Inspiration by Mail

While we are doing our part to try to live as green as possible, some things I just have a hard time with going "green." Take, for instance, magazines, books, and catalogs. I love them and I love turning their pages in my hand and reading the text and looking at the pictures. Somehow doing it digitally just doesn't cut it for me. While I enjoy online shopping just as much as the next person, I still enjoy getting catalogs in the mail. Two of my favorites came in the mail this week.

Wisteria is "a catalog of antiques and decorative items for the home and garden." They have unusal items that you don't see anywhere else. Some are expensive and beyond my price range, but some are very affordable. More than anything though I just enjoy looking at the pictures and get inspired just looking at the vignettes they put together. Something that caught my eye was the Turkey Pumpkin Kit on p. 58. Once Halloween is over, I always turn my carved pumpkin that sits on the porch around so that I can get the most out of it and it usually lasts through Thanksgiving. This kit takes that one step further with a metal head and turkey tail - you instantly have a turkey pumpkin! I also love the treasure nests on p. 29. Handpainted birds stand atop iron branches that have a wicker basket where you can toss your keys and other sundry items. I also have a thing about wire this year and fell in like over the wire votive candleholders on p. 52. And, check out the doormats on p. 17. Beautiful! I can go on and on. This is one of their best catalogs yet.

Another catalog favorite of mine is a little closer to home. Napastyle is the brain child of Chef Michael Chiarello from Food Network and Fine Living. I enjoy his show on Food Network and I like his easy style and his way of whipping up Italian food for entertaining family and friends. His strong sense of family is what I enjoy most about him. He is opening up more Napastyle stores and I hope to get to the one in Berkeley one of these days. But, until then I have to be content with shopping through his catalog and online. I love the warm colors of this catalog and the photography is wonderful. Some of my favorite things: the vintage metal bins on p. 41, the ornato doorstop on p. 58, the talavera tile mirrors on p. 65, the surefire wire baskets on p. 68, the pumpkin leaf plates on p. 73, the coverflex silicone lids on p. 75, and the nesting ruffled bakeware also on p. 75.

I think I need to get a large mug of coffee, sit back, and continue shopping!