food for thought

I just discovered Brooklyn-based illustrator Claudia Pearson yesterday via decor8, and I have completely fallen in love with her 2010 seasonal produce calendars! I still haven't gotten a pretty new calendar for this year (yes, I'm a slacker) but, I think I've found the one for me.

These lovelies encourage you to buy local, with beautiful illustrations showcasing the produce in season during the months -- helping you change up your fruit & veggie intake, get the freshest ingredients available and perhaps keep you on track with those resolutions to eat better. Cute and practical. Love!

She makes three different versions - 6x9" printed, tea towel and poster - all available in her sweet shop. Check out her blog for recipes that coincide with her featured produce, too!

stick me!

Have you seen these amazing Stick Me! collaborative sticker books put together by graphic designer Yael Frankel? Not only do they feature her own adorable designs but, the works of other artists and designers from across the Flickr community, and they're just fantastic! Little pieces of art that you can use to brighten up your office accouterments, day planner, electronic gadgets, mood board or anything else they'll stick to.

I just bought myself the Stick Me Valentines (above), which include stickers from some of my favorite Etsy artists, like Laura Berger and Geninne Zlatkis. I have big plans for these little cuties!

You can check out all the awesome Stick Me books, collaborative coloring books, prints, rub-on decals and lots more cute stuff in Yael's shop. Enjoy darlings!

shop o' the week: naoko's stoop

Heya! Its Shop O' the Week time and do I have a special one for ya! Grab a cup of something warm to drink and pull up a chair, won't you?

{Left: Feels Like Yesterday, Right: Follow the Wind No. 4}

Today I'm beyond happy to share Naoko's Stoop with ya'll. Naoko - born in Tokyo and now residing in Brooklyn - is a self-taught illustrator who creates her wonderful renderings in her own loft studio. Inspired by her Big Apple neighborhood and childhood whimsy, her work exudes a unique brand of sweetness that I just *love*.

{Left: Moon Talk No. 2, Right: Oak Reading Room}

Her Red Knit Cap Girl series is just darling -- I love the adventures with her little animal entourage and of course, her signature red cap. I think I need to snag one of those hats...

{Left: Serene Night Story No. 4, Right: Bird in a Cage (green)}

{Left: Cardinal, Right: Happy Birthday}

Naoko's Brown Paper Bag collection is quite impressive -- inspired by a variety of used papers like vintage books and envelopes, she used brown paper grocery bags as the base for all of her artwork in this series. I think the repurposed materials make these works all the more charming, don't you?

{Left: Holiday Tree, Right: Making a Friend}

She also has several holiday-themed pieces, which are oh-so-cute and festive. Naoko offers several different notecard sets and all sorts of prints that would be great for giving to someone special this holiday season. I just bought the Winter Trio set of cards last month, and I love 'em so much that I've decided to keep and frame them for myself! (Merry Christmas to me :P )

So go take a peek at Naoko's work in her lovely shop and website, and get some of this cuteness for yourself!

xxx,

Mrs. M

shades of gray

Why hello there.

Its been a minute since I last did a post of themed picks so, I thought I'd do another for this imminent winter season.

The color gray (or grey, depending on your location) kind of gets a bad rep -- its usually associated with being dull, washed out or -dare I say- depressing. I happen to love gray, more so than I realized; after reorganizing my closet two weeks ago, I noticed that half of all my clothes are a shade of gray!

Anyway, I think there is a certain sophistication of gray that just appeals to me: its classy yet not as predictable as black, and delicately pretty without venturing into the metallic realm. Perfect for any occasion you may find yourself in this winter...



Staying in tonight? These picks make me want to do just that.

*I could definitely picture myself wearing this adorable polar bear hoodie by Zoe Chen, lounging around the house or otherwise. Cozy and cute.

*I featured a pair of Infusion's amazing Eco Toes way back when, but I adore these Mary Jane herringbone wool versions. A wonderful remedy for fugly house slippers.

