Amy Ruppel's monthly art sale is going on now, so hurry on over before everything is sold out! I snatched up this guy, above, called "So Blue" - he'll be quite happy in my office, I think! Unfortunately the other first choice I had was sold out within the minute it took me (literally!) to type up an email for it, which I guess in a way is good - I tend to want to blow too much money when it comes to Amy!
I highly recommend you visit Elephantine for some of the most adorably illustrated note cards I've ever seen! If I could pinch these little guys' cheeks, I would. There's also some equally "awwwww" inspiring plushies you've got to get your hands on!
Okay, so they are by far the most expensive measuring spoons I've ever even considered buying, but how adorable are these two sets from Beehive Kitchenware? With motifs of birds and florals all over their designs, they're positively delightful additions to the kitchen where, if you're like me, you'll be spending most of your winter months, trying to make as much comfort food as possible. It would be great to get a little bit of spring into there with any of their kitchen tools or decor! The Flower Measuring Spoons (top) are available for $46, and the Bird Measuring Spoons (bottom), with mounting hardware, are available for $88.
So I've got a new favorite fine artist, and it's Jenn Ski. I love her graphic prints and original artwork, which exhibit a great sense of color and composition, but above all else is just interesting. I love how she incorporates textures and patterns from paper, too. It doesn't hurt that she's a graphic designer and is clearly attracted to similar things that I'm drawn to.
What's also wonderful about these pieces are that the original artwork and the prints are extremely affordable, which, considering the time of year (and the upcoming anticipated wallet damage), makes her work even more attractive. The first piece, a print, is sold for $59 at her Etsy shop; the one above is an original painting available for $60 on her main website.
It took me a few days, but I finally got around to planning the second installment of my Holiday shopping list, and I'd love to share my selects with you. Since I'm now buying for two families and our friends, this might end up being longer than the two-parter I was originally figuring it would be!
For a family friend who is like a little sister to me, a simple but sophisticated necklace from Tryst by Kerry that reflects the maturity she has for someone who's only in their early teens. The gold and warm pearl will look excellent with her olive skin tone!
We've got friends of the family that collect really unique and vintage ornaments, and I think a couple hand-blown glass ornaments from Teagues Beads on Etsy would fit right in with their collection. I love that this one is non-traditional all around - the shape is incredibly interesting and the color is unexpected!
For my best friend who is a very talented writer and was probably a pirate in a past life, there's no question that she needs If'N Books' Jen Corace Pirate Journal. I don't think anything has possibly suited her better.
It's inevitable, right? At some point, condensation - or worse, spillage - is going to happen around a glass while you're entertaining this holiday season. Thanks to the Martha Era, the population generally knows to avoid those tacky rubber coasters that double as an advertisement for [insert beer or other alcoholic beverage company here], so what's a host or hostess to do?
Fortunately for us all, many letterpress inks (which are generally made of oil or rubber) are waterproof and more and more indie paper goods companies are designing coasters, so it's easy to accent your decor with a little bit of your favorite designer this year. Here are my picks!
Greer VH1 Limited Edition Coasters: beautiful graphic designs with an aqua blue to bring out the season, but are also good for any time! If you thought it can't get any better, you're in for a surprise: twenty percent of the proceeds from each sale goes to support VH1's Save the Music program, putting music education back into public schools. $8.50 for a set of 8.
Femme Fatale Coaster by Magic Jelly: perfect for your holiday party with the girls, and, with the opportunity to mix and match these coasters with a variety of other designs, they can make for a fun and unique way to add some quirkiness to your festivities. Consider using these coasters in the place of wine charms or Sharpie-written names to help guests distinguish which cup is theirs.$6.00 each, or 4 for $20.
Snowflake Coasters by Green Chair Press: between the letterpress "hit" and the silver ink, this coaster was easily on its way to add elegance and classic flair to any party. The design adds festivity into the mix, making it the perfect compliment to any tabletop with a silver theme. Consider using aqua and red accents into the mix to add pop and let these guys become a subtle, sophisticated part of your table. $10 for a set of 8.
Two Red Deer Coasters by Papered Together: I love these adorable coasters, and I love the fact that it appears like they're two male deer kissing. Between the cocktails and the champagne, I'd put out a prize for the first one to notice at the party! $10 for a set of 8.
I stumbled across Garnish the other day and fell in love. Modern graphic prints on, well, anything? I'm in. I adore the Splash Lampshade ($95 for an 8x7) and their suggestion to pair it with a vintage/garage sale lamp base is a great way to put together lighting that is uniquely yours! The Splash Lampshade comes in multiple color options, so pick up one for every room!
I'm trying not to geek out too terribly over the fact that Annie Liebovitz is shooting in the studio next to me and I just saw her in the hall (!!!). Clearly, I'm a huge fan of hers, have been for a while, and think her work is absolutely phenomenal - but I absolutely have no nerve and could never even dream of approaching her.
It got me thinking, though, that I don't recall featuring any photography on this blog, and if I have it must have been a while - and then I remembered I've had Suzanne Clements' work on bookmark for a while now, so it's as good of a time as any to actually post it! "Through the Viewfinder" photography is always a lot of fun to do, though not many people can use the technique to their full advantage. I think Suzanne does, though, making her floral photography highly romanticized in their colors and sentimental by strategically using dusk specks. The combination of high contrast and the tactile in the two shots above give a very vintage feel to them while also appealing to a graphic, modern sensibility. Hope you love the work like I do!
I like a little bit of quirky. I mean, the Little Mermaid had a shell bra, so why can't I have a sea urchin-style votive holder?!
In all seriousness, I love these urchin ceramic bowls by Heather Knight of Element Clay Studio. You can really use them for anything, I'm sure, but I love the idea of using them as a votive holder. When you think about it, how lovely would it look when lit at dusk? The texture of the points coming out, softly lit while the bottom parts turn into shadow? It would look gorgeous! I like the graphic quality of the white, as well, which still lets you easily see its texture and dimensionality. They're $25 a pop, so go grab one!
