Very sweet cycling posters that just scream Summer to me. In case you missed it, graphic designer/illustrator Adam Turman is from Minnesota which is a place I’ve never been.  Home to Garrison Keillor and homespun diners serving the best cherry pie and custard ice cream, Minnesota strikes me as the perfect place for an American style Summer break. Check out his series of coasters for your cool summer bevvies here.

(Seen on PinkShirtsandCarWrecks)

Tutti Studio Giclee prints $25

Kiki and Polly Giclee prints $20

Leah Giberson prints $35

Every girl needs to have a LBD (little black dress) in her closet so why not also have the equivalent in a bag? That’s the idea behind the simple classic shapes of LA Black Bags.  Of course these bags come in high quality fabric and colorful vintage patterns that can spice up that LBD or anything else in your closet for that matter.  There are four LA Black Bag styles to choose from. That’s the easy part, now good luck choosing which pattern is your favorite!

I’m sorry I have been absent the past couple of days but I have been struggling with a terrible bout of food poisoning since Sunday! Not to mention it’s been over 90 degrees here so let’s just say I’ve been pretty miserable.  Thankfully I came across this bright and cheery melamine collection from Rice.  I love the casualness of melamine and how easy it is to clean and of course the cute patterns.  See more from Rice and their colorful home collection here.

I’ve had a thing for crows ever since I went on a camping trip to Death Valley about ten years ago and a crow and I spent the day together and I was convinced he was my protector. Lets just say I was in a mind expanding state at the time. Anyhow, these lovely encaustic paintings by Frost Collections are a lovely reminder of the magic and myth that surrounds crows even if you believe the bad rap they got from Edgar Allen Poe.  Keep up with Marie, the talent behind Frost Collections, on her blog Wee Sweet Marie.

Who could resist the stunning peony and cherry blossom patterns on this beautiful vase and bowl by potterer Kristen K. Swanson.   All of the original designs are 100% hand made, hand painted, and hand carved by Kristen K. Swanson who is also available for custom orders.  Peonies will forever remind me of my friend Tia who has the greenest thumb of anyone I know and whose garden I can’t wait to see in full bloom this August.

(images via Trunkt)

(image via Miss Freigofas Flickr)

Wannekes the name of the online shop based in the Netherlands translates to “the little things you want” I couldn’t have said it better myself. For starters if my last meal on earth had to be fresh baked bread dipped in olive oil, one of my favorite treats ever, then I would be thrilled to have this porcelain oil platter.  Or if I wanted to find out if a caged bird really sings I could splurge on this amazing hand forged bird cage inspired by the Versailles gardens of the sun King.  See more of this beautifully curated collection of unusual items from a host of talented designers here at Wannekes.

]]> http://littlewillow.com/2009/06/25/the-little-things-you-want/feed/ 1 http://littlewillow.com/2009/06/25/the-little-things-you-want/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LittleWillow/~3/QTsdhIcWCjI/ http://littlewillow.com/2009/06/24/cloud9-fabrics/#comments Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:30:17 +0000 lilwills http://littlewillow.com/?p=3194

Cloud9 Fabrics is the newest line of fabrics from the über talented Michelle Engel Bencsko. I’ve written about Michelle’s Cicada Studio in the past and she’s also a Frillow! She started out making sweet smelling lavender sachet’s and pillows and then in 2008 she decided to devote herself to Cicada Studio full time and create a printed textile business.  After much success with Cicada Studio she is now expanding her business again with the help of partner Gina Pantastico (love how it rhymes with fantastico) to create Cloud9 Fabrics!

The unique thing about Cloud9 Fabrics is that they are printed with Oeko-tex certified dyes on 100% GOTS certified organic cotton and not only that but for $16.95 a yard it’s affordable organic fabric! These adorable patterns from the debut collection My Happy Garden are the perfect prints to upholster a glider rocking chair for your babies room.  I know they’ll be on my list of fabric choices when my times comes.  You can find Cloud9 Fabrics and My Happy Garden collection after September 1, 2009 at these locations. Keep up with Michelle and Gina on their blog Floating on Cloud9.

Among many other wonderful finds from Fredericksburg, TX based Enid Shop, I would like this laser cut owl clock made from sustainable bamboo. Check out The Bright Side Project t-shirt giveaway from Enid here.

Wow, you ladies made it really difficult to choose a winner for this weeks Dari bag giveaway. Your trips were imaginative and unique and there wasn’t one that I wouldn’t like to join you on.  The winner this week is Tia! I could taste the sangria and salty tapas of Spain in your description and I’ve been wanting to go to Morocco for years to stock up on their gorgeous pottery.

If you weren’t a winner this week have no fear Karen Park (the talent behind Dari) is offering $15 off all of her bags just for you readers! That means you can own one of her bags for $20 instead of $35.  Please enter “Little Willow” in the message to seller section for the discount.

I’ve just added these dreamy ink on paper works by Australian artist Mami Yamanaka to my art collection bookmark.  I have a really impressive art collection growing in my bookmark folder. Now if only I’d hit the jackpot so I could buy them all!

I’m not embarrassed to admit, I still wish upon a star from time to time.  One of the first dates the hubs and I had together we were at his friend Dru’s place in the Thousand Islands and it happened to be the night of the Perseids star shower. I will never forget lying on the boat dock talking for hours while watching shooting star after shooting star and feeling like it was the most magical night of my life. All of my wishes came true that night and thirteen years later I still get to watch those tiny diamonds sail through the air every August with that same amazing guy.

So if like me, you still believe that “When you wish upon a star, it makes no difference who you are, anything your heart desires will come to you” then the sterling silver sparkles of these delicate Starbright earrings and necklace by Blue Poppy Jewelry are just the thing to remind yourself that wishes can come true.

]]> http://littlewillow.com/2009/06/23/star-light-star-bright/feed/ 1 http://littlewillow.com/2009/06/23/star-light-star-bright/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LittleWillow/~3/WYGUBHBuQQE/ http://littlewillow.com/2009/06/19/plover-organic-bedding/#comments Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:39:42 +0000 lilwills http://littlewillow.com/?p=3151

Dear Plover Organic bedding, I love you.  I love that you are made from 100% organic cotton, your thread count is a respectable 250 count and your lovely designs are block printed by hand.  You are tops on my wish list for new bedding when someday my prayers are answered and we move up from the Queen to the King sized mattress, a girl can dream *sigh*.  Take care of you, okay? Love ya, Larkyn

]]> http://littlewillow.com/2009/06/19/plover-organic-bedding/feed/ 2 http://littlewillow.com/2009/06/19/plover-organic-bedding/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LittleWillow/~3/IeDJW9Rs2yQ/ http://littlewillow.com/2009/06/19/dari-giveaway/#comments Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:17:23 +0000 lilwills http://littlewillow.com/?p=3141

Happy Friday Frillows! Fridays are always a little better when the sun is shining and when I have something fabulous to giveaway! The talented Karen Park behind the Etsy shop Dari is generously giving away this Ketase Bag.   This slouchy hobo bag is made from an African wax print. The fabric came from Zambia and is printed using a unique mechanical process developed to imitate handmade Indonesian batik. The technique is now used exclusively to produce African wax print fabrics. The result is a hardy fabric with a cool waxy, textured sheen. Thanks Karen for all of this great information about your bag.

In order for one lucky person to win you’ll have to dig deep to answer the following question: “What is the most exotic place in the world you would like to travel and what supplies would you carry in the bag to get you through?” You have until Tuesday June 23, 2009 to answer!