Christmas

Christmas is in a week and here in Pennsylvania there's a snowstorm! I think we already have 12 inches on the ground and it's not supposed to stop snowing for another 12 hours. Since I can't go anywhere, I figured it would be a good time to update on all of these Christmas-related things:



I bought 99 cent stockings from Target and cut out our monograms from felt. This was a fun and really cheap craft that I can re-use next year (if Rob is lucky).





On the way to New York City with the Yanchuks, we saw this crazy car.


My adorable Santa Clause mug!


We didn't get a Christmas tree, so I made a little Christmas tree garland for the living room. I just used scrap material (from wrapping paper, cardboard, felt and a Forever 21 bag).

Paper Cuts

Helen Musselwhite is a British artist who uses paper as her craft. She's created hundreds of images from cut paper, many of which are woodland scenes. I think these would look good hanging in any part of the house, especially a child's bedroom.

Birds

I made a wallpaper of twin birds, currently not speaking to each other. Click on it for the full size.

Swiss Cheese Makers

From swissmiss:

The Book about Swiss Cheese Makers began as an editorial project for a journalist friend. "I expected this to be an agricultural trip, meeting people who make a living through the production of cheese in a more or less industrial way," Scheffold confesses."But far from it: I met unorthodox lateral thinkers, visionary fellows, modest canny and successful people living and working in some of the most spectacular landscapes of Switzerland. Some sell their products abroad, inventing a new cheese every other month, some work exactly as they have learned from their fathers, now sometimes just selling to hikers visiting their remote location by chance. But all of them seemed to follow an individual vision they are not willing to betray for growth and money."

“Swiss Cheese Makers“, by Fabian & István Scheffold & Vizner, Switzerland

Andy Warhol Photography

The Paul Kasmin Gallery in New York is displaying 70 of Andy Warhol's Polaroid photographs. They were taken between 1977 and 1983 and feature some familiar objects. Hype Beast has a few more of the Polaroids, but check out the Kasmin Gallery to see all 70! I love these.






Paul Kasmin Gallery
511 27th Street New York, New York
through January 10, 2009

Folded Photographs

Abigail Reynolds is an English artist who created this "folded photograph" series. I'm usually good at realizing how art was created, but I'm not entirely sure how Ms. Reynolds put all of this together. I commend her on her ability to plan something like this.

Finn Juhl

Finn Juhl (what a great name) was a Danish furniture designer, industrial designer, and architect, and also one of the primary figures in the creation of "Danish design" in the 1940s and 1950s.

Two of Juhl's sofas will be reintroduced to the market by Danish company OneCollection. Both designs are from the early 1950s and are great examples of Juhl's style.






I'm not sure on the cost, but expect for it to be out of your price range. Love these sofas!

Fred Flare

Fred Flare is an online store (and now have a real storefront somewhere in NYC) with the cutest things for sale. They have little coin pouches shaped like french fries and cake and jewelry with castles and treasure chests.

Today I came across this reversible sweatshirt. How clever and typically cute of Fred Flare!

Wedding Blogs For Daily Life

A few months ago I got into reading wedding blogs. This is unusual since I'm not engaged or married. My boyfriend thinks it's weird. But what I like about them is the constant display of creativity at its finest. The weddings featured are young creative couples who would only naturally use that talent for their wedding day.

There are a lot of reasons to look at these blogs if you're not engaged or married. The wedding details can be used for so many other events, parties or just daily life.


Flowers are the number one reason to look at these blogs. There are cute ideas for arrangements that you can use in your home any day of the year.


Because flowers are centerpieces at weddings, the new ideas never stop. I love the use of these old tins for vases.


How about the idea of using a hollowed out short log for a vase? Very cool, I especially like the carved initials.


I like these homemade cards, they could be used for any occasion!


Cute little stitching, it would make a good Valentine's or Anniversary gift.


If you're the kind of person that has dinner parties, this is a great twist on traditional name cards.


Well I always love creative stationary.


I'm all about this outdoor setup. Food is something I didn't focus on this time around, but wedding blogs are awesome for recipes and food styling.

Favorite wedding blogs: Green Wedding Shoes, Once Wed, and 100 Layer Cake.

Birthday

Tuesday was Rob's 31st birthday and I think I had a nice day for him. He's not a birthday person so I just wrapped up his presents and didn't plan anything for dinner. We ended up making pizza and drinking scotch and black cherry soda/whiskeys!


Here's a little craft idea. I had a gift bag and a gift to put in the bag, but no tissue paper left over. Lucky for me, the liquor store had just put my bottle of wine in a nice brown paper bag. I cut the bag into thin strips and crumpled them up to use as filler to hide the gift. I think they even sell this stuff at craft stores, but you can so easily make it yourself.



I made a little cross-stitch to encourage Rob's good mood for the year.




This banner didn't take long to make and it was so cute. String, colored stock paper, tape and glue!

Country

I spent Friday night at my Dad's house with him, my brother (Ian), Ian's best friend (Mike) and Rob. We all live in urban areas now and had a great time just being in the backyard. Hopefully someday I will grow a garden like my Dad's. It's not too big but he has packed so many vegetables and flowers in there.


Rob standing amongst some landscaping. I'll mention that tomorrow, August 11th, is Rob's birthday. My favorite dude will be 31!

Houses

Via Design*Sponge:

The husband and wife bloggers of Sweet Juniper! live in Detroit and are interested in its constant decay. I've seen many photosets of abandoned houses in the Detroit area, but this one is a little different. It's a collection of houses that the writer says are "feral" and have reverted to being wild in nature.








There are more pictures here. I've also had a lifelong love for abandoned houses and buildings. Most people do, it's fascinating to see a structure left behind for whatever reason.

Mamma Mia!

My lunch today: vanilla bean ice cream and an assortment of berries.

Food

I just had a great little snack/dinner of brie and apple slices, our local Lindendale goat cheese and nectarine slices and a Stoudt's Pale Ale. I can't believe my boyfriend doesn't like cheese.

Also, Gaby you need your own cute blog please!

Tin Can

Just a little illustration I did over the weekend. Know what else I did this weekend? Went to IKEA! There will be pictures of our purchases soon.

Pie Lollipops

Luxirare had the great idea of making mini pies into lollipops. I love miniature foods just like most children do, so this is super cute to me. They posted a very detailed step-by-step of how this was done. The beautiful photography almost has me tasting these as I sit here. There are four flavors: blackberry, apple, banana and pumpkin.

Postcards

Full Table has a collection of vintage postcards. I've always been attracted to these because of the simple illustrations and showcase of American pride.


Niagara Falls, New York. The water has become a rainbow.


Greetings from Marysville, Ohio. A simple road curving through the trees.


Washington, DC. It's amazing how clean it looks here.


Blue Mountain Interchange, Pennsylvania Turnpike. There are a surprising number of highway and turnpike postcards. It was such a source of American pride. This is also funny because the Blue Mountain Interchange is in my hometown of Newville, PA.


Somewhere in Florida. A piece of paradise in America.


Some 1960's architecture from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in front of a beautiful sunset.


Jacksonville, Florida. I can't believe the underdeveloped land.


An amazing street in Palm Beach, Florida.