And Old Fashioned Rope Swings

The Original Tree Swing company is full of old fashioned goodies for kids and adults alike.  I especially love their Original Tree Swing, Original Bench Swing, and of course, the Old Fashioned Slingshot.  I'd take just about anything made by them though.

Oh how I would love to be swinging on one of those swings in a field, while sipping on my morning coffee today!

Riding in the Rain

The other day, Josh and I rented one of our mopeds to a friend for a video shoot.  A pretty cool set prop if you ask me!  Here's the story of an unexpected fun adventure :

I delivered the bike early in the morning for the crew to use and waited for a call later in the day to pick it up.  The end of the day rolled around and still no word.  Their shooting day lasted a bit longer than they expected, but it was no concern for me!  After I was finished working, I rode the second moped up to the set to meet Josh, planning ahead so that the both of us could ride the mopeds home.  By the time we got to their set, the shoot was still not yet wrapped.  Josh and I wasted some time grabbing a drink at a bar near the set - happend upon a trivial night which was a lot of fun - and finally their shoot was complete.

We picked up the rented bike and hopped on our mopeds to head home.  As soon as we got on the road home, it started pouring.  I'm talking buckets of rain, thunder, and lightning!  We had a few miles to ride in the rain before arriving at home - and we got drenched.  It was invigorating!  The rain was pounding against my face, chest, and legs as I rode 25mph through the storm.  Blinking as quick as I could to keep clear vision, I couldn't help but to feel every bump on the road, every drop of rain, every sensation possible throughout the entirety of the ride.

We made it home safe and sound and soaked to the core, but it was one of the best rides on the bikes so far!  It wasn't the easiest ride home, and I wouldn't necessarily ask for it again, but I am happy to have had that experience.

A kick in the senses was very much appreciated!

An Aerium

Oohhh la la!  What a beautiful little treasure.  These aeriums each have their own unique look, so organic and beautiful.  I can't wait for the next time I need to send a gift - you know where I'll be shopping!

Summer Time Lawn Games :: Boccee Ball

I love a fun summer picnic filled with watermelon, Arnold Palmers, and lawn games.  I especially love playing Bocce Ball.

Here's an awesome vintage-inspired set from Restoration Hardware on sale now.  If you need a set yourself, want to give one to me, or have a friend with a summer birthday, keep this set in mind!  It would make a perfect gift!

See Scout Sleep :: Giving Back with Pet Beds

This Louisiana-based company See Scout Sleep is not only making amazing dog beds, but they're also giving back to their community.  This is the best type of company to support - do yourself and them a favor and place an order!

They're made from sustainable, natural hemp fibers that are naturally dyed and are filled with buckwheat hulls and Kapok.  The design patterns on the beds are original artwork designed by and screen-printed by local Louisiana artists using water-based dyes.  Seriously love all of this, don't you?

It's Been a While!

Hi friends.  For those who keep up with my blog (or used to), I apologize for being MIA over the past few months.  Spring busyness hit me hard, and I'm just now feeling like I'm catching my breath.  Over the past several weeks, I've had the pleasure of taking part in the following adventures :

- traveled with my husband to upstate NY, Vermont, Boston as his photo assistant
- traveled to Knoxville, TN to visit my family and sister who is in town from Nicaragua
- bought 2 vintage Mopeds (one gold, one green) and have put a few miles on those babies too
- supplied our wonderful friends Gary and Lisa with their very own special Homebrew for their wedding (check out the photos!!)
- spent the day on Coney Island in celebration of another friend's birthday - the great Lisa Elmaleh
- work, work, worked on our new photo studio TeaCup Studios

That's just the short list that comes to mind at the moment.  There have been many hours of accounting, taxes, producing, editing, business managing, playing, awwwwing at Ella, visiting with friends old and new, and very little relaxing.  I'm catching up on hang time over the next few weeks and plan to pick back up on my blog.

That's my update for now.  Hope you have a good one!

Wine Crate Wall Shelf DIY

Along the same lines of my previously posted Crate Shelf DIY, Apartment Therapy recently posted a DIY article about a wall shelf made from a wine crate.  What a great, simple idea!

Proper BBQ : The Perfect Warm-Weather Gift

If this isn't the most perfect summer kick-off gift around, I don't know what is.  Not only is the packaging design exquisite, but I'm sure the BBQ flavors are just right.

The only problem is that I haven't been able to track down where to buy this fine kit...

Dearest Maura

I've got a lot of friends that feel a whole lot like family to me.  One of them is the oh so lovely Maura Grace.  She's a farmer extraordinaire, a super creative, a nurturing friend, and is always enjoying life.  She keeps a blogroll filled will all kinds of inspiration, too.

Today is her birthday, and I truly wish I could be enjoying a birthday lunch with her right now.  Happy Birthday Maura!

Photo by Josh Goleman.

