Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Splendid Finds: Black and White

Black and white will never go out of style.
It works with clothing, accessories and in the home.  
Here are a few monochromatic picks:


Left to Right, Top to Bottom:
Wood and Resin Stripe Bangle, Heliotrope: $19
Black 10" Cake Stand, Fishs Eddy: $64.95
Lines and Arrows Cushion Cover, Be Still Shop: $55
Reversible Chevron Clutch, Hammocks & High Tea: $169
Bow Bridge Thin Bangle, Kate Spade: $128
Alpaca Print Reusable Bag, Baggu: $8



Left to Right, Top to Bottom:
I Love Knots - Rope Bracelet, Junghwa: $15
Book Cloth iPhone 4 Case, Jack Spade: $40
Much Love Print, AshleyG: $28
Cute for the Commute Bag, ModCloth: $62.99
Seyes Ruling Tee, Anthropologie: $68
Time Peace Clock, ModCloth: $39.99

Enjoy!
Amy

Photo template courtesy of Pugly Pixel


Monday, November 28, 2011

Music Monday + Thanksgiving Recap

First of all, just a reminder that I am offering 20% off my entire shop today (Monday).   Just enter MERRY2011 at checkout.  Okay....

I hope you have all recovered from Thanksgiving + Black Friday + Small Business Saturday + Cyber Monday.  I mean, really.  I actually had a really lovely Thanksgiving.  Sometimes I feel like the holidays are so packed with cooking, cleaning up, and so on, that you miss actual "family time" -- but this year I felt like we all got to spend quality time together and that was really, really nice.

And, thanks to Pinterest, I attempted several new recipes this year.

I made these sweet potato cupcakes, via Cupcake Project.  I made mini cupcakes, so the uncooked crumb filling didn't really work.  I ended up tossing out the first batch that went in the oven and left it out of the other batches all together.  They tasted fine without it.  Which is actually amazing, considering I managed to leave out the apple cider and oil.  This is what happens when you talk on your cell phone while you are baking.  Lesson learned.


I also made these S'mores Cookie Bars, via Lovin' From the Oven.  I have had these bookmarked for a while now.  They were really, really easy to make and were very yummy.  While I love a baked good, I'm not a big fan of really sugary desserts.  This was a little too sugary for my taste, but something I'll probably make again.


If you have been on Pinterest at all, you have probably seen this picture of the Crispy Potato Roast from Fish Food (via Martha Stewart).  It is so pretty and it seemed like a new take on a classic side (the russet potato), so I thought I would give it a try.



It really is a pretty easy recipe, and it did turn out looking just like the picture.  But I was a little disappointed in the final outcome.  The tops of the potatoes were dry and tough, while the bottom half was nicely cooked.  It's probably not something I will make again, but it was fun to try something new.


This was my third year to make stuffing.  This is my go-to stuffing recipe, via Martha Stewart.  Thanks to Whole Foods finally making it's way to Oklahoma City, I was able to use a loaf of pumpkin bread like the recipe suggests.  I gave it a nice sweetness.



What did you make for Thanksgiving this year?  Any hits or misses?  Any recipe suggestions for future holidays?

I am not doing a playlist this week, but I did want to leave you with a little something.  The Head and the Heart's entire album is really great, but this track is definitely my favorite.

The Head and the Heart singing "Winter Song"



Enjoy!  Happy Monday!

Amy

Friday, November 25, 2011

Black Friday Sale

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I certainly did.  I'll post a little later about our Thanksgiving, but I wanted to do a quick blog post about a sale I'm offering in my Etsy shop.  Today (Friday) through Monday I am offering 20% off store wide.  Just use coupon code MERRY2011 at checkout.  Enjoy!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Splendid Finds: Gilded

 There was a period in my life (a fairly long period, actually) where I stayed away from anything gold.  It felt very "old lady-ish" to me.  I don't know if it's that my tastes have changed, or if I am now, indeed, an old lady.  Regardless, I definitely feel drawn to things that have a bit of a gilded feel.

Here are a few finds that (fingers crossed) don't feel "old lady-ish" at all.


