darling savage

seedlings

2012-02-08T19:41:00.000-08:00

it's that time of year- time to start some seedlings! i do this every year just for fun, even though only about 20% of my seedlings survive to adulthood. (i don't have the greenest of thumbs.) there's something wonderful about putting tiny objects into a handful of dirt and getting a little green sprout in a matter of days. it's magic!

fruit and vegetables print by thelittlecanoe

more rainbow pretties

2012-01-12T17:19:00.000-08:00

this is an example of something i absolutely don't need but i just had to have. i recently bought the martha stewart 12-pack of glitter- just look at the yummy candy colors! i really just like looking at them but i should probably come up with some crafty ideas for them at some point. yay rainbows!

when the sun meets the rain...

2012-01-10T06:40:00.000-08:00

liberty fabrics mini rainbow bundle at purlsoho.com

etsy lovelies

2012-01-07T07:09:00.000-08:00

if i'm ever in the market to buy art, i go to etsy, no question. just look at the many types of media you can shop for- all on one website! and buying handmade always feels good- etsy sellers are genuinely thrilled to sell their art because it means they can keep doing what they love!

from top left:

natural wool eco balls by LaFiabaRussa on etsy

colorful cactuses & bird print by joojoo on etsy

wooden boat photograph by honeytree on etsy

mook with rhino mask by ilovegreyskies on etsy

welcome 2012!

2012-01-02T06:08:00.000-08:00

on my new year's wish list (from top left) ::

botanical coaster set by rifle paper co

mint recycled paper pencil set by writewithmoxie on etsy

tallow berries arrangement by floresdelsol on etsy

sugar baby book by gesine bullock prado

happy new year, darlings!

holiday happiness

2011-12-27T20:20:00.001-08:00

one of my (long list) of new year's resolutions is to post on my blog more often! Oh blog, I miss you so. I haven't left for good, I just needed a break to pursue other business endeavors. But this is such a fun outlet for sharing pretty treasures, photos and other inspirations, I can't give it up, I won't! I'm inspired daily, so let's see if I can keep up in 2012- reconnect with old friends, make some new ones and share my creative life with like-minded readers. I'll see you in the new year! -Havilah

happy november, mr. caterpillar

2011-11-01T07:31:00.000-07:00

sebastian found this caterpillar the other day while we were out enjoying the crisp autumn air. of course, i rescued the little guy before seb could implement any of his naughty,_ bug-torturing plans...

how miraculous that this little fella is going to curl up in a cozy cocoon and emerge as a beautiful butterfly! nature is amazing.

happy november!

simple + stunning :: lauren handler designs

2011-10-30T11:48:00.000-07:00

for my mother's 60th birthday, my siblings and i wanted to get her something special. we decided on some opal jewelry and i volunteered to search etsy for something that she might like. that's where i found lauren handler designs ::

lauren's pieces are the kind of jewelry that anyone can wear. paired with a delicate gold or silver chain or wire, each of her designs embrace the raw beauty of each stone, whether clustered together or standing simply alone.

i quite like this piece :: black & gold, how dramatic!

how sweet is that pink jade?

turquoise is a classic.

this is the piece we purchased :: peruvian opal, isn't it lovely? lauren even lengthened the chain at my request- no charge! i was very happy with my purchase and, needless to say, mom loved it too.

visit lauren handler designs at www.laurenhandlerdesigns.etsy.com

music to make you swoon

2011-10-23T11:34:00.000-07:00

if you haven't heard zee avi yet, get ready to experience some of the smoothest, sugar-coated vocals since ella fitzgerald. seriously, i'm in love. this is the kind of music I would listen to while baking a cake or sewing a dress. inspiring.

the sun + the river

2011-10-17T20:14:00.000-07:00

last week i took a {long overdue} vacation with my mom + siblings to sunriver, oregon. it was beautiful. and quite fun to hang out with the family, like we did when we were kids.

my sister Annie + her husband Fred strolling towards the riverbank...

...pretending to be explorers

a family of deer crossed right in front of our bicycle caravan! i totally fumbled for my camera and snapped a few quick shots. {this would have been a good time for a zoom lens}

my adorable bear-cub nephew Gabriel was the highlight of the trip for all of us. what a funny little guy! i love family vacations.

coming soon...

