ETSY SALE!!

Everything 20% off and free shipping on all orders of two or more items!! Now through Sunday!

Check out my shop here!

Morning Coffee

Love that coffee, Cafe Otto, Glebe by the pretenda

Few things are more pleasing to me than coffee in the crispness of the morning.

Stud Finder

This is one of the most beautiful hand crafted things I have ever seen. Via ManMade, I recommend watching the YouTube video too.

Lines Drawn

Spun Out - by gracieshoots

There is something so satisfying about drawing lines with a ruler... Making a knitting pattern for my Beginners' Knitting Class!

Too Pretty to Eat

Rose Bouquet Strawberry Birthday cake - from Apron of Grace

I am totally making a cake like this for my next tea party.

Southwest x Southwest

I love Pendleton's Portland Collection and really all of the Southwest/Native American inspired fashion that is in style right now. I am working on a few fair isle knit patterns that are influenced by this trend, I hope to have them up soon for your viewing and knitting pleasure.

13" Macbook Pro Sleeve, Pendleton Wool - by Ginny Vyvyan ($50)
Vintage Pendleton Shirt - from Now Vintage ($24)
The Portland Collection - Pendleton (various)
Red Blanket Ikat Plimsoll Sneaker - Urban Outfitters ($20)
Crossroads Knit Throw - Pendleton ($298)

Mango Tree

[This post was originally on another blog of mine, but that one is not really in use anymore so I thought I would share it here!]

So most people know how to grow an avocado tree from an avocado pit. Big whup, avocado trees are soooo 4th grade. I don't know if many people do this (I guess I could just check the internets, but whatever!), but at one point I wanted to see if I could grow a mango tree from a mango pit, AND IT WORKED! So I thought it would be a cool and easy tutorial and mangos are like the most friggin delicious fruit ever! So here ya go.

Here are the tools you will need:

mango

knife

cutting board

scissors

small glass

window that gets some sun

pot

potting soil

I have tried and succeeded with both the big greenish mangos and the little yellow mangos. I think the little yellow ones are tastier, but both are pretty delish.

Start by cutting up the mango. The easiest way to do this is by finding the little nob where the mango was attached to the tree and cutting along each side of the big flat pit in the middle of the fruit. This will give you two meaty pieces and one piece that is mostly pit.

Feel free to just dig in and gobble up that juicy goodness, but if you want to share or have nice uniform pieces hold each half steady on the cutting board and cut diagonal in one direction and then the other to make a grid. This will allow you to pop it inside out and cut off little cubes of mango (plus it just looks cool).

For the pit part you can peel off the skin and either try to cut off all the meat or just gnaw on it a bit until it is clean of mango. Now scrape off the remaining bits under running water, this will leave you with a hairy, slimy, little stone.

This part gets a little tricky because the bit you actually want is inside this. The casing around the seed is kinda like that annoying plastic packaging around electronics, a bitch to get into and even a little dangerous. So be VERY CAREFUL when doing this next part, children should have ADULT SUPERVISION or just adult help for this part. Feel free to let the pit sit overnight and dry out so it is not so slimy and hard to hang onto. Pinch the smaller end of the pit and it should feel hollow up to a point, snip this part off.

Being careful not to damage the bean inside make a slice with the knife or snip with scissors and you should be able to tear the casing up the edge and carefully take out the little bean.

Now the hard part is over! Put this little guy in some room temp water (just a little, don't submerge completely) in a little glass and set on a window sill.

Mine took FOREVER to start growing so don't get discouraged. It can take a month or two before you see some roots forming. If the water starts to get a little slimy rinse it out and add some more water (NOT COLD! room temp!). Some pink roots will shoot out and then finally a little pink hand (literally! It totally looks like a little alien hand reaching out the top with leaves for fingers!) will reach up and then you can plant it in potting soil with leaves up, roots down (duh). Keep the soil pretty wet, mangos like lot's of water.

Good luck! Mangos are waaaay cooler than avocados.

And here it is after 7 months of growth, so pretty!

-Anna

Snow and Ice

We finally got some snow here in Portland, but doubt it will last through the afternoon.

