My Newest Hobby

One of my New Year's resolutions this year was to send more real mail. You remember, handwritten letters -- actual paper and envelopes that require stamps, that sort of thing. So I've been making cards for most of my friends every month, which is great, because it gives me an excuse to collect more pretty papers, laces, tapes and embellishments, and to perfect my amateur paper-crafting skills. And a little while back, my very talented friend Evan explained to me how I could make my own stamps, so I took a trip to the craft store last week to produce some pretty silhouette stamps: the one on the right is Jane Austen's, and the one on the left is a little girl's. Not too bad for a first-timer, if I do say so myself.

Next, I made a card recently for a super-sweet Etsy seller with whom I arranged a trade of items, as a thank you for the trade. She and I are both in love with Britain, so I made a cut-out template of the Union Jack and put it on the front of her card, in cheery moss green, pink, and with the addition of a lace-patterned paper tape. The inside is embellished with the same green patterned paper, a pink Martha Stewart paper lace I found at Michael's, and a beautiful little vintage ledger-paper heart punch on top of which I put a pretty little bird punched out of a thin birch-wood veneer card.

I also put together a little bag of vintage and handmade goodies to go along with the card. I included a vintage hankie from my collection, a pair of earrings in coral, her favorite color, a few paper punches of vintage lined notebook paper on which I used one of my silhouette stamps, some tiny butterfly punches of vintage ledger paper, a yard of gorgeous vintage lace, scalloped punches of a vintage wallpaper, and some little pink bird punches. I packaged it all up in a handmade envelope I made using the same green patterned paper.

So that's what I've been up to this weekend. I plan to keep going for a little while on the paper crafting today, make a quick trip to the post office to send off some pretty packages, then settle in on the couch for Masterpiece Classic tonight! Hooray! And happy weekend to all of you.

A Few Random Thoughts

Hello, friends. Unfortunately, I haven't yet dug myself out of the deep deep hole that is "Things I Have To-Do" yet, but I have just a few minutes to breathe, and I thought I'd let you know that:

1. I love Love LOVE fall. Even here, where only 7 of the 32 trees in this city turn color. It's my favorite time of the whole year.
2. I am going to do this year what I've been saying I would do for the past 4 years: make caramel apples with Husband. Yum.
3. The Texas Rangers are breaking my heart. Seriously guys, the underdogs are supposed to miraculously win at the end of the story! That's how it works.
4. Even though it means I get the big bed all to myself, I don't like it when Husband's gone for a night. My eyes are a little redder this morning.
5. I'm currently loving the self-titled album from Little Joy.
6. I watched How To Steal A Million with Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole yesterday, and remembered two things: how much I love Audrey, and why I decided that my future husband had to have bright blue eyes and dark hair. (Which he does.)
7. I've decided that scarves are my favorite accessory. Yes, despite the fact that I make jewelry.
8. I don't care who you are or where you're from: Oscar Wilde is just plain hilarious. Makes me laugh every time. Out loud.
9. Art Trail is this Friday night, and I have some lovely new things to show off!
10. I wish I had some lovely new tree peonies sitting at home waiting for me. Tree peonies are my favorite, especially in these incredible arrangements by Sarah of Saipua.

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.

DIY Thursday: Ice Cream Cone Pinata

Being that just a few days from now I shall begin The Birthday Celebration Extravaganza with husband, pretty party items are looking like the perfect thing with which to begin the countdown.

And a pretty party item shaped like my third favorite thing in the world (just behind husband and birthdays) is Even. More. Awesome.

I really don't think any more words are necessary.

Brilliant idea, and full instructions for the project by Tiffany of Simply Modern Mom.

We've talked about this before, but in case you need a refresher, I have a serious obsession with Japanese washi paper tapes. About two weeks ago, said obsession manifested itself in a frenzied and slightly ill-judged shopping spree. ... {shoulder shrug.} Oh, well. Look how pretty!

 

   

Love these.
Spreaking of my favorite things, have you entered this week's giveaway?

