Sunday Style Section

Ok, I was stretching there to get the alliteration going (in the title). I keep meaning to start a 'Friday Favourite Finds' (or Favourite Finds Friday..) regular post but Friday comes and goes and then it is Sunday and I remember again.... So, maybe next week it will make it for the more poetic alliteration day!

So, here is a little mixed collection of some of my favourite finds from Etsy mainly but also a couple of ring-ins (is that only an Australian term??).

How gorgeous is that tablescape up there (the photo above) which is the work of the very talented Amy Atlas (found via Apartment Therapy). She has lots of great ideas for presenting sweets beautifully (and other things probably - haven't passed the sweets pages yet).

I love this little guy (from The Runny Bunny on Etsy). I love the bird, I love the green (as you will see further down below as well). I can see him perking up my stark white walls and chocolate stained timber bookcases and leather lounge. I have been contemplating starting a collection of all white figurines but then I see this little guy. I have now been contemplating a green ceramic figurine collection....but when you move around like we do, I have to say just the thought of having more stuff to lug around is enough to stop me. Maybe, instead of a collection I could just have this one.....hmmm.

Isn't this hanging bird house just too sweet? I love the clean lines and the mushroom shape. Very earthy. The seller is mudpuppy on Etsy and they have loads of other ceramic stuff including those little miniature mushrooms so popular in terrariums right now.

I thought of my sister when I saw this chartreuse owl. Not sure why. I have no idea if she even likes owls but, seriously, whose home wouldn't benefit from the cheeriness of a chartreuse owl?? They (Fruit Fly Pie on Etsy) also have similar ones in bright orange and yellow and aqua. I thought of another sister for the yellow one. So darn gorgeous! I could handle the aqua one myself... (for those of you who are less adventurous with the colour aspect they also have them in calmer colours like celadon, buttercream and white).

Now, my sister may or may not have a thing for owls (yet) but I definitely have a thing for squirrels, as only a person who has never been near one (or had them in her garden) can. I love, love, love this necklace (from The Brass Hussy) and I would buy it in a heartbeat except for the glaring fact that I really don't like wearing necklaces that much! I have to force myself to wear the lovely selection that I have already. Or I put them on only to think they don't suit and then take them off again. Oh, but I love this.

Here is another talented person, whom I have only just discovered. Her name is Rebecca Thuss and she crafted these lovely party favours. There are many more to see on her website.

These lovely earrings I am just about to purchase for my sister-in-law's birthday. The lovely and talented Cate Holst has made them. Check out her shop. There are some beautiful items of jewellery as well as the most fantastic printable invites (seriously cute 3D type ones). I love her blog (A Work in Progress) as well - check it out.

Last but not least, I discovered yet another great blog (The Purple Pea) and loved this project she did with an old nightstand and some paper doilies. I thought this turned out great. Click here to see her before shot and get the tutorial on how she did it. She is very funny and I am really enjoying reading back through her posts.

Well, I hope you enjoy the fruits of my surfing labours! If I can extract my son from my leg this week I might even get some crafting done.....

Sunday evening hodge podge post

This is just a hodge podge of things I have been up to and things I am liking the look of!  Check out this gorgeous terrarium design.  Good to see they are back in the design spotlight.  I love these ones!  I spotted these on Apartment Therapy.

Now, as for the very little I have been up to, here is another very basic stamp in my series of very basic stamp making....  Can't wait to get some of the good materials and tools to really work on something interesting and more detailed!

This is a very quick game I set up for the kids in desperation this afternoon.  It is chilly and they didn't want to go outside, plus I didn't really want them outside in the chilly air when they are both a little under the weather.  So, after listening to fight after fight I decided to sit and play this very, very basic little game with them.  They loved it!  Basically, you just get a bit of newspaper, scrunch it into a ball, wrap it in sticky tape to stop it unravelling, grab a couple of straws and blow the ball towards each other on opposite sides of a table.  Many variations ensued after this initial setup, ending up in straw golf utilising a long orphaned putting practice piece (say that fast 3 times).  I think I initially saw this idea in the very handy 501 TV Free Activities for Kids (Di Hodges).  A book I snaffled off my generous sister actually (and which I was supposed to give back I think...).  You can buy this on Amazon if you don't have a sister handy to nick it off (the previous link will take you there).

These following photos are a shining example of my progress with 'letting go' and not being so anal about some things.  One of the (many) things I have been anal about is letting the kids use their art materials often.  They always have access to a certain number of art materials (I am not totally awful!) like felt pens, pencils, crayons, play doh, plasticine, sticky tape, etc. but I am not so good on the ones with real potential for mess - like paints and sometimes stamp sets (don't get me started on glitter!).  Anyway, we can all clap for me that I not only let them use the paints (in the room with a rug - outside is usual!) but I didn't even flinch when A decided his hands were just as good as the paintbrush for distributing aforementioned paint.   Only a little bit ended up on the floor and his socks soaked that up anyway!  :-)  My goodness, he is cute!

Ok, this item is just one that caught my eye for its grossness factor.  They look truly disgusting and I am sure my kids would love them!!

If you are remotely interested in knowing how to do them, you can find out here.

Now, onto pretty things.  These are just a few things I have come across lately that caught my eye.

I am totally in love with this knitted cape!  If only I could knit.....

I found this lovely art (via this delightful blog - More Ways to Waste Time) and am going to purchase it soon from Freya Art.  There are many others so it is worth popping over to her Etsy shop.  I like lots of them but this one is my favourite.  I think I will buy it as a belated anniversary present for us.  Kind of appropriate when we move around a bit.

Pale Lime Green Pearls & Brass Circle earrings

Lily Pinks

Last, but certainly not least, this was another favourite Etsy find - The Brass Hussy.  I love their jewellery and it is so affordable!  These two just might be coming home to me shortly....