Thursday, a manly closet, and Etsy

"A Closet Without Pretense" by dembree

My boyfriend is in the process of cleaning out his closet and so I dedicate this etsy-designed closet to him (now let's see if he picks up any of these lovely... urr... very manly finds!)

Of course, no wire hangers - just vintage, French, or wooden (something all men want, right?):

A Set of 6 French Laundry Labeled Hanger with Clips via theartistscloset

4 Wooden Hangers via ladiesandgentlemen

The gents love their shoes too and this handmade Maple Storage Bench, by AbleandBaker, is the perfect place to store 'em (the shoes, not the fellas):

Of course a vintage shoe valet filled with brushes and polish, via valnorthwoods, belongs in the distinguished man's closet as well:


No silly baskets or bins for a man's winter sweaters. Better to go the vintage suitcase route especially if you have ones as cool as this blue-green set via OleaVintage:


And hanging in the closet, what fella wouldn't love the clean smell wafting from this set of three Provence lavender-filled sachets by auntierumpos?:



And if there's room (or, miracle of miracles, it's a walk-in-closet!) - how about a display of vintage (and a few wearable!) hats? Men are so darling in hats - why is it that they don't seem to believe that?

Tweed Fedora via pupule

Mustang European Fedora Style Envelope Faux Fur Hat via 11karri

1970s Fedora plaid Hat via purevintageclothing

1960s Stingy Brim Fedora via FearlessVintage

And because men tend not to be super organized, I bet this uncut pattern of closet accessories from the 1970s (via GreatScott) would be a big help:

And for all those all those wonderful ties, this Galloping Deer Wooden Tie Rack via ButlerandMaid is a must:

And, finally, who wouldn't love this Horse Shoe Hanging Rack via WhiteWillowVintage? It would make hanging things up such a delight!

P.S. The bf took a look at my finds - apparently still too girly... I guess I still have some work to do on him!

Read for the record

Image courtesy of everypicture.com

Keep in mind that tomorrow is Jumpstart's Read for the record and all over the globe people will be celebrating the joy of reading to a child. This year's book is The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Jumpstart, an organization that brings community volunteers together with preschool children for year long, individualized tutoring and mentoring, is looking to break their previous reading record. Here is some information if you wish to cheer them on...

"Will you read me a story?" This simple question is an invitation to share the joy of reading with a child in your life. At Jumpstart, we know that reading aloud with preschool children lays the groundwork for strong literacy skills and future success in school and in life.
In 2006, we created Jumpstart’s Read for the Record, an international campaign to bring preschool children together with valued grownups in their lives to read the same book, on the same day, in communities all over the world. In 2008, we broke our own world record as nearly 700,000 readers shared the classic children’s tale, Corduroy. On one historic day, one amazing book was read aloud in classrooms, libraries and homes from Japan, Germany and Brazil to cities and rural communities across America. Hushed with wonder and tickled with giggles, children around the world simultaneously experienced the joy of reading.
Pledge to read today with Jumpstart’s Read for the Record and help us to make sure that our fourth annual Campaign on October 8, 2009 reaches more children than ever before! - readfortherecord.org

Masquerade

Gideon, blue and green, gem faced birdmask with feathers courtesy of ladyinthetower

I have never been to a masquerade ball, but I have attended my fair share of themed events and I wish I could count a masked party among them. Halloween parties are different, though fun, they can be corny and there are always people far more (or less, depending how you look at it) dressed up than others. There is also a definite difference of opinion there- some folks love costume parties , while others dread them. I think a masquerade is the perfect compromise- you wear your own clothes, but everyone hides behind a mask -the best of both worlds. Plus, it is a challenge wearing the whole costume from the neck up!

While dreaming of an invite to the nearest masquerade ball, I checked out the mask selection available these days, pretty amazing. Imagine how cool it would be to look out at a sea of these faces at your next gathering....

