HAPPINESS IS...

Rope Lamps

I made quite a few of these in summer camp. Don't these rope lamps remind you of friendship bracelets? But I'm sure these are a little more complicated!

P.S. Tonight is your last chance to enter the Tiny Prints Valentine giveaway!


{Images via The Best Part by Christian Haas}

Diane Von Furstenberg's Color Palette

It's delicious. Full of warm bold 70's colors. I want to paint my house in her entire Fall 2011 collection  :)


{Image via Lenorenevermore}

Getting Stuff Done

Thanks for the good moving vibes, my friends! With the exception of our dishes, food, and miscellaneous decorative items, everything is in the new house. I don't have a clue where anything is, and the monster job of unpacking and organizing is looming, but it does feel good to get the first stage done. Baby steps!


{Image via The Lovely Dove}

Moving Day

This photo says it all. I have a feeling it might play out in real life this weekend. Moving day is tomorrow and I'm not looking forward to it. This means I'll be packing like a mad woman tonight. But of course, after the move, comes the creativity and excitement of new spaces and beginnings. Yes!

Enjoy your weekend darlings! Here are a few links...

Free compliments... take one!

If only my shoes could be as organized as these.

Printable love paper chains for V-day.

A smokin' music video.

A sweet assortment of vintage minature paintings.

Wait, isn't water + wood a bad combo?

All staircases should be as fun as these.

Typography lovers will love this.

Peek into celebrity closets.

Wanna see what my new / old oven looks like?

 

And some posts of mine you may have missed...

• Shelving Made From Magazines
• Thoughts On Bicycles
• My Carbon Neutral Blog

{Images via The Simply Luxurious Life}

DIY - Corkboard Map

To keep track of travel dreams, here's a fantastic DIY that doubles as an interactive art piece. Learn how to craft a corkboard map with instructions and templates here.

When my great American road trip adventure day comes, I'll have to make this!


{Images via Oh, Mishka by Halligan Norris}

White Floors

While Hal was away at Sundance this past week, I hired a guy to paint the upstairs of our house before we move our furniture in on Saturday. The floors were an ugly mustard color. Since the walls are wood, we needed to lighten up the space. Against Hal's wishes, I chose white paint. When he came home yesterday, I got a mouthful:

Him: "I thought you weren't going to use white."

Me: "I made an executive decision. You weren't here."

Him: "They are going to get filthy."

Me: "I'll clean them!"

Him: "Why do you ask for my opinion if you never listen to me?"

Me: "I listened to you, but I really wanted white."

Have I ever told you that I'm stubborn?  :)  Do any of you have white floors?  Any tips of keeping them clean?


{Images via: 1. Design Shimmer; 2. Outside The Workroom; 3. Home Remodeling; 4. and 5. Door Sixteen; 6. Compulsively Compiled}

Neck Specs

L.O.V.E.


{Images by Jesophi}

Books of Art

How in the world does Isaac Salazar make these? Yay for us, he sells his Books of Art on Etsy. Pretty incredible, right?


{Images via Double Takes}

Alison Sudol & the Piano Phone

Thought you might enjoy this gorgeous video of Alison Sudol of A Fine Frenzy. It's a behind-the-scenes look at her photo shoot with Angela + Ithyle for the 3rd issue of Rue Magazine, giving us a peak inside her storybook cottage. Lovely loveliness.


{Image via Eliza Blog by Rue Magazine; Video by Shark Pig}

The Dinner Project

Have you ever wondered what 365 days of your dinners would look like? Mine would be pretty repetitive.

Astrid compiled a year's worth of her evening's meal into one book, The Dinner Project. She's self-publishing and selling it through the online book maker, Blurb. Such an amusing idea. Her other photo books reveal her Everyday Life and her view Looking Down.

If you made a compilation photo book, what would you document each day? 


{Image by Hei Astrid}

C'est Magnifique Wallpaper

Have you seen the latest batch of wallpapers from Anthro? They're so fun! Some of my favorites are C'est Magnifique, Stacked Paperback, Dreamscape Mural and Midsummer Night's.

Hmm.. for the new house. Wallpaper or paint? Wallpaper or paint? Decisions.


