Lovely Present

What a nice surprise to find this awesome postal-inspired collage in my mailbox on Saturday - big thanks to Valerie in New Jersey!

I recently participated in an art exchange through some friends, which entails simply making a piece of art and mailing it to the appropriate person on the participant list. I sent the collage below (which also became a notecard set over in the etsy shop) to a certain Adrienne in Chi-town.

New collage cards!

New collage cards added to the etsy shop! See more over here.

Wild-scapes

Maybe I've spent a bit too much time at the computer this week and not enough time outside. These trippy, paint-by-numbers-gone-wild landscapes by under-the-radar American painter Charles Burchfield are feeling just right to me this morning!

Hoot

Sweet but not saccharine, these animal-meets-object illustrated cards by Screech Owl Design, a Brooklyn-based artist duo, are making me smile this morning. Especially the almost-trompe l'oeil arctic fox and snowy owl pair, below. Enjoy!

Wooden Bones

Brooklyn-based illustrator Fanny B is so immensely talented, her work so quirkily charming, that it just blows me away. I came across her work when I discovered Backyard Bill's blog a while back, and was initially taken in with these dreamy collages featuring autoharp-toting gals (and Dolly!).

But I highly, highly suggest you float on over to her blog, Wooden Bones, to check out many other delights, such as a painting series chronicling the fashion adventures of a certain sock monkey named Lemon Winterbottom. Yes, that's right.

Hello? Retro-Cuteness Calling!

I randomly came across Lab Partner's etsy shop recently and am now completely enamored with their work. A pet-loving design/illustration duo based in San Francisco, they have collaborated with Hello Lucky! letterpress studio and Monocle magazine, among others. I originally fell for their excellent San Francisco print, but I couldn't resist posting these retro charmers, from a limited edition series for a Hunt & Gather show in Australia. There are so many tasty tidbits over on their site, including a couldn't-be-cuter pair of animal pen pals, so be sure to have a look!

doorways to another world

Today's inspirations fill me with wanderlust. I can just imagine coming across one of these doors after a long journey and being invited in to an exotic courtyard for a cup of mint tea. They just don't make 'em like they used to!

From the seemingly-defunct site Doorways Around The World.

Country Roads, Take Me (Away From) Home

Thought I would share a few images from our anniversary weekend trip to the North Fork of Long Island, home to about 40 wonderful wineries of varying sizes. We stayed in the seaside town of Greenport, New York, at the minimally chic Greenporter Hotel. We then rented bikes, packed up a baguette-and-cheese picnic, and wine-tasted our way through the nearby towns of Southold and Peconic, where we visited the charming Lenz Winery, whose tasting room is housed in an lofty old potato barn, and the aptly-named Tasting Room, which carries several local vineyards in one place. Our favorite spot was the tiny, family-run Old Field Vineyards, pictured here at top and second from top, at right, where you can sip on the well-crafted Cabernet Francs and Merlots in a cutely-refurbished former chicken coop.

For anyone who lives in the city, loves wine, and is looking for a quick, easy getaway we couldn't recommend it more!

Monday Fun

Fantastical paper sculptures by Dutch artist Ferry Staverman. Currently on view at the Museum of Arts and Design's "Slash: Paper Under the Knife" exhibit.

happy anniversary, my love

One year ago Sunday, we tied the knot on tropical sands, surrounded by family and friends, complete with a rainbow in the background and a killer post-ceremony sunset... It's been an amazing year. I love you!


Photos courtesy of life magical, aka Minwin, who has been truly blessed with talent.

Random Happy Things

Citron yellow classic telephone from Sweet Bella


Felted soap from anthropologie


Retro-chic Tony Duquette 1951 Paris Snowflake Screen


This amazing 1790s copper tub, seen over on Apartment Therapy

Happy Birthday to *me*!

My awesome husband served me banana and chocolate chip pancakes in bed this morning, and tonight he's taking me on a "movie date" to see Where the Wild Things Are - it's gonna be a good day!