I went apple picking last week and it was a really nice afternoon outside.  The weather was perfect, super sunny with a clear blue sky and just warm enough (but still fallish).  Not sure why I do this, but every year I always bring home a ridiculous amount of apples, like I’m a squirrel stocking up for winter.  Unfortunately I’ve been so busy this week that I haven’t made any desserts yet.  I did, however, make my favorite butternut squash & apple soup recipe (via Simply Recipes) since it’s so quick but still haven’t gotten to eat any!  As soon as it cooled I had to run to the shop and print way into the night.  Hoping to make some apple crisp this weekend…

{images shown via my iPhone}

This may be one of the most cute, most fun, DIY ideas I’ve seen in a long time.  Mini pinatas?  Don’t mind if I do.  Thanks for sharing, Jordan!

{images shown belong to Jordan Ferney & Oh Happy Day}

Came across Fentimans Sodas the other day and first noticed their lovely vintage typography.  Then stopped to check them out and noticed their flavors… Victorian Lemonade with juniper and ginger, Rose Lemonade, Dandelion & Burdock, Shandy (which I’ve heard about but have yet to try), just to name a few.  Now my interest has been peaked and I plan on trying a lot of them!

{image shown via Uncrate}

This weekend was a good mix of work and play.  I didn’t get as much work accomplished as I would’ve liked, but I certainly enjoyed myself (and isn’t that the point of life anyway?).  Started the weekend by visiting a friend in her hometown of Marblehead (the land of Katy Elliot!) and she showed me all the best places in town.  It was a perfect New England coastal weather: cloudy and cool.  Marblehead is so charming with the world’s most amazing houses and yards, I wish I could’ve stayed the whole weekend… but will be back.

Then we had SoWa on Sunday.  The weather was a bit more summery than fallish, but no rain to be had.  There were the nicest, friendliest people shopping as well as showing; I swear that each SoWa we do is getting better and better as we wind down to our last two (*which are October 9th & 16th).  Also ate the best food during the day from the food trucks, including a chickpea fritter sandwich from Clover that I am still dreaming about.  Such a nice weekend.

PS:  Yes, I do love Hipstamatic and I’m not ashamed to say it.

I’ve known for about a month or so that I’ve needed to have my holiday product ready to go for the beginning of fall, but somehow the month of September snuck by me.  All of the sudden, I’ve got to work my you-know-what off in the next two weeks to design, print, and package to prepare for the holiday season.  I’m also in a wedding next weekend for two of my favorite people, and have a bridal shower in three weeks for my cousin and dear friend, and am fitting in all the to-do’s for those events with all of my design work.  I’m finding at the end of this week that I need more hands, more time in the day, and more of my brain to accomplish it all.  Somehow in the nuttiness that is this type of work, the type where I’m working all hours of the day (and late into the night), I have so much creativity (more so than usual) and enjoy “riding the wave” while it lasts.

(Oh, and on a personal side note… I decided to train for a half marathon at the end of October, just because I apparently like having too many things to prepare for and accomplish.)

I have a few exciting things to share with you all next week, a project dear to my heart and some tiny but big news (for me, at least).  Can’t wait to tell you all… hope you have a restful weekend, lovely readers!
- Colleen

PS: Hot cocoa and soup-making season have begun at our house!  I’ve been having a cup of homemade cocoa as my treat at the end of a long day.

I’m already short on wall space, but if I had a plethora of walls to decorate, these prints would be on my must-buy list.  Bookmarking for the future…

{images shown belong to Panteek}

I’ve tried Elderflower jam and juice before, but I’d love to get a bunch of fresh, delicate elderflower to put in a vase.  This photo from Pure Style Blog is simply gorgeous.

{image shown belongs to Pure Style Blog}

Hooray!  I finally, finally got a chance (at long last) to sit down and make a few terrariums: one for myself and two for friends.  One of my dear friends (thanks, Lori!) gave me several sedums and a tiny fawn for my birthday, specifically because she knew I’ve been meaning to put a terrarium together.  On my to-do list now?  Finding the perfect tiny plastic figure to make a thank you terrarium for my friend!

{for more of my in the garden images, check out my Flickr}

Working on a wedding invitation project, I came across this book spread online.  How beautiful!  Really inspired by it.  From the book Evergreens, via found in my mom’s basement.

{image shown via found in my mom’s basement}

Yesterday my cousin and I finally made it to the beach.  Hooray!  It was really a perfect beach day (with the exception of a wild and very bold seagull knocking my sandwich literally out of my hands with his beak – ouch!).  Felt super relaxed when I got home I stayed up late getting a lot of work done.  So, based on my summer to-do’s, I have four more things to go!