Kelly Ashworth » real life

Fabric Obsessed

kelly — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:00:05 +0000

My parents bought me a sewing machine for my birthday. Yada, yada, yada…I now want to sew everything in sight. Oh, and I’m obsessed with patterned fabric. I could look at fabric sites all day if I wasn’t busy working on design projects and chasing a very active 10-month-old around the house. But it’s probably all for the best. If left to my own devices, I’d go into debt buying up fabric and American Spoon preserves.

Take a look at my newest favorites:

From top left: Amy Butler, Marimekko, Joel Dewberry

From botton left: Anna Maria Horner, Laura Gunn, Liberty

American Spoon

kelly — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:00:51 +0000

I just returned from a trip to Northern Michigan and already the Arizona heat is driving me batty. I miss the green grass, the tall trees and the gorgeous lakes that abound. And I know it’s silly, but I already miss American Spoon.

American Spoon is a small chain that specializes in preserves made from Michigan fruit. Simple concept, amazing brand. Every inch of their shop space has been thoughtfully arranged, so much so that you won’t think twice about spending eight dollars on a jar of jam. They offer an amazing sampling bar, as well as a few Michigan-inspired tchotchkes.

When you check out, your purchases are wrapped in American Spoon tissue paper. There are stickers and cotton ribbon and a cute bag to carry around. The Petoskey location also features a full-service cafe, and I was lucky enough to share a delicious breakfast with my family…and all the sour cherry preserves my heart desired.

Check out their website and you’ll get a sense of the care they took to develop this beloved Michigan brand. It’s not just about a pretty logo, it’s about an experience. You don’t have to be “big” to provide your clients with a fond memory.

I work with many small business owners who consider themselves to be “high-end” or “luxury”. But the experience they provide is unmistakably low-end. If you’re charging a premium, your end user is going to expect a premium experience. Period.

What are you doing to leave a lasting impression? Think about that while I go into debt ordering more jam…

Inspired by bath time

kelly — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:00:13 +0000

My 9 month-old is a big fan of bath time. She sees me turn on the faucet and it’s like she just won the lottery. Every. Single. Day.

So it should come as no surprise that tub time is one of the highlights of my day. Throw in these marvelous bath toys that I purchased recently and it’s all the more fun. Baby Ingrid LOVES these toys. Mama loves them because they spawn zillions of design ideas. The shapes remind me of a Matisse painting and the colors choices are inspired. I’ll see three soapy pieces of foam floating by and think, “we should redo our room in those colors.” Or “I need to try that palate on Client X.”

So thank you, Boon. If you’re a mom and love nifty things for your kids, check out their site. You might find some fun toys of your own. Maybe even a new color palate for that pesky powder room.

I heart houseplants

kelly — Wed, 18 May 2011 16:00:24 +0000

I’m a sucker for houseplants. We have them in just about every room in our house, mainly for their aesthetic appeal. So imagine my surprise and joy to read this recent article in the Wall Street Journal about houseplants and their ability to clean indoor air pollutants.

My first thought? We need more. And we’ll need some planters as well. In short…we need to go shopping.

There. I gave you an excuse to shop. Go. Enjoy your lovely purified air! But don’t forget to water your plants.

Read the article for a list of plants and see below for some pretty pots and other garden goodies.

1. Smiling Lady, $24 here. 2. Terracotta Cylinder, $6.99 – $16.99 here. 3. Galvanized Scroll Pot, $18 here. 4. BIGARRÅ Pot with Saucer, $24.99 here. 5. Boston Bread Mold, $68 here. 6. ÅRLIG Plant Pot, $6.99 here. 7. Zinc Outdoor Thermometer, $38 here.

Designerd Baby Shower

kelly — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:00:52 +0000

Baby Ingrid is now 5 months old and I am just now getting around to posting about my fabulous baby shower. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t show this off because a couple of my pals really pulled out all the stops and the end result was stunning.

I’m tempted to frame the photo of the dessert table. Hello, Amy Atlas! The main color featured was yellow, primarily because I had a massive hankering for anything lemon-flavored during my pregnancy. Even the delicious Sprinkles cupcakes were lemon. YUM.

I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of people wrapping my midsection with toilet paper, so my hostesses came up with some cute games and and handed out stylish jewelry from H&M as prizes. How wonderfully Swedish is that? And each guest left with personalized notecards designed by yours truly.

