our newly christened southern girl. But, I needn't have looked any farther than Furbish Studio, the shop behind one of my favorite blogs I Suwannee.

Furbish Studio is in Raleigh, so Claire can just pop right over there and pick up the adorable spot coasters I've reserved for her. Not only will they look marvelous in her new apartment, but she'll get to check out the shop and explore her new city!

Furbish saves the day. :)

[image: Furbish Studio]

A Looming Obsession

My search for the perfect rug has indirectly spawned a weaving obsession.

I imagine that after a few classes and a table loom of my very own, I could be churning out beautiful handmade crafts similar to West Elm's Hammam Stripe Hand Towels and Ikea's Renate Rug.

Before committing to a table loom like the one above (no small investment), I think I'll be checking out The Chicago Weaving School, which offers 4-, 8-, and 12-week classes, as well as drop in classes for $30 per class, or $100 for a bundle of four classes.

[image]

I like this.

[image: West Elm]

I think I've found my mules...

Riding on the coattails of yesterday's post. Get the whole outfit here.

[image: Anthropologie]

Industrial Pizazz from Restoration Hardware

[image: Restoration Hardware]

Steve Alan's Spring 2011

This spring collection has me dreaming of my next European adventure. Effortless! If I could at least get a panama hat, I'd be well on my way.

[images: Steve Alan]

S&P

Darling!

[image: West Elm]

Still Searching?

These gifts would be great for the mommys.

Zinc Outdoor Thermometer, Terrain ($38)

Properly Patterned Throw, Anthropologie

[image: Anthropologie, Terrain]

Ked's Century Collection

Ked's have released a century collection of shoes starting with 1910 and running (ha) through 2010.

The website is pretty fun to navigate, too.

Pictured above: 1990s; Pictured Below: 1920s and 1950s.

[image: refinery29.com; The Original Sneaker (Keds)]