I just cut out some business cards and these were the off cuts... they were so pretty I couldn't resist sticking them on the scanner and making an image.

Today is a very busy day - I'm leaving town and won't be back until next week and I have so many things to scratch off my list before I go.

Other things that are leaving town: my petites bêtes sauvages are off to Berlin to take part in a little exhibition at lilo und dicke dinger. They're all packed and ready to go but they've never flown before, so they're a little nervous. I've assured them that they'll be just fine and not to bother the flight attendants.

Introducing Mr. White...my entry into the 2007 Holiday Softie Awards.

It's hard to think about the holidays, scarves and snow when it's 80 degrees outside, but think about them I will... this photo helps a little... sets the mood.
A polaroid I took about 5 years ago, quite possibly the last time I saw snow.

Also, thanks go out to freshly{blended} for the wonderful post about my calendar, as well Heather at skinny lamix - thank you!

finally... this calendar almost broke me... but it's finished... limited edition available on Etsy.

I'll be selling more at the Holiday Gift Bazaar in Santa Monica, CA on November 17, for those in the Los Angeles area and I will be making more calendars as we get closer to the New Year.

I'm about to go into turbo beast-making mode. These are buttons I picked up yesterday. Soon there will be faces for these eyes.

other little faces that I love {by bencke} have been lost in the mail... has anyone seen them?

Also, I am in bigger trouble than I thought - the items that I ordered from hickory no ki arrived today and I can barely contain myself. Everything about the coffee measure is perfect. The bag is amazing.... I can go on and on. I almost cannot bare how lovely and simple it all is.

I feel an addiction to this shop coming on.... t.r.o.u.b.l.e.

oh no... I'm in trouble... I want (I mean need) this lighting fixture.

via atelier a+d

I am definitely one to buy a book because of its cover ... This one I bought because of its spine.

{added to long list of things I want to do: design a book}
.

this morning I had a coffee at a local bakery - on the table they had one of my favorite things: ceramic yogurt jars. I think nothing tastes better than yogurt from ceramic or glass... there are some more beautiful jars here.

So... Southern California is engulfed and smoke and flames. The Santa Ana winds are here and they are reeking havoc. I normally love the winds because they are so strange and so strong, and in a region where weather is usually so consistent, the change is always welcome, but this year it is scary. Yesterday 8 fires started and grew very rapidly. Today there are 17 total fires. It's incredible... shocking.

As for me, the calendar is coming along a lot slower than I had wanted.. but it's almost there. Also, I've got some little beasts traveling to Berlin soon to participate in a little exhibition {more on that later}. I've got to get their bags packed and teach them some German so that they can get by for a while.

So much to do!

An amazing find from my parents house a few weeks back - "Do's and Don'ts: A Compendium of Hints and Information," published in the late 1970's or early 80's in Zimbabwe {there is no publication information noted but Zimbabwe is still referred to Rhodesia and this was received as a gift in the early 80's.}

One of my favorite do's: "To get the mark out when letting down a hem, rub over the crease with a piece of stale bread."

What?

Does that really work? I'm going to have to try.

This is another one of my absolute favorite images I grabbed from the web some time ago and whose artist and source is now entirely unknown to me and it now lives in the ether of my "Images I like' folder. I like how Colleen Baran {from whom I ordered this lovely ring} labeled her similar 'I will remember who has made this and needn't make a mark of it' way of saving images in a recent comment.
Does anyone know the image?

{update: thanks to Casey, the image mystery has been solved - the artist's name is Julie Meredith and you can find her work here.}

These polaroids I took years ago match these little cups I bought yesterday. I don't really need the cups - but I could not pass them up. Imagine this dessert inside them ... the colors will be so great together!

Not only did I receive these amazing Cydwoq shoes in the mail today as gift (from the Sundance Catalog), but they came packed with this equally amazing recycled cardboard concertina-like packing material. I don't know... maybe everyone is using this stuff, but it's the first time I've seen it and it's beautiful. When stretched out it looks like insect wings.

But getting back to the shoes ... these handmade beauties are crafted a stone's throw from where I live, which makes me want to go there and peek in their windows so that I can learn how to make shoes this beautiful. I have a feeling that even though summer in Los Angeles is drawing to a close, I'm going to be living in these sandals for a while. I've now got my eyes on their RIDE boot, in the women's vintage section. But I think I have to wait until I win the lottery first.

Ten years ago I went to see Gerrit Rietveld's Schröderhuis in Utrecht. I was an architectural student at the time studying in France and took a trip up to the Netherlands in the middle of winter to see this little house. I almost froze to death, but it was worth it.

I think the most iconic images of the house are always of the exterior, but it is the interior that I remember blowing me away. The efficiency of space was inspiring.

Years later, and still mildly obsessed with the house, I purchased {of all things} a stack of trading cards of his chairs. I have absolutely no recollection of buying them, but nevertheless I have them and here are some my favorites:

1st row: zigzag chair 1934; Hogestoel 1919; Danish Chair circa 1946-50
2nd row: Beugelfauteuil 1927; Metz side chair 1928; Red/Blue Chair [but all in white] 1918

I love chairs.
And I love small houses.

The end.
.

Thank you to all who have been commenting lately on this blog - it's great to get such wonderful and encouraging comments! {above: my thank you cards at Etsy}

Another thank you: need to say how *wonderful* my new laptop wallet is from working class heroes... such a simple, clean and well crafted piece. I also love the old family photos on their website... all around I love their aesthetics!

In other news, I went to see Fionn Regan play last night and it was incredible. You can listen to his music here and here. I think he has a really lovely voice ... not to be missed, at least in my opinion :)

I'm working on a 2008 calendar... and finally have a prototype. Just a few more tweaks and it'll be ready to go and on Etsy soon. Obviously, I'm still haunted by concentric circles.

When I saw this maison d'hôte in marie claire maison in February 2006, my heart skipped a beat. Even now, a year and half later, looking at those shelves makes me weak in the knees.

Fokus Fabrik from Finland {how's that for some good friday alliteration!} contacted me today about their new autumn additions... take at look at their great new fabric and designs... I also love their 'in action' link... these ladies look like they're a lot of fun and very creative!

yesterday we ate outside at twilight with the little lights on

today i tried to make a mobile... this is it so far {inspired by Le Petit Atelier de Paris and Kevin Inkawhich at Silho)

tomorrow, who knows...

My little squid twins Marieke and Frederika were on the front page of Etsy today on a treasury curated by Pam Glew! These little squids were very hard for me to post in the store and I almost kept them for myself {well... I actually feel that way about all mes petites bêtes sauvages, but what can you do?} It feels like the first day of school for my kids or something! Thanks Pam!

Currently inspired by Le Petit Atelier de Paris and their Animobile.
I've wanted to make mobiles (and practically anything and everything else) for a while now... via eddy & edwina