RedRedOrange

RedRedOrange Etsy is back!

2010-11-09T13:38:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to announce that the RedRedOrange Etsy site is back on line, just in time for the holidays! In addition to all new personal stationery and holiday cards, I am also debuting a 2011 calendar that I hope you will enjoy. Hop on over and take a look!

Photoshop Actions From the Pioneer Woman Save the Day

2010-08-23T11:07:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I got to see my niece and nephew again, and boy are they growing! My entire family (minus my husband who had lives to save) went to Colorado and being the doting Auntie that I am, of course I took a million pictures of them. The difficulty of this task is enormous. They can walk now so you have to be ready to put down the camera to save them from falling off cliffs, drowning in rivers, chasing dogs, eating mulch and other perils at a moments notice. Did I mention there are two of them? Oy vey! They also don't really enjoy facing the sun. Luckily they sat still for a few moments every once in a while, so even though they weren't facing the light like I wanted them to (probably not a good idea to burn their retinas in these formative years) I was able to capture some in-focus shots of them. This my friends is a very big deal. I am not so good with my camera, but with the help of the Pioneer Woman's Photoshop Actions, I was able to touch up some of them and am really happy with the results! ** Just a disclaimer, these kids are constantly smiling, the fact that I have no pictures of them with smiles is not representative of their demeanor **

Straight out of the camera (his handsome face is hiding in the shadows)

Boost + Lighten (just on his face) + All about the Eyes = Much Better!

Straight out of the camera (this isn't doing her rosy cheeks or her blue eyes justice)

Boost x 2 +All About The Eyes + Lighten = Oh so pretty!

Birthday Card + Color Collective Palettes

2010-08-09T07:53:00.000-07:00

The Happy, Happy Birthday Challenge is now open for voting over at Minted. I only submitted one design to this competition, but I love it and that is all that matters. When choosing my color palette, I looked to The Color Collective website for inspiration. If you havent discovered Lauren's amazing blog, be sure to check it out. Here is the design that I submitted, along with the image that inspired the colors. Feel free to go on over and vote for your favorite designs!

Banner Year Birthday (above) inspired by this color palette (below)

Friday Photo - I caught a fish!

2010-07-09T12:35:00.000-07:00

Fresh Blue Fin in Nantucket

For Father's day my brother and I took my dad out fishing off the coast of Nantucket. I know, between Savannah and Nantucket I am pretty much living a summer straight out of novel. I had never caught a fish bigger than my hand, and was really excited to real in a big one. My brother ended up catching a gigantic 36" Striped Bass which was of course the biggest fish I have ever seen. The thing about my brother is that he manages to win at everything. Seriously. Card Games, fantasy football, catching the biggest fish... everything. But it all evens out because we brought these puppies back to our rental house and he made us some delicious ceviche, so it does pay to have a brother that wins. Look how shiny that eye is!

Papillionaire Bicycles

2010-06-30T20:01:00.000-07:00

My grandmother has the most fantastic red bicycle, it is a Schwinn Breeze and once upon a time had a super comfortable lambswool seat cover. Every summer that I visit her, I like to take the Breeze out for a spin along Lake Michigan even though it is in a serious need of new tires and the seat cover has gone missing after years of zooming around.

These vintage style bicycles from Papillonaire remind me so much of the Breeze, and with a relatively low price tag (not sure if they ship outside of Australia yet) the Sommer model would be perfect for the streets of Philadelphia. Check out the Papillonaire website where you can customize your own bike with special touches like leather handle grips and a wicker basket!

Botanical Posters

2010-06-29T07:08:00.000-07:00

I love these hanging canvas posters from Evolution, the unexpected black backgrounds are incredibly chic and make the colors pop off the page.

clockwise from top left: Cherry, Dog Rose, Cowslip Primrose, Pea

According to their website, these Scientific German Educational Charts were originally illustrated in the middle of the 20th century, and continue to be reproduced by the same printer. I think these would look great in a white and grey kitchen like this:

originally from Domino, found on Flickr

The Great Minnesota Get Together

2010-06-25T13:10:00.000-07:00

Allan Peters found via Twig and Thistle

I spent the first 18 years of my life in Minnesota, and while there are many things I miss about growing up there, it is the State Fair that I miss the most. Our house was within walking distance to the fair grounds which meant that for the last two weeks of summer my nights consisted of corn on the cob, strawberry milk shakes, rides on the big green and yellow slide and hanging out with friends in the midway. I saw my first concert of my life there (Peter Paul and Mary), stuck my hand into the side of a cow to feel its stomachs, watched Princess Kay of the Milky Way get her likeness carved into a block of butter, and got the living daylights scared out of me in the haunted house. I haven't been to the fair since I went away to college, but I saw this poster and couldn't help but miss the cheese curds, giant hogs, tractor pulls, pickles on a stick and nightly fireworks displays of my youth. I really am still a midwest girl at heart!

Panzanella Salad

2010-06-23T15:05:00.000-07:00

I hate tomatoes but I secretly want to like them. They look so good, and then every time I eat one I gag. My mom says that she used to hate them when she was little too, so I keep trying just in case my tastes have changed. Well, yesterday I started craving them and remembered this bread salad I had seen Ina Garten making on the food network. I thought for sure I was going to make this whole salad and then hate it, but alas, it was so good that I had it for lunch today too! Maybe I am about to turn a new leaf when it comes to tomatoes? I hope so. Here is the recipe I used, which I adapted from Ina's based on what we had in the pantry:

Dressing
1 tbs Dijon Mustard
1 clove garlic, chopped finely
Juice and zest of one lemon
1 tbs white wine vinegar
3 tbs olive oil
Salt and pepper
Combine everything in a little jar, put the lid on and shake it up until its emulsified.

Salad
1 cucumber chopped into chunks
2 tomatoes (heirloom are best I guess?) chopped into chunks
2 big handfuls arugula
1 big handful of basil, rolled up into little cigars and chopped
half of a red onion sliced into super thin half moons
fresh mozzarella chopped into chunk (optional only if you are crazy)
some stale bread (we used a baguette, the more the better)

Cut the bread up into chunks (maybe 2" pieces") and toss it in a pan over medium heat with some olive oil to get it crispy and toasted. Put them in the bottom of a big salad bowl and put the rest of the salad ingredients on top. add dressing to taste and toss. Top with mozzarella and enjoy!

Father's Day- Free Downloadable Cards!

2010-06-16T14:39:00.000-07:00

This Sunday is Father's day, and in honor of all the dads out there, I thought it would be fun to post a free downloadable card that I designed for all of you. Hope you like it!

You can click here for the orange version, and here for the blue. It will open a google doc and in the upper left hand corner you can download the high quality pdf. Then all you have to do is print, cut (I provided crop marks), fold it in half and presto! Thank you for reading my blog, and dont forget to let your friends know that they can get their free cards here as well!

Paris Market and Brocante, Savannah

2010-06-15T07:26:00.000-07:00

I didn't make any sort of must-see list or itinerary for our trip to Savannah which is very unlike me. I figured the place was small enough to wander around and run into some unexpected surprises, which we did! I knew Forsyth park was on the way to our awesome dinner spot, Local 11 Ten, and that I wanted to check out ShopSCAD but that was the extent of my planning. Shocking. It was during our wandering that I stumbled into The Paris Market and Brocante, a very serendipitous event indeed! I would call it a sort of Anthropologie-esque home store filled with curiosities and treasures. They also have a soda fountain where you can get lavender lemonade! It was amazing as evidenced by the following:

Great stationery section with this cute idea for using japanese masking tape

I didn't get the focus quite right on this one, but these Moulin Rouge style lights were awesome!

Pretty journals disguised a match boxes

The basement area is filled with beautiful displays and archways, I loved these letters

I wanted to take that turquoise vanity home with me, and one of those wire pendants

Tons of old school toys, including this sewing kit which I secretly want even though it is for 5 year olds.

I love the hand drawn "29" in the bottom center

Saving the best for last, their windows were filled with spider webs of colored string that books floated from. Gorgeous! If you are in Savannah I would recommend carving out a couple of hours to visit!

Friday Photo - Strawberry Jam!

