Atlanta Gift Market

We're busy preparing for the upcoming Atlanta International Gift Market. Look for us in the Southern Accessories Today showroom located in AmericasMart building 1 on the 12th floor Suite 12A2 & 12B1. We're excited about the prospects of this year's market and we have some exciting news of upcoming products and changes of our own. Hope to see you there!

Great Architecture

Great architecture is almost a thing of the past. Inspiring structures have been replaced by drab, gray offices. The need to surround ourselves with things of beauty and inspiration has been replaced by dull efficiency with the almighty buck as the bottom line. Gone are the days of building for the sake of creation. I think that's why so many of us are drawn to vintage beauty. The old world had something special that we somehow lost along the way. I want to take this time to reflect on great architecture and dream that someday we will start building the way we used to.

St. Peter's in the Vatican. Once you've been there, nothing else is quite the same.

They just don't make things like this anymore.

The domes and railing add just a little something extra to the stairs. Nothing needed but definitely missed. Put there just because.

Moving Day

Moving is never fun. Well maybe a little. It seems it's something we do often at Petit. This time at the behest of lawyers no less. It's not a big move thankfully. The work was short and sweet. Now we have the amusing task of redecorating when faced with red poinsettias and pink floral prints sitting in the same room. Sorting all of that out is the fun part though.  Just a quick blurb today about the move and to wish Paul McCartney a happy birthday.

Happy birthday Paul!

Smell is the Strongest Sense Tied to Memory

They say that smell is the strongest sense tied to memory. That is to say that a familiar smell can whisk you away to another place in time. I was visiting a friend. This friend has a particular tree that smells amazing. I have no idea what the tree is but the smell is one I've come to associate with friends and company. We take its branches to freshen a room or a car and maybe to remember the good times we've had together.


This line of thought has brought me to other familiar flowery smells from my past. The fragrances I associate with my grandparents- with my childhood. Oddly enough I have a particular flower for either set of grandparents. My father's mother loved gardenia. It's a preference inherited by her children and grandchildren perhaps as a way of remembering her and the home they grew up in.

I spent most of my time as a young child at my mother's parents' home. One of my favorite pastimes was playing in the wisteria in the yard. I love the shape of the flower even before it blooms. I love the feel of the soft fuzzy crush of a bud in hand. I love taking shelter under the canopy of vines highlighted by the most delicate fragrant ornaments dangling overhead. 

All of this would be capped off by another smell. Grandmother's cooking. After a hard day at play, she was always sure to fill you up for the next day spent among the flowers.

To the Beach

With May Day over a fort night past, I have beach on the brain! We've spent so much time designing and making products inspired by the beach and all things nautical that I think it's just about time to drop everything and go:

But what to do once I'm there? So many different ways to relax. I could just lie in the sun and sand and work on my tan. I could get in the water if it's not too cold.

I could spend a single evening in an elaborate sand castle before the waves wash it away.

I think what I would most like to do is enjoy a seaside meal in a place like Positano, Italy.

What's your favorite beach activity? Are you a sunbather? A Swimmer? An architect of sand? Let me know your favorite ways to enjoy your days on the beach.

Succi Arredamenti Featured in Prominent Italian Home Magazine Tende e Stoffe Country Chic

Francesca's store Succi Arredamenti has a wonderful 7 page write up in Tende e Stoffe Country Chic which is one of the most prominent Italian magazines on country chic style. Her store is beautiful and she is always kind enough to feature our pillows any time she receives press. The entire article can be viewed at her blog I Love Country Chic. We're always flattered and aghast to be featured in international publications and Francesca has been wonderful about helping us out with that. We're so happy for you Francesca and thank you for including us in your success.

More Love for Vintage Suitcases and DIY Ideas

One of our most visited blog posts was our post on vintage suitcases so I thought we would revisit that idea. In my research endeavors I stumbled upon a blog post that blew me away. The folks over at Oh My Creative have nailed the DIY suitcase idea so perfectly. You must check out their post. There's little sense in reinventing the wheel when they made it so perfectly round the first time but here are some of my favorites and a few ideas they didn't cover. 


My favorite idea that they covered would have to be these suitcases masquerading as dresser drawers from Rossan Orlandi. It's just perfect. 




I found a few more interesting ideas on Pinterest. This Etsy user has capitalized on the vintage suitcases as shelves idea in her shop Quirks By Annie. An idea I'm fond of as I constantly lack shelf space in my home.

Like shelf space I also lack medicine cabinet space. I saw a lot of these but I liked this one from Storage Glee in particular for the watches hanging inside.

I had to add the garden variety (pun intended) suitcase found over at Dragonfly Cottage. It's such a fun little idea with bursts of color shooting out of it. It's such a strange sentiment to view it. On one hand you want to scream "oh no don't ruin the suitcase with all that dirt!" but on the other it's a way to give new life to something that you might otherwise have done away with. Either way I love this. Such a sweet little flower garden.


I'd love to hear any DIY suitcase ideas you have. Or maybe stories about great vintage finds? Leave a comment and tell your tale. A bientot.