*Nothing would make me happier than drinking some hot cocoa out of these neat faux bois mugs by Urban Soule on a cold winter night. Marshmallow, anyone?

*For those nights when you're fighting a bug or its just too damn cold, these therapy packs from the Ferris Wheels would be the perfect things to snuggle up to (while you're drinking your hot cocoa, of course).


Going out on the town? Go glam with gray.

*These lovely Wendy earrings by Bead Who You Are would be great for going out to eat, drink and be merry, whether in a dress or just jeans.

*Move over Little Black Dress! This Haute couture dress by Nostalgia is edgy, feminine and just plain chic. I love it and would wear it out in a heartbeat.

*I also loooove this Stormy Skies necklace from Rose Marie's Bijouterie. Something about the combination of pearls and satin ribbon is just so elegant.

*I'm not really a headband person but, I thought this charcoal Dior bow headband by Nomsa was adorable. Cute for a holiday party, no?

Where ever you may be headed, keep warm with something gray and cozy.

*This beautiful Alpaca scarf by Jill Bent just looks snuggly, and would go swimmingly with just about any style of winter jacket you might have.

*What's not to love about this reusable cozy cuff by Megan Auman -- it keeps your hands warm and your latte warmer, and it even doubles as a funky cuff bracelet!

*Whether you're headed to a party or skipping off to grandma's, this steel gray capelet from Hand Knitted Things is one sweet way to keep warm.

*Keep your digits toasty when you're braving the cold with some cute folk mittens like these by Green Bean Designs. I adore the Scandinavian pattern.

As always, I hope you've enjoyed my picks. Until tomorrow my darlings!

xxx,

Mrs. M

shop(s!) o' the week:

Well, I promised I'd be back with not one, but two fabulous shops to share, and here I am! So let's get to it....

Shop #1: Trafalgar's Square

(Left: Bunny Kiss, Right: One Story More)

I featured a print from this darling little shop in my last post, and I just could not resist sharing more of their work with you! This shop is made up of a California-based husband and wife team: Katheryne (Kit) creates the whimsical paintings and her husband Adam weaves the stories surrounding these adorable critters. (Isn't that cool? I would *love* to work with my hubby like that!) The end result is a collection of prints, buttons 'n things that are cavity-inducing saccharine sweet.

(Left: Wish Upon a Star, Right: Trafalgar's Rabbit)

(Left: A Little Bird Told Me, Right: Wishing Mouse)

Couldn't you picture a child's room designed around these adorable prints and stuffies? They look like they should be gracing the pages of a classic children's book. So cute. Go have a looksee at their shop - they're extending their holiday sale through this week! - and blog, One Little Hollow.

Shop #2: Nature's Cabinet

(Left: vintage chalkboard bottles, Right: shell flower ornament)

I have also featured this shop before, back in my woodland round-up, but I've found that they have so much great nature-inspired and repurposed items for your home that I felt obligated to share more. The shop owner (couldn't find a name!), who also works with her husband and hails from California, strives to run a green shop -- not only offering decor that is created with vintage or upcycled materials but, she also ships her wares using repurposed boxes and packing materials. What's not to love?

(Left: Walnut wood block candle holder, Right: Sisal orb ornament)

(Left: vintage glass crystal, Right: Barely There skull plate)

I am loving that vintage and natural elements come together here, and are transformed into beautifully chic home accents. They also have a wonderful assortment of ornaments for this upcoming holiday season -- perfect for a woodland-themed Christmas tree *wink wink*. Visit their shop to see all of their wonderful goodies!

All this amazing work is making me want to move to California and start up an Etsy shop with the hubby -- it must be something in the water. Maybe some day.

Until next time lovelies.

xxx,

Mrs. M

monday, monday...

Hi friends. Yes, its Monday already. *sigh*

Lovely leaves. Left: Recurrent 3, Right: Moderate.