Left to Right, Top to Bottom:
Small Gold Paper Bowl, Gretel Home: $24
Gold Lines Ring, Osnat Har-Noy Design: $58
Le Pavillion iPhone 4 Case, Kate Spade: $40
David Stark Wood-Slices Dinnerware, West Elm: $36-$50
Distressed Metallic Squares Bronze Pillow, Dwell Studio: $58




Left to Right, Top to Bottom:
Gold Triangles Glass Vase, Dwell Studio: $162
Hedgehog Coin Purse, Kate Spade: $95
Gold Pinwheel Necklace, Stone & Honey: $65
Deco Sequin Stocking, West Elm: $34
Mirrored Mirth Trees, Anthropologie: $18-$68
Kiel Mead Forget Me Knot Ring, Design Public: $50


Enjoy!
Amy


Photo template courtesy of Pugly Pixel




Monday, November 21, 2011

Monday Morning Mix - Thanksgiving Edition

I don't know what happened to November, but Thanksgiving is this Thursday, ya'll. Last Monday, a mere one week ago, I was on the phone with my sister when she mentioned that Thanksgiving was the following week. I absolutely did not believe her. I was certain that we had a few more weeks. But, upon return to my office, I confirmed that she was correct. Crazy.


In honor of the upcoming quality time I am about to have with my oven, I thought that I would compile a Thanksgiving-themed mix this week.  This isn't music that is necessarily intended for mealtime (unless you have really lively family gatherings), but intended more as cooking/baking underscoring.

The tracks are listed below, but you can listen to the entire mix by clicking here.



Listen to the music mix here.
Photo courtesy of Vintage Everyday.


Thursday, November 17, 2011

And another thing...

Wouldn't you just know it...I finish compiling a collection of colorful objects 
and then (after it's already posted), 
I come across this little guy...



Maybe I like multicolored things after all.



In other news, my online shop is looking awfully Christmas-y lately:




I created paper cuts of the text and photographed them over glittered paper.  
The designs are clean and simple, but with a little sparkle...
because Christmas deserves a little sparkle, yes?



View all of the cards right here.



Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Splendid Finds: Color Story

My personal color palette tends to lean more towards muted colors.  
I prefer "pops" of color over all-over technicolor.  There is something about the holiday season, though, that makes multi-color feel very festive.  I think it has something to do with the many years I spent working at Gap where the holiday season meant piles of "crazy stripe" everything...


Anybody with me?

Here are a few striped-knee-sock-free options, should you or someone on your wish list need a little color this season:




Left to Right, Top to Bottom:
Bird Power, print by Carrie Marrill 20x200: starting at $20
Folk Stripe 15-inch Tray Gretel Home: $42
Neopolitan Stripe iPhone 4 case Pencil Shavings Studio: $39.99
Tunnel, print by Treasure Frey: $20
Prize Ball Pop Top Mitten, Kate Spade: $75
2012 Wall Art Calendar, Paper Source: $29.50


Left to Right, Top to Bottom:
Contemporary Gift Tags, ModCloth: $7.99
Check Mark Art Print, TwoEms: $26
Prize Ball Thermos, Kate Spade: $35
Crochet Loops Tree Skirt, Anthropologie: $298
Sami Woman Print, Lisa Congdon: $34
Color Block Shoe Clips, Bando: $25


Enjoy!
Amy


Photo template courtesy of Pugly Pixel

Monday, November 14, 2011

Monday Morning Mix

I don't know about you, but I have been having a really difficult time adjusting to the time change.  I feel like this happens every year.  I love fall and winter and I get so excited for the holidays--and I certainly don't mind the extra hour of sleep when we get to "fall back".  But it seems like the following week is always the same awful routine:  I force myself out of my very cozy bed onto cold wooden floors.  I struggle throughout the day, trying to decide just how much coffee is too much.  And then I drive home, baffled that it is already dark outside, and I feel like I could forgo my evening plans and head straight to bed.  I know I will eventually adjust, but for now I will do whatever I can do give myself an extra little boost.

