Ladies and Gentlemen, We Have a Winner!

Congratulations to Sarah (comment #58) for winning the Twinkle pillow! I am thrilled the giveaway was so popular - we had 94 comments (!!!), and participants were Tweeting and blogging about the giveaway, so thank you, thank you!

*NOTE: I am not sure, but I assume more than 1 Sarah signed up, so you would have received an email from me if you are the winner.*

And a big thanks to All Modern for offering this giveaway. I am not sure if you're familiar with the company, but they are a part of CSN Stores, a company that has over 200 stores that sells pretty much everything from outdoor furniture, to bedding, to mail boxes... in other words, I definitely recommend checking them out next time you're on the hunt for something for your home.

Tomorrow I leave for Mexico! Stay tuned for one more post today...

Twinkle Your Home: LCY's First Giveaway!

I present to you Live Creating Yourself's very first giveaway! Ahhh and the crowd goes wild!

What I offer you today is undoubtedly a familiar sight to many of you blogoholics. And I am probably the umpteenth blogger to offer this give-away thanks to the fabulously generous and stylish CSNstores. After winning one of my very own Twinkle chevron pillows from Smitten Design and feeling oh-so giddy, I could not deprive my readers of the same offer. So! Thanks to All Modern Furniture, I have one Twinkle pillow in the color of your choice to give away!

Bloggers love this thing. Check it out.

Erin Gates of Elements of Style has a pair of the navy pillows in her house.

Paloma of La Dolce Vita had it on her holiday wish list.

Michelle of Bohemian Season has two of the brown pillows on her couch.

A few other inspirational shots:

So, you want one?

Here's how to win:

1. Leave a comment telling me where the pillow will go in your home

2. Enter again (by leaving another comment) if you Tweet this give-away

3. And sign up again (by leaving another comment) if you post about it on your blog

You have until midnight on Thursday. Winner will be announced Friday.

Have at it!

Designers to Watch: Michelle Adams of Rubie Green

Michelle Adams is one dynamite lady. And she's only two years older than me. Talk about inspiring. Who is this soon-to-be wildly successful entrepreneur, you ask?

Well, in a nutshell: Michelle graduated from Michigan State University in 2006 with a degree in apparel and textile design and minors in interior design and advertising. She trekked to NYC where she lived (rent-free with her dad - lucky!) while landing the job of a lifetime - a market assistant position at Domino magazine. Talk about getting your foot in the door. While there, she worked and networked, networked and worked. Somewhere along the way, she met photographer Patrick Cline and you could say the rest was history. After a year and a half, she quit the mag to start her own business - a fabric and bedding company - Rubie Green, whose beautiful products have already been featured in the likes of Vogue Living, House Beautiful, Traditional Home, and Oprah Magazine. Just this past summer, Michelle announced on her blog, M.A. Belle, that she and Patrick Cline are starting a new online-only, interior design magazine, Lonny (as in London and NYC, Patrick's and her respective homes). Collaborating with top designers, editors, photographers, and stylists, these two are sure to produce a top-notch product. You can tell from the cover and preview page below. The full magazine is set to launch next Thursday, October 1. I cannot wait!

Rubie Green Fabrics

Her beautifully designed fabrics are all 100% organic cotton and manufactured by eco-friendly printers. But they'll cost you. These beauties go for $90/yard. Fortunately you don't need much more than that to get two throw pillows or cover a few chairs as shown below. Just enough to add some punch to a room.

Perhaps her most popular fabric, East Village, was used on the throw pillows in designer Diane Bergeran's home, which was featured in Australia Vogue Living.

Rubie Green Bedding

These strike me as fairly reasonably priced considering how much the upholstery goes for - a queen duvet is $219. But as of now, only four patterns are available. Fortunately, they all mix and match!

Michelle's NYC Abode

The epitome of small space, big style. Michelle's apartment was photographed by business partner Patrick Cline for Real Living. Notice the Rubie Green prints all over the place!

I spy a Sapien spine bookcase!

Her office. Who says you need a view over 5th Ave. to be the head of a chic and fabulous business?

all photos from M. A. Belle and Rubie Green websites

LCY Chicago: Bedside Manor in Hinsdale and Lincoln Park

Hinsdale, Illinois is lucky enough to have one of four Bedside Manor shops among its local businesses - the others located in Winnetka, Lake Forest, and Lincoln Park (Chicago). The charming store features high-end bedding and bath linens that I can stare at for hours. That's right. They are that beautiful.

This is normally a window-shopping kinda place for me as the prices are out of my budget. But, as my mom and I saw this weekend, sales tend to pop up every now and then where you can get great deals on their luxury pieces. Sadly, the sale does not last forever, but if you are looking to treat yourself to the bed you most definitely deserve, I say look no further. Allow me to give you a tour of the Hinsdale shop...

The Beds

Would it be awkward if I laid in it?

I feel like I should say "Ta Da!" when I look at this picture.

Love this bench.

The side tables

I'll have one of each.

Pajamas, towels, soaps, the list goes on...

Manor to Home

My mom's beautiful bed.

Pillow shams by Ann Gish, sheets by Nancy Souther, both from Bedside Manor.

Duvet cover from Restoration Hardware.

Bud vase by William Yeoward.

Clock from Pottery Barn.

Headboard from Macy's Home.

Sweet dreams.

Something to rest your head upon

Anyone who knows me knows of my recent obsession with West Elm. I've always had an affliction toward modern furnishings, a style in which the Williams-Sonoma branch specializes. But recently, I have learned to appreciate what blending the old and new can provide: an eclectic, unique, and thereby more interesting space. That being said, I am constantly on the website waiting for new items to come in and older styles to go on sale. Great news. Their summer sale is in full swing! Among the many outdoor items and summer accessories, WE has a great selection of throw pillows on sale.

Replacing throw pillows on couches, chairs, and beds can give a room a quick, updated look at a low cost. Maybe just the thing you need halfway through summer. I know... I can't believe it's July either.

I am crrrazy about Ikat anything. In grey...

...or in green.

Fun for summer, indoor or outdoor.

Love the school of fish pillow.

These two look like art on a pillow.

Bright, bold graphics add a punch to the neutral couch

we all own and love.

I know. These look like an old sweater. That's the point.

Lutz & Patmos is in award-winning, NYC-based luxury knitwear brand that has just branched into home furnishings -- exclusively at WE.