A Sad Sparrow's Tale

Now that the wedding's over (still can't believe it actually happened - still very surreal!) and I've settled into the new digs, I'll be posting pics of what I've been up to in the meantime.

I found these beautiful speckled eggs when I was moving post-wedding. They sadly will never hatch. Switch over to my Flickr page for the full tale!

Animal Prints by James Brown

These limited-edition animal prints by James Brown are so colorful and charming. I love the bold shades and simple, clean lines. They'd be perfect in a nursery or play room!

Read more about them here.

Orphaned Baby Owls Linford and Christie

These orphaned baby burrowing owls, named Linford and Christie after the former British Olympic athlete, were abandoned by their mother and are now being cared for 24 hours a day. That means they get to come home with their keeper, Jimmy Robinson of the Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire, England. Once the owls are fully-grown, they'll join the "Hunters of the Sky" exhibit at the park.

They love to find tiny spaces to hide in, as it's their natural instinct to do so. I wish I had adorable little owls burrowing in my bookshelves!


They see Jimmy as their mother, and follow him around. Here they are perched on his knees as he reads. I'm a bit jealous. Okay, I'm really jealous.


They also love teacups and sugar bowls, like any good British inhabitant should.

Read more about Linford and Christie in the Daily Mail here!

(All images from the Daily Mail Online.)

Life Magazine's Penguins Around the World

Life Magazine has wonderful slideshows on their website featuring the kinds of photos they're known for - memorable photos that put a smile on your face and become instant favorites.

These are from their "Penguins Around the World" slideshow. It combines modern photos like the last one shown above with vintage snaps like the black and white ones I've selected.

I can't tell which I like the best - I love old photos but the vibrant shades in the color ones shown just jump right out at you. I love the mossy green on the mountainside, and the bright red pop of the penguin's Santa suit. Which do you like the best?

See more of Life Magazine's amazing photos here.

Tees for Tots by Verkligheten

These t-shirts from Karin Soderquist's Verkligheten store on Etsy are so colorful and cute! The zebra, lemur, and magpie illustrations are simple, yet full of personality and playfulness. They make me wish they came in adult sizes, too!

See more of Karin's illustrations - including her adorable unicycling bear ornaments - here.

Book Sculptures by Su Blackwell

These intricate book sculptures by Su Blackwell are like something out of a fairytale! They're made out of old books, carefully cut up and rearranged.

She best describes the themes herself, in her profile on her website:

"For the cut-out illustrations, I tend to lean towards young-girl characters, placing them in haunting, fragile settings, expressing the vulnerability of childhood, while also conveying a sense of childhood anxiety and wonder. There is a quiet melancholy in the work, depicted in the material used, and choice of subtle colour."

See more of her lovely cut-outs here!

Animal Prints by Zara Illustrates

These "Country Badger" and "City Fox" prints by UK-based Zara Illustrates have had me smiling all day! I think they'd work wonderfully with taupes, browns, and tweeds in a living or dining room. They'd add a wonderful touch of humor and lightness, and would be great in combination with pops of blue, orange, or red.

See more of Zara Illustrates' work here!

In Honor of March 1st...

White rabbit, white rabbit, white rabbit! (If you're just as confused as I am about this tradition, see this helpful explanation.)

March certainly came in like a lion today (the sidewalks look like skating rinks), so let's hope it goes out like a lamb and the bulbs begin to bloom again!

(White rabbit photo via here.)

Clever Illustrations by Hisss

Philadelphia-based artist Hisss creates clever, sure to make you smile, play-on-words pieces featuring animals in various poses. From top to bottom, the prints are named "Raccoon Mask", "Cariboo", and "Candy Crane".

See more animal-themed prints here!

Paintings by Becca Stadtlander

Becca Stadtlander is the talented artist behind these whimsical and charming gouache paintings. She uses such great color combinations, and adds unexpected but interesting line details to her pieces.

See more of her work here!

Shots from the National Geographic Photography Contest 2010

I'm always amazed by the submissions to National Geographic's Photography Contest. Sometimes I forget how big the world is, and how beautifully simple-yet-incredible nature can be. It's all about the little moments - moths swirling towards the light, a bear drying off by the river, a child silhouetted during a fishing trip.

The Boston Globe's Big Picture blog posted a selection of the entries so far, and I've posted my favorites above.

See these photos (and many more) at a larger size here!

Arctic Foxes

I've always thought foxes were cute animals, but these white Arctic ones take the cake! The Guardian snapped these photos of the furry creatures. See more pictures here!

Fox-y Friday Finds

"Wild Fox Antiqued Pewter and Silver Necklace" by Make It.

"Nikoart Arctic Fox Pendant" by West Byron.

"Silver Fox Stole Necklace" by Bbel.

"The Victorian Wildlife Alphabet - F is for Fox Necklace" by Adorapop.

Add a little sass and attitude to your outfit with one of these "foxy" finds!

Secrets of the Deep

The ocean's depths have always fascinated me - so many strange creatures and sights under the churning, blue waves.