( a few of my favorite {spring} things... }

{inspired by your comments on this post}

Sources:

01. Apple Blossoms ~ Wren and Chickadee  .02 Vintage pleated purse ~ hello me

03. Hello Spring ~ Cathy Nichols  .04 Old Town ~ Alicia Bock

05. Cherry Blossom Girl headband ~ lou and lee  .06 Tuileres linen dress ~ Tortilla Girl

.07 Ring around the posy necklace ~ Blue Moss  .08 little birdie ~ emilie friday

{ thursday thoughts... }

via Oh KayK's eye chart series

{ thursday thoughts...}

lovely little print spotted here

INSPIRATION

Hello sweet lovely friends!
Melissa here from Melissa loves. I am thrilled and honored to be posting here in my friend Suzanne's stead. As I think she is one of the loveliest ladies in blogland. I glean so much inspiration from her and in her honor(and thanks to my friend Ez for the idea) I thought I would do something related to inspiration. I am sure most of you are inspired on a daily basis by any number of things. A photo, a person, a piece of art, a sweet gesture, a phrase or quote or something in nature.....there are any number of ways to be inspired. For me, this time, it was this brooch. Something about it captivated me....maybe the colors?( I do love grey :) or the bird? ( I do love birds) or the way the designer has mixed materials so well together? (I don't know) I am known to love sparkle but, conversely love simplicity as well. Maybe that is it....the sparkle and the simplicity. It inspired me and I hope you enjoy what it conjured for me.....what is inspiring you today? I would love to know!





























(beautiful brooch here)






























~awesome ring here
~clothes here
~beautiful necklace here
~lilac flats here

Sweet & lovely Suzanne(and her lovely readers)..thank you so much for having me !
It was so fun to be here!
xo
Melis

{ my place or yours...savannah, georgia with katie runnels }

image via better homes and gardens

Today's guest on My Place or Yours is the lovely, creative, and always inspiring Katie Runnels. I adore this lady--she's become one of my favorite artists and bloggers to follow. She designs the most beautiful, handmade wreaths and charming dioramas and...ask anyone who knows her and they'll tell you how nice, kind, generous, and genuine Katie is. 

one of Katie's darling bell jar creations

one of the amazing wreaths available in Katie's shop

As one of the original founders and creators of the amazing shopSCAD, Katie has a keen eye for great design and up and coming artists. I always find something new and drool worthy when I pop over to her blog and I really admire her for the support and encouragement she offers to other artists. Today Katie is treating us to a tour of one of her favorite spots--Savannah, Georgia--a place she still calls home, though she no longer lives there. After reading Katie's interview, it's easy to see why one would be forever drawn to this charming little town. 

Are you ready? Let's go...

 

Please tell us a little about yourself

I'm not originally from there and its been two years since I've moved away, however Savannah, Georgia still feels like home to me. I moved there in 2001 to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design for graduate school and then worked for the college-co-creating shopSCAD after graduation. I was looking for a small art school to attend after having a miserable time living in Boston. I'm originally from Fayetteville, Arkansas, which isn't that small anymore-but I definitely thrive in a smaller and warmer community-which is what I found at SCAD in Savannah. I lived in cozy little apartments all over the historic district while I went to school and was lucky enough to later purchase a sweet little cottage in Ardsley Park.

Three words that best describe Savannah
Quirky, Historic, Artistic

-Favorite discovery
I used to love heading out to Tybee Island Beach on the weekends. The North Beach Grill located next to the black and white lighthouse on Tybee is great for plodding over in your sandy feet for great beach drinks! Be sure to order the chips and/or plantains and salsa which are incredible!

Who is/are your favorite artist(s) (can be local or not) ? And why?
My favorite artists who are actually located in Savannah are Tiffani Taylor, Sara Neuburger of The Small Object and Marcus Kenney 

stocking stuffer by Sara Neuburger

What is/are your favorite local shop(s)?
shopSCAD, of course!  -original artwork and designs by student, faculty and alumni of the Savannah College of Art and Design!

images by Chia Chong

@home  Vintage and vintage inspired housewares and gifts-fantastic ribbon, paper, and millinery selection.

image via Apartment Therapy

image by Jade McCully

The Paris Market and Brocante  Always inspiring range of antiques and vintage inspired housewares, furniture, and curiousities from around the world. 

image via The Paris Market and Brocante

Primary Art Supply -supplies SCAD students with everything they could possibly need!

Wild Fibre  -Delightful shop with an always bountiful selection of yarns and supplies for knitting, weaving, crochet and felting.

-Best kept local secret
Sweet Potatoes restaurant on the southside of Savannah. Its a bit of a drive to get out there but their amazing southern style cooking is well worth it!

-An ideal spot to linger over lunch:
I adore Soho South Cafe on Liberty street. Soho is part art gallery, bookshop and restaurant. Order everything on the menu!

images via caanc75

When visiting Savannah, don't miss:
I just don't understand the cattle-call that lines the street everyday at one very popular southern-style restaurant. I recommend getting your southern food fix at the quaint Mrs. Wilkes Boardinghouse restaurant on Jones Street. Then continue shopping along Whitaker Street-Madame Chrysanthemum, One Fish, Two Fish, and Circa Lighting, Arcanum and La Paperie. 

image via Circa Lighting design portfolio

Don't miss Back in the Day Bakery for their yummy lunches and incredible homestyle sweet treats! 

I get homesick for Savannah when I think about...
My friends and the food! I always get a cozy and nostalgic feeling when I drive back into the downtown under the canopy of Spanish Moss. I miss the big-city feel of the relatively small and charming historic district.

