Spooning out the Hump Day Honey

There is a chill in the air here and even little pup Olive may need a sweater soon

(yes, I may become one of those sweater dog mommys - but she will be trucking her own little self through the snow believe me)

so time to see what the blogosphere has to offer up in the way of the new, cool and autumn inspired!

Like the amazing Odd Molly tunics that I am totally in love with, the beautiful modern mosaics of Charis Tsevis, the best way to save money now that savings rates have tanked (isn't his cork nose just too cute), Mischer Traxler's limited fungi shelf at the Berlin Design Festival, Robert Stadler's father's grave, the stunning photography of Illinois photographer Vaeda Baty (and she has a locket), Anthro bird button necklace and of course, Martha always has the best pumpkins.












GIVEAWAY Awesome zJayne T-SHIRT BAG 6 PACK! CLOSED

AND THE WINNER IS TAYLOR B. - Check out her blog - Congrats Taylor and a great big thank you to everyone who entered! Chosen by Random.org - True Random Number Generator Min:1 Max: 503 Result: 76

Jane Pierce is my EcoEtsy buddy and the famous t-shirt to bag recycler who's shop is totally filled with the most amazing eco goodies!

Her upcycled items are featured in the premier issue of Green Craft Magazine on the stands now.

Jane also creates the most beautiful and moving assemblage doll jewelry from vintage pieces as well as the most adorable and well-made recycled t-shirt wristlets that you will just love.

I have a bundle of her t-shirt bags and use them everyday for trips to the post office and grocers- they are super roomy and sturdy and totally upcycled and functional. Jane's answer to "Paper or plastic?" is always - NEITHER, and now yours can be, too!


WHAT YOU GET:

One lucky winner will receive zJayne's T-Shirt Bag 6 Pack!



HOW TO WIN:

Visit zJayne's gorgeous shop and leave a comment below letting Jane know about your favorite item or something you would like to see her carry!

For additional entries:

(5) Twitter this post
(5) Blog about this contest; linking to this post
(5) Follow my blog

Let me know if you have done these things so I can give you additional entries. This contest is open to everyone.

DRAWING:

MIDNIGHT on Sunday, October 4th! Good luck! CLOSED

1000 Sales 4 Sherry = R Lucky Day!

My favorite "level headed" Jersey girl, Sherry Truitt

(she makes the seriously stunning level jewelry you've seen on Etsy so many times and the most level headed comments I've ever read in the forums - coincidence? I think not! I've also heard her head may be a wee bit flat- but I don't think she wants me talking about that ...)

has reached 1000 sales and is celebrating this AMAZING milestone with a giveaway you don't want to miss! So hop over to her BLOG and leave a comment to get yourself entered for a gorgeous customized map necklace in your choice of locale!

And put some serious energizer bunny into your hop folks because this contest ends Monday!

Where Have All The Cowboys Gone...

I am starting to think that maybe people and people whose sex starts with M in particular are starting to get a little wimpy on us. I am missing cowboys (maybe) and I'll tell you why.

Today I was standing on the sidewalk getting my mail from my curbside mailbox and a blue Corvette was waiting in a line of cars backed up from my corner.

The driver had the top down, allowing everyone within a four WalMart radius to share in his enjoyment of Van Halen. When he increased the volume even more, I turned around just in time to see him thrust his fist in the air, eyes closed.

Jump!

(fist!)

Might as well jump!

(fist! fist! fist!)

This was sort of like the Tiger Woods fist pump without the Masters win. Not something a cowboy would do I don't think (of course this move would likely cause the cowboy's trusty horse to go galloping off into the woods so maybe this is not a fair comparison), but still ....

Then after dumping my mail all over the back seat of my car

(who's afraid of lost bills and bill collectors- not this cowgirl- that's who)

I head out for some errands and I go to the gym.

(and when I say "go to the gym" I mean walk past the gym's glass doors and windows on my way to Blockbuster)

And in the gym I see 3 separate guys on treadmills and ellipticals with fanny packs.

