Arts and Crafts Day.

I'm taking the day off to complete some projects that I've been putting off for a couple weeks. I'm looking forward to playing around in some paint.

Paint palettes are so beautiful to me.

{madeline marie}

Personal Favorites: Baker's Twine.

There's just something about classic baker's twine. Makes me want to bake a bunch of cookies and package them up for friends.

{prettywithribbons}

{lavendersbluedesign}

{ohhellofriend}

{MoaMaria}

Annika Huett.

I love these illustrations by Annika Huett. She's a freelance illustrator and artist from Stockholm. The colors and fun use of hand-drawn type makes me look through her portfolio again and again.

Lazy Summer Day.

I am, unfortunately, looking for work. I have a few freelance design projects here and there, but I really wish I had a stable job. Anything with a paycheck would do. But in the downtime here at my home, I find myself sitting on the porch, drinking lemonade, and hanging out with my dog. It's not such a bad life. :)

I made this pot in ceramics a couple years ago. It sits waiting for some lovely wildflowers that I have yet to plant. Every time I sit on my porch, it reminds me. Soon, little pot.

Canning Essentials!

As I said in my last post, homemade jam is delicious, but unless you want to be cursing the canning gods, you're going to need some stuff. Terrain has some outstanding (and cute!) items to get your canning career going. That vintage canning set is only $18! And it's RED!! Yes please.

Clockwise from top: Retro Canning Set, $18; Canning for a New Generation, $24.95; Large Soup Ladle, $16; Red Canvas Apron, $26.95; Weck Jar, set of 4, $18; Canning Recipe Cards, $6; Fabric Jar Covers, set of 4, $8; Printed Jam Jar, $7; Bonnie's Black & Blue Jam, $10; Ball Jar Gift Tags, $4; Dried Lavender Bunch for aromatics :) $10

Jamming!

A couple of weeks ago, I decided on a whim that it would be cool to make some jam. I just happened to have a bunch of blueberries, so I thought, why not? It's easy, right? I could not have been more wrong. I didn't have ANY of the necessary canning equipment, which is greatly needed if you want to do this efficiently. For the next hour, I burned myself multiple times, hot jam boiled over into my stove, and I don't think I've ever seen my husband more frustrated. By the end of it my kitchen looked like a blueberry bomb had gone off, but I had 8 perfect jars of blueberry jam, sealed and cooling on a kitchen towel.

I wouldn't recommend being as unprepared as I was, but all things considered I think it turned out pretty dang good.

Tiny Rings.

I am loving these dainty rings. wouldn't they be adorable alternative wedding rings?

Top row: Knotted Up in You, $14

Bottom row: Organic Pebble Stacking, $52

Sunday Special: Pops of Red.

My mom and I went on an IKEA excursion over the weekend and I am excited to redo my bedroom with all my new treasures. Among the spoils: a new desk that I am going to paint red. Red is my absolute favorite color, and I am in love with red interiors. Especially when only a few objects are red, making it extra special.

I will be sure to provide before/after pictures of my room, once I get everything together. it's going to be so cute!

(images via Design*Sponge)

Heat Wave.

It's been a hot August so far in Muncie, Indiana this year. This kind of weather calls for a big cold lake. I want to dive into these pictures by Matt Lawless. They are so quintessentially summer.

Wayne Pate.

The colors! The stripes! Wayne Pate has stolen my heart.

Personal Favorites: Castle in the Sky.

Today I am watching a Hiyao Miyazaki classic, Castle in the Sky. If you haven't heard of Miyazaki, you should definitely check him out. Some other favorite Miyazaki's of mine are 'Howl's Moving Castle' and 'Princess Mononoke.' Even if they were the most boring movies of all time (which they AREN'T), I would still watch them for their stellar animation and gorgeous settings. These movies are pure magic.

Fall Fashion.

Even though I'm not going back to school this year, the Back-to-School vibe is in the air! When I was a kid, back-to-school meant new clothes, and it was one of the only times during the year that we were given money for that purpose. I still get giddy this time of year for the anticipation of fresh possibilities. And it just so happens that fall clothes are my favorite. Don't even get me started on JACKETS. There are some great looks over at Harper's Bazaar for fall from New York fashion week. I'm enjoying the little touches of fur and general tough girl, lumberjack-esque feel of it all. Not to mention that girl's oxfords.

Valerie Jar

I'm crushing on this designer from Salt Lake City, Utah, Valerie Jar for her clean lines and adorable illustrations. Her portfolio is a joy to go through.

"Movie Posters" - I love The Birds poster.

"Method Magazine" - Concept and design of a food magazine.

"Make things" - A sixteen-page, screen-printed zine that focused on simple things to make.

"Analogous Clocks"

"The Bird Deck" - a complete deck of 52 playing cards.

"Type Specimen" - My favorite!

"Owl Pillows" - the cutest!

Poketo + Target = yes please

Ever since high school, I've had a Poketo wallet. So you can imagine my excitement when I discovered that Poketo is collaborating with Target! From what I can tell, they are designing wallets, bags, pocketbooks, keychains, and other adorable things. Poketo hits stores nationwide August 10!

all images from Poketo

Reimagined Classics.

I love these new book cover designs from Ruben Toledo. He took three classic books and transformed them into something whimsical and almost eerie.

The Scarlet Letter:

Pride and Prejudice: (one of my favorite books of all time!)

Wuthering Heights:

You can get these beauties at Target for only $13.60 a piece. I may have to get them all.

Sunday Special: Jumpers/Playsuits/Rompers

What do you all think about rompers? I'm never too sure of them and then I see these images and they seem too adorable to pass up.

1. Stripe Silk Romper, $94.40; 2. Floral Contrast Playsuit, £34.00; 3. Lucca Couture Floral Romper, $58;

4. Cuffed Romper, 5. Lucca Couture New Safari Romper, $58; 6. Floral Playsuit, £34.00

To the Fair!

I'm off for the weekend! My husband Steve and I are going to a fair that his parents' church puts on every year. There won't be any extreme rides, but I'm very partial to elephant ears and old fashioned lemon shakeups. :)

In the meantime, I am loving these dreamy carnival pictures by SusannahT.

"free fall" by SusannahT

"around and around" by SusannahT

i NEED this.

Lazy Artist Watch, $25 by Misako Mimoko

Look how cute this fake watch is!! It comes in many different colors and is just DARLING. It also comes with a thin chain band if you aren't into the colors. but i certainly am into the red.

An inspiring message for every day.

"Make Something Good Today," $39.99; a print by Still Room Studio

Personal Favorites: Stripes

I have a confession to make: I am obsessed with stripes. In a really nerdy way. There's just something about summer that makes me want to put on a loose, striped frock and take a walk to the pier (if there were any piers around here). Oh well, stripes make me forget my landlocked state. They are so classic and stylish. And Modcloth also makes them oh-so-affordable.

1. Knotty Nautical Top, $37.99; 2. Sunbathing Beauty Dress, $43.99; 3. Circle Takes the Scarf; $23.99; 4. Tagline Top, $24.99; 5. Sails to the Wind Dress, $52.99; 6. Sloop Joan Tee, $29.99; 7. Little Italy Dress, $47.99