Curiosities

Antique bird cages are so cool! They add that cool bohemian charm to whatever room they're in. I've decided I'd really like to have one, although i'm not sure what exactly I'd do with it. I could leave it empty or maybe put plants in it. Some are so ornate, others are more simple, but I love these two at the bottom, painted teal. 

Speaking of Mary Poppins

While I was looking around the web for some info on Mary Poppins, I ran into this great website that forges weathervanes. Here is great one featuring Miss Poppins herself. check it out for lots of unique weathervanes! Black Forge Art.

Gabo and Pevsner

Every Friday I sit in this cramped room for three straight hours and listen to my art history professor (who is awesome, by the way) talk about all kinds of artists, from all over the world, from all different times periods. Usually I've heard of them, seen some of their work in person or in a book at least. Some things I think are okay, some I really hate, and others I flip out over. Today he introduced me to Antoine Pevsner and Naum Gabo, brothers from Russia who created these amazing sculptures. I am totally fascinated by these works and I would love to see one up close.

From top to bottom: images 1 & 2,  Constructed Head No. 2 by Gabo

image 3, Torso by Pevsner

image 4, Head by Pevsner

The materials they used amaze me, celluloid, bronze, plexiglass, these flat pieces that create these amazing, complex 3-dimensional pieces, the geometry, the simplicity that makes something so complex. I can't wait to find out more about these artists!

Understated

Understated jewelry is so much more elegant than enormous bling. I have been looking for a necklace for every day wear and I found these two great etsy shops. I love the tiny sparkle these necklaces give and, they sit right on the collar bone. The first three come from Christina P Designs. She offers all kinds of jewelry, from hammered metal earrings to engraved rings and shiny cuffs to these sweet CZ sparkle necklaces. If you're more into the real thing, Jewelry by Priyanka Sodhi offers amazing designs created with rough, organic diamonds. Rings, earrings, and these necklaces, Trilliant Diamond Pendants using champagne diamonds in sterling silver or gold. Who doesn't want some tiny sparkles?

Cowls, Scarves, and Coziness

I didn't realize how much I love scarves until I was organizing my closet the other day. I have a ridiculous amount. No matter, there's always room for more! I found some patterns and have been knitting my little hands off for the past few weeks. I am yet to make this cashmere cowl that I found on Purl Bee, but it is on my list for sure. I am dying for this sweater from athleta, I LOVE that you can wear it as a hood, hanging down loose, or you can even stretch it across your shoulders and looks like a little caplet. This last pattern for a wonderfully comfy infinity scarf is what I'm working right now. I found it on ravelry and it was designed by Madelinetosh. Making one for my lovely mother and one for myself. How I love fall!

Mucha.

Alphonse Mucha was born in what is now the Chez Republic. He's like, the grandfather of Art Nouveau , the gorgeous style of art popular in the late 1800's. It is ornate, sensual, and inspiring. His posters of actress Sarah Bernhardt inspired this movement that led to applications in architecture, furniture making, and jewelry, as well as painting and printmaking. The women in his paintings always have this flowing hair that sculpts itself into these great designs, they are decorated with halo-like head pieces, and always look dreamy. I want to look like a girl in a Mucha painting. Surrounded by flowers, a long flowy dress, a gorgeous head piece. Art Nouveau may be my favorite artistic style and Mucha is most definitely among my favorite artists. His style has been copied by artists world-wide, and even inspired the psychedelic posters of the 1960s. If you are unfamiliar with his work, check out The Mucha Foundation .

Big Girl Bonnets

I found these super cute bonnets for the "grown ups" on this great site on etsy . Made by birdylicious from Indiana, she has other bonnets in great colors as well as beanies. Ranging in price form $12 to $20, I may be purchasing one for myself.

My cat needs one of these

I have a really cute cat. He plays fetch, drinks out of the toilet, sleeps on the coffee table, likes to lay on me after I've just worked out and am sweating and the last thing I want him to do is lay on me. But he is the cutest when he's sleeping in a circle with a kitty smile on his face and his paws twitch cause he's dreaming of playing fetch with me. So I found these really cute little kitty caves made by German artist, Dornroeschen Filzunikate called Katzenhoehle. I think my cat, Ollie is his name, would love curling up in these felted wool nests and taking a nice long nap. And he'd look even cuter (if that's possible.) Check them out at Modern Cat . 

painted furniture

I just moved into a new apartment and with that I needed some new furniture to fill it. I need end tables, a dresser, random other little things. But, as you know I am a poor college student so, I am trying to find some second hand things. I have found a few that I feel are great pieces of furniture, well made, in good shape, yet are ugly as sin. They need a paint job and some fun new knobs. I also own a desk that I love but I have wanted to paint for years. I'm nervous though, what color do I paint it? What technique can I use to spice things up? Should I do something fun with a sponge? Paint it one solid, bold color, antique it, paint it in great contrasting shades? These are a few pictures I found for some inspiration. What do you think?

