Sandra Dieckmann

I stumbled upon the work of British illustrator Sandra Dieckmann the other day and had to share a few of my favorites... which were pretty difficult to decide on. Her work is is full of woodland creatures, intricate details, beautifully subtle colors, a hint of whimsy and the occasional feather. All of my favorite things.

Deer Lady

Robin Trees - I love the pattern detail on the tree trunks!

Squirrel Spoon - how sweet is this pair?

Kes

Detail from Magic Breeze

Aren't her illustrations lovely? Dieckmann's work is available for purchase on Etsy and Society6, or visit her website for more information on her wonderful illustrations.

Animals of Low Moral Standing

 

I love these witty watercolor prints from R.S. Posnak, especially the Animals of Low Moral Standing. It's true, you know. Snakes, sharks, and skunks are always up to no good.

via Rachel.

Garage Sale Season!

Although the official first day of summer isn't until June 21st, it's pretty much a given that once Memorial Day hits, the temperature stays above 80, you break out the sunscreen, listen to the Beach Boys' Sounds of Summer album, and according to Christopher, it's the first weekend you take the boat out on the water even if it's too cold to swim.

All this, of course, also means garage sale season.Who doesn't love cheap stuff, vintage treasures, and the occasional "whaaa.... seriously?!" items.

Last weekend's treasures and some of today's finds, including a 1950s five volume "Do It Yourself" encyclopedia set for 50 cents!

Last weekend was my first round of garage sales. I went to quite a few good ones, including a church rummage sale and an estate sale that was overpriced but amazing. You may be concerned about that hideous silver and blue Christmas wreathe and the weird fruit cheese-dome thing, but don't worry. I have DIY projects in the line up for both items.

I have a bit of a problem with garage sales, though. I tend to pick up a lot of small vintage items because I love their patterns, colors, and histories... but when I bring them home I have no place to put them. So they sit around in piles until I get around to packing them away (until I have a bigger house, of course.) My house is full of knickknacks but lacks hefty decorative items. My goal for this summer is to focus on large scale finds instead of little 5 cent ceramic owls. I have quite the list of things to buy shaping up, and I thought I'd share a few...

I've wanted something similar to these stadium seats for several years now. Perfect for an entryway.
(sorry, I can't find the source for this image, but I'm almost positive it's from an Etsy shop.)

Our bedroom gets so warm at night, so a nightstand-sized midcentury fan is at the top of my garage sale list. Bonus points if I find one this awesome shade of blue-green.

Flat files. Old library card catalogs. Postmaster storage slots. They look great and provide tons of storage. They're so hard to come by cheap, but Chris and I want one real bad.

1. I'd love to find an upright camera (hopefully in working condition) for $5-7ish. Thanks to Arissa for this new obsession of mine.  2. I'm on the lookout for an industrial chair/stool for my studio area. They're practical, look great, and you don't have to worry too much about ruining them with ink, paint or other crafty things.  3. Who doesn't love globes? I'm hoping to find a great old one with a subtle color palette like this beaut.  

 Tandem bike! I found one last summer but they were asking $200 for it. Might as well buy a new one. 

 Okay, so I know perpetual calendars aren't exactly one of the large items I said I would be searching for, but I still hope to find one. I'm so jealous of Danni's collection.

I also always look for old lace, hardcover books with gorgeous covers, wooden frames, quirky mugs, and fabric. I can obviously find most of these things on Etsy, but where's fun in that? I'd much rather search through to musty, dusty garages and spend $2 than purchase a treasure online for three times the price. Here's to a summer full of awesome garage sales. Are you searching for anything in particular?

gathered: chart smart

Friends, let me tell you a little something. I am obsessed with charts. Something about the visual/verbal combination really gets me going. Maybe they make me nostalgic for elementary Science and US History class, or they remind me of teen magazine quizzes. Who knows. I just think they're great, which is why I decided to do a little Gathered round up on some of the educational and equally beautiful charts of the internet.

