High Of Forty-Eight

Happy to have gifted myself with this treat {if you're interested, buy it from here, in the States, as shipping is quite a bit cheaper}, as I pine for a look at the premier issue.

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One thing I love is traipsing over to a few of my favorite blogs and reading their autumn to winter archives, specifically the time between Halloween and New Year's. I love this. Maybe inordinately so. Please, do not howl or jeer at me, but I am so looking forward to a little snap and chill. Not because I don't love the now, this summer humidity and steamy overcastitude, and the fact that everything's looking its finest, still blooming and beautiful. But, because I just adore autumn and winter that much more. All of the making and sending off of little somethings that seems to get along so well with colder temperatures. I'm excited to craft straight on through these next five months. I'm excited to surprise people with carefully curated packages and hand-addressed envelopes, full of warm reminders. I'm excited to bake sweet things, wrap them up jovially, and then tell the postal worker that no, this package does not contain anything fragile, liquid, perishable, or potentially hazardous {are you supposed to lie when they ask that? I never do know}.

Anyway, I feel cozy when I read these archives, and I trick myself into thinking it's chilly outside, so it's okay that I'm still in my sleepy yoga pants and washed-soft tee shirt, as we near one p.m. That's what I'm doing this morning {er, early afternoon}, with a little red cup of coffee by my side, recovering from yesterday's long shift at work.

The Quiet Zoo

Scouring Etsy, I'm finding all kinds of animals I want to adopt. Here are a few to whom I'm itching to say, "My home is your home!"

{Needlepoint, not sculpture} from Accent on Vintage

from The Suburban Archaeologist

from Porchlight Vintage

{See the tail? He's a charm!} from Breakthrough

from The Relic Trail

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Also, some truly special places I'd like to share with you:

Little Circus
: sweet mobiles and fabric creations {like green onions!} abound here ... and, lest I forget, cute babies, too

like a butterfly in your house
: these French interiors are overwhelmingly inspiring

c o c o n
: everything here is so full of light and childlike curiosity

Had you already heard of these blogs? I don't know where they've been all my life, but boy, are they amazing. Add them to your Google Reader and stay in your jammies all day.

Blogs found through c o c o n.

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Happy Sunday, friends. As always, stay tuned for more.

Primary

A few Saturday afternoon enjoyables
{not to mention some fantastic color combinations}:

from Salty Dog Home

from My Grandma's Attic

from valnorthwoods


from Spacejam

Over At The Pound

... I met this fellow.
I've a feeling he's really well-behaved.

Find him at greenhearts.

My White Whales

These have been in my Etsy cart for a few weeks now ... I'm not buying them, but I like to return to them again and again. This cupboard seems to be a good spot for safekeeping.

from silocurb

from Ready Betty

from 2pear

from GoodEye Vintage

from Blue Bell Bazaar

Sometimes it's nice, just knowing things like these exist, you know? I'm learning that it isn't always about owning an object I adore -- appreciating it from afar isn't so bad.

Runner Up

So, for those of us who felt a little tug of envy when Rachel snapped up the teacup of the year {no hard feelings, Rachel!}, here's something that might make it all better ...

You can find this vintage gypsy fortune telling tea cup
over at Shark and Anchor {which looks like a brand new shop!}.

You're welcome :)

Hunting & Gathering

Oh, I've hit a jackpot of sorts. I just discovered the shop, Bird Nests and Paper, and am delighted with everything they sell. I've picked four of my favorites to share with you.

Vintage receipt paper would be great for a little note to a friend, perhaps listing all the qualities that make her a great friend.

I'll take a pack of red-bordered labels any day! These are vintage Dennison and are gummed, which is just so old-school and charming. They're dainty for office supplies, aren't they?

I've never canned {my cupboard kitchen definitely isn't large enough!}, but if I did, these contents labels would look adorable on the line-up of Mason jars.

These German Victorian die-cut butterflies are so ornate and colorful, and would be a bold alternative to a more muted {but also exquisiste} garland, like the one I found here.

To Shop Or Not To Shop, But Definitely To Make

I realize I've been posting quite a lot about shopping, and I want to clear up a few things, not so much for your benefit {you all graciously humor my Etsy habit} as for my own. I know many bloggers were working on a spending hiatus some time ago {some, bravely, still are}, and I so appreciate their efforts to spend more thoughtfully, mainly because it's prompted me to stop and think about what I really need and how I can realize and admire an object's beauty or appeal without making it my own. This has been invaluable for me, especially now that I'm no longer earning a graduate student stipend and am currently living on very, very little {I should add that I'm doing so happily -- honest!}.

Anyway, I want to clarify the nature and aim of The Museum Cupboard, again, for my own benefit. All of what I post here is posted because it inspires me in some way. I hope never to come across as encouraging mindless spending or suggesting that I am someone who has many material wants. Really, I'm trying to gather bits from all over this creative planet, arrange them in my cupboard, and then think about the spectrum of my own creativity and talent. I love seeing and showing you what people are selling out there because those items tell a story about a person figuring out his or her ability to make, and sharing it. I thank all of you for visiting me here and showing interest in my sources of inspiration and in the things I create.

