Anthro Pics and a Surprise

All images from Anthropologie's Sept. catalog

After a long day at the office I dragged my tired little self to my doorstep to find the latest Anthropologie catalog in my mailbox. Yay!

I love the little black and white striped number above. It's so girly and classic. It can be worn prettily or punked up rock and roll style.

And, gah! These shoes! I really like the purple and green ones, which by now you might have guessed. I always gravitate toward funky shoes, but the simple booties are calling to me, too.

More shoes. It's a theme lately. I already have a pair of black, heeled, knee-high boots, but I'm aching to get a pair of tough-looking brown flat boots this winter.

For the longest I've been oogling Anthro's hardware offerings. If only I had more cabinets and drawers.

Exciting News!
Recently, I was asked to participate in Chick Talk, an online Webisode channel by the Classy Closet. I'll be doing 12 Webisodes, 15 minutes each, on which I'll be talking about jewelry, style and my process as a designer. I'm also planning on taking to the streets and interviewing the most stylish people I can find at art and music events in my area.

The other day I filmed, in my newly completed back-yard studio, the promo for my part in the Webisode series. I'll post it here soon. Eeek! So excited.

Things I Adore Thursday: Lovin' on Life

It's time for another Things I Adore Thursday post, but this time I think I'll do things a little differently. I'll just pull some stuff from the heart and throw it out there for the universe to hear.

Right now I'm loving the fact that I wake up when I feel like it ♥ that my dogs are always so happy to see me ♥ that my husband thinks I'm sexy even when I'm not wearing makeup and I'm in sweatpants and a T-shirt ♥ I love that I'm healthy and full of energy ♥ that I always seem to get what I want in some form or fashion ♥ that I'm enamoured all over again with writing (one of my first loves) ♥ I love my still incomplete backyard art studio (tripple, quadruple loves on that) ♥ I adore the color of the sky on a rainy day ♥ and that fall is looming on the horizon ♥ I love the way my ad looks on the City of Dionne blog ♥ And that my hubs and I are celebrating our four-year anniversary today ♥ And even moreso that we'll be celebrating it this weekend in Natchitoches at this bed & breakfast.

So, what are you loving lately?

Things I Adore Thursdays: Layers

Photo by Wendy Bevan.

Good Thursday morning, friends. I wanted to share some of my latest favorite photos found around the Net last week. Like the one above. Ooh, it's so gritty and grungy looking. Loverly! Check her Photoshop process out on You Tube.

♥ This food photo styling is amazing. Go and drool.


I'm loving these washed out fashion photos, and the layered bracelets on the model are inspiring me for some upcoming styles -- bracelets and necklaces included.

♥ I adore the photo styling here.
♥ A very smart lady sent me this link.

I'm feeling an abundance of creative energy right now. I must go now before the muses retreat.

♥ I want to make these, sans the sharp pointy bits.

Things I Adore Thursday: Kate Sutton Illustrations

All images by Kate Sutton.

For seven years I was formally trained in fine art, and I've been drawing since I was four. I can capture the likeness of practically anything or anyone. Nevertheless, I wish I had an inkling of the creativity of Kate Sutton, the illustrator who has created many (if not all?) of the posters for the Renegade Craft Fair and makes the cutest whatnot's from plushies and stationery to band aids and buttons.

by Kate Sutton

I am deeply enamored with illustration. It stems from childhood, I know. I would stare for what seemed like hours at the drawings in my favorite childhood books.

by Kate Sutton

If you like Sutton's work, too, check out her Pirate Bird plushie tutorial. These little guys, as seen in her work above, are so cute I'm planning on making some for myself and for my dogs. And I think they'd make great gifts, especially for a baby or small child.

Things I Adore Thursday: Eye Candy

Image from SFgirlbybay

{Just a note: Thanks to all of you who checked out my new online shop and commented. Your input is appreciated!}

I'm loving this orderly inspiration wall. There's something about tidiness that makes pretty more palatable. I don't know, maybe that's my upbringing with a super duper perfectionist mom rearing its neat little head.

I am in looooove with this photo, above. I don't know who took it, but I found it on oh, hello friend, a gorgeous blog that I've recently discovered. Do check it out.

And here we've come full circle to a tidy little inspiration wall.

Before I go, I wanted to share some link love.
♥ Check out Urban Weeds: Street Style From Portland. There are beautiful photos, people, and lots of style.
♥ Mironabside's Flickr photostream -- so ethereal
♥ Crochet a "Button Bedecked Headband." I'm in the midst of this project now.

Things I Adore Thursday: Yellow

Image from Easy Living

I love the mix of colors in this photo from Easy Living.

Image from Lillyella.

If you're like me and have a brown thumb, you may have at least once wanted to make billowy paper flowers. Try the tutorial.

Things I Adore Thursday: Craft Projects

Learn to make this Paper Parasol Centerpiece from Instructables.

I'll admit it. I'm a dilettante. I adore dabbling in just about every art form out there. Lately I've taken up crochet, sewing, rubber stamp carving and am interested in trying my hand at cross stitching. But I have to draw the line somewhere, right? Perhaps I'll hold off for now.

