Spring is on the way!

The temperatures are rising, the snow is melting, and I'm happy! I've seen 10 robins so far (yes, I keep count!) and have noticed a few little green shoots poking their heads out of the wet earth. I even saw a fly the other day! Now, I don't love flies, per se, but if it's warm enough for them to hatch, that must be a good sign, right?

I keep scanning the ground, looking for the first flowers. Nothing yet, but I can't wait! I go completely photo-happy in the spring, taking my camera with me everywhere and drinking in the light and warmth and color.

That's one reason I love this print by dkim art so much...it really captures my favorite way to spend a spring day: surrounded by green and blossoms with a camera in my hands!

"Making Pictures" by dkim art
(Note: the listing linked to is sold out, but it's possible dkim would post more if asked, I'm sure.)

An apple a day....

Isn't this Apple a Day calendar by VikDesign the best idea? Basically, the idea is to peel off the sticker from your apple each day and affix it to the calendar...there are enough spaces for a whole year's worth of apple-eating. I've known people who put the apple or banana stickers on the inside of a cabinet door, or on the side of the fridge...but this is even better, because it helps you keep track of just how healthy (or not!) you've been over the year! Very, very clever.

So if one of your New Year's Resolutions is going to be eating healthy, this calendar might just been a good idea for you!

Smile! It's the weekend!

I've always loved this letterpress poster by rollandtumblepress, and it seemed appropriate for a sunny Saturday!


Wouldn't it look lovely hung on the wall near a display of vintage cameras? I think so! Smile! It's the weekend!

Statement Necklaces

Okay, unless you've been living in a cave for the last several months, you have to have realized that the statement necklace is hot right now. Huge bejeweled bib necklaces, linked pectorals of beads, ruffly explosions of fabric or flowers...who could forget the young lady on the Sartorialist with her simple jeans and tank top paired with a huge red flower necklace and simple perfect red lips? Her statement necklace is what really made that outfit work!

And yet, somehow, those necklaces are just not for me. I mean, there have certainly been some of them I have enjoyed, and I'm pretty well-known in my group for my adoration of big chunky jewelry. But I tend to prefer a less sparkly, less frilly, more classic look to my large jewelry.

This wonderful copper necklace is the kind of statement necklace I like:



Bold, certainly. It would make a statement, definitely. And yet, as the seller says, it really is the kind of thing you could see an Egyptian queen wearing...classic in the truest sense of the word. But couldn't you see pairing it with a simple black tank top and a pair of dark-wash jeans, as well? And it would look wonderful with my favorite pair of copper earrings.

So what do you think of the current statement necklace trend? Yay, or nay?

Tee Shirt Love

Seems to be a little trend in the blogging world to have themed days of the week. I've seen Wordless Wednesday, Friday Flowers, and several others. So just call this Tee Shirt Thursday, I guess! Really, this is all just a big build-up to show you all a fabulous tee-shirt I just saw...

Bloody Hell We're Buggered Now T-Shirt by ScreamPrinting

I think this is one of my favorite takes on the now-iconic "Keep Calm and Carry On" posters ever!

Wishlist Wednesday

This Wednesday, I am wishing for....

THESE green ranch hand boots

THIS Owl Dish

THIS Cicada fiber brooch

THESE studded t-strap flats

THESE Neo-Victorian fingerless gloves

THIS baby octopus pendant

THIS monochromatic corset dress

And THIS Petals tank

Butterfly in the sky, I can fly twice as high!

I just found out that the classic children's television show "Reading Rainbow" is being taken off the air after, wait for it, TWENTY SIX YEARS of broadcast. I grew up on that show. I can still hear the theme song in my mind, and it still makes me smile every time. I have such a huge warm place in my heart for the host, LeVar Burton, and can remember all of my favorite episodes.

And you know what the really awful part is? The reason they're taking it off the air is that they think that only shows that teach the mechanics of HOW to read are worthwhile, not amazing shows like "Reading Rainbow" that teach children WHY to read...shows that teach a deep and abiding love for reading. Reading should be a joy and an adventure, NOT a list of letters and sounds to learn by rote. No one falls in love with phonics; they fall in love with books themselves!

Personally, I'm hoping that they decide to release collections of the episodes on DVD, because you better believe I'd be lining up to buy 'em. I don't have children, but if I ever do, I want them to be able to love Reading Rainbow like I did!


I thought it might be nice to pay a bit of tribute to the show with some Etsy items that are all about a lifelong love of books and reading. I think I found some nice things....but you don't have to take MY word for it!

I Heart Books Rubber Stamp

The Wonderful World of Reading Unfolds print

Reading is Sexy necklace

Saturday Afternoon Reading poppet

Hardcover optical illusion brooch

Bookworms print

Got Books literary themed charm bracelet

Wishlist Wednesday

This Wednesday, I am wishing for....

THIS Peplum miniskirt

THIS silver crab claw necklace

THIS Skeleton Key ring

THIS vintage camera mug

THIS Queen Street Draped Jersey Dress

And THIS Imagination print!

Etsy Seller -- John Met Betty

Okay, so I'm sure anyone who visits Etsy on a daily basis like me has already seen this seller, John Met Betty, because she is the Featured Seller right now, but I just have to say, Wow! Her clutches and coin purses are fantastically cute and bright! I particularly love the Red Robin clutch! Very spring, very bright. And we all know how much I love bright colors! And she's got nice photos of her products, too, which is always a plus in my book. Nothing worse than a wonderful item displayed in a horrible photo.

