JuBella.com - Get Your Creative Dose

Not too long ago I found myself browsing through a couple of Country Living books at our local library and a few of the photos caught my eye and I thought you guys would enjoy a bit of this country-rustic inspiration as well! While my taste in decor does not totally consist of one style, (in fact it consists of probably way too many, making it quite a challenge to decorate my own space) I do find lots of charm within country/rustic decor. I always imagine living in a small cottage style home that was filled with vintage pieces, weathered wood, and lots of white; and wouldn’t it be great to have a little art studio situated in a refurbished barn/farmhouse!

I just love when I come across fabulous interior styling. It takes great talent and a keen eye when it comes to the placement of objects that should be brought to ones attention within a photo. You have to consider so much, from composition, to color, pattern, lighting, etc. Nevertheless I was totally drooling over these spaces by Japanese design company Jamo Associates…so pretty, chic, colorful, and modern!

Aren’t these pillows from French company Bonjour Mon Coussin fantastic! I think the Babooshka images are adorable and the postage pillows would work great in an office setting or to spice up a hip urban/modern couch.

Claire Eglizeaud and Paul Moreau, a designer and a graphic artist from Bordeaux developed “Bonjour Mon Coussin” in 2007, a new and surprising concept.

Neutral. Simple. Clean. Fresh! I love this space via Photographer John Bessler. The drapes are grand, the hardwood floors are charming, and the layered rugs looks oh so comfy and inviting!

I recently ran across these colorful and eclectic spaces photographed by Jean Baptiste Pellerin. I especially love the colorful arrangement of mix-match place mats!

Loving the work of Lifestyle Photographer Kim Cornelison!

Well hello everyone! Whew! I am finally back and boy does it feel good to not have to carry a jumbo belly around anymore! Don’t get me me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed nurturing the growth of our baby girl, but there is nothing like being able to bend over and reach your toes..or better yet..to see your toes..lol. Anyhow, we welcomed “Halima Ava Marie Taylor” into this world on the morning of May 17th! I was in labor for only 6 hours and we are enjoying each and every minute of her new baby smell and delicate cries (and the laughter we all share as we compare her to Maggie off the Simpsons, as she simply loves her pacifier) She loves to sleep through the night(at least for now), so outside of nursing around the clock, not that much has changed within my schedule. I guess I was thinking that I was going to be “shell shocked” and would have to re-configure everything that I had originally set in place, but that does not seem to be the case!

Thanks to everyone who kept visiting my little creative abode here at JuBella, and many thanks to all of you who sent an e-mail over checking in on me…I feel so special! Ok, so I am stoked to be back and you all can look forward to some creative and inspiring posts and some fun giveaways!

I love all things inspirational and pretty so it was hard not to fall head over heels with the Live Inspired line of inspirational stationary, books, gift wrap, and cards! They carry some of the most unique items…such as the mom and dad interview journal, where it has questions already typed out for you to ask your mom and one to ask your dad…what a keepsake! I also love their “Where Will You Be 5 Years From Today” workbook, which includes productive life questions and quotes and a road-map! So, have fun browsing this inspiring and colorful site..you are sure to want to buy lots of goodies!

While we all love the serenity of peace and quiet, many of us, especially those who enjoy entertaining, love when we have the chance to have overnight guests! How I only wish our apartment was sufficient for this cause, as I have daydreamed about how I would decorate my guest room and all of the things that I would accent it with to make their stay memorable, comfortable, and enjoyable!

I think that when it comes to decorating a guest room, it is important not to over do it with decorating it within your style, but keeping it simple. Not to say that bold colors and eclectic décor would ruin the experience for your guests, but it is important not to overwork the room.

Here are a few essentials that I personally would try to incorporate in my future guest room:

Comfortable mattress & linen

Fluffy pillows along with extra pillows

Bottled Water

Coffee maker with tea bags and some aromatic coffee blends

Television & Radio

Alarm clock

Computer or Wireless Router for their own laptop

Phone

Slippers

Fresh bath towels & nicely packaged toiletries

Fresh Flowers & candles

Snack Bowl & Small fridge

Featured Products: Burlington Cookies, Slippers, Earl Grey Crème Black Tea, Voluspa Floraison Candles, Cocoa Butter & Rose Skin Lotion, Sapphire Velvet Floral Quilt, Glass Water Carafe & Tumbler.

Ok, so the list can go on and on when it comes to making your guests feel special, but these are just a few things that come to mind when I think of my guests. I especially love to spoil my parents when they come over to visit, but unfortunately at the moment they have to make due with our bedroom..LOL. Nevertheless, I hope this inspires you yo take the time to make your next overnight visitors feel special!

