Globe Thistle

, originally uploaded by gregw.

Let me tell you, last night I was a crazy book making machine. I have a bunch of totally awesome new books now, I am so excited and I can't wait to share them. It's strange when inspiration strikes, I don't know what causes me to be stuck in a not caring rut all weekend then suddenly be unable to stop creating on a monday night. And now I am super bummed to have to be at work because I want to be at Goodwill scouting out more awesome records and looking for supplies for a new project I came up with last night (which will be a secret for now because I am not sure that it will happen). Such is life I guess. Well, my life anyway.

Oh, and about the globe thistle, one of my awesome birthday presents from Steve is a gocco (!) which hasn't arrived yet, but I am trying to be prepared for when it does so I am thinking about what I want to print with this amazing machine. I was reminded of a drawing I did some time ago of a flower I thought was a globe thistle, but google and flickr searches are turning up images which, while very lovely, are not the flower I drew. I'll try to get a scan of the drawing to post, then maybe y'all can help me identify it. Thanks!

mel

My Camera

Very exciting news: I got an awesome and adorable new camera for my birthday! It is a fujifilm and it is black, just like the camera I imagined in my head when I decided I wanted a new camera. It's really tiny and thin, which is cute but also scary because I am notorious for breaking things. A camera case is the obvious answer, so I turned to etsy because I knew they would have a mess of cute ones, not like the boring ones you buy at radio shack or whatever. Here's my cream of the crop.This is the Angry Face Recycled Plastic Camera Pouch from curiousdoodles. Made with fused plastic; it combines two things I can scarcely resist: recycling and anthropomorphism.

Obscura13 makes these custom camera cases; I really like the example shown above, the embroidery and colors are so nice, but she has a bunch of vinyl color choices, and some really cool choices for liner fabric. I like the owls and outerspace.

Speaking of owls and anthropomorphism, here is an adorable camera cozy from Itybitybags. It's called Mia the Tweet and it certainly looks cozy.

There's a lot I like about this case from SallyHope; I like that it is made from a Jodeci t-shirt, I like the black and purple color combo, I like that it has a kind of funereal look to it, I like that it is machine washable! And of course I love the button.

chetanddot is so full of cute pouches it was hard to choose just one, but I think I like this Home Among the Trees Cozy the best because it is felt and the colors are so bright and pretty.

I was wowed by the pouches in suezybees' shop; she employs a wide variety of techniques in each of her pieces including applique, beading, embroidery and screenprinting. This is another shop where it was hard to choose a favorite, but I eventually settled upon this sailboat pouch.

I couldn't resist this case from pictureperfectpurses, which looks to be made from a vintage pacman bedsheet!

Here is another vintage inspired piece; this sturdy wallet with the bold stripes from valhallabrooklyn has a definite 70s or 80s feel. And I like it. I also like that it looks virtually indestructable.

I've been crushing on Vizzeli's shop for a while now because of their gorgeous messenger bags. I love that their camera case looks almost like a conventional camera case but it is made from salmon pink organic cotton canvas.

I'll end the list with this sweet Cozy Creature Cover by amyandjoshandmade. It is made of fleece and comes in a variety of colors and is ridiculously affordable. What's not to love?

Now I just have to choose which one...it would be overkill to get them all, right?

mel

Shoes Shoes Shoes

I am a big time shoes person. I love love love shoes. Always have. I am super excited because I know I am receiving some really awesome shoes as birthday gifts. I am getting antsy with anticipation and have shoes on the brain, so I decided to do a little "safe" Etsy browsing. I say safe because I was browsing vintage shoes and since I have ginormous (size 10 wide) feet, there is no danger of me finding anything I could actually wear. Instead I can just lust after these beauties. As you can tell from the photos above, my tastes run the gamut of styles, but I am drawn to pumps and would say the overlying theme is "funky." Listing info below.
From L to R:
Row 1: Carved Leaf Wedge, Crochet Top - from vintageitville size 7 (10 inches long);
Palizzio Grey Suede peeptoe - from Lively size 7.5 (2.5 inch heel)
Corsiua Leather 1980s Electric Pink Kitten Heels - from jessjamesjake size 8.5 M
Criss Cross Peep Toe Teal - from cookiesandcreme estimated size 5.5-6 (marked 6, 9.5 inches long, 3 inches wide, 3 inch heel)

