etsy favorites: rae dunn

i am so excited. i'm starting pottery classes again this month, after about two years without any pottery making. i'm not really taking classes so much as having open studio time with my dear friend megan, a pottery guru (and fabulous fellow photographer!). i plan to learn a lot from her!

in honor of my upcoming classes, take a look at the gorgeous work of rae dunn. she makes some really amazing stuff, and sells some of it in her etsy shop. these are perfect for that upcoming holiday! also check out her inspiring blog.

sale at paper cloud!

here's a heads up: ariana over at the fabulous paper cloud just sent me a note letting me know that, though december 15, they are offering 20% off ALL their products! how great is that! here's to holiday shopping!

love birds

almost v-day! in case you need something for the one you love...


zephyr woods: part of the proceeds go to helping entrepreneurs around the world.



a lovely card from three wheels design.



sanctum design studio: love it!



oh my. geninne, i'm in love. with all your birdies.



a box for sweet treats from bric-a-brac-a.

stocking stuffers

oh, i am a bad, bad blogger. sorry!

this week i bring you stuffings for your stockings. opening stockings was always my favorite part of christmas morning, maybe because it was the only thing my sisters and i could do while we were waiting for our parents to wake up.

enjoy!


for the crafty person in your life, a glam pincushion by nadelwerk.



we always got a piece of jewelry in our stocking. love this one by madison craft studio.



your wee ones will appreciate this crayon roll-up by kate williams designs.



these scrubbies by cocoa beans are reusuable and environmentally friendly.



this pocket mirror from sparkle paw should lift your spirits every time you use it.



i love this calendar from little brown pen. the best part is, you get the pdf, so you can print as many as you want!

the most wonderful time of the year...

is not here yet, but you may as well start getting ready, as it is inevitable.

to prep you for holiday cheer, i'll do a post once a week with inspiring holiday goodies.

god knows i need help getting in the mood (holiday-wise) because it's still sunny and in the 80s here in the desert. not so much the weather i am used to this time of year.

so let's help each other. please let me know if you've found any wonderful holiday treats you can't live without!

week 1: ornaments

love the colors and beading on these candy cane ornaments from michima.




the simplicity of this one from paloma's nest is wonderful.




wouldn't this little bird by rosybird look adorable on any tree?




equally adorable is this collection of critters by skunkboy creatures. so cute!

easter/spring

man, easter is early this year. i need to hit up a fish fry before they're all over. omaha has some pretty rocking ones, i've been told.

the great thing about easter is that nearly all of the merchandise associated with the holiday is totally non-religious, so if you don't celebrate it, you can buy easter stuff to celebrate spring!

so, for your viewing enjoyment, here are some (secular) easter goodies. apparently with a rabbit theme. i guess i like rabbits.

a little hut offers templates for adorable gift boxes.

apak has really cool gocco cards.



i love these hand screenprinted bunnies by dog bone art.



essimar papel does beautiful things with paper.



these rabbits by she rides the lion would look great in an easter/spring basket. you could have a spring basket, right?

vaca!

hey all. i'm jetting off to warmer weather this evening to see my love. i'm so excited! (photo by mr. m)

i'll try to post while i'm gone (for a whole week!) but i can't make any promises!

oh, and i finished my mobile for the elsie marley mobile swap. actually, i finished it about two weeks ago, but i couldn't decide if i liked it. i let it hang in my house while i mulled it over.

i decided i do like it, and it's getting mailed off today! i hope you like it, swap partner! i can't wait to get mine.

check out some of the other mobiles in the swap here.

sugar for my sugars

happy v-day all!

or anti-v-day, if that's what you prefer to celebrate. i'm on the fence this year, as i have a sweetie, but we are unable to celebrate together because he is a couple of thousand miles away. (miss you lovie!)

i thought i would bring you something sweet for today, regardless of whether you love or hate the holiday.

so pardon me while i wipe the drool from my chin, because these treats from fat daddy are making me hungry! i love me some cake!

enjoy, and love to you from me!

friends

i have lovely friends. thanks all for your kind words of encouragement and support. you're the best!

anywho, my friends christopher and ellen sent me this great picture of their daughter, anika, cuddling up with one of monsters that she got for christmas. i'm so glad you love it, anika!


christopher has also put some new cards on his etsy site, porridge papers, just in time for valentine's day! check them out!





p.s. i'm totally going to take credit for the genius behind a couple of those cards - i'll eat anything on a stick, boob jobs, and my boyfriend sucks. muh ahh ahh ahh! and my boyfriend definitely does NOT suck. he is the bestest boyfriend ever!

100th post, filled with love!

oh my goodness. i just noticed that today is my 100th post! not too bad for only blogging for three and a half months, huh?

i also noticed the the loved/hated holiday that is valentines day is one month away. if you have someone you love to buy for, or send a note to, this post is for you.

remember, v-day isn't just for lovers, it's for friends and sisters and brothers and dads and moms and grandpas and grandmas too!


citrus tree has a cute puppy love card. who doesn't love the puppy love!

gotta love the pirate. corrabelle makes a cute pirate love card.



love this little owl card by maeve donohue.


you can't go wrong with chocolate. try these chocolatey pretzel goodies from nuts4candy.



french love earrings from picky picky.



i (of course) love these cards by susy jack.



and last, but certainly not my least favorite, is a lovely print from the black apple.

christmas loot

i had a rather successful haul this christmas, from a crafty perspective.

my lovely cousin kelli and her new (and great!) husband nick got me amy butler's fabulous in stitches book. there are some super great projects in it that i can't wait to try.


my grandpa (via my mom) gave me a neat felting book by gillian harris, complete feltmaking. i have wanted to try this, and now i'll know how!


my aunt teri mailed me (from florida) jenny hart's book, sublime stitching. i can't wait to lean to properly embroider! (i've been making it up so far...)


my baby sister, knowing all about my love affair with etsy, gave me some gorgeous fabrics. i'll have to think of something special to make with them. thanks lobo!

(from left: katrina kaye, pinkalmond supplies, and karaku tokyo)

those things are all so lovely, thank you so much everyone!

BUT, are you ready for the piece de resistance (from mom and dad)?



voila!

holy crapola! a computerized sewing machine! i had to get out the instruction manual just to load the bobbin and top thread. it may take some getting used to, but i think i may grow to like this machine.

i was a little torn, and still am, about getting a new machine, because the one i was working on was my grandmother's, who i never got a chance to know as she died right after i was born. i think i will still use the old machine (after it has a much needed tune-up) but will keep the new one too, for more precision work.

thanks mom and dad! you're the best!

holiday cheer

i just wanted to give all my lovely readers a big thanks, and say happy holidays! knowing people read my blog makes posting so much more fun!

hope you get lots to eat, and just the presents you asked for.

cheers to you!

p.s. - the lovely card you see is by empty george.

p.p.s. - remember the sexy turkey hat? check out this gem.

for the new year

mr. m says it is not even christmas yet and i shouldn't be talking about the new year, but if you want to have a fashionable calendar on your desk when you return to work, you need to order now!

here's a list of some truly lovely calendars.

enjoy!


cindy jaswal of cedarseven


don't press me (an omaha etsian!)



joom also has lovely pillows



linda and harriett (check out their cute piggy pattern!)



sure as blue's lovely objectification calendar



i love all of susy jack's work!



vanessa kimball has lots of lovely paper goods. (and a lovely blog!)