Japan's Building A REAL Monorail Cat!

Etsy Find: Gingerkate

Ever since I fell in love with Audrey Kawasaki's paintings on wood, I've been especially enamored of any artist who uses the natural grain of the wood in their artwork. It just seems like the unique designs found on tree trunks are the most beautiful in the natural world! 

I stumbled upon Gingerkate through Etsy who sells her collaged wood plaques for only $15-20!! What a great steal. I'm waiting for new items in her shop because it seems like it's a little empty now but if you're keen on handmade jewelry Gingerkate makes some pretty special necklaces as well. 

Plus check out her Flower collaged sets here on her Flickr account! I want the poppy one so bad!

In The Library

I have found my DREAM scent. Nobody can stand in my way of getting a hold of one of these perfect bottles of "In The Library" by CB I Hate Perfume. 

Here's the story behind the magic:

"I love books, particularly old ones. I cannot pass a second hand bookshop and rarely come away without at least one additional volume. I now have quite a collection!

Whenever I read, the start of the journey is always opening the book and breathing deeply. Don't you find there are few things more wonderful than the smell of a much-loved book? Newly printed books certainly smell very different from older ones. The ink is so crisp. I've also noticed that books from different periods & different countries also have very different smells. And then there are the scents of different bindings: leather is marvelous of course but I find a peculiar pleasure in musty worn clothbound books as well. Perhaps just a hint of mildew!

The main note in this scent was copied from one of my favorite books – I happened to find a signed first edition of this novel a few years ago in London. I was more than a little excited because there were only ever a hundred in the first place!"

Marc By Marc Jacobs Fall '09

So I haven't been too keen on the Marc by Marc Jacobs line for the past few years with all the clean lines and stripes. It had gone from a line of layered grungy items to just too straight for my tastes. But the new Fall '09 Fashion Week show got my attention! Everything is so wonderfully textured and warm looking and oh la la the tights! There are some great victorian ruffled collars, flouncy hems, and folky scarves too!

The Mystical Jewelry of Unearthen

Thank you thank you to the blog Cabinet of Curiosities! For those of you who are in love with rock and gem jewelry like I am, here's another magnificent find. Made from real spent bullet cases combined with earthy gemstones each carrying their own unique properties, Unearthen delivers jewelry that's wonderfully mystical and moving. Even the packaging which includes a beautiful wooden box, cleansing salts, a glass vile and is gift wrapped with a peacock feather, is a treasure!

Aww

On Valentine's Day there's nothing better than cute animals...right?

Planets Tattoo

My new tattoo inspiration! Isn't this so beautiful? Down my spine....why didn't I think of this before? I wouldn't get planets though...I think I would get flowers...hmmm

Tattoo photo via Cosmic Dust

Happy Valentines Day!

Laura Normindin: Anthology of Internal Exploits

Wow I am so in love with Laura Normindin's book art called the Anthology of Internal Exploits and Internal Joys! It's just perfect. Laura created this wonderful hand bound book with treated Japanese paper in 2003. I wish that I could have an opportunity to look at it in person I want to know what the type says! Don't you?

By the way...I couldn't choose between all the beautiful pages so I've decided just go ahead and display them all!

Oh and p.s. she is also the artist behind Sufjan Steven's Michigan album art!

Etsy Find: Moorea Seal Designs

This week my friend Moorea's Etsy shop SEA.L Designs just opened! Things are moving soooo fast in her shop I'm so happy for her. But I also was going to be pissed if the necklace I wanted was bought before I got to it. 

Luckily, it was still there last night so I was able to buy this gorgeous Sparrow Feather Necklace! On a vintage gold chain and with a hand painted design by Moorea, it's a great steal at only $20. 

So get to it before everything is gone! 

Fantagraphics Book Sale

Today through Sunday, Fantagraphics Books is having a great book sale at their store in the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle 20-50% off!!

Here are a few of the books I highly recommend....

Unlovable by Esther Pearl Watson (**sooo funny you won't stop laughing**:

"Loosely based on a teenagers diary from the 1980s found in a gas-station bathroom, Unlovable details the sometimes ordinary, sometimes humiliating, often poignant and frequently hilarious exploits of underdog Tammy Pierce. This remarkably touching and funny graphic novel tells the first-person account of Tammys sophomore year in 1985, from the first day of school to winter break. "

Beasts! Vol. I & II (I bought Vol. I today at 50% off it's so brilliant I love crpytozoology)

"Beasts! is a classic mythological menagerie, comprised only of creatures that were thought at one time to actually exist, depicted by about a hundred of the most acclaimed artists and cartoonists coming from the most avant-garde ambits of the art world."

The Magic Bottle by Camille Rose Garcia:

Dan DeCarlo Vol. I & II (to learn more visit THIS previous post)

Joetta Maue: More Artsy Embroidary

I love Joetta Maue's collection of embroidery hoops and sarcastic stitches. Apparently she's a huge fan of different textiles especially white linens and handkerchiefs, she makes everything feel so witty and fresh! I'm suddenly inspired to go break out my hoop and thread ugh I wish I weren't at work!

Check out more of Joetta's work on her flickr account here.

Sarajo Frieden Embroidary Illustrations

Sarajo Frieden is the talented artist behind these folky embroidered illustrations and I just adore them all! How magical would it be to have one of your chairs start sprouting leaves and branches?? No more leaning against sappy tree trunks in the summer, just pull out your chair and enjoy the comfy shade. 