Hi everybody! First I want to thank you all who have sent comments and e-mails asking how I am doing! I feel so special! Well, to answer your question, I am doing good. My actual due date is Sunday and boy am I hoping that she comes on her own by then. If not I will have to schedule a time to be induced next week..so wish me luck! Nevertheless, to keep my mind off of being super uncomfortable and extremely anxious I have been doing lots of things around the house to prepare physically and mentally, as well as some new projects/ideas.

New Blogs: In case you have not noticed I have started a few more blogs..why you ask? Because my mind wanders from subject to subject and I must say that I carry quite an eclectic basket of styles, so having multiple blogs actually helps me organize my thoughts. So when I am not here you can find me at the following blogs as well:

Crafty Hues, Inspiring Mama, and Style Gypsy. I am excited about the Crafty Hues blog because it has given me that boost of extra energy that I will need if I want to gain talent in my textile design & start selling small yardage and gifts using my designs. So feel free to check me out from time to time as I will be posting textile designer interviews in the near future! Inspiring mama will be highlighting more moms and I will continue posting my 14 day menus as much as I can and Style Gypsy will be that blog of inspiration for getting back into shape after baby is out and about:)

So, that’s a bit of an update for you. I do have some posts that will pop up from time to time and again, once baby comes, I am sure I will be able to focus more than worrying. Ok, coming up is a little post I did on Creating the ambiance for your overnight guests! Enjoy!

Swoon! We have the ultimate eye pleasure of visiting one of the most creative and stylish ladies on the web! Her name in Nina van De Goor and her home is filled with charm, color, and beauty within every nook and cranny. Not only is her home fabulous but she also creates some of the most fantastic art and ceramics that would adorn any ones home! To view more of Ninas home visit her blog hereor her flickr set! Ok, so let’s head on over:

Who: Nina van De Goor
Occupation: Humanities Student & Ceramicist
Home Location: Den Bosch, a city in the south of the Netherlands
Website: Nina In Vorm
 
Style of Home: Eclectic, mix & match, a bit mid-century modern, a bit IKEA and a lot of art & craft.
 
Favorite Rooms/Spots & Why: The living room is a great room, it’s light and colorful and filled with all my vintage treasures and collections, such as my vintage ceramics collection. I also really like my studio, a wonderful place where I can work on all my creative projects. It’s so luxurious to have a room just for myself that I can call ‘my studio’, I never could have guessed I would have one ten years ago (when I was 16). It’s one of the good things of growing up I guess: the possibility to create a studio just for you!

 
Design/decor challenges when it came to decorating: the fact that it’s a rented apartment, which limits the changes you can make and how much you want to invest in the place. Also, the bedrooms aren’t very big, so we have to be careful not to put too many furniture in them in order to keep the rooms spacious. That’s also my personal challenge: I have so many decorating ideas and so many types of furniture, art and vintage treasures that I love, that it’s hard to limit myself…

 
Favorite shops/boutiques/websites for decorating your home: thrift shops and auction websites, IKEA for basics, etsy, and shops from independent designers/artists.

5 words that would describe how you would want someone who is visiting your home to feel: happy, at home, and surprised!

Hi Everybody! So, I was up late and had a major craving for a cool smoothie, but since I did not want to wake everyone in the house up with my incredibly loud blender, I changed my mood to something warm. Anyhow, I came up with this super easy and quite delightful chai inspired recipe. Its made with sweet & spicy spices and a dash of cocoa which leaves a silky, smooth, sweet, & chocolate aftertaste! Ok, have I convinced you enough to try it? Here is the recipe.

Tip: You can cool this recipe off by chilling it in the fridge and garnishing it with some shaved chocolate and whip cream or serve along side a scone, or biscotti, or a light shortbread cookie!

For The Spiced Tea Bags:

1/4 tsp: of: Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger, Black Pepper, and Fennel Seeds

2/4 tsp. Cardamon

1 clove

2 Pieces of Muslin or Light Cotton, cut into squares

Cotton String

For The Tea Base:

2 C. Sweetened Vanilla Almond Milk (I used the Blue Diamond Brand)

1 small Black Tea Bag

1/4 tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract

1/4 tsp. Unsweetened Cocoa

2 tsp. Sugar

Directions: Take your first cloth square and place all of your spices except your cardamon in the center. Pull up the sides and tightly tie a piece of string around the top to close(as seen in the photo above). Do the same with your other piece of cloth for your cardamon. Make sure you have your cloth tied tightly as you do not want any spices coming out.

