A little late...

My apologies for no posts this week. I've been quite busy with school and working all day long, and today I had to bring in my kitty to the vet! Ah! I also sold some items today! What a week. But heres some stuff I've been eyeing on...



Ah, I promise I'll have something more interesting soon...until then...!

Friday Faves

This week's inspiration is all things map related. There is something going on about maps that are so fascinating to me, especially when artists make their own interpretation of existing maps.

Loving It

Hey all, just wanted to let you know that on Design*Sponge yesterday and today are some great posts about setting up your own Etsy shop by guest blogger Abby Goes Design Scouting. She really lays it down for you so please check it out!

In other news, a pack of my cards are in a Treasury on Etsy right now, check it out here!

Etsy Tuesday: Betsy Walton

Betsy Walton is an artist living and working in Portland, Oregon. She seems to be everywhere right now; her artwork graced last week's Portland Mercury newspaper, shes showing at Olio United and has tons of "happenings" around the US. Her work is colorful and filled with interesting shapes and subjects. I love looking at her prints-such talent! You can find Betsy's great artwork here.

Friday Faves

This week's faves are bird themed. I've been seeing a ton of birds, owls, anything feathery and in flight. I'm hoping to use these as my next Treasury, whenever that happens. Have a GREAT Valentine's Day weekend!

Valentine's Treats!

Today I made a batch of homemade RED VELVET CUPCAKES. Thats right, I caved in to the craze and made those suckers. They turned out quite delicious but my frosting went a bit awry (not enough sugar!), so I decided to use store-bought cream cheese frosting...which in my opinion is way better! Go figure. For Valentine's Day, all sorts of great desserts are rediscovered. Theres just so much chocolate and red floating around its hard not to get all caught up in it! Heres the recipe I used and a picture thats not mine (I'll take some tomorrow when they're properly frosted!). Perhaps you can bake your sweetie some of these? They'll LOVE you for it.

Red Velvet Cupcakes
recipe from Paula Deen

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 tablespoons red food coloring
1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat to 350. In a medium bowl, whisk together dry ingredients. In a larger bowl, carefully whisk together oil, buttermilk, food coloring, eggs, vinegar, and vanilla. Add the dry to the wet and mix until smooth and combined using an electric hand mixer.
Divide batter between cupcake pans lined with papers (should make about 24). Bake 11 minutes- turn- bake 11 more. Test for doneness with a toothpick.

Frost with whipped cream cheese frosting:

1/2lb c. cheese
1 stick of butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 c. powdered sugar

YUM!

New Items in Shop!

Hey all, I just put in three new photos into my Etsy shop....yay!

Drawing...!

I chose to respond to the question..."What do you personally use drawing for?"

-distraction
-doodling
-list-making
-reminders
-sketches/plans for current projects

I use recurring shapes in many of my drawings, like crystalline or geometric imagery. Something about it just keeps it coming back. I love making lists and organizing my thoughts (I have a very bad memory), so just scribbling down ideas is "drawing" my thoughts out onto paper. I hate doing thumbnails or sketches, but I'm usually required to, so its more of a tangible thing for someone else to see whats in my head (I often work on projects from what I think originally, not what I draw or sketch on paper). Many times I just doodle and that sparks another idea. I guess to sum it up most of drawing for me is used for organization and clearer focus than all the ideas in my mind.

Etsy Tuesday: Mincing Mockingbird

Todays finds are from a quirky, talented painter-mincingmockingbird. He paints birds of all sorts, and occasionally puts in a witty line or two. His prints are super affordable (magnets are $4, 8x10 prints are $13!) and theres always a TON to look at. You can buy mincingmockingbird prints here. Happy Tuesday!

Woop Woop!

So apparently my treasury made it to the front page of etsy today! HECKYES! I secretly thought it would, the stuff i picked were really really cute-how could it not? Now I feel like I have a hold on the Etsy "look". Thats right, I'm bragging :)

Inspiration

Lately I've been thinking about doing a series of prints or SOMETHING relating to maps, cities and hidden worlds. I read Italo Calvino's Invisible Cities last year for a class and was fascinated by the story: Marco Polo tells Kubla Khan about cities hes traveled to, all very different but similar and incredibly strange and foreign to our concepts of cities and civilations.

Its hard to describe my exact inspiration, so I've put them into picture form. Do they weave a web of similarity? I hope so. I'm just not sure what to do with all of it! I think a series of etchings could be really cool...


I watched Horton Hears a Who back in December and was so fascinated by it. He finds a little speck from a flower that holds an entire planet and has to protect it.

