Happy Thanksgiving!

I guess it's official. The holiday season is here!

If you're celebrating, how are you spending your weekend? We will be turkey trotting, serving meals at a local homeless center, cooking, eating, watching 7 year olds play baseball and spending time with our extended family. It will be a busy four days. Although the holiday rush and ensuing anxiety is abound, I'm hoping that we can find some time to take a deep breath, relax a bit, and truly get into the spirit of giving thanks.

love this print from gus & lula on etsy

And while we're talking about giving thanks... Thank you dear readers for following this ol' blog of mine. I haven't been posting as much lately, so I truly appreciate you for sticking around. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

[Etsy Love] Spring 2013

Since Etsy makes my heart swoon, and since I can't be buying all the things that I'm swooning for, I thought I'd share them here. Makes me feel better.  :)

Click "Read more" for the full post

[Happy Friday] 2.22.13

Merry Christmas

Wishing you a beautiful Christmas!

image via carolyn cochrane on etsy

With Love,

Hello Birthday

Today is my birthday-- Yay! I'm actually pretty low key and have never been comfortable declaring ownership of the day, but as I get older there is definitely more appreciation for each passing year. Growing older is not popular in our society and we do all kinds of crazy things to prevent the inevitable, but I think it takes age and a little wisdom to truly appreciate life.  Money and material goods are nice, but it certainly doesn't bring anyone genuine happiness or lasting contentment.  So today I'm going to kick back, bask in my "agedness" and enjoy the simple things that sometimes get overlooked-- my children laughing and enjoying each others' company, good health, a close-knit family, caring friends... The stuff that really matters.

I don't often buy jewelry for myself, but I've been ogling these beautiful hand-sculpted copper rings for a while.  I have hard to fit fingers so when this beauty showed up in my size, it felt like kismet.

Hands are so telling, aren't they?  I'm constantly washing mine and need to be better about applying that hand cream.  :)

We have a busy weekend ahead so The Mister and I are heading out to a nice dinner tonight. It's a surprise, but I'm sure good food and wine will be involved.  My stomach is rumbling in anticipation.

Have a wonderful weekend!

[Etsy Love] Sapling Press

Ever have a moment when you just need a good chuckle?  Me too!  I stumbled upon these chuckle-inducing letterpress cards at just the right moment-- precisely 10:30 PM last night when I was still trying to get my kids to bed... Don't ask...

These clever little notes come from the site dear blank please blank and were made into cool letterpress prints by Lisa Krowinski of Sapling Press.  They're witty and unique... my kind of humor.

Actually all of her work is pretty clever.  Love it! More here.

[Inspired by] Pigeons

Every now and then I'll see something that just speaks to me.  At the moment, it's this powder room...

zoe johns & max castalano's powder room via design*sponge

It's not the "cool art gallery in the pooper" aspect, nor the dark chalkboard painted walls, but the pigeons. Ahhhhh the pigeons.   Maybe it's because there aren't many pigeons where I live (I think the hawks get them) or perhaps they just speak to my former city girl self... But in print they are not pesty, poopy or dirty... just cool.  :)

Here are some "cool" ways to add some pigeon to your life...

contemporary print via the micro mentalist

fine print on canvas via vyala arts

london pigeon tote via alfitude design

pillow via bpoetic home

water color via jason paints 1

tote via cafe press

giclee print via oelwein

 pigeon shopper via paul farrell

digital download via madame bricolage

pablo the pigeon via oeuf
i'm imagining a bunch of these in a new york-inspired kid's room...

tshirt via eden bella

acrylic print via sparkle hen

Okay, I think that's enough pigeons.... for now.

[Etsy Love] Stars & Stripes

Hurray for the Red, White & Blue

♫♫♪   doo doo - doot - doot - doo   ♫♫♪

July is almost here!  Here are some of my favorite patriotic finds on Etsy.

washi tape via in the clear

vintage books via jaysworld

burlap banner with denim stars via her beautiful life

wooden forks via the bakers confections

vintage style pillow via designer cushions

click "Read more" for more patriotic Etsy finds

[Weekly Inspiration] 3.16.2012

these tissue paper poppies via a very chocolate life

the gorgeous spring 2012 edition of sweet paul magazine. go check it out!

these wood apples via applenamos on etsy

 this chalk marker window treatment via brooklyn limestone

these pretty patterned eggs via urban comfort

Have a wonderful weekend!

[Inspired by] Hearts

[Inspired by] Bright Colors

[Weekly Inspiration] 1.21.2012

this beautifully quilled 2012 piece... 

via sabeena karnik on behance :: as see on all things paper

this "grown-up" string art... i loved making string art when i was a kid! 

via que linda

this cool origami lampshade via nellianna on etsy

this mixed media fiber art piece. love the 3 dimensional aspect.

 via julieandco2 on etsy

this quote from ira glass-- a reminder to keep at it... 

via the print shop. :: as seen on the creative mama

We're enjoying a rainy, grey morning at home.  Smarty Pant's basketball practice has been cancelled, and for that I am glad... It's nice not having to rush around on a Saturday morning. I've been nursing a cold all week and I'm finally feeling better... Just in time for lunch out with the ladies-- Yahoo!  Hope you have a creative weekend in store!

[Inspired by] Geometrics

Geometric patterns have been popular the last few years-- chevron anyone?  Their popularity continues, with bright colors and hexagons in the forefront.  Here are a few that grabbed my attention...

[Inspired by] Knit & Crochet

It wasn't long ago that I thought knitting and crocheting were for "lil' ol' ladies". That's definitely not the case anymore-- I really like it when trends from the past become hip again. When knitting became "cool" a few years back, I didn't follow the trend. But now... I sure wish I had learned how!  I probably wouldn't knit sweaters of scarves, but a pillow cover? or a cover for a wood stool? I'd do that in a heartbeat. Here are a few knitted and crocheted creations that have recently caught my eye--

clockwise from top left:  knitted stools via martha stewart; ceramic sweater vase via crate + barrel; trellis knit pillow via west elm, hand-crocheted mini dress via anthropologie; crocheted toms via nordstrom (they're back!), crochet necklace via lucky brand @ macys, wire crocheted earrings via yoola on etsy

So what do you think?  Yarn creations in decor and fashion... yay or nay?