If you had an opportunity to live anywhere else in the world, where would we find you?
I would love to live in a small village in England, France, or Italy for a few months out of the year. I think I'd enjoy tending to a cottage and farm like that of Beatrix Potter.

image by Katie

Don't you all want to hop on the next plane, train, or automobile and visit Savannah for yourself? Me too!!! Thank you Katie for offering us a true insider's view of the lovely and charming place you call home. I hope you have the opportunity to return there someday if that's your desire. xo ~Suzanne

Quick Links:

The Constant Gatherer blog

The Constant Gatherer shop

{ ispy: cakies wool felt crowns }

{i}spy: a must-have item for any tot on your holiday shopping list

I think these handmade wool felt crowns from Cakie's might just be the sweetest little treats I've seen in awhile.

Imagine the endless hours of creative play with these scrumptious little lovelies {not to mention the priceless photo ops}. Skip on over to Cakies for more hand crafted delights--including adorable Mama size hair clips. 

Not to miss: 

The mycakies blog which includes a sneak peek inside the two irresistible rooms Rubyellen {don't you love that name?} has created for each of her daughters. 

{ {i}spy: irresistible, one-of-a- kind treasures }

I just spied these adorable, handmade stuffies in the UK based Strawberries and Cream shop and I want to adopt every single one of them. Such charming little adornments for a baby nursery, don't you think?

To see more:

Visit the Strawberries and Cream shop 

Additional stuffies are also featured on the minori design web site

Don't miss: Theresia's flickr stream for more of her amazing designs

{ reader special: bravomayo designs }

Hi everyone...I hope you are all having a fabulous week. My internet woes from the road continue I'm afraid. When I am able to log on, the connection is so slow, it's painful. I'm making the best of it by savoring a little "unplugged" time with the family. The optimist in me will call it a blessing in disguise. The good news is I come bearing gifts...



The oh-so-crafty Heather from Brezomayo Designs has graciously offered S.HOPtalk readers a 15% discount off any purchase in her shop. I have several of her items on my wishlist--I find her handcrafted, vintage details simply irresistible. Have a look-see for yourself, then, simply include "SHOPTALK" in the message to seller upon checkout to receive your exclusive discount.

Thanks so much Heather!!!

{ reclaim | repurpose | refresh: vintage maps }

Current pendant necklace by foundling

Escape to your favorite places with these clever little treasures–crafted by hand using vintage, repurposed maps. 

Sources: from upper left corner:

–new home card by Bombus

–vintage atlas notebooks by Bombus {custom locations available}

–set of 6 greeting cards with handcrafted vintage map envelopes by Bombus

–sterling antique map pendant by anne holman {custom pendants available}

Hand stitched using embroidery threads and filled with hypo-allergenic fiber, these charming little birds by etsy seller, cottonbird designs, are crafted using vintage maps. Eyes are embroidered and feet are also created by hand using florist wire.

{ thursday: things I'm loving...ink + wit }

Fun & functional. Sustainable & stylish...What's not to love about Tara Hogan's charming Ink + Wit line of letter press paper goods, limited edition t-shirts, and original art pieces?

Bird and Cupcakes Thank You Notecards

Tara notes being inspired by a loving appreciation of nature's intricate beauty and the modern urban influences she experienced growing up near New York city. The unexpected juxtaposition of these two elements is captured beautifully in her distinctive designs.

click on image to enlarge

Pictured here are some of Tara's charming designs featured on her eco-friendly line of notecards and invitations. Don't miss Tara's equally amazing original works of art, which can be seen here. Also, keep an eye out at the Ink + Wit etsy shop and on the Ink + Wit web site for new, soon to be released offerings. 

Thanks Tara for graciously sharing a few of your many fabulous designs with us.

{ bonjour paris: day ~ 1 }

Enchanted with these romantic, french-inspired finds... 

Jennifer Rydin Designs featured on etsy.

Marzipan Mercantile featured on etsy.

J.Mundo Designs featured on etsy.

{ wednesday whimsy }

Add some whimsy to your Wednesday with these charming finds from etsy.

Composed of both new & vintage found objects,  J. Mundo Designs' 

one-of-a-kind pieces are created by hand with splendid attention to detail. 

Pictured here: Charming (l) Heartbreaker (c) & Change of Seasons (r) necklaces.

As unique & beautiful as the places they represent, the Strand neck wrap (l) and Baker Street scarflette (r) are from Boutique Pink Designs' London Collection of hand crocheted and knitted scarves and wraps.  These made to order designs include repurposed vintage earrings, brooches and charms for a touch of yesteryear whimsy.

Childhood memories, vintage finds and a fascination with the adventures of 'Alice in Wonderland' inspire each piece in Hoolala's storied collection of fun jewelry designs from Northhampton, England. Treat yourself or a well deserving friend to the sterling silver and pewter Smile necklace (l) or the silver vintage Magical Wishing Chair necklace (r).

{ new year/new inspirations }

Lots of lovely new design catalogs and magazines have been popping up in my mailbox lately, providing fresh inspiration for the New Year. I thought I'd start by sharing a few 'getting organized' solutions I've come across since my resolutions list indicates that's something I should be focused on right now. :-) 

Check out these fabulous and functional finds to help you organize your life and stash your clutter in style...

Pottery Barn's Smart Recharge Station will help you organize and recharge all those 

new gadgets you acquired over the holidays

I also love their version of a family 'drop zone' with built in cubby 

for the pampered pooch (also great for storing boots and shoes)

Style files and scented pencils from See Jane Work...yummy!

It usually doesn't dawn on me to purchase a new calendar/planner until the New Year has actually started, so I was thrilled to find these functional works of art (psst: they look great cut down and framed when the year's over).

Cavallini wall art calendars available online at Kate's Paperie

Turtle Papers 2008 Calendar available on etsy

Check back later this week for some inspiring work space ideas. ~s