The Cumulus Beret in Wheat - by Topher & Co. ($45)
Ice Cone Ring - by Nodeform ($165)
Melting Blue Icicles - by Dye For Yarn (€19)
The Montana Warmer in Glacier - by Zetta ($65)
Aqua and Silver Pow Wow Princess Moccasins - by Darlingtonia Moccasin Company ($129)
Snow Drops - by Jade Flower ($45)

Tuesday Tunes

Just because they are awesome!

Three is the magic number.

Magic Number - by Spinthread ($70)
Felt Bangle - by qUirkfactory ($25)
To a Point - by Polymorphia ($100)
Original Abstract Tree Ring Paintings - by Focus Line Art ($100)
Press Your Luck, Cry Your Eyes - by Ruffeo Hearts Lil Snotty ($120)
Triangle Studs - by All Mine Design ($30)

Local Love!

Portland has a ton of amazing artists and makers, here are some of my favorites:

Girl Drop - by Two Sarahs ($20)

Canyons Necklace in Saffron - by Pearl Everlasting ($87)
Bow Necklace - by Rubygirl ($64)
Dancin' Bob Greeting Card - by Shop Thorazos ($5)
Ham and Cheese Sandwich Felt Food - by Pickle Things ($20)
Aero Tee - by Makool ($58)

Leave a comment and share some of your local favorites from where ever you are!

Sniffles...

Sorry for the lack of posts this week, but I have been feeling a little under the weather, here are some Etsy finds to help if you are too:

Handknit Hot Water Bottle Cover - by Yubomination ($30)
Chicken Noodle Soup Necklace - by Betsy Etsy ($22)
Cobalt Blue Mug - by Turner Studio ($25)
Immune Booster Herbal Tea - by Spirit Horse Herbals ($10.50)
Handknit Harvest Centerpiece Afghan - by Knitty Knitty Bang Bang ($149)
Felted Slippers - by Bure Bure ($63)

Tuesday Tunes

I really just love Talking Heads and this is a great music video, enjoy!



"Road to Nowhere"
Talking Heads

Yikes Stripes

Super cute stripey dress:

Cooperative Printed Bow-Tieback Dress - @ Urban Outfitters ($59)

Wear it with these!

Air Talia Wedge in Palomino - by Cole Haan ($178)
Tapered Moonstone Necklace - by Pure Jewelery ($80)
Black Leather Cord Bangles with Gold Plated Tubes - by Maribelle Campa ($30)
Tiny Red Coral Studs in Recycled 14k Gold - by Orit Naar ($68)
A Tote with Geometric Suede Appliques and Leather Straps - by madebyhank ($128)

Photographia: Grey and Rainy

From the Outside Lookin' In - by Björn Lexiux

A Grey and Cloudy Day

Large Grey Wool Cloud - by Rosetung ($135)
Tiny Cloud Earrings - by MxM Jewlery ($22)
iPod/iPhone Case in Herringbone Grey - by Stash ($32)
Sara Cowl Neck Jersey Blouse - by Isla New York ($45)
Topography in Slate 4 Handcut Cards - by Crafterall ($16)
Grey Skies Broadside - by May Day Studio ($12)

Photographia: Aren't we all strange children

Margaret Barr's "Strange Children" [ballet], 1955/photographer unknown - from State Library of New South Wales Collection

In the Kitchen

Vita Salt and Pepper Shaker Set - by Michiko Shimada ($28)
Geometric Tea Towel - by Erin Dollar ($14)
Hand Carved Manzanita Hardwood Tasting Spoon - by Eco-Hardwoods ($23)
Set of 3 Hanging Bowls - by Janette Zeis Ceramics ($74)
CupidOo Red Bowl Set of 5 - by Atelier Oker ($90.29)
Tiny Scallop Clock in Vintage Blue - by Uncommon ($32)

Sweet Notions

Photographia: Hair and violets and open road

Untitled by you're my monday

Dinosaurs and Ranting...

So I collect these silly plastic dinosaurs from the '80s, they are not very accurate to how we understand dinosaurs to have looked by today's standards, but they are very brightly colored (which I like in everything) and I just generally like dinosaurs and collecting and the hunt.