2011-10-12T11:05:00.001-07:00

more fishies arriving soon in the shop... stay tuned!

magical

2011-08-21T08:44:00.000-07:00

photo by me

wildflower walk

2011-08-14T17:09:00.000-07:00

i took these photos on my morning walk to the local coffee shop... some are varieties i've never seen before- so lovely!

bubbles & stripes

2011-07-22T12:08:00.000-07:00

these pics are from a little "photo session" i did several months ago, inspired by the summertime. now, if only the sun would come out here in portland...

mini treasury no. 4

2011-07-19T19:32:00.001-07:00

i love all of these items so much! they make me smile.

artists, from top left:

lemons IV fine art photograph by jessicatorres

vintage wood nursery mobile from cheeky chic vintage

fungi by groundwork

i love you like biscuits and gravy by stitchasaurus rex

mini treasury no. 3

2011-07-18T11:13:00.000-07:00

more etsy goodies (from top left) ::

windmill of greece by artisanie europe

a hedgehog in our flowers by corella design

arthur, the retro raccoon by one little red fox

red flower fine art photography print by gallery 32

mini treasury no.2

2011-07-17T17:12:00.000-07:00

more darling etsy finds {from top left} ::

deer & lamb figurines from kitschcafe

sooty gray kitten - wooden brooch by girliepains

"argile" top by studio louie

angelique dress by petapledger

mini treasury

2011-07-16T20:48:00.000-07:00

love these etsy finds (from top left) ::

antique spun cotton birds from ethanollie

notebook by arminho

robe passe by studio louie

vintage tin from haven vintage

happy fourth

2011-07-04T10:55:00.001-07:00

the result from the previous post. made by dx (he's quite the baker-man. yes, i know i'm lucky.)

strawberry fields

2011-07-02T16:22:00.001-07:00

photos by me

hello summer

2011-06-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

the first week of summer is proving to be quite lovely, indeed. i thought this was a nice photo to capture the start to the season. i've taken many flower pics since the start of spring but i decided to make a weed the subject of this photo. the flowers look on from a distance. they're probably jealous.

photo by me

brand & bloom

2011-06-10T08:24:00.001-07:00

perhaps you have a small business or are thinking of starting one... after all, etsy is a flourishing marketplace and seems to be growing bigger by the day. well, my friends, follow your dream! and there's no better way to get started (or update your business brand) than "brand & bloom".

owner/designer andrea mansfield is the brains (& beauty) behind "brand & bloom" and she has put together an amazing program of personalized business coaching, design services {logos, business cards, blogs} & workshops designed to maximize your business's presence & potential. her website is positive and inspiring- and if you sign up for her (very helpful) weekly brand tips email, you will receive a free copy of her "10 step to small biz success workbook"!

visit brand & bloom here

etsy interiors

2011-05-30T08:12:00.000-07:00

some fun + impressive etsy items, for your home ::

"bubble chandelier" by jean pelle

"yummi round felt rug" by craftastic parties

"island barn coffee table" by birdloft

"circling allover stencil" by royal design stencils

floral prints for summer

2011-05-24T18:24:00.000-07:00

for spring/summer 2011, you can't go wrong with a floral print dress. i particularly fancy this one from modcloth:

"blurring by" dress in midnight

berries in blue

2011-05-22T09:32:00.001-07:00

i've re-opened the dear machine shop! and i have a few new photographs for the occasion.

above: "berries in blue"

more to come!

happy 1st birthday kittens

2011-04-24T17:25:00.001-07:00

my little feist & sebastian just turned a year old! how time flies. it has been such a wonderful experience learning how to raise newborn kittens and watch them grow up together. *sniff* happy birthday, kitties!

pastel pretties

2011-03-26T19:19:00.000-07:00

springtime is here! and it's putting me in a pastel sort of mood...

confetti boutonniere by pomp and plumage

mint green owl figurines by claylicious

zambra yellow porcelain ring by MaaPstudio

wrist cuff by waterrose

peppermint candy buttons by andie specialty sweets

yes, these are actual candy! yum yum

bubble gum spring by kristybee

apricot & navy

2011-03-13T19:20:00.000-07:00

i adore these colors. and they look even better together...

"apricot airways" by tidabeads

georgia navy/peach by emma gordon

seahorse in coral by amber alexander

pond reflections dress at anthropologie

pure and good hand creme in ginger mandarin at anthropologie

isabella felt flower headband by lindsay harmony

dreams for weary sailors

2011-03-06T15:40:00.000-08:00

by theater clouds on etsy

sage + thistle :: an etsy collection

2011-02-27T09:50:00.000-08:00

from top left: fanciful feather collection by GollyBard

meadow earrings by jNicDesigns

ginger mint julet 5 x 5 print by lesliesico

collection of 12 succulents by succlentsgalore

paper + pinafore :: a new look

2011-02-16T17:41:00.000-08:00

i am pleased to announce my new look for the paper + pinafore website & etsy shop! over the past {almost} year and a half, i've been getting a feel for what etsy brides are looking for- and increasingly, the modern style is what they want- sophistocated, non-traditional + simple. and my new designs reflect that trend::

"contemporary chic" wedding invitation

"avant garde" wedding invitation

"swell stripes" wedding invitation

of course, i kept the classics around::

"modern initials" wedding invitation

"autumn birds" wedding invitation

{formerly "winter birds"}

and i decided to try a new approach to the save-the-date:: mini invitations! they are each the size of a business card and come with matching mini envelope {which must be mailed in separate, regulation-size mailing envelope}. but they are oh so cute!