{Images by Anthropologie}

Galliano's Vintage Barbie Dolls

I'm head over heels in love with these looks by John Galliano during the Dior Spring 2011 Haute Couture show. Inspired by iconic 1940's illustrator, René Gruau, he turned his models into vintage Barbie dolls. Don't they look stunning with their fancy updos and bright red lips?


{Images via The Chloe Conspiracy by Yannis Vlamos / GoRunway.com}

Sponsor + Giveaway: Tiny Prints Valentines

I have a really special giveaway for you today! Tiny Prints, who I used for my holiday cards, is being oh-so generous. They are giving a lucky reader of mine $50 to spend on customizable Valentine's Day cards... and there are sooo many great designs to choose from. Wouldn't it be nice to send your dear ones some love this year?

Giveaway Instructions:

1. Please be a follower and/or subscriber of my blog.
2. Visit Tiny Prints & leave a comment below telling me your favorite card.
3. Additional entry: Tweet or Facebook about this giveaway & leave 2nd comment below.
4. Additional entry: Blog about this giveaway & leave a 3rd comment below.

A winner will be selected by Random.org and announced on this post after Monday, January 31st, midnight PST.

Best of luck, my loves!

** Congratulations Mollie of Eat, Run, Read! You were lucky number 34! Thanks to everyone who participated! **

Just Being Audrey

I came across these fantastic illustrations of Ms. Hepburn by Boston-based artist, Julia Denos. They are from Margaret Cardillo's book, Just Being Audrey, which would be such a sweet gift for the Audrey lover in your life. Aren't they darling?


{Images via Black Eiffel by Julia Denos}

MY Happy Thoughts - Part 6

I hope you all enjoyed last week's Collaborative Sketchbook Project posts!  I'm so proud to be a part of such a creative group of gals. If you missed them, visit Parts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

As promised, here are my happy thoughts: 2 favorite classic jazz albums, A Love Supreme by John Coltrane and Kind of Blue by Miles Davis.

Instead of a sketch, I wanted to try something completely different. I've always been fascinated with laser cutting, so why not? Initially, I decided on wood veneer, but it was a bit too thick for the book. Cozy gray felt was the next best choice.

I designed the typographic image and gave it to a laser company to cut. I'm thrilled with the results! Interestingly, after a few days, the edges started to brown, as seen in the middle photo. But I sort of like it. A vintage effect!

I think I'm going to make larger versions to hang on my wall. Maybe out of wood this time.

Do you like?  :)

A Thankful For Friends Party

Rosie and Rosella threw a lovely Thankful For Friends party with flea market finds and an assortment of desserts. It looks like a wedding or shower, but nope. Just showing appreciation for girlfriends... what better reason to celebrate?

Now that I have my own little backyard, I'd love to put together something like this for my ladies when the weather warms up.


{Images via Love and Lavender}

Happy Thoughts - Part 5

Here are the last 3 lovely blogger/artists who sent me their art for the Collaborative Sketchbook Project:

1. Margaret Maugoska of Kardamonium
2. Tali Schiffer of Imperfectly Perfect
3. Kristy Wilson of Kwil

To see the rest of the book, visit Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.

P.S. I'll show you MY contribution on Monday!

Chalkboard Globes

Wouldn't it be fun to have a chalkboard globe in your home? I would draw in the countries I've traveled to. This one from Blue Bell Bazaar has sold, but I imagine it'd be easy to make one yourself with chalkboard paint, right?


{Image via A Room Somewhere}

A Gold 60's Pantsuit

Jane pulled this incredible shimmery gold palazzo pantsuit out of her and her mom's closet. She put it up for sale in her vintage shop and if I wasn't spending all my money on my move, I'd snatch it up in a heartbeat to wear on stage. Those balloon sleeves did me in.


{Image by Sea of Shoes}

Happy Thoughts - Part 4

Here are the next 3 blogger/artists who contributed to the Collaborative Sketchbook Project:

1. Breanne of Flattery
2. Vanessa Adao of A Casa Da Va
3. Christina Desmet of DeSmitten

Visit Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 to see the rest!

Window Sills

What's on your window sill?