The Little Prince is so totally cool-you must watch the 1974 film version with Gene Wilder and Bob Fosse, its so ridiculously strange but awesome.


This is a painting by Rene Magritte for a cover of Calvino's book. A lot of my drawings have been centered around little planets or chunks of rock with buildings on them, much like this one! So weird.

Loving It!

Ah how amazing is this gold on black print by Seb Lester? Its already sold out at Keep Calm, but looking at it is good enough.

My First Treasury!

Yay! In trying to network and get my shop seen, I wanted to create a treasury. I was lucky enough to only wait a few minutes before I could set one up! I love the list I created, its using the same images as this week's Friday Faves but with more oomph. Tell me what you think!

Treasury...!

Friday Faves

This week's inspiration is feminine, soft, pink, girly. I'm currently loving vintage jewelry finds, beautiful knit wear and soft-focus photography. Happy Friday! (Thanks for the comments everyone, I'm so excited to feature Etsy artists!)

clockwise from top: knit collar by Tickled Pink Knits, pink petals dress by Sarah Seven , pale winter rose photo from lifelovepaper, silk corsage by dinosaurtoes.

Valentine's Gift Guide part III

Today's post is our last section in the Valentine's Gift Guide! This time its for the men. What do you buy guys for the big day? Most women are clueless as to what their bfs or husbands would like (maybe because they've been more excited about what they're going to receive!). But whatever you get him will be special because you thought about him and thats all that counts. I found some cute things on Etsy that can cater to almost any type of man. The Nerdy/Geeky type, the Cool/Hip type and the Typical Guy. Most items on Etsy are for women and men that love indie coolness, but don't fret! Theres tons of stuff out there to suit your dude.


Remember the mustache craze? Everyone and everything had a mustache, so here it is to put right on your wall! The mustache key rack by Suddenly, It's Real! will garner laughs.


You can create custom beverage holders, business card holders and coasters for your man. Now you won't have to cringe everytime he takes a 6 pack somewhere. These also make great gifts if you want to surprise him with fancy brews. Custom wood holders by Roberto Sand.


For the cool guy, why not buy him a hand printed tee? Theres a huge assortment out there, but this one comes from Vital Industries.

For a great gift, get him a screenprinted tie! I bought my valentine a super cute tie (the one below), from Cyberoptix Tie Lab, who prints amazing silk and microfiber ties.


And, if all else fails, you can create your own "coupons" for...well...whatever your heart desires! These are by Elle's Studio

So thats it, hope you enjoyed our round-up of great Valentine's gifts. You can find part I (cards) here, and part II (for her) here. Enjoy!

Etsy Tuesday: Nesta Home

Today I bring you a shop I'm super excited to blog about, Nesta Home. A one-woman business, Nesta Home is filled with prints, pillows, and other home decor. I would love to put my printmaking knowledge and photography to use other than prints. You can shop Nesta Home here, and a great article on Etsy's "Quit Your Dayjob" series right here. Happy Tuesday!

Valentine's Gift Guide part II-Gifts for Her

Wee im so excited for this post! I searched for weeks for great Valentine's gifts for that lucky lady in your life, and fell in love with soooo many things that I probably won't wait for someone to buy them. Guys take note, I'm posting this several days before the "big day" because Etsy sellers must mail their goods to you, and that can take a few days. Well...without further ado, here are some fantastic items for her. I've broken it down into a few categories: bath/body, artwork/home decor, and jewelry.

Bath and Body

A great smelling soap or bubble bath will surprise and delight her.

Top to bottom: A Thousand Roses soap by Swan Mountain Soaps, Cherry Almond soap by Birch Bark

Home Decor and Artwork
Buying her that perfect piece for her home or a little something to hang on the wall shows you're paying attention to her interests.

How gorgeous is this chalkboard? They come in many shapes and sizes.

This book art set includes two books to trade between couples. You can include drawings, poems, anything that reminds you of your significant other. How cute!

Top to bottom: Hanging ribbon chalk board by Rowan's Room, teacups by LoucheLab, Book of Love art kit by LoucheLab, Poppy ceramic bowl and love bird ceramic wall art by Prince Design UK.

Jewelry
Because anything shiny and sparkly will do.

These thin silver stacking rings are so modern and simple.

Top to Bottom: Linked handforged necklace by Joieux, Cour d'Etoile earrings by Tryst, Silver stacking rings by Neology by Mina, Lilou earrings by Joieux, S.W.A.K necklace and Je T'Aime necklace by Tryst.

Hope that gives you some ideas! Our next gift guide will feature gifts for him.