Which brings me to this: I just recently tuned in to the blog, Mer Mag, and found that Merrilee and I share a penchant for handmade things like this:

This is a book made of scrap paper, something Merrilee found here, and was originally found here. This would be a delightful project, especially if all those scraps were collected from friends and family, and bound into a book with a lot of soul. Maybe I should solicit my loved ones for their scraps ... ?

Head's Up

You'll want to trot on over to oh, hello friend and scope out the giveaway goods ... quick!

Patchwork & Lace

Mrs. Eliot Books is a new-to-me shop that I'm pretty sure will charm you like a bracelet. I'm absolutely smitten with and inspired by these A6-size notebooks.

In a set is one book filled with patchwork graph paper

and another filled with lace paper.

Would I be able to write in such pretty notebooks? Would you?

All Kinds of Shiny

This cheery yellow enamel teapot has me smiling. 26 Olive Street is always chock full of the best stuff {and the owners just completed a cross-country move!!}. Go meet them on their fabulous blog, right over here.

Handpicked

Good morning! Mr. Original and I safely returned from our friends' wedding {on a farm on Maryland's Eastern Shore}, and we have the mosquito bites, worn-out dance shoes, and sunburns to prove it. We truly had a blast. How did you spend your weekend?

Right now, I'm in the mood to walk by a few shops I just discovered. Care to come along?

First stop:
Mr. PS

What caught my eye:
this screen-printed tea towel

Second stop:
La Rara

What caught my eye:
this hand-painted bowl


Third stop:
Cakehouse

What caught my eye:
this tablecloth, made from secondhand sheets and pillowcases,
complete with hand-printed images


Fourth stop:
Picklehead

What caught my eye:
these envelopes, made from outdated U.S. road maps


Fifth stop:
Sisi Cata

What caught my eye:
this resin bracelet inspired by Polish folklore

Whew! I'm tired, are you? Let's take a rest and I'll see you back here in just a little bit. Off to soak my feet in the tub ...

Leap Frog

Oh dear, I'm supposed to be in the shower right now ... but, I must share this: Ever since I saw this post, last Sunday, on Leigh's Found, now home {a fantastic, new-to-me blog that you'd all adore}, I've been thinking about repurposing vintage flower frogs. And look at what I just found, listed today in Leslie Janson's shop:

Get Your Clip On + UPDATE!

Somebody out there needs to get her hands on this baby: a 1920s metal clip-board, perfect for a wall in need of organization. {If my cupboard had more walls, I'd surely swipe this before you could say, "Hello, perfection!"} I spotted it in Blue Bell Bazaar's shop {a bona fide treasure trove of vintage items} last night, shortly after it was listed ...

UPDATE: Wow, someone already bought it!

Let the Horsey Collection Begin

I found this little wooden guy in Baby Bomb's shop
and I want him to find a good home.

Today's Search for the Happy

My cupboard is full, but my mind feels empty. I'm in a funny, in-between place right now, with plenty to do and create, but a good amount of static frustration and a sensation of waiting for what's next. Best not to dwell on it, right? I won't; instead, I'll tell you what I'm loving today:

these Victorian German clock faces from Beads and Bits

these girlie decals from Yaelfran

this hand-crank wooden boat {on the rough seas!}
from Cartoon Monster

this vintage barrette from Rosebud Cottage

this mushroom & moss pack from Doris Dotz

this cloud factory from Pearson Maron
{found via scaredy-cat}

this old school wall clock from Moxie Thrift

Who Knew?

style steals

shop girl

I'm shocked and amazed, but these two Lucky blogs are very majorly shy on comments -- yet the posts are consistently fantastic! I thought I'd let you all know in case you want some great fashion tips or are curious to see what a couple of stylish gals are up to in NYC. Give these ladies some feedback, too! They're publishing exciting posts every day.

{Insert Acceptance Speech Here}

The ever-wonderful Clare just gifted me with the Kreativ Blogger Award. Clare also gave me a pat on the back last week with a Readership Award. I am so flattered ... let the blushing begin! Thank you, dear Clare.

The rules:
1. List seven things that you love.
2. Link to the person who has tagged you.
3. Give the Kreativ Blogger Award to a friend {or seven, if you can}.

Okay, my seven things include {but are not limited to}: ampersands, salsa con queso, cowboy boots, silk tops, miniature pitchers, Dutch folk art, and fresh laundry. I'd like to pass the award on to my best friend -- and a new blogger! -- Kittylou. I'd also like my longest follower, Dia, to receive this award -- her blog is an absolutely enchanting place to hang out {where fowls sometimes sleep in trees!}. Additionally, Meg, with her honesty and humor {and her sweet blog header!} deserves this award. And Chelsea never ceases to stun me with her artistic ability {hand-printed and constructed faux-geraniums! a chalkboard smock!}, so I want her to have the award, as well.

Can I Get an Amen?

{what the inside of my head looks like}


{Photo from Majlee's Flickr photostream}

Zzzz ...

Tonight, I'm tired.

{Photo from amyla174's Flickr photostream}