Royal Wedding China

When we were in the UK I really admired the beautiful china. I only purchased one small plate for my mom - I wish I would have got more! In any case, the Royal Collection has created an official line for the royal wedding. I think it's lovely.

Friday Featured Etsy Seller: Galerie De Illuminata

Mikel Robinson's Etsy shop Galerie De Illuminata has some really fascinating mixed media collage pieces. I really love this one called Evening with the big tree and birds - and how cute is that bunny?

Thursday Tunes: The Lower Lights

Have you heard the music of the Lower Lights? The group includes Mindy Gledhill and Ryan Tilby and does really great folk renditions of hymns. You can sample their music on their web site - I think I should get the album...

Homemade Stickers

I have a bunch of sheets of 1" round stickers, so I decided to put them to use. I downloaded the template and then used clipart from Dover and the Graphics Fairy to customize them. Since I was able to save the files in Word, I'll be able to print more any time!

Michael Aram

The last time I was downtown at the Macy's on State Street, I found some really incredible serving/table pieces by Michael Aram. I love how this black orchid bowl and napkin rings are really solid but whimsical at the same time.

Homemade Crane Note Cards

When we were in St. Louis we visited the fabulous Plaza Frontenac. They have a Crane paper store that has a lot of great stationery. It was rather expensive, though, so I opted to make my own. I used stamps and gold embossing powder and a heating tool. I really like how the ones with nests turned out.

Friday Featured Art: Kings, Queens, and Courtiers

Last Friday I was in Chicago and got to go to the member preview of the new exhibit at the Art Institute. It's called Kings, Queens, and Courtiers, and features art of renaissance France. It was a really great exhibit and included a lovely Da Vinci piece. This is a vessel that was made to hold the heart of Anne of Brittany.

Thursday Text: On a March Day

I took this picture on Monday after we had some rain that froze and made everything look really pretty. Here's a poem by Sara Teasdale.

Here in the teeth of this triumphant wind
 That shakes the naked shadows on the ground,
Making a key-board of the earth to strike
 From clattering tree and hedge a separate sound,

Bear witness for me that I loved my life,
 All things that hurt me and all things that healed,
And that I swore it this day in March,
 Here at the edge of this new-broken field.

You only knew me, tell them I was glad
 For every hour since my hour of birth,
And that I ceased to fear, as once I feared,
 The last complete reunion with the earth.

Any Human Heart

Did you watch Any Human Heart on Masterpiece? The story was interesting. I liked that one of the stars was Matthew Macfadyen. I really liked him in the Pride and Prejudice that had Keira Knightley as Elizabeth.

House Plants

When we were at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, I bought a few house plants. I got this jade plant and the fittunia below and a fluffy fern. I've never had house plants. I hope they'll survive!