Wind and Willow Home: General Gifts

Showing posts with label General Gifts. Show all posts

Holiday Season ALREADY

Time flies when you are having fun. Yes friends, that is exactly what I am doing, fun with friends, family and befriending some talented handmade artists and artisans locally, nationally and internationally. My lack of posts is not due to lack of ideas. In fact it is completely the opposite. I have so many ideas written, pinned, saved and swirling around in this little head of mine it is difficult to keep from blogging about them. But, I must wait... until the official launch of the Wind and Willow Home shop.
It is coming! When the days start getting longer and Spring is on our minds. For now, please feel free to check out the Twin Cities Design Collective where I will be writing about fantastic local (Minnesota) talent. You can also follow me on Pinterest where you can get a sneak peak into some the things you may see at Wind and Willow Home. Oh, and Make Sure you are a friend on Facebook for the newest updates!

Wonderful Wood Silhouettes| Oh Dier

What do you get when you mix a lovely local (Twin Cities) husband and wife team, a little wood and a bit of quirkiness? Oh Dier! For a little more on this dynamic duo check out my full article at the Twin Cities Design Collective. Not only do they make wonderful words with wood they also make these beautiful, nature inspired silhouettes. I just love them!

Images via Oh Dier

Deep Dark Africa: Shops that inspire

This shop is inspirational not only because of it's uniquely modern vision of Africa but also it's dedication to fair trade and Eco-friendly goods. Deep Dark Africa promotes hand designed and made pieces created by or in collaboration with a diverse range of local artisans, designers & crafters. It's unique mix of modern designs shows that "this uniquely talented continent & its rich creativity, showing that African design is evolving whilst still holding firm to it's handmade root."
I personally love the contrast of the earthy wood and reed products next to bright, colorful globes, balls and toys. Calming and pleasant with energy running through the entire shop. Check out Deep Dark Africa for yourself, I am sure you will find inspiration in this shop.

Images via Deep Dark Africa

Do you know of a product or shop you would like to see featured here?

Are you looking for a special gift that we might be able to help you find?

Please contact Wind and Willow Home

Butterflies on my Mind: Products you may see in the shop

I have had butterflies on my mind all Summer. This year was a Summer filled with deconstruction at my house. My husband and I had to remove all trees, weeds and overgrow bushes from our previously neglected yard. As I look forward to my vision of what it will become I imagine a garden full of blooming flowers with butterflies feasting on them. I have been doing research of which plants attract butterflies in hopes that next year I will be able to start fresh with flowers like the Purple Coneflower, Garden Phlox and the Comom Milkweed. So until then here is a collection of beautiful butterfly products for inspiration.
Enjoy!


Image via My Selvaged Life

Image via Sabiesabi

Image via SiboDesigns

Image via Anthropologie

Image via Sugar Robot

Image via Commercial Wallcovering.com

Do you know of a product that you would like to see featured here?

Are you looking for a special gift that we might be able to help you find?

Please contact Wind and Willow Home

Nature inspired pillows: Products you may see in the showroom

I have been thinking a lot about pillows lately because they are a great way to add personality to a room without spending a lot of money. In many of my rooms the pillows define the space. They add color, texture and shape to an otherwise neutral background. I also change my pillows per season adding more texture in the fall and winter when I am feeling a little extra warmth is needed. I soften up the texture and color in the spring and summer giving the space a more casual and airy tone.
These amazing pillows pictured below are all hand printed and are full of personality. Please visit the links below the pictures to see more styles and design form each artist.

Image via helkatdesign

Image via Rustic Country Crafts

Image via Art Goodies

Image via Peris and Corr


Image via Button Grass

Image via Robin and Mould

Image via Erin Flett

Here is your chance to shape the showroom.

Please give me your input on this product via the Reactions button below. Do you Love it, Like it or would you Pass?

Beautiful Bag: Hand Made in Minnesota

It has been a while since I have posted a bag and I always love Anny and Me's designs. They are beautifully tailored and oozing with details. The fabrics are fantastically fun and modern. This reversible bag is proof of their functunality, just turn the bag inside out and you have a brand new pattern-that's two bags for the price of one. Big enough for a laptop or diaper bag. Hand made in Minnesota by Annie and Me.

Do you know of a product that you would like to see featured here?

Are you looking for a special gift that we might be able to help you find?

Please contact Wind and Willow Home

Wearable Planters: Products you may see in the showroom

I think these, too cute, wearable planters are so unique. The shapes are modern and the colors are soft yet chic. A great way to show off tiny flowers or unique greens, and of course a conversation starter. Made of 3D printed acrylic (which makes the planters water tight) and hand finished. Show your "green" hanging from your ears, neck or my favorite, brooch. Hand crafted by Colleen Jordan.