Now take a saucepan and pour in your milk, put in your small black tea bag, your two handmade spiced tea bags, and your vanilla. bring to a light boil. bring it down to a simmer and let your tea steep for at least 15-20 minutes. For a stronger blend, you can let your tea steep much longer . Now whisk in your sugar and cocoa until both have dissolved. Pour into your favorite tea cup and enjoy!

Tip: if you want a spicier tea, simply add more ginger to your spiced tea bag.

Who: Jane Schouten of All The Luck In The World

Occupation: Graphic Designer, Artist, shop owner

Home Location: Rhenen, Netherlands

Style of Home: An eclectic mix of vintage and handmade

Time to visit another creative elite! Today we have been invited to the colorful and lovely home of designer Jane Schouten of All The Luck In the World. I love Janes sense of style in her home, and the color and pattern just pops out at you so lovingly don’t you think? If you have read my About The Editor Page, then you will know that one of my creative goals is to live a “Zakka” filled life, and Jane’s home reminds me of the art of Zakka. She has taken the time to show so much TLC to every nook and cranny of her space. From little trinkets, to placement, to an eye full of colorful art, Jane has done a spectacular job of making her space beautifully filled with the influence of Zakka!

Ok, let’s head on over…and if you would like to stay longer, then check out her full flickr set of her home!

JuBella: Favorite Rooms/Spots & Why?

Jane: I love my bedroom because it’s a nice white, quiet place. My whole home is filled with treasures and memories so every room has it’s own charm. My kitchen and bathroom are tiny. In my next house I hope they will be bigger!

JuBella: Design/decor challenges when it came to decorating?

Jane: Fitting everything in and organizing it so it’s not too cluttered.

JuBella: Favorite shops/boutiques/websites for decorating your home?

Jane: fleamarkets and thrift stores. I love the Noordermarkt (market with lots of vintage goods) in Amsterdam, and Spitafields market and Portobello Road markets in London. Local flea markets are the best for finding real treasures. I also buy gifts and art on ETSY.

JuBella: How do you want someone who is visiting your home to feel?

Jane: I want them to feel welcome. There is a lot to see if you have an eye for it!

Hi there creative people! I am still here, trying to get some posts up, yet baby is truly weighing me down. Can you believe that I only have 6 weeks and 3 days to go..woo hoo, but where did the time go? I am super excited and super nervous, as one never knows how delivery will go, yet I am trying to maintain my sanity and calmness.

Ok, so here is part 3 of The Home Office Series. I have gathered up just a few things that I personally would love to have in my area. My absolute favorite is the Habit.Former via See Jane Work. I think it is so important to remember to accent your space. Don’t just leave it at organized…DECORATE and try to find unique pieces for ordinary supplies like staplers, file folders, magnets (etsy is a great resource for artsy magnets to hand on your memo boards), paper clips, etc.! And when you are all done light a few scented candles to bring a little dose of elegant & relaxing charm to your space, and I would even go as far as to suggest a small water fountain. The combination of beautiful and inspirational decor, cleanliness & organization, aroma, candle light, and the trickling sound of water is a sure recipe for a successful a “get-away” work environment!

Let’s Shop: See Jane Work
8 Days A Week Planner, Thomas Paul Pencil Cup, Semikolon Magazine Filing Box, No. 2 Task Clips, Habit.Former, Leather Business Card Holder

Let’s Shop:Pottery Barn
Sutter Handpainted Secretary Desk

Let’s Shop: Target

Filigree Bowl Filigree Bowl, 3 Drawer Organizer, Chrome Nesting Basket, Lavender Vanilla Candle

Let’s Shop: Red Stamp
Emma File Set, Vintage Retro File Folders

“I’m so proud of my beautiful new designs in Softwares,” said Amy Butler. “I love the way this digital collection allows sewers and quilters to customize and completely plan their projects – and better yet, to see the results right before their eyes.” ~Amy Butler

She just never stops the inspiration! Amy Butler has a new quilting software (Amy Butler Softwares) via the Electric Quilt Company that will be available for purchase for just $29.95 on May 15th. The software will be available on both Amy’s site as well as the Electric Quilt Company site. The digital software will include a collection of 22 new home sewing projects and nine bonus projects for sewers of all skill and experience levels who want to add fresh, modern items to their homes. Project instructions are written in a clear, step-by-step style so that first-time as well as experienced sewers can successfully create beautiful new projects for their homes! Yay!

Images by David Butler, © Amy Butler Design for The Electric Quilt Company