{ nie nie day...the final stretch }

UPDATE: The auctions and fundraising efforts have been extended to take full advantage of all those who continue to offer their contributions and support. In addition, new auctions are being added daily. For a complete and up-to-date listing of all auctions, visit here.

This weekend I have finally had a chance to catch up on reading some blog posts that I missed while being away last week. I'm sure many of you have already read about Stephanie and Christian Nielson and the tragic plane crash they were in recently. I couldn't help but be deeply touched by their story and the generous outpouring of support by the blogging community to assist the Nielson's and their beautiful family during what is expected to be a long recovery. If you haven't yet, you can read about it here.

Design Mom has organized an amazing online fundraising effort on the Nielson's behalf. It includes 300+ online auctions all summarized here. Many of the auctions end tonight {Sunday} so there's still time to offer your support--every little bit helps!!!

To do my little part and help spread the word, I've highlighted a few of my favorites that are still up for grabs...

A gorgeous set of custom letterpress notecards by simplesong

Hug bangle by Cinnamon*Sticks Boutique

Blue Poppy Jewelry earrings courtesy of English Trees

In the moment sterling silver necklace by RHB Designs 

$150 gift certificate to Sarah Jane Studios by Design Mom

Custom silhouette notecards by Ambrosia Girl

Matching father & son ties over on Fun Finds for Mom

More Sarah Jane goodies

Quick Links:

Stay current on the Nielson family and the couple's recovery here and here. 

Learn other ways in which you can help here.

Learn more about the Nielson family through Stephanie's inspiring blog.

{ going coastal... }

Bixby Bridge {along California's Highway 1} by flickr fave rustyjaw

We're off to get some sand between our toes one last time before summer's end. I'll be back in a couple of days and look forward to really catching up with you all... 

{ back-to-cool... }

If you share my love of vintage school supplies, I encourage you to take a field trip over to Uppercase and take a gander at their much anticipated exhibit, Old School, which celebrates the aesthetics of 20th century education through exhibition and curated objects. 

Inspired by vintage school memorabilia including, flash cards, chalk, crayons, science fairs, class photos...you name it...the exhibition includes over 80 works of art by some of my favorite artists.

I'm inspired to borrow some of the many clever ideas spotted here. I envision a kids' arts and crafts party with an old school twist in my daughter's future...

add pertinent details for cute invitations

fun and easy treats

Gather a few favorite school supplies and fill mini lunch boxes or tins (available at the $1 store) to create cute favors.

I must admit, my daughter and I were feeling too cool for school when we saw this typewriter featured in the exhibit. {Good eye Oma and Opa!}

There's so much more to see...grab your permission slips and check out all the artwork featured here. The exhibit is also documented in a commemorative book. If that isn't enough, you can get your school supply fix here.

{ friday....unplugged }

Little one at Kings Beach, Lake Tahoe

Back-to-school is looming on the horizon and soon our carefree summer days will have come and gone. So I hope you won't mind if I ask for a couple of hall passes over the next week to squeeze in just a bit more summer fun with my little one. Thanks for your understanding!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend ahead. Hope to see you back here on Monday. Cheers!

{ inspired entertaining: something old, something new... }

I am totally smitten with the simple elegance of this real wedding featured on the lovely junk drawer blog. It's loaded with wonderful DIY ideas and the table settings have provided the perfect inspiration for an end-of-summer/early fall gathering with friends (scaled down a bit of course).

The bride lined each table with burlap runners which she cut herself to help keep costs down. Her floral designer then alternated tables with orange and yellow flowers in various sized mason jars. {I see mason jars all the time at tag sales--throw them in the dishwasher and they're as good as new}. 

I adore the added touch of cut burlap on each mason jar-how utterly charming

In addition, simple votive candles were set amongst lemons, lemon leaves and apricots that coordinated with the flowers. The results are stunning, no? 

If you love to entertain, you can find oodles of additional inspiration on Snippet & Ink and in Ez's amazing collection of wedding inspired blogs.

