Gypsy Emporium

With every crafts fair I go to, I see the handmade scene in Kansas City growing so much. I wish I had more money to buy all the wonderful art, jewelry and goodies I saw. Today was a little trip through Gypsy Emporium. One treasure I bought is not shown, it's going straight into the gift closet and waiting for a good home. Here's what I did manage to get my hands on:

{1} Aptrick Photo. Patrick Andrew Adams photography of nostalgic toys are magical and offbeat. Printed on paper and attached to a painted wood block. E.T. made it home with us, but I definitely wanted at least two more.

{2}  Take a Halliday. Handmade dress by Halliday Bertram. It's soft and warm and oh, so comfy. I love the skull and heart appliques at the bottom of the dress. Visit her site to see more. She was super friendly and offers custom work. 

{3} tMags. This giant magnet is glorious on my fridge. Yes, I know how to make my own magnets. Yes, I have all the materials. But half the challenge is finding images that speak to you. And this chick with her giant pink afro, said, take my ass home, NOW. So I did. Contact designer Tania Haggerty to see more (taniahaggerty@hotmail.com).

{4}  Aunt Jane Original Fabric, Quilts and Other Handmade Goodness. I couldn't resist this little photograph of the cat staring longingly at the chair of yarn. The colors were just beautiful and it had some kind of metallic sheen to it. And my secret "treasure" was a germ bag, a perfect little contraption that holds your tissues and hand sanitizer. 

Map Lovers

If you're looking for a simple, graphic map of the world done in bold, beautiful colors, here you go. The website is darling too. via designworklife 

Birthday Party for Linh

My birthday won't be at that grand of a scale, but I love this idea.

Thirty-three, here I come! via Jordan Ferney

Noelle, An Unexpected Surprise

George's mom was a writer, and from what he has told me, she was an award-winning, well-known Irish poet. I never got a chance to meet her, I've only seen photos and her book of poetry, Promiscuous Winds. He has told me about her book tours in small coffee shops and bookstores across the States. About where her book was published (in Ashland, Oregon by Storyline Press), mere hours from where I grew up. Sometimes you hear stories, and go, great, blah, blah, blah. But then this happens:

I was reading Orangutan by Colin Broderick, a memoir about being Irish in America, addiction, alcoholism and how he barely makes it out in the end. It's a horrify and fascinating read. I devoured it. And here comes the surprise....on page 103, first full paragraph, I stumbled upon this:

"A local poet named Rick Pernod starting a poetry-reading series in the café around this time. It was an instantaneous success. Pernod was booking some of the top poets in the world to come to this little café in the Bronx. For a burgeoning writer it was a priceless experience. The little room would be packed shoulder to shoulder. I'd sit in the corner, high on codeine, with my cappuccino, smoking cigarettes, and witnessing literary history in the making. Poets like Donald Hall, Stanley Kunitz, Nina Cassian, John Ashberry, Pierre Martory, Eamon Grennan, Gerald Stern, Paul Muldoon, Patricia Smith, Noelle Vial, and my personal favorite, Billy Collins. On a Tuesday night you had to arrive early to get in the door. I was always there early."

There in print, in a book George picked up from Barnes & Noble, was his mother's name, Noelle Vial, in a paragraph about top poets in the world and literary history. How amazing is that???

20x200 Presents

20x200 by Jen Bekman, is a great resource for affordable art. Each week, she features new pieces that you can purchase for as little as $20 (price can vary from week to week, depending on artist and size). This week is a special paired edition by William Wegman, Wiemeraner photographer, illustrator, painter and film maker. If you are even slightly interested in certain pieces from 20x200, act quickly because they are snapped up fast!

Tree

I love being surrounded by trees. My house is about 85 years old and we have huge walnut trees in our backyard. I feel sorry for all the suburbanites who move into new homes because all they have are the spindly, little starter trees. This print by Amy Ruppel instantly made me think of Oregon. And upon further research, I find out she's a Portlander! via design*sponge 

Liquor Promo

Wheels are already in motion to see if I can get one of their sample cases. It's a shot in the dark, but a girl can wish, can't she? Balvenie's sample case, with their story, from barrel to bottle. via Lovely Package