{All photos taken by me. Contact me if you have questions about the headpieces in these pics!}

New Playthings

Some extra pretty things have made their way to my little blue house within the past few weeks, and I thought I'd show them off. (You can imagine how much fun I've been having lately.)

paper goodness and pretty flowers from The Gilded Bee

beautiful millinery bits from caramelos

inspring color and lovely packaging from bella drummer

Just one more thing: expect to see some of these lovelies and more of my favorite things in a giveaway, coming soon. Keep checking back this week for more!

DIY Thursday: Teabag Envelope

I love tea. Tea is one of the things for which I'm most thankful. And tea in a pretty handmade floral envelope is even better, if that's possible. So I find today's tutorial from the lovely Yasmine of A Print A Day especially irresistible.

So charming, yes? See a materials list and complete instructions here.

Because I feel the need to continue with the week's established theme, I have just one further thing to add: Jane Austen loved tea too.

Etsy Treasure Tuesday: Brookish

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen-themed Etsy features must triumph over all others. Therefore, I present to you, Brookish, a charming shop full of pretty words and pretty things, for the hopeless Janeite in all of us.

You ask: What are men to tees and dishtowels?

I reply: Essential, if Mr. Darcy is printed all over them.

(All photos by Brooke of Brookish; composite images by me.)

Etsy Treasure Tuesday: Cutiepie Company (and Special Offer!)

I'm so excited to introduce you today to one of the most charming shops you'll ever meet, cutiepie company, run by the kind and talented Milly. She's stocked her pretty shop full of quite a few of my favorite things: handmade paper goods, vintage maps, charming silhouettes, and a healthy dash of woodgrain. {You begin to understand, I suspect, why I fell in love at first sight.}

I discovered cutiepie company's Etsy shop about a year and a half ago, after happening upon that adorable moleskin printed with the silhouetted girl, and it's remained at the very top of my favorites ever since. I go back to gaze at all of the new lovelies at least once a week.

In addition to having really good taste and a wonderful design sensibility, Milly has been kind enough to offer a special "Back to School" discount just to you as pink street readers. She'll extend a 15% discount on all notebooks and journals, and 10% off everything else in the shop! Just mention "Pinkstreet" in the Notes to Seller at checkout in order to receive the discount. She'll refund the sale amount via Paypal within 24 hours.

The special pink street offer will run through this Sunday, August 22nd, so stop by and pick out a few of your favorites!

Thanks, Milly, for the generous discount offer, and for putting such lovely handmade things out into the world. The world is grateful.

{I mention here by way of a sidenote that the Woodgrain Mixed Paper Notebook, Fille Merci Card set, and naturally, the Lady in Red Moleskin Cahier, have all been added to my birthday list. Just wanted to keep you informed.}

{All photos by Milly of cutiepie company; composite images by me.}

A Little Lovely For Your Friday

There's been so much loveliness on Decor8 this week, and I've been inspired by this post, this post, and this one in particular. I'm ready for the change of season, the beginning of a new semseter, and a bit of freshness in my home as well. I hope that you enjoy the photos I've pulled from the Decor8 blogsite for you, and if you're inspired as well, hop over and read the full posts.

Happy weekend, everyone!

And please stop by, if you're in Lubbock, and visit me tonight at Art Trail!

I promise you vintage hankies, big bows, new displays involving cute garage sale tags, and lots of new pieces!

Peaches

Fredericksburg, Texas, the pretty little destination of the glorious girls' Road Trip I took this past weekend, is known for quaint little streets on hills stacked with white limestone cottages, great German bakeries, a thriving wine industry propelled by dozens of local vineyards, and the best peaches to be had in this state. The girls and I brought back a whole crate to be shared.

With peaches on my mind since our return yesterday evening, I couldn't help but be drawn into this post about peach wedding details viewed on OnceWed.

All images by Simply Bloom Photography. See the full post along with details on styling and other arrangements here.