Warm Weather is Here...

The breeze finally carries more spring warmth than winter chill, the daffodils are blooming, the trees are starting to bud...and all I want to do is go for a swim! Maybe I'm just trying to wash off all the road salt and sand from the record-setting Boston winter we had that I'm sure has seeped into my skin and permeated my bones. I don't remember a winter that felt as long and hopeless as this past one! More than one "Winter is Coming...oh wait, it's here and never going away!" joke was cracked (*in hindsight, not a terribly funny slogan, feel free NOT to laugh...).

Too bad the Atlantic is still far, FAR too frigid for a dip. And the local pool is closed til nearly July. So, I guess I'll just have to stare at this lovely linocut of swimmers diving into and frolicking in a pool of water by Jing Wei on Etsy and count down the days. Or just find a really, really big puddle?

Tea Towel Art by Richard Bawden

Lately, my brain feels like molasses. I love my little guy's coos and crowings, but I love them just a little bit less at 5:00 am. And coffee seems to bother his tummy (I'm still nursing), so I can't gulp down more than one cup a day. My point is that I'm trying to update this blog more often, but it's still quite hard to compose coherent thoughts these days! Thanks for bearing with me.

I did manage to snap a pic of these lovely tea towels I bought on our honeymoon in London the other day. They feature artwork by Richard Bawden, known mostly for his art prints. I couldn't decide between the smiling otter & his newly-caught fish and the pair of owls framed with oak leaves, so I purchased both. Not a bad dilemma to have, right? I can't remember which shop behind the British Museum featured them, but maybe it will come to me one of these days. Or probably not (much more likely). At any rate, they've held up amazingly well through messes and many wash cycles so I'm really pleased with the quality.

You can browse through more of Richard Bawden's wonderful, colorful illustrations here.

Spring Has Sprung...Sort Of...

Well, it's officially spring! The first crocuses blooming last weekend gave hints that it was on its way. I do remain a bit skeptical, however, as we're supposed to get more cold weather and snow this upcoming week. Let's hope that forecast changes stat!

Apologies for my lack of posting, but my little guy is keeping me quite busy...and very sleepy. I haven't been crafting much, but I'll post what I've been up to when I can. I hope you won't mind that it might be "quick and dirty" (ie less-than-stellar phone pics and basic directions) rather than detailed tutorials until my son is sleeping longer stretches at night.

(The above watercolor is from Created by Storm, and is absolutely lovely!)

New Print by Angie Lewin

I've been following Angie Lewin for awhile. I just love the way she combines colors, and captures the essence of flowers and garden scenes so perfectly. As a fellow gardener, I love her newest piece, "Autumn Garden, Norfolk". It depicts a different, rarer side of fall - not the familiar, blazing trees and leaves but the other, humbler plants still living. You see the last of the flowers blooming, like the sunflowers here, and other plants going to seed and becoming bare skeletons. I really love the poppy seed pods in this. They remind me of my grandmother's garden.

See "Autumn Garden, Norfolk" larger here, and more of Angie's prints via St. Jude's Prints here!

Love List

Just thought I'd write about a few of the things I'm loving this fall! Have I mentioned my obsession with plaids yet? I blame my Scottish heritage for me loving every single piece of tartan I see. Oddly enough, I only own a few plaid things - I think I like too many kinds and colors to make up my mind which one to purchase! This shawl is from MadMakCloset on Etsy.

I know it comes from a bag and is extremely fake, but I can eat an entire bag of CrackerJacks on my own. (I'm actually a little ashamed to admit that out loud...) The combination of sweet and salty is just too good, and I love the crunch of popcorn! With this salted caramel corn recipe from Cookies and Cups, I can at least make a less-processed version on my own. We already make our own kettle corn in our popper (I'll have to post that recipe some day), but this kind looks even better!

Isabelle Arsenault's illustrations in "Once Upon a Northern Night" are so magical. They really evoke the quiet stillness and hushed sounds of a wintry, snowy night.

When summer nights fade and there's a chill in the air, I like to bring back Sunday afternoon tea time with the husband. We curl up with something sweet and steaming mugs of tea, coffee, or hot cocoa and just enjoy each other's company. It's one of my favorite traditions! I'm thinking of making this Earl Grey Tea Loaf from Vanillyn next weekend. I'm not really a  fan of white chocolate, so I think I'd switch the icing to a lemon or orange glaze instead.

Another one of my obsessions, other than plaids? Foxes. I don't know why, I'm just fascinated by them. This gold and black fox screen print from WetPaint is fancy enough to not look out of place in a sleek, modern dining room or living room but is playful enough for a kid's or baby's room as well.

