First of all, let me say that my husband is crazy-obsessed with hunting.  I’m serious.  Day and night all I hear about is his next hunting expedition.  My ears are bleeding.  How much more can I endure?  I thought it was over until I browsed Moose: Art For Living.  I couldn’t believe it.  It was just meant to be.  Oh deer!  I have to say I would much rather have the gorgeous stag reproduction hanging on my wall than the ram head that is being prepared at the taxidermist shop.  Oi!

1.  Stag Head (Gold Glaze) by Valentin Design

2.  Stag Cufflinks by Emma Grace

3.  Stag Brooch by Emma Grace

Can’t get enough of Moose: Art For Living?  Join them at Unwrapped: South Perth 2010 on Saturday March 6, 2010.

I heart Paper Source (with a passion)!  I admit I have always had a paper fetish.  I hoard paper, stationary, anything with a pretty print.  I wish there was a Paper Source store here in Las Vegas but I am out of luck.  I am just grateful that I can peruse their online store and the great Easy Craft Ideas they have.  This envelope accordion book is one of them.

The applications are now out for the 5th Annual Athens Indie Craftstravaganzaa which will take place on Saturday, May 1, 2010. May Day! The deadline for applications is April 1, 2010 so hurry on over to the their website here.  By the way, this is Athens, GA not to be confused with Athens, Greece.  Well, I had to make sure there were no misunderstandings.

I was so excited yesterday to find this package in my mailbox.  I am still excited.  I forgot that I had ordered it in the first place.  I spotted the colorful stamps from Australia and let out a “Woo-Hoo!”  Well, in my head I did (with a happy dance too).

Needless to say I ripped open the package when I got into the house.  Ohhhhhh…ahhhhh…COOL!

What do you think of my new Male/Female watercloset sign?  I am still painting my hallway and need to repaint the bathroom door before I apply these babies.  These are handmade with an acrylic base topped with Japanese paper and sealed with a resin coating.   Mooza will let you choose the Japanese paper from their selection.  They also can make custom words if you choose. 

Today’s inspirational photos are brought to you by one of my favorite sites (other than Anthropologie), Terrain.  Actually I think they are both owned by Urban Outfitters.  Yes, this is not an independent design store but I have to say, that I window shop on these sites all the time without buying anything.  I just absorb the colors and textures.  I applaud whoever their stylists and photographers are.  You can find more of these images here.

I just wish they would open one of these stores here.  Unfortunately the flagship store is in Glenn Mills, PA.  I really want to eat at their cafe.  Check out their menu.

Pick 3 of your favorite local independent businesses, spend $50 a month, save your local economy.  I think this relates to the indie crafter movement!  I think we should put a little handmade spin on this.  Pick 3 of your favorite indie crafting businesses that also have brick and mortar locations and spend $50 a month.  If you spend more, fantastic!  I think I would need help on who has brick and mortar businesses though.  I’m not sure there are any in Las Vegas.  There used to be a craft store where you could rent out a space to sell your goods.  I don’t think it exists anymore.  I could be wrong.

The 3/50 Project was founded by Cinda Baxter and you can read all about her and the project here.

You need to check out these new bracelets in gold and silver at Freshie & Zero.  All affordable at $38 each.  My favorite is Peace and Love.

1.  Nova

2.  Peace and Love

3.  Tiny Hearts

4.  Dwell Pink

5.  Dwell Golden

6.  Cartwheel

And if you are interested in finding out what it means to be an entrepeneur, Freshie & Zero have also added a wonderful and informational post to their blog called Lessons For Entrepeneurs.

These prints from the Vintage Pink Collection by Skippy Designs are so adorable.  Now all I need is more wall space.

I want one. I have no idea how to surf and frankly, I don’t care to learn.  Whatever. I still want one because it’s pretty and will look good leaning up against or hung on the wall.

These custom surf boards are by Naoki.  You can read about the artist and gyotaku here.  I wanted to buy an original print when I was last in Hawaii but didn’t know how carry it on the plane.  Shipping would probably cost more than the print so we decided to go without.  One day I will have one.  Oh, yes, one day I will.