I'll start off today's gathered with The Perfect Pour coffee guide from Plaid Creative, which actually inspired this post. A combination of my two loves, coffee and bold, minimalistic design. And how great does an Eiskaffee sound?

This Les petites douceurs print from French-Canadian illustrator Eva Juliet is so sweet. I love the soft, watercolor pastels and calligraphed descriptions... it would be great hanging in a cute little bakery or even a little girl's room. 

Cats of the World print by illustrator Gemma Correll available at L'affiche Moderne: linguistically educational and freaking cute. 

I'll probably be asking for the Splendiferous Array of Culinary Tools poster from Pop Chart Lab for my birthday, if I don't get it before then. The simple, midcentury modern feel would look good framed in almost any kitchen. Pop Chart Lab has a ton of awesome posters -- chart is their middle name, after all.

This fun Outlaws of the Wild West print from 1Canoe2 is letterpressed. Yes please.

There are so many vintage charts available on Etsy. I love this 1930s star-mapping one from sandmarg.

Similar to vintage charts, Etsy also offers a ton of creative alphabet posters. I really love this Animal Alphabet poster from Decoylab. It's cute for a nursery but cool enough to last through adolescence. I know I'd hang it in my house. 

Being half Australian, I'm partial to this oh-so-educational Bird Eggs of Australia chart from Cake With Giants. I love the scripty font and soft, speckled colors. And now I know what a Chiming Wedgebill egg looks like.

If you're not feeling overwhelmed and over-educated yet, here are few more chart links for your clicking desires:
   --Pork Meat Market Cuts from YeeHaw
   --Super cute Save the Date Flow Chart
   --Lucile has an entire shop full of cute, illustrated charts!
   --This Kitchen Conversions chart would be handy next to the stove
   --The blue and brown combo of this Mushroom Print is wonderful
   --I love Bold & Noble's "Around Britain" series, especially this leaf print
   --Lovely watercolor Seaweed Botanical print from Studio Tuesday
   --And to finish things up, old school Smokey the Bear nature posters via Unruly Things

Buttercup the Giant Spring Bunny

Although the hubs and I don't plan on having kids anytime soon, I've got babies on the brain. My sister-in-law, Natalie, is about to burst. She's due next week but the doctors are saying she'll most likely have her little baby girl this Thursday (!!!).

I can hardly believe I'll be an aunt in a few days... I'm so excited for all things teeny and pink, as well as adorable toys like this sweet little bunny I spotted at Skeepy King's shop earlier today:

Sooooo cute! It would be perfect for a springtime baby. And now to think of a way I could somehow justify buying Liam the Sleepy Fox for myself.... 

animal head vintage

I love etsy, but honestly, what creative with an internet connection doesn't? Today I found this wonderful vintage clothing shop, Animal Heads Vintage, through a few clicks on Oh Happy Day. The shop owner, Rebecca, runs the store out of her tiny SF apartment, and was recently featured on Martha Stewart Weddings. I can't get over how cute it is!

I'm not sure what I love about her shop more, the clothes or the artistic direction behind the photographs. All of her models wear paper-mache animal masks she bought on her honeymoon in Italy. A few of my favorites...

Clockwise from top left: 1. This 50s Black Party Dress reminds me of my roommate from college 2. Eventhough Spring is three days away, nothing is classier than a Cream Wool Coat   3. The eyelet detail on the 1960s Peach Lace Dress is amazing. So pretty and feminine.

I'm not usually fond of asymmetrical shoulders, but this Strapless Floral Tea Dress is gorgeous. The colors, the silhouette, the pleating. I want it. Too bad it has already been sold.

Of course, these images leave me wanting to draw girls with antlers dressed in pretty frocks. Not exactly original, I know, but I still love the concept. It's so difficult balancing a job, cooking/cleaning, and living with a husband that I haven't really worked on any art projects since being married. Perhaps it's time to change that...