Old Los Angeles

For all the scores of times I've been to Malibu, yesterday was the first time I walked through the grounds of the Adamson House.  Breathtaking doesn't even begin to describe the gardens, house and tile work.  Here are a few pictures:

 I can't get enough of the outdoor fireplace.

A free-form tile mosaic makes a beautiful segue from pathway to patio.

An elaborate built in fountain with a view of the coast behind.

 More stunning tiles.

I can't get enough of the old California architecture.

Looking up the beach from the back yard.  The houses in the far distance are part of the Malibu Colony -- semi-private beach and enclave of the rich and famous.

I LOVE this planter! The landscaping featured a very small mix of plants, all growing in sweeping bands of bold color or cascading from ornate planters.

New Spun Cotton Mushrooms from Germany

We adore German spun cotton mushrooms and are happy to say that we have several new colors in the shop in multiple sizes!  There are now ones in black, orange, aqua, grass green, and a pretty new yellow.  The much beloved pinks are also back and this time in a new jumbo size as well.  Here's a peek at what we're stocking:

We also can't get enough of these very large paper mushrooms on dowels:

It's hard to pick a favorite but I'm loving the orange and black ones!

New Old Stock Flowers, Leaves and Glue

April showers certainly brought May flowers!

We've just added a ton of old stock millinery flowers, vintage pearlized leaves and even a selection of specialty glue to the website.  From vibrant clematis blossoms to dainty silk hyacinths to long stem cosmos, everything is old stock from Germany, Czechoslovakia and Japan.  

We're very excited to be stocking Coccoina glues from Italy.  Available in both liquid and paste form, Coccoina is non-toxic, solvent-free and has the most delicious marzipan almond scent. 

Click HERE for a closer look!

Meet Chantal of Dragonfly Expression

We love the gorgeous blossoms made by Chantal of Dragonfly Expression.  From brights to pastels, whites to beautiful ombre mixes, she creates realistic paper flowers with a mix of carefree refinement.

Be sure to also stop by her blog for updates on new creations and other adventures in paper.

New Lawn!

Last Friday just after dawn, a sod truck rumbled up the street and delivered two pallets of Marathon I.  For the next several hours we carried, laid, watered and placed 1,000 square feet of freshly harvested grass.  Here's how it looked when we first started:

And a little further along, maybe 2/3rds done:

Now, a week later, it's grown noticeably and is just about ready for its first cut.  After prepping the area for many months and basically living next to a dirt patch, it's amazing how dust-free the house and porch stay.  Next up? Flowers, flowers, flowers!