Sleeveface

I just stumbled across a new (well, new to me) phenomenon called Sleevefacing. It's pretty self explanatory: people striking a pose using the faces on record sleeves. This guy knows how to do it:

There's even an app for that. Anthology Magazine has collected a bunch too—enjoy!

 

Too cute to eat

How amazing are these cookies from Japan-based pastry shop Henteco? You've got to browse through the sweets on their site if you're in need of a smile.

 

Look at the dog with the bone! And the coconut hedgehog...and the chipmunk holding the almond...I can't pick a favorite.

Save the date—2013!

There's still plenty of time until the new year, but Rosebud's 2013 Calendar is here, featuring a hand-painted flower or plant on each month. Here's a peak at what blooms are in store for you:

Joined together by rustic twice, the calendar can be hung over your desk, around the house, or as wall decor! If you want to display multiple paintings at once, the individual pages can be hung on a bulletin board by push pins.

You can check it out or place your order on the Rosebud website.

 

Mail art

I came across an article on mail art (new to me!) while reading Martha Stewart Living. Did you know you could mail non-enveloped items through the U.S. Post Office just by attaching the appropriate postage? The author of this article has mailed stamped rocks, a small doll with a stamp glued to its skirt, a child's mitten, a vinyl record with a letter penned in white ink, even a toy unicorn with the address and stamps tied to its tail.

According to the author: 

"Even as the allure of e-mail weakened letter writing the world over, mail art has remained untouched for me. It requires no words, only sentiment. It would not work virtually; to be fully realized, it has to touch not only its addressee but also numerous strangers along the way, postal workers required not to disregard it as junk... The post office is, as far as I know, obligated to deliver anything innocuous and properly stamped to its destination..."

I had to do a little research to find out how true this is and found a site with more information, including the story of a molar tooth mailed in clear plastic box that was delivered with an additional note added by a postal worker:

 "A handwritten note in a woman's writing read, 'Please be advised that human remains may not be transported through the mail, but we assumed this to be of sentimental value, and made an exception in your case.' We owe a debt of gratitude to these civil servants. Without them, we would have but little success in pushing the envelope."

Making a mess

I just came across this fun series called "Monday Mess" on La La Lovely. It features the living and work spaces of different bloggers who are brave enough to show that they're not always as perfect as the gorgeous photos they share. I love this little peek into others' real lives! It's great to be reminded that a little mess can be a good thing, although I haven't seen any Hoarders-style messes featured yet. Still waiting for someone to show the bottom of their closet or under their bed...

Here are some of my favorite messes:

The best part of the series is the final photo from each mess: a handwritten message that sums up the blogger's view on priorities, perfection and "stuff." The messages essentially come down to: don't sweat the clutter or the small stuff. (Don't you love the message on the post-it note? "Never let the things you want make you forget the things you have.")

all images via La La Lovely

Look out, lobsters...

I'm gearing up for a week in Maine, and visions of New England are dancing in my head.

Can't wait for cool weather, long walks and good food! Photos to come.

1. Maine Love map print (poppyandpinecone on Etsy)
2. via The Little Corner tumblr

3. This article says that an abundance of soft-shell lobsters has lead to much lower prices this summer...lobster is now cheaper per pound than bologna! Alexandra's Kitchen knows what I'm talking about!

 

My Pinterest success story: kind of a big deal

It's a big day today! I finally took on a recipe I found on Pinterest. Here's the pin that got me off the computer and into the kitchen:

Chocolate chip cookie dough balls! It wasn't until I read the caption that I realized these were raw and vegan. Those are definitely new terms when it comes to my cookie repertoire, but I wasn't going to let that slow me down. I checked out the blog where this recipe came from: Averie Cooks, and this Averie girl is great! She's all about recipes that are 1. easy 2. not too time-involved 3. use one appliance 4. have a simple and short ingredient list and 5. are tasty!

You think raw vegan cookie dough can't be tasty? Avery says recipes like this "must be excellent....if it's a raw approximation of something else, it's gotta taste like the something else it's trying to be, otherwise why bother?" In the words of Ina Garten: "How bad could that be?" Here's my batch in the black container below:

The ingredient list was short and simple indeed:

2/3 cup raw cashews
1/3 cup oats
2 tbsp agave
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup chocolate chips

All you do is combine the ingredients in a food processor, roll them into tiny balls and refrigerate them until they have the consistency of cookie dough. Averie recommends storing the extras in a tub in the freezer...extras? Not in my kitchen. 

