Etsy Portrait: Christmas for Kristin

This Etsy Portrait is for my dear friend Kristin who loves to get her heart rate up, whether she's training for a marathon, sweating through a bikram class or teaching geometry to high school sophmores. She loves bright Hawaiian sunshine (she calls it Vitamin D Therapy), making beautiful beaded jewelery (look for her on Etsy soon!) and a killer batch of caramel corn. Here are some Etsy finds I think she'd love. (See the treasury live on Etsy here!)
This flocked Bead Board would make it easy to plan out her ever more elaborate jewelery designs without committing right away.

This fabulous Bird Watercolor is an original, just like her.
This throwback I-phone cover is the perfect ironic, yet nostalgic nod to her 80's childhood.

This Poster seems like it could be her personal mantra.

This Spicy Cashew Caramel Corn looks heavenly. I love the idea of adding a bit of heat to something so sweet, salty and crunchy.

I love the relaxed, simple look of this Draped Bamboo Top. It would go perfectly with anything in her wardrobe of clean, all American sportswear.

A giant Pleated Carryall in a shocking color with delightful ripples of texture is perfect for a girl who can't seem to leave home without carrying along a few bottles of soda, a couple of apples, some gummy worms, a few books, her i-pod and workout gear. (Key word, GIANT.)

How's your Christmas Shopping coming along? I'm about half way there and loving the internet more and more with each passing day. Crowds, I don't miss you one teeny bit.

Defying Black Friday

Today, the day after Thanksgiving, is supposed to be a frenzy of stampeding crowds, combatant shoppers sending elbows flying and tug of wars over the very last burping baby doll.

I think I'll devote one more day to gratitude.

It's not because I'm above commercialism, desire or the holiday fray. (After all, a rather hefty portion of this blog is devoted to items I covet and you might covet too!) But yesterday, as our house was full of the hubbub and commotion that comes with preparing a holiday feast for 22 people, and I stood sweating over the last minute gravy, my heart swelled with contentment at the thought that all these people were gathered to celebrate abundance, bounty and excess.

It's easy to see abundance in the puritanical light those Pilgrims hauled across the ocean. We see our indulgences as coming at someone else's expense. We think we have to hoard up the good in our lives and cling to it lest it evaporate and disappear forever. But this isn't really the nature of the universe.

Celebrating bounty, reveling in it, sharing it with each other- encourages more of it! It fills us up and overflows out of our hearts into someone else's life.

So a celebration like Thanksgiving is a perfect way to seize the moment. It goes like this:

Stop that routine in it's tracks.

Put everything aside.

Come together with people you love.

Reflect on your life.

Notice it's beauty.

Notice what is precious in it.

Notice it's pleasures.

Notice it's blessings.

Notice the richness in the details.

Pause.

Find a deep, still place inside yourself.

Watch it fill with humble thanks.

Share that gratitude with someone else.

Repeat whenever you think of it.

Love,

Becky

P.S) Here is the blessing we read before our Thanksgiving Feast.

DIY with The Fab Miss B: Magnetic Make-up Palate

I recently saw an add for a magnetic make-up palate and it struck me as a fun DIY to attempt.

Here's how I did it.

You will need:

Makeup in containers- I used eyeshadows.

Something to pry the pans loose with- either a screwdriver, or a finer tool like a pocket knife blade.

A container to put the loose pans in- I used a Cavallini & Co. Sticker box

A hot glue gun

First, pry the make up pans loose from their containers. It may take several tries to loosen them.

Pull them out.
Arrange them into a pleasing pattern. (Don't they look cooler already? It reminds me of a painting!)

Assemble the pans into a pleasing pattern in the tin.

Use a bit of hot glue to adhere them in place. (Since both the tin and the pan are metal, you can move them around if you'd like later.)

I added a few shadow applicators from the drugstore.

Ta da! I love how this has lightened the load in my make up bag. Plus, now I can see the whole spectrum of color I have to work with when I put on my makeup in the morning. What fun! Be sure to let me know how your palate turns out.

My new haircut is remarkably versatile.

I can be a French boy from 1904...

A mobster collecting the vig...


And last, but not least, Justin Beiber. (All the little girls at my school are obsessed with him. In case you've never laid eyes on a copy of Tiger Beat, he is the force behind this abomination.)

Inspired by Vanity Fair's In Character feature.

DIY with the Fab Miss B: Mini Lucky Bamboo Plants

Here is a wonderful simple, elegant, easy DIY gift just in time for Christmas. It takes a bit of a head start, which is why I'm posting this tutorial now! Want to play elf with me? You will need:

Glass containers- mine are drinking glasses from the thrift store, costing around .50 cents a piece.

River Rocks- this container of smooth black pebbles from Target was $6.00

A big lucky bamboo plant you can cut starters from, or buy small potted ones.

Clean glass containers you can sprout your starter in.

First, cut snips off the big bamboo plant at the "joint" or knuckle of the bamboo plant. Put the starter in a glass of clean water for 1-2 weeks until you see white roots beginning at the base. I used 3 starters for each of my final gifts.

Put a few river rocks in the base of your container.

Holding the starter plants upright, fill container with rocks around it until the plants are solidly supported.

Add water and perhaps a gift tag with care instructions and you've got a thoughtful, inexpensive gift for a co-worker or hostess.

Care instructions are simple: when water level diminishes, re-fill your lucky bamboo plant. Periodically, you may want to remove plant and stones and wash them thoroughly before repotting and refreshing the water.

Just after I finished shooting this tutorial- a tiny lizard took up residence! Pretty nice digs, huh?

