Our Mini Vegetable Patch

This past friday after a zip in to see the new Vancouver Anthropologie, Janis of Pinecone Camp and Kate of Tiny Warbler and I hopped over to Main Street for a mini shopping/coffee trip when we ran into that amazing dollar store, Welk's. We were attracted by all the potting plants outside and then eventually inside. I happened upon this great fabric vegetable planter for seriously cheap ($12) which holds 33 gallons (120 litres) of compost - and so pretty soon after I was picking up seeds and a bean plant all the while being coached by Janis on the how-to. I really haven't planted any type of seed as an adult, so the whole thing is a bit foreign to me. But with Janis' coaxing, this weekend we planted some lettuce, carrots, radish and green beans. We're excited to see it grow, and I've been finding myself checking it each time I'm near the back. Wish us luck!

oldnewagain: wedding gift idea

{ metallic silver blue retro wall vase }

i can't resist just one post, from a store i saw in an etsy finds email...
check out these *great* handmade organizers by oldnewagain using reclaimed wood and recycled jars. too cool. maybe a gift for your offbeat bridal party, or for a fun couple off register. lovely!




more at oldnewagain.etsy.com

claylabdetroit: custom photo platter

{ your photos personalized platter }

claylabdetroit makes *really* cool ceramics. check out this great gift idea: send in your photo; clay lab works the magic and your 8 lbs. of clay are "thrown and screened while the clay is still wet, resulting in a Warhol-style print permanently fired into the porcelain." you can have multiple platters made with the same screen at a discount rate (one-stop gifts for parents, step-parents, grandparents, godparents, dogparents, etc. etc.) the results are dishwasher and microwave safe and the image won't fade over time. instant heirloom, or go kitsch with the happy couple above.

such a fun shop!



more at claylabdetroit.etsy.com

secondlineframes and rebirthframes: new orleans

{ green and natural striped frame by secondlineframes }

speaking of recycled, have wanted to feature these two relatively new shops for a while.

the first is secondlineframes, named for the new orleans tradition: the second line is "the colorful parade that follows a funeral procession to turn tragedy into a celebration of rebirth." the frames are made from reclaimed wood siding from homes destroyed by hurricane katrina.

rebirthframes does similar work; the two sellers are brother and sister. both wanted to do something with the materials and contribute to the rebuilding, and a percentage of the proceeds are donated to local organizations. both shops can make custom frames based on color or size, and you can substitute mirror for glass if preferred.

the bright colors and the intricate patterns are beauty reclaimed from disaster (like so many things in life!), and to me represent great hope and resilience, qualities welcome in any new marriage.





each photo is linked to its shop.
more at secondlineframes.etsy.com and rebirthframes.etsy.com

eco etsy: recycled sampler

{ recycled bottle glasses: green perrier tumblers by bottlebottoms }

hello etsy friends! thanks to all who are visiting from the storque! :)

here's something for a sunny almost-spring day: a little gathering of items that make use of recycled or eco-friendly materials. now: time for this blogger to go outside!










each photo is linked to its respective shop. enjoy!

whitneysmith: gorgeous handmade ceramics

{ pair of cake stands }

this find courtesy of angel at lifeseventful.com -- who i probably shouldn't be quite so grateful to, since i'm about to purchase a grillion dollars worth of ceramics. visa thanks you, angel! ;)

i *love* this shop! the amazing art-nouveau and organic shapes... the gorgeous glazes... whimsical yet practical...

i gave up math in 1994, but here's my attempt at an equation for why these are amazing: color + shape + simplicity + uniqueness + can-actually- be-used-and-aren't-just-decorative-dustcatchers = monster etsy crush.
plus whitney talks in her profile about her love and obsession with her craft, and it absolutely shows. bravo! check these out:





more at whitneysmith.etsy.com

{april 1: update! see her featured seller interview on etsy :) }