a bite of color

 I love Emilie Griottes' variation on pantone color swatches. Mmm. I think I'd like to try PANTONE 1797 C! I'd love to raid her prop box — especially the spoons.

photos by amilie griottes found via anthologie

london calling

Hey ho! So many fun new blog visitors and friends. It's a lovely side effect of Gabby's link love over on Design Mom. Thanks for stopping by!

Yesterday was my friend and coworker's birthday. She recently returned from a trip to London with her new husband so I picked up Tula Moon's London Note Card Set for her birthday. I love the textures and colors! The designs were inspired by vintage quilts ... wouldn't you love that flag on your bed?

More of Tula's work over here. I love this one!

images via barns & noble

ho ho horse

Happy Monday! I don't have anything profound to share today ... it IS Monday after all. But I thought this Australian Christmas horse was beautiful.

On an unrelated note, I just ran across these gold ice cream spoons in Gifted Magazine's 2011 Gift Guide. They are perfect for my sister's ice cream spoon tradition/hunt. But $12 each? Hm.



image 1 via this is glamorous by homelife \ image 2 via canvas

calm before the storm

I'm in love with the pallet in this painting. The "calm before the storm" is one of my favorite moments. Far too many times I've told my family how much I want to capture the yellow green light on grass against a stormy gray sky. This painting is just perfect.

Field Before the Storm prints available at Amber Alexander's etsy shop.

play with your food

To play with your food and call it a JOB sounds pretty grand to me. I'd love to create vignettes like these. Photographed by Andrea Bricco and styled by Casa de Perrin.



[photos by Andrea Bricco via Rue Magazine's preview anniversary issue]

currently craving: tortilla lime + salt milk chocolate

Mm. Does this not look amazing? One happy reviewer described it as: "Subtly crunchy and with its palate-challenging mix of salty, sweet and sour flavors, the treat expertly balances a difficult combo of tangy lime, small bits of tortilla chips and a rich milk chocolate base ..."

I like strange combos like this and I love sweet and salty. When we were kids we went to the mall with some dear friends where they entered a Dryer's ice cream flavor contest. The flavor was Strawberry Pretzel Ice Cream (with actual bits of salty pretzel) and I've been wanting to try it ever since! This Tortilla Lime + Salt Milk Chocolate Bar is right up the same ally. Also, thank you Komfort Chocolates for using milk chocolate. It's so much better than dark!

I'd love to try the French Toast and Apple Pie + Grahm bars too!


[image credit Komfort Chockolates]

keri herer prints

I was largely inspired by Kari Herer's work during my senior portfolio. While I ended up veering more to the stippling and, ahem, s'mores, she inspired me to combine illustrations and photography (and design!). Her work is warm and interesting and perfect for this new fall season.




I think these antler prints would be perfect for my married brother and sister. Flowers + antlers = a happy decorating medium.






[photo credit Kari Herer]

a few things ...

The best biscuits you'll ever eat IF you cook them for 1/2 the time (13-14 mins) and substitute cinnamon in place of cayenne. I'm telling you ... the yummiest texture ever. (pictured above)

I wish I had been there to listen.

I just found THE CHEAPEST baker's twine yet! The uses for this stuff are endless!

I really enjoyed this article about Priscilla Ahn.
"... Ahn is a breath of fresh air from the many messages telling women and young girls that the only way to be happy is to find a man and fit in with the norm ... The musician sagely notes that all relationships, good or bad, take much effort. 'It’s a lot of work to listen to someone who is not happy with something you’re doing. It takes a lot of strength and courage to sit there and listen.'”

I might have caved.

My friend, Courtney, is planning her baby's nursery. But I keep getting distracted by ideas like this and this!



[photo credit Always With Butter]

flora fauna moose

I've admired Katie Vernon's illustrations for a while, but I was so excited to see the new fall additions to her shop, Chipmunk Cheeks. Including a moose! This is one wish-list item I may have to think seriously about ... I love moose ... and flowers.

Isn't the squirrel cute?

feathers & freedom

I love these prints from Small Talk's etsy shop ... even if they are living in the "no consequences 60's." ;)

gray light

I was just browsing through Every Eskimo's shop and trying to take note of the way she displays simple items in a beautiful way. It would be so easy for her to take a simple photograph of these household finds and post them on her shop. Instead, she stages each item and gives you a sense of what the item could be in your home.

And I love her gray lighting!





Did I mention she also sews little animals? Now that's an original hobby.

This one reminds me of my dear friend, Courtney, whom I call "C".

Visit her blog for more lovely pictures!

[image credit every eskimo etsy shop]

honeycomb cake

ooh, I just spotted this cake pan on William-S0noma — "Makes a honeycomb-shaped cake with pull-apart sections for easy sharing." What an easy way to make a cake beautiful (no frosting!).

I'm in to honeycomb right now because my sisters and I are memorizing this verse. I want to know what actual honeycomb tastes like. How sweet is it? But all I've found so far is chocolate covered comb and that's just not the same. Hm. I'll have to keep looking (or visit a bee farm :).

photoshop in real life

Well this is fun, clever, creative and all of the above! This poster features all of the photoshop elements in actual form. I think my favorite is the tipped paint bucket and files spilling out of the "File" menu. Well done!

See process shots here.

[via Anthology]

1 dress for 100 days for orphans

day 53

"Miss Elaini" is a friend of a friend (many, actually!). She's 22, loves fashion, and she's wearing 1 dress for 100 days and blogging about it. The goal of her blog is to use fashion to help orphaned children in India. Here's what she has to say:

Orphans in India can’t go to school without a uniform. Growing up surrounded by turmoil, human trafficking and loss, an education can help these orphans dream about a different life. I have been given so much that I can have “fashion,” while these children struggle to stay clothed.

Here’s the deal: I’ll wear a black dress for several months to identify with the children who only have one outfit. I’ll accessorize it in different ways, take a picture every day and blog it. Think of it as a dress marathon.

Here’s where you can help. I want to raise $50,000 for the orphans in India. I’m going to wear this dress as a reminder of these children. Through partnering with Warm Blankets Orphan Care, let’s dream big for these children ...

In the brief times I've spent with Elaini , she was genuinely lovely and also quite the talented fashonista! Here are a few of my favorite outfits so far, but visit her website to see loads more!








I was impressed with Shabby Apple for donating these accessories!

[photos belong to misselainious.com]