Matteo, Matteo...

We are forever in love with Matteo Bedding... The owner, Mathew Lenoci has developed a design culture in his Downtown LA loft and studio, by enlisting an amazingly talented group of young designers from the local fashion schools like Ottis and FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising).

They have always kept a sort masculine design sensibility, that seems to appeal to us all. This bed has a wonderful mix of their crisp percale with a menswear feeling, Madras Plaid for the Euro Shams. We went ahead and threw on a vintage French fabric throw pillow that pulled it all together.

The pallet from Matteo is almost always in this muted, hand-dyed feeling that gives it such a great vintage quality.

Believe it or not, Blue Springs Home has probably the largest selection of Matteo bedding anywhere in California. It allows our customers to come in and make up there own ensembles.

The Matteo Baby Collections carry on that same masculine, vintage theme. This is the Vintage Linen mixed with the Blue Madras Plaid.

All Dressed Up...

I have to say that it was a lot of fun getting the store all dressed up and ready for the event withAnnette Tatum, and her "Well Dressed Home" Book Signing.

We had another wonderful turn out and everyone really seemed to enjoy it, I know I did.. Annette and her photographer, Karen Millet, could not have been more fun.

This was the front of the store... We set up a rustic reception table with a Navajo Rug for a table cloth and tumbleweeds arranged as a centerpiece. Everyone loved it!

Annette is a strong and talented woman. It ceases to amaze me how she can run her wholesale business, have two retail stores and oh, write a book, with a husband and four kids. Pretty unbelievable!

Here Annette and I are with Romantic Homes Editor, Jacqueline De Montravel. I have been an advertiser with them for years. Jacqueline and I have become friends over that time. She is always so supportive of the me and the store.

Thank you again for all of you who came to our book signing event. Special thanks to my Blue Springs Home Girls...

I Really Love This Book...

Ok, as most of you probably know, the Holidays are upon us.. With that, I have to tell you about this great new book we just got. It's called The Gathering of Friends and is the perfect holiday gift.

This book provides menus for several different types of get-togethers, complete with recipes and pages for notes. The nice thing is that one of the authors is a designer, so there are some great suggestions for decorating and centerpieces. The recipes are all really delicious and not too involved.

Price $29.50

Ooh.. 100% Bamboo..

I would have never believed that Bamboo Fiber could be this soft and cozy, until I took one home and put it on.. These new Bathrobes we just got in from Pure Fiber are 100% Bamboo. They feel like a combination of silk and cotton and are super easy to maintain.

At $75.00, these robes make a wonderful, but reasonable, Holiday gift. We have them in Cream, Sage and Grey and will try to keep them in stock through Christmas.

Oh, by the way, Bamboo is an extremley sustainable fiber and using it is good for the environment..

A Special Thanks to Rachel Ashwell and You All....

I want to say a very special thank you to the amazing Rachel Ashwell and all of you for making last month's Shabby Chic Interiors Book Signing Event, such a great success. I was really touched by the turn-out and response from everyone who attended and equally as touched by the graciousness that Rachel showed.

It was really a treat to have her at the store, bringing her life experiences and stories and sharing them with us all. Our round table discussion at the end of the signing was so much fun. She answered everyone's questions and went page by page through her new book.

We will all be watching to see how she will re-invent herself, and know that she will be as successful as before... perhaps more so.

We Love our New Bed... And Bedding of Course.

We just got in this beautiful Canopy Bed from J.R. Conte, Ltd. and everyone is in love with it. This guy is a real old world craftsman, if you could believe there still is such a thing. All of the furniture from Conte is made by hand, right here in Orange County and they will do pretty much any custom finish you want.

My friend Tania Taddeo came in and did up this gorgeous Fall mix of Bella Notte, Matteo and Les Indiennes bedding all together. Tania has a wonderful eye for styling and design. It shows in everything she does.

Thank you Tania, for doing such a wonderful job!

Having a local Bohemian Artist in our backyard has it's advantages... Susan Brown saw the bed in the window and just whipped up this painting. She so prolific with her artwork, especially when she gets inspired. I guess this bed did the job for her..

We'll be redressing beds all through the month and I'll be sure to keep posting new and fresh looks. Or you can just come and see them for yourself in person...

Twigs, Sprigs and Tumbleweeds...

The other day I was driving to work and saw this perfectly shaped tumbleweed on the side of the road... I don't why, but this little tumbleweed just kind of spoke to me. Anyway, I pulled over, picked it up and put it in the back of the car. It looks really great in the old galvanized tin.

Last year we drove to the Grand Canyon about this time of the year, and on the way back, I had to stop and fill the car with all the creosote bushes I could find! They smelled a little funny, but they made the most gorgeous arrangements in the store.

I don't believe in spending a lot of money on cut flowers when you can just go into your own backyard and find the most wonderful things in nature such as fallen leaves and twigs. And don't forget to look for those tumbleweeds along side the road. We don't really have to spend a bunch of money on cut flowers or orchids, when you can just put your imagination to work. I feel good about that little tumbleweed.

Actually it kind of inspired me to do more of this in the store. I'll post some more photos soon.

Necklalces from Nikki....For your Puppy or Kitty

My Aunt Nikki McLaughlin from back home in Alabama, makes these adorable little "Pet Necklaces"...

A Well Dressed Event at Blue Springs Home...

In the spirit of our theme of new books and Book Signing Events at Blue Springs Home, we are really excited to announce that Annette Tatum, Author, Designer and Stylemaker, will be coming the store Saturday, November 7, 2009 from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Annette will be meeting and signing books for everyone and we hope you all can make it. We have the books on sale now for $35.

House Beautiful and Luxe Magazine just voted "The Well Dressed Home", one of their favorite new design books of the year.

Oh, by the way... Annette is also the owner and head designer for House, Inc. Beautiful furniture and bedding for adults, juvenile and baby. We will also be showcasing the latest collection from House, Inc.

Hope you can make it...