A Closer Look at Ottoman

Giant Pinecone

Jeff screeched the car to a halt for me to retrieve this giant pinecone from the side of the road on our way to Southern California. It's wider and shorter than a sugar pinecone, but I'm not sure what type of pine it came from; they were tallish with rather anemic long needles. The tree just didn't match the heft of these murderous cones.

So, I'm enjoying posting from my phone. However, the photos seem to be heavier than the text as they sink right to the bottom of the post...I prefer them to float. Humph.

The Cursive Typewriter!

Finally! I've been promising pictures for some time.

The typewriter is in the condition I bought it...meaning, filthy.

I'm going to clean and lubricate it and I found a great little cheat sheet here (via Etsy).

I would have been excited about finding any cursive typewriter, but I must say that these colors of gray-brown, dark and light gray-green pull the outdoors in....I mean to say that they are the colors of the local landscape.

And the faux tweed case is lovely as well. It's a bit worn in some spots, but to be expected. Taking photos on the blue cabinet reflects terribly. As you may know, I've had the cabinet for a few years. I want to paint it, but I haven't put my finger on the right color. Dove gray often comes to mind...hmmmm. A nice neutral, as I'm sure that pops of orange will be in abundance in the home!

Back to the typewriter...

There's the type! A good cleaning will really help to make crisp letters. I also managed to find a local store with ribbon, surprisingly enough. The fellow who owns the shop still has some old typewriters about and we got to talking typewriters. He said that the "handwriting" typewriters never sold for him at the time they were made. I suppose that's why they are uncommon now, they just weren't in demand at the time.

I'll have to post an update when this beauty is in good working order!

Blog Break

Hello there! A bit of a blog break there...it has been cold and rather uninspiring. So, I suppose if one doesn't have much to say, why bother?

However, things are going fine and we plan to visit family later this month which always takes planning and the anticipation is almost as wonderful as being there (well, sort of).

This sweet little cactus here is one that my boys (Jeff and Boo) picked up for me while on an errand to the hardware store. They know how I love orange so. I'll have to find out how to take care of it, as not all succulents are the same. It's a happy little plant.

I hope to have more posts very soon! The sun is out and it's Saturday (really, the only day I can logistically photograph in the winter). So! pictures of the cursive typewriter...really!

Until we meet again.

Moss + Gray

By request, I made some Moss for your Wall pieces with the gray fabric....I hadn't realized that I had completely sold out! Oh! and this piece with the linen fabric. So, more in the shop!

No. 21

No. 22

No. 23

No. 24

No. 25

No. 26 (sold)

Woodgrain Letters

A few vintage woodgrain letters were recently put in the shop:

They can be found in this section (for easier reference). Oh! and they are sold individually.

By the way, I found a cursive typewriter at a thrift store yesterday...something I've been on the hunt for for at least a couple of years...more on that soon! Eeeeeem!

 

 

Wee Lichen and Moss

above - Moss for your Wall 18 (3 inch)

above - Moss for your Wall 19 (6 inch)

above - Lichen for your Wall 22 (4 inch)

above - Moss for your Wall (V2) 4 (5 inch)

above - Moss for your Wall 20 (4 inch)

This is the first Moss for your Wall with Linen fabric (notice the writing on the hoop....I love the history that comes with vintage hoops...and the quality).

above - Special Limited Edition Lichen for your Wall 8 (3 inch)

This limited edition is an edition of 10 (includes: vintage hoop, linen fabric, cashmere embroidery floss, and a dusting of gold mica powder - just like the granite rocks around my parents' home where the lichen grows - a lovely combination of colors and textures).

above - Special Limited Edition Lichen for your Wall 9 (3x5 inch)

These will be included in the shop update on Saturday.

Off to go check on my feverish boy....

Shop Update Scheduled

I'm planning on a shop update on Saturday, November 19, 2011. I can't reliably give a time because I'm currently nursing a feverish Boo. I'm attempting to keep positive that I will be well on Saturday and will have not caught the bug that Boo has (poor little pumpkin). Items to expect: Abstract Fragment Necklaces, Moss for your Wall, Lichen for your Wall, and some more Special Limited Edition Lichen for your Wall pieces. There may be more and I'll try to post images of what will be posted if I am able.

Speaking of visuals...I hate to have this post lack one. I know how popular Ojo de Dios have become...and I understand why...

Jenny and I tried our hands at making Ojo de Dios (the above is mine) a few weeks ago because I have a huge stash of yarn. I think it turned out nicely for a first try and the colors worked so well with the gourds that Boo picked out for decorating at Halloween. Here's the tutorial I used for the attempt (the sticks are bamboo from Jenny's yard).

sword + fern

The last time I was in Portland (earlier this summer), I dropped off a small package to a wee shop that has the feel somewhere between a natural history museum and the squirreled-away collection (*treasure*) of a creature of the forest (therefore, either we shrink upon entrance, or the contents grow to our size). The shop is sword + fern, and the forest creature whose collection you will discover upon entrance is Emily Baker. Even though it's a small shop (and to it's benefit), one could spend hours pouring over the incredible contents.

What was inside the small package I dropped off is now on display (and for sale!) here...

(image from sword + fern)

(image from sword + fern)

Anything look familiar? If I've whet your appetite for more, here are the latest arrivals...better yet, if you are in the Portland area, or plan to visit soon...stop by and tell Emily "hi" for me.

 

New in the Shop: Vintage Dishes

Serving Bowl

Soup Bowl

Sugar Bowl with Lid

Teacup and Saucer

Set of 8 Fruit/Dessert Bowls

Set of 4 Bread and Butter Plates

Set of 6 Dessert Plates

Set of 8 Dinner Plates

These dishes...perfect on a rustic farm table...the design is St. Cloud. Basically, if you live in St. Cloud and had these on your rustic farm table ('cause they would contrast nicely with the floral and gold)...it would be pretty rad.

Chives from the Garden

I must admit that I'm abandoning my garden. Until I can devote the time to dealing with a compost bin and getting the soil more prepared (it's all clay/rocks now), I'm going to garden in containers inside. The other day, I was inspecting what was left in the fenced in space that was the garden, and noticed that a lemon balm plant was overtaking a chive plant. So, I decided to dig up the chive (and since it was so large, divide it) and pot it in a terracotta pot I had kicking around...then brought it inside.

(Yeah, the reason I haven't posted about house improvements in forever is because it's been slow-going...busy, busy. Case-in-point...the unfinished drywall.)

I often buy green onions at the store for quesadillas, nachos, and the like. I'm thinking that these chives might make a good substitution. Bringing this plant inside will allow me to actually use it. Mmmm...yogurt chive dip!

So, it seems that I have enough chives for all kinds of recipes...do you have a favorite?