Instead of focusing on one artist or song for a "music monday" feature, I thought I might create an entire playlist of upbeat tunes for your Monday morning.  Nothing overly chipper or bass-thumping.  Just some tracks to hopefully get your week off to a good start.  The tracks are listed below, but you can listen to the entire playlist by clicking here.


Listen to the playlist here.
Photo by goff gough.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Tiny Things

Emily Henderson (from my fave Secrets From a Stylist) started an amazing project, I'm A Giant!  She, along with several other bloggers, are creating fully-furnished dollhouses from scratch.  Doesn't sound like a cool project to you?  I get that, but the nine-year-old within me thinks it's the best project, like, ever.  I loved playing with my dollhouse as a young girl and look forward to sharing that with my niece and daughter(?) one day.

I, unfortunately, have zero time to build/decorate/furnish a dollhouse and even less space to store said dollhouse, so I am opting out of the project.  But, seeing all of the dreamy houses circling about has  me thinking about all things tiny.



This is a great option for those that want a more temporary option.  It ships flat and comes with furniture and accessories (including a grand piano and sewing machine).


I love this mobile, made of thirty paper houses. 
Delicate and airy.


Adam and Quincy of Pearson Maron make lots of incredible, tiny things like miniature polar bears, rabbits on wheels and itty factories like this one.  If only factories really did produce hearts and rainbows...


J Davis creates rings, necklaces, charms and earrings featuring tiny houses, but I like this Neighborhood Ring the best.  Don't think nine-year-old me wouldn't have had a story for every house on the block.  Trust me, she would have.


If I didn't have a horrible history of killing every plant to ever have entered my home, I would consider purchasing a little terrarium, or several.  I think this one with the tiny deer is fairly adorable.

And speaking of tiny deer...

I'm in love.

Check out Emily's blog for updates on the I'm A Giant! project and other lovely things.


Wednesday, November 9, 2011

&

I've added lots of new things to the shop recently, but the ampersands are definitely some of my favorites. A perfect way to say "you & me" or "us & them"...or a great gift for that single typography-obsessed friend of yours (you know you have one).

Teal

Turquoise

Grey

Like all of my paper cuts, each ampersand is made of individual sheets of paper.  They are cut by hand, one at a time, and then carefully glued together.  And framed, so they're ready to hang!

Enjoy!
Amy

Monday, November 7, 2011

Pretty Things

I came across this video today, via Creature Comforts, and it so perfectly echoed what I have been feeling over the last few days, that I had to share it..."make it beautiful". Just like Erin Jang did for this video (for Martha Stewart Living), I try to make pretty things out of simple objects, like paper. I don't have a "mission", per se -- I'm not trying to make a loud statement, or change anyone's mind. I just like making pretty things.





This weekend, I was honored to be part of the Girlie Show once again. This is a fantastic show -- incredibly organized, amazingly well attended, and full of really, really talented female artists. This was my third year to participate, and it did not disappoint. Being at an art show is a little surreal. It's not like having an online shop or selling in a boutique, or even being part of an exhibit. In those cases you have very little contact with your customer. But in an art show, you hear every comment. You get real-time feedback from people who are truly excited to finally put a face to the name, or are seeing your work for the first time. It's humbling to receive compliments and to hear nice things about your work, and it's an honor when someone decides to purchase something that you made.


Photo by Nathan Poppe


99.9% of the things I heard people say were positive. There was one girl though who, while standing next to me, made the international sign for "puke" and said "Too much work!" Honestly, I wasn't insulted as much as surprised. I, by no mean, expect everyone to like my work. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But, "too much work"? I guess it's the opposite end of the "Why would I pay hundreds of dollars for something my five-year-old could paint?" argument.


For me, as I would assume it is for most artists, it isn't about the time involved. I create what comes from within me, no matter how long it will take. Am I relieved when I glue down the last piece of paper for a project? Absolutely. But I get equally excited to start the next piece, and that's why I keep at it.

I'm a "love is in the details" girl, so the intricacies are (for me, at least) the best part.