LotusHaus

Photographic Decor from Teo Jasmin

Check out these amazing photographic prints and home decor options at Teo Jasmin from France! Teo Jasmin is an interior design company based in Paris and they specialize in digital printings on canvas, cushions and furniture.

Flowers for an Auction

Here's an arrangement I donated for a friend's church auction... (The photo is a bit overexposed, sorry! My good camera is out of commission, wah)

4-In-1 Vase

Ok this is pure modern genius! The 4-in-1 Vase by Konstantin Slawinski is a two-part vase... a glass cube that fits into a silver metal frame with 4 different opening sizes ranging from single stem to bouquet! Perfect for a mod centerpiece display!

Chlorophylle Grass Planter Centerpiece

These would be sleek and modern centerpieces! Grown your own grass in these luxe Chlorophylle grass planter boxes! Via Totally Tabletops.

Albano Daminato

I think living in this well designed space by Albano Daminato would feel so very relaxing and calming... I especially love the floor window with a view of a bamboo grove. Via Design to Inspire.

Witt Istanbul Suites Hotel } A Recipe of Laser Cut Flowers, Organic Wood, Neutral colors and a pop of Mustard

I'm loving the colors and details of the Witt Istanbul Hotel Suites designed by Autoban. Check out the laser cut flowers, the pointellist styling, the organic woods and the blend of warm modernist design. I can see envision these elements as the basis for a great party or wedding theme! Via the Contemporist.

Amy Butler for Welspun } A new collection of organic cotton bedding

Via Decor8 I learned that Amy Butler has designed a line of 100% organic cotton bedding for Welspun that will be available in June! See more photos here and a slideshow here.

Shunyata Series by Junko Yamamoto

It's a wonderful miracle when you discover that someone you know has been honing their creative and artistic talent right under your nose! I have known Junko Yamamoto for a few years now in the Seattle event industry, but I had no idea that she was an artist! Junko will be having a solo show featuring the "Shunyata Series" at Gallery IMA during the month of June. Shunyata means "emptiness" in Sanskrit. To learn more about the inspiration for this body of work, make sure to read her artist statement... it's very inspiring! I'm definitely loving the one with the talk bubble as artwork for our nursery... the empty talk bubble is asking me "Will it be a boy or will it be a girl?" hee hee!

Ryan Takaba's Porcelain Wall Bud Vases

These porcelain wall bud vases by Etsy seller Ryan Takaba are way too cool! I saw these over at Jenn Ski's mid century modern design blog.

Metal Light Panels

These metal light panels are gorgeous inside or outside! I really love the chrysanthemum designs. Learn more about these beautiful works of art at Napa Home.

Teak Carved Headboard

I saw this lovely bedroom photo over at An Indian Summer. I love the calm neutral colors, the stone like walls, the carved lantern, and the framed Asian advertisement art/poster. You can find a smaller version of a lotus teak panel like this one at Viva Terra.

Grid Vase by Jaime Hayón

 
As an Ikebana practitioner, when I saw this Grid Vase by Spanish designer Jaime Hayón my eyes grew wide with the possibilities! These vases are beautifully formed and the grid patterns are so intriguing... so beautiful just by themselves... but picture branches and single blooms punctuating the grills... "grid is an eye-catching vase collection manufactured by turkish artisans, bestowed with hundreds of years of experience in copper craftsmanship. it combines contemporary design with turkish sensibility."

Happy Mother's Day! Happy News... I'm a new Mother-to-Be!

If my posts have seemed a little light and infrequent it's because I have embarked on a new journey! After almost 6 years of marriage, I am finally pregnant and will be expecting our first child in November! So this Mother's Day has new meaning for me as I reflect on my childhood and what kind of mother I will be. I have started a new blog called LotusHaus Mama which will be a light documentation of my thoughts and finds related to my journey through pregnancy, natural childbirth and into motherhood! Check it out if you are interested. In the meantime, you can also check out some past baby related posts here at LotusHaus. Thanks so much for joining me in this journey!

Flower & Gift Projects for Teens } Project No. 9

Everyone loves fresh flower pomanders! Finally, I remembered to snap some shots of the girls in my St. Luke's Class. We made some really cute mini pomanders about the size of a large grapefruit. 

