Inspiration: Mahogany Tones

via Pinterest

Etsy shop: Plait and Marrow

Etsy shop: Emmalynne

Treasury: Red and White

Came across the above Treasury this week, and thought it was so unique and timely--and not to mention, filled with such glorious vintage and vintage-inspired designs.  

Indoor Decor: Memories

Left to right:
Creamer with spout: stayarthomemom
Organic white bud vase: honeyandheat
Tall brown vase: StoneworksPottery

(In the white bud vase is a portion of the dried thyme bouquet from our yard, which I blogged about here.  The doily is from a local brick-and-mortar teashop/antiques shop.)

I've never been much of an interior decorator in any sense of the word, so when I saw that these pottery pieces fit well together--in an eclectic sort of way, it genuinely made my day.  It's kind of like life in that respect...a mish-mash of occurrences and daily routines that are not outwardly connected in any meaningful or tangible way.  That is, until something interesting happens, and you see that each step taken has gradually lead you to your current situation, your current frame of reference.

I realize that it's probably not a good idea to compare life to the accumulation of things, since life is immeasurable and priceless, and commodities, well, always have a price on their heads.  However, in this life, we accumulate things that we place value on, whether it be intrinsic or overt, so commodities are, in a way, a somewhat accurate measurement of our lives, revealing what we hold dear.  In an instant here; in an instant gone--but always an insight into the lives left behind.

Odelae: The Woven One

Remember the piece from the handstitched journal shop Odelae that I adoringly blogged about in January?  Well, I now own the large version of it!  My previous journal went ka-put last month--the cover separated from the pages, the binding came undone, and the pages were entirely filled up--so I was well due for a new one.

I wanted my new journal to hold up to weekly use, its pages and outer covering to aesthetically reflect its usage as a word-heavy, artistic open canvas.  One with a nostalgic, handmade feel would be perfect.  So I decided to ask the kind Erica (the lady behind Odelae) if she would custom design a large The Woven One journal--and lucky me, she happily obliged.  Now, the large version has its own listing, as seen in the above photo.

A little about the new journal / my review: 
Recycled paper is used for the pages, and handmade paper for the signatures.
Leather is soft and flexible, yet strong and sturdy as the outer covering.
Journal's spine design and pages are hand-stitched with "hand tools: awl, needle & thread, ruler, bone folders, manual hole punch & a steel blade" (quote taken from listing).
A leather cord gently fastens around the center of the journal, allowing for easy, closed book transportation.
Journal fits snugly in hand, and can easily be stowed away in a large handbag or travel bag.
Paper signatures are hand sewn and securely held in place.
Pages are easily turned--they even stay relatively flat--and are of a substantial weight.
The leather is easily scuffed, which adds to the rustic cabin feel of the piece.
Layout/design accommodates those who are left-handed!
Journals are customizable: see the various spine designs, paper color choices, and dyed leather covers.
An extra large-sized journal would be a nice addition to the shop.

Promotes handmade, hand-stitched book arts and bookbinding techniques, literacy, and the satisfying, self-reflective act of journal writing.

* * *

In Erica's work, each stitch has a structural and/or visual purpose--it is a continual joy to trace their woven beginnings and ends during periodic writing breaks.  Thanks for such a beautiful, solidly constructed journal!

Inspiration in Ruins

breathe in upon her

Brooke Schmidt's word poems are astoundingly astute both in terms of their proclivity towards raw emotion and their meaningful brevity.  Created from cut-out book words, these works are fine examples of what artistic and intellectual endeavors can be duly accomplished with the physical remnants--the leftovers, one may say--of musty old books perhaps deemed unfit for collection.  I can only imagine, with a giddy nostalgia, what stories each word has helped to tell in their prior book-bound lives... 

Native Son

I am really enjoying NOISETRADE--first Rachael Yamagata's acoustic mix tape (a precursor to her new EP, "Heavyweight," both of which I blogged about here) and now Kate Earl's musical sampler from her upcoming album, "Stronger."  How lucky can a girl be?  Below is by far my favorite song, "Native Son," from Kate Earl's new NOISETRADE sampler, which nostalgically reminds me of the sound of her first album, "Fate is the Hunter": folksy, quietly lyrical, and wildly, magically, influenced by her Alaskan upbringing.  It's been nearly a decade since "Fate," and Kate's voice has developed a soothing, melancholy depth; a haunting revelation of the soul, indeed.