Animal Archetypes : Space, Animals, and Psychology

I recently came across this illustration series called Archetypes by Attitude Creative.  It was "a personal project reflecting our love of space, animals, and psychology."

These Archetype illustrations are available as iPhone wallpapers, but I've read that eventually they'll be sold as t-shirts and bags!

Sending a Letter in Style

This envelope kit really makes me want to write and send letters!  I love being inspired by great package design and typography.  It just makes sense.  You can buy the envelopes HERE or HERE.

Bringing the Wild Inside : Taxidermy Textiles

To continue with my Creepy Decor theme, The Stuff of Dreams blog by artist Lilli Cowley is really something special.  She's an illustration and print design artist who has incorporated actual taxidermy into her work to create a sculpture of sorts.  I personally like her print and illustrations.

Around the Block with Some Sun on My Shoulder

This weekend's weather was amazing.  Our windows were open, the sun was warming up our apartment, and we even got our bikes out to hit the road and enjoy the wonderful weather.

As I walked to the store yesterday evening to pick up a few goods for dinner, I found myself stopping at every stoop-front taking photos of the freshly-bloomed flowers!  I can't decide if spring is still coming or if it's actually here - but I'm sure happy to see the green buds on the trees and new blooms in the neighborhood.

Toys for All Ages : Balancing Blocks

If there are children in your life - even if they're your friends' kids - go ahead and get these blocks for them! Their organic shape, handmade quality, and topsy-turvy facets will surely entertain any kiddo.  Matter of fact, I'd love a set of blocks in my own home to practice my zen rock balancing with these Balancing Blocks.

Everyday Pillows

Plume Textiles based out of Chicago, IL create some beautiful, organic, hand-drawn textiles.  I especially love their pillows.

Anchor Space : Otis Redding

Currently fermenting in the bottles, our Anchor Space : Otis Redding Red Hop Amber Ale is just about ready to enjoy!  I recently designed these labels for the bottles and bottle caps.  It was a fun personal challenge and I'm very happy with the results!

Home Decor that's a Wee Bit Creepy

I've always been interested in oddities, but my attraction to strange home decor has grown over the last year or two.  I pridefully display a bird spine portion and one of Ella's baby teeth right along with my succulents and house plants.  But, living in NYC has it's limitations when it comes to finding au naturel novelties.

My list of I really wish I could find these nature wonders includes : a bee hive, a few birds nests, shells, starfish, and other ocean wonders, a set or two of antlers, a turtle shell, and a few butterflies.  If you find any of these or anything similar and send them my way - I will be sure to send you a treasure of other sorts.

Since my chances of finding these natural novelties in my neighborhood are very slim, I might need to incorporate decor like these for the time being :

Insect bottles by Laura Zindel.

10 dollar drawing or woodblock drawing by Alicia Lynn Carrier.

Inspiring Artist : Elsa Mora

It's rare that you find an artist who is equally talented in multiple aspects of art.  Elsa Mora is just that - talented.  I'm personally inspired by her mixed media artworks, illustrations, and paper cuts (shown below).  Her website is very much worth browsing through to see the full range of talent this woman exerts.

Spring in the Home

The sun is getting warmer, green buds are beginning to appear, and I'm eager to spend a full day outside in the park.  Spring is coming!  I've begun to explore spring decor for my home.  Incorporating bright, soft colors, plants and flowers, as well as a few spring animal objects really make a big impact.  

I think I might have to purchase a few of these items to really step up the Spring in my home!

Dirt-free wheatgrass by Plantology.

Hummingbird clothespins by Habitat.

Spring tea towels by Claudia Pearson.

Catching Up!

I'm not sure if the excuse of the strange last couple of weeks is enough of an excuse to justify the neglect of blogging I've done lately.  Eek!

Well - the good news is that there is a lot coming up on the horizon.  Inspiration, collaborations, work, and new progress.  I'll be sure to share more soon.

Spring Is A'Coming!

My goodness!  It's amazing what a little fresh spring air and some warm sunshine will do for the soul.  It has certainly helped cure my winter blues!

Hope you had as wonderful of a spring weekend as I did.  Cheers to a great week ahead.

Feeling Great on a Day Like Today!

What a beautiful Saturday in NYC.  The warm sun is out, the streets are a'bustlin', our windows are open, and the record player is on.  I started my morning with a great walk to the Grand Army Farmer's Market where I picked up some local, organic groceries, 2 new succulents, and some gorgeous flowers to brighten the day.

Inspiring Artist : David Nadel

Photographer David Nadel's current series Burn is wo wonderful.  Featured on PDN's Photo of the Day - David's project of photographing the remains of burned down forests in Montana is so elegant, simple, and inspiring!  Shot on 4x5 color film, the images are transformed into patterns that appear to be black and white etchings.

A great description of his project from Sasha Wolf Gallery : "Where a dense, green, classically beautiful forest landscape existed - all that is left, post wildfires, are the stark and devastated monument-like remains."