French Stitches

This fine Sunday morning,
I'm bowled over by these vintage French napkins!


{Four Vintage Napkins from Petit Cocon}

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

Illuminated Cupboard

This morning is off to a good start. Thank you so much for your kindnesses yesterday. Rough days are rough.

Today, my morning job was completed without trauma. I am home, post-coffee {cutting down because it seems to stimulate my anxiety ... um, duh}, and thinking about frying up an egg and setting out an English muffin to hug it. It is warm and sunny, and I think I might have a really good afternoon {as in, no visits from a Special Agent from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation ... sheesh}.

And, the project! The project ... I will announce on Monday. There! I've set a deadline! Thank you for your patience. Of course, now I'm going back on myself and thinking I've made such a big deal out of something that won't excite you all as I'd hoped it would ... feel free to reassure me.

No photos right now, but I'll have some bits to show you this weekend. Until then ...

Deluge

I have had a bit of a traumatic day.
And I don't feel like talking about it.

Instead, I would like to be really quiet.
And show you this thing that just happened:

My thoughts exactly.

Lotta

I've been flipping through this book these last few days, seeking inspiration from one of the best possible sources. Sometimes, just seeing how another person lives is a goldmine unto itself.

Nursery Rhymer

For some bizarre and inexplicable reason, I really adore children's place settings. I love the concept of baby china {that is NOT a hint, Mr. Original}, and the fact that many of us, if we're lucky, wind up reclaiming our baby china because it's been saved for us. I distinctly remember mine -- and I'm sure my mother has it tucked away in the breakfront in the dining room: It was white, I think, with a thin lavender border; teeny tiny gray mice, dressed up in the cutest of costumes and clothes, danced across the surface of the plate, bowl, and mug. {Who made it, Mom? These lovely readers of mine will likely want to know.} And, I even remember my brother's M.A. Hadley sailboat set. I just found this vintage set from Mouse Trap Vintage, and I love how sturdy it looks, as well as the simple combination of red and white.

I'm sure there are loads of cute place settings made these days {and not just in melamine}, but I find myself so thoroughly drawn to vintage in this case -- either my own set {recently, I realized things from my childhood are now called vintage}, or an awesome thrift shop find -- because good juju seems particularly important when it comes to creating a childhood for a little one.

Take It From The Top

Happy Sunday, friends.

While thrifting the other day, I found this oblong flower frog and realized it was perfect for holding up my ilee letterpress calendar {which, previously, would fall from my table multiple times daily}. The tips are super sharp {ouch!}, so this might find its way out of reach to avoid accidental finger punctures.

When I was a young girl, I dreaded Mondays. As early as Saturday night, I'd start up with the dread, certain that Monday was right around the corner. Strange, but here, at twenty-six years old, I'm a Monday person. I love Mondays. I love a new week, and look forward to it with a lot of hopefulness and ambition. I'd like to think this means I'm doing something right with my life, as it is these days ...


P.S. Oh, boy, am I getting jazzed up to tell you about my project. But, not yet! I promise, it's almost ready ...

Ring Around The Rosie

This vintage French bracelet, made of enamel and copper, is too good to be true. At ten dollars, Dog Day Afternoons is practically giving it away. Someone get it before I do.

Accounting

Hello. We have some catching up to do.

Yesterday was

: enjoying her archives {found through her ceaselessly inspiring blog}

: making this cake again, so as not to toss the last of the buttermilk

: a long stretch of quiet, inside time

: taking steps forward in a project I'll soon announce here


Today is

: an insatiable appetite for inspiration, and also a desire to turn it all off

: trying to figure out some changes I want to make

: coffee, then routine, followed by more coffee

: aching to have a copy of this {Issue 1}, though it's sold out

Bated Breath

Finally, I'm revealing the contents of the surprise giveaway,
which Erin received last week:

A vintage chocolate tin,

filled with fixings for penning and posting summer notes.

Of course, there were many hearts.
And lots of cherry red and turquoise.
Stickers and labels galore.
And much appreciation for our blogging friendship.

Erin, thank you for your sweet email!
I'm thrilled you liked your surprise.