Just popping in to fuel my watercolor obsession and share these beautiful nature-inspired prints by Seattle-area artist, Janelle Lile. I *love* the combination of her diagram style of drawing with those vivid splashes of color. Check her out on Etsy, flickr, her website and her blog (busy lady!).

xxx,
Mrs. M

shop o' the week: substance

Hello again and Happy Weekend to all!

Due to the overwhelming abundance of Etsy shops in my favorites list, I've decided to share one of them a week with ya'll -- because I think there are just too many talented Etsians to not share and promote their amazing work.

Bold and versatile. Left: 49 Square Miles wallet, Right: Thai silk on tee top.

For my very fist shop o' the week, I am beyond excited to share Substance with you. This Columbus-based boutique hocks their unique line of clothing and accessories in their Etsy shop and on their website, so you don't have to live in Ohio to catch a glimpse of this fabulousness.

They believe that "where there is style, there should also be substance" and they sure have plenty of both. Best of all, every season they donate a portion of their sales to a worthy non-profit organization... which makes a perfect excuse to splurge on one of their pieces ;-)

Bring it on, snow. Left: handwoven cotton scarf, Right: Moment boots.

Substance's handcrafted details and fantastic textures make winter staples like scarves and boots extra special. Can't you just see yourself bundled up in that beautiful scarf, trudging through the leaves and snow in those amazing boots? {As a side note: I have a love-hate relationship with boots which I think these Moment beauties have helped me overcome. GORGEOUS.}

Gorgeous & green. Left: Juniper heels, Right: Cairo top.

Fabulous fashion that is environmentally conscious? Yes, please! These lovely Juniper pumps are not only ergonomic (read: comfortable) and incredibly durable, but they are constructed with sustainable materials like veggie tanned leather and recycled foam. The romantic Cairo top is as feminine as it is earth-friendly, made with natural, sustainable fibers.

Simply stunning. Floral Fete gown, shown with Luxe wrap (left) and petal detailing (right).

File this one under: Why didn't I get this for my wedding?? This Floral Fete dress is so exquisite - without being too frou-frou girly - that I think it would make the perfect wedding dress for a woodland-loving, eco-friendly offbeat bride. I kind of wish I went to fancy parties and galas just so I could wear something as stunning as this. LOVE.

So go feast your eyes on all the conscious loveliness Substance has to offer. And have a great weekend!

xxx,

Mrs. M

wild for woodland

Hey there friends!
As you can see, I am definitely diggin' all things woodland lately. Maybe its because of my upbringing here in scenic New England or maybe its because I love the woods and all the critters that live there, but I am loving the natural motifs that keep popping up everywhere.

(image: me)

I found this little guy during a walk in a local park on Sunday and felt inspired to put together some more wonderful woodland picks. I just can't help myself.

For your home...

Clockwise from top left:

*Wood-fired rabbit sculpture by Morris Pottery

*Linen branch napkins by Jewelweeds

*Vintage Audubon bird print (Tufted Titmouse) by Holcroft

*Natural driftwood candle holder by Natures Cabinet

For you...

*Forest mushroom cupcake toppers by Lilly BonBon

*Woodland flower & berry headband by Be Something New

*Silver birch bark cuff bracelet by Elizabeth Scott Designs

*Organic feather tee by Flytrap

For someone special...

*Bella Rustica Tiny Twig hair pins by The Sparrow's Nest

*Pearly Acorn necklace by Just Peachy

*Wooden USB stick by Woodtec

*Woodland mushrooms tee by Critter Jitters

...And now I think a post-work walk in the woods is in order. Enjoy!

xxx,

Mrs. M

south shore represent

Hello again.
The weekend is just about here, and it couldn't have come soon enough! I will be catching up on house cleaning and laundry, getting a head start on some holiday projects and making a pilgrimage to Ikea (YAY!)-- what are your plans?

Just dropping in to share some fantastic images from my neck of the woods with you, courtesy of Route 3 Photography. I couldn't find a whole lot of info on this self-described hobby photographer but, I am totally digging the loveliness available in her Etsy shop.

