the new owl

well, i think it's official. the matryoshka doll is going to take over the owl's position -- SHOWING UP EVERYWHERE.

yup yup yup. everything is currently covered in a witty, wide-eyed, "whoo"-ing friend and i sure know that i am sick of seeing them. i was never really into them, so after what seems like a decade of owl-tasticness, i think there is a new star about to steal the scene: the russian nesting doll, technically referred to matryoshka dolls. from stationary to baby clothes, to tote bags, they are popping up all over.

i appreciate the colorful nature of them, much more appealing to the owl in my book.

seattle swag.

after a week of vacation and a couple days of re-grouping, i am back and excited to show off some of my great souvenirs from beautiful Seattle. though i didn't return with rain, fresh fish or polar fleeces, i did manage to find some fun stuff.

one of my much-anticipated and most satisfying stops was de medici ming fine papers on 1st ave. the shop owner was there and not only attentive, but very present and proud of her shop. and very excited to share that they have been there 26 years and that all of her business is either in-store or by phone -- the store is computer, e-mail and website-free, which is very commendable in today's retail world. it is truly a store that i am glad has survived and i plan on continuing to support it, even from afar.

among the gorgeous flat papers, from marbled to shiny gift wrap, i found some adorable greeting cards and various bit and pieces that i couldn't live without.

found on elum

i love this thank you card as well. especially for when you're REALLY thankful.

found on two piglet letterpress.

and now off to canada! we spent the day in victoria where i found a little shop appropriately called the papery. it was fantastic and i thoroughly annoying chris with the amount of time i spent in there. 

how adorable is this tissue paper?!

found on gallery19.

these labels caught my eye immediately, only after purchasing them i realized that they are a chronicle books product -- fresh out of san francisco.

found on chronicle books. 

my favorite favorite favorite find of the trip was from the seattle art museum (sam) store. i could have bought about a million of these for everyone i know and love, but of course, i didn't. that would have been too logical.

found on dci gift.

us.

as a huge fan of red and blue, when i found this tonight i squealed. it is so adorable, and Yellow Owl Workshop has a lot of other neat things on their website.

more to love:

found on yellow owl workshop.

ruffle.

my dear KM went on vacation this past week and brought me home a bag i've been 

pining for over the past year. 

i am honored to say that i am the new owner of the adorable green version, 

though mine is in the more practical tote bag size. 

thank you!

found on india rose.

ilya bolotowsky.

visited the chicago institute of art today. 

saw some classic. monet, van gogh, hopper, wood, o'keeffe. 

saw some new. russian/american artist ilya bolotowsky. kind of love this one.

grey diamond, 1955

oil on canvas, mounted on panel

grey diamond, detail one

grey diamond, detail two

technicolor pillow fight.

these ikat pillows on etsy are absolutely adorable.

the ikat thing wasn't my thing at first, but after seeing such different renditions of it the past few seasons, and plus the added bonus for being a sucker for color and prints, it's kind of growing on me.

and for $40, they are a great pop of color on some summery, crisp white sheets without being a huge overbearing statement.

found on etsy.

take note.

these new moleskin volant mini ruled notebooks are my new favorite thing.

perfectly sized, wonderfully blank and amazingly durable.

i'll take one in every color.

found on moleskin.

boxtastic.

i found these adorable boxes at borders today. they were shockingly less expensive than the plain brown boxes they had. these bold, flowery boxes will be fantastic for wrapping some much belated birthday presents.

now only if i could find a way to line my drawer with that pattern.

found on paperchase.