Teeny Gardens

Gardening is on my mind! I have been searching the entire house for the stash of seeds I found just before we moved, stuck in a silver teapot. I had put them there so that I would remember where they were, but just in case, I moved them as I was packing. If I had left them in the teapot, I would now be gleefully flipping through packets of flowers and veggies to be, but I put them someplace practical and obvious, so that I could find them come spring. Of course, now I can't for the life of me figure out where I put the bloody things!

Anyhoo, I digress. I have had thoughts of starting seeds indoors for weeks, and long, intense internet searches have somehow taken a side road into little and innovative terrariums. When my youngest was born, I was in the middle of finishing a stained glass class. I absolutely was hooked! Breaking glass (intentionally) is incredibly therapeutic. Unfortunately for my creative process, it turns out that tiny apartments inhabited by two boys is NOT the place to set up a glass studio. It will happen though, I may just set up a shed in the backyard, now that I have one! So when my search fell upon terrariums, I immediately looked into glass boxes of the sort that Victorian era manors would use as mini greenhouses. SO gorgeous, and I am sure I could just whip one up!

The designs really can stretch as far as the imagination. I absolutely adore this steampunk inspired terrarium slash nightlight...

From Steamed Glass

 ...and this totally adorable one made from a Christmas tree ornament!

From In The Blue House

This one made the rounds last year and has been living in my inspiration files for quite some time...

Instructions HERE

So I think a new project is on the agenda. I just need to find a few fabulous apothecary jars, or some such thing...

 ...because let's face it, I simply cannot bring myself to use a mason jar like I should. (Not to mention, I have two sitting beside the sink.) Although, I do really love the look of the blue....

Turning Bits Of Paper... The Art Of Quilling

Quilling has been a fascination of mine  since I was a girl. I can't remember where I first saw it. I associate it with my grandmother, who taught me quite a few nifty things so perhaps it was through her. I pretty much love anything that uses paper as a medium. Martha Stewart always has some sweet quilling examples (above) and her site is where I usually turn for inspiration first because the projects found there are not too easy, but achievable.

I have recently though, stumbled upon the most brilliant quilling artist! Russian born, London based Yulia Brodskaya has been quilling for a little over three years, but her projects are so stunning, she has garnered the attention of many profitable entities and she truly has taken it to a new level. I thought you might like to see some of her work.

She has created pieces for the covers of books you will recognize, and as well, some very fun invites.

Who knew that the art of rolling and shaping tiny strips of paper and gluing them to a background could be so lucrative? Or really, so innovative! What makes your jaw drop and shatter into smithareens though, is the piece below. I have never seen something like this, and imagine the possibilities...

If you visit her site you can see various stages as well as angles of this piece, titled "Babushka", which she explains in depth. Every angle captures a different quality of light and emotion. She really is an inspiration, not only due to her incredible talent, but also through how she describes her process and insights into the medium itself. I just love how she has taken such a simple craft and created something so unique for reasons completely removed from where the craft originates. Just stunning.

These Are Not Your Grandmother's... Uh... Rocks.

How adorable are these? Crocheted Love Stones from Stitch Happens on Etsy. A whimsical menagerie indeed! I would love to prop my door open when the weather gets warmer with a few of these... so sweet and simple, yet I love the intricacy of the designs.

 Doily, meet rock. Rock, meet doily... welcome to my garden... I could set up some lovely little tea parties and have them all just hanging around, looking darling. In fact, smaller ones would make adorable favours, or even place holders, no? Oh, the ideas just keep coming... and if you want to do something nice, you can purchase a set where the proceeds benefit the Earthquake Relief in Japan. How lovely!

Happy Birthday to ME... Styled.

OK, It really has nothing at all to do with me (except that it is my birthday,) but I am actually really excited to take a look... and you can look before me, because I scheduled this post to run this morning, but I am at a play rehearsal with my boy and probably won't be able to gaze lovingly at the yummy pages till after dinner. Jealous. 

To be a part of the online launch of Styled magazine just click on the cover image!

Got Some Free Time On Your Hands?

