Hollabee

Okay, so I still have not finished this dress, but that is so not the point. I love these environmentally friendly, handprinted fabrics from Hollabee. What could I make? Pillows, perhaps? I think these would look great in a Southwestern interior.

Succulent Love

We stopped at Lowe's today for potting soil so we could plant our spinach and Swiss chard in the Earth Boxes. While we were there I became enamored with these little succulents they were selling for $3 each. It's my goal to have more plants indoors as well as out, so I transplanted three into a pretty pot for our living room. I love the varying green tones and shapes.It may not be the terrarium I keep talking about, but this little arrangement is so pleasing and easy-peasy. Hopefully I won't kill these little sweeties!
I'm really just longing for live green things. Next up, I want to do an arrangement of ferns under a bell jar, or perhaps a spider plant. These might be harder in dry conditions, so again, I'm welcoming any tips you might have!

Growth

We are starting our first garden this year (along with the compost pile we started a few months ago that Chesney keeps launching himself into with gusto). Unfortunately our shiitake mushroom log has been a bust, but I'm hoping for good results with the more traditional plants. Can I just say how excited I am that we finally live in a place where drunken frat boys won't rip up the food we're attempting to grow?

Because we're renting and because we live in an arid climate, we decided to use Earth Boxes, which we're hoping will conserve some water and still yield good results. It's been very warm here and I think we're past danger of frost, so we've already started broccoli, peppers, basil, chives, and parsley indoors (see broccoli sprouts above). I'm thinking that I should start the dahlias indoors, too. I'm also considering sowing the Swiss chard and spinach outside this weekend. Supposedly these greens do well in colder weather, but is it too early to start these outdoors in the southwest? It's been in the high 60s here!

My grandmother, who is 96, continues to garden an impressive half acre at every summer. She eats from her harvest all year round, and while I've "helped" her (in the most childish sense of the word), I don't know much about actually getting plants to produce. I'd love to hear some gardening tips (I'm looking to you, Julia!) from more seasoned veterans. Anything I should know as we get started, readers?

Flickr Favorites 10

1. on my way to work, 2. my favourite brooch

Friday Finds: Paint by Number Skirt

I've been obsessed with paint-by-number the last few months--- both vintage ones like this and kits that I want to try myself. Sure it's a questionable aesthetic, but it's fun all the same. I love a little vintage kitsch.

For all these reasons, I love this wrap around skirt in a fun paint-by-number print! It's from Katinka Pinka. The Sea Within also had a purse in the same print awhile back, and I can speak to the amazing quality of her handbags--- I've bought two in recent months!

I came across this stop-motion film on Design*Sponge today, and since this blog functions as my digital commonplace book, I wanted to post it here. It truly is a must-watch; the concept and music are so amazing.

My Year of Meat

I have a shameful secret I've been keeping from you, readers. About six months back I started eating meat again. I've always gone back and forth between being a vegetarian and a "flexatarian," but this past fall the desire for meat hit me full force.

I do try to still make healthy choices, like organic free range chicken and salmon, and I try to limit my intake to only a couple of times a week. But that doesn't take into account the bacon cheeseburger I had at the Owl Cafe. Put simply, I put the guilt out off my mind, chowed down between ecstatic moans, and washed it down with an egg cream. And I am not going to feel bad about it, because it was just that awesome.

Anyhow, there are a lot of reasons I'm eating meat again, and I don't want to necessarily get into all of them with my beloved vegetarian readers. I'm not sure I feel all that great about the choice, but in some ways I am really enjoying it. Does your body enjoy most what it needs most? I have no idea.

{Meat magnets available in the Etsy shop.}

Spring Has Sprung

Yesterday was a lovely Sunday, one where I walked around in a T shirt and sandals singing to myself, It's spring! No wait, it's February! And here I am in a T shirt and sandals! And here I am in need of a pedicure . . .

I know I have been very quiet on here lately, and I am certainly missing my blog and craft life. I'm not going to be too hard on myself, though, because I've resolved not to do that this year. And I'm certain I'll come back full force, inspired with new projects and ideas. I just need to let myself get back into the groove, as quickly or as slowly as it may happen.

I did manage to update the Etsy shop today with these little beauties. Four of my favorite signs of spring, recycled from vintage books and made into magnets to cheer up your space and help you organize during your spring cleaning!

Order

Our office/workspace is a mess right now, and I'm trying to make myself gear up for a good spring cleaning session. I could use something like the inspiration wire above (from Sunset).

Happy Valentine's Day

Good morning! I thought I would mark this sweet day with three more amazing vintage Valentines from riptheskull. I think the last one is my favorite.

In real life I'm not such a traditionalist . . . Billy and I are going to separate movie matinees! It's our favorite sort of date. Really.

Flickr Favorites 9

1. oranges, 2. red_shoes_by_UltraViolett Wallpaper

Friday Finds: Pocket Alpaca

Hello, my sweets. I miss blogging and I really, really want to do regular posts again. But life has just not been cooperating. However, life has become more manageable, and I am hoping that over the next few weeks I'll be able to make a slow return.

And now back to our regularly scheduled Friday Find. I almost showed you an amazing vintage find, but I am holding back because I may actually buy it this time! Instead, here's something else I'm enamored with:A pocket alpaca from Daga Design. I also love the penguins, which are now on sale.

(And also, if you are as obsessed with llamas and alpacas as I am, you need to look here.)

Holy Amazing!

This is not an original post by any means, but the artwork is so amazing that I had to stash it here for posterity's sake. Apparently the image above is a giant, loosely quilt based on a vintage cross stitch pattern. How amazing is that?!
{Artwork by Grant Heaps, originally discovered via DesignSponge and make something.}

Flickr Favorites 8

1. july, 2. double take, 3. all night diner, 4. dash and ryley

The Little Things

First off, I want to thank everyone for their kind and supportive words after my last post. I had a lot of trepidation about moving on (because of what Billy describes as my New England/Puritan work ethic), and it was wonderful and affirming to hear from people who had been there. It's also one of those moments where you realize, Wow, people are actually reading my blog!

This is turning into a more personal blog of sorts, but I hope it does not stay that way. I certainly miss the time I spend creating, and I'm seeking out a few new projects to start. But those posts will just have to come later.

In other news, yesterday was simply wonderful. It was my birthday. In the morning, I don't think I could have been less excited. I think I've been feeling tired and run down in general, and that somehow translated into I feel old. But then the little things kept happening to remind me that even if I am a little older and a little sad about it, I'm still incredibly lucky.

I started the day by doing a one-woman show at a local bakery cafe (the owner, Barb, is the nicest woman ever and if you are local you should visit her shop. The website is here.) It was just so nice to get out, meet more people in Albuquerque, and talk about my work. Barb also sent me home with some delicious treats when she found out it was my birthday. Later in the day, I was really taken aback by the generosity of my family. A few dropped in during the show and they really surprised me with some wonderful gifts--- indulgences that I would not have done for myself and which I am so looking forward to.

The photo above is one of the "little things" from yesterday that made me tear up with joy (and I am not a crier). Billy surprised me with lots of little fun things to open, including some seed packets for starting a garden. The little packet above was set aside from the others, and it's place of honor made me curious. Dahlias are my favorite flower, blooms I always adore at the farmer's market and had in my bridal bouquet. It's not something I would have though Billy would ever taken note of, and the fact that he did, along with the idea of starting a garden together, made me all smiley and sentimental at the same time. Like I said, the little things.