{all images by studio nouveau}

{ summer days driftin' away... }

Some fun finds inspired by my impromptu visit to the California State Fair yesterday. 

Sources:

Nice Day for a Ride: Bucks County Frames

Vintage Tickets: ArtbyHeatherSupplies

Equestrian Crocheted Necklace: TinyBazaar {Danielle's fab new shop}

Annie Oakley Charm Necklace: McMaster & Storm

Lollipops photo: Jonathan Canlas Photography

We had a blast...good old fashioned fun! !! This, by far, was my favorite attraction of the day...

10 newborn piglets–just hours old.  I was so tempted to scoop one up to take home with me--they were unbelievably cute. {Photos taken on my cell phone camera thus, the poor quality} 

If I'm able to get them developed and scanned, I will try to post more photos later. I've been forced to go retro with my photo taking lately, thanks to a little kayaking mishap in which our digital camera found it's way into the lake. *sigh*

{ catching up and celebrating... }

Happy Monday everyone! No...I haven't forgotten about you all–quite the opposite, in fact. However, I still find myself playing catch up with post vacation chores...unpacking, laundry, mail sorting, emails, and so on. I hope to be back in full swing here tomorrow.

I would be remiss, however, if I didn't give my "baby" brother a special shout-out for his birthday, which is today!

Being nearly 5 years his senior, I can still vividly remember the morning he was born like it was yesterday (never mind that it was actually, ahem, 30 something years ag0). I remember being completely over the moon with excitement the day we went to pick him up and bring him home from the hospital. 

He was my best little buddy from that point on--even if we did get in knock down, drag out brawls every Friday evening over who got to watch their favorite TV show (mine: Dallas, his: Dukes of Hazaard).

I'm also quite certain he didn't appreciate my disco phase--during which I often forced him to be my dance "partner".

So cheers to you little bro for all that you endured having me as a big sis. Though distance and our busy lives keep us apart most of the time, you are always close at heart and a huge part of who I am.

I'm so proud of the amazing, thoughtful, and caring man you've become. May you have the happiest of birthdays! Love, Suz

P.S. Sorry about the pictures Scooter Pie...I couldn't resist. :)

{ a blurb about blurb }

One of my goals this summer is to organize all of our vacation photos and actually do something meaningful with them, which is why I have Blurb on the brain these days. Have you discovered Blurb yet? If not, you're in for a treat.

Blurb is an amazing DIY publisher and online community that celebrates the joy of books and enables anyone to design and publish stunning, coffee table quality books–affordably. After researching several photo book options and DIY publishers, I used Blurb last year to create a wedding book for my brother and was beyond thrilled with the final result. 

Aside from the extensive features and customization options available through Blurb's free BookSmart template program, my favorite feature on the site is the Bookstore. Here you can browse thousands of books created and published via Blurb and preview the first 15 pages of each book. Warning: This feature is extremely addictive!.

Oh...did I mention you can also opt to sell your book through Blurb?

For starters, check out these Blurb books (some of my faves). 

{Click on the links to see a preview of the first 15 pages in each book.}

I spy {by Kerry Pitt-Hart of the awe inspiring LushBella}

With Water and With Stars

What I Did Last Summer

Duncan Byrnes Baseball Hero

That should keep you busy for a bit this weekend. :)

Much to catch up on...missing you all!

I'll be back Monday!

{off to collect some more souvenirs...}

Happy Monday everyone. Did you do anything fun or interesting over the weekend? I hope so!

I'm off to enjoy some summer fun with my family so I won't be around as much this week. I have, however, prescheduled some mini posts which will feature a couple of my favorite shops and stops that I've bookmarked over last couple of months. Stay tuned...

In the meantime, if you have any end of summer vacay plans of your own and are looking for a creative and clever way to bring your kitschy souvenirs to life, hop on over to Michael Hughes' intriguing souvenirs flickr set for some fun inspiration. 

Quick Links:

See the full Souvenirs photo series here.

Read more about the project here {which is also a book in the making}.

