And They're Up!

Two of my Cupid Kits are in the shop right this second.

Go over and have a peek!


P.S. More will be added over the course of the next week.
I'll always post here ahead of time to let you know.

Double Ruffle

I'm keen on the idea of scoring a skirt like this double ruffle one, and wearing it well into fall and winter with a pair of opaque black tights and stellar Mary Janes.

{Vintage Double Ruffle Skirt from Skinny and Bernie}

Shoulder Perch

So, if you're not much of a flower gal,
pop these two birdies on your sweater
for an entirely different effect.


{Wooden Bird Pins from Molly Moons Medley}

Thank You!

Thank you all so much for your enthusiasm! What a wonderful way to kick off a new venture of mine. I'm still working out the kinks in the shop {can't quite figure out shipping -- USPS website seems to indicate that my goods would cost eight dollars a piece in postage!}, and would appreciate any and all feedback, plus tips you might have if you're an Etsy seller. My email address is right over there, in the sidebar. I'm grateful for your help.

* * *

In other news, I picked up a used copy of I Capture the Castle, by Dodie Smith, this afternoon. I'm very excited to fall into it. I remember seeing the film some time ago -- and being quite moved -- but I'm fuzzy on most of the plot. I think I'll really begin it tonight, before bed. What are you reading at the moment?

* * *

I'm completely itching to rearrange everything that's hanging on my cupboard walls. I've been digging simple compositions, and I sometimes feel as though I've got too much going on in such a small place {hence, I suppose, its museum cupboard-ishness!}. Would I be happy if I simplified? Hmm. I'm not entirely sure I'm sold on the concept. Still ...

The Post Where I Reveal My Project To My Lovely And Faithful Readers, Who Have Waited Patiently

{I promise I didn't forget about you ... or about revealing my project to you. I was called in early to work, and the day just got away from me. My apologies for keeping you waiting, my pets.}

Ahem.

I am thrilled to announce the opening of another cupboard:

my very own, small and humble, Etsy shop.

This special place will hold a very selective and neatly curated group of vintage goods {only those bits and bobs that I would very much like to keep for myself}, as well as an ongoing rotation of handmade, one-of-a-kind kits -- the Cupid Kit, among others.

Click on the mini banner above to see
what I have on my shelves right now.

And thank you for all of your support and excitement!

P.S. I will post here just before I add some kits to the shop {they're almost finished!}, which will happen this Friday, July 31st, by noon EST.

A Blooming Cardigan

You may or may not know this, but my first post here at The Museum Cupboard was about a floral brooch, something I found while thrifting and couldn't pass up. Well, I'm a creature of habit, so it's no surprise that I'm back on that subject. What's prompted me to share this ongoing obsession is this post from Emily Martin's blog, Some Girls Wander by Mistake {her other blog is the popular Inside a Black Apple}. Below, I've scouted out a whole slew of gorgeous vintage brooches, perfect for clustering together into a bouquet at the top of a sweet sweater or velvet blazer. Do you have a favorite?

from Vicious Vintage Finds

from StudioMEM

from Vintage Nina Ramone

from Scooters Shop

from The Faerie Cupboard

from Her Yellow Scarf

from StudioMEM

from Blueberry Deluxe

from Vintage by Alex Keller

from Jennifer Goode

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

* * *

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.

* * *

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

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.