bella sera baby- "favorite thing" #7

I'm not sure if my good friend Amy (mom to twin girls) is going to thank me profusely for this post, or be really angry that I have, once again, urged her to spend oodles of cash on irresistible clothes for her daughters. What can I say? I'm dying here. If I can't spend money on a daughter of my own, then I will coerce others to do so. It's my way of staying sane while I wait.

I can only imagine how cute my china doll would look in this!

And this.

And she must have this.

Bella Sera Baby was founded in 2002 by mother of two, Courtney Lupe. When Lupe was pregnant with her first son she could not, for the life of her, find any baby accessories that were both functional and stylish, which forced her to make them herself. Before she knew it, she was making them special order for friends and then complete strangers.

"I pride myself in offering a stylish alternative to the pastel wonderland of baby fashion by providing a line of goods that are full of life and personality." -Courtney Lupe

Bella Sera Baby is a must see shop. Click on over and pick out something for your cutie pie. I have the blanket in the first photo and I can tell you, it is great quality. You won't be disappointed with any purchase you make.

Okay, okay, I know all you moms with munchkins are waiting with baited breath to see what Courtney is going to give away. Well, here it is. Leave a comment to be in the drawing for the "Sherbet Mod Mini". It is available in sizes 2T, 3-4T, and 5-6. Don't forget to cruise through the previous posts for more "Favorite Things" giveaways. All drawings will be open until Dec. 15th.

Oh and Amy, you can pick up a second, coordinating one, for only $28. You'll thank me later I'm sure.

paperedtogether- "favorite thing" #6

Remember a few posts ago when I was rambling on, as I tend to do, about quality Christmas cards and how they are hard to find? Well, all I had to do was click through my Etsy favorites to find exactly what I was looking for. Paperedtogether products give me the same rush of endorphins that I get when I eat really good chocolate.

Letterpress is a 500 year old relief printing technique, in which a raised, inked image meets paper with enough pressure to produce a print. Letterpress offers a tactile and nostalgic feel that cannot be achieved with any other printing technique. When combined with soft printmaking papers, letterpress printing conveys a beauty and elegance that is simply luxurious. -Krista Stout

Paperedtogether is a small Minneapolis letterpress shop owned and operated by, Krista Stout. Here are her thoughts on her work:

I love the slow, mindful art of creating each design, mixing inks, preparing the press, and hand-printing each card one at a time. my designs are inspired by timeless, simple vintage images & enlivened by modern colors.

I'm guessing that most of you haven't purchased your cards yet. I find that most people procrastinate even more than I do, so I think it is fair to say that chances are, you are still shopping for the perfect set. Well, look no further. Click on over to the Paperedtogether shop and poke around a bit.

Also, for your enjoyment, Ms. Stout has offered up, an exciting opportunity to win one of her 2009 letterpress calendars. Come one, come all. Leave a comment and be in the drawing on Dec. 15th! It retails for $35. You lucky readers, you.

house of telsa- "favorite things" #5

Today is the day that I introduce you to cutting edge fashion- Thatiana style. Your life will never be the same. You will long to sport one of these beauties jauntily across you head. You will think up all kinds of outfits to complement such fanciful pieces and you will never, NEVER rest until you own one, or two. I know because ever since I found House of Telsa my head has felt completely bare and boring.


Sometimes I really wonder if I was born in the wrong era.

Why is it that our grandparents got all the good head gear and we were left with scrunchies?

I won't stand for it. With Thatiana as my guide, I am going to personally bring fashionable head wear into vogue. Join me.

Here is what the superb Thatiana has to say about her creative process:

It is something indescribable watching what you've only seen in a vision gradually take form. I relish in it, really, and consider myself quite lucky to have this creative outlet and the support of all my customers, friends and family who continue to encourage and inspire that passion within.

To kick start the fashion revolution, Thatiana has generously donated one of her "Mammy's Red Petticoat" headpieces.

This stunning special edition head piece features a deep red silk dupioni rosette, coupled with black and white feathers as well as a sequined beaded trim in garnet and antique bronze. All is securely set on custom made backing comprised of fine millinery materials. A comb at back keeps it secured on the wearers head. It retails for $60.

Leave a comment and your name will go in the drawing on Dec 15th.

sofia masri- "favorite thing" #4

Let me just start off by saying that I love Sofia Masri's work so much that as I was writing this post and looking through her fabulous shop, I couldn't help myself, I had to buy something. Here are my new earrings that I simply can't wait to get. Merry Christmas to me!

