Sweet Sweet Life

there's a recession going on...that's my excuse.

Hello, my dears!

So...yes.  The crazy lady walking around the bookstore with her camera and notepad?  That would be me.  But I have to document my likes and needs so that when I go to the library, I'm not at a total loss as to what to check out.  That's just the way it's gotta be.

But!  Last time, as I was nosing around the young adult section, I noticed this new series of Penguin books with super wonderful covers and introductions by cool people.  (Especially note:  Anne of Green Gables as drawn by Lauren Child?  It's like my head just exploded.)

 

Aren't they wonderful?!  Be still, my book-loving heart...And, I'm sure there's lots more, but this was all I could find.   They tried their very best to work their magic and make me buy them, but I resisted.  (Which is especially well-done, since I already have all of these books in other editions.  Talk about an expense that's hard to justify...!  But, perhaps you or someone you love does not, and these would be a lovely idea?) 

Anyway, may you be inspired today, where ever you might find yourself.  Cheers!

xoxox. 

P.S.  Don't miss this--it made my day!

these are awesome, but...

...they cost fifty dollars!!!

 
A set of 8 washable crayon rings from super-cool designer Timothy Liles, and they really are wonderful!  But how could he possibly think they are worth $50?  I'm gonna figure out how to make my own. 

Watch me.

xoxox.

real people

This recent sneak peek on design sponge is my favorite.  Ever!  Real people with personalities, interests beyond themselves, and happy personal outlooks live here.  I'd like to know them, and I love their home.  I love it.

Oh, yeah!  It's the home of Jen Mankins of bird, which is now one of my favorite shops.

Enjoy the whole tour...! (Whoop!)

xoxox.

run for your glue gun!

Hey, sweets!  Are you in need of some crafty inspiration?  Well, get ready for a ridiculous number of exclamation points, 'cause I've just found the most wonderful source.  Check out this awesome-ness, all available through the wonderful tutorial page of v and co.!

How adorable are each and every one of these items?   And there are so many more!  Some are absolutely FREE on her blog, like this one below, which I will be making approximately 2 minutes from now and for which the glue gun is already pre-heating:

...and some come as an affordably-priced pdf to your mailbox, like this incredibly cute skirt made from a man's t-shirt!:

 

Totally, totally getting this.  It shall be my summer go-to piece.  (Ha!  I sound like I actually put some thought into what I wear!)  See Vanessa's shop for this tute and lots more.  Whoo hoo!  She's got incredible ideas and all kinds of tips...You're gonna love it, if you don't already!

So, I'm off to make some rings for everyone and their dog.  What are you gonna make?!

Cheers!

xoxox.

p.s.  Love it!  (Don't love that my hand looks like it belongs to a great-great grandmother, but whatever...):

 
xoxo!

all that i love

Hi, all! 

How goes it with you, I wonder?  I do miss being able to visit here as much as I'm accustomed to--although, I think about it all the time!--but I'm hanging in there, working all-day.  It's a whole new world, mostly good, but there's a three-day-weekend coming up in the States in a few days, and not a moment too soon...

I'll never give up this blog, though.  It reminds me of all that I love.

yes, you belong

Like these!  I've been wanting to share these original, one-of-a-kind works (not prints!) from greasy chicken face for a few weeks now.  Totally wonderful, don't you agree?  And for an original work, very, very affordable at just over $15.00 (some only $8)!

when you're talking to me

I love you

getting to know you

yes

hello around the world 

So original, so colorful, so happy--I totally love 'em.  And I don't know anyone else who is offering beautiful originals at such an affordable rate.  Check the greasy chicken face shop and flickr--be sure not to miss her many, many sweet birds!  (Oh!  And you can make some of them into wonderful invites and e-cards at Pingg--so cool.)

Have a great one...Cheers!

xoxox.

the printed word

Hi, sweets!

You know (or rather, you probably don't):  I try to keep this blog pretty streamlined, resisting the urge to clutter up the sides with all kinds of buttons or too many lists...But I did add this today:

  

I found it over at Ingrid's beautiful blog, and as I am always drawn to a silhouette of a child, I immediately clicked on it...Happily, it falls right in line with one of my very most heartfelt assertions:  don't forget about books!

Eating a lollipop and reading.  Good, clean 7-year-old fun!

The button on the sidebar takes you to readtheprintedword.org, and here is their purpose, so perfectly stated:  "We support the printed word in all its forms: newspapers, magazines, and of course books. We think reading on computers or phones or whatever is fine, but it cannot replace the experience of reading words printed on paper. We pledge to continue reading the printed word in the digital era and beyond."

