Lovely Movies: Big Eyes

I'd been looking forward to this movie for ages, yet still managed to miss my chance of seeing it on the big screen. However, I recently made up for it by watching the dvd, which was perhaps better, as it included a "making of".

Big Eyes was directed by Tim Burton. He really appreciates the quirky and otherworldly and, though this film is quite different from most of his other ones, that still shines through. Anyway, he did a great job, as did the actors.

Amy Adams was fantastic, as always. The guy playing her husband was amazing too. He goes from friendly to a despicable tyrant, yet it's all believable. Also, the casting of the daughter -at two different ages- was very well done.

Anyway, this is a true story not just about art, but also about the struggle of women to be acknowledged and praised for their work, as well the bond between a mother and her daughter... I already can't wait to watch it again!

Owl Things Considered

A while ago I ordered a very cool owl shirt from Society6. And as it turns out Camille Chew, the artist who designed it, is also active as an artist on Etsy. Not with the same prints or apparel, but with amazing handmade jewelry!

A lot of the items feature owls, and most of them are patterned or marked with all sorts of symbols. A theme that shows up even more in the items from her Society6. So if that sounds interesting, definitely check that shop out too.

Many of the little owls above are already sold, but there are still a few available. As are the amazing earrings below.

There is plenty of non-owl-related jewelry in the shop too, including this awesome necklace and ones similar it.

All of these would be perfect to wear with colorful summer outfits! Anyway, you can find the rest in the shop. Enjoy!

Mood & Music Mosaic #11

King of Anything - Sara Bareilles

coat - shoes - earrings - coin purse - cat bag

It's King's Day this Wednesday. Everyone dresses up in orange (although I might cheat and go red, white, blue again…) and sells or buys old stuff on the street. So far the weather forecast isn't great, but I'm pretty sure I'll go out for my yearly tradition of hunting cheap Disney movies (and picking up a few other treasures as well)… even if it's just for a little while.

Do you have anything exciting planned this week? Or did you maybe thrift anything cool recently?

Lovely Movies: Ricki and the Flash

Of course I know Meryl Streep can do anything, so I had absolute faith that she could play a rock chick, however I had not expected the day would ever come that she would take a part like that. But then came Ricki and the Flash!

Meryl did such an amazing job! Not just with the rock star persona, but also with the actual music. She genuinely sounds like a rock singer! Also, fun fact: her actual daughter is playing her daughter in the movie as well.

I tend to love movies like this. Movies about people that did not end up where they hoped they'd be, that kind of screwed up, live a little awkwardly, but still manage to find some sort of silver lining, albeit quite ungracefully.

P.S. It somehow made me think of Dan in Real Life. It's definitely a different story, but it somehow had a similar vibe… so if you enjoyed that, be sure to give this one a go. And if you liked this, then go watch Dan in Real Life.

Bristorium

I am absolutely smitten with the jewelry from Bristorium! I love the style, design and finish of pretty much all the pieces in this shop. What caught my eye initially was the beautiful collection of framed woodland creatures.

The animal designs are made into necklaces, rings and/or brooches. The latter being adorned with different types of ribbons depending on the design. Anyway, I love them! They look like something the protagonist from a really amazing book might wear. Perhaps an heirloom straight out of a beautiful middlegrade mystery novel...

What I really love about this shop is the attention to detail. It's not all polished down to perfectly straight lines and a factory-like finish, but it has character and balance and super nifty details. Like this reversible moth necklace.

Most designs definitely have natural elements. Some more flora than fauna. Like many of the earrings... Those are often made to resemble flowers or seedpods. And they also tend to have very intricate settings for the gem stones.

If you also adore the pieces I featured and would like to see more, I suggest you pay a visit to Bristorium on Etsy.

Owl Things Considered

I just had to show you this owl from VladaHom on Etsy! It's so adorable and round and fluffy! And it has so much light in its eyes too. It reminds me quite a lot of Eglantine from Legend of the Guardians the Owls of Ga'Hoole.

Anyway, VladaHom has lots of other creatures too! They range from incredibly lifelike to quirky and cartoonesque. Aren't they cute? Some of them look like they could talk. I bet they'd be very fun to hang out with and chat to!

You can check these lovely creatures -and a lot of others- out at VladaHom's Etsy store.

Mood & Music Mosaic #10

 Everybody - Ingrid Michaelson

dress - pouch - mascara - enamel pins - shoes

Temperatures have risen! Not enough for dresses and skirts, but it's headed in the right direction and it does seem like it might be possible to dust mine of in the near future. And otherwise I'll just cheat and add leggings or skinny jeans.

Are you already rocking bare legs or is it also a little too soon where you live?

Lullaby for Fox

Sonia from Lullaby for Fox is a very creative lady that works in lots of different mediums. Her shop is filled to the brim with a big range of items. She has a very unique style though, which is easy to recognize no matter the format.

