happy new year

Hello friends, just wanted to wish everyone a happy new year! I like to think of the whole world as being sparkly, because that's a happy thought.

Top image by Spanish artist Chema Madoz, second image from Confetti System.

le love and why i love it

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, and while I'm not into the consumerism/commercial aspect of it, and I believe love should be celebrated any & every day, but I love seeing all the creative things the design world has put together in honor of the holiday [hence the last few posts I've made]. I also really love the way a single image/thing/project can make you feel, and that is what art and love is all about. Happy Valentine's Day everyone, I hope you take a moment to appreciate something in your life that you love, whether it's a person, a feeling, or a creative endeavor and celebrate that.

Having trouble coming up with something? Find some inspiration here on this relatively new [and ingenious] site, by Thought & Theory, called yiloveit.com where you can read about profess love about anything and everything.

{images from the Le Love blog, which is also definitely worth checking out too}

kate spade valentines

Some more free valentines! This time from Kate Spade and a whole slew of talented artists. Check them out here.

{via Creature Comforts}

just. add. paper.

In need of another easy or last-minute valentine? I love these printable Valentines from Little Brown Pen. For just $5 you get folded notecards, flat notecards, gift tags, an envelope and 8.5 x 11 stationery. All you do is download and then print!

Nichole and her family are currently living in a beautiful apartment in Paris. I have been enjoying reading her updates on her blog and catching her daily tweets on twitter for the last few months. Her and her hubby started this ingenious idea of "just. add. paper" and I must say, ever since I first saw their idea, I have seen it popping up all over the place; Trendsetters they are indeed! You must watch their beautifully crafted video (it was made during the holidays to exhibit the concept of "just. add. paper"... but you get the idea, it translates to any of their products).

Check out the Little Brown Pen etsy shop, there are other valentines, stationery, calendars and such too.

made with love

Check out this fantastic little freebie made by Twig & Thistle... the idea is you make the heart-shaped brownies, download Twig & Thistle's free graphic, print the graphic on a paper bag or sticker, and tada(!), instant valentine's gift, appropriate for anyone. A genius idea if you ask me.

If you're feeling a little more adventurous in the kitchen, click here to see Twig & Thistle's recipe for individual apple pies and another free graphic to go along with them. Twig & Thistle is on a roll, make sure to give the blog some love.

{photos from Twig & Thistle}

merry christmas!

Good Morning, folks! This season has been hectic, and I haven't been able to produce much blog action, but I just wanted to take a quick timeout to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! I hope your day is pleasant and filled with family and love. Hope to see more of you guys (and free time) in the new year!

[Our tree this year. Excuse the barren space, the photo was quickly snapped before I got a chance to wrap all the presents!]

{art school girl} valentines

have you gotten your valentine cards yet? these cards from art school girl are perfect for friendly love notes.

{via poppytalk}

{D.I.Y.} design*sponge & creature comforts

i had to post these two clever DIY projects. the first one {above} is a project from Grace at design*sponge. she decided she would try one of the suggestions from Blueprint magazine's article about stylish jewelry storage. you can read more about Grace's shadowbox jewelry cases at her blog. they seem pretty simple to make and are excellent way to incorporate your new favorite patterns in small way.







secondly, i had to post about Ez's crafty project for chocolate valentine wrappers! these {above, and Ez's instructions the right} also look incredibly easy to assemble and Ez has been nice enough to make a PDF guide to download. read more about this project at her creature comforts blog.




thanks grace / blueprint and ez for these easy ideas!

{photos from design*sponge and creature comforts, respectively}

deeply madly in love

{1} deeply madly in love card from madebygirl.
{2} dna cowboy sunglasses from tobi.
{3} red doily heart earring from fred flare.

love yourself.

felt heart rings by the funkyfelter etsy shop.



love orgami {more beautiful photography from the cox & cox store.}



"like carrying around a little piece of art when you go to the store," reusable tote bags from melissa vest designs etsy shop.

sweet talk

chocolates send a romantic message: these sweet talking chocolates can be found at cox & cox and baska-jon fine foods.

rose and radish {valentine edition}

i know it's a little early for valentine's day, but like i said in my earlier post, i've been poking around the rose and radish shop and they have some of the best valentine styled product shoots, i had to share.

(knowing me, i'd save the photos in my google notebook, wait until the week of the holiday and plan to post it then, but before i'd know it, i'd get too busy and the holiday would be said and done with. {this happened to me at both halloween and christmas.} so this time i'm not going to wait!)

gifts for $50 or less

log bowls ($50) / thomaspaul bali pillow ($40)

wren eleven doily coasters ($45) / yoshimoto cube ($48)




"setting of the rising sun" print ($30)

camila prada booty shakers (£35 for a pair) / coe & waito bird bowls ($48)




hardwood tree serving trays ($36) / "come to me" print ($32.50




moon bell chimes ($44.95) / cavalier brooch in olive the candy thief ($30)

birch bark display kit ($28) / button trays by roost ($48)




embroidered medallion pillow ($32)

bangle jewelry box ($32) / diana lomo camera ($50)

gifts for $25 or less

the holidays and gift-giving sort of go hand-in-hand, so i've constructed a gift guide to help spark some ideas. i've sorted out different categories, this one being items that can be purchased for $25 or less.

CB2 15 Minute Hour Glass ($9.95)












wooden colored pencils ($2.95)









gold cut-out flower earrings ($8.95)














green birds on flowers limited edition original art screenprint ($25)













amethyst nugget ring ($10)










white tagine ($18)

F1 safety makeup box ($25)













sparrow salt & pepper ($8.95)











CB2 glass lumiere candleholders ($3.95 / $4.95)















eclecto pouches ($24 CAD)




















reston lloyd enamel steel colander ($21.99)











jonathan adler palm beach fish shaped platter ($18)












modern tots pandabo ($13)











branch vase / toothbrush holder ($22)













CB2 Buddha ($14.95)










single serve rice bowl ($20.95)











CB2 in line vases ($4.95 - $9.95)















desk calendar by mmmg ($25)
















trunkt itty bitty cylinders ($18)














songbird wall hanging ($25)















peacock pearl drops ($18)


















stone cuff ($14.50)















letter cushions (£15 - £20)