{Images via: 1. Natalie Kucken; 2. Gray Sky Morning; 3. Katie Baum; 4. Fyfeworks; 5. Cavaan; 6. Country Living; 7. Rockie Nolan; 8. Cinnamon}

Taking The Leap Together

This is so something Hal and I would do for our engagement photos. Except maybe off a taller bridge  :)

P.S. Her name is Shannon too!


{Images via Polka Dot Bride by Feather+Stone Photography}

Happy Thoughts - Part 3

Here are the next 3 blogger/artists who contributed to the Collaborative Sketchbook Project:

1. Dyan of Whimsy Being
2. Andrea Despot of The Lighthouse Keeper
3. Christine Utterberg of The Five Senses

Visit Part 1 and Part 2 if you have no idea what this is all about!

A Photographic Frieze

Wow. Spanish photographer, Eugenio Recuenco, transformed his models into an ancient marble sculpture. I'm sort of at a loss for words.


{Images via Eternally Cool}

The Poet's Loft

The gals from This Joy Ride spent their November in The Poet's Loft, a seaside rental retreat an hour or so north of San Francisco... to unwind, beach comb, bird watch, BBQ, play board games and watch the seals swim by. Next time I visit the Bay Area, I'm taking a detour!


{Images via 2 By Design by Shari & Sheri}

Happy Thoughts - Part 2

Please welcome the next 3 blogger/artists who contributed to the Collaborative Sketchbook Project:

1. Kirby Margaret of Colors of Honey
2. Carrie Hirdes of Pattern of Life
3. Brandi Hussey of Catie's Blue

Visit Part 1 if you missed it!

An Oven Or A Chair?

Or both? I personally prefer it as a fabulous vintage oven, but how fun is the chair? The door folds down and the top folds up for a snazzy lounge seat with ottoman. See how it looks with someone sitting in it.

Andy made it for his design school student project and sold it on Etsy for $250. Maybe he's friends with the guy who built the TV chair!


{Image via Recyclart}

Mint

I'm going to Home Depot tonight to pick out paint colors for mi casa nueva. We're sort of on a time crunch and would like to get everything painted before we move in. So I've been obsessing over wall colors. Let's just say my dreams have been very colorful lately :)

Mint is at the top of my list for the living room. Maybe paired with a chocolate trim and a white fireplace. I usually go for bold and bright, but for the first time in my life, I'm vibing softer muted hues.

Is mint too pastel or girly? We definitely have to be man-friendly here. What do you think?


{Images via: 1. House of Turquoise; and by: 2. Inez; 3. Mia Takahara; 4. Sfophoto; 5. Love Miss B; 6. Krista Palmu}

Happy Thoughts - Part 1

I've lost my dining room table in a pile of paper scraps, glue and bubble wrap, but I've finally finished putting together the Collaborative Sketchbook Project and sent it off to New York! I'm proud to say, it turned out beautifully and surprisingly cohesive.

As promised, each day this week I'll be showing you the work of 3 talented blogger/artists who sent me their sketches, paintings, collages, photos, and creative genius on paper, with the theme, Happy Thoughts:

1. Yee Von Chan of Yee Von's Illustrations
2. Amy Benson of No. 15
3. Leila Brewster of Olive Juice Photography

Port Townsend

I finally got a bunch of photos off my camera and I found these images of our day trip to Port Townsend last weekend. If you are unfamiliar, it's a quaint little seaside village a few hours north of Seattle. It's where they shot Officer and a Gentleman.

Hal and I did some thrifting in town and some cheese tasting at Mt. Townsend Creamery. We walked away with some limited edition black truffle & sea salt cheese, crackers, almonds and a bottle of brew to share. We parked our car along the rocky shore, snapped a few pictures, and enjoyed the picnic on a bench overlooking the bay. It was such a perfect day  :)

Triple Celebrations

One good thing about having your birthday on a Wednesday, is you get triple celebrations. The weekend before, the actual day, and the weekend after. You gotta milk it! So I'm visiting my folks for some necessary spoilage :)

Have a extraordinary weekend sweeties! Here are some links...

 

Google search term pillows.

I must learn how to do this with my hair.

Printable DJ request cards.

Looking down is fun.

The Ferris Bueller dream home.

A cool climbing wall.

125 satellite swimming pools.

What you can do with a thrifted faux fur.

Cheese tasting once a week? Must try.

