Pretty Pictures

During my Christmas shopping an amazing art book caught my eye, with many great artists in it, some old favorites, some new to me. It's definitely going to my Christmas wishlist, but more on that later.

On the front was an image by Oleg Dou, I loved it and looked him it up when I got home. It's a little hard to see what medium he used but it turns out to be photography. I'd never seen anything like it, it's so intriguing. And just creepy enough too;)

Marvelous Music

I recently ordered a few items (games for my nintendo DS, dvds and a book) to keep myself entertained during these cold times. The site had a special deal where I could pick something for free. I saw Stacey Kent's album among all the cds, had never heard of her, but immediately liked the cd cover.

So I took a little listen and loved it. Needless to say, that became my free item of choice.

Most of her music's in English, but here's a cute little French song for you to enjoy:

Since it arrived I only had the chance to listen to the whole thing once, but I have plans of doing so again tomorrow while I wrap my Christmas gifts.

Yes, I finally bought some. It's just my mom and me this year. But we're gonna make it a fun holiday and I think I got her some things she'll really like.

How's your Christmas shopping coming along?

Gift Certificates

After about a week of hiding under piles of blankets I finally made myself a little bit useful today.

From now on I can no longer promise that international orders will arrive before Christmas, so I figured it was time for gift certificates. They can be printed and given in a cute envelope, box or even between the pages of a book, if you're giving that too. Or you can just email it if the recipient lives abroad.

10, 25 and 50 dollar gift certificates are now available in the shop. Check them out here.

Hopefully the worst of my flu is over and I can be back blogging from now on!

Giveaway Winner!

It is time to announce the winner of the owl kitchen set!

Thank you all for entering. All your entries combined added up to 36, but the winning entry is comment #1.

Rachel/meeyeehere,

you are the winner of the owl kitchen set!

Congrats!

Thank you all again and better luck next time!

Marvelous Music

The worst cold seems to be over (for now), but it turns out that after facing up to the snow I got sick. However, the show must go on.

So here's the song I'm addicted to at the moment.

I'm pretty sure at some point you've come accross "The Time Is Now" by Moloko too. I've always been fascinated with the song and when I happened to hear it at the movies a while back I wrote down the lyrics and finally looked it up.

Turns out Moloko includes the singer Róisín Murphy, who I also vaguely recalled. I remember once checking out her music, but somehow it didn't stick. So I have no idea about the rest of the music(except for Moloko's other well known song "Sing it Back"). All I know is I'm hooked on this song right now, but it definitely makes me more curious about the rest.

Lovely Series

I just watched the first episode of the series White Collar. It wasn't really promoted here so I came accross it by chance, but it is awesome. Granted I've only seen the very first episode, but I expect it to stay as good as it started.

One of the first things I noticed is the great casting, I finally feel like I'm looking at real people. And they're pretty good at finding perfect matches to play family members too.

Unfortunately it airs pretty late on a Sunday night, but I am definitely staying awake again next week.

Have you seen it yet? Does it stay as good?

Keeping warm... or trying to

It is cold. And when I say cold, I really mean freezing, snowing, seriously cold. Even indoors we can't seem to keep the house nearly warm enough. However there are a few things that make it somewhat manageable. Here's my little list:

My cat.

Nothing as comforting as a warm and furry little creature. Too bad she spends way more time on the heater than on my lap. Can't blame her though, I can hardly compete with that.

Tea.

I'm a really big tea drinker, don't go a single day without it. But this winter I am breaking all records.

Warm scarf.

This lovely scarf was made by a friend of mine. Ever since it's been snowing it's been around my neck from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to bed.

The ultimate rescue.

My feet are always cold so you can imagine it's near to impossible to keep them warm this time of year. However I noticed this "foot bag" in a folder and just had to have it. I was a bit afraid it wouldn't work or be practical, but let me tell you... it is the best thing I have ever bought and I am infinitely grateful to have it at my feet right now.

Due to the cold I haven't been active online at all. Somehow the desk is one of the coldest places in the house so I try to avoid it as best I can. But I'll try to keep my blogging up despite this all.

With this lack of internet I found entertainment in other gadgets and things that you can actually use while you're wrapped up in a "foot bag", "Snuggie"and numerous blankets. Such as:

Nintendo DS.

I've always enjoyed it, but never really got into it as much as now. I've been particularly busy solving murders and building hotels. Believe it or not I actually feel like I'm achieving something here;)

Books.

Before I go to sleep I love to read a few pages, or sometimes a bit more because I just can't help myself. The combination of a snow white world and Murakami's books makes me feel like I'm living in a dream world.

Seeing this you may get the impression that I haven't done anything, but with the holidays getting closer and closer I've been really busy with orders too.

Including my largest one so far, 20 bookmarks!

They had to be finished in a really short time because of Christmas. I am still getting Christmas orders as time is running out, especially people outside of Europe should place their orders this weekend, if they want to be absolutely sure it will arrive before the 25th.

So what have you been up to? Did you go into hibernation like me? Any tips to keep warm?

Giveaway Time! (US and Canada ONLY)

CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED

CSN is here for another giveaway! As you probably know CSN's 200+ stores are filled with anything you could possibly need from eveything for your home, like furniture, to anything for your travels, like their variety of sling backpacks.

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I've been working like crazy on holiday orders and I'm sure you'll be getting a lot busier too now that December is only hours away. Chances are you'll be spending a bit more time in the kitchen and that's why CSN and I are giving away a kit that will come in quite handy in this time of year. Not too mention it's cute and has lots of owls!