Kittens Inspired By Kittens!

Wardrobe Assistant: The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle

So about two summers ago I worked as the wardrobe assistant on the independent film The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle. It was the longest month of my life! Working all day and then til around 2am every night...it makes it all seem worth it now that it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival two weeks ago. There are some great reviews online and the trailer has been released so that I can see what it all looks like on film. 

I'm so proud of how it turned out and that all my hard work paid off. So if you see it will you do me a favor and let me know what you think of it? I had a falling out with the woman I worked with on the costuming so I've pretty much been left out of the loop since we finished filming...it's sad really because I don't know if they included me in the credits now. On IMBD two other names are listed for the costuming too! I know that they never worked on the film and they seem like fake names I'm pissed someone else is taking credit for what I helped do!

Anyways go see it when it shows in Seattle theaters! For you're enjoyment I now present you with the trailer for the Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle!

"Miss Julianna" Post From Miss Moorea!

This is the sweetest thing ever....a good friend of mine Moorea just posted a beyond flattering... I don't know what to call it...tribute? love letter? present? on her blog The Rumination Room about me! 

I really don't know how to describe it but if you're interested be sure and check it out here. 

Lots of love Moorea and thanks a ton. Moorea also has beautiful voice and you can listen for free to some of her music on last.fm

we are so not cool...

Misrule, Mockery & Monstrosity

Rima from one of my favorite blogs The Hermitage has recently scanned all the pages and images from her dissertation called Misrule, Mockery & Monstrosity in Marginal Medivael Art written for what I consider to be the best major I've ever heard of, Book Arts & Crafts! I actually haven't gotten through the whole thing yet but so far it's wildly interesting. 

The Art of Colleen Sanders

Aren't these illustrations by Colleen Sanders just beautiful? The hair one reminds me of something that would be in a Rapunzel picture book. 

Lucy's Legacy

I'm so excited! I just read a great article in the new National Geographic Adventure magazine about the Lucy's Legacy exhibit now at the Pacific Science Center here that contains the oldest human skeleton ever found and has turned quite a few theories upside down! It was found in the 70's but the Ethiopian government had it locked away in a special vault until in 2007 when the Houston Museum made a special deal with them and now it's on a short tour of the states! So if you get a chance you should definitely try and get in to see it. There is a special coupon for buy one ticket get one free deal now so take advantage of it!

"The west coast premiere of Lucy's Legacy: The Hidden Treasures of Ethiopia provides visitors with an extraordinary opportunity to come face to face with Lucy, the oldest, most complete, and best preserved adult fossil of any erect-walking human ancestor. The 1974 discovery of this famous 3.2 million-year-old hominid yielded a new species, Australopithecus afarensis, and continues to have a major impact on the scientific understanding of our human origins. Through additional artifacts spanning over 200,000 years visitors will also experience Ethiopia, Lucy's homeland. With eight locales on the World Heritage List, Ethiopia is rich in history and culture and it holds a unique position in the study of paleoanthropology"

Help With A Water May Walk Banner? Please?

So lately I've been admiring all the lovely personalized banners people have for their blogs. I have no idea how to make one and since this blog means so much to me it would mean the world to have an official banner for Water May Walk. 

I was wondering if I could ask a favor....would anyone be willing to help me out with making a banner? 

I have no idea what I'm asking of you to be honest. It don't have a clue as to how long it takes, whether you have to design original graphics, or if there is some special program needed. So if you could just leave me a comment on this post if you're interested I can't even tell you how grateful I would be. Thank you friends.......

Here are a few of my favorite blog banners that I think desire much praise:

New Alela Diane: To Be Still

Wahoo! I'm soo looking forward to the new Alela Diane release (Feb. 17)!! Her new album To Be Still is available for preorder on CD and LP and the first 50 people to purchase get a free bag of tea from Alela how cute. You can also listen to the whole track list HERE and although some of these songs have been out on the web for awhile, there are some great new tracks too. My favorite for the moment is "Tattered Lace" but ask my next week and it will probably be something else. I could listen to her sing forever....

Here's what Alela says about it:

"I wanted to record this collection of songs using arrangements which would represent them in their finest form. These songs requested more instrumental filigree than those on The Pirate's Gospel. It was challenging to delicately yet purposefully incorporate instrumentation into songs that I was so used to singing by myself. I was determined to make it work, because I wanted percussion! I wanted to hear the lonesome bow of the violin! I heard many harmonies in my head, and so I set out to capture them."

Bonus: Alela has the cutest kitty named Brambles!! It has fatty paws just like my kitty too!

Druzy Jewelry

Druzy or Drusy: a thin layer of quartz crystals covering the surface of a host stone such as the tiny crystals coating the inside of a geode. Druzy Quartz is also said to aid in balancing and increasing energy. Example: amethyst 

I'm a collections girl. I've always collection a dozen different things like PEZ dispensers, Archie Comics, stamps, coins, football cards (what?), Pokemon cards...ROCKS. My favorite collection will always be my rock collection. I love them all especially the sparkly ones. 

So here I've assembled some great jewelry finds made with druzy stones that I would looooooove to own....unfortunately there is no such think as cheap druzy jewelry. I don't mind looking though do you?

Devon Leigh

Melissa Joy Manning