Sofia Masri is a Chicago-based jewelry artist with a background in fine art and fashion design. Her line of porcelain jewelry was born out of a desire to produce original accessories in a beautiful medium. Porcelain's plastic quality and refined texture lend themselves perfectly to the intricate patterns that make her jewelry so special. Inspiration comes from favorite vacation spots, cities once called home, places she hopes to explore, seasons and nature, and endless hours spent sifting through treasures at antique shops.

Here are just a few of the many many treasures in Sophia's shop.

If you are a fashionista or know someone who is, you simply must click over to the shop and pick up a little somethin', somethin.

Okay girls, here is your chance to win your own pair of Sophia Masri earrings! Simply leave a comment to be in the drawing on Dec. 15th. Sophia has generously offered to send the winning gal a pair of her Espresso Swirl earrings in the photo below. They retail for $28.

sugarloop- favorite thing #3

What can I say about Bernadette Sipkes? Well she is a print maker and illustrator from Auckland, New Zealand, she sells totally affordable art on Etsy and if she had any idea how much I idealize her, she would be a little weirded out.


Sugarloop prints are the epitome of beauty in simplicity.

This is what Bernadette has to say about her work:

I find inspiration in mid-century kitchenware, furniture and
textile prints; vintage wallpaper; Scandinavian design; Florence Broadhurst; Lotta Jansdotter; Marimekko and; Lefor-Openo. My drawing tool of choice is the humble pigment liner! Lately, however, I've been having fun using my digital pen and tablet therefore giving a "hand drawn with ink" look and feel to my digital art/giclée. I also like working with the Gocco (a type of toy serigraph printer from Japan) - its imperfections and unpredictability are part of its charm and it won't be around for long so I am making the most of it.

I've got plans for a trio of her prints in my house. I just need to pick which ones.

"The Owl and the Pussycat" is my current favorite in her shop. If you love it too, leave a comment, you may just be lucky enough to win the drawing on Dec.15th and receive it in the mail all the way from New Zealand.

If after you peruse her shop, you are as obsessed with her as I am, check out her blog to see what she is working on.

art goodies- "favorite thing " #2

Calling all chefs, interior designers and foodies.
You're gunna want to read this.


Today's featured Etsian is Lisa Price of Art Goodies. I've been checking in with Lisa ever since I joined Etsy. Her talent for block printing is unmatched in my book.

Artist Lisa Price grew up in the Chicago suburbs and spent her summers gardening, canning, and visiting the farmers market with her grandmother in northern Indiana. That is where she began her fascination with nature and the colors and designs of the fifties. She received a B.F.A. in printmaking in 2001, and now brings you modern block print housewares with vintage flair. Her company artgoodies, founded in 2006, offers tea towels, aprons, and stuffie mini pillows each hand printed with one of her original linocut block prints. Lisa resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan where she works out of her home studio.

If any of my readers are pondering what to get me for Christmas, I'd like this apron.

Art Goodies are available here and here. Check out both sites and pick up a stocking stuffer. Lisa is giving away this great little set of tea towel and stuffie. Just leave a comment and you will be in the drawing. The winner will be posted on Dec. 15th.

Tomorrow I will introduce you to another great artisan! Stay tuned.

whitney smith- "favorite thing" #1

Imagine an anthropologist, turned florist, turned potter. That's Whitney Smith. Somehow Whitney is able to incorporate all these interests into her stunning work. I fall in love with everything she lists in her shop. I'm not exaggerating. Everything that comes out of her pottery is pure magic.

Here is what Whitney has to say about her work:

My design sense is primarily informed by my obsession
with flowers and other forms found in nature. I have painted and drawn since I was a small child, and many of my designs are influenced by other painters and 2-D artists. I am also strongly influenced by Art Nouveau and the Arts and Crafts movement of the 19th early 20th Century. I like the look and feel of old things and antiques, and my glaze choices have a certain look that reminds people of an different era.

It is no wonder that I am so taken with her work. I have a love for anything Arts and Crafts.

Click on over to the shop and take a look around. I promise you will be absolutely charmed by the things you find there.

Whitney has graciously donated this red "Dogwood" plate as a giveaway. It is 6" wide which makes it perfect for your morning toast, a candle or a safe place to keep your Secondsister jewelry. It retails for $34.

Please leave a comment to be in the drawing on Dec. 15th.