she was a hoot, and other happy thoughts

Today, I'm feeling a bit lighthearted.  The sun came out again and is warming up this previously grey and drizzly little town.  A few weeks ago, I found and bookmarked a bunch of little prints by Corid on Etsy, and their colors all seem perfectly suited to the spring that finally seems to be popping up around here.  Would you like to take a look?

{she was a hoot}

{give}

Her prints are generally $20 and shipping is inexpensive, so they definitely fall into the category of affordable art and would be adorable to hang in a series.  She also has her shop sorted by color, which I find not only genius, but enormously helpful for my color-impaired self.  You really should take a look.  I'm pretty sure you'll smile.  Her blog showcases more of her work that isn't for sale, and I think you'll like that, too.

{rosie}

Any and all rights to the photos and illustrations above belong to Corid and link back to their Etsy listings, so please don't share them without giving credit.

dishtowels.

I just realized something silly about myself.

I really, really like dishtowels.  Pretty dishtowels.  I was busily browsing anthropologie (trying to get some creativity flowing in my brain) and looked at no fewer than four in a row.  Some of them are so lovely, and take artistic elements you'd usually find in a print and put them into a practical item.  Take this one, for example, from anthropologie:

{from here}

Or check out these from Heart of Light:

{by heartoflight on etsy}

Maybe this one will give me motivation to do the dishes (even though C. normally does them)...

{by showpony on etsy}

This one would probably get framed, not used.

{also from anthropologie}

I have got to learn more and start doing some printing on fabric myself, because I could spend a fortune if I were to indulge this pretty textile obsession that I feel growing at present...

vintage by alex keller

Well, I shared about my little bit of wonderful luck yesterday and promised to share about the shop that provided the prize, which the terrific Dottie Angel was sweet enough to share (as if I didn't already have a million bajillion reasons to love her blog already), so here it is: Vintage by Alex Keller.

Alex describes her shop like this:

"Welcome to Vintage by Alex Keller, a curation of housewares & décor that Alex would want for herself. These items stay with her for a time, are rediscovered, & make their way to new homes."

She has a bunch of fun vintage block sets, like this one.

Then there's a bunch of housewares, like this clock and these mixing bowls.

Then I found this lovely handcrafted and intricately carved wooden lidded bowl.

Now, we're a bit crowded with our little bitty kitchen and complete lack of storage, so I know I can't go and collect a billion lovely things and fun older pieces, but I did pick a few, which I'll share upon their arrival at my mom and dad's house (hey, yeah, guys, I'm having it sent there because there's no good place to leave a box for us here).  For now, however, those little things are going to be kept solely to myself, partly for the fun of surprise, and partly because if I don't tell and I don't look at my little list of things, I'm bound to forget one or two (since I spent about two hours trying to decide on what I liked most), then be happily delighted when I open the box.

Alex also has a shop full of jewelry made from found objects.  I don't much care for bracelets, since I work on a computer most of the time and bracelets tap on the desk, which drives me crazy, but I can't help adoring this bracelet.

So you should really check out either or both of these shops, and check back later to see my choices.

happy saturday

{image by Maja Maljković, found on WeHeartIt}

You should read this post on The Storque, then venture over to Yes, Honey Chyle and follow her link to this incredible and beautiful and ridiculous time-lapse film, take a look at these pictures of New York on Honestly...WTF, then venture on over to Dottie Angel where you will see, on this post, that I actually WON something.  No joke!  ME!  I laughed out loud (yes, C., that's why I laughed), went to work (till late), then went to browse the shop for which I now have a gift certificate, and oh-my-indeed it's full of fun vintage.  I'll be sharing a few things I love tomorrow.  For now, have a happy Saturday!

Etsy :: Taste Test - give it a try!

This is pretty cool. View my results: http://etsy.me/geOmgI.

via Etsy :: Taste Test.

 

today on etsy's Storque...

Isn't this a lovely home?

Get the Look Decor: Modern Meets Rustic :: Etsy Blog.

 

The image of the trees through the window makes me want to travel back to Poland--the camp where we worked was a few hours from Lodz, with similar scenery.  I remember a lot of beautiful buildings, just all over lovely design, in the towns we drove through.  Some had been there hundreds (even a thousand) of years), some just a few, all in an interesting mix.

 

 

etsy update :: doily clutch purses

#1

#2

find them here

I'll post better pictures once my camera and I get some quality daylight hours together :).  I feel like this happens a lot!

 

Have a lovely friday.

lately :: paper cuts.

Paper cuts are, in the words of my GRE vocab book, ambrosia for the eyes.

During my fairy tales class, my professor posted a few images, a few of which were from Hans Christian Andersen, like this lovely I found:

{source}

So I made a little design for fall.  If you're looking for some scrapbooking embellishments, let me know!  I may have found my artistic medium (hehe).  I'm not into anything complex like the one above, not yet, but I'm definitely having fun.  Be forewarned, dear friends and family, Christmas might be an overload of handmades like these...

Ok, so they won't be pumpkins, naturally.  That's not too Christmasy.  But I'm figuring out how to make little bitty notebooks with scrap paper and cardboard and, well, you have been cautioned...or perhaps I should go back to my GRE book and say admonished.  :)

p.s. I'm going to post some little scrapbook sets on Etsy when I get some good pictures!

etsy update :: remember when? anniversary cards

So...

I chickened out with Etsy and only left one item up there...

until yesterday!

I designed an anniversary card for Cory last month.  I love how it turned out and decided that perhaps it could be something people enjoy.  It's a card that tells a story, something a bit more personal, you know?



So if you don't mind, go check it out and tell me what you think!  Also, any photography tips would be appreciated.  I'm taking better pictures than I used to, but they're not the quality I'd like quite yet.  I'm having trouble with exposure--they always come out over or under exposed.  Advice?

ta-da!

So, for a few weeks, in my dear free time, I've been working on a project.

Take a look...

[gallery]

It's always been a little dream of mine to sell some of my crafts.  I've never felt the guts to attempt; even now, I wonder if anyone else will like the things I make, and if they're good enough quality to sell.  I know I put time and effort into them, but I'm not an expert in any form.  I don't have any sort of art course under my belt and my sewing is merely a hobby--one that has drastically improved lately, but still a hobby.

So I made a few things and gave them a test run simply by wearing them to work at famvid and the university, and after a couple of complements, I decided to take a chance and open a little shop on etsy here.

Ultimately, the deciding factor was an arrangement I made with a friend of my sister's who has been selling necklaces to raise money for rapha house.  I'm selling the lovely necklaces in the "stone's throw" category on Etsy.  They're only $8 and the entire proceeds go to Kaitlin's fundraiser, which has already made over ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS for Rapha House!

Have a wonderful day!

p.s. any and all feedback would be greatly appreciated.  I'm quite an amateur and would love suggestions for improvements in my little projects.

fun found about: etsy

This makes me squee.

squee!

Mini Yellow Book Necklace by HesedBooksAndGifts on Etsy.

This, too: