Beauty in Simplicity...

Acorn and Whale - Modern Letterpress

Back to the basics... I'm loving these beautiful, modern letterpress prints from Acorn and Whale. Designed by Lindsay Tingstrom, and printed by hand on an antique press, these are a part of her 'Resolution Series': Be Kind, Do the Work, Keep it Simple, Be Curious, Live Every Day.

Powerful ... The Girl Effect

A really powerful message via The Girl Effect & Care.org.

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Karen Walker ... love ...

One of the wonders from down under... I love everything in her collections. Playful, classic, quirky, colorful, pretty - Karen Walker manages to accomplish these things brilliantly - from the designs, fabrics and construction to the final presentation. ( mwah! ) And can you imagine designing two seasons for each season? The northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere?

all images via: KarenWalker
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Lisa Leonard Designs...

Where to begin? Several months ago, I was introduced to the beautiful pieces created by Lisa Leonard over on a couple of my favorite blogs (Joanna's and Melisa's). Her family crest pieces really had me all aflutter ... although I could seriously take home nearly everything in her online shop. Anywhooo, a few months ago, she purchased an item from my shop. (wow!) Unfortunately, as I was preparing the item for shipment, I noticed a problem with a button - and for the life of me, could not find a replacement for it. I was stumbling all over myself trying to make it right - eventually deciding to issue a full credit -- then mailed her item to her, along with a note explaining my unfortunate oversight. (oy vey!) A few weeks passed when an unexpected little package arrived in my mailbox - showing a return address belonging to Lisa Leonard. Oh my... the box was far too small to contain her item (if she was upset with me and returning it). What could it possible be?



Oh. My. Gosh.

So incredibly lovely! I was completely stunned. Who would have imagined? So completely kind, gracious and generous.... and totally unexpected. The epitome of "paying it forward", in a sense. (And by the way, I get compliments on it every single time I wear it. I love it!)

In addition, one of the things that really drew me to Lisa's work even more, was her blog! It is a visual treat for the eyes and fantastically inspiring on SO many levels. She is one amazing woman - and a wonderful mom.

Top six images via Lisa Leonard Online.

Katharine Hepburn ...

"If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun" ... The gorgeous, enigmatic, Katharine Hepburn.

This estate sale find reminded me of her the minute I started snapping pictures. Exceptional craftsmanship and such a sexy, menswear inspired fit.

Now in the shop.

... by the way, here's to wishing you a very Happy New Year!! :)

Mixing Patterns...

Another goodie from this months Country Living magazine. A peek inside Glenn Holley's Virginia home... loving the mix of patterns and pops of color.

images: via Country Living magazine

A Swedish Christmas ...

From this month's Country Living magazine... inside the home of interior designer Edie van Breems at Christmas time. Gorgeous!!

(And her book with Rhonda Eleish looks positively inspiring ... Swedish Country Interiors.)

images: Country Living magazine

Inspiration ... Ämanda Belle Rogue's Polyvore Sets

After checking Twitter this morning (lame, I know...), I found a new Twitter follower's Polyvore set. Ämanda Belle Rogue is a fashion merchandising student and I'll have you know, I have wasted an incredibly inordinate amount of time perusing her gorgeous collections. Apparently, I still love anything black, and I'm also partial to ruffles, lace, bows, sparkles and shimmer, grays, taupe and muted pastels. Lord, help me.

FYI - All of this loveliness reminds me of Emily ... a brilliant blogger with an insanely well-honed fashion eye (love her [If I Were a Buyer...] posts...) who is also a genius with economics (oy vey!).

President Obama ...

Although widely debated throughout the media ~ I must say that when I heard that President Obama had won the Nobel Peace Prize, my heart just swelled with happiness, inspiration and joy.

Huffington Post's coverage
New York Times coverage

The Promise of New York ... smart ... irreverant ... just how I like 'em

This is a really great, grassroots film... "a film of the people, by the people, for the people". Irreverant. Smart. (doesn't get any better than that, eh?)

If you live near Newburg, New York - there will be a screening of the movie at the Downing Film Center on Oct 5th, with a Q&A session to follow with the film's director, Raul Barcelona.

My multi-talented cousin, Cassie (Cassandra Hohn), produced it. (...on a side note, the girl can sing like nobody's business! Multi-talented, she is!!)

Polyvore ... my first time ever

First Set Ever by goodgrace featuring American Eagle Outfitters

So what do you think? I may be addicted. This Polyvore thing is so easy to do ... and it's so much fun "window shopping".