Yeah.  Me, too.  I'd make room for that sentiment anywhere.  After all, some of my very best moments, in my whole life, have been experienced with and through books, and I wouldn't want anyone to miss out on that.  Would you care to join me?

Regardless of that, I hope, I really hope, your day is filled with moments you love.  Cheers!

xoxox.

her everyday world :: laura amiss

Oh, golly.

I just found the wonderful, colorful world of textile artist Laura Amiss, and I'm lobbying to move to said world right away...

She's an English lass (well, mum too, but that still counts as a lass, right?  Please?) living in Amsterdam, all of which shows up in her sweet work.

Many of her works for sale are prints on canvas of her original illustrations with added textile details, as in the above pieces, and others are completely fashioned of fabric.  (Yes, I love them all!  Don't you?!)

The houses, predictably, are my faves, but there's much, much more to Laura's work than that.  A wee sampling:

 This Way And That
  

Little Legs

Swing

Walking Barefoot

Shoes

Laura uses a brilliant combination of free-hand embroidery and the layering and piecing of vintage and new fabrics in her textile work, creating totally unique images of her everyday world.  And they sure do make me smile.

Do see Laura's website, shop, and flickr for all that she has to offer...Simply wonderful!

Enjoy it all, my friends: her world, and yours.  Cheers!

xoxox.
 
 

the day of rest

Hello!  Happiest of Sundays to you!

A few things around my little world that are making me very happy today:

 

A lo-o-o-ong line of sweet maidens on the mantel...

An incredible Alice in Wonderland Gingerbread House at the public library...

Color...

color...

color...

and still more color...

Having my own Olivia teach me how to make paper cranes (it's harder than it looks, so we started with 13 shades of orange paper)...

Cranes which will ultimately go on this lamp (above), as shown here (and I only have 347 to go!)...

And, last but not least:   a nice, cozy chair, with an excellent book (and perhaps a nap to follow)! 

That's Sunday, for me...

And it's a darn good thing, too, because starting tomorrow, I will begin working full-time, so big adjustments all around.  The job search for my husband is still sluggish, to say the best, so I'm officially "bringing home the bacon," which is actually quite funny in a variety of ways.  But, we've got to do what must be done, mustn't we?  And so I shall.

I hope your day is just glorious, my dears.  Cheers!

xoxox.
  

granny stripes

Hello, my dears!

I'm thinking I might dip my toe back into the crochet waters with the lovely granny stripes blanket that the wonderful Lucy is cooking up over on her blog.  It may or may not actually be easier than a traditional granny square blanket, but it looks so much simpler, and that's enough for me. Pickles also has a lovely pattern that was posted just the day after Lucy chatted about hers:  

If you take a look at the last pic on Lucy's post, you will see why I kind of like hers just a bit better.  She used two rows of the same color, creating a zig-zaggy effect that I like very much, like this lovely one she found on flickr:

I can't wait for her to post her pattern, because I think I just might go for it...With lots of bright colors, of course, all rainbow-y, in a lovely cotton yarn.

What say you?!  Do you prefer the stripes or the squares?  Somehow, I think stripes are more "summery" than squares.  Maybe?

***

So, anyway, the shopping list for the weekend reads as follows:   lots and lots of origami paper, a few starter skeins of cotton yarn (any recommendations?), large amounts of chocolate, preferably baked into brownie form, and wine, red.  Oh, yes, please!

Hoping your weekend is lovely in all ways...Cheers!

xoxox.

I really didn't think it would work!

Look!  I'm so excited!!! 

I posted this lamp (below) on my tumblr a while ago, because it really is super awesome.  Unfortunately, the price was way out of my range (as is a pack of gum, so I'm not dissing the wonderful Tas-ka):

Totally wonderful lamp covered in paper cranes...Look at it when it's lit!:

So, of course I love it, and I said on my tumblr "Do you think if I threw a bunch of paper cranes at a lamp it would look this good?"  Well, it turns out, it will!

Look what super-smart Ingrid from the Netherlands did:  she threw a bunch of paper cranes at a lamp, and it looks better than the Tas-ka one, if you ask me!!!

Don't you agree?!  I'm so getting busy, pronto.  I know just the lamp in my house that needs some love, and it's coming, little lamp...it's coming!

Yay, Ingrid!  (She has a blog!)  I'm so excited! 

xoxox.  

***p.s.  Sweet Ingrid sent me a note saying that she simply used an existing lampshade, glueing with a glue-gun right on to it.  Each lamp takes about 350 cranes, and she has made three lamps in all, giving two to family members!  Wow.  So cool!