Lately: Autumn 2015

Autumn in Seattle is usually as perfect as our Springs, but this year has been odd (not unlike the rest of the year). It's been unseasonably warm (in the 60s to 70s) and the leaves are too tired to do much. I can see the color changing a bit but most trees seem to have lost their leaves overnight. Like the rest of Seattle, they've had more than enough sun for one year. Today is cooler and the rainy skies are a welcomed sight. My plan for the day: coffee and a late breakfast, a bit of cleaning, and then, later, I'll meet my sister-in-law at the bins for some thrift shopping. We're going to bingo this weekend and shoulder pads and sequins are required.

If you have instagram, you're probably already tired of pumpkin pictures.

My love affair with malachite continues with my newest handcarved stamp. I was happy when my dad identified it as malachite, but he said it was mostly because he knew me. I think I might try incorporating it into my Christmas cards.

Singles are available on Etsy right now, and come with a shibori-lined envelope in Paper Source's limited edition color, Spruce.

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Second Annual 29th Birthday

I've been "planning" for it all year, and now it's come and gone. My 30th birthday, that is. Bye, bye twenties! It's been swell!

 The whole theme was rocks and dinosaurs.You know, old stuff. I was first inspired by these cupcakes and eventually ended up sending out these geode invitations.

 I didn't feel like tracking down rock candy for my cupcakes (plus, it doesn't seem like it'd be too pleasant to eat a whole cupcake coated in the stuff). Instead, I spray painted little plastic dinosaurs! I found everything at Fred Meyers! Even the little star sprinkles are from the baking section. What flavors you ask? The yellow cupcakes are apricot and the mauve ones are fig-blackberry. Not my most impressive, but still pretty delicious.

I had high hopes of finding a table, but who knew people like to go to the beach on Sundays in the summertime?

The hexagonal plates are from Paper Source. I've been waiting like 3 months for a reason to buy them.

 My mom and sister came up, and of course, my niece, Tilly. She helped me get dressed! I would try things on and she would tell me either "Umm, no, not special enough" or "Yes, that's special!" The dress she's wearing is actually one of mine. So is the bracelet.

Such a perfect place to celebrate being alive.

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Look of the Day: Bare Shoulders

I see a pattern emerging. I bought this blouse back in January sometime. It was too cold to wear it, but I've been thinking about it ever since. I've also been looking for more like it, and really anything in an off-shoulder style. I plan on wearing it for the rest of the summer. You will probably get sick of it.

The other day I was "Facetiming" with my mom and had two bits of news to announce. First, I bought Birkenstocks! Her response was "You bought WHAT?" I'm pretty sure I bemoaned my parents' choice of footwear my entire childhood, so I understand. I did own a pair of the close-toe Birkentstock after high school, but now I've switched over to the classic Arizona style. I wandered into Nordrstom to check out their annual sale and found these amazingly comfortable soft footbed Birks instead! They're a little trickier to style than I expected, but I've been gathering ideas from blogs like The Chic Curve and pins like this one! Even thought I'm still working out what to wear them with, I'm so glad I'll have them for my trip to New York.

That's my other bit of news! I can't give many details, but trust me, you'll be hearing about it! 

Vintage blouse - Vintage denim skirt - Tiffany bracelet - Soft Footbed Birkenstocks

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Marbling Madness

 It's been a busy, somewhat-stressful month. May is always a month where I just want to be outside and doing as much as I can, so I guess it's partly my own fault. I've been ignoring the blog. I'm sorry. But I have been using my time wisely! (Well, sorta. I got an iPhone and Instagram finally).

 I've been marbling like crazy! Over the past year, I've been trying to get it to work, and have had so much trouble. Mostly, my paint just sinks to the bottom. I thought maybe I didn't have the right "size", which is the name of the thick liquid you use to float the paint. After spending a large chunk of money on methocellulose (a thickener the pros use), and watching my drops of color sink to the bottom over and over again, I decided to give it a rest for a while. That was last year sometime. Just recently, I realized that certain acrylic paint colors worked and others didn't. The only difference that I could figure out: the price and the bottle. The cheaper the paint, the better it floats! Works out nicely, right?