Speaking of Crispy Fall Bike Rides

The grocery store is less than a mile from my new apartment and once I decide on one of these truly amazing baskets from Adeline Adeline , I will be riding there daily for fresh produce and wine. Adeline Adeline is one of those unique shops you only find once in a while. Beautiful designs that you are excited to buy, use, wear, and show off.  This beautiful Klassic Klara three speed with fat tires screams to be rode all over town while jingling this brass Crane Bell . I am especially excited about the baskets though. These two baskets are both detachable, so you can hook them to your bike, bring them into the store to fill with baguettes, tomatoes, crusty bread, olive oil, and Pinot Noir, then reattach to your bike and ride home. All while staying safe in these too stylin' to call helmets helmets . With their polished brim, they look less like helmets and more like chic caps.They even offer these great helmet covers that mask the helmet look. Check out their website , pump up your tires, and ride your bike all over town.

Rings by Tinahdee

I saw these rings on etsy today and i thought they were really cute. stackable initial rings made by Tinahdee ! You could wear one for yourself, your honey, your kids, or if your name is short enough, you could even spell it out! She has lots of other beautiful rings and bracelets in her shop. check it out!

Athleta

Maybe I've been living under a rock, but I didn't hear about this brand until today. I got this great catalog from Athleta in my mailbox for the first time (some people think their junk mail, I adore catalogs) and I've looked at it about seven times already. Created by the Gap Corporation, this sportswear is amazing! They have everything from dresses and skirts to yoga wear to runner's wear to bathing suites designed for surfers. Not only are their clothes really cute with great designs, their models make me want to get off my butt (which I've been sitting on way too much) and go running, or play tennis, or go swimming, or learn to surf, or go for a bike ride, or do some yoga, or hike a trail...the list goes on and on. No skinny models here, you can tell these chicks are active and they look genuinely happy. While I'm trying to curb my spending right now, I'm having a lot of fun looking through this catalog. 

correction 6/8/2010: It was brought to my attention that Athleta was not created by The Gap corporation but was bought by them about a year ago. Thanks for the info!

The Warmth of Quilts

Someday I hope to be able to make quilts like these. I have made a couple of quilts in my novice sewing experience, for my niece and friends having babies, but I haven't really gotten too far. Mostly they are just simple patchwork. I love making them. Designing them, selecting brightly colored fabric, it's even better than being a kid in a candy store. I love these quilts by Anna Marie Horner , Amy Butler , and these others featured on The Purl Bee . My Aunt, Nancy Olson Spornitz , is an amazing quilter with published quilting patterns. She has made quilts for years and I wish I lived closer to her so I could pick her genius quilter brain and learn all her tricks of the trade. I cannot wait to have more time to create beautiful quilts so my home is filled with them and everyone who enters can wrap themselves up in one. I imagine my house with stacks of quilts on chairs, draped over the backs of couches and draped over kitchen chairs to make forts. Nothing says I love you or makes you feel more cared for and cozy than a home made quilt.

Claire La Faye, take me away.

I just stumbled upon Claire La Faye's etsy shop tonight and had to share with you the beauty that is her talent. I'm thinking any of these dresses would make wonderful, romantic wedding dresses. Each dress is made to order so it fits perfectly. She also makes gorgeous tanks decorated with silk chiffon, pins, pearls, and bows, all chic, romantic, and beautiful. I kind of want the top one.

A Porch of One's Own

I cannot wait to have my own home. One of the most important things to me will be my porch. Outdoor sitting areas are so peaceful, calming, and wonderful. I love all three of these spaces. I dream of spending a day off relaxing on a porch with a good book, a sketch pad, and some yummy iced tea. Comfy furniture and an outdoor dining set is a must along with many colorful plants, and I would love a grill to cook out and eat dinner as the sun sets. I also love the idea of an outdoor fireplace. It means the space can be used almost year round. Can't you imagine sipping hot chocolate in front of the fire place on a crisp fall evening with red, orange, and gold leaves? Need to create an outdoor space of your own? Read these tips.

Who doesn't love Amy?

I love to sew. When I have some free time I really love to spend it behind my sewing machine. I scored a Free 1954 Necchi Supernova when I lived in Winona, Minnesota and it works like a charm, nice and heavy duty and runs beautifully. For the past...while it has sadly been sitting on my desk collecting dust because I rarely get time to myself to work on things BUT when I do, I Love to use Amy Butler Fabrics. I discovered Amy Butler through her book InStitches which I picked up at my local library. It comes with patterns for projects that are way cooler than those goofy patterns you pick up at Hobby Lobby that end up looking like giant sacks or monstrosities you want to burry in your closet.  She has patterns for everything from lounge pants, to bedside organizers, to cozy quilts. She designs all her own fabrics which are usually a modern take on classics, like damask prints in modern colors, that look fresh and beautiful anywhere. Check out her other books too, Midwest Modern and Little Stitches for Little Ones