7 tips for an uncluttered closet.

And some posts of mine you may have missed...

• Women Who Wear Purple
• Breakfast Time
• The Forever Blanket

{Image via Runaway Gallery}

A Floating Branch Clothing Rack

In my new home, I get a little room all to myself! It will be a walk-in closet / office / music room. A Shannon room. I'm stoked! I'll show photos soon, but it's located upstairs where the ceilings slant and the walls have beautiful wood paneling. It's very rustic, cozy and cabin-like.

I'm thinking of making these floating branch clothing racks. If I can pull it off, my branch obsession will be finally be satisfied. They would look perfect up there, especially painted white. Aren't they the prettiest?


{Images via Style Files by Love Aesthetics}

Keys To My New Home!

Remember when I asked you if I should move into this little cottage?  And then after deciding to go for it, the landlady never called us back?  And then I teased you earlier this week about some good news? Well my loves, if you haven't guessed already, the house is ours. The landlady finally came to her senses and last night gave us the keys to our new home!

What a wonderful birthday present, right?  The last few weeks have been quite emotional, but I'm finally able to put the uncertainty to rest and start a fresh new stage in my life. We move in at the end of the month and I couldn't be happier.


{Image by Kalea Molloy}

A Hobbit House In The Trees

Doesn't this house look like it's straight out of Lord of the Rings? Except it's in Portland, not Middle Earth :) What a fantastical abode.


{Images via Home Reviews by Robert Harvey Oshatz}

Saving The Date With Household Objects

Perhaps Nina and Mitch got engaged in a thrift store. Or had a vintage themed wedding. Or maybe, they just had a bunch of random objects lying around their house and decided to put them to good use. For amusement purposes, I'm sort of hoping it's the latter.

Isn't this a super clever way to announce your big day?


{Image via Wolf Eyebrows}

The Tarot

Thank you for your birthday wishes yesterday!

I didn't do anything grandiose this year, but the highlight was dinner at one of my favorite cabaret restaurants, The Pink Door. Since it was a Wednesday, they didn't have their normal burlesque performance or trapeze artist flying over the dining room. But they did have Eugenia Van Vliet, a renowned tarot card reader.

My honey got me a birthday reading. Now Hal doesn't believe in psychics, but he does believe in having a strong sense of perception or intuition. Call it what you will, he knows I love getting my fortune told!

I shuffled the cards and she placed them down one by one to decipher their symbols and meaning. The session was long and her predictions are a blur, but it was overwhelmingly positive. If I put in the effort, I will be rewarded in 2011. My break-out year.

Had she not known it was my birthday, would I have gotten such a stellar reading? Who knows. But what I do know... she gave me hope. I can't imagine a better birthday gift than that  :)

Have you ever gotten a tarot card reading?


{Images via Ben Trovato by Sofia Ajram}

A Happy Birthday To Me!

Hello my darlings. I'll be taking the day off to celebrate being born.

P.S. This is me. On my 2nd birthday!

Summer In Winter

I have a friend in Australia right now. Living and working there for a couple of months. Lucky girl, right? So I'm wishing I was with her, half way around the world, prancing in the sun, soaking up the rays, living up summer in winter.

Okay... back to reality. It's January.


{Images by Wendi Nordeck}

Life Calendars

I used to have a set of magnetic faces for my refridgerator. It came with a red box for me to place over the emotion I was feeling that day.

This life calendar reminds me of that, but I love how you can track your mood over an entire year. If you find you have more frowns than smiles, you know something is wrong. It's the first of a series by Brigada Creativa. I'm curious to see what other kinds of life calendars they come out with.

Tell me friends, how has your day been going? Happy face, meh face, sad face?


{Image via Zoot}

A Wedding Dress of Twisted Fabric

The idea of having a wedding dress made out of two 4-meter long pieces of fabric is so appealing. This bride was able to twist the dress any number of ways so she could decide spur of the moment how to wear it. It turned out perfect.

Personally, I would want it all figured out beforehand, but what a thrill for girls who like to be impulsive. Would you wear a dress like this?


{Images via Once Wed by Garth Badger}

Branches As Headboards

I am all about this. Hanging a large tree branch on the wall where a headboard would be. It's like falling asleep in the forest  :)  Almost.