"posh peacock" mini save the date

"sweet couple" mini save the date

some larger-sized save-the-dates::

"graceful chandelier" save the date

"bicycle love" save the date

and some new supplies! perfect for styling wedding favors or general craftiness::

aqua baker's twine, 10 yds

mini glassine bags

{about the size of a business card}

...and a few different sizes of gift tags, with or without colorful twine ties.

please stop by the shop and let me know how you like the new look!

travelling bag

2011-02-06T10:16:00.000-08:00

i custom made this bag for a client as a special request- i have a similar zipper pouch in the shop & she loved the fabrics but wanted them made into a purse/diaper bag. so i used my "rain drop" bag design and had just enough of the 'french map' fabric to create this little cutie.

i got the map fabric second-hand and the green fabric from a local fabric store. the wooden button goes perfectly, don't you think?

the strap is adjustable & there are two matching interior pockets. it's a little small for a diaper bag, but it could definitely be used as such for short trips or as a regular purse. it was fun to make!

change

2011-01-28T15:22:00.000-08:00

"change part one"

by the photo zoo

Mini Valentines

2011-01-26T09:43:00.000-08:00

i've just listed some new mini-valentines in the paper + pinafore shop! these business card-sized valentines come in eight different colors with matching mini envelopes ::

shop paper + pinafore on etsy

happy sunday

2011-01-23T09:26:00.000-08:00

how cute is this? "luis the raccoon" by one little red fox. darling.

happy sunday!

wild dream

2011-01-15T07:34:00.000-08:00

"wild dream" by helen dardik

longing for snow

2011-01-11T08:37:00.000-08:00

i'm sure lots of folks around the world have had quite enough of winter weather already but i just need a couple of snow days here in portland... is that too much to ask? it's crazy cold, but no snow! i love the silence that comes with snowfall- such beautiful, magical little white flakes falling to the ground without a sound. pretty.

photo by princessjanke

the etsy office

2010-12-28T18:31:00.000-08:00

it's almost a new year so, naturally, it's the perfect time to get organized! i am currently in the process of sorting, filing, stacking, and other such {boring} tasks, but the thought of having a clean + organized office space keeps me going. i also might purchase some new office supplies- you know, to get me inspired to work, work, work! here are some etsy offerings that would be perfect for my business ::

paper clip notebook by zoetropa

earth tone map pencils by rightbrainy

2011 desk calendar by cabin + cub

laptop sleeve by ccommeca

cherrywood desktop pen holder by jmcraecompany

vintage yellow phone from lucyandellen

i'll be posting pics of my re-designed workspace soon!

happy holiday

2010-12-25T11:47:00.000-08:00

xo- havilah

gabriel jack

2010-12-23T08:42:00.000-08:00

i'm an auntie! gabriel jack was born on november 15th and i was finally able to go over to my sister's house to take some portraits. this one is my favorite.

welcome, little gabriel!

french country christmas

2010-12-19T08:58:00.000-08:00

a couple of weeks ago, i was browsing my favorite portland boutique, ink + peat, when i discovered "jeanne d'arc living" magazine. every page of this danish magazine is simply breathtaking- i think these images can attest. these in particular are from their christmas issue ::

it's a bit expensive but if you're looking for inspiration, it's better than most coffee-table books, in my opinion. the pages + pages of french country, shabby chic style is swoon-worthy, to say the least.

you can look at the jeanne d'arc living website here

stand-up pouches!

2010-12-16T17:48:00.000-08:00

new in the darling savage shoppe! perfect for a cosmetics case or purse organizer pouch.

2010-12-16T07:58:00.000-08:00

my last craft show of the season is this saturday! check out artdeptpdx.com for more details!

crafty weekend

2010-12-14T20:08:00.001-08:00

my booth at crafty wonderland! it was so fun. and exhausting.

photos by me

crafty wonderland!

2010-12-09T19:35:00.000-08:00

it's almost here! the reason i've been hovering over my sewing machine for weeks, submerged in the world of crafty goodness...

this weekend at the oregon convention center- it's going to be huge! i will have side-by-side booths for my shops darling savage & dear machine with all-new products and all-new prints. and whatever is leftover will be listed in the etsy shops next week so if you can't make it to the show, stay tuned for pictures + products online!

wish me luck!

new dreamy photos

2010-12-04T07:16:00.000-08:00

i had lots of fun giving away photos last month! the winner of the last giveaway is liz. and now i'd like to debut even more new photos, available right now in the dear machine shop!