2010-06-11T12:24:00.000-07:00

Last Minute Strawberry Jam from Cheri Neufeld

Tomorrow I am taking a canning class with Marisa, where she will teach us the basics of preserving food and how not to die of botulism in the process. I have been shoving berries down my gullet for the last few weeks because they are only available locally for a few months of the year, so I am super excited to learn how to make strawberry jam. My only experience with canning was when my mother (bless her heart) and I attempted to make pickles when I was seven. We used the wrong kind of salt and result was gag-worthy. I am determined to get it right so that I can one day be that mom/aunt/grandma who has a secret pickle recipe that she only gives to her family members. People will break into my house to try to find it but they will fail. It will be all stored up in my brain.

TOMs wedges

2010-06-10T10:52:00.000-07:00

I love the idea of TOMs shoes, but for some reason I can't get over the folded fabric on the toe. Their new wedges solve that problem with a super cute peep toe. I think these would be perfect with a big floppy hat and a belted shirt dress. Perfect for a weekend down the shore!

Crab Illusion Necklace by Betsy Johnson, Wanderlust Sumatra Shirtdress by Madewell, Bailey Barnett Fedora by Village Hat Shop, Route 63 Tote by Canvas, Calypso Wedges by TOMs, Rope Belt by Talbots

Beautiful Bridal Shower

2010-06-09T09:53:00.000-07:00

Beka Rendell from Innove Events recently posted photos from a bridal shower that she planned for her cousin and it was such a cool idea I just had to share. From Beka's blog: "...instead of the same old luncheon we teamed up with Thallo, an amazing floral company, to create an interactive event where guests learned from the designers how to create a floral centerpiece and then at the end of the day they could take it home as their favor." Okay, someone needs to invite me to a party like this.

All Photos by Jus Cowland

Ice Cream and Berries - the Perfect Combination

2010-06-09T07:07:00.000-07:00

My husband has forbidden me from buying an ice cream maker because he is afraid he will gain a hundred pounds or get diabetes. Every time I find a delicious sorbet or ice cream recipe I shed a small tear knowing I will never be able to make it without a machine... Until I found this on Tartlette!

Raspberry Parfait Lollipops from Tartlette

If I could be anything in the world besides a graphic designer, it would either be a food stylist or a pastry chef. Helen from Tartlette is both! You can find this recipe and a million more mouth watering ideas over on at Tartlette.

Memorial Day, Southern Style

2010-06-03T19:30:00.000-07:00

Enjoying the Sunset at the Boathouse on Hilton Head

Last weekend we took a trip down south to Savannah and Hilton Head and it was absolutely fantastic. We ate everything in sight, and did a whole lot of relaxing on the beach. The people were so nice and well mannered, real southern gents and jewels! I have been dreaming about Savannah for a long time, and I was not let down.

We stopped for peaches at a roadside stand.

The weather was perfect!

The view from our place was awesome

We ate buttermilk biscuits...

and shrimp and grits...

and sampled our first pralines.

We tried to walk off all the food by looking at beautiful houses...

and beautiful fountains...

and beautiful moss-covered trees.

we took a drive to the wildlife refuge to look for gators...

and we saw them... up close!

The trip was amazing, we did everything we set out to do (or in the case of getting sunburned, to avoid). A fantastic time was had by all!

Friday Photos- Peonies!

2010-05-21T05:58:00.000-07:00

Peony by Carl Christensen

The Light is All by Kitty Rogers

Sorbet by Alice B Gardens

Peonies are one of my favorite flowers, their heady floral scent reminds me of my childhood babysitter Erna. I look forward to their return every year as a reminder that a summer filled with bbq and trips to the beach is on the way. One of these beautiful photos would keep that feeling around all year long.

The Haiti Poster Project and a Graduation

2010-05-17T07:27:00.000-07:00

On Friday my husband graduated medical school with honors and I have never felt so proud in my life!

In light of his achievement, I thought I would share some posters from The Haiti Poster Project to benefit Doctors Without Borders. Check out some of my faves:

A World United to Rebuild Haiti by Andy Mangold

Hope for Haiti by Jason Dean

Waves of Hope by Corina Bermudez

All of these designs and many, many more are available for purchase from The Haiti Poster Project. All profits benefit Doctors Without Borders.

Birthday Invitations- Voting now open on Minted!

2010-05-11T16:41:00.000-07:00

For the Make a Wish Birthday Party Photo Invitation contest over on Minted, I really wanted to do something completely different, and for me that means "boy stuff". I design a lot of "Man Stuff" in my day job and "Girl Stuff" for RedRedOrange but boys are uncharted territory:

Camp Out!

Please note that the owl is roasting marshmallows. You see 'em? My husband came up with this idea and was very happy when I actually listened to him. He also asked for a bear clawing at the tent, just so you know what I am up against.

Race Car!

I must tell you that I love this design. I love that it feels retro, I love the flags, I love that it makes me think of Italy for some weird reason. I LOVE it and I am pretty sure it actually looks like a car, which is the best feeling ever.

So, if you would like to help me out and go on over to Minted and rate my designs, as well as so many other good ones, click here! You can also click on the links under my designs above to jump right to them if you'd like :)

Lula Aldunate

2010-05-10T09:46:00.000-07:00

Lula Aldunate' work space in Argentina is featured on Design Sponge today, and it is full of amazing patterns and prints. I skipped on over to her website, and loved her interior styling work as well as her posters and pillows.

All photos from Lula's Website

Buenos Aires is number one on my travel to-do list, and Lula's work really embodies my ideas of the sultry Paris of the west. The bottom image is a collage that reminds me of a tango dress. So romantic and mysterious!

You can see more of her work here or check out her house sneak peak on Design Sponge here.

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-07T14:17:00.000-07:00

This year my sister-in-law became a mother, and she has done a great job raising these two little buddies:

Potamus and The Bear (this is his serious face), 9 months

If I have vicariously learned anything from her experience, it is that being a mother requires super-human amounts of patients, love, and laundry detergent. So Alexis, if you are reading this, Happy Mother's Day. I am in awe of how easy you make it look. Thank you for being such a good mommy!

Tabbouleh- The first sign of summer

2010-05-04T10:57:00.000-07:00

When I was little we would go to visit my grandma in Petoskey, Michigan during the summer and she and my mother, along with my aunts would make this disgusting looking salad I called "taboooly". I couldn't imagine eating something that looked like oatmeal and vegetables stuffed inside a pita bread and stuck with my turkey and yellow mustard on wheat. Last summer I was on my pre-wedding diet that drove me to the edge of sanity, but also reunited me with tabbouleh which as it turns out is quite delicious. It is really refreshing on hot summer days, it is chock full of healthy vegetables, and best of all you can make a giant batch of it and keep it in the fridge for several days. Here is how I make it:

Tabbouleh Salad
1 cup Bulgar Wheat (in the bulk food section)
1 cucumber peeled and chopped
1 red bell pepper chopped
1 lemon (zest and juice)
4 scallions chopped (white and most of the green part)
1 cup chopped parsley
1 cup chopped mint
1/3 cup crumbled feta
drizzle of good olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

In a large bowl combine the bulgar wheat with 2 cups of boiling water and let it sit for about 45 minutes until the grains are soft when you eat them. Drain the wheat in a fine sieve, removing all of the excess water. Add the vegetables, herbs, lemon zest and juice, and feta. Stir to combine and add a drizzle of olive oil. Season to taste. I like mine cold, but you can eat it at room temperature as well. Enjoy!

Meeting Dulce Maria Valiente

2010-04-26T14:28:00.000-07:00

Just as I started crying uncontrollably, obviously.

Having been to Guatemala already I thought I was pretty well prepared for the poverty, the lack of basic necessities, the complete absence of medicine and all of the emotions that come along with experiencing that for the first time. Four years ago it was really, really hard for me to go to the clinic everyday and see these girls, younger than me with four or five kids, no money, no education, no safe place to sleep. I cried a lot, and got mad when we couldnt take them all to the hospital to run tests on them. I couldn't do much to help them, and it tore me up inside.