Now, the last time I went to the gym (and by "to the gym" I mean actually walked through those glass doors and worked up a sweat ... sort of) this equipment didn't actually take you anywhere, so I am not sure why 3 separate men felt they needed to take provisions ... maybe they are the modern man's equivalent of those sexy, soft leather saddlebags, but let's hope this is not some kind of a trend.

And speaking of fanny packs I once was explaining to Noelle of Xenotees about the cash bag I wear on my waist and use at shows and she said "oh, you mean you use a FANNY PACK?!" - which left me scrambling for a new cash bag.

Anyhoo- hubby came home all grumpy and dirty and reeking of testosterone (or maybe just kind of smelling like the pastrami and provolone he had for lunch) and for once I didn't mind.

And come to think of it he has no rhythm (well, his feet have no rhythm- he can actually tap out some mean Rush on the steering wheel, but I've never seen any kind of eyes closed fist pumps from him) and he would not be wearing a fanny pack (I hope) although he is getting older and does spend an awful lot of time in slippers lately ...

I know cowboys are not all they are cracked up to be (maybe) and they do walk kind of funny from all that horseback riding, but for some reason I am just missing them today ... off to get those bills from my back seat before they get lost....

GIVEAWAY - Shauneil AMAZING Dot Rack! CLOSED

AND THE WINNER IS : Jean of 3Squares on Etsy! Check out her amazing metalwork inspired by cooking and her totally gorgeous Moo card holder necklace! Congrats Jean and thanks to everyone who entered!

True Random Number Generator Min:1 Max: 328 Result: 219 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Tobey Meseth has the best rack on Etsy!

Tobey is the amazing artist behind Shauneil (her middle name); the Etsy shop where the most adorable racks are waiting for you! I bought one for myself and one as a gift and they are incredibly well-made, have stunningly beautiful clean, bold lines and are totally unique!


Tobey is (in her own words) a stubborn Taurus (hmmm), a curious watcher (I've told her those binoculars are going to get her into trouble), an excellent listener (yes, she is), an avid reader (we will test her on this), a psuedo vegetarian and a thrift store shopper (ie- she is broke and needs you to buy something from her).

Tobey's creations are also one of the inspirations for my Polarity locket series! If I had never seen her amazing racks I know that first box of little metal 'cups' on my hubby's shop floor would never have found their way into my house and into my studio and into my heart.

We are so lucky to have one of her gorgeous creations for our giveaway this week!

What you get:


One luck winner will receive Shauneil's amazing 3 hanger jewelry display or key rack in turquoise, purple and grey!



HOW TO WIN:

Visit Shauneil's gorgeous shop and leave a comment below letting her know about your favorite item or something you would like to see her carry!

For additional entries:

(5) Twitter this post
(5) Blog about this contest; linking to this post
(5) Follow my blog

Let me know if you have done these things so I can give you additional entries. This contest is open to everyone.

DRAWING:

MIDNIGHT on Sunday, September 27th! Good luck! CLOSED

Another Saturday Night and What I Ain't Got....

Home alone this Saturday night, so a good time to scout around the web and find us some total awesomeness!

Like this gorgeous textured rug by Gan Rugs that will freak out your feet, these amazing wedding portraits by my favorite wedding photojournalist Kella MacPhee of Faye and Mike's Asbury Park wedding last weekend, Lola Falk's gorgeous clutches, Keetra Dixon's beautiful layered wax now showing at I Space in Chicago, love these new cans of tea, how cool is this sliding barn door for your closet - I really, really want to make this

Rachel Demsick of GetReadySetGo's amazing vintage luggage (have bought 2 of these so far) and Rachel has a locket, gotta love this armoire turned into a bird house, SF's parking spaces into parks- how cool is that, round the corner picture frames, the park seat that you do NOT want to collapse on you - ouch! - the happiest pendant lamps I've seen lately!