"winter berries"

"with love"

"magnificent spoons"

"l'artiste"

i really love these photos- can you tell i've added a bit of a dreamy quality to my new prints? i definitely take my inspiration from vintage photographs- a little yellowed & overexposed. it's all done digitally for now, but i hope to experiment with actual vintage photography sometime soon. when i trust my skills enough to know i won't be wasting film. :)

more new photos soon!

new photos!

2010-12-02T10:42:00.000-08:00

hello hello! i am so excited to show off some of my new prints in the dear machine shop. i'll be adding several more over the next few days, but here are four brand new prints!

"la patisserie"

"story of a seamstress"

"sparkle"

"shimmer + shine"

do stop by the dear machine shop and see what other new prints i'll be debuting over the next few days. oh, and don't forget to enter my very last photo giveaway of the year :: three 4x6 photos that look great together. :) if i do say so.

last giveaway of the year!

2010-11-26T18:16:00.000-08:00

a big thank you to everyone who entered last week's giveaway :: your sweet comments make my day! the lucky winner of two sets of pretty postcard packs from the dear machine shop is oona.

and now for this week's giveaway, the last one of the year...

i'm giving away three 4 x 6 photographic prints, shown here...

"a mile in her shoes"

"alphabet soup"

and "vintage elixir bottles"

these three prints look fabulous together as a set, and i'd love for you to have them!

to enter: please leave a comment and your contact info. you can submit extra entries if you tweet or blog about the giveaway- please leave one comment for each action.

thanks so much for participating! the giveaway closes next thursday, december 2nd at 10pm pst and the winner will be announced on friday, december 3rd.
good luck and thanks again to everyone for stopping by the blog!

giveaway #3

2010-11-17T19:51:00.000-08:00

thanks again to everyone who entered last week's giveaway :: the lucky winner of any 8x10 print in the dear machine shop is Janice.

and now for this week's giveaway...
a set of 10 postcards featuring two of each of the following five photos ::

to enter: please leave a comment and your contact info. you can submit extra entries if you tweet or blog about the giveaway- please leave one comment for each action.

thanks so much for participating! the giveaway closes next tuesday, november 23rd at 10pm pst and the winner will be announced on wednesday, november 24th.
good luck!

please hold

2010-11-12T15:37:00.001-08:00

this is what i wish i could do... drop everything and just enjoy the lovely things. ah, but life doesn't usually work that way, does it?

i just spent 1/2 hour reading blogs {a luxury i don't seem to have much time for lately}, and several bloggers wrote the same things i've been thinking for the past few weeks :: feeling filled beyond capacity, wondering if they're taking on too much, struggling to make ends meet doing what they love. my dear friends, you are not alone.

i have definitely taken on too much lately, trying to keep three etsy businesses afloat {boy, it sounded like a good idea at the time!} and i keep hearing the words of a friend who told me months ago "jack of all trades, master of none..." in other words, would you like three sometimes-successful businesses or one super-successful business? hmmm...

don't get me wrong, i LOVE every minute of this. the etsy world, the blogging world, craft shows, clients, the creative life... love it, i say! i just don't get a break. the last time i got out of town was summer of '09. oy. this, it seems, is what it takes to do what i love for a living.

so, i may be in and out of the blog world this next month or so but i am still here! cutting, pasting, sewing, stitching, photographing, crafting, selling, marketing, networking, planning, designing, dreaming. making it work.

xo, havilah

photo by me

another giveaway!

2010-11-10T19:24:00.000-08:00

wow, this is fun!
the winner of my second photo giveaway is alvin.

and now for #3!
the winner of this giveaway will get to choose any 8x10 in the dear machine shop!
it could be...

"elegant fruit" . . . . . or . . . . . "beautiful decay"

"devout" . . . . . or . . . . . "silk tower"

"pink days of april" . . . . . or . . . . . "vintage pink notions"

"flying north" . . . . . or . . . . . "farmhouse lavender"

or

any other print in the shop!

to enter: please leave a comment and your contact info. this time, i will allow extra entries if you tweet or blog about the giveaway {one entry for each action}.

thanks so much for participating! the giveaway closes next tuesday, november 16th at 10pm pst and the winner will be announced on wednesday, november 17th.
good luck!

holiday market time!

2010-11-09T08:46:00.000-08:00

it's that time of year!
last friday night, jenny & i had the absolute pleasure of helping set up for the little winter market in portland, which took place over the weekend. we also attended the pre-sale party and chatted with market organizers chelsea from frolic blog + abby from abby try again. it was so fun + everything looked incredible! {check out those links for more info + photos. top photo by shanna murray}

AND

more big portland crafty holiday news- the crafty wonderland pop-up shop opened today!

i haven't dropped by yet, but they posted a few photos on their e-newsletter {which i copied over here- credit to the photographer} ... doesn't it look like so much crafty goodness?!

i have to admit, i'm in the holiday spirit already. funny, i've spent the past several years feeling only mildly excited about the holidays, but i'm definitely getting back into it now. especially when there are so many indie artists out there offering amazing gift ideas!

three wish fish are back!