I'm excited that my first attempt at a Pinterest project was a success. We've all seen the cautionary Pinterest fails, but this recipe will give the confidence you need to conquer those beautiful recipes you've been pinning. Enjoy!

Handwritten/painted: Fourth of July edition

Just in time to celebrate America's birthday: hand-painted ice cream cones! Courtesy of a beautiful blog: mmm. Great name, don't you think?

I love that the cones are all red, white and blue. And while this happens to be a French illustrator, I think it's a nice way to honor the U. S. of A. (Not only did French-born architect Pierre Charles L'Enfant design the layout for the streets of Washington, D.C. but the French also gave us the Statue of Liberty!)

I had to include this illustration from the same blog—these ladies are ready for the beach! And how about that spotted beach towel? Or is it a giant piece of watermelon?

Whatever you're up to this week, enjoy the holiday!

Make beautiful things

Here's a little Friday inspiration for you. Here's to making beautiful things this weekend!

Handwritten on: Public art

We have a lot of amazing museums and art collections here in the nation's capital. You can see all of the classic, modern and contemporary masters throughout the 19 museums of the Smithsonian, not to mention the Corcoran, Phillips Collection and the thriving gallery scene. But for all the art there is to take in, there's now a chance to actually take part.

This interactive art installation is called "Before I Die..." It's pretty self-explanatory with the chalkboard-painted wall and the stenciled sentence “Before I die I want to _______”. The original public installation was created by artist Candy Chang. After losing a loved one, she turned the side of an abandoned house in her New Orleans neighborhood into a giant chalkboard for residents to write and reflect on what was important to them. The project has spread to other cities including Amsterdam, Chicago, Querétaro, Lisbon, Brooklyn and London. DC's version of the installation is on the corner of 14th and Q St. NW.





I found out about this participatory piece of art on a walk through the Logan Circle neighborhood and got a kick out of seeing the range of responses. Some were bold and grand, others were weird, funny, in other languages, simple and sweet including:

• Really live
• Become enlightened
• Hike the Appalachian Trail
• See an American female president
• Live in another country
  
• Go fishing naked
  
• Be OK

What do you think this guy was writing? Probably "go bike riding naked".
 
Says Chang about the project:

"It’s easy to get wrapped up in the day-to-day and forget what really matters to you... Life is brief and tender, and there is a lot we can learn from the people around us to help us lead better lives."

And isn't that just as good as what you'd get from the old framed classics?

A friendly reminder

Hoping these words are a little mid-week inspiration for you!
 

Handwriting on: Food

We're getting back to our roots/our love of all things handwritten, and we can't be the only ones who've noticed that the element of handwriting has taken over our pantries and is sitting on nearly every shelf in the stores. With the swell of local and sustainable food options and the surge of farmers markets and CSAs, it appears that package designers are trying to tap into that feel-good "foodie" passion.

Without even reading the ingredients or nutritional information, these products give me the feeling of all-natural, homemade goods—with cozy thoughts of our grandmother's canned vegetables, hearth-baked breads, and sweets made from scratch. Does the handwritten label elevate the perception of these products? Do we feel better for buying it? Does it really matter?

Bee Local's use of handwritten locations on their product packaging is clearly an authentic nod to their philosophy on honey. Says the founder: "Unlike mono-crop honey, our urban gardens directly influence the taste profile of the honey to produce very complex and unique honey. Each honey from each neighborhood had its own unique flavor profile. It was just like wine. Honey has its own terroir. Thus Bee Local was born. Bee Local goes far beyond just honey. Bee Local is social enterprise. Everyone has influence on the honey and the health of the bees. Through honeybees we begin a larger discussion about how we treat our environment, urban landscapes and our stewardship of the land around us."

We're not saying the other instances above are using handwriting as just another trick of the trade (come on, Jamie Oliver started his own food revolution for healthy food!). We just love seeing handwriting used to convey something personal and authentic.

1. Jamie Oliver product packaging, designed by Pearl Fisher
2. Designed by Leslie Ortiz
3. Cupcakes courtesy of Martha Stewart 
4. Bee Local honey labels