From top to bottom: Autumn Love; Doors; Weathered Buoy; Mom's Kitchen.

Aren't they great? I really like the feel that the vintage view finder gives to these photos. "Mom's Kitchen" is making me look forward to Thanksgiving, when I get to enjoy some much-missed mom cooking.

Have a great weekend!

xxx,

Mrs. M

gimme more: Geninne

Hey there darlings!

Back today to share some loveliness from artist Geninne Zlatkis with you. The work in her amazing Etsy shop caught my eye ages ago and has been nestled safely in my favorites pages for at least a year. I'm thinkin' its finally time to make a purchase.

Clockwise from top left: White Bird; Don Matias; Three little birds; Lovebirds.

I adore this exquisite Collection.

From Geninne's Collage Birds series, clockwise from top left: No. 8; No. 31; No. 5; No. 15.

I'm a sucker for bird prints and watercolors, and Geninne takes them both to a whole new level. I especially love the white ink detailing-- and she even shows you how to achieve this look in her fabulous blog! I recently discovered this gem of a blog and I am totally impressed- so much wonderful stuff! Between her hand-carved stamp tutorials, how-to painting videos and glimpses of her gorgeous Mexican home and studio, I am completely inspired.

You bet your behind that I'm gonna try my hand at those stamps to create some amazing wrapping paper and personalized stationary this holiday season-- such great ideas! I highly suggest checking out her blog, shop and Flickr photostream if you're in the need of some inspiration.


xxx,
Mrs. M

Halloweenie

Hello there and Happy Weekend!

We're off to the Rock & Shock Horror Convention and Music Festival tomorrow and its really putting me in the mood for Halloween! I'll be working on my costume today to get in spirit. Are you dressing up? What are you going to be??

I *love* Martha's toadstool pumpkins! and have a go at that little snail!

I hope you can make time for some Halloween tricks and treats this weekend! Check out Martha Stewart's Halloween Central for all kinds of ideas - pumpkin carving designs, decorations, DIY costumes and themed recipes - and have a look at Etsy's Halloween gift guides for more spooky inspiration. (I think I'm going to make some Creepcakes next week-- so cute!)

Enjoy my dears!

xxx,
Mrs. M

over the river & through the woods

After a cold and rainy (but fun!) weekend in the Catskill Mountains, I'm on a sort of vintage-camping kick. So, I've rounded up some tried and true camping gear with lots of vintage goodies included. Let's dive right in, shall we?

First things first: you need the proper supplies. Camping is never enjoyable when you're cold, hungry and uncomfortable (as I have learned the hard way many many times).

*You need a place to rest your derriere after being on your feet all day. This retro folding camp chair by Trampoline would be perfect for just that and would travel with ease.

*You can't hit the trails on an empty stomach. Bring along a mess kit, like this vintage Boy Scout version by Thrill of the Hunt, for easy fireside cookin'. I love that it includes several pieces that all neatly store together, so packing is a snap.

*Of course, you're going to need plenty of water as well. Bring some along in a kitchy old school tank thermos like this beauty from Happy-Go-Vintage. Its a necessity so it may as well be cute, right?

*If the weather is nicer than it was on my camping trip, you may want to have lunch right in the midst of nature's beauty. What better way to do that than with a a cozy picnic blanket like this one by Sewn Natural. The great thing about this particular blanket is that the fabrics are all natural and it comes with a button strap for easy transporting.

Next: you're gonna need some warm and layer-able duds for the occasion, especially if you're camping this fall season.

*You can't go wrong with a cute woodland t-shirt, especially when its this organic cottage lovely by MaryInk. It would be perfect to wear on a day hike and good for layering under sweatshirts for warmth when the sun starts to set.

*Speaking of warmth, one of the easiest ways to keep warm is to cover your noggin with something thick and cozy, a la this woolly helm hood/neck guard by Knittles. Great for keeping your neck nice 'n toasty, or for protecting your whole melon from cool autumn nights.

