Growing up, we always had Family Circle magazines around the house. In fact, my Mom still has a subscription. Now, I’ll admit, it is no longer a “must read” magazine for me the way that Elle Decor, Veranda, and House Beautiful are, but this month’s issue is one I HAD to pick up!

You see, there is a lovely little furniture stencil project in there written by the talented (and welcome NEW discovery for me) Suzonne Sterling of the wonderful Urban Comfort blog.

Suzonne used our Small Eastern Lattice stencil on a metal coffee table. Because this particular stencil requires you to paint in the negative spaces around the trellis pattern, Suzonne basecoated the table in a gold metallic paint first. She then did the stenciling in the brown color, so that the actual trellis pattern shines through. Suzonne posted about this project on her own blog here and you can find more detailed instructions also on the Family Circle website.

You will probably want to set aside some time to peruse Urban Comfort. It’s full of inspiring DIY ideas. I particularly liked this idea of creating a Winter Butterfly Garden and think this would be so, so pretty on a mantle of as a dining table centerpiece!

She also recently did a wonderful post on the upcoming Annie Sloan U.S. tour. As a stockist for Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, I gotta love that one too!!

Recently, I was asked by House Beautiful to participate in a blogger’s feature on inspiring green spaces from the pages of House Beautiful magazine. The assignment:  Share how a “green” space has inspired you in your designs, work, or blog posts.

Well, there is SO much to be inspired by in the pages of House Beautiful and on their website, but I chose the image above that I had blogged about before here. I have to say I was VERY  flattered to be asked and now even more so that the feature is up and I see the other bloggers that were included. There is quite a nice collection of images and insights from the bloggers who chose them…

Holly Becker,  who blogs at the Gr8 blog decor8 picked this powder room with a fresh graphic floral wallpaper. Its amazing how a pattern like this can visually expand a small room, isn’t it?

Maria Killam, a color expert and blogger at mariakillam.com, chose this lovely living room that  ran on the cover of the October 2010 issue. I can see why! I love the mix of ethnic prints and modern art. Plus, the light in this room amazing….

Matt Armendariz, food photographer and blogger at mattbites.com, chose this gorgeous kitchen with a green gingham ceiling. He says, “If I had my dream come true, it’d be this kitchen, featuring the happiest of bright greens in shades of pea and emerald.”

I too love gingham ceilings. I once worked with avery daring  designer who upholstered her very large beamed ceiling with a tiny green gingham. It was amazing! She also had me stencil gingham on cabinets, doorways, and furniture….among other things. You can see some examples here.

Are you craving more green? You can see all 10 House Beautiful “green” pics here.

One of my favorite stores to drop in for color and current trend inspiration is Pier One. And I’ll also admit to an occasional purchase or two.

So exciting then when blogging friend Beth Hunter from Home Stories A to Z pointed out that our Casablanca Trellis wall stencil was used in one of the room beauty shots in their latest catalog! Beth spotted it right away because she had used the same design on her stenciled curtain project. You can see it there on the yellow/green accent wall. Nice choice!

And then a few more pages in I spied our Chain Link modern wall stencil used in yet another shot. The tone-on-tone gold treatment is one of my long time favorite classic  colorways to use with stencils and I love how fresh and updated it looks with the brighter blue and green! Pier One-you rock!  I am now an even BIGger fan! You can see the catalog online here.