yesterday

fall is really pretty in michigan. i need to keep my camera out.



also, I've spotted this neat lil' necklace at Anthropologie that would be nice if I could make myself... hmm... I think it's actually possible. Even if you're not Laura.

what inspires you?

This is an assortment of things I've found and liked. And some of course, are just photos I've taken.
1. DIY Terrarium - I've been talking about doing one of these for years, and I think it's time I've buckled down and put together some of these ongoing ideas and projects. I found this Sprout Home video demonstration on Design Sponge that was really helpful and motivating. Now, let's see if it will work... :) I like mosses and clovers but I thought a succulent terrarium may be nice as well. Click on the title to see the video.

2. ban.do - There are so many nice designs here that you should check out. Or perhaps they will inspire you to create something entirely new! This one is $200. I've been seeing these (in particular, the feathers) as bridesmaids details, which is a really nice idea.

3. Handmade wreaths - this one is from L's home. I'm not sure if it was handmade or not, but it looks like the colored wire was added to the branches. It's a good idea to add something to a bought wreath, and I thought this one looked really sweet. Click on the title to go to L's inspiring blog.

4. coco, walking through the grass. She's an indoor cat, but I sometimes let her go on vacation.

5. Sophie Theallet - Sophie is a french fashion designer with a sophisticated, bohemian sense of style. I love many of her designs, which I will show you in another collage. She designed for Jean-Paul Gaultier, and now has her own line Motu Tane, named after a Tahitian island.

feeling cold.

This would feel nice right now. I like the vintage buttons as well. This is probably the only thing I could knit. Maybe I should get my needles out and see what I come up with.

$50 from THROATKOAT on Etsy.

dear you,

dear you,

my limbs only extends so far, but where they end,
may they reach to the foreign lands of thee.

in sea, where sounds are swollen, we can harmonize with the sounds of this earth.
until then, I will send you another postcard to accompany this time.

sweetly,
yours.

between wet leaves and the sky.

I'm settled in with coco in this little nest o' mine. fall is surrounding my yard, dangling it's cold hands onto me. I cannot seem to get warm. You would think with all it's warm tones it would feel cozier. How deceiving. :)

time for tea.

do you want to look fancy?

I have begun an amazing collection of delicate, handmade necklaces. They all have a nostalgic feel to them with their weathered gold.

We were in a waiting room when Laura and I first spotted this looking through a magazine. When we realized that they were made with zippers, we thought it was actually a feasible project for us. And as usual, before I knew it Laura had created a masterpiece. In a little yellow box on my birthday, I found this necklace she made. If you're looking for holiday ideas, It's a perfect gift for someone. Write her early so she can custom make one for you! Find Laura here.



kate cusack has a beautiful collection that you can see on her website. This one looks like shells to me.

did you draw still lifes?

I love these calendars from Jill Bliss. I think her drawings are so sweet and thoughtfully articulated. It inspires me to create my own. I wish I could be so talented, or patient! Here's a calendar from a previous year that I have, or you can check out her latest at buy olympia: here.

also, another sweet photo of darling Gabriella.

Vegan Butternut Squash Soup

I found this recipe from chow vegan, which had this beautiful photo to go with it.


Makes a generous 2 cups

1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 small onion, minced
1 med carrot, sliced
1 small butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into cubes
1/2″ fresh ginger, minced
2 cups hot water
1 cube vegan vegetable bouillon dissolved in the water
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 heaping tablespoons silken tofu
1 stalk green onion, chopped
1-2 pieces baked tofu, cubed

In a large pot, heat the oil until hot, add the onions and saute until translucent. Add the squash and carrots and saute for about 30 seconds. Add the water, ginger and spices.

Bring to a boil, cover and turn down to low. Cook for about 18 minutes or until the squash is soft. Add the tofu and puree until smooth. Ladle into bowls and garnish with green onions and baked tofu croutons if desired. Serve immediately.

So I made it the other day for Z & I, and did what I could with what he had in his kitchen. I didn't have the cayenne, tofu, or green onion and it was still so delicious and surprisingly filling! Oh, we didn't have ginger either, but z went out and bought some today for the next squash. i think cumin is usually a nice addition as well. Fall is the perfect soup season.

Estate sales

S called me this morning to go to some estate sales, and where we have had a couple good days, most of the time it's a very dusty and expensive disappointment. But it's worth the few, amazing discoveries we've had. This is what we first saw, and decided to make the trek. Lots of sewing stuff, and music gear!







I ended up with buttons, zippers and more chairs! Z took two of them, and I will be rotating some of my others out soon. They went from $125 for all four, to $40!

Check here for future sales in your area.

haa cute.

the design of Ikea.

I took my mom to IKEA today since she's been talking about going for ages, and I figured what better day to go then on a rainy and cold one like today. I lost her the moment I stepped foot inside the doors, so I ventured on alone. I carried around the power surge cords most of the time, until suddenly I did see something I actually really liked:

It actually looks much nicer in person. It reminded me of all the old danish credenza's I've been looking to buy for my house. Although, I would still much rather have a vintage original, I thought this one was pretty nice for $299. I also really liked:

This also reminds me of some old furniture I've liked, and it would match my lil' side table from the estate sale. It costs $199.

These are bowls I should've bought Coco $4. These are by swedish designers Sissi Edholm &
Lisa Ullenius, who have a collection of designs you would recognize from their fabrics and tins at Ikea. Take a look at their website : Edholm Ullenius.


Here's another nice design, which I do not think details any Ikea merchandise.


my one-day DATA flatware $30:

a neat BOJA light $60:

A pillow that had a really nice design of two birds, which you can't see here. It's by Petra Börner, who has lots of really nice designs. You should check her out here. JORAN pillow $15:

Here are a couple other examples of her designs. She has some really amazing details in her work that can only be the product of an immense amount of creativity and patience! :



That's all for my Ikea adventure. I ended up getting two big knives, some sheets, blueberry tea (sounded interesting) and a power surge cord. :) Oh, and I got a lamp so I can shine that daylight on my computer screen when I'm working on photos. I think I should probably invest in something a little more professional though. That day will come soon.

in our second home.

I have catalogs of my life, documented with photos. They rest, untouched in a vault where I occasionally peruse and recreate my memories that are kinda slipping away as each birthday comes and goes.

I found this trip we took to Chicago not that long ago, amongst the piles, and it made me miss summer already. Someday I'll find older photos of times I really have forgotten and share those with you. :)

I love Laura's cabinet with shells in it. She bought me a different variation of these sea urchins for my birthday. They will someday rest in a cabinet like this. (thank you, Laura!).

birthday gifts continued...

Laying in a little black box with a tiny gold ribbon on the very edge of my pillow, was my gift from my roommate, mb. I didn't even notice the tag, which read Laura Lombardi Jewelry. I would've easily known what it was, as I've been eyeing her beautiful jewelry ever since my friend Devon put it on her blog. I still can't believe mb got me this!!!:




thank you for doing something so thoughtful. I will cherish this forever. heart, e