Ok, up for grabs:

A women's apron, oven mitt and a set of potholders!

All you have to do to join is leave a comment. But please note that this is a US and Canada giveaway only!

As always there are extra entries to earn:

+1 if you're a follower

+3(each) if you grab my banner(s)

+1 if you like me on facebook

To keep things a little clearer for me please leave all entries in ONE comment in which you state how many extra entries you've earned and how

Winner will be announced next Tuesday.

Thanks for joining and good luck!

Etsy Shop Tip: alleluja

I don't know about you, but whenever I see an adorable fantasy creature in a movie I just want it as a pet. Of course that is impossible to arrange, but when this pendant by alleluja arrived I really felt like that wish had been granted.

Because it's porcelain I was a little worried about how it'd be handled by the postmen, but when I saw how carefully and well it was wrapped I knew I had nothing to worry about. And doesn't it look beautiful too?

When I held it in my hands I discovered it must be pretty sturdy too, because it is so compact. And it is unbelievably smooth! And it has the cutest little curly details all over the top and back.

This Creature Pendant, as well as nearly all the other items, can also be used as a pincushion, it even came with a beautiful little pin, which I didn't take a picture off, but they're shown in Sawako's shop.

There are still plenty of cute items found on her Etsy, but they can be sold pretty quickly. (As a matter of fact one of these Sparrow Girl Pendant was sold as I type.) So I was lucky to snatch up my own little creature in time.

Sawako also has an amazing flickr account where you can see all the little creatures as well as some "in progress"-pictures.

You can definitely tell that a lot of love and care, as well as imagination, has gone into each and every piece. And I have to say alleluja is one of the most original and special shops I have ever come accross. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would come accross a pendant like that and then to find one I could actually afford was just amazing.

Etsy Update: Packaging and Christmas Goodies

Lately there have been a bunch of changes made to my shop. Not only do I have a new header and banners(which you can find and copy here), but I also changed my packaging to this:

Until a little while ago I used old magazine pages to make packages like the one below. I liked it a lot and of course it was "greener" because of the recycling. I might still use it occasionally or get back to it later, but for now I'm sticking to the new floral bags.

However I also have special holiday wrappings, because I wanted something more Christmassy in December.

Inside you will find the bookmark in a clear bag with my logo. And on the back my url. I made them in all sorts of colors to match any bookmark.

I hope you like everything, I thought it was a more professional look. Plus this all gave me the chance to use my owl-logo more, I even have it stamped next to the address on the bubble mailers.

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It's Thanksgiving today, but I know lot of "foreigners" aren't celebrating anything, including myself. However somehow I'm in a pretty festive mood so I thought I'd show you my Christmas bookmarks.

Most people have already started planning and decorating. And for those of you who want to shop for gifts online, this is the right time to start.

Of course I couldn't stay behind on the holiday designs so I made my fair share of Christmas bookmarks.

Some of which you can even customize yourself by picking your favorite Christmas color.

So if you're looking for a Christmas themed gift or a cute stocking filler there are plenty of choices in my shop. And as always I'm open for custom orders too.

The bookmarks would make a nice gift for anyone who likes to read no matter what age. And since I invented them it really is a unique present.

Anyway, enough with the shameless self promotion;) Are you already busy doing, making and buying things for Christmas too?

Pretty Paintings

The Dutch have a pretty long history of amazing painters and I feel very lucky to live in a city where lots of those works are shown in lots of different musea.

However there's currently an exposition out of town where I badly want to go to.

Kees van Dongen has such a unique style of painting, the brush strokes are somehow special, but you mostly recognize him by his women. Even though they are often a bit extravagant, the paintings are always very calm.

Loads of people love his work, but I know he's not loved by everyone. I suppose, once more, this is a "love it or hate it" kind of style.

But I find his works very intriguing and I really hope I get a chance to see the exhibition.

Thankfully I've already seen some of his works in real life but I'm dying to see more. There is just something so special about seeing art "in the flesh". Computer screens and books can show images very clear, but to see the life sized thing is something else entirely.

Sometimes a painting can have a surprising effect. I remember seeing a huge Kandinsky and even though I never particularly liked his work I loved seeing it in it's true size and glory.

Have you ever have something like that happen? What was your most special "museum-experience"?

Owl Things Considered

While searching for cute owl brooches on Etsy I came across the lovely shop Ilzuks. When I noticed the pink one I just had to have it. I ordered it immediately and the package arrived today!

Isn't it adorable?! And it came in such a cute box too.

But the whole shop is filled with amazing owl brooches. In so many colors!

I love how they all have different faces too, which makes them look like they have their own little personalities. It's so cool that they're all unique. But somehow that makes it both easier and harder to pick a favorite.

Apart from owl brooches there are lots of cute felt flowers, but there's also an owl oil painting!

You can definitely tell Ilze is very fond of owls too and I'm sure that any owl lover couldn't help but fall in love with her creations.

You can check out her shop here.

Marvelous Music

Sometimes commercials feature the cutest songs. I often find myself looking up songs I heard on tv and this is one of them.

I have to admit I haven't really listened to anything else by Joy Williams, but I thought "Sunny Day" was pretty cool. I will check out the rest soon.

How about you? What artists have you discovered thanks to commercials?

Sunday Sequence

It is getting colder and colder. There's supposed to be snow next week already! I'm not much of a person for cold weather and just wanna stay indoors really. This week I caught myself wishing I could take a long hot bath on multiple occasions. Good thing we don't have one 'cause I would never ever want to leave it.

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