Shiny happy shoppers

Today I was reading Oh, hello, friend and Danni linked to a BEAUTIFUL etsy shop. Proteales.

In this shop are amazing one of a kind jewelry pieces. They are all so unique and...well... just perfect. I have not coveted a piece of jewelry as much as I have this dirty butterfly ring. (that's what it's called, I am not adding my own editorial)

Ahhh, it is so dainty, I could imagine adding to my gardening street cred with such a ring.

The topaz necklace would be perfect for someone with a November birthday....hint, hint.

At Oh, hello, friend there is a giveaway going on right now for a $40 gift certificate to be used at Proteales, make sure you check out the shop and then enter the contest!

Also, the Oh, hello, friend shop is not too shabby, make sure you stop by there too.

Morocco

At my work there is a lunch buffet that serves Indian food. It always smells delicious but today it was particularly pungent and sent me reeling with memories...because it smelled exactly like Morocco.

We took a trip to Morocco this last fall, and it has taken me until recently to fully appreciate the beauty of Morocco. The best thing about travelling (at least for me) is the way it tests and develops your patience, mental nimbleness and acceptance. And those traits were truly exercised in Morocco. From the moment we arrived in Morocco to the time we left we were most definitely out of our comfort zone, more than I ever have been before while travelling. We certainly enjoyed exploring and experiencing their culture, but it all occurred with a bit of an edge. But now that I've gained some distance from the experience I can remember all the beauty and exoticness of Morocco...and especially my favorite part that brought me back today...THE SPICES!

At the markets and in the shops the spices are laid out in these huge containers and you end up having a multi-sensory experience. You can smell them, look at their bold colors and even taste them in the air. I stopped every single time we walked by a spice vendor to enjoy the experience.

Here are some of my favorite photos from the trip, some that show the interesting aspects of Morocco and some that humbly try to show its beauty.

What is your favorite part about traveling? What challenging places have you been to?

Feathers

Feathers have been on the fashion forefront lately (well for perhaps they have been there fror a while, I'm behind the trend okay?) and I am always on the lookout for a great accessory.

Ergo....Shoes.

To the untrained eye, that might look like a strange segue, but let me enlighten you. I am not a shoe-shopaholic, but I do appreciate a unique and beautiful shoe. A few years ago I was shopping in the city and stopped in at Aldo. On the clearance rack they had this beautiful brown suede flat with a small feather pouf on the toe, it was so simple and elegant, I loved them. Unfortunately there was only one pair (clearance rack remember?) and they were size 5, which if anyone cares, is not my shoe size. So, I committed the shoe to memory and have been searching ever since.

Now, back to the feathers. I have seen the feather hair accessory become popular, I have seen feathers on clothes and jewelry and am patiently waiting for them to hit the shoe arena...and well this is what I have to quench my thirst.

SHOE CLIPS!

Feathers and Frills Simple Peacock A Touch of Blue

I didnt even know these existed! there are tons of handmade feather clips on Etsy. Most of the clips are "meant" for weddings and brides (or at least labeled as such), but I dont see why they couldnt be worn all the time. Why save all the fun for one day in your life? What a fun way to dress up your current shoe closet!

Envy Green Curled Peacock Chocolate Mousse

And these are my favorite!

Title photo via oreilly digital media

Book Cover Postcards

As I'm sure will become readily apparent as this blog continues, I am quite a sucker for books and many things book related.

And, not so apparent or obvious to those on this blog, is a decorating trick I have used as of late to frame inexpensive cards and postcards, as a way of sprucing up my art collection in a very cheap way.

Well then, along came this Postcards from Penguin Collection...which combined the two interests very nicely. The collection uses artwork from vintage Penguin Classics books and gathers them all together in a collection of 100 diferent postcards. Even the box they come in looks like a book!

Okay, to be honest, I'm not exactly sure what I would do with 100 postcards, but I'm pretty sure that out of 100 I could find some pretty great vintage book covers to frame. And at the rate of $16.50, why not try it out?!

Dwell Studio

I am a huge fan of Dwell Studio, after discovering them last year. I am always impressed with their unique color usage in a minimalistic but creative way. I have also seen some pieces in action, they are very well made and use interesting texture. Even so, I quickly put any ideas of owning such bedding away when I saw the prices. (They were a bit out of my range.)





This Chinoiserie Duvet Set is still my favorite.




Then last week, I was totally surprised and very happy to find out Dwell Studio was collaborating with Target to put out a more affordable collection! (It is apparently their second time working with Target). It came out on Sunday and today I had my first look. Here are some highlights of the beautiful collection.





The last duvet with the birds is my favorite, although it does not quite match our current decor, I think I can make it work.



Can I also take a quick minute to say that in the last year Target has totally blown me away in their designer collaborations. I was used to their Issac Mizrahi collections, which seemed to stick around forever and frankly became a little bit boring, but have been pleased that in the last year they have brougt in Anna Sui, Tracy Feith, Orla Kiely and Rodarte to create stunning and beautiful collections at really great prices. Although its not as much fun shopping in Target as it is at specialty boutiques, if they keep stocking such great and creative pieces, I will keep going. A little tip on shopping these designer collections: They almost always sell out online (especially the clothing collections) but if you see something you like online check in stores, they will usually have it in stores much longer than they would online.