It's such a rewarding art form; I can do it for hours. Blank paper coasters work best, so I've been making set after set. I don't plan on having a cocktail party for 100 people any time soon, so I've listed them on Etsy, in my Fleur d'Elise Paperie.

 I'm crazy about the sets in these photos, especially these neon coral ones. What colors should I do next?

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Meet Otto!

This is our new puppy, Otto!

He's a 10 week-old merle chihuahua.

He's got half a blue eye and lots of spots.

He's super cuddly, which is quite a contrast from Frida. Even when she was a puppy she hated being held!

 He naps in my lap whenever he gets a chance.

His other favorite activities are biting, running and peeing. In that order. He sort of knows his name and thinks every rustling bag is a treat bag. He should be easy to train.

More to come!

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Spring Giveaway: Win Sunglasses + $20!

 Hooray! Lovely, Spring weather has finally arrived here in Seattle. Today was in the 70s and tomorrow is supposed to be in the 80s! Okay, so maybe that's a bit more like Summer heat, but it's still awesome. 

To celebrate I'm giving away a pair of Oasap sunglasses & a $20 credit good towards anything in my Etsy shop!

This pink romper is just $22! Or maybe you'll want to spend the money on a Mother's Day present. These vintage rhinestone earrings are going for $10. Pair them with one of my handmade stationery sets, and you've got a darling little gift!

 The frames of the sunglasses are brown matte tortoiseshell. Super cool!

...And the winner is...
Corey Olomon!

Thanks to everyone who entered!

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DIY: Make Your Mail Glitter!

Here's a simple way to make your Valentine's mail even more special.

What You'll Need:

1 cellophane envelope

Some glitter & confetti

Washi tape

1 address label

A cute card

A cute friend

Step 1:

Fill out your card. The mushier the better.

Step 2:

Just kidding. That's gross.

Step 3:

Seal it up in its paper envelope, then slip it into the cellophane envelope. You can get a package of them here.

Step 4:

Throw in a pinch of glitter and a pinch of confetti. Seal up the cellophane. Make sure you don't fold the cello envelope smaller than it really is (tip from USPS). Use the washi tape to seal any gaps where the glitter escapes.

Step 5:

Address the envelope. Add postage, duh.

Step 6:

Fill someone's mailbox with love!

P.S. I made that Grumpy Cat stamp! I've made so many cards with it. They watch over me while I sleep.

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Party: Mathilde's 4th Birthday

 Four seems to be the age when birthdays really start clicking for kids. They understand what's going on a little better and they get excited and less overwhelmed. This year, Mathilde asked for a French birthday, but we think she meant she wanted everyone to speak in French. Or something. She didn't seem too disappointed when no one spoke in French, save a few words. I helped with the decorations and baking. My mom & sisters did a ton of cooking.

The party turned out more balloon themed. She had about a dozen regular balloons and then we accidentally over-bought Mylar balloons (it's hard to resist when you're at the $ store). She ended up with 10 of those.

DIY Idea: Making pretty banners for cakes and table decorations is relatively easy. Use a pencil and just keep sketching until you get the shape you want. Also use the pencil when writing so you can go back and correct any letters you don't like. Then trace over the letters with a nice pen.

I found this awesome matte, neon wrapping paper in the Target After-Christmas sale. I kinda wish I'd bought two rolls.

DIY Idea: Save the little cello envelopes that cards and stickers come in and reuse them to add another dimension to gifts. They turn the card into the centerpiece of the gift, or use a tiny one for the tag. The addition of glitter makes them even more festive.

Emmett, terrified, and Tilly in two of her birthday presents.

My sister Maddie made Tilly a chocolate & vanilla cake with strawberry frosting. She made a strawberry sauce and then mixed it with cream cheese and powdered sugar. It was completely delicious. 

Aside from a few nonsensical outbursts of "I hate my birthday!" when she was frustrated with her zipper,Tilly was the sweetest birthday girl. She thanked each person that gave her a gift or a card and at the end of the night said "Thank you everyone!" 

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