cool weather and cozy plans

so the weather here is gorgeous!

i don't think it could be more perfect..

the air is cool and crisp

some sun some rain

lots of wind

that swirling playful wind

you know that special autumn wind

that smells of change

that picks up leaves and carries them as if celebrating

..so many reds browns and yellows dancing

and singing

it's absolutely perfect scarf weather

sweet woolen hat weather

boots and sweaters

and cozy thoughts of visiting friends at pubs

sharing laughs and a nice dark beer

(or hot chocolate..)

and some cozy wonderful music

weather

i would so love to be at my favorite pub

with favorite friends

seeing these guys playing.

how cozy..

(i think cozy is my favorite word when it gets cold out..)

doesn't that piano sound like rain and leaves falling?

and her hat and dress..

adorable.

and her lovely voice and sensitively thoughtful

and playful words.

perfect.

what are you planning for this gorgeous fall?

xo

*ps. thank you to everyone who participated in my photography giveaway at 'kind over matter' this past week!

the winners have been announced at kom..so congratulations!

oh, and i had such a great (and giddy) time reading through everyone's comments...

the world is filled with so many sweet people!

(((big smile)))

xo

butterflies gathered around..

butterflies gathered around to protect them from the night

when i first saw this painting

i have to admit to you

that it brought tears to my eyes

with it's beauty

and it's hope..

nigel and lily embrace at sunrise

my emotions are often stirred though, with amanda blake's work.

she creates a seemingly endless stream of vignettes and stories

nigel and lily embrace at sunset

often visiting the characters over and again

so over time we get to know them

and wonder about them

caroline carefully arranges everything she holds dear

and love them.

butterflies gathered around to protect them from the night

rich in color and depth

they have the power to simultaneously

make you feel calm and still spark the imagination

lead you into a dream

or take you on a journey for a moment

(a journey that is sometimes surprising but somehow always seems familar..)

this one though...with the angel butterflies..

i just want to climb in to

and stay for a while.

i think we could all use butterflies surrounding us

sometimes.

don't you?

enjoy more of her incredible paintings here, here and here.

happy wednesday.

xo

*ps. tomorrow (thursday) my photo store is being featured on one of my favorite blogs

where they're giving away two of my prints!

more info and a link tomorrow..

i really do

*alyssaduhe

how perfectly sweet is this image?

and how lovely it feels to read (or hear!) this sentiment

a sweet and simple thought..

but with deep and happy effects.

looking at this makes me smile from the inside out.

take a second to stare at it

does it do the same for you?

i hope so

and i hope you have a refreshing weekend

full of even

more smiles too.

xox

see you next week

with sneak peeks of....

owls!

(there's a whole flock of em coming to my shop in early october)

xo

*you can find more fresh playful work from alyssa here and here

coco avant chanel

i love that this week has turned into an accidental tribute to france!

(not a bad way to spend a week, i'd say)

and what a better way to end it

than to talk about something completely and undeniably french..

an upcoming film

that explores the beautifully artistic

and gloriously indomitable spirit

of the quintessential french fashion icon

.coco chanel.

it's release date

is one week from today here in the states

(friday september 25..yes my calender is marked in red!)

the exciting part,

other than it starring the gorgeously easy to watch

audrey tatou

(amelie!)

is that it follows coco's life before she was chanel

before the fame and fortune..

she had such an interesting life.

i never knew she was an orphan, or that she tried to become a singer..

oop. stop me before i reveal too much.

(i'm one of those..i research everything feverishly when i find something i love)

her unique vision and strong spirit are incredibly inspiring

and really,

whether you go in knowing her beautiful story or not,

the movie is going to be one poetic frame after another.

...french countryside, early 1900s, paris,

the clothes, the colors, the sets...

a true feast for the eyes.

so in the meantime,

i hope you have a wonderful weekend

full of inspiration.

we're going to lake ontario...apple picking has begun in ny state!

what are you going to do?

i'd love to hear

xo

*all photos via imdb

postcards from sweden..

*

*

oh the lush greenery..

(so wild and still somehow kept and not messy..a perfect combination)

the quaint houses and lanes..

the bright cheery colors..

*

*

the adorable signs and packaging..

so perfectly and sweetly designed

*

*

oh the utter charm and quaintness

*

*

all brought to us in the form of photo postcards

by the lovely chelsea over at frolic

while she travels through sweden

(..chelsea is also one half of urbanweeds..one of my daily haunts..)

how lucky are we??

*

*

and she's promised a tour through a swedish house..

oooh i'll definitely be there for that one!

won't you join me?

wishing you a happy wednesday!

xo

*all images via frolic

(tack så mycket, chelsea!)

*ps. a big huge blitz of new work is coming to my bead/jewelry shop over the coming weeks..

sneak peeks to follow..

(heheh..i love building anticipation..)

olive juice kids

how adorable are these clothes??

so paris chic..

i can definitely imagine sipping coffee in a cafe

while wearing these

or visiting galleries

and walking down the champs-elysees

boating on the seine

browsing through books at shakespeare & co

or

just pretending i'm in france..

and they're making me really excited about dressing for fall

(it's right around the corner..can you believe it?)

oh if only they came in adult sizes.

(via abby sharp)

happy monday!

xo

down the rabbit hole

**

she looked into her dreams

where her good friends lived and played and decided

the day had come to join them

and so

**

into the sun we ran

letting fears fall away

**

stopping only to see that this place

in all its gorgeousness

with all its newness

**

had really been ours all along.

sketches and notes from an adventurous day

(with many more to come..)

wishing you a happy weekend full of dreams and adventures of your own.

xo

*these photos are a small part of a collaborative series that my bf sam and i are creating

big jumps

a catchy little ditty

for a bit of mid-week inspiration..

i'm going through lots of creative changes right now..

(completely self-inflicted changes)

..pushing myself to explore my photography

in new and exciting ways

(oh so new and exciting to me)

and i find that the words to this song

are really inspiring and just right there

where i am

right now

because to me

truly living a creative life involves

taking chances

going on explorations

(inside and outside ourselves)

and

moving (jumping) beyond that comfortable place

and into the place

that gives you goose bumps

(you know the one..the scary one..where you feel most alive)

hope to see you there.

xo

kind over matter

***

i have a new happy habit

of visiting this website each day

for a dose of inspiration

and a heaping helping of good feelings

***

***

***

***

***

***

***

***

***

miss amanda oaks and miss jenn gibson

have created a beautiful world over at kind over matter

where thoughtful artwork and handmade is celebrated

and a good feeling is always guaranteed.

enjoy your visit(s)

xo

little gatherings

{small stump}

i stumbled upon this sweet blog a few months ago

and haven't been able to get these beautiful little bouquets off my mind

(not that i would want to anyway..)

{small stump}

each sweet collection has an ease and naturalness to it

as if jill has been gathering

little gems from her own garden

{small stump}

i love the casualness of the cans and bottles

she puts them in

{small stump}

{small stump}

and the birch wrapped vases..

{small stump}

and her choice of rich colors and textures..

oh i'm so inspired

and

i hope you are too!

wishing you a gorgeous weekend

full of inspiration

and beautiful things.

xox