I Keep Telling Myself

And I'm pretty sure that's true. But probably not for a while yet.

Please be patient with me. I'll be back soon.

{image and design © Jen Renninger of the fabulous Etsy shop PleaseBeStill.}

Etsy Treasure Tuesday: Olive Manna

I just can't get enough of pretty packaging, so obviously, Olive Manna has been in my list of Etsy favorites for a very long time now.  But this week is a perfect time to feature the shop because Danni over at oh, hello friend has an Olive Manna giveaway going on this week! Check out some of my favorites below, then go straight over and enter the giveaway!

  

 

Natalie Jost, the very talented person behind Olive Manna, has a blog, an Etsy shop, and also an independent shop with some different offerings than you can find on Etsy. Happy browsing, and don't forget to enter the giveaway!

DIY Thursday: Sweater Crafts

Although it's still warming up quite a bit during the day here, it's chilly in the mornings, and all I want to do is stay tucked up under the covers, and get out of bed just to cozy up with a blanket and a cup of tea. These ideas for reusing and decorating with your old sweaters from Country Living magazine, seem to evoke just the right atmosphere of coziness for fall. I've chosen a few of my favorites to show you, but you can see the original post on their website for instructions.

Also, I'll take one large library in that lovely weathered oak panelling, please.

DIY: Pretty Wallfowers

What's that? Bright, colorful flowers made out of paper napkins!? Oh, yes!

And more!

I love how the centers are a different color than the outer layers. So cute!

Full tutorial by Dana of Made, where there's lots and lots of other crafty goodness to be found.

{Photos by Dana; spotted via Frenchie and Flea.}

I ♥ EmersonMade (the Studio Tour)

A couple of months ago, the Brooklyn Bride blog featured a studio tour of EmersonMade, and it was spectacular. I think it must be one of the happiest places to work, and I thought you might enjoy the feature too, if you happened not to see it. Here are a few shots, and you can read the interview with Emerson herself over at the original post.

The incredibly talented and really hilarious Emerson and her husband Ryan live on a farm in New Hampshire with fluffy yellow baby ducks and a stuffed mouse. Their amazing home tour was featured on Design*Sponge quite a while ago, and it's just as inspiring. Check out EmersonMade here.

Etsy Treasure Tuesday: Helkat Design

I'm such an Anglophile, and a fan, as well, of soft colors and soft cushions. Helkat Design, located in Wiltshire, England, combines all three of these weaknesses of mine into gorgeous pillow covers.

I'm not sure I could narrow them down to even five favorites, but I know I want one.

{All images pulled from the Helkat Etsy shop.}

Maybe I'm just a little bit crazy

... Because I haven't yet exhausted my obsession with aqua, and I'm trying to figure out a way to do something like this to my kitchen:

via

via

via

I just can't get enough. Someone's going to have to stop me.

Debbie Downer

I'm sorry, friends, but I'm not my usual cheerful self today. Despite the fact that it's my birthday month, there's still another Cold Stone Cupcake in the freezer, and husband's being even sweeter to me than normal, I just can't seem to make my smile believable lately. I mostly feel like sagging and moping, and sometimes I want to cry a little too, which is unusual. It's hard to be an optimist when you stop believing.

The pretty vases of fading summer roses and porcelain vine seemed to kind of illustrate my mood lately. I just want to stare at them and not think anymore.

{Images by Sarah of saipua.}

Etsy Treasure Tuesday: Inaluxe

I love the fun patterns and vibrant colors featured in the mid-century modern inspired designs of Melbourne-based Kristina and Jason, the team behind Inaluxe.

Stop in at the Etsy shop and check out all of the other designs!

{All Images © Kristina Sostarko & Jason Odd, pulled from the Etsy shop.}

Today I Will .....

I'm happy to have a weekend of more celebrations to look forward to, but at present, it mostly feels like I'm struggling under a miles-long to-do list that has been standing over me for a week now. I really need to get something -- anything -- done, and I just can't seem to catch up. So I'm going to try to make that happen this weekend in the midst of partying it up.

First on my list is a shout-out to my beautiful friend Jessica, whose birthday is today. Together, back in the day, we formed two-thirds of the Park Byron Girls Triumvirate Spectacular, and also, we'd get to have joint birthday parties every year, which was awesome. Happy Birthday, Jess!

{Images of the Catskills cabin of The Wild Unknown on Design*Sponge. Via Little Is The New Big.}

DIY Thursday: Festive Paper Pinwheels

In continuation of the birthday theme (being that the birthday festivities continue for another couple of weeks at least), I bring you today a beautifully presented tutorial from Style Me Pretty for paper pinwheels. The project tutorial is by Posh Paperie, and the wonderful photography is by Jackie Wonders. See the original post on Style Me Pretty for full instructions and details.

So beautiful! I'd love to hang these up all over my house, even when it's not my birthday!

And I Quote

"It sometimes happens, that a woman is handsomer at twenty-nine than she was ten years before; and, generally speaking, if there has been neither ill health nor anxiety, it is a time of life at which scarcely any charm is lost."
And yet again, Jane Austen, you are my hero.

I'm off today, spending it lazily in frivolous pursuits and doing exactly as I please, which in my opinion, is how everyone should spend her birthday. (And now, may I make a suggestion?: you should spend my birthday by taking advantage of the Incredible Birthday Sale going on in my shop for today only!)

Happy Birthday to Me! And here's to a loss of neither beauty nor charm in 29.

{quoted: the effervescent and luminescent Miss Austen, Persuasion}
{copyrighted image by the talented Tif of Dottie Angel, pulled from the Flickr stream.}

Etsy Treasure Tuesday: Necessity Is The Mother

Such a fantastic name for a handmade clothing shop, right? I've had many items from Necessity Is The Mother's Etsy shop make their way into my favorites for quite a long time now.

I absolutely love the casual, homespun look; sort of like 40's housemaid meets 60's mod.

Some of my favorites, including some I couldn't resist pulling from the Sold items section.

 

 

 

Also, I envy the model's gorgeous auburn hair, if we're just gonna go ahead and get everything out there. You should definitely stop by and check out the creative and charming items in the shop.

Happy Tuesday! Oh, and don't forget to stop by my shop today too to see the brand new items I listed last night! Big Birthday Sale starts tomorrow!

{All images pulled from Necessity Is The Mother Etsy shop.}

Birthday Sale and Giveaway Winner

On the agenda for today: some lovely new things to show you, an exciting offer, and the announcement you've all been waiting for.

First, my birthday is this week (!). Last year in honor, I ran a Birthday Sale in my Etsy shop that was so well-received that I've decided to make it a yearly tradition. So on Wednesday, September 22nd, I'm offering a 22% discount on your entire purchase from my shop, for one day only. So stop by and stock up for yourself or gifts for others. I've been working really hard this weekend on some lovely new members of the Pink Street club which will all be listed in the shop by Wednesday.

Here's a preview:

       

More will be listed tonight, so you'll have a great selection from which to choose on Wednesday!

And finally, our Giveaway Winner: Niandra!

Congratulations, Niandra; please send me an email at sarahetimmons@gmail.com with your address, and I'll get all of your goodies packaged up and sent off to you!