Bell'occhio

I was on Martha's web site the other day, and found a place that talked about her sources. Maybe you've already heard of Bell'occhio, but this little shop is new to me. It's a specialty shop in San Francisco that also has an online store. Everything is so fascinating and beautiful. I really like the boxwood garland and the cards and tags and twine and earrings... Go see for yourself!

America's Song

I didn't post yesterday because I actually had a day off! It was like a little miracle. I spent the day archiving photos and making jewelry and had lunch with Tony and walked over to the neighborhood pop machine. And I watched Oprah, which I never get to do. She had some awesome people on to sing a new song called "America's Song" as part of her inauguration extravaganza. Check it out. It was pretty inspirational, and it seems like today will be, too!

Friday Featured Etsy Seller: Marie Fly Fly

I really try to feature Etsy sellers with goods other than jewelry, but I just can't help myself this time. Marie Fly Fly is a beautiful shop run by Marie from Norway. I love the simplicity. And I don't know if she does it on purpose, but I like how the photos on each page are somewhat grouped by color. It's all very pleasing to the eye.

Thursday Text: The Cross of Snow

In an effort to include more poems, quotes, stories, etc., as sources of inspiration, I have decided to shuffle Thursday Tunes with Thursday Text. Today's text is a poem by Longfellow called The Cross of Snow. I first read it in a poetry class not long after I was widowed, so it really stayed with me. I later found out that Longfellow wrote it after seeing a photograph of the Mountain of the Holy Cross in Colorado. Here's the photograph, and below is the poem.


In the long, sleepless watches of the night,
A gentle face--the face of one long dead--
Looks at me from the wall, where round its head
The night-lamp casts a halo of pale light.
Here in this room she died; and soul more white
Never through martyrdom of fire was led
To its repose; nor can in books be read
The legend of a life more benedight.
There is a mountain in the distant West
That, sun-defying, in its deep ravines
Displays a cross of snow upon its side.
Such is the cross I wear upon my breast
These eighteen years, through all the changing scenes
And seasons, changeless since the day she died.

Roger and Gallet

We discovered Roger and Gallet when we stayed at the Chicago Sofitel near O'Hare on our honeymoon. They are the French creators of fabulous fragrances and soaps, most notably the Jean Marie Farina line, which is rumored to have been a favorite scent of Napoleon. Recently when we were in Philadelphia we stayed at the Sofitel there, and they provided toiletries from the Roger and Gallet Oat Milk line. I've got to find out where to order a large bottle of the lotion - it is so luxurious.

IKEA

Of course everyone loves IKEA. It is so much easier to love now that they have a location about a mile from Tony's family's home. I was somewhat limited in what I could bring back with me, but I got this table runner. You have to see it in person - it is very vibrant and pretty in a Scandinavian sort of way. We also ate lunch there, and, after being ill for about 5 days, the meatballs were delicious! What could be better than a tasty meal for $5 and some great shopping?

Martha's Craft Room

My sister is building a new house that has a wonderful attic room. It made me think of the pictures of Martha Stewart's craft room that I found sometime last year. Isn't it fantastic? I would love to have such a simple, appealing, functional space. Read the article here.

Friday Featured Etsy Seller: Danielle Leatham

For Christmas, my sister Sara gave me a snowflake tea towel made by her friend, Dani. It is so perfect for my kitchen, and I love the design. Danielle Leatham makes and sells some really great tea towels in her Etsy shop, often with seasonal graphics. She's closed for the holidays but I'm sure will be back with new stuff soon!

Thursday Tunes: Viva La Vida

When we returned from our big trip, there was a package on the porch from Amazon. One of the items was the Peter Cetera DVD from the night we got engaged. The other was Coldplay's Viva La Vida - finally. I know we're a little behind the times out here in Missouri. It's helping me to get back into the swing of things today, and I'm really liking it. (And I thought it was really interesting that they chose Delacroix for the cover art.)

Dream Garden

I'm back! I really had good intentions about posting while we were gone, but Tony and I had too much fun in Philly, and then I was ill pretty much the whole time we were in Utah visiting our families. (I ate some really bad English chips and when my stomach finally felt better came down with a cold...) Nothing like ringing in the new year in the bathroom! (I know, gross.)

Anyway, while we were exploring Philadelphia, we went to the Curtis Center to see the Dream Garden glass mosaic mural. It was a collaboration between the Louis Comfort Tiffany studios and Maxfield Parrish. Fascinating and so beautiful.