did you think it was never going to happen? I thought I would never get to it, but alas here I am with a list of favourite posts, new blog discoveries, and fun reads from around the blogosphere…

First up is an introduction to A Field Journal – a beautiful blog written but university student Livy who is studying art history. She’s a crafty lass, making all sorts of things from sock monkeys named pete, specimen drawings, and beautiful photos of laundry and things (as you see above). She also hosted herself a rather sweet 21st birthday bash, take a look here. I may be one of the last to discover dear Livy’s blog, as she already has a number of loyal readers, but I thought for those of you like me who don’t get enough time to zoom around the blogosphere, perhaps this will be a new discovery for you too. Enjoy!

I found A Field Journal via one of my new favourite regular stops, Nicola’s Concrete and Honey (which you may remember, I mentioned in my last blog favourites). Girl’s got so much talent that I just can’t get enough of- check out one of her latest posts giving us a sneak peak inside her beautiful abode and her mum’s honeymoon slip. stunning.

Another regular stop is maia’s une envie de sel. Which is just so full of life, love, photographs and little tidbits about maia. She writes, she illustrates, and she has an incredibly beautiful daughter. Recently I loved reading about her trip to victoria, australia – read about what she got up to! It sounds like so much fun and I want to know more.

did you know that esti’s drawings are going to be printed on clothing? here is a sneak peek. i really really would like one. also, check out her INCREDIBLE stones – first she collected them at the beach and then look what she drew on them. i’m in love. love. love.

and have you seen kim’s kitchen? it’s gorgeous! she has been working so hard with this renovation with greentea designs, it’s awesome. Check out her before and afters here, an interview over at green tea designs here, and one of my favourite features just outside the kitchen right here. so clever! also kim’s home office is dazzling. congrats kim!!

well that should keep you busy for a while! i think i’ve overstretched myself with making such regular posts of blog favourites and etsy favourites, so from now on I’ll be pulling back a little and just fitting them in when I can. I’ve also totally lost my rhythm with replying to emails in good time, answering questions in comments, fulfilling tags and thanking you for blog awards!! I’m so sorry! Please forgive me. Keeping a balance is so tricky! But I have so many things going on behind the scenes here that I can’t yet reveal on the blog so although it may look like I’m chillin’, it’s quite the opposite. So bare with me during this time if possible. there will be fun things coming to the (blog)house soon and I’m busting my chops to make it happen. until then, I do hope you’ve enjoyed this segment of…

tout de suite!

xx

PS ooh it’s a rainbow here in the (blog)house this week! I’ve gone from vibrant yellow to forest shades of brown, to green houses & wintry scenes, bright blue and now soft pastels… it’s nearly spring afterall! yay!!!

…not literally, i assure you. but have you seen what she’s been up to lately at the design for mankind headquarters? Beside establishing her very own magazine, which has been filled with awesomeness since its inception last year, she has been busy creating project after project, including free encouragement, giveaways galore, and bakery where she helps bake businesses with collaborator jaime derringer of design milk. I can barely keep up! Because as if that was not enough, Erin has just begun another super cool project of the video variety called dialogue…

Erin says the goal of dialogue is simple: we want to say what we’re not saying: “talk about what we’re not talking about. you know, the realistic side of living a life of creativity.” She has rounded up a slew of artists to speak on some great topics, the first episode being about “how to keep the balance” featuring artists Jen Gotch, Lisa Solomon and Kelly Lynn Jones….

credits clockwise from top left…1.jen gotch 2. lisa solomon 3. lisa solomon 4. kelly lynn jones 5. jen gotch.

so for all the artists and designers and people who want to be artists or designers of some kind out there, click here to view the first episode! hmm, i wonder who else erin has rounded up for dialogue…?

photo by lenaah

and don’t forget to check out her other venture called bakery, filled with posts about blogging and small business tips.

You go girl!!

xx

no words needed.

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view the whole series here. maditi’s book titled ‘inside out’ is available to purchase here.

booyah! (i don’t know if that’s how you write that word but hopefully you know what I mean)

How awesome is this dwelling? I mean, let’s just say we got lost on our way to our treehouse yesterday, and instead we stumbled across this place. Would we mind? No way! I’m all over this place. aaaaall over it.

The pattern is created by the über talented Alan The Gallant. And the image I found via the dear Nicole at 46th at grace.

We all loved the idea of hanging out in one of the above tree-hugging abodes, so I thought it would be fun to theme this week’s etsy favourites with this in mind! So come with me, let’s spend a lazy afternoon picnicking at our dreamy location…

The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of being miles away from civilisation is food. I thought we could bring our tasty provisions in these beautifully woven baskets from The Bent Tree Gallery. Let’s fill them with afternoon treats like an assortment of our favourite French & Dutch cheeses, a couple of baguettes, freshly picked grapes, figs, dates, strawberries, pears and some fresh herbs from the vegetable garden.

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The Bent Tree Gallery has lots of great things for our picnic in the trees, including this handy wine bar. oh I adore this creation! We can have one for a lovely bottle of chilled rosé, and another for le champagne.

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Now we’ve arrived at our dreamy destination! That didn’t take too long did it? But before we get too comfortable, lets go for an afternoon walk – we can take one of these hiking sticks carved from maple, handcrafted from featured etsy seller bearpaw rustics. oh and let’s just have a peak inside this charming birdhouse nestled on a nearby trunk, perhaps there is someone home.

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When we get back we can play a few rounds of my all-time favourite card game – crib! And what do you know, I found a beautifully handcrafted one at bearpaw rustics…

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Well after all this glorious tree dwelling, I’m feeling so relaxed and rather sleepy, are you? Shall we stay for the night? Lets…

…because I just so happened to bring a couple of these soft, organic wool travelling mattresses made by Monikaw, just in case we decided upon a spontaneous treetop sleepover. And of course, I brought enough food for a delicious breakfast in the branches.

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Oh that was such fun! We might have to do it again sometime. Thanks for joining me for this specially themed installment of…