*Ya gotta accessorize right? Bring along this fun Happy Camper tote by Squid Ink Kollective for all your camping odds 'n ends (or the items featured below!).

Finally: you want to fully enjoy and remember your camping experiences with style!

*Want to take a closer look at that goldfinch? Bring some pocket binoculars like this 40's-era red leather pair from King Dog Vintage. Extremely portable and oh-so-fabulous.

*Are you sure that's a goldfinch? Tote along a field guide or two, as in this vintage field guide set by Bettyninja Finds, to get acquainted with your natural surroundings.

*Now that you know what you're looking at, you'll want to snap some photos with this nifty vintage Semi-Leotax camera from Canemah Studios. Just the thing for a camping scrapbook with an old-fashioned touch.

*You'll want to chronicle your outdoor adventures and maybe sketch a few forest dwellers in a beautiful letterpress journal, like this one from Old School Stationers. Perhaps you could jot a note to a friend in one of their retro camping themed cards, too. (I *love* this one!)

Well, there you have it. Just looking over it all, I'm itching to go camping again...

but I think I'll wait until spring.

xxx,

Mrs. M

changes

I'm not sure about where you live but, 'round here the trees are finally turning all brilliant shades of gold, orange, scarlet and rusty red. It makes my early morning commute a real treat for the eyes, and the unpredictable New England weather worth the inconvenience.

Here are some pretty fall-inspired prints to brighten your day...

Left: Peaceful Park by Sally Elford

Right: Lovely Landscape by Courtney Oquist

Enjoy darlings!

xxx,

Mrs. M

shades of fall: kale-inspired purples

Hello there darlings! I hope you all had a great weekend.

I did quite a bit of shopping over mine, and in my travels I saw these gorgeous purple kales on display in front of the supermarket. I was so enamored with all the beautiful purples and pinks in this plant: shades of magenta, fuchsia, and earthy plum. I have since learned (read: Wikipedia'd) that this variety of hardy autumn kale is mostly ornamental here in the U.S. and I can see why...

Photo Credits: Kale for Sale by Finstr (left), Flowering Cabbage- Brassia oleracea by debsteinberg (right). Found via Flickr.

Beautiful, no?

Well, these stunning cabbage relatives have served as the color inspiration for my Etsy picks today. I've expanded my selections to include home and bath goodies as well-- hope you like!

Clockwise from top left:

*Organic Dala horse tee in mulberry by maryink

*Pleasantly purple upcycled top {with vintage buttons! squeeee!} by Pandaloo

*Vintage lace screen printed organic tee by New Duds

*Two-piece magenta dress by Janey Clothing

Clockwise from top left:

*Plum Chrysanthemum clutch by Shakuyaku

*Suzie earrings by Kande

*Messenger bag/MacBook sleeve by Track and Field Designs

*Vintage plum cocktail ring by Kyle Anne Metals

Left to right:

*Plum silk screened napkins (set of 6) by Marywibis

*Two of Hearts bowls by Red Hot Pottery

*Shanghai Plum soap by Flowering Tree Botanicals

*Honeybird giclee print in purple by Yumi Yumi

As always, I had to throw some vintage and nature motifs in there, and I love including upcycled and organic picks, too. Whadda ya think? I am sooooo obsessed with that Honeybird print-- I've been eyeing it for months! And I think those purple napkins would be a great alternative to the typical orange 'n black Halloween table decor.

Enjoy & have a great week!

xxx,

Mrs. M

shades of fall: golden amber

Hello again darlings!

I'm in the process of updating my "big girl" wardrobe with some fabulous fall pieces but, I'm kind of sick of the same old ubiquitous browns and oranges. Don't get me wrong-- I love a beautiful chocolate brown but, I want to shake things up a bit with some bold color. Personally, I *love* rich jewel tones for autumn so, I'm gonna share some of my favorite finds with you in the seasonal shades I adore.