Mpurr, silver Venetian cat mask courtesy of ladyinthetower

Venetian mask courtesy of AmyLeahArt

Green With Envy courtesy of MrsBagwellsMasks

The Last Nighthawk courtesy of beadmask

Columbine mask courtesy of sparksart
Handmade Venetian Mask, Palest peacock courtesy of AngelbabyArt

Green Man Mask (Autumn) courtesy of CrimsonSpark
Madame Butterfly courtesy of TheNobleDragon

If I could, I'd wear this every day.

This is one of my very favorites pictures/outfits/moments from The Sartorialist (from October 2007). So easy and elegant and perfect. It is, of course, the lovely Garance Doré and it reminds me of this quote (via fadetodirrtygrey):

sleeping under the stars (and with the moon)

I knew falling for a good ol' southern boy was going to get me in trouble.

I'm not only a true blue northeasterner, but I'm also very much a city girl - preferring to walk around city streets than paths through the woods. I've only landed here in NC for graduate school and while I do, surprisingly, enjoy a great deal of the laid back attitude and slower pace - I haven't gone country. Well, it looks like I may have to. The bf has taken me on hikes, but he has his heart set on camping - something I have never done. So sometime this month, before it really gets cold, this fan of cozy big beds is going to be sleeping on the cold hard ground. The truth is - I am looking forward to it (a little bit) because I do love a good night sky. And, perhaps, it would be lovely to fall asleep beneath one as long as the sleeping bag is warm and the insects stay distant...

"private" moon and stars by Russian artists, Leonid Tishkov and Boris Bendikov

via toxel.com

a dream...

This plan, illustrated by Maira Kalman, is not quite a possibility for me this weekend, but I am going to stop admiring Kalman's work from afar (and on the nytimes) and buy one of her books.

I own way too many books and I've decided that I'm only going to add to my collection if it's something I will reread many times (poetry) or something that I love (art) or something, of course, that covers both criteria (children's picture books). And, you know, she has illustrated Strunk and White's "The Elements of Style" and as an English teacher I should own a newer version than the paperback copy I still have from college. And if I am going to buy myself a required text than I deserve to go ahead and treat myself with "The Principles of Uncertainty," right? (It's the art of justification a beautiful thing?)

Have a lovely weekend!

Thursday, a girl's bedroom, and Etsy

This week's room (courtesy of amazing Etsy) is a girl's bedroom. I have a young teenager in mind, maybe thirteen or fourteen, not sixteen or one foot out the door, dying for a taste of freedom-teen. It was hard for me not to make this a room I would like to escape to now (as a 34-year-old) , but hopefully this could be some imagined girl's ideal space.

To start- the bed with a trio of pillows, a simple duvet, and a warm blanket.

Image courtesy of meringuedesigns

Image courtesy of LinenMe

Image courtesy of Bunkies

Behind said bed- a white chandelier (of the wall art variety)- something a little glamorous

Image courtesy of Expressingyou

The furniture- a dresser with lamp and wall mirror (for the occasional and inevitable primping) and a desk with a chair...

Image courtesy of royaloakcottage

Dandelion Table Lamp courtesy of tansyandco

Image courtesy of uncommon

Image courtesy of poppycottage

Above the desk, a framed bulletin board (complete with pushpins)

Image courtesy of tara1234

Image courtesy of fabricfarrago

and, on the walls, a couple of posters (so much better than the Huey Lewis one my sister had up in our shared room)

Image courtesy of sycamorestreetpress

Image courtesy of rollandtumblepress

along with a piece of art that she adores.

"Sitting Hummingbird" courtesy of ReneeFroerer

On the desk and dresser sits the things that make her happy.

Artist's Table top easel courtesy of KEMstudios

Artist's box courtesy of themercshop

Mr.Ruby Throated Hummingbird courtesy of tracyemueller

Small Peach Paper Bowl courtesy of upintheairsomewhere

Rosey Pink Swarovski Crystal disc cluster Headband courtesy of Myaprilsnow

Image courtesy of charms4you

When it all comes together- a room fit for a tween.