Anyway, when I was recently in Los Angeles and scouting thrift stores I came across the mother load, four HUGE (by huge I mean like 15" long and 6" tall so not that huge, but granted most of mine are pretty small) orange and green beauties at $8 for the lot. Woot! It had been a while since I had found any and for whatever reason this made me think about this ex-boyfriend of mine that would on occasion go to someplace like Target and buy me toy dinosaurs, which was pretty much misses the point and is the most frustrating thing ever. The point is not to just go buy something new, it is to hunt around for that perfect addition to your collection, whether it be at yard sales or thrift stores or even ebay. It is like buying someone that collects baseball cards a pack of football cards. At the time I was like, "does this person even know me?, sure they got the dinosaur part right, but the rest has nothing to do with my collection." I know he was trying to make a nice gesture, but wtf? How is one supposed to react to that?

Getting to my point now, so, it having just been "the holidays" and Valentines day coming up along with a slew of other pointless holidays just meant to make us buy $7 factory-made greeting cards (buy handmade!) for each other that are just going to get thrown out in a few days anyway and got me to thinking about the meaning of gift giving and that it really bums me out that we are doing it for all the wrong reasons. Holidays like Christmas seriously gross me out, everything has turned in to quantity not quality. Someone at some point decided that to make a perfect Christmas there has to be a huge pile of presents under the tree. I would a million times over prefer one simple gift that meant something to me than hundreds of dollars worth of crap that I will likely never use anyway. PLEASE! Enough with the toiletries! That in mind I really encourage you to buy things for loved ones that are meaningful, sure to some people crap from Target is meaningful, but for the rest of us don't forget places like Etsy or great gift guides or making it yourself or shopping at local boutiques, etc. Blah, blah, blah, end rant.

Photographia: Stars

Down From Heaven: Explored - by kelly.marie

I LIke Your Type

Subliminal Wall Wear - by Nea ($45)
Vintage Typewriter Key Pendant - by Gwen Delicious ($25)
Large Wooden Ampersand - by Hindsvik ($125)
PPP ABC XYZ - by Purgatory Pie Press ($60)
Multifont Buckle - by Steel Toe Studios ($45)
Helvetica Typography Card - by A Favorite Design ($4.50)

Tuesday Tunes

I really love this music video and this song. Mmmmm, dance numbers really make my heart swoon...



"No One Does It Like You"
In Ear Park
Department of Eagles

Two if by sea...

I love this simple blue dress by Anthropologie:

City Touring Dress - Anthropologie ($138)

And I especially love it with these:

Vintage Porcelain Touch Necklace - by MiniCyn ($140)
BP. 'Grady' Peep Toe Flat - @ Nordstrom ($59.95)
Rough Diamond Stud Earrings - by LexLuxe ($98)
La Besache du Pêcheur Grey - by Upla (€175)

Photographia: Pink

Gum Paste Peony 2 - by cakejournal

Oh, man! Peonies are pretty much my favorite flower and how wonderful these must look atop of a delicious cake! I want...

Nautical

Worse things happen at sea...



Tiny Nautical Anchor Studs in Sliver - by Anoriginal Jewelery ($42)
Nautical Necklace - by Brooklyn Rehab ($18)
Recycled Sail Purse - by Reiter8 ($65)
Double Breasted Car Coat in Fog Grey - by De Novo Style ($180)
Anatomical Mermaid Black Sweatshirt - by Sacred Stitches ($40)
My Home is the Sea - by Emblem Studio ($40)

Gardening

I can't wait to plant a little vegetable garden in my yard this spring. Maybe I'll have to get some of these beautiful Heirloom Watermelon Radishes.



You can order them on etsy from Cubit's, $3.30 for 25 seeds.

