These animal vessels from Pretty Random Objects (found via Oh Joy!) are too cute for words.  I think my favorite are the squirrel vases.  These would make such nice holiday gifts for the animal & plant lovers in my life!

{images shown belong to Pretty Random Objects}

The costume planning for the Halloween wedding we’re attending has had some ups and downs.  The biggest ups have been the ideas my husband and I have been coming up with for costumes and seeing lots of great things online… while the biggest downs have been realizing we don’t have much to spend and visiting a costume rental store and seeing how horrible the outfits were (as well as being totally overpriced – come on, $100-200 per person for a rental?  Seriously, now.  I might as well buy the dang thing).  So needless to say, I’ve been going a little overboard with searching online for the perfect (and affordable) pieces for our big night out.  Such as staying up until 3 am with my eyes glazed over, searching endlessly on Etsy and Ebay with the laptop in bed while my husband is sawing logs next to me.  Seriously, when I get an idea in my head it’s hard for me to let go.

I just purchased a vintage dress on Etsy and now I’m looking for something unique to wear in my hair: a feathered fascinator.  Who knows who came up with that term, but I have searched high and low and think I’ve narrowed my choices down to the three.  I would like for the fascinator to be a clip rather than a headband, so I can place it exactly where I’d like it, and I’d like for it to have some color (not just black) although it doesn’t have to be overly vibrant.  I’d also like for it to stick off a little bit off my head and not “hug” my hair too much (I actually already have a feathered headband that does that).  I want it to be just showy enough, but not over-the-top to make me seem like a Las Vegas showgirl.  Something similar to Irene Forsyte from The Forsyte Saga.  These are the three I’m debating on (currently, before I search for more):

(from starzselection)

(from satanica)

(from itsthelittlethingsut)

I am loving all three of these so it’s hard for me to choose one.  Which do you prefer?

{images shown belong to the owners listed above}

I’ve come across these invites before, but upon seeing them a second time I’m smitten all over again.  Charlotte & Justin’s invites from Ice Cream Social are so visually delicious… I am loving the apple and peach motif (a nod to the native New Yorker bride and Georgian groom) and adore the pattern used in the set.  The color is also perfect for a backyard summer wedding.  And the seersucker fabric is not only used on the invite, but is also the fabric used for the bridesmaid dresses.  After seeing how great these turned out, I’ll be adding a pinking rotary cutter to my tools wishlist!

{image shown belongs to Ice Cream Social}

Some really cute items from Etsy shop Lemontree… great for the start of school! (I still miss back-to-school shopping even though I’m in my late 20′s!)

{images shown belong to Lemontree}

Some really beautiful paper designs from Essimar.  I’m really enjoying her use of color (especially the bright color groupings I normally wouldn’t think of to put together), her shapes, pattern and line.  I’m really attracted to her animal pieces, but I also like her abstract ones as well.  Her creativity really comes through in her Flickr photos.

Besides her Flickr, make sure to check out her Etsy store and blog.

{images shown belong to Essimar}

I am a big tea drinker and aficionado of all things tea.  I love the bitter flavor of black tea, I love “going for tea” to tea shops and tea rooms, and I especially love tea china.  These vintage ‘redecorated’ ceramics by Ninainvorm (found via Oh Joy!) have such lovely color and compositions, I want several of these pieces for my own collection.  I’d love to mix these in with other vintage pieces for a quirky and fun tea party at home.

{images shown belong to Ninainvorm}

After going through many pages of my favorite Etsy sellers this past weekend, I came across the Groundwork shop again and remembered how much I’d love to own some of her prints.  Groundwork is owned by Danna Ray and her upbringing in rural South Carolina has greatly influenced her work.  I’m attracted to the simplicity of her work, the natural color palette, her themes involving nature, and the texture that’s often repeated in many of her pieces.  And another lovely thing about purchasing her prints?  She has a partnership with Trees for the Future where for every print purchased, 10 trees will be planted.  That’s definitely something worth supporting (an artist as well as the earth).

For more about Groundwork, check out the Etsy shop, her Flickr, and her website.

{images shown belong to Danna Ray/Groundwork}

One of my favorite gifts to give at baby showers are gift sets by Kunklebaby.  I ordered my first set from Jessica two years ago and have since ordered many more.  My original set was a custom piece, and every order by Kunklebaby is made with love and care.  All of her baby blankets, bibs, clothing, and accessories are always well made and the fabrics she uses are colorful, playful and fun.  I love buying handmade baby products to give as gifts instead of purchasing a run-of-the-mill factory made item you can get at any chain store.  And one of the best things about finding Kunklebaby for me?  I’ve become good friends with Jessica and we keep in touch about our creative endeavors and families.  She’s warm, friendly, and cares so much about the work she’s doing.  If you have a little one to get something sweet for, I highly recommend a Kunklebaby piece!

Please check out Kunklebaby Etsy shop, blog or the Flickr.

{images shown belong to Kunklebaby}

Last year after watching too many Jane Austen movies, I became crazed for finding the perfect locket necklace (jewelry that I saw every character wearing).  The chain needed to be a little long, and I really wanted to use some sort of cameo in the necklace.  After much searching, I came across the Etsy shop called Made By Cara.  I contacted her about a particular idea that I had for a necklace, and she was more than happy to create a custom piece for me.  After only a few days and a few different ideas shown to me, she made the perfect piece.

Cara was so friendly and great to work with, and got back to me with photos of lockets, chains, and beading so quickly.  I loved working with her and know others will too.

(Some of Cara’s other work)

{bottom images shown belong to Made by Cara}

I can hardly believe it’s May already, and was astonished to know that Mother’s Day is this weekend (*don’t worry Mom, I already know what I’m getting you!).  I know for many of us, it can be hard to find the perfect gift for someone special, especially when you’ve always used up all your “good gift ideas” that you have for them.  When I get stuck, I’ll try to think of what type of person they are; what hobbies they like and what types of things they do in their spare time.  Then if I really get stuck, I’ll ask for help and get suggestions.

Here’s a few Etsy gift suggestions for wonderful Mother’s Day gifts:

• Indigo striped bowl with assortment of succulents, from greenwaredesign 
(for the Mom who loves plants, but is afraid she might have a “black thumb”)

• Charcoal satin silk corsage flower brooch, from TheBroochBoutique
 (for the accessories-loving or business suit-wearing Mom, to add a simple touch to her outfit)

• Gray square tiles weekender, by DrikaB
 (a splurge for a Mom who loves to travel or has everything under the sun in her purse and still needs more room)

• Luxury Handmade Soap Trio Gift Box, from sweetpetula 
(for the Mom who loves to use luxurious bath products and knows how wonderful handmade soap is)

If all else fails, the best gift any Mom could want is some special time with you, so treat her to a day out: visit a museum together, go on a hike or picnic, or take her to lunch!

{images shown belong to the owners listed above}