Fast forward to last summer when Jon and I were planning our wedding, we knew we wanted to donate to charity in honor of our guests rather than giving away favors. I contacted the group we went to Guatemala with and asked them if they had any ideas for ways we could contribute and they emailed me a picture of a little girl who needed some help with affording school. Just like that we became sponsors to Dulce Maria Valiente of Las Palmares, Guatemala. Our donation gave Dulce her uniforms and shoes, all of her school supplies as well as computer classes and health care. Most importantly it gave us a connection to this little girl, and to the people of Guatemala that we love so much.

I cannot even begin to tell you how nervous and excited I was to finally meet her when we went back to Guatemala in March. I wasn't quite sure what to say to her, or what she would think of us. Her mother, who is the same age as me, explained to her that we were her "Padrinos", her godparents, which made me even more nervous. That is a big responsibility, and this probably wasn't the time to be explaining to her that I was an atheist. We gave her the gifts that we had so carefully picked out: a new backpack that could be converted into a messenger bag when she gets older, a set of 100 markers (all we really knew about her was that she liked to draw), a pink glitter-filled jump rope that turned out to be about 3 times too long for her, a notebook with puppies on the front just like the one I had in first grade, and of course toothbrushes for her whole family.

She smiled, and thanked us, and I could tell how excited she was. Her mom asked me how many kids we had, and Jon laughed. It didn't seem appropriate to tell her how we didn't feel financially ready to have kids just yet given that she scrubs laundry in a river and her husband picks melons and they provide as well as they can for their family of 5 on less than $400 a month.

My sponsor child can swing better than you sponsor child!

I asked Dulce if we could take a picture together, I picked her up and she hugged me so tight and I just melted. Tears started pouring down my face. She probably thinks I am insane. I was just so excited to have met her, and to hopefully give her opportunities that she might not have had without school.

As we left, she jumped up on the monkey bars and swung back and forth and waved and smiled with her big toothless grin that all six year olds have and I was shocked at how incredibly good it made me feel to be in her life. We are very lucky.

For more on how you can sponsor a child in Guatemala or other ways to help, visit HeartsInMotion.Org

BYOB- arriving in style

2010-04-21T09:04:00.000-07:00

Philadelphia has more than 200 Bring Your Own Bottle (BYOB) restaurants, and carrying your bottle in a paper bag is simply not going to cut it, especially now that it is rosé and sauvignon blanc season!

Perfect for a nice bottle of Burgundy: Josh Jakus Felt Wine Pocket, at Uncommon Goods

For those nights when you can't decide red or white: Built Two Bottle Tote

If you want to rep your hood. Shout out to Bella Vista, what what! Map Totes Philly Bag

When you are going to get some mexican and want to keep your Negra Modelos bien frias: Built 6 Pack Tote

and my fave, for when its girls night out and nothing but bubbles will do! Veuve Sakura Blossom Ice Jacket

Miniature delights by Petit Plat

2010-04-20T09:22:00.000-07:00

Some people are good at things I want to be good at, and other people are good at things I didn't even know existed. Take Stephanie of Petit Plat for example; she has a background in architecture but then one day got bored (her words, not mine) and decided to try making something special out of clay. Yes, these mouthwatering baked goods are actually made out of clay!

But wait, it gets better. Not only are they made out of clay, they are actually miniature versions of their life-sized counterparts. As in a ratio of 1:12, as in really really small.

all photos via Petit Plat's Flickr

That is mind blowing enough for this Tuesday, I am sure that you will need to lay down after this. If you are looking to see more of Stephanie's amazing work, including tutorials, please head on over to her blog here, or her Etsy site here where you can purchase some super cute ice cream cone earrings!

Thursday Hilarity- Helen Dardik

2010-04-15T13:19:00.000-07:00

Print by Helen Dardik available on Etsy

I have been working insane hours for the past couple of weeks, as a freelancer sometimes things are feast and sometimes they are famine. Anyway, I am hoping that this hilarious print will keep you interested in my not-so-interesting-as-of-late blog. I wish my cats were drinking milk out of saucers instead of trying to completely remove the carpet from our bedroom.

Nuria Mora

2010-04-13T07:11:00.000-07:00

I was over on Mint the other day, Ellie is one of my favorite blogstresses (is that even a word?) and she featured the work of Nuria Mora. Graffiti for me is one of those things that was cool in high school and now it is just well.... played out. Yup, i said it. Nuria's work however is of a different breed, and I love the subtle femininity in her color choices and patterns.

All Photos from Nuria Mora's Website

Minted Jury's Pick award

2010-04-02T10:38:00.000-07:00

Before I left for Guatemala I found out that my Spring in Sevilla design was selected as a "Jury's Pick" and that my stationery was going to be for sale on Minted! Being the pessimist that I am, I thought it was too good to be true, I mean my design out of like 700? yeah right. I will believe it when I see it. You can imagine my surprise when I saw this:

Spring in Seville in Strawberry, the original colorway

all colors are available with matching address labels

this is the Green Teal version, my current favorite!

All of the designs above and more colors are available over at Minted!

Clinic at an elementary school- Gualán, Guatemala

2010-03-30T13:28:00.000-07:00

My favorite day in Guatemala was Wednesday. The temperature dropped to a comfortable 90 degrees, and we set up clinic outside of the elementary school in Gualán. I let my husband get his clinic station set up and took a few minutes to photograph the school children and their families. I plan on sending prints of the kids back to the school.

The students quickly realized that they had visitors

and ran to the wrought iron bars that separated their classrooms from the open air.

This young man stood still and stared at me while I snapped away.

They patiently waited in line for their turn to have their teeth varnished with fluoride and to learn how to properly brush.

Girls stood in one line, acting far more mature than their seven years

While the boys did their best to entertain the guests!

The adults chatted in another area while they waited for the numbers to be handed out.

Stickers always help break up the wait.

Delicious fried bread with hot sauce will also do the trick.

I loved taking pictures of the kids in their uniforms.

And their great grandparents as well.

The cute kids were abundant...

and that was my Wednesday with the studious, vivacious, and lovely people of Gualán.

For more about my Guatemala adventures, check out my post on a day in the medical clinic here

Vote in the Latest Minted Challenge, Birth Announcements!

2010-03-26T09:34:00.000-07:00

Voting is now open, so head on over and check out all of the awesome designs that people entered.
I submitted three for your consideration, lets start with my favorite shall we?

Grid in Green Baby Announcement

I wanted a modern boy color scheme, and this can be adjusted for a little girl too!

Sunny Baby Announcement

I like orange and magenta for little girls, and was inspired by French bistro menus

New Package Baby Announcement

Honestly I wish I had a few more hours to spend on this one, but I love it anyway. I wanted to make it look like a cereal box (lets not forget that I spend my days designing food packaging).

Anyway, head on over and vote! You can find my portfolio of designs on Minted here if you are interested.

Vintage Character Inspiration from The Imaginary World

2010-03-25T07:06:00.000-07:00

I am really bad at drawing people and animals, as in I draw stick figures.... Yes I know, it is horrible. I recently came across this treasure trove of awesome vintage packaging over at The Imaginary World and am in awe of how simple some of these characters are but how much expression you get out of them. We just finished watching season one of Mad Men last night (Yes, I am that far behind. Don't judge me), so these are right up my alley!

I am guessing Cecil is the fish/ swap thing?

That bird kills me!

My personal favorite!

All of these can be found over at The Imaginary World, along with a lot of other images of vintage packaging.

A day at the medical clinic - Zacapa, Guatemala

2010-03-24T10:57:00.000-07:00

You arrive and there are people waiting, for some this is the first time they have seen a doctor.

The doctors, pharmacists and helpers start unloading the medicine and organizing their stations

The dentists prepare their tools, and find a somewhat private area to pull teeth

You start to realize that their are dogs everywhere, but nobody is petting them. You let the nice ones sit under your chair while you see patients.

You see little kids with sore throats and allergies...

and mothers who could really just use some tylenol.

You see men who work hard in the melon fields even though they have crippling arthritis. You give them something to alleviate the pain, but it will only last for a month.

Sometimes you have to tell a person to eat less salt, but keep the fact that they are in heart failure to yourself because there is nothing to be done without proper testing and medication; something we weren't prepared to do and she can't afford.

Sometimes the only thing you can offer people is a lollipop, and they are grateful.

Sometimes there are emergencies...

