Illustrated Lamp Shades by Hutch Studio

Aren't these sweet?  And apparently his secret ingredient in the making of these little beauties is coffee!  Follow the link to Hutch Studios here for more information.

Be sure to go to the Hutch Studio blog to check out all of his other whimsical creations!  I particularly love the paper cabins made from vintage children's books and the hand cut window coverings.  His whole blog is really a feast for one's creativity.  So inspiring!   

Happy Sunday!

These were yesterday's eggs.  Today it is snowing again, but if we can get off the hill we are going out for brunch with friends to the newly owned Miss Bellows Falls Diner.  Good thing we have 4 wheel drive!  Eggs Benedict, here we come!

Weekend Reading

If you have a little free time on your hands this weekend here are two excellent blogs to explore.  I found both of these this week, and completely fell into both of them, reading page after page of older posts, which is always a good sign, I think.

 Hutch Studio via Kickcan & Conkers 

 Marga Marina via Kickcan & Conkers

Kalimagier via Kickcan & Conkers

Here's a little selection of great finds from her blog.  She also has some really great craft projects, etsy finds, great vintage kid stuff and generally lots of fun things to peruse.  Go here to check it out for yourself!


The second blog I found (thanks Lacey!) this week is called Awesome People Hanging Out Together, and is filled with photos of just that.  Here's a sampling:

Martin Luther King Jr. and Marlon Brando via awesomepeoplehaningouttogether

Charles Eames & Eero Saarinen at Cranbrook ca. 1941 via awesomepeoplehangingouttogether

 Carl Sagan & the Dalai Lama, 1991. via awesomepeoplehangingouttogether

Lauren Bacall, Humphrey Bogart & Marilyn Monroe, circa 1963 via awesomepeoplehangingouttogether

Enjoy Everybody!  Have a nice weekend!

Slice of Life - More Winter

The view from my studio today.

Emmett's Pick of the Week - The Bruder Catalog

Now this isn't a toy, exactly.  It's the little catalog that comes with every Bruder tractor, digger, or backhoe.  Emmett loves the vehicles too, but they are nothing compared to the little catalogs.  It's lucky we have 3 Bruder toys, and thus 3 catalogs, because he has read them so much that they are completely dogeared and shredded.  The one I photographed is by far the most whole of the three.  The pictures above are from a recent dinner out where the Bruder catalog afforded us at least 5 solid minutes of eating, together, at the same time, which for dinner out with a toddler is pretty good!  It is also our main go to distraction for car rides, waiting rooms, or any other time of need.  This little guy gets 5 stars on the Emmett-o-mometer! 

The Haas Family Cocktail

Fair warning. . . it might be a little early in the day for you to think about this, so perhaps you should postpone reading Campestral today until 5 o'clock. . . 

This is a Mount Gay Rum and Tonic, and I swear, it's like summer in a glass.  If you are feeling the winter blahs, try one of these puppies and it will help turn you around.  My parents first had one on a sail boat in the Caribbean in the 1960's, and picturing that scene (inserting myself there, of course!) makes drinking this cocktail like a mini vacation.  Don't forget at least one wedge of fresh lime juice!  It's essential!  Cheers!

New Series - Oiseaux Bons Mots

I'm really excited about this new series I'm working on of birds collages on vintage text backgrounds.  I love the way the text makes a somewhat irregular, but still mainly uniform, backgrounds for the brightly colored birds. And, as an added bonus, it means I have finally found a use for all of the vintage book pages I have been removing in the process of making my hollow book jewelry boxes.  I've been watching them pile up, and been so reluctant to simply recycle them.  So now each part of the discarded books I have scooped up has a new life and purpose, and that makes me feel good!

To see more images, information and pricing please go here.