Happy Birthday, Pencil Shavings Studio. Nine years ago in April of 2008, I started blogging regularly after a stop-start of posts that date back to 2006(!). I’d been a graphic designer for a few years at that point, working for a tiny apparel company and then eventually running my own little studio (party of 1!). […]

It’s officially One Room Challenge kickoff time!   For all you newbies, the ORC is a semi-annual event where 20 bloggers transform a room from start to finish hosted by Linda of Calling it Home. (Last October I did our happy stripe family room) And on Thursdays is when all the other participating designers and bloggers chime in […]

Uber-talented designer and all-around preppy tastemaker Mark Sikes designs the chicest line called MDS Stripes. It’s chock full of flowy peasant tops, billowy skirts, young Jackie Kennedy on Nantucket-appropriate frocks and everything else in between. In other words, it’s how I would dress if I too was vacationing and living my Ultimate Stripe Fantasy Life™. […]

On Instagram last week I stumbled on the beautiful Nour El Nil – a collection of luxury Nile River cruises. The photos are mesmerizing – it’s like the most exotic cruise you can imagine and straight out of a movie. Striped sails! Cushions to lounge upon! Cooling white linens with views of ancient deserts and […]