Jen at Indie Fixx has started a Pen Pal Project to bring back snail mail.  I have already signed up and encourage everyone else to also.  It’s fun and who doesn’t love to get handwritten letters in the mail?  Nowadays I see only bills and magazines.  I barely know how to write in cursive anymore.  Architecture has brainwashed my fingers into writing in uppercase and creative writing has ceased.  I used to love to write and even liked writing poetry in college.  I have a chap book floating around somewhere and don’t understand how I wrote what I did.  In any case, I think having a pen pal will help with the creative process and a great way to make new friends.

If you were born after the invention of computers and e-mail and texting, you may need to brush up on your writing etiquette.  You may need to read this book Spencerian Penmanship (Theory Book plus five copybooks).

I think I have a sock doll fetish.  There is something fascinating about toys made of socks.  Hopefully clean socks.  I find these sock monkeys from Siansburys different from what you would normally envision (brown with red cho-cho lips).  What?  You don’t know what I mean?  If you are from Hawaii you know what I am saying.  If you aren’t, click on cho-cho lips and you will find the Pidgin-English definition.  What was I saying again?  Ah, yes.  Sainsbury Super Special Sock Monkey are handmade in the UK and they all have different personalities, colors and textures.  I just want to hug them and squeeze them and call them George.  Yes, I have a room full of George dolls.

I am starting a new series of images called ReFresh not only as inspirational images but as encouragement to others to go green and recycle, make old things new and fresh.  I discovered this mirror and chair makeover that might get the creative juices flowing.

I especially like the mirror remade into a decorative bulletin board.  As you can see, this is from a non-English magazine that I can’t translate.  That’s happening to me a lot lately.  This particular magazine is called
La Nacion Living, a magazine from Argentina (I think).

I bought a few digital issues from Zinio.  I am loving it.  Not only does this help with the ReFresh intent to go green,  it is just nice not to have magazines piled all over the house.  I never thought about it before but I also like that to search for an issue is just so easy when it’s all computerized.  No sifting through stacks to find the right magazine.  The best thing of all?  International magazines and instant gratification.  I don’t have to pay for international shipping and I can print pages that I want.  Nice!

Today’s featured designer is none other than my own sister who shall remain nameless (since I don’t have her permission to post her name!). She created these one-of-a-kind Japanese baby quilts to sell.  I thought I would share these photos with you so you may drool and be inspired all at once.  I love them…and covet them!

She made these nifty Japanese alphabet bags to go along with the quilts.  I would even love to have just the bag if not the quilt.

Ooooooohhhh….Ahhhhhhh!  I can’t get enough of the bright colors and prints.

She added a Japanese boy and girl on the quilts too.  She said she probably couldn’t replicate them exactly since she just made them without a pattern. I hate her!  I can’t sew more than a straight line.  I am more of a paper crafter.

I have hired my sister to create a Hawaiian print quilt for my bed too.  I will definitely post pictures whenever she may finish it.  I’m pretty excited about it.  I can’t wait!

I have been cleaning and sorting my books and came across this Japanese book on how to make Dogs of Mittens and Monkeys of Socks (and more). They are so kawaii!  I bought this at Yes Asia which is the ultimate site to shop at for Asian crafting books and everything else I love (like K-dramas).  Although it’s sometimes difficult to navigate through unless you know how to speak Japanese, Chinese or Korean.  The site is now in English format but the book titles aren’t.  I am going to have to get some of my friends and family to translate.  I am so off-white it’s not funny!

I have also opened a Flickr account and Group (Geez! About time!) to share a few of these inspirational images with everyone.

I love these petite stamps at Lish*Lish!  They are so cute.  Of course, they have to be from a Japanese site that I can only read bits and pieces of!  I wish I paid more attention during those 4 years of Japanese language classes in high school.  I may need to enlist the help of my friends for translations to these sites.

Valentine’s Day is almost upon us and Freshie and Zero is having a great sale.  Friday through Monday only, Buy One and Get One For 30% Off.  Use coupon code “sweetheart” to receive your discount.