Gathering Inspiration

mushrooms chalkals by estela lugo

cool and functional and fun!

mushrooms are made of adhesive chalkboard vinyl
for both beauty and function!
easily repositionable/removable (won't peel off paint!)
and a lot of fun!

Little Brown Pen – DYI gifts for way under budget & uber creative

cute video to inspire you to make hand-made!

what would you wish for at the end of your day?

Fifty People, One Question: New York from Crush & Lovely on Vimeo.

and what a wonderful question it is.

(via swissmiss)

lit up in elegant twigs

mesmerizing!
i can see it perfectly perched on my mantel!

(via hoping for happy accidents)

so, i've been tagged

my fellow napa blogger, napa farmhouse 1885, was tagged earlier this month, and followed through on her position by doing what you're suppose to: tag another 6 and i was one of them.

apparently, when you are tagged, this means one has to reveal 6 unknown tidbits about yourself to the virtual abyss of you, my readers. a bit intimidating? yes? will i be honest? yes, but of course the tidbits i will sprinkle will be ones that won't scare you away! so here it goes...

1. i have no heart for Cabs! there, i said it. living in the napa valley would make you think i love the premier wine there is: the Cabernet, but alas - i don't. i guess it's because i am not a heavy meat eater: the heaviest reds i'll drink these days is a pinot or zin, maybe a malbec or perhaps a rioja.

2. i'm a tea snob. no tea bags here: or if they are: they must be whole leaves and organic, biodynamic even better. my friends from ambootia tea estate and ineeka, shashank and sumita goel, turned me onto the goodness of fine teas years ago, and it's never been the same. luckily, these days i can find some excellent sources from my local whole foods, tillerman tea company at oxbox public market in napa, and an array of other online retailers.

3. loves to support local and handmade crafts, whether they be food, arts, decor or wear ables, soaps, etc. The hunt and find make it all so worth it! i am not a fan of "shopping" when it comes to walking the malls, so, when i can go to a boutique, fair, or farmers market or online at etsy, it makes it all the more special and effective. plus, the gift receiver always benefits with a more original gift!

4. admits to: break dancing. though i was just 11 years old, did the backspin, centipede, pop-n-lock, moon walk, all on a square linoleum tile (highly polished up with pledge) in the backyard - because i was too "uncool" to participate with my brother's entourage in the garage, all decked out in the parachute pants, wide laced-up pumas and boom boxes. even solo, i still had fun!

5. once stopped a potentially lethal fight between her then (testosterone-filled-idiot) teenaged-brother and some random guy who yielded a hand gun by jumping between them, first, by telling off her brother, and then turning around and laying it on the dude. either i looked like some freakish hysterical sister, or got thru some thick skulls with her sharp tongue. this was back in the days of early 90s in chicago. (and pray what infused the fight? the dude was checking out my brother's girlfriend at the time. ridiculous!)

6. absolutely cherishes her life in napa with her husband and young son. yes, work pays the bills and allows her to live this glamorous life of "a napa valley graphic designer", but the things that put it in perspective for this girl is: what will our lives look like in 10 years: i want to be able to say - pure happiness in knowing i have my two favorite men in my life who are themselves: happy, healthy and enjoying me.

the deed is done. though i am suppose to "tag" another 6.
apologies in advance if you have been tagged recently, or like me: digging deep to find what might be interesting enough to release that might not be so edited to elude real truths.

1. from milan to minsk 
from a friend who has a witty blog and insights to napa and other delightful postings

2. wtf grand old party
another pal from chicago who created an incredible crew of political insights that help to spread the word for obama's victory

3. seeing the everyday
truthfully, my newest complete addition to quick read in a magazine format: no ads, beautiful design and all about it's title: seeing the beauty in everyday things and happenings. more wonderful now is, they have a blog

4. resurrection fern
an amazing blogger, who happens to be a physician, but also a goddess at crafting and photodocumenting her work. truly inspiring

5. hoping for happy accidents
another inspiring blogger who posts things that the world should know about, or at least me.

6. kimchi mamas
being part korean & raised in a very korean-esque household, i didn't have very many other koreans to relate to growing up due to a mostly "anglo neighborhood". this blog allows me to connect in ways that i missed out growing up and in some ways, still am. wonderful contributors and writings.

if money were no object: sandra backlund

    

i've posted on sandra backlund before
and i'll do it again - she amazes me.

you can read more about her here and here

now forgive me while i go and drool over her knits!

etsy discoveries 11.21.08

1. lunar dome with blue zircon: nectar jewlery

2. Linen Skirt - Been There And Done That - (in Dark Brown): TT Peas And Carrots

3. Reclaimed 14k Gold and Sterling Bangles: bcyrjewelry

4. Tronco - handcarved nambaro wood ring with sterling band: natural ezanica

5. Dotted Cup Set: bailey doesnt bark

6. Grey scarf with three buttons: homelab

7. eclipse tab earrings: nectar jewelry

8. Pussy Willow Bracelet: Lauren Ramirez

9. Armored Starfish - Copper Electroformed: Shannon Amidon

10. Sea Urchin Collection- Star Burst Necklace: star of the east

KOBRA animations (Swedish Television - SVT) by ljudbilden

KOBRA - a compilation from ljudbilden on Vimeo.

by ljudbilden

Linsey Pollak: inventor of carrot clarinet and glove bagpipe

and if you liked that, watch this....

(via swissmiss)

ComplexCity by Lee Jang Sub

ComplexCity by Korean-born designer Lee Jang Sub "is an exploration
to find a concealed aesthetic by using the pattern formed by city roads
that have been growing and evolving randomly through time,
thus composing the complex configuration we experience today."

This series creates an organic illustration out of a manmade pattern.
He has fashioned these patterns into prints, panels, lightboxes,
and other decor objects using paper and wood hand-screened materials.

(via design vagabond)