...and other times it is purely fun.

And sometimes a person comes in because they cant see...

...and if you are really lucky, you can actually help them...

...and you thank this woman for giving you the opportunity to give opportunities to someone else.

Home!

2010-03-21T15:17:00.000-07:00

Escuela Primaria Gualan,Guatemala

We returned from our week long trip to Guatemala last night, which is always bittersweet. Every time we come back it really makes us take stock of what we have and to be grateful for: education, a roof over our heads, water when we are thirsty, or aspirin when our heads hurt. It makes us realize how much we consume, how much we judge, and how truly lucky we are to have our basic needs met. I hope you don't mind if I spend a part of the next few weeks sharing some of my experiences with you. To be honest, it is incredibly difficult to think about weddings and shopping and design for a couple of days after returning from a place where people struggle to feed their children. I promise to continue to bring you more design as well, but I think you will find my adventures to be inspirational (and quite unconventional).

Minted Challenge- Wedding Invitations

2010-03-07T08:42:00.000-08:00

Here are my three invitations that I submitted to the Minted Breakout Wedding Challenge, I had so much fun doing these in my free time!

Alicia Invitation

Cherry Pie Invitation

City Prep Invitation

I decided that even if i don't win I will start selling invitations on my Etsy site! I have always wanted to venture into that arena, and since it was so cathartic for me, I think the time is right. I will keep you posted about new items in my shop when they become available. Remember, if you are looking for wedding invitations or know someone who might be, send them right on over this way!

Spring Jackets- Trenches and Anoraks

2010-03-04T06:44:00.000-08:00

I broke the zipper on my winter coat last weekend, which was quite unfortunate because according to the groundhog we still have two weeks of winter left. Long story short, there are no more winter coats in the stores, but a preponderance of cute, lightweight spring styles to fall in love with.

Military inspired from J Crew

Automatic sunshine from Anthropologie

Ruffled collar details from Ann Taylor Loft

Turquoise pop from ModCloth

Classic twill from Toast

Army green anorak from Gap

RedRedOrange on Oh So Beautiful Paper!

2010-03-02T11:23:00.000-08:00

In case you don't know, Beautiful Paper is the most amazing site, filled with invitations and other gorgeous paper treats. I started visiting Nole's blog pretty much the day it started, after seeing pictures of her own lilac filled wedding.. She continues to amaze me with the jaw-dropping inspiration her site is famous for, so when she posted my wedding invitations and Save the Dates today, I seriously almost had a heart attack. In a good way.

Thank you again to Nole, and to read about more of the inspiration behind the designs as well as more photos, please visit here and here. I am off to eat cake!

Wedding Recap- Part 3

2010-03-01T07:50:00.000-08:00

After our "first look" we ventured out around our South Philadelphia neighborhood and had a blast taking pictures. I was stressed out in the days leading up to the wedding that I hadn't put enough thought into where we would go, but our photographer was amazing and made even the most ordinary backdrops look extraordinary.

We live in an area filled with really cool mosaic murals and went to a little alley that was covered in them.

All pictures taken by the wonderful Alyssa Maloof

For more pictures from our wedding, check out the first two posts here and here.

Friday Photo-Zacapa, Guatemala

2010-02-26T11:18:00.000-08:00

Gallo Corriendo

In two weeks, my husband and I are returning to Guatemala for our second medical service trip* and I can't wait. Last time we went we had this really old Nikon from the '70s that had a broken counter and inaccurate light meter, but it took the best pictures. I am sad that we cant fit him into our luggage this time.

* I of course will not be seeing any patients, even though I am quite good at diagnosing parasites and chicken pox! My job is to translate for the doctors, and to play with super cute kidlets.

First signs of spring

2010-02-25T12:39:00.000-08:00

It is snowing today. Again. For the three hundred millionth time this year. Growing up in Minnesota a lot of times spring would come none too soon and tiny crocuses would pop up from right underneath the snow! It was always so nice to be reminded that it would soon be time for short sleeves. This beautiful photo is giving me hope that warm weather and sunshine are on their way.

Crocus Print by Maria Kallin

Littlephant By Camilla Lundsten

2010-02-24T06:55:00.000-08:00

I love the cut paper look of this work by Camilla Lundsten out of Stockholm. After working for many different clients, including Ikea and BRIO toys, she now runs Littlephant where she designs posters, books and other items featuring these fun characters.

Kickoff Print

Birthday Party Invitations

Some of the characters!

Giraffes Print

Even though I am somewhere close to 30 years old, I always find myself drawn to work that is probably intended for children, it is so colorful and fun I cant help but smile!

Kindra Murphy

2010-02-22T14:56:00.000-08:00

Kindra Murphy, an assistant professor over at MCAD, recently shared some of her work from their faculty show last year and I thought it was so beautiful I had to pass it on.

She created a paper quilt using the insides of envelopes, how beautiful are these colors? I love the pop of lime green, and the tension with the red.

Fruits and vegetable paper collages, the peas (or beans) in the top right are my favorite.

Some more really interesting work using cut paper. Gorgeous negative space... something I really need to employ more of!

Check out Kindra's blog, Kindra is Here for more of her work and inspiration.

Friday Photo- Carnaval en Vilanova, España

2010-02-18T18:33:00.000-08:00

Photo of a Candy Covered Street in Spain via// Escolta El Silenci

Nine years ago to the day I celebrated Carnaval in Sitges, Spain dressed as a belly dancing gypsy. I partied with glamazon transvestites, drank wine from a bull bladder, and had a cartwheel contest on the beach. I didn't go back to my home in Barcelona until seven the next morning, and ate about a hundred pieces of candy for breakfast. These are the things you must do at least once in your life.

mi.avril

2010-02-18T18:14:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately I cannot read French, which I am sure I have mentioned before. I can however share some beautiful photos I found on mi.avril.

All photos via// mi.avril

Super Fun Lighting- The Owls Are Hunting

2010-02-17T10:53:00.000-08:00

Owls Are Hunting is featured right now on Madeit, the Australian equivalent of Etsy and I thought this shop was right up my alley. Started by Jo, who used to work in a bespoke furniture design company in England, Owls Are Hunting is lamp shop filled with a really fun mix of modern and vintage.

Owls Are Hunting, photo via// Madeit

All other photos via// The Owls Are Hunting

Here is a sneak peak into her work space, and a few photos of her gorgeous lamps. I think these would be really cute additions to a little girls room, don't you agree? I really adore her photography as well, The scenes she creates are fabulous.

Weekend Crafts- Crayon Roll

2010-02-16T11:18:00.000-08:00

This weekend, I finished up two projects for two special little girls. H just became a big sister, so of course she needed a gift to fete her new status. She is almost 3, and the most delightful little bundle of energy I have ever met. She is never shy around new people, and LOVES her little sister.

I thought this crayon roll would be the perfect little present. This was the first time I have made one, and i think it turned out pretty darn well. Just add a pad of paper and you have a great gift for your little friends! I bought this template which was super easy to follow in case you'd like to make your own.

Friday Photo-Matt W. Moore

2010-02-12T08:09:00.000-08:00

MWM Crystals and Lasers Exhibition via// Rojo Artspace Paris

I love this photo, and the entire exhibit in general (you can see more photos on Hypebeast). MWM created the whole thing on the fly, and used spray paint!?! That is what I call serious can control. Have a great weekend, and enjoy the ones you love.

Treats for your Sweets

2010-02-11T12:58:00.000-08:00

My husband loves three things; snowboarding, ice cream and surprises (in that order). This week he was lucky enough to get to enjoy all of them! Due to the crazy blizzards here in Philadelphia, he had to stay an extra day in Colorado (poor boy), so I planned a little surprise for his arrival home. You remember this post about M&M cookies? I took it to the next level... with ice cream!

Easy to make, delicious to eat.

To make them, I started with Paper Seed's Vanishing Oatmeal M&M Cookie recipe (which is according to her, the recipe found on the inside lid of Quaker Oats). I had bought a 1.5" heart shaped cookie cutter from the local kitchen shop, so I made them a bit bigger than tablespoon each just to make sure there would be enough cookie to cut from.