There are no words for how insanely cool this is...

The project is called Salon at Sundown

Created by Brian Kaspr and Payton Turner

...and probably only one for the fact that the entire space of gorgeous wallpaper, is, in fact, many many many tiny stickers...

...INSANE.

Much coffee my friends, much coffee.

Oh, Have I Already Mentioned Chairs Today?

Yup, I think so... but these just had to be put here so that I don't loose them. I love the idea, but even more, I LOVE the chairs! I think though, that I would have to travel overseas to get some as cool as this, I haven't seen these before. I get the feeling that over there they are like the oldschool bent ply chairs we had in elementary school and are probably everywhere in Holland just waiting to be cut up. I may have to get Kelly to smuggle some back with her when she comes home. Think they would fit in her suitcase?

Found on Craftzine, where you can find a link to the tutorial... thanks Tisha :)

Industrial Resoloution

I like old stuff. I mean I really like old stuff. It's kinda ridiculous really. I finally had to stop dragging home junk from junk shops because I don't have space for things I don't even understand, let alone use. There is a junk shop in town that is owned by this family who are old time Nelsonites. They are probably part of a lineage from the days when there was silver here, and most of the stuff in their shop is probably left overs from that rush. They also own half of Nelson's real estate and every time somebody moves out of one of their rentals whatever is left behind gets stored in the basement of the house, so there is literally a ton of houses in this town with a ton of junk that gets eventually put in this store to be sifted through. An ongoing garage sale. Ten per cent of it is really worth something, but the  part I like is the ninety per cent  that is dusty and missing a few pieces and it is questionable as to what it actually for. I know, ridiculous.

 Part of my brain, the smart part, understands that it is much MUCH easier to simply find the right thing for the job online. For those of you who live in a city, any city really, I am sure you have access to places where it is simple enough to find old industrial things, or at least knock off industrial pieces these days since the look of the last few years has had a definite industrial edge. I find something infinitely funny about companies knocking off old stuff. That is one of those things that the aliens are going to label us with when they find us: "Manufactures new items that resemble to a great degree, artifacts from many earth years previous for the collections of other humans to place randomly throughout their living areas for no apparent reason". Yup, that's us. If I could get there though, these beauties from Urban Outfitters would be coming home with me. You know, so I could "organize" my office and living room areas.

Also, that chair that was meant to be reupholstered not so long ago... yeah, turns out that wasn't as easy a fix as they make it look on TV. Granted, it was a few years ago that I watched those shows now... like, ten. But if I can sew something somebody wants to get married in, why shouldn't I be able to sew a fairly straightforward slipcover? Even if it IS out of ten smallish and odd shaped pieces of fabric that were unearthed in a FREE bin. I want my chair to look like THIS:

...and the gorgeous setee and pouf can come along for the ride. If I could have a house chock full of vintage chairs and sofas, I would be a happy camper. Why it is that my family doesn't see the gloriousness in every single chair with good lines in the thrift store is beyond me. Sigh.

Oh well, I am still on the hunt for some amazing industrial type pieces for my place, but I prefer the real stuff. I guess it's a good thing I can't just run to Urban Outfitters and pick up a piece on a whim. (Their prices are ridiculously low and they actually do ship some stuff to Canada.) If there was anything in my bank account and I could visualize not having a coronary over the shipping, I would be all over anything from the Justin Real shop on Etsy.

Some of these pieces found by my friend Jenn over at The Chicks blog would be very happy in my space. Anything with metal wheels is my friend. She has such an amazing eye and talent for thrifting, but also knows so many fabulous places to score a unique find in and around Vancouver. I think I may just have to get her to bring me a funky wheelie thing or two when she comes to visit me.

Of course, when I moseyed over there to grab the photo and URL I found so many more things to gawk at, so you may want to head over for a gander. I love their style :)

So basically I am spending this time procrastinating and mentally redecorating instead of figuring out my tax stuff, the hydro bill, Liam's medical card scenario... all the stuff I should be doing right now. Back at it I guess... or maybe to the thrift store to see if there are any chairs that need a new home! Hmmm...