{all images via the oh-so-talented Michael Hughes}

{ blog crush: tabitha emma }

i do like tea by tabitha emma

 
While sipping a cup of my favorite tea this morning, I decided to treat myself to a long, leisurely stroll through my latest blog crush, Tabitha Emma {see her over there in my side column}. I made some sweet discoveries along the way that I thought I'd share with you...

goodies from the tabitha emma shop

First stop was Tabitha's own etsy shop. Inspired by childhood memories, this young and fun Sydney, Australia based artist has filled her shop with the most delightful illustrations, prints and textile works depicting her charming and whimsical designs of cupcakes, tea cups, and feathered friends. How about those darling tea cozies and coin purses...irresistible!

After falling head over heels for this french bird nest clutch, I discovered a post back on Tabitha's blog in which she describes the creative evolution of the piece, which I found utterly fascinating. Don't you just love it when artists share a behind the scenes peek into their creative process?

images via Hennie Haworth

Next stop was the site of an amazing freelance illustrator based in London, Hennie Haworth, whose work was featured on Tabitha's blog. Her lively illustrative works are amazing–some of which are available for purchase here.

A light-hearted tribute to Bob Dylan perhaps?

I could go on and on about these fun finds or this great shop, and most definitely her creations, all featured on Tabitha's blog. Alas, I must get on with the day. Do yourself a favor this weekend and steal a few moments to explore Tabitha Emma–this talented, emerging artist has a keen eye for great design and has some wonderful offerings awaiting your discovery.

BTW, Tabitha's mum is the very own, Wendy Paula Patterson, of Mulberry Muse and Cafe Baudelaire–two of my etsy faves!

Thank you for each and every comment left this week. I appreciate your thoughtful and insightful feedback and love sharing my day with all of you.

Happy Friday...have a GREAT weekend!

{ the ardent sparrow -- and reader special offer }

Rebecca Wagler is a new mom based in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, who recently decided to pursue some of her creative interests and explore the world of jewelry making {squeezing it in while her little one naps}.

 

Fortunately for all of us, she's opened a lovely etsy shop, The Ardent Sparrow, in which she features her distinctive and often, one-of-a-kind, jewelry designs. I adore her combination of antiqued metals and charming vintage elements. 

Imagine any of these pieces with a simple tee and jeans and you go from ho-hum to funky & fabulous {and it's all so reasonably priced to boot}.

Quick Links: 

The Ardent Sparrow shop {updated frequently}

The Ardent Sparrow Blog

Also, be sure to enter "S.HOPtalk" in the message to seller at checkout and you will receive free shipping on any orders over $20. Thank you Rebecca–best wishes with your new endeavor and your adorable little daughter.

Side Note: Several reader comments that were  left over the last couple of days simply disappeared. They were there and then vanished??? Please know that I did read them and have them stored in my email--thanks so much. Hopefully, it's something temporary.

{ muy caliente: tortilla girl }

It seems my inbox of late has been filling up with introductions, offers, and promotions of the new fall fashions. I, however, am very much present in the summer and plan to savor every last second of it. 

I just love the fresh simplicity of Tortilla Girl's handmade offerings–ideal for celebrating the remaining 47 days of summer in style and comfort. 

Visit the Tortilla Girl shop here.

Learn more about Becky {the amazing designer behind Tortilla Girl} and her fascinating background here.

{ while i was out... }

dock at dusk

A silver lining of this summer's rising gas prices {and plane fares} has been the {re}discovery of vacation destinations close to home.  It's quite possible we would not have experienced the breathtaking beauty of Lake Tahoe–arguably one of the most amazing places to visit in America and just 90 minutes from our front door–had we not been forced to take a more practical approach to our summer vacation plans this year. After falling under its magical spell last week, it's unimaginable that we could have ever taken this true jewel of the West for granted.

Biking along the Truckee River from Tahoe City to Squaw Valley

Looking out from the cove at Crystal Bay

Dusk along the Lake's West Shore