It was such a sweet shower and not a moment too soon…two short weeks later, Baby Ingrid arrived and my lemon craving magically disappeared.

yellow baby shower yellow and white party napkins yellow dessert table for baby shower modern baby shower yellow baby shower invitation

Baby Library

kelly — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:00:14 +0000

I have loads of books wishlishted for Baby Ingrid’s library. Most are designer-y. Of course.

Here are a few that I covet the most. Please feel free to add to my list in the comments below.

Alphabeasties, ABC’s, Sparkle and Spin, Little Owl Lost, Good Morning Toucan, A Long Piece of String

More Mom Shoes

kelly — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 16:00:27 +0000

Seriously. Should I just give up and get a fanny pack while I’m at it? I LOVE these shoes.

Also available in aqua. Get them right here.

Ingrid’s Room

kelly — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:00:56 +0000

Putting our daughter’s room together has been a real labor of love for both my husband and I. We had a great time dreaming up a room that was both cost-effective and stylish (hello, IKEA? We love you.)

Thought you guys might like to see some of our favorite elements from the nursery. Resources are below, with the exception of the Mid Century Piggy Bank from Pamela Barsky. I bought it several years back and I don’t think they’re available anymore.

Another note: the bedding pictured on the crib is from the manufacturer. We opted not to buy a bedding set in favor of a variety of stylish sheets. I have several from Dwell Studio for Target that I love, and they work nicely with my neurotic decorating tendencies.

Blanca Gomez Monsieur II Print, Blanca Gomez Present Print, Hawthorne Yellow Paint, Matte Stephens Monsieur Hulot Mon Oncle Print, Crib, Dresser, Rocker, Pillow

Reading is Fundamental

kelly — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:00:40 +0000

Are you on Good Reads? It’s great — like social networking for bookworms. I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately, so every time I finish a book, I can post reviews and see what my friends are reading. Here’s a quick look into what I’ve been filling my brain with as of late:

Want to join my book nerdery? Follow this link. Let’s be geeky friends.

Cookie Swap 2.0

kelly — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Not surprisingly, people take their cookies seriously. In the midst of planning our cookie extravaganza, I was delighted with the cookie feedback I received via email, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Deliciousness via social networking? Who knew?

So here’s a quick roundup of recipes. My oven is about to get a work out.

Christmas Wreaths: I know the green food coloring can be a bit off-putting, but once you get past that, (or just go au naturale and forgo the food coloring altogether) these treats are deee-lish. Recipe here. Photo provided by a trusty college pal who is THE authority on all things Christmas.

(Top) Oatmeal Cream Cheese Butterscotch Bars & (Bottom) Sunny’s Crunchy Peanut Butter S’more Bites: submitted by the one and only Heather Crabtree of Outstanding Occasions fame. I have not tried either recipe. Yet. But I know Heather and according to her Twitter page, she has cooked an entire Thanksgiving dinner by herself, which I consider a serious feat. So I will henceforth trust any recommendation she may have when it comes to cooking. Oh, and she’s also a doll.

Recipes here and here.

Magic Toffee Bars: My mom has a habit of digging up the most addictive sweet treat recipes during the holiday season. She calls these Magic Toffee Bars. I call them Crack on a Saltine. Plan on making several batches. You’ll thank me later. Recipe here.

I am throwing these last two selections in because A) I have made them myself, 2) they are relatively simple recipes and C) they taste good no matter how bad they look.

Raspberry Pinwheels: I found this recipe last year and the cookies looked so pretty and relatively easy to make. A fair warning – unless you bake on a regular basis, your cookies probably won’t look this pretty. But pop one in your mouth and SWEET MOTHER OF GOD ARE THEY DELICIOUS! I considered burning this recipe out of fear I would bake them every week and end up on one of those horrible TLC exposes. Half Ton Designer. So use this recipe with some discretion. Find it here.

Best Ever Butter Cookies: This is my best kept baking secret, are you ready? The best Christmas cookie recipe is not passed down from generation to generation, it’s found on the back of a Land-O-Lakes butter container. My mother-in-law introduced me to this wizardry when my husband and I first started dating and I have made these babies every year since. I add a little extra orange juice to the dough. Splash some into the frosting recipe, too. This is where I’ll start tomorrow – simple, basic and so insanely delicious. I can barely contain my excitement! Find it here.

Peace, Love & Cookies, peeps! Merry Christmas!