Treasury Time

To see the full treasury and get links to all of these delightful shops click here.

Crafty Bastards!

It's that time of year again! The annual Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair will be held this Saturday, Oct. 2 in Adams Morgan (at the Marie Reed Learning Center at 18th and Wyoming). People in DC love their fairs and festivals so turnout should be good, rain or shine. I'm particularly excited to see vendors whose work I've admired on Etsy or other websites but never seen in person, such as:

The Colony by Jay McCarroll,

Tasha McKelvey,

NeedleNoodles,

and Tigerflight.

I'm also really excited to eat some delicious food! Should be a good time all around.

Alley Art

I stumbled upon Rachel Horlick's latest mural quite by accident while I was out and about in DC last weekend. I love the simple graphic pattern and the gradation of color from red to orange to yellow. I think painted alleys are especially nice in business districts because they sort of pop up into view as you're walking down the street. They offer a burst of surprise color to break up the neutral landscape of grey sidewalks and beige office buildings.

Here's a video of the making of this mural.


Cityglyphics from little horlick on Vimeo.

Rachel Horlick is a graphic designer and muralist.

Harvest Moon + Shop Update

I tried to take a photo of the harvest moon with my stubborn little camera that does not like night shots. This photo was easily the best of the bunch, and it really does not do the scene justice. The moon was truly spectacular. And finally, today, the temperature dropped and began to feel somewhat like fall. It's a miracle!

In other news, I've updated the shop with five new brooches! And I'm feeling doubly proud of myself because we finally finished putting together our new Ikea bookcases that had been scattered (for days) in various stages of assembly across the living room floor. Hooray for getting things done!

Hope everyone else had a good weekend too.

Treasury Time

To see the full treasury and get links to all of these charming shops click here. 

Bubble Fun

(via Make)

Spooky Sneak Peek

I've been working on lots of new designs for Halloween, and I'm excited to report that several new brooches will be added to my etsy shop this weekend. In the mean time, here's a sneak peek at my color palette

and some creepy crawlies.

Burnished Gold

Normally, I don't go for gold tone finishes on home furnishings and fixtures. Something about gold metals and gold-painted furniture seems too opulent for most settings outside Versailles and ends up looking out of place in your average modern-day home. However, I came across this biomorphic console table from Baker in the latest issue of Elle Decor, and I think it's mesmerizing.

Staring at this table, I want to climb inside the magazine so I can touch it. The organic "biomorphic" curves remind me of Henry Moore sculptures, Noguchi coffee tables, and Joan Miró paintings. Is it just me? Is anyone else inexplicably drawn to this table? For the record, I'm sure this console would also stand out next to my vintage/CB2/Ikea living room decor, but in a really good way.



Treasury Time

To see the full treasury and get links to all of these colorful shops click here.



Flickr Favorites

(Source: Viviane Castelleoni)

(Source: Sato Sugar)

(Source: dottie angel)

(Source: Robert Vignola)

(Source: frl. zucker)

(Source: Sato Sugar)

Summer's Over, But This Little Guy Is Hanging Around

I've held on to this catalog cover since the summer of 2002 because I love to look at this little grasshopper. He's been on my inspiration board for years. I guess I'm attracted to this image for the same reason I love to look at origami; all those intricate folds and patterns can be fascinating. And of course, I appreciate the attention to detail and the tactile handmade quality. Also, from a marketing standpoint, what better way to introduce a summer catalog than a grasshopper made out of blades of grass (or more likely, palm leaves)? I found a tutorial on how to make a similar grasshopper out of palm leaves if anyone wants to give it a try.

Room with a View

I would love to live in a place with large corner windows like this:


(Source: Elle Decoration UK, April issue (year unknown))

To have panoramic views would be amazing, assuming of course, you could see beyond the building next door.

Speaking of views, the clouds outside my window today are huge and appear as if they've bent down to touch the tree tops.

Happy weekend, everyone!

Treasury Time

To see the full treasury and get links to all of these fabulous shops click here.



Exciting Things in the Post

(Source: MoHotta18)

Last night I opened a beautiful box of new art supplies, and it got me thinking: is there anything more promising than new sketch pads, paints, pencils and pens? It's like back-to-school supplies, only better, because these pages won't be filled with math problems and boring essays. 

It's a fresh start, a chance to create something new in the world, to make a mess, to make something fantastic. What new thing will you create today?

Also, there's a talented whistler roaming the halls of my building today. I smile every time I hear him pass my door. Something optimistic is in the air.

Denise Duong

On the Road Again

It's a Miracle

Tasty Delight

A Miraculous Surge

Hello World!

I really can't get enough of Denise Duong's mixed-media paintings. Each one seems to tell a story of adventure and love, often with musical instruments and animals in tow. I love her use of color, texture and pattern, and above all, her work just makes me happy. The artist states, "Life is a wonderful narrative shaped by the lenses each viewer chooses to wear." I couldn't agree more. To see more of Denise Duong's work, visit her website and JRB Art Gallery.

New in the Shop!

Just added these cute little owls today. More goodies to come later in the week!

Treasury Time

To see the full treasury and get links to all of these great shops click here.

Thank Goodness for Saturday Afternoons

I've been busy lately making things for the shop (and working on a couple of other projects), and I realized it's been a very long time since I made something just for fun, to keep for myself. So I decided to make a simple necklace to match my t-shirt. I found some amazonite beads, some red string, and voila! It instantly spruced up my outfit (and my mood). Now out to enjoy some nice weather!

Vintage Stockholm

At the top of the list of places I'd like to see is Stockholm, so it's not surprising that my favorite vintage postcard is a panoramic view of the city.

Here's a modern photo of the same part of town:

(Source: Xavier Donat)

Wouldn't it be nice to go there?  In the mean time, you can see more amazing photos here, and listen to this cute Swedish band, and sort of pretend.

Modern Day Hunting and Gathering

I've always been fascinated by other people's collections as I have semi-hoarding tendencies myself. However, many years of apartment dwelling has not afforded me the required space to truly indulge my passion for collecting. One day, I will have shelves of mid-century modern ceramics and vintage curiosities. Until then, I live vicariously through Lisa Congdon's A Collection a Day, 2010.

Treasury Time

To see the full treasury and get links to all of these cool shops click here.

A Room of One's Own

I love this inspiration board from craftapalooza.

Also, these photos here and here of Geninne's studio in her gorgeous new home practically made me drool. What an amazing space to work in!

Collage

Whenever I come across bits of texture or pattern I like in magazines, or anything else that I find visually striking, I cut out the pictures and paste them into collages. You never know when something will spark an idea for your next project.

Mini Break

My weekend was filled with romance and beautiful scenery (also sleep deprivation, really bad music, the tallest bridge I've ever been on, and Yo Gabba Gabba). How was yours?

Treasury Time

To see the full treasury and get links to all of these beautiful shops click here.

Deanna Staffo

Baby, it's cold outside

Self-portrait

Sofia Coppola

J. D. Salinger

Deanna Staffo is a Philadelphia-based illustrator who draws amazing portraits. I love her use of color and line work, and also how she captures the unique facial expressions and personalities of her subjects.  To see more of Deanna's work, visit her illustration website and her blog.