It feels so good to be organized and know what is actually in my dresser now! My reward for getting things checked off of my list was a nice hot cup of coffee-it’s chilly and wonderful here today- and an exploration of the Etsy Blog‘s How-To category. I found a bunch of cute projects but this Wood Wall Hanging tutorial video With Meg Allan Cole is my favorite!

How-Tuesday: Wood Wall Hanging With Meg Allan Cole from Etsy on Vimeo.

This cute little make-your-own-gift-bag from paper and tape looks quick and fun.

click photo for project directions

Well, I’m off to finish getting our basement in shape. We’re turning it into a music writing/playing space for Joel. It’s going to be so good!

Yesterday I saw some lovely polaroids of roses on the flickr blog. This one was so pretty I had to share!

photo by Grant Hamilton

It’s going to be a super stormy weekend, which I love because there’s no better weather for cozing up inside and making pretty things. When I saw the forecast with all of its wonderful, dark thunderclouds I remembered this beautiful vintage Tokyo subway poster. Apparently it’s reminder to collect your umbrella before you leave. So pretty!

"Don't forget your umbrella!"

Tonight I’m working on some posts for next week that I just can’t wait to share with you!

Just a few days ago I found the dreamy Etsy shop Super Duper Things because of Amanda’s post.  The shop’s owner was sweet enough to make time for a little interview. Thank you Louise!

Louise and her lovely work area

Q. Could you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Louise and I’m a Graphic Design graduate living and working in the UK. I make jewellery, accessories and sometimes homewares mostly from found and recycled bits and bobs.

Q. How did Supper Duper Things get started?
I’ve always made stuff, especially jewellery, and it just got the point where I had so much stuff I thought ‘this is ridiculous, I’m just going to have to sell it!’ so I booked a table at a craft fair and it just went from there really.

Q. Your shop is so darling! What is your creative process like?
Thanks! My creative process is quite chaotic (I’d be ashamed if you could see my desk) and usually starts from finding an object, component or chain in a charity shop or flea market, and a piece evolves around it. I usually know exactly what I’m going to do the moment I see it, but sometimes just muddling around the materials that I’ve got reveals combinations that I like.

Q. Do you have a favorite item you’ve made?
I don’t have one all-time favourite. One of my favourite ‘lines’, if you will, is the paper-cut silhouette jewellery. It’s so versatile which is good because I get bored making the same things over and over.

Q. What’s a normal day in your life like?
At the moment I intern three days a week with a local publishing company. The other days it usually goes something like this:
-get up and have a cup of tea while checking through the night’s internet stuff.
-get dressed, eat breakfast (another cup of tea) and make a vain attempt at tidying up a bit
-photograph items if the light is good, which often takes up more time than actually making stuff!
-now I might sit down at my desk and make things, or do a little custom work for someone, or even a bit of freelance graphic design work if I’m lucky!
-by now my eyes will have gone funny from staring at  my screen, so I might do the washing up and eat some lunch
-now packaging up orders and taking them to the post office, which has a couple of good thrift stores next to it, so of course I must pop in there.
-at some point my boyfriend will come home from work, and after yet more internet checks we’ll have dinner.  I usually spend the evening making more things, doing my filing (boring!) or at the pub.

Q. What inspires you most of all?
What inspires me is a mix of the raw materials, things I see on friends, and eye-candy from the internet. I have a very short design attention-span, which is why the shop is mostly full of one-offs and a total jumble of items.

Joel’s office went downtown yesterday and took an architecture boat tour of the city as an office bonding sort of thing. He took so many great photos but this house is my favorite…

It looks like kind of place that would have all kinds of wonderful nooks and surprises. I think this bookcase staircase would be a perfect fit.

via bookshelf porn

Jeska posted some lovely photos of J. Crew’s Fall Looks. I love all the tweed and lace! To me the collection looks very English country house with little military additions.  These are some of my favorites:

I want to toss some of these pretty outfits in a suitcase and escape for a week or so to the Ace Hotel.

I would want to take along an adorable clutch from Made by Hank, too. The shop just got restocked with lots of pretty things!

