the haystack needle

skt ceramics

While it was a sweltering hot Saturday shopping Renegade (and I forgot to put SPF on the back of my neck), I had a great time walking the show and walked away with a loot that I'm so excited about (including a cross pillow by Enhabiten, citronella fir soap that smells awesome, and a Forestbound bag — woohoo!). I also couldn't resist scooping up this ceramic cup by new-to-me SKT Ceramics. Susannah hand paints these amazing porcelain pieces, with animal motifs that are so sweet. My little blue cow cup is right now on my desk containing a bunch of business cards from the Stationery Show that haven't made it into the rolodex yet. This will also be my go-to serving bowl for fresh whipped cream at the next party, and I'm sure it will be the best tea cup come fall. Other successful to-dos checked off this weekend: turned two so-so jeans into stellar jeans shorts and scored an antique settee on eBay for a great price! 

renegade brooklyn

I'm woefully behind on my to-do list, but I did want to share a peek at Renegade Brooklyn, otherwise known as the amazing craft fair happening a few hops away from my apartment this weekend! I can't wait! Chris and I are going to be hitting up all the booths tomorrow. I did a quick browse through the list of artists. I'm feeling a little guilty that Dan has to take a big work test tomorrow while my big test will be how not to spend all my money at Renegade. I'm the one in danger of failing!

Gold Teeth (above) — this Brooklyn-based company knocked my socks off at the Stationery Show with their silkscreened prints.

 

The hippie in me really wants to scoop up a handmade dreamcatcher by Land-Rich.  

Meow Meow Tweet carries organic soaps with cool combinations (like fennel, oranges and oats) — such fantastic packaging, too. 

 

Loving these map boxes for little trinkets by Paper Pastries.  

 

Curious to see what Clay Wood & Cotton will be selling — their online shop is full of cool finds, like these Hot & Saucy bowls. 

I'm also hoping to walk home with a cross pillow by Enhabiten and I've had my heart set on a Forestbound bag for more than a year. Will one be mine?

 

Have a fantastic weekend! xo Jen
 

rikshaw design in my size

Last week, I went to a press preview for Ruby Press, which is always a fun time catching up with Melissa and Angela. I'm excited that one of their clients, Rikshaw Design, is coming out with cotton tunic tops in their boho prints for us grownups. Rikshaw's patterned baby bloomers and clothes for the kiddos are so adorable, so I'm happy they heard our call to design something for the ladies. I'm going to treat myself to one of their block-printed tops when they come out in May, and I can guarantee it will be a summer staple for me.

(photograph by me)

jill bliss iphone case

I'm still in love with the special felt pouch I picked out for my iPhone from this fantastic Etsy shop. But that didn't stop me from spending almost an hour playing around with the Jill Bliss patterns available to design your own shell for your iPhone, iPad, or blackberry on Uncommon. You can play around with scale and positioning of each pattern — so it's truly customizable. Jill Bliss is one of my favorite artists, and I can't think of a better way to personalize (and protect) your phone than one of these whimsical illustrations. Which would you choose? I think I would go with one of the house illustrations.

coffee stencils

I've noticed that many things in my life I tend to use or obsess over love in spurts. This goes for clothes (where I'm currently on a tie-dye kick) to food (just made an almond butter banana shake) to kitchen appliances. We were off our espresso maker (call it laziness) and now we're back on home-brewed coffee. And I'm quite happy for this rekindled connection to continue through the rest of winter. I'd love one of these coffee stencils to perk up our homemade lattes — a text message via cinnamon.

{discovered via the storque}

vintage labor pins

Yesterday, Dan was a sweetheart (and trooper) and braved the crowds to walk the Brooklyn Flea with me. I got stuck gazing at vintage labor pins that I spotted at one booth. Aren't these pins so cool? I just found this bunch on Etsy. I'm off to enjoy President's Day with Dan (and learn how to upload photos from my new camera.) Enjoy the day!

friday fix

Thanks for all your kind words on the one year anniversary! I thought I'd leave you this week with a list of finds that I keep looking back on. Have a lovely weekend!

+ I want to swoop in and adopt every eco embroidered pillow from Enhabiten, which are filled with lavender and buckwheat hulls. They're simply gorgeous, it'd be hard to pick just one.  

+ Did you hear that Molly is doing a weekly food podcast? Spilled Milk is a mix of zest, wit and (of course) good food. I can't wait to try out kimchi fried rice. 

+ I can't believe I missed this before. You know the books, Recycled Home and Simple Home (by Mark and Sally Bailey, that I've been obsessing over? The inspiration for my treasured shoe trolley? The Baileys have an online shop — you can buy trolleys from them, along with so many of the cool reclaimed finds featured in the books! Too bad they're based in the UK and everything, including the trolleys, is priced like an antique shop — not a flea market. But at least I know where to go when I win the lottery. On a side note, it's called Baileys by Mail, which reminds me of an old favorite, Martha by Mail.

+ I'm stuck on this perpetual wood block calendar. And I suppose it's the last week to settle on a 2010 calendar: check out this gorgeous letterpress calendar by Sesame Letterpress.

 

+ I love how this sweet ceramic bowl has kiss translated in Spanish and French — so many finds from Palomas Nest would make a perfect Valentine's gift.

besos, Jen