indiefixx art print of the month club

like surprises? or want to give one as a valentines gift? well jen from indiefixx has started an art print of the month club at her shop where each month you receive a top secret art print from one of her super talented select artists out of her shop. what a wonderful thing to look forward to each month! click here for more details!

purposedesign: spice labs

{medium everyday spice kit}

because who doesn't need more spice in their life? ingenious spice kits and gifts. more at purposedesign.etsy.com

as i am running to the airport *right now* (internet addiction, anyone??) i promise to edit this post when i return from my *hopefully* delicious vacation. the spice of life!

have a great weekend, all!

the art of creating love notes

readymade and anthropologie are hosting hands-on workshops this valentine season on the art of creating personal and unique love notes. it's a space limited series of events being held in cities across the us. send an email to rsvpATreadyymademag.com and indicate your desired city in the subject line. (choose from: berkeley, edina, boston, los angeles, chicago, nyc, dallas and seattle - dates and times vary between feb 5 - 7/08).

love posters

i seem to be running into a lot of "love" posters lately, every time i turn around another one pops. and with valentines just around the corner, how timely! (above) we are so good together, reform school rules


all you need is love, doug wilson at keep-calm



you + me, village



blue love from identity5



for like ever poster, from village


i love you from identity5

Collecting: Cindy Jaswal

when you look at cindy jaswal's art, which concentrates on environmental issues, working with pen and ink, you will also understand her collection of natural history and botanical reference books. i loved reading her reasons and passion behind these collections and i'm sure you will too.

why you collect these items and how your collection started?
Along with being an artist and mummy to two little boys I'm studying to be a herbalist and eventually a midwife. A major part of my herbalist training is getting out into the woods and seashores and identifying and harvesting samples. These little books help me and are very precious to me, my husband collects them whenever he finds one as well. They are natural history and botanical reference books specific to British Columbia. I love the pocket-size of them. I am crazy over the line drawings as well.



how do you display them or would like to display them?
I look at them everyday. For now they are just in a bookshelf, but I would love to find a lovely piece of bark and have them all sitting up on it.



what are your favorite pieces in the collection, is there anything unique?
The Food Plants of BC Coastal Peoples is a favourite. A lot of this information is being lost as younger people have other priorities. Story-telling is a major way of keeping traditions alive, it's nice to have a lot of info in a tiny little format.




what piece are you most looking for, and what piece would complete your collection?
There are a lot of these books all made between the 1960's and 1970's, I have about twelve, I have a feeling there are a lot more to get.

call me.

loving these rotary phone calling cards ana cote of modern printed matter has designed. she'll personalize them for you $18 for a set of 24. available here.

mamameo: fortune cookie soaps

{fortunate fortune cookie soaps}

this *fabulous* etsy idea from exit, pursued by bear, in a great post.

more at mamameo.etsy.com

Collecting: Victoria of sfgirlbybay

i loved reading victoria's take on her portrait paintings collection when she sent it over. i know i read the story before about rico, but seeing it all together here in this setting, is just endearing in an sfgirlbybay way. victoria has one of those californian apartments we all dreamed about growing up. bay windows, white fluffy carpet and lots of cool art. here's her words on her portraits and check back soon for a few other collections she's got coming our way!

why you collect these items and how your collection started?
I started collecting portrait paintings, when I found Rico Suave at the flea market one day. I've always been a fan of those whole walls you see, filled with portraits, so I'm attempting that for myself. I just started collecting them a few years ago, so I'm just in the beginning phase! I like the irony I find in them, and I like to concoct stories about the people in my portraits.



how do you display them or would like to display them?
I have them mostly in groupings, together, as if they are a family. Ultimately, I will have one whole wall of them grouped together.



what are your favorite pieces in the collection, is there anything unique?
I suppose I love Rico the most, since he was my 'first'. I did a post about the relationship between Rico and Emma Lou awhile back: read here

"The story goes that Rico was doing odd jobs to make ends meet around Atlanta, Georgia, by way of Florida, by way of the Keys, by way of Havana. Anyway, one warm, humid night at a steamy, Atlanta dive bar, Past Perfect, Rico's working his night gig, playing a mean set of bongos in a local Rumba band, when in walks Emma Lou and her very blond sorority sisters. Tipsy, snickering and pointing out Rico's fine rhythm on the bongos, Rico couldn't help but notice in comparison, Emma Lou's refined manners, shiny brunette locks, and the secret smile behind her ruby painted lips. She obviously dug his beat. He sent over a Cuba Libre. And the rest is history. Hanging on my walls. Together at last. The end."

I now imagine that the older woman is Rico's mother, Senorita Suave, the matriarch of the family. She and Emma Lou clash at times and vie for Rico's affections.



what piece are you most looking for, and what piece would complete your collection?
I'm not sure, but I'll know it when I see it. Perhaps Rico and Emma Lou's childrens' portraits.

besides this collection, if you could collect anything in the world, what would it be?
I've often thought about collecting glass paperweights like Collette.

field notes set

a great little set off flickr from onpaperwings where springfield, missouri graphic designer/instructor, douglas wilson gave his students in his advanced typography class a field notes book to fill with whatever their heart desired. here's the slideshow version.

pillowhead: sachet favors

{customized + hand-embroidered coffee sachets (set of 2)}

cracked out on too many late-night seating chart wrangles?
struggling to stay awake writing one more thank-you? (just... one... more...)

this find courtesy of angel at lifeseventful, who thinks these would make brilliant favors. what a great idea! these are not skivvy-sachets -- for those, pillowhead makes lavender -- they're desktop, good morning, wake-up sachets, made from repurposed canvas and felt, and (!!) hand-embroidered with a lovely sans-serif initial/number/symbol and color of your choosing. they'd also be a kick for a bridesmaid brunch. good morning minions
best girlfriends!

