a cheery sight on a dreary day.

February is probably my least favorite month. Winter is in full swing, all the holiday excitement is over, football ends, need I go on? The funniest part is that while it's the shortest month it always feels the longest. Especially this year as I await the arrival of our little man in a few short ( or long) weeks.  

Anyhow, my husband works next to a hot air balloon manufacturer or distributor and I was helping do an odd job at his work this week (so much for maternity leave!).  This sight was what greeted us yesterday morning when we pulled into the parking lot.  I am usually not one for taking phone pictures but I couldn't resist. They made me smile and I wanted to share that with you all :)

What brightens your day during this dreariest of months?

design seeds.

design seeds is a cute little blog I came across today whilst looking through photos on Pinterest. it is run by jessica colaluca, who also has a book I want to own. i love that all the posts are color combinations taken from photographs! i drool over stuff like this and can't get enough of color combo websites/ blogs/ posts!! one would think that there are only so many combinations possible in the universe, however I feel like new ones are always popping up :) definitely my favorite part of the creative process!!!

design seed favs

embroidered whimsy.

I found a link to these beauties while surfing the web :) The artist Jill Tamaki designed and embroidered three gorgeous covers for Penguin Classics, here are my two favorites, Emma and The Secret Garden. Aren't they lovely?

sewing illustration.

I have made an two amazing discoveries lately!!

1) Checking out magazines from the local library is the coolest!! You can't check out the most current issue, but the month or two before are usually available and all for free baby :) Real Simple, Everyday with Rachel Ray, Bride, Organic Gardening, and of course Martha Stewart Living.

2) This brings me to my second discovery, while reading the June issue of Martha they featured the work of Miyuki Sakai, a sewing illustrator, alongside their food. I decided to check out her website and not only is her work INCREDIBLE, but her website is so cute! Here are a few of my favorites, but there is a huge variety of her work on her site so be sure to check it out :)

weekend inspiration.

here are some lovely images from weheartit that are inspiring me lately. everything about summer is making me giddy :) hope yours is going well so far. I will be camping with my sister for the next four days and will be back on Tuesday with LOTS of photos!!!

renegade love.

courtney fischer jewelry
I LOVE her stuff. she is a fellow michigan artist and I am glad to see her on renegade!

pretty little things

Decoy Lab

Bettula

APAK

My Imaginary Boyfriend

retail heaven.

it is a great feeling when you can walk into a store and it immediately transports you and puts a smile on your face...pure elation :) this was how I felt today when I got to visit an anthropologie store for the first time. I have long been in love with their online store and catalog, but had yet to get the chance to visit. today I took a trip to Sommerset Mall here in Michigan with my mom and sister for Mother's Day and low and behold, there was an anthropologie store. we waited until last to go in and I don't think there was an item in the store I didn't go gaga over...haha...my sister was immediately smitten as well. we tried on dresses and ohed and ahed over all the goods, but alas I was unable to make a purchase today, but I promise a pretty dress is in my near future.

I tried this lightweight summery number on under the assumption it was a dress and actually really really loved it. Come to find out it is a swimsuit cover-up, masquerading as dress.

I never thought I would try on a dress with kitty cats on it, until today. I looked very Betty Draper in this one.

I love the colors of this dress and the fabric it was made of was super comfy and flattering.

love love loving the trend of collage hodge-podge necklaces!!! the colors and ruffle make this one exceptionally delicious.

lastly this insanely cute little dishtowel. I mean who needs a $24 dishtowel this fancy....oh wait I do :) The clothes line is to die for.

octopus love.

as much as it may not look like it...this is a stuffed knit octopus in progress. this is about half the body and after the other half, I still have eight legs, the stuffing and the sewing to go...so you can probably expect to see the finished product in a month or more :) but, it sure does feel good to have a project in the works 'just for fun!' here are some other cute knit octopi that I hope to aspire to...

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sew exciting.

After a two week hiatus, I ventured into a favorite thrift shop of mine (the only one I go to right now, I plan on branching soon). It is a PTO thrift store so all the proceeds go to the Ann Arbor PTO's, which I love :) It is not big, but they always have a LOT of craft supplies (ribbon, yarn, fabric, patches, buttons etc.). On my most recent trip I didn't feel that high that comes often comes with a really good find. Don't get me wrong I found a few good items, but nothing that left me with THAT feeling. Then I got this baby home, gave it a wipe down, did a little paint job on the lid, and filled it with goodies :) LOVE IT!!

the before photos.

I used red acrylic paint around the edge and for the title and the blue flower is two rub-ons.

decent thread collection complete coveted from my mom and grandma's stash :)

my complete sewing set-up. complete with thread/bobbin holder, old sewing tin of grams, manual to my moms vintage singer and the little box that came with it, and my pin cushion.

here is a picture of the machine on the manual cover. it was recently indefinitely borrowed from my mom who never really used it. It is a Singer Stylus, zig-zag sewing machine, free-arm model 533 from 1976 :) So cool. never thought I would start machine sewing!!

the inside of the lid to my gram's old sewing tin. it has a special device to hold needles which is pretty nifty!