I would rather spend every moment with my dearest family than to ever see the world.

I would prefer washing and mending tiny hands and feet over being glamorous and trendy.

I favor heart and character over status and opinion.

{Baby shoes print by MayaLee}

alphabet

Sign me up for anything alphabet, and now a bookshelf? Hmph! Thank you, Finnish designer Lincoln Kayiwa. Happy letters + books.

{pom pom} vines

Doesn't this make you wish you had plans to throw a pretty little party--for which you could hang colorful garland? Maybe you already do. I'm thinking along the lines of an indoor garland too, probably because a constant state of wetness is thoroughly upon the entire Northwest. No one likes soggy tissue paper. Click here for great DIY instruction from the creator of Rifle Design.

Happy Weekend.

{Photo here}

Not {naked} anymore.

Lately, my walls have seemed a little bare. Even I, Miss Simplicity, couldn't bare it any longer (no pun intended).

So I pulled out my oldest of old felt scraps and some mustard thread and listened to the Seattle rain. You might already know how much I adore little banners. I still salivate when I look at this guy.

Then the wall next to this one was looking naked, also...

I love the idea of using a color wheel (among other old art 110 assignments), a postcard, a paper coaster, and fabric as wall decor.

Voila!

To put up the fabric, I soaked it with some non-aerosol liquid starch, carefully spread it onto the wall and dabbed the edges with a sponge for about a minute. It dries overnight. The great thing is that when you are ready for something new, you can pull the fabric off the wall and not a trace of starch (or any other suspicious something) is left behind. Not so naked anymore. Ahh.

Inna Modja

I am in l-o-v-e with new French pop singer Inna Modja's style + fro.

Etsy: 2011 calendar

 

I've discovered a smattering of 2011 calendars around the web lately (people are really thinking ahead), and so far this one's my favorite. I love looking through the rest of Beau Ideal's Etsy shop--everything is so eccentric and the colors are always looking a tad retro.

etsy love

 

 

 

While I'm on such an embroidery kick, I thought I'd share these from MiniatureRhino's Etsy shop. I love how the hoops are a part of the art. Sometimes love is indeed in the details.

I'll admit.

Now is the time for honesty. I really don't like Halloween. How is it possible, you ask, when she loves the fall season so very much? What I really don't like are the goblins and mummies and eyeballs. The smelly, scary, plastic masks. Those fake spider webs people string across their shrubs; the fake graveyards they fork into their lawns. I even despise the orange + black color combination. The only saving grace of Halloween are the precious kiddies dressed in homemade costumes (I'll also accept Halloween cookies). I am head-over-heels for these felted (!) tree costumes.

Jayson {Home & Garden}

Hi, little chair. I love browsing through this (recently opened) annual online flea shop for vintage and antique furniture, artwork, and other curiosities. I picture this chair next to my little desk, or in the charming entry hall of a little house I do not yet own.

embroidery tutorial

Embroidery can be the perfect little project. I used to be a bit intimidated by the intricacy of it all, but find that it is as simple or as detailed as one would have it. Here is a basic tutorial that might get you going, too.

Happy Friday.

layers

There's nothing like a giant flower and a cardigan to start the week right. This project was simple: I cut different sizes of flowers and tacked them together, then knotted the middle a bit. I sure love that rusty color.

Satomi Kawakita

I think this ring is perfect. It's my exact ratio of Plain Jane + vintage. Satomi Kawakita is brilliant. Happy Friday!

make do and mend.

A pull-out from the latest issue of Frankie.

{knitted} house

And while we're on the topic of knitted things, let's admire this little house. Can I live there?

birds

Why do I love birds so much? There are not many things that make me happier or giddier than watching ducks waddle around and quack. These solid oak birds elicit similar feelings. They were originally designed by Kristian Vedel in 1959 in Denmark, and are now featured on the Canoe website (where you can find other household knick-knacks).

transforming {furniture}

I have officially decided that the impossible is, indeed, possible. Mostly because that old card catalog shown below did, indeed, become that most perfect white buffet table.

Check out the entire process on this couple's blog. I'm always impressed by people who aren't afraid to tear apart their walls and furniture because they have a vision of something better.

beard cap

Agreed...

Handmade of 100% Icelandic sheep wool. And really rad.

bunchy bow

I had a few random scraps and decided to try something quick and easy. Ta-da! All I did was bunch little pieces of fabric together, put a few stitches through the bottoms, then attach them all onto a circle of felt. You can't really tell, but I slipped the whole thing onto a headband. Don't you feel proud to walk around wearing something you've made?