Please bear with the video's simplicity--I think it adds to the mood of the song.  I created the video myself from the MP3 of "Native Son" and the album cover (I believe) of the soon-to-be-released "Stronger."  The song title was added onto the image by me.

  

Did I mention that NOISETRADE sessions are free downloads? 

Happy Friday!

Bibliophile

Some of my favorite bookish Pinterest finds:

 

Source: tatteredcover.tumblr.com via EmeraldCut on Pinterest

Source: crushculdesac.tumblr.com via EmeraldCut on Pinterest

Source: casualelegance.tumblr.com via EmeraldCut on Pinterest

Source: images.search.conduit.com via EmeraldCut on Pinterest

Source: 28.media.tumblr.com via EmeraldCut on Pinterest

Cozy Treasuries

Nature in Silver and Gold

Curated by GreenLeavesBindery

Weekend at the Cabin

Curated by aromacandles

Rustic softness, texture, and inspiring nostalgia--so glad I took the time to learn how to enlarge the web browser page in order to take these photos.  On a Mac: Command()-shift-F.   

* * *

To greater heights, we must soar, gently peeking over the shoulders of giants...

Peridot

Peridot is my favorite stone, so to be included in this peridot-themed Treasury was a lovely surprise, indeed.  There's just something about peridot that catches my eye.  Perhaps, it's the brightest color--green, that is--in my rusty color palette, excluding the creams and the neutrals.  Or maybe it's that the stone itself holds a dear, personal significance for me.  Nostalgia, right?  Enjoy.

'Peridot Jewels' by minnette

Set of Vintage Steampun... StJoshua $75.00	MADE TO ORDER Window to... EmeraldCut $10.00	Oxidized Silver and Raw... fugudesigns $45.00	Green Autumn Earrings S... DaintyChain $24.00
Textures silver stackin... MaryAnneKarren $58.00	Sale: Small Twig Circle... shirleegrund $62.00	hammered sterling silve... micahjonesstud... $65.00	Shadow box post earring... allisonkallawa... $124.00
Peridot Black Silver Go... NangijalaJewel... $135.00	Tiny Sterling Silver Fl... thalassajewelr... $34.00	Modern Silver Seed Pod ... NangijalaJewel... $95.00	Rough Peridot Vial Neck... DDsDiamonds $35.00
Sterling Silver Brooch ... Decadence2Jewe... $72.00	RSVD Vintage Etched Ste... FlossysTreasur... $59.99	Earrings Oxidized Sterl... BarcelonaJewel... $120.00	Springtime - Sterling S... mgypsy $150.00

Inspiration: April Flowers

I couldn't not post these photos: the lighting was just perfect, and the lilac hues, gloriously aglow.  All that is missing in this indoor landscape is the great outdoors.  Now, only if I knew what type of flower these were, my day would be made complete.  Welcome, spring.

A random thought:
I didn't like ("like" is an understatement) The Beatles when I was a child.  However, as an adult, their music makes me feel happy as a clam.  It's funny how musical tastes can change over time--or better yet, become more varied and arguably "old" with age.  As in like a good wine. 

Word-Inspired Treasury

'the muse returns....' by peifferStudios

Thanks for the title couragemylove!

When Roses Die - pale, ... firstlightphot... $35.00	the muse returns couragemylove $85.00	Vintage open back black... aiseirigh $90.00	Vintage Octagon Eyeglas... corrnucopia $30.00
Feather No. 4 - reprodu... reneeanne $12.00	Deluxe Mini Perfume sam... ForStrangeWome... $30.00	Lingerie Ring 004 - Ste... gemagenta $58.00	hello card - original s... erindollar $3.00
Black and white paper b... BarkingBirds $3.00	Dark Desires Vintage B... ThatOldBlueHou... $28.00	Lord of the Rings &quot... BookishCharm $14.50	Vintage Mark Twain Book... ArtsyUpcycle $50.00
Bookmobile-Poetry theshophouse $72.00	Oscar Wilde print StandardDesign... $12.50

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.