Wary Meyers love...

I've been enamoured with anything Wary Meyers for quite some time and I was so excited when I saw they (Linda and John) had a blog. Well... now they have a print shop open. I'm trying to decide which prints are my favorites. I love the whimsy of the animals ... Spyglass, Mole Going to Play Tennis, George ... hmm... do you have a favorite?

I'm also looking forward to their book being released in September.

(p.s. Check out the family crests and other illustrations here. sigh...)

Inspiration ... Animal Font

I'm not sure how I'd use these, but I think they are fabulous! (They'd be terrific to use as stencils for unique wall art, applique or kitschy printed tea towels.) And there are even more versions of them when you use the special fonts. The lower case characters are the "baby" version ... adorable! Go check them out here. (I especially love the zebra's.)

(Found via Abbey Goes Design Scouting. Font via Alan Carr at Dafont.com.)

Kindred ... "Wallpapered Together"

Have you heard of this lovely collaboration between Holly of Decor8 and Heather (Ez) of Creature Comforts? They've created Kindred. It's their way of promoting and supporting independent artists ... with free downloadable note cards, postcards and desktop wallpapers. Their most recent update is the "Wallpapered Together" series, "Summertime theme: the five senses", with all of the featured artists using the current Pantone color forecast for Spring 2009. (They also have an archive of the previous season's Wallpapers!)

(image via Kindred)
(found via YellowGoat)

Outcasts United ... A Refugee Team, An American Town

This book looks like a wonderful, inspiring story. I saw the author, Warren St.John, on MSNBC's Morning Joe last week. (According to Mike Barnacle and Joe Scarborough, this needs to be made into a movie!)

From the book's website: Outcasts United is the story of a refugee soccer team, a remarkable woman coach and a small southern town turned upside down by the process of refugee resettlement.

In the 1990s, that town, Clarkston, Georgia, became a resettlement center for refugees and a modern-day Ellis Island for scores of families from war zones in Liberia, Congo, Sudan, Iraq and Afghanistan. The town also became home to Luma Mufleh, an American-educated Jordanian woman who founded a youth soccer team to help keep Clarkston’s boys off the streets.

Theirs is a story about resilience in the face of extraordinary hardship, the power of one person to make a difference and the daunting challenge of creating community in a place where people seem to have so little in common.

Eco Barons ... looks like a good read.

I saw an inteview on Morning Joe with the Eco Baron author, Edward Humes, earlier this week. I'm completely intrigued - not only with the subject matter, but with the beautiful cover image. The mended leaf. So tragic, but inspirational. It's never too late, right? If anyone has read the book, please let me know what you think of it. (Although, I think I'll be hitting the bookstore soon to pick up my own copy.)

By the way, Mr. Humes has received the Pulitzer Prize for his journalism and he's a writer-at-large for Los Angeles magazine. And he does have a blog as well...

Prime Minister Gordon Brown ... Wow!

I'm currently watching MSNBC's coverage of Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown - he is a fantastic speaker. I liked Tony Blair immensely - now it appears I am also a fan of the honorable P.M. Brown. (I'd give you a link to his rousing, inspirational speech, but he's still delivering it...)

Oh happy day...

Happy America!!

Kate Spade and the best email campaigns ever

I don't know about you, but my email inbox is completely out of hand. However, no matter how bad it gets, I will never unsubscribe from the Kate Spade emails. (I actually save them online in a special little "inspiration" folder.) They are absolutely delicious in so many ways. Cheeky, fun, cheerful, nostalgic and glamourous! And if you've never peeked behind the curtain, you really must go take a look. Loads of inspiration, free desktop wallpapers, information on their charity events and projects, NY in Spades shows you around the city, and "the things we love" section has loads of links to other fabulous websites.

Speaking of glamour, as in old-school, I really liked this post.

(photos: via Kate Spade)

White House Black Market & Clothes Off Our Backs Charity Auction

The White House Inaugural Collection ... stunning!! Created by White House Black Market and inspired by soon-to-be First Lady, Michelle Obama. I love the names given to each of the designs: The Jackie, The Eleanor, The Ladybird, The Abigail. Very regal, indeed.

You can bid on them at Clothes Off Our Back Charity Auctions. Auction proceeds benefit Clothes Off Our Back’s charities including Feeding America (formerly named America’s Second Harvest), The Art of Elysium, Hope North and H.E.L.P. Malawi. What a great way to support some really worthy causes ... and in the process, possibly score a gorgeous couture gown ~ including the designer's original sketch!