{Images via Style Files}

Studies In Landscapes & Wardrobes

This series by Canadian photographer, Karin Bubas, gives me the creeps. The good kind.

She took her inspiration from 50's and 60's film, particulary Alfred Hitchcock's cinematography and Michelangelo Antonioni's depiction of seemingly lost women, aiming to "explore the tension that exists between the female figure and the environments they inhabit".

Now I'm feeling the urge to curl up under a blanket and watch "The Birds". What is your favorite Hitchcock movie?

{Images via I'll Seen, I'll Said by Karin Bubas}

Flurries

I woke up to light snow flurries this morning. It's beautiful. Such a peaceful way to begin the week.

How was your weekend? Mine flew by! I have some great news which I'm going to keep my mouth shut about until the ink is dry. I'm 99% positive it will fly, but I have a tendency to prematurely spill beans here! Hint. It may or may not have something to do with this, but you didn't hear it from me!  ;)

P.S. Don't you love the word, flurries? 


{Image via Log Home by Heidi Long}

A Busy Bee

I've got a wonderfully full weekend ahead of me. Tonight, I'm doing a little baking with some girlfriends. Cupcakes perhaps! Saturday, Hal and I will be escaping the city to Port Townsend for the day to celebrate my birthday next Wednesday. Woo! And Sunday, I'll be putting the finishing touches on the Collaborative Sketchbook Project. So I'll be a busy bee. But a happy busy bee.

Are you up to anything special? Have a great one and enjoy the weekend links...

Grape salsa? I think so.

Throw a party like an open house.

Paris vs. New York. Who wins?

The greatest thing since sliced bread.

Track your goals for 2011.

Die and go to artichoke heaven.

Cute socks.

Three closet organization tips.

A defense tower turned modern home.

Designer trivets for your teapot.

 

And some posts of mine you may have missed...

• A Swing Lamp
• Cashmere Sweater Cuffs
• Color Berlin

 

{Image via EMTsweetie}

Book Clutches

We read Lolita for my book club, so this lovely little clutch has captured my heart.

However, I will probably never carry one, because Olympia Le-Tan only makes 16 of them per book design, with the first edition made by the designer herself. Natalie is one of the lucky few! :)


{Images via Wish Wish Wish by Olympia Le-Tan}

Music Genre Posters

Loving this poster series curated by Edit. Each limited edition screen-printed poster was designed by a different artist. They were asked to represent a music genre using only one shape and one typeface. See the rest here. I imagine this would be a harder task than it seems... trying to visualize something audible without being cliche.

Which music genre would you hang on your wall?  :)


{Images via Edits By Edits by: 1. Manuel Creative; 2. Leterme Dowling; 3. Sane & Able}

Walkable Neighborhoods

I learned from my friend Brock, an HGTV real estate expert, that walkable neighborhoods have happier people. I definitely do miss the walkability of my old apartment on Main Street, Santa Monica.

Do you live where you can walk to shops, cafes, and restaurants?


{Image by Ellen Von Unwerth}

An Urban Parasol Forest

The citizens of Cordova, Spain are so lucky to have this cheerful public space. It was just completed last year by Paredespino Architects. The parasols were designed for people to lounge below for shade, or sit upon for sun.

Wouldn't you love to have something like this in your city?


{Images via Lenore Nevermore by Jorge López Conde and Paredes Pino}

Gourmet Grilled Cheese

Beware: this post contains an abundance of drool-inducing cheesy goodness that may cause serious appetite gain and incessant tummy grumbling.

Back when my mom threw her annual Halloween party, she put together a grilled cheese bar. With 3 different types of breads, spreads, cheeses, and a plethora of other ingredients to choose from. Everyone's individual tastes were more than satisfied.

And now I've come across a goldmine of gourmet grilled cheese recipes! MacKenzie makes some seriously inventive adaptations of the loved childhood sandwich. Heat up a bowl of tomato soup and dig in.

What is your favorite grilled cheese variation? 


{Images by Grilled Cheese Social}

Hidden Animal Teacups

How am I just now discovering these? Drink your tea and a little fox, owl, or bear will appear in your cup. Simply darling!


{Images via Me and Alice by Imm-Living}