thanks so much for the suggestion!
more embroidered treats at pillowhead.etsy.com

things i want

a little on the busy side today gathering all the new submisions for the feburary market, but hope to have more collecting posts up this afternoon. in the meantime, a few things i'm loving from the current phm:

1. knock on wood, wonting, $18
2. cupid tag, diana fayt, $16
3. patterned hearts, elfrida, $5

angry chicken + a book she found

amy at angry chicken posted about a book she just got published out of japan all about altering existing clothes and i just have to have it. although it's all in japanese (of course), she says it's full of illustrations with generic ideas. i love the doily on the tote bag (or wouldn't it even look so nice on the blouse)? click here to get the details.

everyday show @ rare device sf

if you happen to be in san francisco area this friday night or for the next month, be sure to head down to rare device for what looks like to be a nice little show from philly's own, shauna alterio and stephen loidolt of somethings hiding in here. their three-dimensional installation will occupy the gallery portion of the store and the front left window and can be viewed from february 1, 2008 - march 4, 2008. a reception for the artists will be held friday, february 1 from 6 - 9 pm.

dear valentine...

could there be anything sweeter than receiving this from the one you love? i say not. yay for three potato four for finding this 1969 olivetti valentine restored typewriter! eek!

jennysherbie: soy candles

geranium soy wax candle

ok, how's this for an eco-clever idea? non-toxic soy wax candles, scented with all natural oils, in vintage glassware. once the candle is finished, a little soap and water and the glass can be used for toasting your bad green self.

you could get unscented ones for the dinner tables in an assortment of glasses, *or* jennysherbie also lists a whole armada of candles in reusable jars to be given as favors, complete with a custom-designed decal featuring your wedding particulars.



more info at jennysherbie.etsy.com

Collecting: Lisa Solomon

i've seen little hints of lisa solomon's collections from time to time visiting her blog where she has posted nooks and crannies of her san francisco home from time to time. she's another one of those people i think of when i think of collecting. she has an amazing knack for placement that makes things look unstaged and natural. here are her thoughts on her "stuff". (another place i could linger in for hours, i'm sure).

why you collect these items and how your
collection started?

I’ve been collecting “Stuff” since I was a kid. There isn’t really any rhyme or reason to what I collect. I just start on something and then go until I find the next thing. I guess there’s always an aesthetic component to what I collect. Whatever it may be, I’m visually drawn to it. I also just love old things. I love old type and design. I also like when things have been used – or if they have some kind of history. I like the idea of something that can be considered “ordinary” can be used and loved and cared for by several generations of people.

Some collections stop at 2 items. Some just keep going forever. Sometimes people get wind of what you are collecting and then things get donated.... If I had an endless supply of money and time I would love to just compile things. I think a fantasy job would be to collect for other people. Sometimes the hunt is just as fun or as rewarding as the actual objects themselves.



how do you display them or would like to display
them?

I try to place things around my home where I can see them. I tend to group things similar together. I also tend to group by color and shape. It’s just my nature.

I think one of the things I’m always struggling with is where to keep everything. I’m always out of room. I always swear that I’m going to put stuff away and then rotate what gets put out – but that never really seems to manifest. Plus I do like seeing my “stuff”. It makes it feel like home to me.



what are your favorite pieces in the collection, is there anything unique?

It’s hard to pick a favorite. And I’m only showing you a very small portion of all the collections I have. There’s also an array of vintage kitchen items, there’s art, there’s rings, there’s shoes, polaroid cameras.... I think it’s safe to say that I have a slight problem. In terms of anything unique? I’ll let you be the judge of that!

what piece are you most looking for, and what
piece would complete your collection?

I’m always looking. I think for me there is no one piece that would do it. Sometimes I feel that if you are looking for something specific, you don’t find it. I have to go to thrift stores and flea markets and just look. I use ebay when I’m jonezing for something specific - like vintage glass beakers.



besides this collection, if you could collect
anything in the world, what would it be?

Ha! Maybe I should list what I don’t collect. It might be shorter? OK. If money wasn’t an option I’d seriously collect art by both blue chip and emerging artists. And some key furniture. I’d love some George Nakashima pieces [ www.nakashimawoodworker.com]. And maybe some Eames’ storage units. [ www.dwr.com]. I’d better stop now or this list will just get insanely long.

etsy pick of the day - one year old

i can't believe it's been a year since i started etsy pick of the day. it's interesting how it evolved and subsequently how in turn we started poppytalk handmade because of it. it has been an interesting experience picking something out from etsy each day (mon to fri) and somewhat took a form of discipline i haven't been used to in a while. (what was interesting to see was how quickly the things picked sold)! in recognition of the year i thought i'd do a little list (getting my idea from a great listmaker), of some of my favorites. i've also decided to take a break from daily etsy picking for a while (a hiatus let's say), however will continually be bringing my finds of handmade goodness through regular posting until the urge returns.

1. linocut antique chair by rainy prints
2. twiggy by reckon
3. high seas by supercapacity



4. photo collage by holajed
5. elephant valentine by papered together
6. vespa mug by circa ceramics



7. keep calm poster from lucaslepola
8. little sack belly by creative thursday
9. knitware by alyssa ettinger



10. vintage face print by dallas shaw
11. songbird cross-stitch pins by redroostercraft
12. vintage child's chair, the goody gallery



13. wooden stones print by small stump
14. faux bois tote by somethings hiding in here
15. birch bark tubes from small stump



16. burden print by cole gerst
17. best wishes + wishbones by somethings hiding in here
18. hello morocco from yellow canoe



19. half nine by aptrick
20. pile of wood print by geninne
21. judy and the dream of horses by the black apple