More Cows!!

WHYYYY! I know that is what you are thinking, but the timing of this find is so impeccable I could not avoid it. After my cow laden post earlier today I was directed via http://www.kissthegroom.com/ to a shop called CHEWING THE CUD!! I probably never would have paid attention to this previously but it was such a coincidence that I could not resist.





The shop itself has some nice fabric, including fabric gift wrap which is pretty cool and some very pretty cards. And I love their about section where they explain the reason for the name...sadly, no cow references...nor any cows in the shop...but still, a good store. http://www.chewingthecud.com/





Image via: http://blogs.abcnews.com/worldview/2008/09/bovine-burps-go.html

Cheer Up!

This week has been a bit yucky and stressful for me, so here are some Etsy faves of mine that should cheer everyone right up!

This is from blissfulimages shop, I love the dreamy look and color contrast of all her photos...one day that will be me. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15572726

Claudia Varosio makes these fun movie posters from cult classics and old favorites. While I really like them all, this one made ma laugh out loud. I think mostly because the most memorable skating scene involves manure...weird I know, but manure comes from cows...and well from there you should just reference my last picture. (Hint: kissing cows!) http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=40578582

At Enormouschampion, they make great cards, but this one is still my favorite...I guess because I always hum the tune when I see it. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=40099647

These are a bit out of my price range, but they are so creative, I'll just imagine all the outfits I could make so much more interesting with these leg warmers. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34804771

Terrariums are my new fun thing to make, they are pretty simple and make a great gift. I have yet to make one as crisp looking as this one, so instead I stare at it and try to visualize making a beautiful terrarium like this one. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=40571042

I think if I owned this towel, I would make the BF read it out loud to me every day...while I imagine that Mr. Darcy is about to take me off to Pemberly. I could someday be a grand lady of the English countryside! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=40590476

And finally....KISSING COWS!! I have been coveting this print forever, I absolutely love it. About once a week I will think about this print and it never fails to make me smile...except when I try to think aobut if cows ever actually look this sweet with eachother...then I just pretend that there are always kissing cows. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33644883

I feel much better now...seriously, kissing cows, how can you go wrong?

Dodge Charger Superbowl Commercial: Women's Response

I cannot imagine I was the only one insulted by the array of Superbowl commercials this year, and frankly the insult was not limited to one single sex. Most commercials managed to insult men and women at the same time, by using very simple stereotypes and no creativity. The Dodge Charger ad: Man's Last Stand, was one of the most memorable. (For those who have not seen it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RyPamyWotM&feature=related).

I love the response video above. Script below via http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/sexist/2010/02/11/if-the-dodge-charger-made-ads-for-oppressed-women/

I will get up and pack your lunch at 6:30 a.m. I will eat half a grapefruit for breakfast. I will get the kids ready for school. I will ignore your smelly loser friend who is crashing on our couch. I will make 75 cents for every dollar you make doing the same job. I will assert myself and get called a bitch. I will catch you staring at my breasts but pretend not to notice. I will put my career on hold to raise your children. I will diet, Botox, and wax. Everything. I will assure you that size doesn’t matter. I will be a lady in the street but a freak in the bed. I will turn a blind eye to your ever-encroaching baldness. I will humor your Fantasy Baseball obsession. I will pretend not to notice when you cry at the end of Rudy. I will watch TV shows where fat, stupid, unattractive men have beautiful wives. I will allow you to cheat on me with other women. I will see Paul Blart: Mall Cop. Twice. I will elect male politicians who will make a decision about my body. I will listen to Rush and tell you, yes, if there were a gold metal for air-drumming, you would win it. I will get angry, and you will ask if it’s that time of the month. I will watch Superbowl commercials that depict men as emasculated and depressed, and I will feel so fucking sorry for you.

So, the response video uses stereotypes and may be perpetuating the problem, but unlike the original ad which complains about a percieved emasculization of men, this one addresses real cultural problems, such as the wage gap and beauty standards and brings up some interesting political issues. Its a very smart response to a larger issue of sexism and the need to sort everyone into their perceived gender roles.

Books, Books and More Books!

So this past year these books designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith were a big seller. I has these on my christmas wish list the second they came out. I collected a few and I love them.

And now I have some more beautiful books to add to my list. I saw images of these books in various places the last few weeks and I could not figure out where they came from, but finally I found them. They are Barnes and Noble Leatherbound Classics and they are amazing..

There are about 20 different books in the collection so far, and the above are just a few of my favorites. This picture does not really do the Alice and Wonderland edition justice, I saw it in the store and the pink is outstanding.



Here is an illustration from Arabian Nights and I love that the page edges are gold embossed.

I'm not usually one to support the large chain bookstores, but I love the way B&N added new life and beauty to these older classics, they make me want to curl up and read.

Images of Coralie Bickford Smith books via: http://www.doobybrain.com/2008/11/20/penguin-hardcover-book-designs-by-coralie-bickford-smith/

Images of Barnes & Noble Leatherbound Classics via: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/discount-books-bargains-classics/379001146