2010-11-05T15:43:00.000-07:00

i've been busy back at the sewing machine + i've made lots more "three wish fish" for the upcoming holiday season! say hello to my fishie friends!

each item is created using a unique combination of new, reclaimed, + vintage fabrics. i keep all of my materials as natural as possible :: bamboo fiber stuffing, vintage button eyes, jute twine, + a maple twig from my backyard.

did you know that each fish grants a single wish? that's three whole wishes! see why these guys make good friends?

three wish fish are now available in the darling savage shop! i will also have them available at several holiday craft shows in portland very soon. details to follow.

yay fishies!

parisian style

2010-11-04T17:36:00.000-07:00

i just learned that "darling savage" in french is "sauvage cherie". ha, cool.

1. world traveler pendant by kimiko611 2. hand dyed seam binding by frenchmarket

3. nightfall in paris photo by lolas room 4. provincial style coffee table by utopiauf

photo giveaway #2

2010-11-03T18:40:00.000-07:00

this week's photo giveaway is for a 5x7 print titled "whole world" ::

just leave a comment and contact information below before 10pm pacific time next tuesday, november 9th- good luck!!

www.dearmachine.etsy.com

giveaway winner

2010-11-03T08:49:00.001-07:00

thanks to everyone who participated in the giveaway! it's so fun to see the lovely comments you all leave. :) this week's winner is jennifer v., who gets these two 4x6 photographs::

if you didn't win, don't despair- i am having another giveaway later today! and another one every wednesday until december 22nd. AND don't forget, the sale is still going on in the dear machine shop until november 30th :: 30% off all prints.

oh, and do you like my latest blog header + design? i like this one a lot, i think i'll keep it around for awhile. ha, we'll see.

fall flowers

2010-11-02T18:26:00.000-07:00

photos by me

le chat noir

2010-11-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

i probably should have posted these yesterday {halloween and all} but i think my little black cats are more cute than spooky- don't you agree?

aren't they so well-behaved? actually, dx and i were quite amazed- i was setting up a table to take some more macaron photos {coming soon!} and, as cats are prone to do, they both hopped right in the way. so i started snapping photos while dx danced beside me, distracting them long enough to snap some great pics!

feist is in front + sebastian in back. see little feist's single white whisker? she had two- one of both sides- but the other one fell out! i really hope it comes back, she looked like a little walrus-kitty.

and here is mr sebastian. what a handsome boy! he always sort of has that bewildered look on his face, which i find utterly adorable.

if you haven't heard the kitten story yet, click here to see these guys {and their sisters} at 2 weeks old! and you can see lots more kitten pics at my flickr site.

happy november!!

happy halloween

2010-10-31T09:51:00.000-07:00

vintage photo friday

2010-10-29T18:56:00.001-07:00

i totally spaced 'vintage photo friday' last week, so i have two vintage halloween-ish photos for you today! i think these are actually from a masquerade ball {not sure they celebrated halloween in 1950's germany}, but same principle, right? dress up + have fun!

this is my grandma & a friend of hers as... um, a gypsy and a spanish flamenco dancer? i think.

and here is grandma + grandpa. awww... it's nice to know that your grandparents partied a little bit too, ha.

happy halloween weekend!

striped shift

2010-10-29T08:58:00.000-07:00

this is my kinda dress ::

the striped shift dress by annie greenabelle. now i'm desperately trying to find room in my budget for this. you all know how much i love stripes. and dresses. it's perfect!

found via down and out chic

pigeon toe ceramics

2010-10-28T17:40:00.000-07:00

another fabulous portland-based etsy shop :: pigeon toe ceramics. i can't believe i've never blogged about them before. i've seen their products first-hand at boutiques all over town and the quality is truly amazing ::

beautiful, no? they also sell air plants, which look simply perfect inside a little pigeon toe vase or two.

shop pigeon toe ceramics on etsy

photo sale + giveaway!

2010-10-27T20:13:00.000-07:00

:: dear machine update ::

since i'm getting ready to send a whole batch of new photos to get printed, i thought it would be a good time to clear out my photography shop! i just revised my pricing and everything is 30% off- that includes 4 x 6's, 5 x 7's, 8 x 10's and even postcards!

AND

i will be having a photo giveaway every wednesday from now until december 22nd!

here is this week's giveaway :: two 4 x 6 prints

1) le macaron violette

and

2) morning hydrangea

you don't have to do anything fancy to enter, just leave a comment + contact information and, if you so desire, spread the word!

the giveaway closes next tuesday, november 2nd at 10pm pacific time. the next giveaway will be held november 3rd.

i love giveaways. :)

nature is magic

2010-10-26T09:41:00.001-07:00

does nature ever stop you in your tracks? sometimes i'll see a beautiful flower or plant and just marvel at it. i've seen this plant before but never had my camera handy, until just last week. i don't know what this is, but the little colored buds are amazing... all different shades of blue-green against a tiny, bright fuchsia bloom. extraordinary.

even autumn brings nature to life in some magical ways.

new baker's twine!