Do you have any great DIY Christmas Gift ideas? I'd love to hear suggestions- thanks to my new job at an elementary school there are a lot of folks on my list this year.

All I Want for Christmas!

A black cashmere cardigan because winter in Hawaii is colder than you'd think, and I love slipping a cardigan over my sun dresses.

I love the clean, modern look of these glass candleholders. They would mix perfectly with my collection of clear glass votives and cylinders and I am always arranging and re-arranging the tablescapes in our home.

I'm mad about this Peacock Lollipop holder, but I think I'd fill mine with feathers or flower stems. (And while we're at it, I'm still lusting after this Lolita Sunglasses Case too!)

These Quartz Ornaments remind me of icicles without being too literal. (Decorating with ice and snow just seems sort of silly when there is a riot of greenery, color and pounding surf right outside your door.)

I like that Trompe L'oeil is a little visual joke, so these 76th St Flats are loads of fun. What's on your Christmas Wish List this year?

Etsy Portrait: Christmas for Gwen

With Christmas on it's way, I thought I'd reinstate my "Etsy Portraits" series from last year. It is so much fun to comb through listings with someone special in mind, don't you think? This collection was inspired by my dear friend Gwen who loves gnomes, the ocean and an exquisitely made cup of coffee. It was also featured on Etsy's front page recently!

this rather macabre Sailor Hand Clock has just the right combination of whimsy and dark humor.
Gwen loves to be outside in the sunshine and saltwater, so this print would be perfect in her house.

As a devotee of all things miniature and woodland, this Handmade Hobbit Hole would be awfully fun to play with. Plus, it's small and pretty enough to display on her desktop! (The seedpod bed is my favorite part.)

This stunningly Beautiful embroidered hat reminds me of folk art and the sweet acorn top shape calls up the woods perfectly. A bit impractical for Hawaii perhaps, but pish posh. It would be just the thing to wear on her fantasy jaunt to Scandinavia.
What could be better than serving perfectly made cappuccinos in this Stripey Vintage Coffee Set...

with sugar cubes and tiny cookies on these Handpainted wooden dishes?

This handwoven nautical doormat would be the perfect welcome to her home overlooking the water. (She has an amazing view of the Hawaiian sunsets!)

And I couldn't resist this Gnome & Deer Photograph- it's just about perfect.

What are you wishing for this Christmas?

Mini Bathroom Makeover; Finishing Touches

I did a little more fussing with the details of my mini bathroom makeover.

I filled the vases with seashells and added the Ship Shadowbox to the tableaux.

All this re-arranging got me to re-thinking my art selections. I brought in my wonderful Jacques Cousteau poster from Wayne Pate and moved my Seashell Specimen Boxes here to hang in a pretty row. I like how all the mirrors let me enjoy all these beautiful objects no matter where I am looking. I also think the variety of blues adds depth and prevents everything from looking to matchy-matchy or themed. (That would completely undo the relaxed beach vibe I'm shooting for.)

Apothecary jars and trays of perfume- I don't think I'll ever get tired of keeping those on the bathroom counter top. Someday I fantasize about having an old fashioned mirrored vanity table with a pretty silver monogrammed hairbrush and hand mirror.

What about you? Added any new feathers to your nest lately?

DIY with the Fab Miss B: Faux Mercury Glass

I love the look of Mercury Glass and I thought I'd try my hand at making my own faux version to use as votive candle holders. To give this project a whirl, you will need:

Metallic Spraypaint

Misting Spray Bottle of Water

Scissors

Tape

Recycled Paper

A glass vase or drinking glass

First, line the outside of the glass with the paper, taping it closed and trimming away the excess.

Next, spray the inside of the clean glass object with a fine mist of water. Don't be shy- the mist will make the spraypaint look mottled and antiqued- just what we're after.

Working quickly, lightly coat the inside of the glass with the metallic spray. Let dry overnight.

Voila! You've just created a beautiful antiqued centerpiece for your holiday table! Now, wasn't that easy?

What have you been making lately?

Giving Thanks

This year Eric and I are looking forward to hosting a Thanksgiving Feast for our Hawaiian Ohana. Thanksgiving is one of my very favorite holidays, because it is a chance for us to collectively reflect on blessings. Every single one of us has something to be thankful for- and when I stand back and look at all the riches of my life, I feel overwhelmed with gratitude. It's wonderful to be able to share that with people we love.

I've also discovered that the holidays that are filled with fresh faces and new traditions are the ones that stand out most boldly in my memory. I know this one will fit into that category. Here is a little of the inspiration for the celebration we're planning. (See the treasury live on Etsy here!)

Seasonal photographs set the tone for a celebration surrounding the ritual of harvest and abundance. I love the idea of changing up the art in your home to match your mood, set the tone and create a sense of occasion. Photography is a great way to do this since prints are inexpensive and come in standard sizes that will fit frames you already have.

Instead of relegating kids to a wobbly card table, why not give them something beautiful to play with? These gorgeous hand carved toys are sure to start a rousing game of make believe.

This linen tablecloth in a festive tartan adds an earthy warmth to the table.

Hand Calligraphed Place Cards are an elegant but personal touch.

Dig in to the feast with some beautiful mid century modern flatware...

I love the idea of re-imagining holiday traditions- which are often the same year after year and all blur together. What could be more fun than Mini pies on a stick? The perfect way to end the meal with an unexpected dash of fun and humor.

What are your Thanksgiving traditions? At my grandparent's house, we always put five kernels of dried corn next to each place settings to remember the pilgrim's first greuling winters, and read Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Day Proclamation.