Banish Gloom, Spread Joy - With Dog Decor

I recently bought two vintage magazine ads for dog food. I think I am going to frame them in simple black frames, and hang them in the pantry above the bin of dog food. The cocker spaniel and basset hound are perfect models in the first ad. And I am a sucker for large breed dogs, so this St. Bernard begged to come home with me, too.

These vintage ads satisfied too many of my perpetual hankerings (dogs, vintage, funny vintage...) to leave in the antique shop.

Hot Off The Presses!

I've been interviewed by the Design Style Guide blog! My interview is the latest of a series of artist interviews conducted and published by the team. I always thoroughly enjoy reading these interviews, and I am quite pleased to have been asked to participate. I talk about my influences, my inspiration, plans for the shop, and some of my other favorite shops on Etsy. Check it out, and maybe you'll gain a bit of insight into my shop or blog you haven't seen before. I want to thank Jay Neale III, a fellow DSG artist, for conducting the interview - it was a pleasure!

Front Page

A set of my coasters made it to the Etsy front page. I love the greys that they are curated with. I can count at least 6 other items that I might buy. I also like that this list was selected by Etsy. This is what I call my "Tea. Earl Grey. Hot." set of coasters.

Wednesday

I wanted to share a few things that made me happy today. A gold finch landed on the black-eyed susans outside my office window. She was adorable. I had cherries as an in-studio snack after work. I hope some simple things made you happy today. Share them in the comments!

Lemon Jitters

My way fun super cool very popular tooth brush holder has been featured on a blog. You can find the post at the Lemon Jitters blog, and while you're there, check out her regular Tidy Tuesday posts on handy storage pieces and her DIY tutorial posts. This blogger also has an Etsy shop, selling jewelry made from vintage and repurposed materials.

Mud Run Hollow

Someday I will have a fence around my yard. And my dogs will run freely in the yard. And it will become a mud pit. And I will wish I had bought this fantastic vintage sign from Three Potato Four to mount on the fence.

Blue Footed Booby

I might need this watercolor. I don't know if I love the painting or the name more. Contours, the artist, is a fellow Design Style Guide member.

Design Style Guide - Listing Details Shared via AddThis

Shop Update

In the coming days, I will be updating my shop with vintage items. I am excited about beginning to share my love of vintage items and share another facet of my aesthetic. I have been collecting all manner of antique and vintage items for probably more than 15 years. As such, I have developed an eye for quality vintage items, and I am happy to share my finds with Etsy buyers.

VivaTerra : VivaEtsy

I had so much fun blogging about getting the Sundance look by shopping on Etsy that I decided to do the same for another of my favorite companies: VivaTerra. VivaTerra's brand conjures natural materials, ecologically conscious and sustainable sources, and handcrafted artisanal work. Etsy shops are perfectly poised to replicate this look.

This set of 4 recycled wine glass tumblers is $65 (tall) or $49 (low) from VivaTerra.

YAVAglass sells these soda bottle glasses, set of 4, $24.

Bodhicitta has these wine bottle tumblers, set of four for $38.

Air plants are everywhere these days it seems. VivaTerra has an air plant garden complete with glass vase, river rocks and 4 air plants for $79.

A recycled glass terrarium with sand and 4 air plants from VivaTerra is also $79.

Kambra has this air plant sculpture, $17.

Pigeontoeceramics sells air plants like this one, and lovely ceramic pieces. This hybrid air plant is $2.50.

EnchantingGardens has this sea urchin air plant arrangement for $6.50.

Greenunderglass has this terrarium for $30.

I do love these porcelain pear shaped vases from VivaTerra, set of 3 for $69.

These pear bud vases by lisawbwalker are $28.

ToriTs handbuilt pear vases are fantastic at $11.

StudioElan (a fellow DesignStyleGuide member) makes these delightful pears - I must admit to having bought one already! $28 each.

VivaTerra's wooly night owl is $79.

Hand sewn felted wool owl (and baby) by woolcrazy, $16.

Formydarling has this recycled felted wool owl for $15.

Oscar the owl is $10, by knittingmette.

Y0omii makes these sweet little knit owls, $14 each.

This bamboo computer mouse knocks me out. $39 at VivaTerra. While I did not find any wooden mouse accessories on Etsy, I did find a number of marriages between wood and computer accessories.

MatthewRonan has this driftwood USB stick for $70. Note the woodburned USB symbol!

Ebony and mahogany wood comprise this USB stick by woodventure, $69.

Woodtec has this USB stick (literally) for $58.

tuvasdesign has this reclaimed teak USB stick for $34.99.

VivaTerra has really great stone knobs (above, set of 4 ,$75) and hooks (below, set of 3, $89).

SteppingStones has this set of stone knobs or drawer pulls for $40.

This coat rack by nativeelement has Michigan stones - $76.

Wylea has this beautiful stone knob for $12.95.

BourneDesigns has this set of 4 knobs, $40.

These papier mache birds from VivaTerra are quite charming. They're on sale - they were $49 each, they're now $39 each.

Middleburg has these white birds for $24.

I've been smitten by these birds by cottonbirddesigns for about a year now. Music paper bird (above) and crosswords paper bird (below), each $39.

This set of three concrete succulent planters is $79 at VivaTerra.

coughcoughchoke has this succulent planter with chalkboard circle for $21.

ErdeDesigns has this great windowsill planter, $28.

MyVintageAddiction has this succulent garden for $23.95.

monkeysalwayslook has succulents in a variety of charming vintage items, such as this plant in a ceramic creamer.

If, on the other hand, you have your own containers handy, you could just buy the plants and place them in your preferred vessel. TheSucculentGarden has these succulent cuttings for $2.50.

Aloe plant from SucculentsGalore, $5.50.

Chalk boards seem to be all the rage lately. Whether they're used for labeling the contents of a storage piece (as above, wall bins $89), or simply as useful wall decor perfect for keeping messages and notes to self (as below, vintage slate chalk board, $175).

This vintage frame with chalk board by mechanicalstag is $32.

Pinkpalmstudio has this chalk board flower pot, and sends it with a chalk board crate - the set is yours for $30.

Cottagerosedecor has this tool caddy with chalk board paint - storage, magnetic, and notes to self for $25!

Kelleystreetvintage has this 1890s double sided chalk board for $43.50.

bythewayside has this old school room double sided chalkboard, $5.

bouquet has this vintage children's chalk board with chalk tray, $36.

Perhaps you've noticed a few themes throughout this post. I find it interesting that so many of these threads - chalk boards, birds, easy-care plants, pears, stone and wood - are present in the photos of other items. VivaTerra's brand is well-communicated in their catalog and on their website, and happily, it's easily recreated in our homes when we support the artisans on Etsy.