1.31.2013

Thursday Tunes: Take a Walk

I heard this song the other day, and I thought it would be appropriate to share today since we're going to listen to an economist speak tonight.  Passion Pit's Take a Walk - a song about financial troubles.


1.30.2013

Jolly Rancher Suckers

My friend made some Jolly Rancher suckers for Young Women's after finding them on Pinterest.  What a great idea!


1.29.2013

Natural World Dessert Plates

I've been thinking about china patterns again lately, and I saw these lovely plates at Anthropologie.  The Natural World Dessert Plates include four patterns, but I like the bee the best (of course).



1.28.2013

Van Cleef & Arpels - Alhambra

I can't remember where I saw the ad for it, but I really love the Alhambra line by Van Cleef & Arpels.  A classic symbol of luck is beautiful as a necklace with mother of pearl or as a pair of earrings.



1.25.2013

Friday Featured Etsty Seller: Wandering Fables

While browsing Etsy, I found a fun idea for a wedding gift.  Jessica Turnbow of Wandering Fables makes custom maps to celebrate weddings, commemorate honeymoons, and document births.  So simple and lovely.


1.24.2013

Thursday Text: Auguries of Innocence

As I was preparing my YW lesson for Sunday, I was reminded of the opening stanza of Auguries of Innocence by William Blake.

To see a world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.

1.23.2013

Piave Toothbrush

My husband's been into wooden and natural bristle toothbrushes lately.  For Christmas he found a pretty one like this Italian-made toothbrush by Piave.


1.22.2013

Rimmel Glam Eyes

Here's another fun Union flag sighting: Rimmel Glam Eyes eyeshadow.  Find it at Walgreens.


1.18.2013

Friday Featured Etsy Seller: The Aftercraft

If you're still thinking about making a quilt this year, you can purchase a PDF pattern of a lovely Union flag quilt on Etsy.  Sarah from BC's shop can be found here.


1.17.2013

Thursday Text: Ring Out Wild Bells

I realize that we're more than halfway through January, but I've been thinking about this text: Ring Out Wild Bells from In Memoriam by Alfred Lord Tennyson.

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light;
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more,
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.
Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.
Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out thy mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.
Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.
Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.
Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

1.16.2013

Jewelry Class

School started again this week, and I'm taking the second jewelry class.  Here are a couple of pieces I made in the intro class.  The first is a brooch.  I cut a dogwood shape out of brass and then layered it with white plexiglass.  The silver dots are rivets holding the piece together.  The bottom picture is a silver ring with the Istanbul skyline etched into it.  (The side that's showing depicts Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque.)  I'm excited to learn some new skills this semester!



1.15.2013

Sunbeam Donut Maker

Our dear family friend gave us a donut maker for Christmas.  We tried it out with a cinnamon-sugar mix that she sent.  Delicious!  And so easy...


1.11.2013

Friday Featured Art: Duchess of Cambridge Official Portrait

Have you seen the first official portrait of the Duchess of Cambridge?  What do you think of it (the quality of the piece and the expression)?  The portrait is available as a postcard from the National Portrait Gallery.


1.10.2013

Thursday Text: The Princess Bride

We trying to get our book club started for the year.  The person who is going to host our first meeting in February decided that we should read romantic books.  I'm going to read The Princess Bride.  Has anyone read it?  Send me a review!


1.09.2013

Boden Short Sleeved Tops

Being in Florida made me start thinking about a spring wardrobe.  I love the short sleeved tops in the new Boden catalog.  I don't have anything from Boden, but I can always dream - right?



1.07.2013

Downton Abbey Wedding

Downton Abbey is back!  Did you see the wedding?  I loved Lady Mary's tiara.  (Photo from here.)


1.04.2013

Friday Featured Etsy Seller: AG Ambroult

AG Ambroult is another Etsy shop with lovely metal pieces.  I like this copper ring and feather necklace.  Nice.



1.03.2013

Thursday Tunes: Summer Breeze

So, we were in Miami for New Year's - for the Huskies to play in the Orange Bowl.  It was a very nice trip.  It was especially nice that it was in the upper 70s there while it was in the upper 20s at home!  We had this song on our iPod - Summer Breeze by Trammell Starks (a Weather Channel composer...).  I really like this version.


1.02.2013

The Holiday Coat

I recently watched The Holiday again - it's that time of year.  Each time I watch it, I'm reminded of how much I love the coat the Cameron Diaz wears toward the end.  (I had to grab this photo while I was watching it, so it's a little fuzzy...)