Bake cookies and cool

Press hard to create hearts, eat scraps

Admire your work

Spoon softened ice cream onto one heart. Put the other heart on top and pop the finished sandwiches into the freezer to harden. I left them in there for about half an hour.

Enjoy!

Alphabets By Don Moyer

2010-02-10T07:29:00.000-08:00

I just like these. Found on Typostruction through Oh So Beautiful Paper.

All via// Don Moyer

Dreaming of Spring (and preparing for another blizzard)

2010-02-09T08:47:00.000-08:00

Ugh. On Saturday it snowed 28 inches here in Philadelphia and now that the city has almost dug itself out, we hear that another 18-24 inches is expected tonight. This would be great if I lived in the mountains, but the city comes to a stand still with this sort of weather. Here is what my little deck looked like on Saturday:

Hamachi managed to enjoy the snow yesterday

But here is what I am keeping my thoughts focused on right now.

Hamachi seems to like any weather as long as there are pigeons to watch (which unfortunately there are!)

How do you manage to stay happy when the long winter starts to get you down? I am thinking a trip to Mexico would be nice right about now!

Reborn Polaroid Scarves

2010-02-08T13:08:00.000-08:00

I must admit that I never know how to wear scarves and make it look effortless. These Polaroid scarves by Philippe Roucou make me want to practice.

Polaroid Scarves via// Reborn

Anthropologie Best in Show

2010-02-05T10:55:00.000-08:00

If you live in the New york City area, may I recommend that you take a little field trip to Rockefeller Center to see these puppies? (and kitties, and elephants and foxes, oh my!)

via// Anthropologie's Facebook Fan Page

Here is more information from Anthro's Facebook Page:

"this installation features canine, equine and wildlife paintings, photographs, sculptures and miniatures made by world-renowned artists, as well as the in-house talents of Anthropologie. What's even more exciting about this particular exhibit is that each piece will be auctioned off at a forthcoming event in support of Main Line Animal Rescue. "

What an awesome installation, and an awesome cause!

Edible Valentines Gifts

2010-02-04T12:25:00.000-08:00

I was over on Bakerella, sabotaging my hopes of making it through the day san chocolate, when I saw these cookies in a jar:

via// Bakerella

How cute would these be to give to your friends for Valentine's day? I could also see them being good gifts to give to teachers, I think I will bring a jar to Susi, my Spanish tutor next week. Tengo la suerte de que no lee mucho en ingles, asi que no quiero arruinar la sorpresa! You can click here for the recipe and also super cute templates for the labels courtesy of Bakerella.

Lovely Prints from Castle

2010-02-03T07:11:00.000-08:00

I learned of Rachel Castle's work through Colleen's blog, Inspired to Share. I am going to let the following speak for itself:

All Images via// Castle

Embroidery Hoops as Frames

2010-02-01T08:11:00.000-08:00

Via// Purl Bee

I was in New York yesterday to visit some friends, and spent some time picking out new fabrics from Purl Patchwork. On the wall where you walk in they had a whole collage of embroidery hoops with fabric in them and it really got me thinking. Last week I went through my bins and realized how much awesome fabric I have accumulated, some of it I love too much to cut up. This would be the perfect way to show off some of my favorite patterns instead of keeping them locked up in a box! Here is a link to Purl's tutorial for creating the frames, and some more lovely inspiration!

Spring Chick's Craft Room via// Modish

Paige's Nursery via// Megan Carty

For Phoebe's Room via// EmmyLizzy's Flickr Stream

Jewelry by Maria Christina Bellucci

2010-01-29T11:48:00.000-08:00

Check out these amazing baubles made from colored pencils by Italian artist, Maria Christian Bellucci

All From Maria Christina's Klimt02 site. You can email Maria Christina here for more information.

Vote for Me in the Latest Minted Challenge!

2010-01-28T08:34:00.000-08:00

Voting has just opened for the Minted Design Challenge, and I need your help! I have created four designs, (two for men and two for women) for the personal stationery challenge. The goal was to create a note card and matching address label for the envelope. The designs with the highest number of votes with the best score will be sold on Minted.com! You can click here to view my submissions all on one page, or here to view all of the entries in the contest. Without further ado, I bring you the designs:

The Pizzelle, perfect for girly-girls and little ones

Spring in Sevilla, for the world traveler or bohemian chic

MidCentury Man, masculine and mod

Peak Valley, architecturally sound design

If you like what you see, please head on over and rate them and then tell all of your friends to do the same! You have to create an account (so that you can only vote once for each design) but it is really easy and you won't get a bunch of spam or anything. I would like to thank you all in advance for supporting me, your comments here are really appreciated! Love, Sarah

Check My Shelf

2010-01-26T06:58:00.000-08:00

Avi's Shelf

I cannot for the life of me remember how i got to this site, but I bookmarked it because I thought it was really fun to look at! We are always moving things around on our shelves to make way for new books and treasures, nice to know i am not the only one. Ookah is curating a collection of images of bookshelves that people submit to her website. I love seeing what people around the world are reading!

Sylvie's Shelf Super Organized Shelf

Alice Lambert's International Packaging Shelf

You can check out more shelves here or contact Ookah to submit your own!

Hattie Newman has the cutest little houses!

2010-01-22T12:18:00.000-08:00

London based designer/illustrator Hattie Newman has the coolest jobs, and the coolest website. This woman's creativity is off the charts, just check out these cute little houses you can make with one of her screenprinted kits:

Via// Hattie Newman (you can click "shop" once at her site)

Headboards of a Different Sort

2010-01-22T07:42:00.000-08:00

Although we have been living in our home for more than two years, we still haven't had the time/energy/motivation/reason to really decorate our bedroom. Up until last weekend we didn't have bedside tables and were using window sills to hold our lamps and alarm clocks. I know, totally unacceptable!

Over the next few weeks we hope to tackle a couple of big projects: find/make/refurbish a headboard, paint/refinish our new bedside tables (more on that miracle later) and finally make everything look like it actually belongs there. Here is some alternative headboard inspiration I found on Casa Diez, a Spanish interior design magazine.

All Photos via// Casa Diez

Anyone have any more ideas for creating your own headboard? I would love to hear about them! Stay tuned for photos of our bedroom before (gasp) and updates on how we are sprucing things up!

Maps as Artwork

2010-01-20T07:04:00.000-08:00

I recently saw this photo from Trisha Brink Design on the Decor8 website, and it really made me want a vintage map to hang above our bed.

Photo via// Trisha Brink Design, by way of Decor8

We have a globe next to our couch, and I love looking up places we hear about on the news and planning our next adventures. I love how Trisha's map is a pull-down style, it reminds me of elementary school. Here are some other options I found:

Mercator Projection map via// Vintage Maps

National Geographic map// via Art.com

17th Century World Map via// Art.com

Political World Map via// Allposters

While none of these are antiques, they are quite beautiful and affordable. I can see the brightly coored ones in a child's room, and happen to love the National Geographic map.

Shrimp and Andouille Pot Pies

2010-01-15T07:25:00.000-08:00

Last year my husband and I decided to stay in for Valentines day, and cooked this delicious pot pie from Bon Appétit. Instead of andouille sausage we used chorizo, and instead of seafood stock we used clam juice with vegetable demi glace. We also opted to make one big pie rather than individual pies since we didn't have the appropriately sized ramekins. It was so simple, and amazingly delicious! Instead of the typical pie crust you use store bought puff pastry that you cook separately to prevent it from getting mushy.

photo via// Bon Appétit

INGREDIENTS

1 sheet frozen puff pastry (half of 16-ounce package all-butter puff pastry or half of 17.3-ounce package regular puff pastry), thawed
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 tablespoon butter
3 1/2 cups sliced leeks (white and pale green parts only; from 3 large)
1/2 pound andouille sausage, cut into scant 1/2-inch cubes
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup dry vermouth or dry white wine
1 1.5-ounce package concentrated classic seafood stock (such as Glace de Fruits de Mer Gold) mixed with 2 cups water; or 2 cups bottled clam juice
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 8-ounce red-skinned potato, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 1/2 pounds deveined peeled uncooked jumbo shrimp, cut into 1-inch pieces

INGREDIENT TIP
Concentrated classic seafood stock is available at many fish markets and fromamazon.com.