I scoured Instructables and the Web this morning for some fun and useful craft projects, and this is what I found.
♥ Paperclip jump rings

♥ Betz White's shoe bag tutorial
♥ Teacup Soy Candle
♥ Pam Garrison's coffee filter garland

And since I just took up sewing, I'm loving this Cupcake in a Teacup Pincushion.

Things I Adore Thursdays: Photos and Links

Image by Every Eskimo, found on the for me, for you blog

Good morning, all. This is the second consecutive day that I've woken up at an ungodly hour to get to work (10 paces away) in pajamas, my hair all askew and sleep still in my eyes. So now that it's late -- 8 a.m. -- I couldn't wait any longer to share these beautiful finds with you.

It's probably played out, but I'm a sucker for anything typography. The photo, above, from the Every Eskimo Etsy shop is actually a listing for wire baskets, which are great, but I want the type panels.

This rustic, red, striped table runner from Mothology was bound to end up on a Things I Adore post. I have a few textiles in my home that are akin to this.

Here we go again with typography. I found this image of the Ace Hotel on SFgirlbybay, one of my long-time favorite blogs. I'm really drawn to the moody look of the room with its deep colors and retro mod furnishings.

Lotta Jansdotter's home via Apartment Therapy

Here are a couple more links you'll be glad you followed:
* A Creative Mint -- gorgeous photo styling on this blog
* "Life in a Barn" -- I am so inspired by every aspect of these images on this post by House Martin.

Things I Adore Thursdays: Craft Rooms

Image from My Aim is True.

This post is inspired by my very nearly completed back yard craft studio, which I have been waiting to work in for the past six months. Naturally, I've been mentally decorating it for some time now, and my deco plans have changed more than once.

This is the interior of my craft room as it is today -- so close to complete.

I like the idea of making the main wall a magnetic chalk board. It'll be my inspiration board that doesn't require a cork board or pins. And I can't wait for you all to see the colorful chandelier my mother-in-law bought me for the space. It's like candy for the eyes. Eeep!

The Pink Loves Brown studio from the Making it Lovely blog. My previous craft room was this pink color of her studio walls. Lo-ove.

The thing that I really admire about the Pink Loves Brown room, above, is the organization. I'm a sucker for bins and shelves and all-around orderliness. Though I try, I unfortunately don't accomplish this very well in my home, so I don't hold out much hope for the studio.

Photo from My Aim is True.

I like the room from My Aim is True because of how colorful it is. I recently discovered the blog and like it for two reasons: her adorable Boston terrier (I have a gassy one of my own.) and her spunky animal rights attitude.

And that's it for the things I adore today. Check back soon for a handy, dandy tutorial on how to make a rubber stamp, as well as for a peek at the latest Petite Minx jewelry.

Things I Adore Thursday

The day we've all been waiting for is here. The winner of the free pair of earrings will be announced. Read on. But first, check out the Things I Adore this Thursday.

I HEART:

* The idea of twinkle lights above the bed. As a poor college student, I made a "headboard" over my humble bunk -- a box spring and mattress -- with colorful lights. It made the perfect light for reading in bed, and made the room all ambient and cozy.

* This Prada ad and its monochromatic color scheme.

* The desk of the writer of Creature Comforts, one of my favorite blogs.

* The chandelier in this photo. I wanted soooo badly to buy it from Z Gallerie when I moved into my house a year ago. But the chandelier above my dinner table is far more in keeping with the style of the house. I hang my head. My shoulders slump. I dream of a loft in Austin, Tx.

And now, I'm pleased to announce that the winner of the drawing is KATY! Woohoo! Somewhere streamers are falling and a kid is playing a kazoo.

Thanks to all of you who participated and voted on the poll.

XO
Monica

Things I Adore Thursday On Friday ... Again

Ah, geez! Here we go again. Thursday slipped by under my whiffer, but I'm determined to be on time with Things I Adore Thursday next week.

Today I'm Adoring the kitchen above. I've been wanting to paint a room black for the longest but haven't had the huevos to do it. I think my husband would freak. So maybe I'll do the bathroom black ... yes? Anyway, the color in the photo is "Soot" from Benjamin Moore. Luuurve!

Other things I'm lurving are Mary Kate's style, grass votives from Wrapables.com, and the checkered floppy hat I bought yesterday from Forever 21.

And for josh sakes, will someone please tip my husband off to buy me The Printmaking Bible for my birthday next month? Pretty please?

Things I Adore Thursday: Art Posters

Blogger's Note: You may have noticed that I wrote this post on a Friday, thinking it was a Thursday. This is what self-employment does to a gal. It's a miracle I know what month it is.

So I'm starting a weekly post here, "Things I Adore Thursday," where I'll share some of the eye candy I find on the Net that rocks my socks. Here are a few concert posters that caught my eye.

I was so inspired by concert posters, in fact, that I've hand drawn a flier ad for this blog to be given out at the Ruston Farmers Market on May 9, when I'll be selling Petite Minx jewelry. It's a bunch of doodles. Not comparable to the screen printed awesomeness here, but it's my own brand of D.I.Y. Will show you the outcome later.


Ah, Cake. I love this band. It's a throwback to my carefree days. Trips into the country or to the lake on sunny summer days. The boy with the golden hair...

Blah, blah, blah. My sentiments exactly.

Love, love, love this one.


This flier is more in the vein of my D.I.Y. masterpiece. Gotta cut out now and get started on some freelance work. Peace.