2010-10-26T09:21:00.000-07:00

oooh, i love baker's twine. i use it all the time to wrap etsy orders, decorate crafts, and embellish all kinds of little giftees. and i'm totally excited for divine twine's new "air mail" inspired baker's twine. red, white + blue! i'm suddenly feeling a bit patriotic...

coming soon from divine twine!

vintage halloween goodies

2010-10-23T09:17:00.001-07:00

i've had these cute little vintage paper goodies for awhile, i think they're from my grandmother's collection. darling, aren't they?

since i'm starting to amass quite the collection of vintage objects, i think it might be time to sell a few things.

shall i start a fourth etsy shop to sell vintage wares? ha! {hmmm..... *scratching head like monkey*.}

well, i've went ahead and listed this lot in my paper + pinafore shop anyway, since halloween is like, um, next week.

see the full description in the shop! or just enjoy these images. :)

happy happy weekend! happy birthday mom!!

cart before the horse

2010-10-22T09:37:00.000-07:00

let's face it- dolls are creepy. but these are no ordinary dolls. in fact, portland-based business cart before the horse refers to them as "folk art dolls". and i think they are absolutely charming. in a slightly creepy sort of way.

visit the cart before the horse etsy shop :: they have lots of {creepy} halloween-ish dolls posted, so now's the time to get one!

kittens-cats

2010-10-21T18:22:00.000-07:00

my little darlings are almost full-grown cats! *sniff sniff* it seems like only yesterday when they fit in the palm of my hand.

sebastian is at least 2 lbs heavier than his sister, so we've nicknamed him "pork chop".

and wee little feist is still a dainty lady so we call her "string bean". since she was the runt of the litter, we think she's always going to be small.

we bought them a plush pet bed, but they prefer these old wooden crates. ah, cats. personalities & all.

join the circus

2010-10-19T17:55:00.000-07:00

"join the circus" print

by helen dardik

diamond in the rough

2010-10-18T18:23:00.000-07:00

the more i listen to marina and the diamonds, the more i love her. she's got a bit of an 80's sound without being annoyingly retro. and she's terribly cute.

how to make a berry pie {with your kittens}

2010-10-15T16:17:00.000-07:00

vintage photo friday

2010-10-15T11:07:00.001-07:00

this photo of my grandmother was taken in 1951- right before she left germany for america. pretty lady! love the outift- she looks so classy, like the german-countryside gal that she was. miss you, meine oma.

new! aprons made with vintage fabrics

2010-10-14T12:51:00.000-07:00

i just listed these handmade half-aprons in the darling savage shoppe :: each one is made with all vintage fabrics ::

these were fun to make :: i love working with vintage fabrics! thank you to dx for the fabulous product photos {i was busy being a model, ha}.

www.darlingsavage.etsy.com

a giveaway winner!

2010-10-14T10:52:00.000-07:00

thank you SO MUCH to everyone who entered the giveaway! what sweet comments you left! and extra special thanks to those who follow my blog, follow my tweets, heart my shop, and appreciate my work. my heart feels 10 times bigger today. :)

the winner of the paper goods set is lianne!

thanks again everyone! you can order these items from the paper + pinafore shop if you can't live without 'em.

xo, havilah

vintage stamps

2010-10-13T20:46:00.000-07:00

gah, i just couldn't help myself...

i certainly don't need to buy vintage stamps... but when i discovered the paper nickel stamp company, i couldn't stop thinking about them! so, i placed a small order and received a handful of gorgeous, mint-condition old stamps. the photo above are some of my favorites.

i'll probably hang on to them for awhile, maybe use them for extra-special mailings. the only downside is that the postage for each stamp is a pretty small amount, so you'd need 4 or 5 to send a standard letter. well, the more the merrier, right?

visit www.the papernickel.com

cowls, scarves, + fabulous neckwear

2010-10-12T20:46:00.000-07:00

lately, i've been drawn to the neckline. you can change your whole look with an interesting piece at the neckline- it may be part of your apparel, or a beautiful necklace- but since the weather is getting colder, i've been swooning over warm, wintery neckwear :: check out these lovelies, all from etsy shops, listed below ::

:: cowls ::

1. happiknits 2. warmmeup

3.flaxdesigns 4. babyarns

:: scarves ::

1. missindie 2. newduds

3. textilemonster 4.analoguepeople

:: scarf necklaces ::