Images via Colleen Jordan

Here is your chance to shape the showroom.

Please give me your input on this product via the Reactions button below. Do you Love it, Like it or would you Pass?

Products you may see in the Showroom: Up side down (repost)

Gorgeous plant pendants! I am constantly looking for places I can put plants where they will get light and not get in the way of daily tasks. Hang these anywhere. The soft flowing lines of the pods are the perfect contrast to the sharp silhouette of the air plants themselves. Each pod is made from a gorgeous natural Moroccan sand colored clay and comes with a generous amount of natural hemp cord all ready to hang. Hanging air plant pods™ are hand crafted and can be found at www.michaelmcdowell.com.

Here is your chance to shape the showroom.

Please give me your input on this product via the Reactions button below. Do you Love it, Like it or would you Pass?

The Big News.

If you have been following this blog, a couple posts ago I mentioned there were some exciting things happening here at Wind and Willow Home. So...I am moving forward with my dream of starting a brick and mortar showroom.
After a lot of interviewing for jobs in the Kitchen and Bathroom/Remodeling industry (where I had been working for over 10 years and really enjoying the work) and finding out that a viable starting salary for someone who has to support two children in daycare and of course pay some bills, is virtually impossible (after the housing industry crash) I have decided to follow a dream and start my own showroom. Well, that is, I will be putting my full efforts into doing so. I have started the business plan and will be spending the next 2 months concentrating on collecting all of the information and funding necessary to ensure that I have a complete business plan that will ensure a unique and successful brick and mortar showroom.

As you know, my blog posts have focused on hand made products, design and inspiration with a nature inspired theme. This will not change although there will be more purpose to each post as I will be highlighting products that I plan to carry in the showroom. I will also highlight design ideas and inspiration directly related to the showroom design and displays along with other shops and ideas that inspire me in this process. I will also be detailing the business plan writing process and be asking for help and opinions along the way. I will be looking to you my loyal readers, friends and family to help shape the showroom by giving your input via opinion poles and sharing comments.

I had struggled with the decision to open up this process to the virtual world because I typically am a very self sufficient and private person. The fear of being exposed and potentially failing is a strong case to keep this a secret, along with potential negative opinions and the worries that someone with more experience and resources could come along and take my ideas, and make this happen much faster than I. But, on the other hand the potential for support and advice in a process that I am utterly new to outweighed the negatives. So here I go! On a journey to make my dreams come true. Please follow me through my successes and failures. Please support and encourage me. And as always, feel free to share this blog with your friends, family and anyone and everyone you know because the more people that see this the more support and advice I will benefit from and the more likely this dream will become a reality.

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No green thumb needed: Fabric Flowers

What a great concept, flowers that are beautiful and unique but need no sunlight or water. These flowers can be ordered in some of my all time favorites, aloe vera, pussy willow and leaves of all colors and patterns. The perfect accent for your antique vases. Find them at Jane Joss.

Images via Jane Joss

Do you know of a product that you would like to see featured here?

Are you looking for a special gift that we might be able to help you find?

Please contact Wind and Willow Home

Great week for eco-fashion.

Hi and happy Monday! And what's not to be happy for, this is one of my favorite weeks of the entire year. Summer begins on June 21st (my favorite season), this week has the longest days of the entire year and my birthday is this week. Usually I start off the week with a DIY project but this week I couldn't wait to feature this new shop I discovered. It seems that I would be happy with any one of their beautiful, recycled pieces for my birthday, or any day for that matter. Galerie Urbana is a warm, thoughtful and unique collection of hand made pieces derived from nature such as recycled horn, Eco-friendly Colombian wood, Tagua seeds and leather. See for yourself.

Find Wind and Willow Home on Facebook for a special Discount from this shop!

Images via Galerie Urbana

Do you know of a product that you would like to see featured here?

Are you looking for a special gift that we might be able to help you find?

Please contact Wind and Willow Home

Stunning Summer prints for your walls and your wardrobe

I came across Leah Duncan and her whimsical illustrations and couldn't keep this discovery to myself. I am mesmerized by her soft yet contemporary color combination's and in her words, "where folk meets modern" designs. Summer oozes out of her designs as they are inspired by her neighborhood in east Austin, Texas and her Native American heritage. Her inspiring story about how she was determined to make a living doing what she loved makes these works of art stand out. Find out more at LeahDuncan.com.