Argyle Whale

Argyle Whale, the name of Elise Towle Snow's artistic venture, is a great little shop with so many adorable prints, that it was really hard for my to pick just four to feature in this post. The general theme, as you can probably tell, is adorable animals, sometimes saying adorable things, and sometimes just plain hilarious illustrations and phrases. Click here to check out her blog for more on all her adorable drawings.

[1) Swansicles Gocco Print, 2) Dripping with Jewels Gocco print,

3) Kraken Down On Piracy Gocco Print, 4) Bunnies Adrift Gocco Print]

It's Friday

And I couldn't be happier for the weekend to get going. Since I'm in a good mood, I thought I'd share a great music video, Bishop Allen's video for "Click, Click, Click" off of "Bishop Allen & the Broken String" It's from a few years back, but I've been listening to their newest album "Grrr" on repeat this week at work, and I think that these up-beat tunes have been helping my good mood grow. I'm thinking about making music videos a regular thing on Fridays. Thoughts?

Jonathan Adler S&P Shakers

I am a big fan of adorable salt and pepper shakers and these new ones by Jonathan Adler are so cute. Whales are just so great.

[Whale S&P shakers by Jonathan Adler, found via Lovely Package]

Jonathan Adler has a lot of other cute whale items, such as his amazing Whale pitcher, which you can see here.

Welcome to the world little Ethan!

We've got a new kid in the family! Last night my newest little nephew was born! His name is Ethan and he is just adorable. In this photo he is only hours old, cute lil guy. [These were taken with a camera phone so don't mind the fuzziness. To be sure it doesn't detract from the cuteness!]

Here he is hanging out with his big sis.

Pinkerton Totes

Pinkerton Design has a ton of great cards, but I really love their tote bags. My favorite thing about these recycled cotton totes, other than their lovely graphic designs, is their size. Perfect for lugging around everything you could need and then some.

[Birdcages Recycled Cotton Tote Bag]

[Twigs Recycled Cotton Tote]

Roost

Roost is a great company with a ton of beautiful furniture and housewares, ranging in everything from wooden pushpins (which I own and love) to lamps of porcelain cast in the shape of an owl. We have so many Roost items in O'Suz and I really wish I could take some home with me.

[Barn Owl Lamp]

[Terra Stool]

[Carved Wood Bottle Opener (how cute is that Elephant!?)]

Constant Temptation

A new Urban Outfitters opened yesterday on the first floor of my office building. The following are just a few of the reasons that I am going to be constantly tempted to spend money. So much for saving money to move into a new apartment.

[BDG Plaid Buttonfront Boyfriend Shirt]

[Kimchi Blue 3/4 Sleeve Pintuck Tieback Tunic]

[BDG Pleated Frock]

[Kimchi Blue Strappy Sundress]

Holme.

I am totally hooked on Holme. I love vintage clothing, and the items they have selected for their shop are a perfect mix of nostalgia and simplicity. I really want that Batman Sweater.

[Gian Veranco White Linen Flight Jacket]

[Pier Wall Poster]

[Slim-cut Checkered Blazer]

[1960s Batman Sweater]

we <3 it

I just joined we heart it. I can tell this is going to be one of those things I become addicted to.

[found on we heart it]

I'm back + Tom Dixon

So I have had a little bit of a crazy week. Lots of different things going on as I am about to settle into Charlottesville for another year. I think I'm about done with apartment hunting, and glad that I got it started much earlier this time around.

In other news, earlier today Kezia tipped me off to the Tom Dixon catalog full of amazing furniture and lighting products. Here are a few of my faves:

[Felt lamp shade (I love felt! especially gray felt!)]

[Beat Lights]

Hello summer

I think it's time for me to dig out my bicycle and go for a bike ride around town. After today most of the students will clear out, and this town will be slow and perfect for leisurely afternoon bike rides.

[Bicycle prints by Hillarie Tasche]

Sukie Alphabet print

I was quite pleased to pick up this Sukie pencil case yesterday at O'Suz.

And overall I simply love the Sukie Alphabet print and all the places it appears.

[Sukie Alphabet Cushion]

[Sukie Alphabet Sketchbook Bag]

Art Garage Sale Giveaway at Scoutie Girl

Scoutie Girl has a great giveaway going until Saturday night, and some of the artists whose work is included are really great. I love the style of Jessica Gonacha. Her style is something I'm really drawn to. You all should definitely go enter to win some amazing artwork!

