Mason Bee Houses from WudwerxUSA

A mason bee house is a great tool for pollinating the flowers and vegetables in your summer garden! This type of structure is favored by non-aggressive mason and leafcutter bees and also provides a home for helpful insects over the winter.

This version is handmade by WudwerxUSA. See more of their creations here!

A Round-Up

A round-up of things that have caught my eye this week - I hope you enjoy them as well!:


This "Fortune Favors the Brave" print by Lilco Letterpress on Poppytalk combines a wonderful, inspirational quote with fun and playful design in the form of a banner.




Tinctory creates smocked silk necklaces in beautiful, hand-dyed shades. They remind me of old-fashioned millinery and feathers.




A big thank you to designer Erin Gates of Element Interiors for featuring my "Keep Calm and Rock On" print in the new "Baby Steps" article in Boston Home. It's an honor to be featured!




Ever wondered where the classrooms, halls, and other places seen in Harry Potter are actually filmed? This USA Today article reveals 10 real-life locations. I think the one for Hagrid's Hut surprised me the most. (It's very far away from London...and has quite a dark past!)



The New York Times has compiled a handy travel gift guide - I had no idea there were so many products for every travel need. Of course, if you have a friend who keeps dropping their cellphone or music player in various liquids, then #5 above would be perfect for them as well!

Christina Hendricks - on Etsy!

When I saw this photo on Etsy's front page yesterday, I was amazed by how much the model resembled the lovely Christina Hendricks, who plays Joan Holloway on the popular AMC' series Mad Men. Turns out, it *is* the famously flame-haired actress!



Christina knows the owner of Blackbird Design House, and modeled these handmade Shibori-style scarves for her friend's shop.



She's a lucky shop-owner, isn't she? See more of Blackbird Design House's handmade creations here!

Chicken Coop Fit for a...Chicken

Confession: I really want to raise chickens. I'll admit that I'm a bit intimidated by their sharp little beaks and beady eyes (not to mention their sneeze-inducing feather dust), but the idea of going into the backyard in search of fresh eggs for breakfast and baked goods has completely won me over.

If only my town made it easier to own chickens! The regulations and rules are a bit strict (not within 50 feet of a property line - who has that kind of space in a metropolitan area?), but I'm determined to one day find a place to raise a little flock of my own.

In the meantime, I'll just ooh and ahh over this portable hen house by Chicken Coops on Etsy!

Initials on a Tree

This stump ring from Digby & Iona would be great for either a guy or a girl, don't you think? It's romantic yet still modern and a bit rugged as the heart is on the side instead of the wood ring top.

It would also make a heartfelt and sweet anniversary present, as you can customize the initials to match you and your sweetie's!

See more from Digby & Iona's current collections here.

Lace Jewelry

If you love the look of antique lace, then you will love these handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces from 24Karas!

They're crafted from recycled materials, and you can choose which metal and finish you would like. See more of their lovely jewelry here!

Hope all of you in the States have a wonderful holiday weekend, Happy Memorial Day!

Monday Blues

Lovely items from Etsy in shades of blue to start the week off right! From top to bottom: Sea Spray Fused Glass Studs from Bay Design, Honey Locust Tree photograph from Southwest Flower, and Vintage Aqua Blue Canning Jar from Aimees' Armoire.

Lovely, Frilly Dresses

Sarah Seven makes the most gorgeous dresses! All her creations have beautiful and elegant drapes, gathers, and petals made of chiffon or silk. It's so hard to choose, but my three favorites are her pale blue Tulip dress, her dainty yellow Lemon Drop dress, and her airy silk Raspberry Perfection dress.

Friday Smiles

These adorable little felted birds are cake toppers handmade by Lauren Alane. This pair was a custom order, but she has more lovely little birds on her website.