Row 2: Nike Sneakers Palettes / Graffiti Court Force - from saviourself size 8
Leather and Shoestring Huarache Sandals - from nstylevintage size 7 M (9.5 inches long, 3.25 inches wide)
Pastel Patchwork 1960s shoes - from mysweetiepiepie size 8 (9.5 inches long, 3 inches wide, 1.75 inch heel)
Saks Fifth Ave Gray Bow Heels - from vintagerevolver estimated size 9-10 (marked 10 AA, 10.75 inches long, 3 inches wide, 2 inch heel)

Row 3: Woven Brazilian Leather Pink Flats - from MariesVintage size 8
Mustard Yellow Dominic Romano Heels - from funkyfrugalfashions size 8.5 (10.5 inches long, 3 inches wide)
Bright Blue and White Shoes - from GreyBrocket size 7
Taupe Bow Detail Pumps - from NikitaJade size 8.5 (9.5 inches long, 3 inches wide, 3 inch heel)

mel

Summer = Presents for You

First, I have to share the present I bought for myself.

I bought it in the Modish shop's big closing sale and it arrived in the mail yesterday! Isn't it cute! I can't wait to wear it, I almost did today but I don't really want to wear it to work. You can get one too, or loads of other really adorable brooches, at the allira.com shop.

Okay, on to the present for you! I decided, since today is the first day of July, and July is my birthday month and all and I will be getting loads of beautiful sandals and other nice presents, it's only fair that I should give a gift to someone else. So, I am having my first blog giveaway. One of you lovely commenters on this post will receive your choice of one of my spirograph notebooks, like this one:

That's right, dudes, you get to choose! So, just leave a comment on this post, say something nice, and at the end of this patriotic week, I will randomly choose a winner!

Good luck!

mel

I want these so bad it hurts a little bit

Spongetta is one of my newest Etsy obsessions. I found her though the forums where someone was exalting her skillz as a treasury curator. Well, she certainly is that thing, but more importantly, look at these purses! They are so so so cute....I wish I could buy half her shop, but especially these two, Nubby Teal Purse and Stacatto Purse. Unfortunately, I am still not buying anything for myself...sigh. But you know, someone's birthday is just around the corner...

UPDATE - Boo hoo! The Nubby Teal Purse has been sold!
mel

Creature Comforts

Oh my gosh you guys, this is so cool. Unless you've been living under a rock or something you have probably heard about the birthday celebration over at the fabulous Creature Comforts blog. If you haven't, there is an amazing birthday giveaway going on. Check out this list of giveaway contributors:
-Beau Ideal-Caitlin Shearer-Clementine-Cursive Design-Freshly Blended Press -Holly Becker-Ink + Wit-Lab Partners-Lush Bella-Matte Stephens-My Folk Lover-Nest Pretty Things-Oh My Cavalier-Palindrome-Remake-Rifferaff-Shim + Sons-Skinny laMinx
Wow, right? That means you could have a little present from each of those! All you have to do is go over to Creature Comforts and leave a comment. I know I'm going to. And I would take a look around while you're there, because it's a really nice site.
mel

I am Yart

So, the amazing craftspeople of etsy, in their infinite wisdom, have put their heads together and come up with one great concept: the summer Yart sale. Yart = Yard + Art. It's like a yard sale for art...on the internet...anyway, I had been planning a sale for later this summer to "celebrate my birthday" (July 15th, ugh....) so I've decided to combine the two. I am, starting today, offering free shipping on all my renewed album cover notebooks until July 15th!! Also, there will be other special deals on other special items. So, if you've had you eye on any of these beauties, now is the time my friends.

Wings - At the Speed of Sound

Michael Jackson - Thriller

Miami Vice Soundtrack

Flashdance Soundtrack

And...if you'd like to see who else is participating in the Yart sale, you can go to Etsy and search for yart or you can click here and see some examples and click on some links. Happy shopping!

mel

P.S. - btw, there are waaaay more books on sale in my shop right here.