new peeks: mu'umu'u heaven

bean bag & bear

by now i should know that posting during a visit home is like a magic 8-ball prediction - very doubtful. between bouncing between two families, a wedding, playing tour guide with out-of-town pals, and island hopping (aloha conn & john!), the days this time around flew by in a snap with half my to do list remaining untouched.

i did manage to take a peek inside mu'umu'u heaven's expanded space which now includes a home section filled with charming eco-friendly goods. two of mu'umu'u heaven's newest additions to catch my eye were the cheery bean bags ($80; cover only) and bird mobiles crafted from scraps of fabric left over from the production process of transforming no longer loved mu'umu'us into the reinvented styles stocked across the way in the boutique.

the mister and i also couldn't help stopping to admire a piece made by honolulu designer mark chai who upcycled a 55 gallon plastic barrel into a comfy lounge chair ($1500). and, the shop walls are currently filled with heather brown prints and other goodies including the brand new organic green with aloha totes which had just hit the shop floor the day of my visit.

more peeks below . . .

delightful birdie mobile

barrel chair by mark chai

alas, none of these pieces are available in the online shop so you will have to hele over to mu'umu'u heaven's kailua outpost which also happens to employ some of the nicest shopgirls on the island:

• where: 767 kailua road, kailua
• shop hours: mon to sat, 10a to 6p & sun, 11a to 4p

introducing 3rd ave shore

mermaids swirl

{just a note that i am home for a springtime visit so my posting schedule will be a bit lighter until april, but i will do my best to post sales and other fun notes over on twitter & facebook}

one of the things missing from the wall graphic trend these past few years have been designs befitting of an island home so you can imagine my delight when i happened across kailua's 3rd ave shore. i was instantly charmed by the sweet little mermaids who seem destined to find a home on more than a few walls and knew readers would be thrilled to find wall art depicting scenes from paradise.

it turns out designer samantha hardin is a doodler-at-heart and always kept a sketchbook nearby during her days as nanny. after three years, the pages were filled with possibilities and sam decided to transform her drawings from a simple sheet of paper to a grander display in the form of wall decals. these days sam personally produces each design by hand carefully transferring and dissecting each detail in her studio.

3rd ave shore's debut collection features hand drawn illustrations and bold graphics inspired by paradise and its swaying palm trees, lifeguard towers, surfer silhouettes, and rolling waves.

more peeks below . . .

a surfer after the adventure

price tag ranges from $45 to over $200 depending on the size and complexity of the design. wall decals can also be ordered in a rainbow of colors and can be made to fit your space. sam also offers personalized graphics and welcomes custom orders if you require something more specific for your space.

click over to 3rd ave shore's etsy shop to view the collection and enjoy complimentary shipping when you place your order in the next week!

• secret code: hapahale (enter in notes to seller)
• expires: thu, apr 1st
• fyi: shipping will be refunded via paypal

p.s. click over to the official website to take a peek at the installation video which shows you all the steps for a perfect application.

{mahalo sam!}

lilly pulitzer home

treasure chest quilt

just popping in to post a quick peek of garnet hill's newly debuted lilly pulitzer home collection for all the readers who share my fondness for lovely linens. lilly's fabulous shifts may be inspired by life in luxe palm beach but the happy splashes of color and whimsical patterns will certainly appeal to islanders who swoon for that vintage modern beach cottage look.

the seashore-inspired palette is filled with warm corals, vibrant turquoises and leafy greens with cameos by ocean friends like fish and seashells popping up throughout the collection. my favorites are the treasure chest quilt which is reminiscent of old hawaii with its intricate design of seaside loveliness and the bucket o' goodies hooked wool rug which brings a hint of the tides to your floor.

bucket o' goodies hooked rug

definitely take a peek if you have been wanting to give your linen closet a cheery makeover to welcome the new decade!

prices range from $14 to just under $500 for a 6x9 rug.

blue crush

big waves continue to thrill the north shore which makes today perfect for a show and tell of the latest pillow collection from honolulu designer kaypee soh. typeface designs have been popping up in home decor for quite some time now so you can imagine my delight upon discovering that the islands finally got a little font love when i happened upon kaypee's latest lumbar pillows.

the north shore and waikiki offerings reverse to a colorful listing of local beaches known for sunning and surfing while the island edition is made for readers who swoon for blooms. all are a lovely way to add a local but modern hint of your favorite surf spots whether you live just around the way or simply want to sweeten your faraway space with a little hawaiian style.

retro waikiki

island aloha

vintage north shore

in the so'mace tradition, pillows are reversible and are currently available in colorways reminiscent of glassy seasides and glowing sunsets.

the new designs ($90) await you at the so'mace studio and can also be ordered up via tel/email.

• where: 1115 young street
• shop hours: mon to fri 10a to 6p | sat 10a to 3p

happy hale*days 09: mele roundup

big storms seem to be pounding both sides of the pacific today so cozy up with a toasty mug of cocoa and enjoy a little roundup of merry finds from hawaii and beyond designed to delight your december with the xmas spirit!

1 - heather brown's charming peace bird ($20/set) is a budget-friendly way to share a peek of the local artist's work.

2 - tina from joie studio tipped me off on these mele kalikimaka wishes ($16.50/set) by fugu fugu press, pasadena letterpress friends who swoon for a permanent island holiday.

3 - dress up your bulletin board with xmas magnets ($2 each) featuring kat uno designs' adorable reindeer, cheery santas, and sweetly snarky gingerbread (available at alliway).

4 - 100% recycled notes printed with soy-based inks is just one reason why my favorite peeps found norie & lee's sweet surfing buddies ($9/set) in their mailbox last year.

5 - vertallee letterpress wraps xmas lights around balmy palm trees to send faraway friends wishes for a hot holiday ($16/set)

6 - bvik ink from san diego offers up a swell santa ($20/set) letterpressed with folksy charm.

7 - seaworthy silhouettes compose portland-based kapuanani designs' carefully constructed xmas tree cards ($12/set) printed with aloha on 100% recycled cards.

8 - mele kalikimaka stickers ($12/set) by kauai's simply embellish can be customized to adorn gifts or holiday cards.

9 - nix the paper wrap and give cheer ($10) via chewing the cud's reusable eco-friendly furoshiki wraps printed on organic cotton.

10 - hand appliquéd pineapples add an island pop to arcadia home's felt tree skirt ($180).

11 - dimmalimm's hibiscus slip-on coasters ($24/set) i.d. wine glasses and protect your tabletops with a hint of tropical cheer during holiday bashes.