Warm yellows definitely remind me of fall-- I always think of golden chrysanthemums, which seem to be everywhere right now. These hues can vary greatly, from bright mustards and goldenrods to deeper shades of honey and amber. Here are some gorgeous golden-amber Etsy finds to inspire you....

*Jewelry*

Clockwise from top left:

*Hollywood Luxe earrings in Mandarin by Kristin Friesen

*amber ring by Nur Cirakoglu

*Cider necklace by that jewelry girl

*Little Beauties citrine earrings by Distinction Jewelry

*Accessories*

Clockwise from top left:

*Eco Toes in Golden Yellow by infusion

*Golden winter scarf by Kiamichi 7

*Migratory belt buckle by Flight Path Designs

*3 pocket leather wallet by the Fig Leaf

*Clothing*

Clockwise from top left:

*Rococo shawl by Tickled Pink Knits

*Mustard silk dress by forEvaMore

*Schoolbus cardigan by red boots design

*organic Autumn fern tunic by purusha people

So what do you think?

I especially love the natural motifs - like the leaf prints and migrating birds - plus the school reference and warm knits.... if these things don't say "fall", I don't know what does!

Enjoy!

xxx,

Mrs. M

fallin'

We've got 2 weeks until Autumn finally descends upon us, but after Labor Day summer is pretty much finished in my book. As much as I love fall in New England, I'm a little sad this year-- I feel like we were seriously jipped out of a real summer because of all the nasty, cool weather we had this year. Le sigh.


BUT after last weekend, I'm letting go of summer. Hubby and I had a 'last hurrah' in the frigid water at the beach, eating hamburgers off the grill and finally getting ice cream cones from Gellar's (the summer snack bar in our little town-- we've lived here for 4 months but, now I feel like a true Manomet-ian!).


I also treated myself to some new warmer duds and saw Rob Zombie's Halloween II, to get me in the mood for the season. It worked. I'm really looking forward to cool, crisp days, warm-hued leaves and making my Dr. Dakota Block Halloween costume, among lots of other things.


Here are some of my favorite fall-inspired picks from Etsy that I just had to share...

Clockwise from the top left:

~Mother and Child Aspen Leaf necklace by Elizabeth Scott Designs
~Tufted Titmouse by Robert Socha Photography
~Skeleton Leaf earrings by Roundabout Designs
~Acorn Tree by Laura Berger (check out her blog & flickr photostream too)


I don't know about you, but I *love* discovering new-to-me Etsy artisans and their work, then hoarding them in my ridiculously long favorite lists. I figure since I can't buy them all - which is exactly why I don't have a credit card - the least I can do is share them and hope you see something you like enough to buy. I heart supporting handmade awesomeness (and no, they don't pay me to say that).


Anywho, I've got lots to look forward to this fall-- how about you?


I'll be attending my second NY Harvest Festival & Freedom Fair on October 9th, which is a whole pile of interesting. I'll hopefully be able to catch the Wailers (!!!) and the always-funky George Clinton, too. Seeing the bright foliage throughout the Catskills is worth the trip alone.

Then on the 18th, I'll be going to my first ICP show in at least a year and I am so pumped for that! They might not be your cup of tea but, god damn do they put on a helluva show.

In between all these exciting events and Halloween of course, I would also love to squeeze in a few fall crafts (like Martha's simple-but-lovely autumn luminarias or another leaf craft of some sort) because I have been neglecting my poor crafty supplies since our move.

AND I want to go apple picking! I haven't been since I was a kid and I am just dying to go. I have been hanging onto PickYourOwn.org for months and I will definitely be checking that out for apple orchards, pumpkin patches and other agricultural fall fun 'round here. I can't wait to make some warm cinnamony-delicious desserts with apples I've picked myself-- it doesn't get much better than that!



Hope you're enjoying September thus far darlings!

xxx,
Mrs. M