Materials:

• 1 or 2 bunches of kermit mums
• lime green ribbon or poly yarn
• small floral foam orb -or-
• small block of floral foam 
• chicken wire (optional)

Instructions: (also good instructions here)

1) Prepare wet floral foam.
If you can find a floral foam orb in the size you want, simply soak in water and then set out to drain. Or else you can take a small block of floral foam and shape it by cutting it down and sculpting it into an orb. I used an apple for size comparison. Optional: Wrap the orb in chicken wire for a more sturdy structure.
2) Assemble ribbon.
There are different ways to do this. If you have wrapped the orb in chicken wire, tie a ribbon with a loop handle through the wire at the top of the orb. But this is what I did because I used a green poly yarn i/o ribbon: Take a chopstick and stab it through the center of the orb. Push a double strand of yarn through the hole with the chopstick. Cut a stem about 2" and tie it with the yarns so that when you pull up the loop the stem creates a stable stopper for the yarn.
3) Cut kermit mum heads.
Cut stems to about 2" and insert into foam in a row that circles around the entire orb. Then make another row that circles the orb so that it creates quarter lines. Then fill in the rest of the quarters with mums.
4) Add any other embellishments.
You can add another bow to the top loop if you like. I attempted to make a chinese style knot with the excess yarn at the bottom of the pomander.
5) Experiment with your pomander and enjoy!
You can use your pomander as an centerpiece too by placing it in a glass cube or on top of a cylinder vase.

My inspiration for the near Future! } Kate Fujimoto Event Design

Whoa, how do I contain my excitement? I finally found a career inspiration that closely matches my lifestyle, my experience and my aesthetic! Today I discovered the story of Kate Fujimoto... a fashion designer - turned wife - turned event designer! Kate Fujimoto worked as a fashion designer and product manager for labels such as Trina Turk and Betsey Johnson.  She was getting frustrated with the corporate structure and felt that her aesthetic didn’t necessarily match up to some of the companies she worked with. After planning her own wedding, Kate began to consider a career in event design. She took on small events at first, but with a growing client list, the budding designer launched Kate Fujimoto Event Design in November 2007. With an emphasis on color, texture and trim, she treats events as landscapes similar to fashion designs, and applies her expertise to every aspect of presentation. Kate often looks to the venue first— much like she used to look to the human form—to find ways to enhance its features...Kate, you are my she-ro!

Summer Awesomeness from Colin Cowie

Ok, so I was like totally sucked into the Home Shopping Network (HSN) on TV today because entertainment guru Colin Cowie (his accent is South African) was showcasing his summer collection... and let me say that it's off tha hook and if I had extra loot I would buy up all the pieces and use them for events. Here are my favorites:

Beverage Server with Ice Receptacle: This is the most modern and versatile drink dispenser EVER! Watch the video footage and you will be a sucker too!  It's genius! First of all, it's made of sturdy glass. The ice receptacle keeps your drinks cold without diluting them. When not in use you can use the ice holder as a glass flower vase (genius). The bottom bowl is a separate piece and you can use it to display the beverage ingredients or create ambiance with flowers or other themed items. When not in use you can use the bowl for salads or layered desserts (genius). The lid fits perfectly on top of the bowl as well (einstein). At the HSN price of $74.95 I was seriously considering picking up the phone. But alas, times are tough and my glass pitcher is just gonna have to do... but isn't it just genius, lol! Here are some other nice items:

 

From left to right, top to bottom:
Chip and Dip Wood Tray with Porcelain Bowl, Bowl in Rattan Base, 7" Appetizer Plates, 3 part Stackable Storage Jar, Square Rim Dinnerware Set, Square Bowls in Wood Tray, Double Wall Glass Set.

Aktipis Flower Shop in Greece

Check out this really unique and well designed flower shop in Greece! The name of the shop is Aktipis and it was designed by Point Supreme Architects. Discovered via Laissezfaire and Dezeen.

Black Ribbon, Rhinestone Buckles, Green Horsetail and Ruby Reds!

I'm loving these arrangements and overall table top display found over at Head of the Table! The horsetail or equisetum look so fabulous with the black ribbon and rhinestone buckles atop charcoal polished river stones!

Artist } Annie Kammerer Butrus

Today, via Style Court, I discovered the beautiful artwork of artist Annie Kammerer Butrus...check it out!