Sugarcube Design

As you may know, I am a sucker for interesting stationery or basically anything to do with paper! I wanted to share with you an esty store that I found that had some neat stationery pieces. Sugarcube design uses over-exaggerated numbers on envelopes and gift tags which turns out to be pretty cool.

The Sartorialist

One of my beloved blogs that I check out weekly is The Sartorialist. If you haven't heard of it, it is definitely worth following the link! The creator simply takes snapshots of people he comes across on the street that look great in what they are wearing. His pictures are from cities all over the world and there are so many tastes of style. From outrageous, to cute, to sophisticated, the look is always different. So go ahead, get hooked, it's worth the time to check it out.

Stumpie Seat

Finding seat cushions can be a difficult task, especially if you are trying to steer clear of something puffy and/or floral. Littleoddforest makes some fun and eye-catching tree stump seat cushions that are not only comfy, but pretty awesome at the same time! Reminds me of the book, The Giving Tree, when all you need is a nice stump to rest on!

Home Improvements...Part 2

My office/studio space is a room that I have often longed for. Now that I finally have one, the problem has turned to decorating. I want to create a fun, organized, and creative environment (on a budget). This weekend I had the chance to roll up my sleeves and work on just that...and I wanted to share a few improvements with you. I jumped on the trend of having a "clothes line" display of inspiration. I think it is a functional way to avoid those pesky thumbtack holes in everything!
I found some great red photo boxes at Walmart this weekend - $6.24 for a pair! I ended up buying 3 packs and have since found that storing unattractive supplies in uniform boxes is the way to go. I still have a few more things that I would like to do (I really want to play up the red more..). But that will come with time!

Home Improvements...Part 1

What comes with decorating your first home..is money and time! Slowly but surely, we are putting the pieces together in our little cottage and its starting to feel cozy.
This past weekend I was back in my hometown for a relaxing few days. While I was home, I went with my Mom to a silent auction at a local art gallery. Although I was not the most enthusiastic about attending the auction, I was lucky enough to walk away with a few home improving goodies.
We bid on 4 antique framed maps...and to our surprise, WON them for $35 total! I thought they would look perfect in the vacant space above my tv. I also scored 2 area rugs that fit nicely in my bedroom. Not so bad, huh!?
A few more home improvement details below..
These are some cheap vintage metal coasters! They are funky and sit nicely on the coffee table.
My boyfriend stumbled across 3 old Charlie Brown books in a thrift store and bought them for .25 each! They are currently being held down by a jar filled with fake dirt/plant that I found at Target.
Here is my dog, guarding the house! He has a bad habit of protecting us TOO well, and by too well I mean he barks at everyone that walks by our front door (I think we need a visit from the dog whisperer).

3FeApparel

With the temperatures changing, it is the perfect time to begin pulling out warmer clothing. In my Daily Candy email this morning they spotlighted a great company that makes scarves. 3FeApperal makes mini scarves that fit perfectly around the neck, held together with buttons. I thought this concept made perfect sense, considering long scarves often hang and get in the way! Although they are a bit on the pricey side, I thought it might be great inspiration for any knitters out there..

inmod Design Studio

Interested in designing your own bedding, but not really sure how to or where to?...inmod offers a design studio to do just that. You can go online and choose from designs, colors, fabric, and more. Even if you are not currently looking for new bedding, it is fun to play around with!

Burlington, VT

One of my brothers is in graduate school in Burlington, VT. I was so excited when he decided to move there, because I had heard it was a great place. Last fall I had the opportunity to visit, and despite bitter temps, it was an amazing area. The rest of my family just returned from visiting him and I wanted to share a few pics with you.
oh ps: the huge house is at Shelburne Farms.

Amenity

My own personal aesthetic generally consists of bringing elements of nature into design...Amenity is a company that does just that. I adore their attention to the organic and appreciation of bringing that into art. Their work includes bedding, artwork, pillows, bags, and even nursery items. I enjoy how they often overlay the same image in different colors and tones.

Handmade Parade

The Norfolk Craft Mafia is having a Handmade Parade on November 10th which is a holiday arts & crafts bizarre. It's just in time for you to buy one-of-a-kind gifts for others and for yourself! It sounds pretty amazing so if you are going to be in the area at that time, you should check it out!
If you are a crafter yourself, you can always sign up to be a vendor. If you haven't ever been to or participated in a craft fair, they are definitely worth checking out!
The Norfolk Craft Mafia is an extended member of Craft Mafia.

BANG

BANG is a company that creates great screen printed items as well as acrylic jewelry. I love letters and they have great tote bags that have enormous ornate letters on them. Check it out!They also have t-shirts!

Aprons

One accessory that is not usually considered fashionable is the apron! I find the apron, if done correctly, to be a stylish addition. I found some aprons worth looking at on Smashing Darling and Etsy (Craftpaca and Momo's)

Green Clothes

Have you ever bought an amazing new shirt, worn it once or twice, and then had to basically toss it out because it lost its shape or it just didn't "wear" well? On the blog, Confessions of a Closeted Environmentalist, there is a post entitled "Green Clothes - a long lasting wardrobe" When I stumbled across this, I thought to myself "YES! I need to know this!" It goes into detail about wear, care, cleaning and more! So check it out, and start saving your clothes!

Night Owl Paper Goods

I came across some eco-friendly postcards in a stationery boutique in midtown manhattan this summer. After buying three postcards and using them as decoration rather than for mailing, you might suspect that I was thrilled when I stumbled across the company's website during a night of blogging. Night Owl Paper Goods make eco-friendly stationery as well as letterpress and digital press stationery. The design aesthetic is quite lovely :)