1. babyette 2. ottoknits

3. necklush 4. purplechocolate

i love them all! who'd have thought a simple scarf could be so very fashionable?

another trip to the market

2010-10-11T18:10:00.000-07:00

photos by me

a giveaway celebration! :: closed

2010-10-09T15:39:00.000-07:00

... and here it is! to celebrate my 100th sale at the paper + pinafore shop, i have debuted some new products- and i'll be giving away a set of each to one lucky winner!

all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post and you will be entered in the drawing to receive the following ::

25 personalized mini "schoolbook" note cards {each one is the cute + convenient size of a business card} + 25 mini glassine bags

AND a set of six manila tags with an assortment of colored baker's twine.

you may enter multiple times for doing any of the following ::

{a} leave a nice comment :) {b} become a follower of this blog

{c} follow me on twitter {d} make my shop a favorite

please leave a separate comment for each of these actions. if you're already a follower of this blog or twitter or already "heart" my etsy shop, just leave a comment for each of those too.

*also, please leave your contact info in one of your comments so i can reach you!*

the giveaway will end at 10pm pacific time on wednesday, october 13th, and the winner will be chosen by random number generator.

good luck! and thanks for celebrating with me!

update :: the winner was leanne! thanks to everyone for participating!

vintage photo friday

2010-10-08T17:13:00.001-07:00

this is my beautiful grandmother, helga, who worked as a nurse in germany in the late 1940's/early 1950's. look at her old-fashioned nurse's outfit and the requisite red lipstick. if you look closely, you can even see her enjoying the refreshingly smooth taste of a cigarette, ha! and she was at work. what a different time!

oh, and i know i said i would have a giveaway today, but i'm not ready yet... tomorrow, i promise! see you then!

fall is most definitely here

2010-10-07T10:45:00.000-07:00

it is definitely autumn in portland today...

the past few days have been sunny and warm but today is overcast and, well, cozy. i love the light that filters through the autumn clouds... the sky is still bright but the temptation to go outside {& play) is diminished. maybe i can actually get some work done today. :)

do check back tomorrow for vintage photo friday... AND a special giveaway to celebrate my 100th sale at the paper + pinafore shop! hooray!

aliette

2010-10-06T20:55:00.000-07:00

"butterflies" by aliette on etsy

my vintage october dress

2010-10-05T14:29:00.000-07:00

you like? i picked this up from flutter last week and decided it was the perfect autumn dress. and so i had dx take a few pictures of me wearing it with sort of a "halloween" theme. {and yes, this black cat is none other than mr. sebastian from the litter we found in april (they grow so fast!)}

i think sebastian was planning his escape here... in fact, we had to take about 50 photos because he was wiggling around so much! silly boy.

here's a full view :: i just love this dress! it's wool, so it's warm enough to wear as the weather gets colder. yay for fall!

vintage photo friday

2010-10-01T12:04:00.001-07:00

this is one of my favorite photos from my grandmother's collection :: it's a picture of her brother, my great-uncle, casually tossing a ball on a german beach, circa 1950's. he almost looks like he's modeling, what a handsome fellow!

beautiful clutter

2010-09-30T17:10:00.000-07:00

i always have to bring my camera when i stop by my favorite portland boutique, flutter. there are so many treasures to see, i'm always certain to get some great shots. here are a few of them ::

and yes, this great big kitty resides here... and seems to quite like it.

also check out jena's flutter pics on the modish blog

and

my previous photo tour of flutter here

you can even shop flutter online! www.flutterclutter.com

dreamcats

2010-09-29T15:20:00.000-07:00

i love cats. and i love dreamy photos. so when i discovered the dreamcats photo blog, which showcases nothing but dreamy pictures of cats, i submitted some of my own to their flickr group. lo and behold, two of them have been chosen for posting so far!

this one

and this one

if you're new to this blog and wondering how i ever had the pleasure of caring for 5 baby kittens, read this post. and to see more kitten photos, visit my flickr page.

dreamcats found via modish blog

leighmade

2010-09-28T19:30:00.001-07:00

my oh-so-talented friend jenny has a new etsy shop! welcome to leighmade :: where jenny turns leather scraps + stainless steel flasks into a fashion accessory.

she has come up with some pretty inventive ways of keeping the leather cover snug against the metal- aren't these cross-tie backs so cute?

she adds beautiful stitching to most of the leather pieces and sometimes fun little buttons too.

these flasks feature snap-closure backs. the metal works perfectly with the leather, don't you think?

jenny is taking orders now, so visit leighmade on etsy before the holiday rush!

a baby shower

2010-09-27T16:16:00.000-07:00

yesterday i hosted my sister's baby shower and it was great! i was so busy being hostess, i didn't have time to take many photos, but here are a few detail shots- you'll see that the main color was green, and i used a lot of it ::

i set out small glassine bags for guests to fill with green apple flavored candies.