PREPARATION

Preheat oven to 400°F. Roll out pastry on floured surface to 12-inch square. Cut out four 5 1/2-inch rounds. Place on parchment-lined baking sheet; bake until golden, about 15 minutes. Cool on sheet. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Wrap airtight and store at room temperature.
Preheat oven to 400°F. Whisk cream and flour in small bowl. Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add leeks and sauté until tender, about 10 minutes. Add andouille and garlic and sauté 4 minutes. Add vermouth; simmer until liquid evaporates, about 3 minutes. Add seafood stock mixture and thyme. Bring to simmer. Add potato and cook uncovered until tender, about 6 minutes.
Add cream mixture to skillet; stir. Simmer until sauce thickens and boils, about 3 minutes. Reduce heat. Add shrimp; simmer until just opaque in center, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Divide hot filling among four 1-1/4-cup baking dishes. Top each with pastry round. Bake until filling bubbles, about 5 minutes.

Ohema Ohene - Beautiful shoes, beautiful clothing.

2010-01-13T06:54:00.000-08:00

Ohema Ohene is a new boutique by British born designer, Abenaa Pokuaa. The name means "Queen and King" in the Ghanaian language, Twi and the shoes they design are royally amazing. I have a funky footwear obsession, and these are satisfying my craving for something completely original for spring.

These with a yellow sundress, perhaps?

Perfect with frayed jean shorts and a flowy white top.

Did I mention they also make cute dresses and rompers?

For more information, and to order, visit Ohema Ohene's Big Cartel site here.

Mini Valentines Now Available!

2010-01-12T08:14:00.000-08:00

I am really excited about the cuteness level of these new little mini valentines I designed this past weekend. They are half the size of my normal cards, which make them perfect for passing out to your friends and potential suitors (no matter how many you might have). I am going to be giving them out with heart-shaped cherry lollipops that remind me of 3rd grade.

I used to love Valentine's Day so much when I was little, we would design "mailboxes" to put on our desks and our classmates would go around the room delivering candy to everyone. It was so much fun to create my mailbox every year, one year I made a pin ball machine, one year a robot out of oatmeal canisters. One of the reasons I liked it so much was because it wasn't about boyfriends, or buying gifts, or trying to be romantic, it was just about fun! Did you have a special Valentine's Day tradition growing up? I also have other, full size Valentines available at RedRedOrange, check them out!

Niki Jones home decor and accessories

2010-01-08T09:45:00.000-08:00

I recently discovered Niki Jones through a Finish blog, Sanctuary and thought the images from the latest catalog were gorgeous. After attending the Scottish College of Textiles and the Royal College of Art, Niki worked as a textile designer for Habitat and then as a design director for Wedgwood. Her eponymous shop is a well curated mix of styles from around the globe that blend seamlessly from floor to ceiling.

Beautiful Uzbek Pillow Coverings

Toasty Icelandic Bed Stockings

Handmade Notebooks from India

Hand Knit Tea Cosy

I personally love the restraint in color that the shop uses. The pallet is consistent and allows for the many different patterns to combine perfectly without being too busy. Oh, and did you notice the little egg cosy in the last picture? Adorable!

Valentines day again!?

2010-01-07T07:31:00.000-08:00

It is hard to believe that it was already a year ago that I was posting these lovelies in the shop!

These will once again be available, along with a set of 8 mini cards that are perfect for giving to friends and loved ones. Those will be ready this weekend. I have a new design up my sleeve, but it isnt quite ready for its debut yet. I will keep you posted on that :)
On another note, I am having a hard time getting back in the swing of things after the holidays. I rarely have days off from work, and was recently blessed with TWO four day weekends that really should have been a recharge, but instead left me lethargic and restless. What is up with that!?

Wedding Recap- Part 2

2010-01-04T07:04:00.000-08:00

Instead of riding in a limo from the hotel to the wedding site (it was only three blocks), I decided that I wanted my parents to walk with me. This was a really hard decision for me to make. Was it rude to ask my bridesmaids to hang out at the hotel for an hour while we had our first look and took photos around the city? Was it weird to walk the streets of Philadelphia in a wedding dress while this lady took pictures of me? Perhaps, but do you think I noticed? All these random people congratulating me, my beautiful mom and handsome dad on my arms, I wouldn't have done it any other way! The plan was that Jon would be waiting in the garden for me, sweating profusely and getting really nervous. Too bad he doesn't sweat or get nervous.

Note the skyline in the background.

Don't worry, I won't make you look at pictures of us kissing after this, but you can see how awesome our secret garden was. A little oasis in the middle of the city. All pictures were taken by the amazing Alyssa Maloof! For part 1 of the Wedding Recap, click here

Stockings Complete!

2009-12-29T16:23:00.000-08:00

A few days ago, I mentioned that my mom and I were going to attempt this. Well we did, and they turned out even better than planned! We used the pattern Martha provided, but enlarged it about 180%, and chose not to fold the tops over (your stocking has to be big enough for wooden spoons and soup ladles if you are part of my family. That is the law. Even if you are only 5 months old). I purchased some Wollfilz felt from Purl, including some bigger pieces for the stockings themselves, and a couple of color bundles for the decorations. Yes, it was expensive, but we have enough left over to make more!

My mom is not daring when it comes to baking (she always follows the recipe to the letter) but when it comes to sewing apparently she lets loose. We traced the pattern for our seams, but she freestyled the edge pinking. It was madness.

Wedding Recap- Part 1

2009-12-23T07:29:00.000-08:00

On September 6th, 2009 I was finally married to my bestest friend, Jon. I say finally for a few reasons; we had been dating for almost 10 years, we had been engaged for almost 2 years, and lets just say that while I didn't realize it at the time, I was really stressed out from planning and worrying and crafting and being pretty much encompassed by this one day that was, according to everything I have ever read, supposed to be the best day of my life. Well, it turned out to be the best day of my life (so far), and most everything went just as we had (meticulously) planned.

My awesome hair lady, Ali, styled me up just how I wanted, even though I had completely changed my mind after my hair trial, and decided I wanted my hair half up. For anyone that knows me, I am rarely without a ponytail. I have A LOT of hair.

My Beautiful Bridesmaids, all in their own blue dresses that they picked out themselves! This was awesome, each girl wore their favorite style and it couldnt have worked out better. My only criteria was that they were blue. My sister in law, Alexis on the left had just given birth to twins, and my dear friend Nicole on the right was 7 months pregnant! Can you believe that!? They are all so gorgeous.

Our friend Eleanor was in Israel at her Mother's wedding, but we wanted her to feel like she was part of the day, so I took a picture of her and taped it to a chopstick. She was a hit! Bridesmaid Hedy shares a glass of champagne with her just after Eleanor's long distance call from Israel.

All of my wedding photos were taken by the AMAZING Alyssa Maloof!

I was getting really excited at this point and started jumping on the bed, because that is the kind of person that I am. That was the nicest down comforter ever. Stay tuned for more recaps and photos of my groom!

The Times Top 50 Design Blogs - Oliveaux

2009-12-22T10:37:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned before, I have been going through the Times' list of the 50 Best Design Blogs of 2009,looking for new inspiration. This time, I checked out Oliveaux, a gorgeous by Amanda, an interior designer from Brisbane, Australia. I am seriously thinking that Australia is next on my "to do" list!
Check out these images from her site:

All Images via// Oliveaux

Yakkay- Brainwear for smart people!

2009-12-22T07:11:00.000-08:00

I was checking out Design Squish, and found a post on these bicycle helmets, made by Yakkay. Why did I not think of this!? I look absolutely ridiculous in helmets, and perhaps I would be less embarrassed to wear one if it was in Herringbone tweed?

The Times Top 50 Design Blogs -Nestled In

2009-12-18T08:37:00.000-08:00

The list has been released and while Design*Sponge and Apartment Therapy, two of my daily reads were the top picks, I was surprised to find a few blogs that i had never explored! Over the next couple of days I will be exploring the Times' picks, and sharing my finds with you! First up, Nestled In, written by Katja and Minna who live in Finland and live in a beautiful home and take beautiful moody photographs. They recently celebrated one year of living in their new house, and have spent a lot of time remodeling and decorating so the blog is full of great inspiration. I love their bed linens!