What are YOU loving this fall? Share your finds in the comments please!

Illustrations by Lucy Eldridge

I stumbled across these Lucy Eldridge illustrations this weekend, and immediately loved her use of watercolors and fun themes. This "Biscuit Chart" reminds me of my year in London. If only you could easily get custard creams and malted milk cookies in the U.S.!

This one is called "Mythical Creatures". I think that's a Hippogriff from Harry Potter in the top left, followed by a flying horse and a minotaur. You obviously have to end such a list with a zebra that drinks milkshakes!

See more of Lucy Eldridge's whimsical illustrations here.

British Beef Print by Paul Bommer

I'm currently captivated by this "British Beef...For Strength" print by  Paul Bommer. It's a little Guinness advertisement-y and a lot vintage-y with John Bull standing in front of his prize steer, yet also totally modern. I can hear strains of "in England's green and pleasant land" in my head as I look at the lovely little details in the background of a cozy country church, a little cottage, and haystacks in a field. This would be a great accent for a kitchen or breakfast nook, don't you think?

Hug Each Other Prints by Henry James Paper Goods

How wonderful are these "Hug Each Other" prints by Henry James Paper Goods on Etsy? I love the sweet sentiments and bright colors, and they would fit perfectly in either a boy's or girl's room.

The only problem is that I can't decide whether I like the bears or the koalas best!

See more from Henry James Paper Goods 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.

Herb and Vegetable Prints by Claudia G. Pearson

It's still harvest time, and these colorful, garden-themed prints by Claudia G. Pearson definitely do justice to the abundance of autumn herbs and vegetables. See more of her lovely prints here!

I can't wait to roast winter squashes like the ones above, and turn them into ginger-scented tea breads and savory soups. What are you looking forward to this fall?

Summer and Winter Fruit Prints

These summer and winter fruit prints from Claire Nereim will cheer up any room with their bright color schemes and teach you what types of juicy produce are available during each season!

See more from her Etsy shop here.

Pop Chart Lab Prints

Pop Chart Lab out of Brooklyn, NY is known for their playful, pop culture, chart-based pieces. They catalog and organize whatever catches their fancy, from haircuts to varieties of beer to culinary tools (and many more - including rap names!).

Check out more of their whimsical prints and tees here!

City-Themed Posters by Anderson Design Group

These city-themed posters by Anderson Design Group are so iconic and fun! They do a wonderful job of depicting the memorable characteristics of each metropolis, and the clean shapes and style remind me of WPA and vintage posters.

The silhouette of the couple in the boat in the last print is one of those genius details that makes you wish you'd thought of it yourself. The girl leaning back while the guy steers is right out of "The Notebook", don't you think?

See more posters from Anderson Design Group here!

Herb Chart by Amy Borrell

I came across this colorful, charming print by Amy Borrell today and it seemed perfect for this time of year! As the garden is full of ready-to-be-picked produce, the kitchen is currently strewn with bundles and bundles of herbs from the back garden hanging up to dry.

See more her smile-inducing illustrations here!

The Highwayman Annual by Jacob Stead

Jacob Stead created this whimsical book about highwayman, Elizabethan England's famous fearless thieves who roamed the roads and set upon coaches and travelers.

The limited edition book is filled with his witty, colorful illustrations as well as masks and paper dolls that you can cut out and play with.

Though this annual would make a great gift for an imaginative young boy, I plan on getting one to use as an out-of-the-ordinary and unpretentious coffee table book.

Read more details about Jacob's book here!

Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows II

In honor of the last Harry Potter movie coming out on Friday here in the US, I thought I'd share these great posters from Caroline Hadilaksono with you!

From top to bottom, she's colorfully and whimsically illustrated scenes from the Hogwarts Express, the Quidditch World Cup, and Hogwarts Castle as night.

Are you going to see Deathly Hallows II this weekend, or do you wait until the crowds calm down and go another day instead? (I tend to do the latter...)

London Neighborhood Prints by Little Gonzales

These London neighborhood prints by Little Gonzales, featuring the sights of the city's various areas, are so wonderful! He mixes witty phrases with classic British icons, all in bright colors.

I think the little bird above "Hampstead Heath" is my favorite detail. So clever and whimsical! See more of Little Gonzales' work here.

Farmers' Markets Time!

With summer just around the corner, it's almost time for the local Farmers' Markets to reopen.

I can't wait to stroll from booth to booth again, admiring the high piles of deep purple eggplants, bright red tomatoes, and green-veined lettuces. I guess these posters from YeeHaw, Starshaped Press, and Quail Lane Press will have to tide me over until they've opened again!

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!

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!