Photographia: Lovely Lace

Untitled by Silent Sequoias

Pretty as Lace

Small Porcelain Lace Bowl - by Isabelle Abramson Ceramics ($175)
Embellished Lace Bag - Showpony ($25)
Kassidy - by Branchbound ($16.99)
The Louise Lace Bow - by Alexandra Grecco ($28)
Range 1 Organic Cotton Jersey Lacy Pantie - by Sandmaiden ($30)
White Lace Edible Butterflies - by Sugar Robot ($4.95/pack of 15)

Photographia: Pretty Self-Portrait

Untitled - by theskeletonofme

Snail Mail

Who doesn't love getting something in the mail?! If you send more mail, then you get more mail! Here are some awesome things to get that snail mail moving. Eff email, I want something tangible! I'm really stoked about today's Etsy picks!



DIY Embroidery Card Kit - by Curious Doodles ($20)
Custom Hand Lettered Address Stamp - by Paper Pastries ($65)
Secret Message Envelope - by The Sweetie Pie Press ($3)
Postcup - by Bailey Doesn't Bark ($52)
Rockvelopes - by Nowvember ($10)
Cakemail - by Tang Baby ($14.50)

Photographia

Untitled by Paula Muniz

California Dreamin'

Spent a dreamy five days in lovely Burbank, CA. Now I'm back in Portland and cold. Hope these Etsy picks will help warm you up.



LA Art Print - by Karen M. O'Leary ($35)
1950's B & L Ray Ban Cat Eye Sunglasses - by PinkyAGoGo ($149.99)
My Beach Lover Antonio - by Auka Jewelry ($55)
Plane 2 - by S. Macleod ($7.50)
1970's Sailorette Bikini - by Jess James Jake ($48)
TRex - by Hipstamat ($25)

Off to sunny California, see you dudes next week!



Sunny California - by Bmkorte

Photographia

يارب هب لي من لدنك موهبةً لاتنقطع - by Hila-G

Best Travel Bags

I am very excited to travel to Los Angeles tomorrow! Here are some of my favorite travel bags from Etsy.



Upcycled Messenger Paul 2023 - by Peace4You ($299)
Parachuter Bag - by deBruir ($585)
Vintage Leather Travel Bag - by Vintage Stalkers ($79)
Vintage Dark Berry-Pink Tote - by Get Ready Set Go ($79.95)
Scout Bag - By Bees'netta ($170)
Nenjuu 2010 Briefcase - JMB ($500)

Photographia

Sometimes, you need to step outside, get some air, and remind yourself of who you are and who you want to be. - by Manu*

Longing for Summer

Untitled - by Experiment of the Nature

Whilst looking for interesting photos on flickr I came across this heartwarming stop motion video. Enjoy.

P.S. I wish it were summer...

Lovely Terrariums

Terrarium Art - by Girls Can Tell ($16)
Terrarium no.3 - by Various and Assorted ($15)
Rest Stop - by Green Apple Land Arts ($75)
Shelf City No. 235 - by The Oak Leaves
Moss Terrarium Ring - by ILDVED
Terrariums Print 8x10 -by Hillary Bird

Organize!

From Pocketknife

Perpetual Calendar - by Dependable Letterpress ($9.50)
Large Bare Reclaimed Wood Desk Caddy - by Peg and Awl ($65)
Modern Chic 12 Drawers Wood Box - by Zakka Around the World ($165)
Wall Mail Organizer - by Old New Again ($43)
Phone Wallet Deluxe Edition - by Jolly Little Purse ($48)
Homework Pencil/Schedule Wallet - by P & C ($31.50)

Photographia

Work Desk Top Clean!! - by ggomssgirl

I have been spending the day cleaning my apartment and work area because I am going out of town at the end of the week. I HATE coming home to a messy house. Almost done...

Warm things...

From Pocketknife

Tea Cozy Hat - Dolly Knits ($35 on sale!)
Heather Grey Military Princess Coat - Persephone Vintage ($238)
Faux Fur Moccasin Gators - Sugar Beat Design ($35)
mittens12 - Tiny Toadstool ($168)
Vintage Nordic 70s Zip Down Sweater - She Hearts Vintage ($40)
Snow Leopard in Navy - Yokoo ($220)

Cozy

I really love Pendleton Wool blankets. Especially the National Park series. How fitting that Yosemite is my favorite because for a time I lived there!

Yosemite National Park Blanket