It's easy to see that Sonia has a great love for animals. Most of her work features some sort of creature. They are usually very magical and often anthropomorphized, yet still very much in touch with nature and the seasons.

I am always blown away by the new brooches that hit the shop. They have such stunning details (sometimes even real pearls!) and the ones with faces always look so cute and friendly. Just looking at their pictures tends to make me smile!

One design has even been made into a sterling silver pendant. Because of the silver, it's one of the pricier items in the shop, but it's so beautiful and, I imagine, well worth the money as it'll be a very durable and timeless piece.

Like I said, the shop is pretty packed, so there is lots more to be seen than I managed to share in this blogpost. Definitely take a look, and maybe give the facebook page a like to receive updates and the occasional giveaway.

Lovely Movies: Dark Shadows

The last 30 minutes were not my cup of tea all. It was over the top (not in a good way), yet somehow still predictable. However, I absolutely adored the biggest part of this movie, so I still decided to share it here on my blog today.

The first thing I loved about this was the mix of gothic vampires and the 70s. Which bring me to the second… the music. The juxtaposition of darkness/vampires and for instance Barry White and Curtis Mayfield was just genius!

Johnny Depp is born for parts like these, of course. And though she's amazing, I was afraid Helena Bonham Carter would play a similar type to ones she'd done before, but I was pleasantly surprised. And Eva Green is a perfect villain!

For Your Next Project: Crazy Fox Paper

This is a DIY that takes minimal effort, but looks absolutely adorable! I fell in love with these creatures from Crazy Fox Paper the moment I laid eyes on them. They're printable articulated dolls that you receive as a digital file.

So you print them, cut them out and assemble using brads. The standard gold ones would look nice, but it might be an idea to take it one step further and get them heart-shaped, in fancy colors or even adorned with rhinestones.

Anyway, I am smitten with these creatures! They look so colorful and gentle and I love how they are slightly gradient and have such fun floral details on their bodies. Would not mind to hang a few of these in my house at all!

Also check out Crazy Fox Paper for all sorts of items for children's parties, baby showers and weddings.

In the Mail: Secreta Shop

I've been admiring this artist for a while and recently fell in love with a particular piece. Lucky for me I was at the computer right after it got listed on Etsy. A little while later it showed up at my door, in the most magical packaging!

Now I've seen Etsy sellers with very cute packaging, but I've never felt like I'd become part of a magical society before. One usually only dreams of wax seals and parchment notes. But it's a fantasy that comes to life with Secreta Shop!

Here is a glimpse of what Secreta Shop has to offer at the moment. There is art for your walls, hangings to put wherever you like, and tiny art work you can order either as a pendant or a brooch. Check out the shop for more!

Mood & Music Mosaic #9

Traffic in the Sky - Jack Johnson

shirt - bowl - shoes - earrings

Wearing dark blue tends to make me feel very productive, calm and focused. And that's exactly what I've been trying to be lately. Although writing this, I realize I don't wear it often… But perhaps I should! It might just help, haha!

Do dark blues have the same effect on you? Or does another color perhaps?

In the Mail: Shop Miss Ella

When I laid eyes on all the illustrations and items from Shop Miss Ella I knew I had found something really special. It's not every day you find something that manages to combine pretty much everything you've ever dreamed about!

Here were my favorite colors, styles and textures I love, cats and woodland creatures, Alice in Wonderland, and even crafts like sewing and knitting. All wrapped up into beautifully illustrated items that I could wear, hang, send or use.

So I quickly ordered some of my favorite things. I was so excited to receive them in the mail! Everything was beautiful and of great quality, I loved the pink gift bags for the brooches and there was even a cat sketch on the parcel itself.

Ella is doing such a spectacular job filling her Etsy with lots of different items! Notebooks, mirrors, mugs, buttons, patches, prints and jewelry. And she always seems to be working on something new entirely. And although I highly recommend you check out the entire shop, here is a glimpse of the cool stuff you can currently find at Shop Miss Ella.

If you're as smitten as I am, I also urge you to follow this lady on facebook. It's where pictures of new items show up first, but also were you can see sketches, as well as Ella's amazing personal sewing projects! Think illustrated cat dresses;)

Plans & Goals: April

I love April! It's the first whole month of Spring and I also have a birthday to celebrate. If that's not the recipe for a good month, I don't know what is! Even without planning things I'd probably have fun, but still… I'd love to:

• Throw a wonderful birthday party!
• Do a little bit of spring cleaning.
• Sit down and draw.
• Experiment with different lunch meals/sandwiches.
• Reconnect with a few people.
• Have fun on King's Day.
• Catch up on my reading goal for 2016.
• Eat watermelon again.
• And get into bullet journalling. With the cute set above! I'm so excited!

What do you hope April has in store for you? Did you already make some plans too?