Home Schooling My Way

When it comes to decorating, some people bring the outside in. I XOXO to bring the classroom in. Well-made and beautifully designed learning tools and materials look spiffy inside the home -- plus children can learn casually and they often don't even realize it.

Back-to-school is my favorite season. Fall is to organization what spring is to cleaning. A chance to put things in order again. Time to refocus. Another crack at completing the goals left over from the summer list. I feel industrious and hopeful. The kids are in school and I can work for a whole day!!! If I could figure out how to make $ taking classes, I'd be back in school too.

To celebrate this season of intellectual pursuits and the sport of study, here are.........

 10 FAVORITE BACK-TO-SCHOOL INSPIRED ITEMS

1. Every writer deserves a great desk: The green one Peter Dunham chose for his Lady's Study in the Veranda "House of Windsor."(photo from: Hollywood at Home)

2. Metal Nerd Glasses spied at GuildMaster would look fab on a stack of books.

3. Even if you're not book smart, you can look smart. Decorating with books warms up a home! These examples are from Go Home.

4. Make tablescapes with geometric solids from Bobo Intriguing Objects

5.I added to my vintage educational collection when I shopped at White Elephant Antiques in Dallas

6. In the spirit of a learning chart, this Butch Anthony piece imparts creative lessons in anatomy, zoology, home ec and more.

7. Stay protected. Graphic canvas laptop cases from Thomas Paul.

8.My doodles look best when done in a black Sharpie fine point pen -- well, I guess everyone's do.

9. The global appeal of chalkboard paint as found on Etsy.

10. Hand-painted alphabet tiles with b&w vintage images mostly chosen from a 1975 encyclopedia set on flip side. Made by moi.

Into Butch

Gosh, how I love people who see opportunity in the humblest of things and who create something new from old. Artist and visionary Butch Anthony does this.

The "Rest Your Bones" chair made me chuckle out loud.

I didn't know about Butch till last month when I drove up to Sanford, FL and walked into Jeanine Taylor Folk Art. My friend Jen O'Connor, art seller and cultivator, grabbed my arm and guided me to a center room. She was so excited. I was certain she was going to finally let me taste the Beard Papa cream puffs she had been raving about. But no..........that would come later.

i am captivated by the simplicity of his wit.

Instead, at that moment, I discoverd Butch Anthony.

Jen  asked "Don't you love him?" 

"Oh my gosh, yes!" I obviously replied.

underneath our composed exteriors we all look like this

 I love the x-ray series for its blend of vintage imagery and fluid line work.

a one room guest house the Butch built when he was 14

I was reading Butch's bio and saw that the New York Times featured his home. I rushed to click on it. He built it with his own hands and furnished it largely with salvaged materials. Since I was little, I wanted to marry a guy who could build me anything I desired. So far, this hasn't happened, yet miraculously, I am doing just fine.