Three above images via// Nestled In

Stay tuned for more blog discoveries, and be sure to check out all of my daily reads by taking a look at my links on the right!

Holiday Stockings!

2009-12-17T11:02:00.000-08:00

My niece and nephew are in need of their own special holiday stockings that they can look forward to hanging every year. This weekend my mom and I are going to "whip up" a couple for them. I put "whip up" in quotes because it will probably take us like 10 hours. Here are some beautiful ones I found on Martha Stewart to get the creative juices flowing:

Fringed Wool Stockings

Stockings adorned with Crocheted Snowflakes

Felt Stockings with Rick Rack Flowers

Knit Stockings

All Images via// Martha Stewart (click here for her list of stocking projects!)

Since I am a knitting novice, and have absolutely no idea how to crochet, we will be making ours out of felt using this pattern for the base. We will get creative with the decorating, so stay tuned for the results!

Mercury Glass for the Holidays

2009-12-16T07:22:00.000-08:00

I have been seeing mercury glass everywhere this year, and really think it is a beautiful way to dress the house for the holidays. In my house, we celebrate Chanukah and I think these really brighten up the festival of lights! They would also be perfect for Christmas, perhaps with some cranberry accents.

All images via// Cox & Cox

All of these beautiful candles and holders are form the Cox & Cox website, which if you are lucky enough to be living in the UK is an awesome resource. Holly over at Decor8 featured a wishlist from their shop yesterday on her blog, so you can check more out here!

2009-12-11T07:20:00.000-08:00

Speaking of Scandinavia, I just found the website of Sania Hedengren and Susanna Zacke and unfortunately my Swedish is a little rusty. Just kidding, I dont know any Swedish whatsoever. From what I gather, these women are stylists, interior designers possibly photographers? Regardless, their site has some AMAZING inspiration for the holidays and beyond.

Beautiful Tree with Crocheted Ornaments (note the wallpaper!)

Gorgeous White Presents with Red Ribbons

One House, Three Tree Ideas ( Love the Indian-inspired one on the left)

How Awesome are those Slipper Socks?

All images via// Sania Hedengren

The warmth of these photos is really helping me stay cozy on this frigid December day here in Philadelphia.

Christmas in Oslo

2009-12-09T11:57:00.000-08:00

My dear art school friend Tina is a designer in Oslo, Norway, and has started a new blog, Ms. Hay. A couple of days ago she posted these images of her holiday decorations which I just love.

via// Ms.Hay

The white and silver color palette is really festive, and she managed to evoke Christmas spirit without using any red or green! Check out her blog for more images, and for some great Scandinavian inspiration!

Eco Friendly Bread Bag- Bolsa para pan!

2009-12-09T06:58:00.000-08:00

via// Ishtar Olivera

During college I lived in Barcelona with an amazing family with two kids and a set of grandparents who lived in the apartment building next door. My Spanish Grandfather, Manolo, or "Yayo" as his grandkids called him, played a very important role in my stay with the Ramón Casbas family. He and his wife, Orosia took me on a walk the first day I arrived to show me where the metro stop was that I would take to la Universitat, and made sure that i knew how to purchase my ticket. They showed me Joan Miró park, and his statue called "Dona i Ocell" (Woman and Bird in Catalán). They really helped me get adjusted to life in Spain.

Every morning, Yayo was the first person I would see. I would be getting ready for class and in he would come with piping hot bread right from the bakery on the corner. "Pan caliente!" he would say to me, leaving two of the warm loaves on the countertop in the kitchen for our family, and taking the third with him. I would immediately eat the heel of one loaf which I am sure was against the rules.

My husband frequently asks me if the bread we are eating is as good as bread from Spain, and I always tell him no. There is no way that there will ever be bread that is better than Yayo's Pan Caliente.

via// Ishtar Olivera

When I saw these fantastic reusable bread totes on Ishtar Olivera's blog, it really brought back such good memories of living in Spain and having my daily bread. Hopefully someday I can make it back there, and when I do, I will bring with me a tote for my Pan Caliente! (Her site is in BOTH Castellano and English, she is really talented in so many ways!)

Holiday Gifts to Give and Get

2009-12-07T13:15:00.000-08:00

I think shopping on Etsy is one of the most awesome things ever. I am always amazed by the beautiful things I find, and here are just a few that I would love to give or get this year:

A Ceramic Owl Bank via// Fruit Fly Pie

Where We Live Print via// Amy Blackwell

Sketchbook Rose Pillow via// Ruby Stella

Robins Egg Nesting Bowls via// Alina Hayes

Am I Blue Mobile via// Mobilosity

Amazonite Berry Pendant via// The Pebble Collection

The Day I Have Been Waiting for Has Finally Arrived!

2009-12-03T07:38:00.000-08:00

Denyse Schmidt's Hope Valley collection is finally available, and I am tempted to pick up the whole shebang. How awesome are those little calico prints?

Image via// Fabricworm

I have been meaning to make a quilt for me and my husband using gray, blue and green fabric after seeing this. There will definitely be a lot of Hope Valley up in it!

Nothing to Wear

2009-12-02T07:30:00.000-08:00

I always feel like I simply have nothing to wear (insert fainting and sighing here) particularly because I work from home so my clothes are either for going out or for going to the gym. Here is an outfit made up of things I have been loving lately. There is a preponderance of J. Crew in here, I am unfortunately addicted.

Clockwise from top left// Distressed Skinny Jeans, Banana Republic. Wool Duffle Coat, J. Crew. Oblong Floral Cotton Scarf, Canvas by Lands' End. Top Siders, Sperry. Cashmere Henley, J.Crew. Baroque Brooch Bracelet, J.Crew.

Proud Mary

2009-11-30T08:43:00.000-08:00

Harper and Molly are the amazing women behind Proud Mary, an on-line store that is close to my heart. The shop sells pillows, purses and other beautiful items made from fabrics that are woven by women in Guatemala. Through their collaboration, Molly and Harper work to create unique designs based on traditional textiles, and in turn provide very talented artisans with the pay and respect they deserve.

If that was not enough to make you head on over their to do some Cyber Monday shopping, they are currently offering their "El Sol" collection at 50% off!

All images via// Proud Mary

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Event at RedRedOrange!

2009-11-27T08:19:00.000-08:00

From now through December 4th, I will be offering FREE SHIPPING within the US on all of my Holiday cards, personalized stationery, card sets and gift tags. I will also be offering discounted shipping to Canada and the rest of the world so no matter where you are, head on over to my Etsy site for some great savings and get ready for the holidays!
As a special gift to my blog readers, I will sending two free all occasion cards with every purchase. Just mention this post in the "notes to seller" section!

all images via// RedRedOrange

The Best Things!

2009-11-24T06:59:00.000-08:00

I went over to {frolic!} this morning, and saw Chelsea's post about her new sponsor, The Best Things. This picture stared me in the face.

Image via// {frolic!} via The Best Things

I HAD to have that strawberry! I added it to my cart in disbelief that someone hadn't already snatched it up which is usually the case when something so cute gets posted on a great website. Then I found this equally cute whiskey carafe that I think would look great in the dining room with some white ranunculus or even bittersweet berries

Image via// The Best Things

Head on over to Kelly's Etsy site and see all of the unique things she has gathered, there are great gifts just waiting to find a home!

Abby Try Again

2009-11-23T07:04:00.000-08:00

Abby Powell Thompson lives in Portland, and takes pictures everyday using several different types of cameras. She has a series on her blog called "Collections" that I absolutely adore. Abby has a shop called Abby Try Again over on Big Cartel where she sells her photographs as well as calendars and cards. Abby doesnt really need to try a again in my opinion. She is doing just fine!

// all photos via Abby Try Again

I love the colors and light in these photos, I think the pincushions would look great in my craft area. I would also really like these shaving cream brushes to hang in our bathroom. Gorgeous work!

Two favorite photos from Italy

2009-11-19T14:34:00.000-08:00

Gatto di Pienza

Ponte di Firenze

I think this might be one of my favorite pictures I have even taken. The sky was so ominous overhead, but the sun was shining on the beautiful tuscan buildings. I like the dimension and the color. I dont care if it is a cheesy, typical photo of Firenze!