[Turquoise Rain coasters (included in the giveaway) by Jessica Gonacha]

["I've Never Met You" Zine by Jessica Gonacha]

Stewart + Brown

I recently acquired a tote by Stewart + Brown that I absolutely love. It's from a number of years back, but I've been looking at their clothing line and I adore some of the pieces. It's hard to say no to these "Organic Pioneers."

[Early Spring 09 Collection, picnic blouse and lakeside pant]

[Late Spring 09 Collection, drape tee and hemp jersey cinch skirt]

[Summer 2009 Collection, kimono wrap dress]

Daily Routine

I am definitely a creature of habit, and while I wish I was someone who could "mix it up" a little more, I really do find comfort in doing the same things day after day. I especially have a habit of carrying the same bag everyday filled with exactly the same stuff. Some people have different totes for different moods, but I usually wear things for a long long time, then get a new one. What do you all carry around everyday? What are your "essentials"?

Here are my "essential" daily items:

[20 oz. peacock water bottle by Earthlust]

[Lauren Wallet by Hobo International]

[Ecote Leather Woven Skimmer from Urban Outfitters]

Domestic Construction

My friend Joe tipped me off to the ladies of Domestic Construction a little while ago (one of them is his sister's roommate!) and I have been thrilled to see them featured all over the place. ReadyMade had a feature on them a few months back, as well as etsy, and paper n stitch just posted about them a few days ago, so I thought I'd keep up the trend. I would love to have their awesome wall coverings and their fabulous teacup lights.

[Max surface]

[Tea Lights]

Caryn Drexl

I really love the photography of Caryn Drexl, and have been meaning to post about her for some time. Some of her shots are both lovely and terrifying. It's really magnificent.

["Gush"]

["A Life Entwined"]

["Soaked Clear Through"]

Digging deep

I love finding out things about my family that I never knew. For the last few years I've been trying to collect some information on my great grandpa, a civil engineer who led a lot of cave excavations right outside of Pittsburgh in the 1950s and 60s. I never knew him, but finding him mentioned in books and his photo on the internet from time to time makes me pretty happy.

[Ralph "Buzz" Bossart (far left) and the Laurel Caverns Crew, around 1961]

Little Wings aka Kyle Field

I love listening to Little Wings, the musical act of artist Kyle Field. Go give him a listen and check out his art.

["Blue Threw" found at Cinders]

["The Whole Famn Damily" found at Cinders]

I wrote a hit play and directed it, so I'm not sweating it either

The last few days have been pretty unproductive, but I have had good friends in town visiting and we all spent so much time together that it makes me sad they've gone. Sometimes I really miss all of my architecture school friends and that crazy bond that is formed by staying up for 3 days straight watching ridiculous movies on a projector in a classroom somewhere while building tedious models out of piano wire and acrylic.

So, since we all now have more time to actually watch movies, a few of us sat down and once again watched both Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums over the course of two days. It made me sort of wish I hadn't recently thrown out that striped polo dress I made to dress up as Margot Tenenbaum for an architecture school costume ball five years ago.

[found on film_stills]

[found on film_stills]

Road Trip

I'm headed out of Charlottesville for the weekend, and away from the internet. I'm going to Richmond tonight to see the lovely Carly Romeo, then heading south to North Carolina to see my momma for momma's day. I will have a few friends in tow and I'm looking forward to some good road time with them. Have a great weekend all.

Julianna Bright

I recently found Julianna Bright on etsy and i love her illustrations. They are so fanciful and intriguing

[Walking with Masks]

Things I love

Esther over at of esther lee tagged me to come up with a list of 6 things that make me really really happy. (thanks, esther!) hmmmm, let's see...

[1] 1960s French films - I would say that over half of my favorite films fit into this category, and I could certainly watch these over and over again.

["Breathless," found at Criterion Collection]

[2] Brunch - This is my favorite time of the week, sitting down on a Saturday morning with good friends, good food, and a bottomless cup of coffee

[photo by Bonnie Bon Bon via flickr]

[3] Traveling to cities and getting to be an observer of other people, places, and things - I really loved getting to travel through Scandinavia a few years back and getting to see how similar and different we all are. Lately, I love traveling here in the U.S. and I'm realizing how little I know about my own country.

[Copenhagen, photo by me]

[4] Photographs of my family - This is my favorite photo of my mother as a teenager (standing second from the left), just one of the many photos of my family that I adore and hope to always have around my home.


[5] Scottish bands - I am a B&S bookworm for life.

[found at last.fm]

[6] Good Books - I am a book collector and my book shelf is overflowing. I am constantly having to force myself to stop adding to my collection, at least until I finish reading all the ones I have.

[Strand, nyc, found via usatoday.com]