Etsy Seller Saturday: Words

Well, having talked the other day about my love of words and text and fonts, I thought it might be nice to feature some word-related items by fellow Etsy sellers! I had an embarrassment of riches from which to choose, so narrowing it down to just these nine was tough! But I love all these picks, and hopefully you will as well.

1. Librarian Necklace by brookadelphia
2. Alphabet Series - Letter E by DripStick
3. laugh dream love WHITE print by orangebeautiful
4. Yummy Tea Towel - mustard by MrPS
5. Love Hands by MoonlightAura
6. this too shall pass by tinwings
7. Amor Vincit Omnia tiny text bowl by Paloma's Nest
8. Life is a Bitch mixed metal bracelet by Juanis
9. READ recycled wooden sign by William Dohman


Of course, as a librarian myself, brookadelphia's "Librarian" necklace definitely makes me happy! I also love the unique idea of using small sculptures of hands to spell out words in sign language, as in MoonlightAura's "Love Hands." Definitely a new take on what I like to think of as "noun art."

Does anyone else have a favorite word-related item? Or does anyone reading this blog create word-related items themselves? If so, I'd love to see! Please post a link to your favs!

A Few of My Favorite Things -- Coffee!!

Often, I find myself going through Etsy listings and favoriting ("hearting," in Etsy terms) a whole bunch of somewhat similar items, made by different sellers. Spats, owls, octopi, cute skirts, canvas market totes, etc, etc, etc. Etsy really does have something for every taste, I think! Since there are so many wonderful things out there, I thought it might be nice to highlight some of my favorites, arranged by theme, of course, 'cause all those pictures look so nice together.

One of my favorite favorite things, whether we're talking on Etsy or just in life, is coffee! I love tea, too, of course, but there's just something about the rich, dark smokiness rising from a well-brewed cup of coffee. My husband laughs at me sometimes, because whenever we're out to breakfast together, I end up taking pictures of my coffee cup, and his coffee cup, and his hands on his coffee cup, and the coffee cup and the creamer jug together, and...and...and...well, you get the picture! Apparently I'm so obsessed that when he saw me looking at a picture of a mug on someone else's Flickr one day, he just assumed it had to be a picture I'd taken!

Ah, but not so! A quick perusal of the wonderful photography listings on Etsy proves that I'm not the only one with a fixation for the bean!


I love the unusual composition of this shot by craftyfolk, and the pitted scarred wood of the table:



The warm, dreamy tones of this shot by provincijalka are the perfect evocation of that early-morning coffee lust, ha!



Orange! Teal! Polka dots! Need I really say more about this wonderful shot by weberphoto? I think not!


The grainy, black-and-white, film-like look of this diner shot by barbaragordon is perfect for the content of the shot, I think! And this is just the sort of photo I myself would take...a coffee cup in its natural habitat, so to speak!


Who doesn't love that special sparkle of light bokeh? And who doesn't love a simple white flower? Or a graceful turquoise mug? Kristybee sure loves them, and I sure love this shot!


I'm always a sucker for a great TTV (through the viewfinder) shot, and this one by Valcox certainly is great! (Hmm, another teal/turquoise mug...I'm seeing a pattern to my picks, here, ha!)



Well, that's got me even more in the mood for a cup of steaming hot coffee than usual! It's off to brew myself some and actually get some work done now, I think!

Hope you enjoyed my favorite things as much as I did...but as my favorite kid's show host, LeVar Burton, used to say...you don't have to take MY word for it!

March is just one cruel mo-fo!

They say that April is the cruelest month, but I violently disagree! I think that April doesn't hold a candle to the ruthlessness of March! Case in point: Yesterday, it got up to 60 degrees outside. Right now, it is 18. Yes. You read that right. That is indeed a FORTY DEGREE temperature drop overnight. And the best (worst) part? Yesterday, when it was warm, it was also rainy and overcast. Today, when it is far below freezing, the sky is perfect azure and there isn't a cloud visible. WTF?!?

This is the time of year when I start daydreaming about sundresses and sandals and wearing skirts WITHOUT TIGHTS, *gasp*! I've started scouring Etsy for light-weight cotton dresses and skirts and bright-colored accessories, dreaming about the day...which WILL COME AGAIN...when I can wear them out in the sun and not be a tiny bit cold, ha.

Here are some of my favorite picks right now:

This clock-print sundress from foxLor is so whimsical and fun, and perfect for me since my husband sells watches, ha!



I'd cinch that dress (since I'd probably look pregnant wearing it loose like she displays it in the pictures, haha) with the Kate Bow Belt from Desira Pesta's shop. I love the look of obi-style belts! Flattering, versatile, and cute, too!


For another pop of color, how about this very cute green knitted purse from Creations by Eve, festooned with shiny green shell buttons? I love the fresh color and the vintage styling!



And I'd top the whole thing off with one of my newest obsessions, bangle bracelets! I love wearing them in sets so that they clink together musically every time I move my arm, ha! In fact, I could probably do a whole post just on my favorite bangle bracelet finds from Etsy. Maybe I will, at some point, but for the purposes of this post, I think I'll just add the York Thin Enameled Bracelets from Bullfinch and Barbury's shop. (Actually, I love all of the bracelet sets in that shop, but since I've already got pink and green going in this dress, I'll stick with someone a bit more subdued, ha!) Enameled metal! Oh, the lovely jingling sound; I can hear it now!



Add a pair of metallic silver gladiator sandals and maybe some aviator shades, and I'll be all set for spring!

What about you, dear readers? What are you lusting for this spring?