i also printed up little note cards for guests to write a sweet message or piece of baby advice for the first-time parents :: these match the invitations i made for the shower as well. the note cards were then pinned to a bulletin board covered in green gingham fabric.

the little carousel is from the "animal parade" collection by meri-meri, a fabulous little paper goods shop that specializes in themed partyware & stationary {where i also bought the cupcake toppers & baking cups}.

the shower was a huge success and my sister was very happy. and the best part- i'm going to have a little nephew in november! yay! first-time auntie!

photos by me

vintage photo friday

2010-09-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

i love looking at vintage photographs :: they appear to tell a story- a different story for each set of eyes laid upon them. and it's also interesting {and fun} to get a sense of the style & fashion of the day.

so, for the next several fridays, i will be sharing vintage photos of my family right here on the blog. these portraits are of my grandmother, circa late 1940's. these were taken in germany, right after WWII, an era during which my grandmother and her family experienced many hardships. in these photos, however, she looks happy :: i imagine she had just met my grandfather and was a young german woman in love with an american soldier. ah, how romantic.

more vintage photos next friday! have a wonderful weekend!

re-re-design

2010-09-24T08:32:00.000-07:00

gah. i've re-designed my blog header... um, again. the last one just looked too busy and cluttered and seemed to detract from the blog content, which is what blogs are really all about, right? i only had it up for a few days, but just wasn't feeling it ::

i did get a lot of compliments on the macaron header, which was up for quite awhile ::

so i took another stab at the blog header :: yes? better? not better? too pink? i have a feeling i'm going to be at this for awhile. i may just bring back the macarons but i'd like to experiment a bit first. feedback is more than appreciated. :) thanks!

2010-09-23T15:02:00.000-07:00

i have a confession to make :: i don't really wear jewelry. i have some jewelry, but only a handful of pieces that i wear on special occasions, such as social events & such. every so often, i come across a piece that i must have. then, and only then, do i let myself make a jewelry purchase.

this is a piece that i bought last week and i love it!! this is the "seeds jewelry : short necklace" made by amazon art on etsy.

not only is it gorgeous and colorful, it's made entirely from natural products of the amazon forests of brazil. my necklace is crafted from color-stained acai seeds & tucum ligature, which are {respectively} turned into beads and string by indigenous people of the area. amazon art uses fair trade principles to purchase it's supplies, which makes me feel great about owning this piece.

visit amazon art on etsy and discover some wonderful, natural wearable art! ships from uk.

happy autumn equinox!

2010-09-22T08:25:00.000-07:00

i love fall. i love watching leaves turn to rusty hues & flutter to the ground, i love the scent of impending rain in the air, and i especially love blackberry pie, which i will be making later today. yay for autumn!

photo by me

a new look

2010-09-21T22:26:00.000-07:00

how do you like my new layout? just playin' around with photoshop and blogger a bit. i just spent hours on this, blah. i am tired.

see you tomorrow for a special autumn equinox photo!

xo, havilah

another vintage find!

2010-09-20T13:10:00.000-07:00

i bought this little antique mini-file a few weeks ago and it turned out to be the perfect solution for sorting & storing paper samples for my wedding shop paper + pinafore. and it's darn cute.

oh! and check back here soon because i will soon be celebrating my 100th sale at the paper + pinafore shop! i plan to have a fun little giveaway, so i'll keep you posted!

confetti paper garlands

2010-09-17T10:19:00.001-07:00

by kristinamarie on etsy

little byrd vintage

2010-09-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

you all know i love everything vintage. and lucky me, i just found a beautiful vintage shop on etsy called "little byrd vintage"- and it just happens to be local! (yay, portland!)

this shop is also a perfect example of really good product photography :: natural lighting, intelligent staging :: most of the products are shown as they would be used in a home- a vase with flowers, a chalkboard with writing, an old frame with photos.

see what i mean?

visit little byrd vintage on etsy

fresh from the market :: part two

2010-09-14T15:15:00.000-07:00

see all of my farmer's market photos on my flickr page

fresh from the market :: part one

2010-09-13T18:17:00.000-07:00

some photos from the weekend trip to the local farmer's market!

more pics tomorrow!

treasury front page!

2010-09-13T15:49:00.000-07:00

yahoo! my treasury {made via the photo shoppe dear machine} made the etsy front page today! yay!

click here to see the full page view

a small thing maybe, but it made my day!

fun with collage :: violet may

2010-09-12T08:35:00.000-07:00

i adore the simplicity of these collages by violet may on etsy. lovely colors + fun imagery!

visit the violetmay shop on etsy

anthropologie autumn

2010-09-10T13:04:00.000-07:00

i just spent wayyy too much time putting together these anthropologie outfits, but it sure was fun! what do you think? i sure wish i could afford them all!

autumn's coming! what are you wearing?