- Image from Two Straight Lines-

I just have to share this post- it is pretty freaking smart-

http://twostraightlines.typepad.com/two_straight_lines/2007/09/minimalist-bird.html#comments



Excess? Indeed. Everywhere. And I am guilty of daydreaming about it- thankfully, our one-income budget keeps me from over-indulging.

I am guilty of encouraging it, too, as a designer/artist who sells stuff. Buy this! Buy mine! Put it in your home! Buy more!



One thing I have been conscious of for a long time, though, is the notion of buying for keeps. Like, lifetime keeps. Buy the best thing that you really love and plan on keeping it for a long, long time. Use it and enjoy it. Love it. Let it find roots in your home, in your visual identity.



Shoot- daydreaming again- minutes have gone by and I've been mentally writing a "contract" that customers have to sign when they make a purchase at a shop called "For Keeps". How great would this be- "I, the undersigned, here do solemnly swear that I am making this purchase for keeps. I promise that I have thought a lot about it, and I seriously love my purchase, and I plan on keeping it in my possession for a very long time. I am not making this purchase for the cheap thrill of impulsive consumerism. I am making it because I truly love it, find a connection with it, and/or plan on putting it to use for many years ahead. I promise I will not get rid of it just because it doesn't "go" with a decorating trend I am following. If I do become tired of it or need to get rid of it, I promise to donate it to a charity, give it to someone who needs it more than I do, or loves it at least as much as I do. Signed, ______________ "



For Keeps... this would be a great shop. I wonder if Courtney from Two Straight Lines would consign her minimalist gourd birdhouses with me? :)

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sugarloop high

I'm all weepy over this mother's day- I just cannot believe that I am Miss Lovely's mother. What an honor! I am so, so blessed... it is simply stunning the way God works, often when you aren't even paying attention...

I received a suprise order this a.m. in my shop (I am always suprised and delighted when anybody purchases something from me- so flattering, I blush every time!), and this sweeet print has been on my mind... so I just had to buy it for Miss Lovely's nursery today. I hope she'll love it when she's grown- a reminder for her that she will always, always be my cherished baby girl.

You should pop over to see Sugarloop's prints- I could eat them with a spoon. Seriously.

Happy mother's day!

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almost forgot!

when we were on our trip home (wisconsin), matt & i happened upon a little estate sale. it was in a tidy little bungalow in a nice little neighborhood. it was a little sad, because it was pretty obvious a nice older lady was no longer, um, living there. i felt kind of creepy going through her things... know what I mean? we were there at the very end on the last of the sale- everything was 50% off. woohoo! so i found 3 treasures-

1. a lovely hemstitched table runner in ivory. cost? bah. $1.50.

2. a lovelier hemstitched set- square table cloth and 4 cocktail napkins. cost? $3.00 (nope, not lying!)

3. the score to end all scores- not 4, not 6, not even 10- no no! 12, yes, count them, 12 hand embroidered cockadoodledoo cocktail napkins! cost, you ask? yes, you are dying to know, i can tell... well, i am so pleased to report... $3.oo for the whole set! i was so excited i was damn near trembling when i paid the weird lady who was running the estate sale.

i had been thinking that i would embroider some lovely things on the plain hemstitched sets and give them as gifts- but seriously, as giving as i ought to be, i cannot force myself to even consider giving them up. such a find- such a score- such great booty! and imagine my suprise when i found the 'pure linen, made in ireland' stamp upon closer inspection of the booty when i got home. yay!

wow- you know you are grown up when you use the term "such great booty" to describe old linens instead of a hottie in 501s at a gig.

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