And It All Begins Again

Hi, friends. So, I crashed into sleep last night after work, and am feeling a whole ton better. As promised, I've something to share with you:

A few days ago, I received a package in the mail from my cousin K. She wanted to celebrate my finishing graduate school with a fabulous, one of a kind journal from her friend's stationery company, May Day Studio. Interspersed throughout the book are gorgeous flyleaves, handmade in India. This is one of the most special journals I've ever received.


P.S. Isn't that Scantron card pretty fantastic, too? It's not marked with a studio name ...

P.P.S. Erin received the surprise giveaway package! I'll be back later with photos.

Out Of The Office

This morning, I'm wishing I had the time and focus to prepare something in this space for you ... but, the grind of having two rather consuming jobs has rendered me capable only of sipping my coffee {considering putting the water on for a second press} and slowly, slowly planning a work outfit.

I'll have something for you later tonight {if I don't fall asleep the second I cross the threshold of my cupboard}, and tomorrow morning. Please pop back in.

SPF 45

I'm not really a beach-going gal, though I'd love to be, if only for sarongs and straw hats, beach bags and pink cheeks. I attribute my lack of beachiness to the fact that I'm incredibly fair-skinned and also, the fact that sand has a tendency to find its way into my bikini bottoms.

I do love rocky beaches, however, like many of those in Maine, and I enjoy searching for things -- bits of bright sea glass, broken china, and heart-shaped stones. Which brings me to this: a tote is essential {even if it's not filled with tanning lotion and glossy magazines} for collecting and carrying. A market-type straw satchel is my favorite and always reminds me of the summers of my childhood, even though we never had a bag quite like {Mom, who did we know who had one? Why do I love them so?}.

from Skinny and Bernie


from Westland

from Moxie Thrift

from Red Beard Vintage

from Kisses From Ana

While I was searching for the above totes, I came across a whole other breed of vintage straw handbags. These are less earthy, and more glamorous, beachy-holiday.

from Dewberry Vintage


from Porchlight Vintage

from Yellow Dog Vintage

from Recycled And Wearable

from Moxie Thrift

from Cut From The Same Cloth

Corner Of Park Street

These are the oddities I spoke of yesterday. They're located a few blocks from my cupboard, and I first laid eyes on them just before I signed the lease here, which I thought was auspicious. Anyone know what they are? Their fuzziness holds up indefinitely, so it's rather charming to pick a few and let them puff out of skinny-necked vase or a narrow cup. They look as if they're made of feathers, which tickles me {get it?} to no end. Please tell me: Do you have these in your neighborhood?

P.S. Thanks so much for chatting with me about your morning routines. I find them all so fascinating, and even inspirational, as I begin a morning routine so different from those of my past. I'm thrilled you all like the new stamping kit; surprisingly, it's from Staples and comes with loads of letters.

P.P.S. Click on these pictures to see how incredibly fine the fuzzies are. You'll be amazed.

Monday

Amused myself with a new toy this weekend ... it's a ton of fun coming up with short phrases for stamping. Digging the red and turquoise combination all over again.

Still not used to the opportunity of the early morning -- feeling continually charmed by how many more hours there are in a day when the day begins at 6:15 a.m.

A cupboard rearrange? Maybe. A microwave shelf is being built for me, which will open up a window sill for succulents and oddities {will post photos of said oddities later}. Am truly hankering for something exactly like this -- though, as I've said -- my cupboard doesn't afford me the space, unless I do away with my pedestal eating table ...

Tell me something: What does your morning ritual look like? I'm curious.

Hanging On Every Word

Inspired by her blog header, I'm sort of itching to begin
a collection of these:

from In With the Old

from Elizabeth Wren Vintage


from Material Excess


from Kitchen Cupboard {a name after my own heart!}


from Peppermint Bark

I'd likely use the hangers for displaying a few prints I haven't gotten around to framing ... maybe even some more vintage postcards. Love notes, tea tags, favorite ribbon. Endless options.

But I'm also really keen on the idea of just letting them be: pounding a nail into the wall, hooking them on, and enjoying the way a good, old, wooden hanger speaks for itself.

Are you beginning any new collections, or have you admired another's collection{s} lately? Tell me about them.