Original Paintings

2009-11-18T09:25:00.000-08:00

I have been looking for some original paintings to collect, and have found some great artists on Etsy.

// Mixed Media by Aisyah Ang

// Oil and Acrylic on Canvas by LoriMarie

// Mixed Media on Wood by Kate Merrit Davis

A quilt for baby C and baby S

2009-11-17T10:57:00.000-08:00

My dear friend Nicole recently gave birth to her 2nd son! She was about seven months pregnant and sooooooo beautiful when she was in my wedding in September, and since she danced so much that night, he arrived a little bit early. Just kidding!
Of course he needs a blanket, and I decided to use some of the same fabrics I incorporated into his big brother's blanket that I made last year. Here is a pic of that one to refresh your memory:

And here is the new one, on its way to Buffalo tonight!

It is really funny to look at these because when I was working on the new one I thought it might look too much like the first. No such problem!

One of these days I am going to bite the bullet and try some biased taped edges. For some reason the thought of this scares the living daylights out of me.

Terrariums!

2009-11-16T13:44:00.000-08:00

I must say that our trip to Terrain exceeded even my expectations which were sky high. It was amazing! I didnt bring my camera so you will have to just trust me. Maybe I will go back soon and try to take some pictures secretly since i am pretty sure it is not allowed. Anyway, back to the subject at hand.
Julia and I found a whole section of the store devoted to the tiny little glass encased gardens, and we both really wanted to make them ourselves. Neither of us were completely confident in our abilities, so we passed over the $40 (but absolutely beautiful) glass balloons and cloches and instead used vases from the craft store (less than $2 each!).

The bottom layer of a dry terrarium (as opposed to a completely covered one) should be rocks to help the soil drain completely. Next put down a layer of organic potting soil.

Than add in some miniature plants. This one has a variety of mint, seedum and a mini jade pant!

To make it look really lush, add little bits of sheet moss (which is still living) and some tiny pebbles. To care for a dry terrarium such as these, mist the plants and moss when the top layer of dirt and/or moss feels dry. I think mine needs a little gnome next, but I am going to make sure I can keep it alive before investing any more money :)

Weekend Plans

2009-11-13T07:07:00.000-08:00

This weekend, me and my friend Julia are taking a little trip out to Terrain at Styers for some holiday shopping. Owned by Anthropologie, Terrain is a really beautiful home and garden shop located in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania just outside of Philadelphia. Julia's family is coming for Thanksgiving, and she is looking for some festive decorations. Maybe some pretty bittersweet or forced Amaryllis?

I will be on the hunt for holiday gifts (I have my eye on a certain cloche terrarium) and maybe a nice non-traditional wreath for the door.

all photos //via Terrain

Have a great Friday, and a wonderful weekend!

Strangetrader

2009-11-12T06:44:00.000-08:00

Lately, it seems as though every store I love is in Australia! Most recently I stumbled upon StrangeTrader, located in the Byron Bay area. The store is owned by Robert and Andrea who travel around the world finding beautiful treasures. Sounds like an amazing job!

//via Stangetrader

Here are just some of the gorgeous items they have for sale in their shop. I am particularly loving the Uzbek Bowls.

Uzbek Bowl //via Strangetrader

Fringed Necklace //via Strangetrader

Cloisenne Tea Jar //via Strangetrader

Light Locations

2009-11-10T12:01:00.000-08:00

If you happen to be looking for a location for your next photo shoot, or like me, looking for interior design inspiration, I suggest you head on over to Light Locations. I love these bedrooms filled with bright colors and a mix of textures, old and new:

And I also love this one, which is very unlike me! It is so soft and feminine and I think I would have a fantastic night's rest wrapped up in all of those beautiful floral linens.

all photos //via Light Locations

Which bedroom do you think most represents your style? Where do you look for your design inspiration when it comes to redecorating your home?

Lauren Doughty

2009-11-09T08:17:00.000-08:00

I was over at Daydream Lily the other day, and Liss was featuring the artwork of 17 year old Lauren Doughty. The images intrigued me, I visited her blog, I was overwhelmed. This girl is seriously talented and extremely dedicated to her craft. Lauren combines illustration, collage and sewing to created wonderfully textural pieces. At school in the UK, she is currently documenting her preparations for a trip to Amsterdam. Check out these amazing pages from her sketchbook:

//via Efflorescence

I can't wait to see what she does on her trip! I have the feeling we are going to see some amazing things upon her return.

Lovely Clusters

2009-11-06T06:47:00.000-08:00

I am proud to be a seller on Lovely Clusters, a new site that is beautifully curated by Rachel Follet of Design Lovely and Vicki Dvorak of Simply Hue. The beauty of the site is the ability for people to search for handmade items by color or by category.

Small enough so it isn't overwhelming, big enough that you are bound to find plenty of lovely gifts. You can also create your own clusters and share them with other readers. I am going to create my own cluster this weekend, but in the meantime, I will share with you one that Jamie made featuring my snowflake cards along with other wintery finds:

//via Lovely Clusters

Niece and Nephew

2009-11-05T06:47:00.000-08:00

I am feeling a bit under the weather today, so I am just going to leave you with this:
Last weekend I brought the new lens with me up to visit my cute niece and nephew. They are almost 4 months old, but for some reason they still do not understand commands like "find the light with your eyes" or "stop eating those leaves" or "can you please stop squirming, my shutter speed is really low". They are so cute and well behaved that you cant help but forgive them, especially when they let you bury them in leaves to do an amateur photo shoot.

//via Me!

The Leap Frog is in the first picture, and The Bear is the star of the next. as you can see they are very confused by the mounds of leaves surrounding them. So sad I won't get to see them until Christmas time, they are going to be so big!

Sarah London

2009-11-03T06:54:00.000-08:00

Peaking around over at Share Some Candy, I found this image of Sarah London's beautiful crochet work:

//via Share Some Candy

Sarah is from Australia, and clearly loves color! I have no idea how to crochet, so this is particularly fascinating to me, the way the flowers interlock and the different textures they create. I love it! Check out these other amazing photos from her bog:

//via Sarah London

This is seriously making me wish I cashed in on my grandmother's offer to teach me to crochet. Sarah also has an Etsy shop where she sells beautifully colored wool and even gives advice on color palettes!

Sprouts!

2009-11-03T05:55:00.000-08:00

My husband recently declared brussels sprouts to be the most delicious vegetables in the world. I happen to give that honor to green beans, but these are looking pretty tasty I must admit. The front Sprout is supposed to be more clearly in focus.

//via Me!

Last week, after reading the "Our approach to Food Photos" section at Smitten Kitchen, I decided to purchase a new lens for my camera. It is the first time i have used a camera with a fixed focal length and moving back and forth to zoom is very foreign. The other main difficulty I have is that my house has very little natural light, so i have to use a slow shutter speed. This makes for a lot of blurry pictures! Maybe I need a tripod? Any other thoughts?

Lizania Cruz

2009-10-30T07:54:00.000-07:00

Last night my friend Adam recommended that I check out the work of Lizania Cruz, and I am so glad I did. Not only does the woman have a dream job as a designer for Anthropologie, but she also grew up eating coconut fish that her grandmother prepared every Sunday in the Dominican Republic. Some girls have all the luck.

I really love this Leifsdottir invitation collaboration with Alana McCann. They used gocco to print onto feathers.

//via Lizania Cruz

And this invitation designed for Anthropologie's Spring Preview. wow.

//via Lizania Cruz

High Street Market

2009-10-29T11:00:00.000-07:00

//Via High Street Market

Sometimes I become aware of people in the blogosphere, and they just keep on popping up! Kelly Galvin Robson is one of them. A couple of weeks ago I added her Etsy site to my favorites. This morning her awesome bamboo dresser makeover was featured on Design Sponge, and I also read an article about her in the Around the Main Line article that Sara sent me. Clearly the woman has style, so when I checked out her blog, I wasnt surprised to see that she had done an awesome headboard makeover that of course I am obsessed with. We are finally ready to get a real bed. One that isn't just a metal frame on casters that came for free with your mattress. This is definitely inspiring, thanks Kelly!