One last super cute and pretty thing! I love this photoshoot of Kelli Murray by Katie Gardener. How perfect is that Volkswagen bus? Love it!

via Here Comes The Sun

Happy Wednesday to you!

I love pretty much everything about Fall: that special crispy autumn smell, wearing scarves and sweaters again, candied apples, collecting pretty leaves on our walks, and baking and eating lots of pies!

(credit)  (credit)  (credit)  (credit)  (credit)

This September I want to explore new coffee shops, get lost in good books, wear layers, and take lots of photos! We have tons of fall birthdays in my family and I want to make each one a little extra special this year. Time to get brainstorming!

*front page photo (that’s my puppy!) credit

Each piece is one of a kind and handmade by one crafty girl named Kendra. My favorites are the soft blues and dovey grays. All the pieces have a beautiful drape and perfect details!

I love this!

Just looking at these gorgeous dresses and tops make me feel a little cooler. How are you handling the last of the summer heat? You can see even more adorable handmade and vintage fashion on the Red Velvet site!

*Photos via Red Velvet Art

You can listen to it for yourself over here and check out more RAC remix tunes over there.

ra ra riot

Have you seen Arcade Fire’s crazy, awesome interactive video for The Wilderness Downtown? Because you need to!

I don’t want to give too much away so I’ll just say this, the idea is that you go to this website, enter the address of a former home, and sit back and be amazed by what happens. You need to experience it for yourself!

*front page illustration by miss Capricho

I think this photo is so perfect for a Monday. Sitting outside with pretty flowers and breezes sounds lovely and kind of perfect to me right now!

click photo for credit

Amanda from Here Comes The Sun posted a little “Always, Sometimes, Never” over the weekend. I thought looked fun so I thought I’d play along:

I Always:
♥ make the coffee in my house
♥ wake up with a song in my head
♥ buy birthday presents months in advance
♥ have at least one notebook in my purse

I Sometimes:
♥ wish I lived in California
♥ think before I speak (but not always)
♥ look for four leaf clovers
♥ want a new piercing (I just have my ears pierced)

I Never:
♥ bite my nails
♥ remember to charge my phone
♥ wear tennis shoes
♥ get tired of playing with my pup!

What are your always, sometimes, and nevers?

It’s that time of year when I start to think, “Okay, what on earth am I doing with my hair?!” I had just about decided to leave the color alone when I saw this gorgeous photo of Neko Case. I just love her hair! So now I’m thinking about copying her stunning copper red. Kind of perfect for fall don’t you think?

I noticed Erin from Atlantic Treefox was talking about this beautiful Chanel nail polish this week. I think I’m in love! Which got me thinking about a few other lovely things that I’ve been itching to buy and that fit nicely in the luxury category:

Necklace by White Owl and Kimono by Plum Pretty Sugar

This afternoon between errands and tidying up the house I did a little portrait session with Joel. We have new lighting in our office and I wanted to practice. I’d really like to get better at portrait photos. These are three of my favorites:

How was your weekend? I hope it was full of nice things!

I’m so glad I saw Bryn’s post on The Sketchbook Project. I love their tagline, “It’s like a concert tour but with sketchbooks.” Each participant signs up pays the $25 fee and receives a brown moleskin book and a theme and they fill their book with drawings, paintings, etc. And then the books go on tour!  I’ve always wanted to join in and I think I will for sure this year, just need to order my book!

We reorganized our studio/office this past weekend and we finally  found a place for our beautiful Corona typewriter a well loved hand-me-down from Joel’s grandma.  I’m hoping we can get it fixed up and maybe type up some Christmas post cards. I know I’m thinking way too far ahead, but wouldn’t that be neat!

Rosie Music’s sweetest new print, Secretary Kitty.

I think Miss Kitty looks so glamorous at her job. Sometimes I wish we all dressed a little more My Girl Friday with high waists, hair just so, and some well applied lipstick. Shabby Apple’s 1943 collection seems like the perfect power-dress solution!

Two of my favorites: Casablanca and Ingrid

One last cute thing, I love Elsie’s new shop stickers! So adorable!

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